Nikon D800 - Should I upgrade?

[luxborealis]

I've written a blog post that may be helpful to those who are in decision-mode regarding the D800. In it, I take a look at some of the "externalities" related to upgrading to a 36mp full-frame body.

You can find it at luxborealis.wordpress.com.

[theguywitha645d]

You do know Michael posted a link to a D800 review of a pro that uses JPEGs.

[Ellis Vener]

Your second point Terry is invalid. JPEG shooters will see an increase in quality especially if the only post shoot production they doreduce output size that they delive. Video quality is also better

[luxborealis]

Your second point Terry is invalid. JPEG shooters will see an increase in quality especially if the only post shoot production they doreduce output size that they delive. Video quality is also better

There is not valid or invalid about the statement I made. I did not question the increased "quality" from jpegs (more like increased pixels). I was specifically referring to the fact that if one is shooting only jpegs (and, therefore, not requiring the ultimate in quality available from the capture) then - perhaps - (and that's they keyword here) a D800 is overkill for the purpose. To quote the blog post "if you are shooting jpegs because they are more convenient than doing some post-process work on your photographs – then the D800 may not be for you". (Emphasis added).

Let's face it - if you are a jpeg-only shooter, you will get more megapixels, for sure, but are you really taking advantage of a $3000 body if you are limiting yourself to a pre-processed and pre-sharpened image of 8-bit colour [corrected]? All I'm suggesting is that people consider more than just megapixels when considering a move to the D800.

[theguywitha645d]

I would say there are only two criteria for buying a D800:

1. You want one.

2. You can afford it.

Nothing else matters. The "making the most" or "getting the best out" of the sensor is rather a meaningless criteria. Nor is it required.

BTW, 8-bit JPEGs have 16.8 million colors.

[BernardLanguillier]

An unfortunate issue with a CF card that killed precious raw files has given me an unexpected opportunity to use in camera jpgs.

D lighting was activated in default mode and color space was Abode RGB.

The quality is amazing straight out of camera... An 800 megapixel pano based on those:

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/bernardlanguillier/6935861834/

You won't find much more challenging in terms of contrast but there was no need for any HDR here, the jpg needed very little work to get to this result.

So my view is that shooting jpg does make perfect sense with tge D800 for those photographers looking for the best possible image quality with as little hassle as possible. Raw does expand the possibilities even further, but it does look like the jpg engine of the D800 is very far from being an afterthought.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Peter McLennan]

Wow.  At 800MP, that should be stunning.

What lens?

[BernardLanguillier]

Wow.  At 800MP, that should be stunning.

What lens?

Zeiss ZF100mm f2.0.

Cheers,
Bernard

[marcmccalmont]

I would say there are only two criteria for buying a D800:

1. You want one.

2. You can afford it.

Nothing else matters. The "making the most" or "getting the best out" of the sensor is rather a meaningless criteria. Nor is it required.

BTW, 8-bit JPEGs have 16.8 million colors.

Lets agree to disagree!
I upgraded my 5D when the 5DII came out and I had planned on upgrading my 5DII to a III when it came out but......
I have spent almost a year with a Pentax K5 and the extra DR and lower noise at base ISO over the 5DII is "intoxicating" so I placed an order for a D800E
1. yes I want one
2. yes I can afford one
3. A DSLR is purchasing a camera body and a refrigerator full of film for the life of the camera, so I choose to upgrade about every 3 years that's approximately $1000/year for a refrigerator full of the best film I can afford
4. Having gone from the 5D to the 5DII to a K5 and from a P30 to a P45+ to a IQ180 I can say that the K5 and the IQ180 capture the dynamic range of a normal daylight scene close to the way my eye sees it. So upgrading my 5DII to a camera with a sensor capable of capturing a scene to my liking is important to me. I chose the D800E as a replacement
Marc

[Ellis Vener]

Wow.  At 800MP, that should be stunning.

What lens?

You should see the 1.1Gb panoramic I shot of a field of bluebonnets a couple of weeks ago in Texas. Two rows of about a 120 degree horizontal angle of view. And extreme dynamic range. No HDR tricks to hold detail from highlights to derp shadows.And yes I shot raw and stitched full resolution 8bpc TIFFs. It is around 11,000 x 32,000 (h x w). The first client ordered a really big print.

[Ellis Vener]

With all of the talk about possible "Retina" type 300 pixel per inch displays coming soon, things are starting to get interesting.

