Nikon D800 via B&H
Here’s some highlighted specs:
_36.3 megapixel, full-frame sensor (FX)
_up to 5fps still image shooting
_1080pHD video 24 or 30fps
_ISO Range 100-6400 (extendable from 25,600)
_Live View + External Monitor viewing for professional video applications
_Built in external microphone with audio monitoring capabilities via external headphones
_Twin card slots – one Compact Flash and one SD
_weight = 2 pounds 3 oz
The curve balls for me? The megapixels. There’s a lot of em. Also, this is geared a lot more toward video than I would have anticipated. But beyond that… Please note I HAVE NOT touched one of these cameras, and like the D4, NO I didn’t shoot the campaign. I haven’t yet spent time with the camera to tell you any gory details, although I’m assuming I’ll be able to chat more soon.
Aesthetics? Click thru a range of images of the camera via the above tabs.
So.. I (we) knew this was coming, but rather than me spouting off about having played with the system (I can’t – although some of you journalist types have I’m sure), or telling you what your feelings about this system should be (I won’t), I’m turning the tables on you.
What’s your take? Love, hate, indifferent? Insights?
[Reminder that Nikon plays close attention to this blog, so your comments on this post – glowing or otherwise – might help inform Nikon about what your thinking.]Link to all the Nikon D800 details and/or purchase here via B&H.
As a canon owner, nikon is really tempting me to switch. This is what I hoped canon will come out with in the 5d mk iii, but from the rumors they will not be.
So far in the unedited test shots I do not see a lot of noise and improved dynamic range. The increased fps with the crop factor for concerts and sports is impressive. Oddly one of the options people are not talking about is the facial recognition AF through the viewfinder! This sounds like a amazing feature! Yes, 36MP is a lot of data but technology changes quickly and you need to deal with it. It will allow you to print larger and crop easier.
Only disappointments are the ISO range and “only” two frame HDR. I would had hoped you could select a higher number.
I’m a D7000 user, I’m very impressed by the megapixel count of the D800, I often do a lot of cropping in my shots so this could be useful.
On the other hand I’m worried about computer performance when loading and editing the files – and also filling up memory cards too quickly.
I’m not too worried about low light performance since I’m already impressed by the D7000 low light performance.
I might switch to full frame at some point, a $3300 camera comes close to affordable. I don’t do enough photography to justify the cost at the moment.
memory is cheap; it will be great
I am just getting serious about photography and making money with it. Right now I use a D90 and have been waiting to see what to upgrade to. A D7000? The D300s replacement? Full frame?
The D800 is very exciting to me, but I think there would be more costs involved than just the camera and some primes. I have serious concerns that my 2008 iMac which has a 4GB ram max won’t be able to handle the files. And I also have concerns that the camera will be much better than me…all of the pros I have read who did the advertising for this have said they used tripods in situations where they normally wouldn’t have. That scares the daylights out of me.
All of the early looks and semi-reviews have been very positive, but I will need to see more comprehensive and end-user reviews before making a decision.
This is precisely my situation. Same camera, computer and concerns. What to do? I’m waiting to see the 300s replacement and weigh that against a used D3/700. I just hate to spend the money on such an old camera, but the file size of 75mb files scares my computer a tad more at this point.
This is a lot of camera, but overkill for me in the megapixel department. Since this is basically replacing the high megapixel D3X for half the price, wouldn’t it be interesting if Nikon came out with a full frame D400 with 18mp sensor at around the same price as the current D300s? It seems like it could be a possible trend with the D7000 coming out basically replacing the D300s in a lot of ways, now the D800 coming out, I could see Nikon implementing a strategy of, D0000 cameras are entry level / enthusiast cameras and are DX sensors, D000 and D0 cameras are pro build quality with full frame sensors, Those are just my thoughts though, I have no idea what Nikon is planning.
Me likey a lot! That would make total sense to me. Even if the cost was around $2500. I think that would be the perfect camera. Basically just an upgraded D700, which the D800 is anything but.
I wish Nikon would provide more information on how their upcoming Capture NX software will deal with moiré patterns when shooting with the D800E. Someone on another blog passed along this Capture One video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEfk3Aw2TNI which would suggest that D800E shooters (or their assistants) will be spending a lot of time making adjustments in Capture NX, Lightroom 4 ( http://forums.adobe.com/message/4195272 ) or their preferred app. If Nikon doesn’t want to provide a moiréd RAW file for the internet to test, how about releasing a video using an internal build of their Capture NX software? It would be beneficial to those of us pre-ordering the D800 / D800E. Thanks.