[jeremypayne]

Let's face it

Let's face it.  It is a camera.  The latest from Nikon.

With the exception of a small number of practioners who earn ther living behind the lens, who 'needs' this camera?

I'm with 'guy' ... You want it?  You can afford it?

Buy it.  Shoot jpegs.  Shoot the lenses that AREN'T on the list.

Enjoy it.  Stop worrying so much.

[Derry]

agree: if the pocketbook can handle it go for it,,

I do not want to know what I have spent on my hobbies over my 72 years but I'm sure the wife would love to know,,

Derry

[EgillBjarki]

My first DSLR was the 20D back in 2004. I bought a Nikon D700 the summer of 2008 and sold all my canon gear. I switched back to Canon because of more resolution and video ability mid 2010 in the 5DII.

My first reaction when the specs for 5DIII and D800 were clear, I have to admit, I was disappointed. I wanted to switch to Nikon again, the ratings from DXO Mark on D800 were also very impressive!

After some time to thinking, for me it all comes down to the lenses. Most of my work is in portrait and I use my 70-200mm II IS very much. For me, it is clear Nikon has a edge in wide angle lenses, but in longer optics I feel Canon has the edge.

The way I see it, both cameras have strengths and weaknesses. I have been shooting more and more video this year, and the issue with green cast on the screen of D800 is a issue for me in regards to video.

The biggest print I have made is 1.5 x 1.0 meter and I was very happy with the results (from my 5DII). I would prefer that Canon went with more MP, but what they did is also fine by me. I do a little bit of reportage and the extra ISO and speed might come in handy.

If I still had my D700, I would go for the D800 and get my self a external monitor for video. The D800E is also very attractive, having D800 and D800E would be a dream.

[Justan]

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/bernardlanguillier/6935861834/

Linky no worky. Can you fix?

[Gary Brown]

Linky no worky. Can you fix?

That link should work, but it's the mobile view. Here's the regular one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/6935861834/

[Justan]

Thanks. That link works but the image does not appear to be a pano.

[ckimmerle]

Shoot the lenses that AREN'T on the list....Enjoy it....Stop worrying so much.

EXACTLY!

This talk of "acceptable" lenses for the D800 is the biggest joke on the 'net and anyone who buys into such pixel-peeping hype is a fool.

[BernardLanguillier]

Thanks. That link works but the image does not appear to be a pano.

It is a panoramic stitch, I did not upload a high res version of that one though.

Cheers,
Bernard

[interpolator]

... I would go for the D800 and get my self a external monitor for video. The D800E is also very attractive, having D800 and D800E would be a dream.

At NAB Nikon displayed a D800 with a Marshall 5 inch [V-LCD50-HDI] lcd display.  It was great; especially the peaking mode; excellent for quick accurate focus. Not so well implemented was the false color feature that worked great on the monitor but required a huge amount of menu manipulation in the D800 white balance menu's to adjust in the camera.  Lots of practice would be needed to make this tool meaningful with the Nikon.  A great monitor for $500.  It only lacks HDMI in/out which is a problem for video recording via HDMI.  You have to get the 7 inch model to get that feature. 

Even more exciting is the Ninja-2 announced at NAB by Atomos for release in late May.  This is not to be confused with the Ninja v 2.0 which is the original Ninja with version 2.o firmware upgrade.  Ninja-2 looks almost identical to the original Ninja but adds a more robust screen, dual HDMI input/output, focus peaking, adjustable zebra, and false color. At $995 this cool 4 inch monitor does all that you get from a good LCD monitor and adds the capability to record the HDMI output of the camera to an SSD (extra) encoded in Apple ProRes, native or the Avid DNxHD.  It does not do have real time pulldown removal like their Samurai model and does not operate off of the record trigger of the Nikon DSLR's.  The Ninja is a bit heavy and a number of consumer Canon DSLR had had there hot shoes damaged by mounting the Ninja on camera. No reports of the Canon pro level DSLR's having this problem.  Nikon reps who have prototypes of the Ninja-2 would not comment on how robust the hot show structure is in the D800 and D4; but demonstrated their understanding of the video world by stating that they plan to use a long HDMI cable to attach to the unit and mount the Ninja-2 in their pockets! Off camera mounting is probably the way to go with the Ninja-2 and any other monitor to be used with either the D4 or D800.