Nikon D800 & Sony RX-100 comparizon. Is Sony better? Should I pass on the D800?

[thomashoven]

This may be a strange question, as the cameras are very different and for very different uses. I am considering buying both, and as always check the web (dpreview, Nikonrumours, LL etc.) for comments. What I find on the web is what I compare and the reason for my question:

Sony RX-100: Everyone is positive and enthusiastic about what Sony has managed to put in this little package. Almost no complaints and issues.

Nikon D800/D800E: Many complaints about several issues including the major "left AF focus issue" and debris or oil on sensor, and some less significant ones like loosening 10 pin contact, greenish LCD screen, won't trigger wireless flash, camera "freezes" and dark live-view screen. Nikon QC issues??

My search was more thorough as I will also buy a complete set of lenses, and I found the search worthwhile before spending thousands of $. All the Nikon-issues I found also resulted in a search on the Sony, where I found little to raise concern. The Sony is definitely a YES.

Here on LL, few seems to have D800 concerns. Answers to my questions below may assist in my D800e purchase decision:

1. Has anybody here experienced any of these issues? Any problems fixing them under warranty?
2. Does anyone know if there are any fixes, like firmware upgrades or product recalls?
3. Are people expecting too much from the D800? What can you expect compared to some of the cameras I have been using: Some very simple test-pics can be found at www.abamas.com/test (A very mixed bag of cameras indeed)

[David Watson]

Thomas

It's a bit like comparing a John Deere tractor to a Mini Cooper.  I have both (cameras that is). 

The RX100 is a nice shirt pocket go anywhere snapshot camera that cost a few hundred pounds and in an emergency can back up a more serious camera or replace it if that is all that is available.

The D800E with 5 or 6 lenses is my go anywhere do anything location and outdoor camera.  It has had no faults at all, takes terrific very high quality images (with the best glass) and I cannot recommend it highly enough if you have the necessary craft skills and a deep enough pocket to buy the best lenses.

[thomashoven]

David,

My intention was not to compare the abilities and features of the two very different cameras, but their manufacturing quality, and the issues people have been reporting about them on the Internet. Although in the end of my post, I do wonder how much of an improvement I can expect with a D800. May be the focus issue and the QC of the D800 manufacturing doesn't give me much of an improvement to what i have.

[kers]

Sony RX-100: Everyone is positive and enthusiastic about what Sony has managed to put in this little package. Almost no complaints and issues.

Nikon D800/D800E: Many complaints about several issues including the major "left AF focus issue" and debris or oil on sensor, and some less significant ones like loosening 10 pin contact, greenish LCD screen, won't trigger wireless flash, camera "freezes" and dark live-view screen. Nikon QC issues??

people have different expectations with both camera's... in the case of the d800e they want it to be perfect...
 in the case of the rx100 - they are glad to get a decent picture out of this little camera.

I have a d800e and it is the best camera i have ever had in almost every aspect.

I have two things that could be done better..
1 I needed to check and adjust the autofocus for each f1,4 -2 lens wide open.. mine was -15 off- far too much! - I do not know if this problem is  affecting only my camera ...
2 liveview could be a litlle better - indeed dark in very dar situations and not 100% but 50%- still no problem getting the focus right on target...

[AFairley]

Your question as posed is meaningless, because it does not say what the end use of the photographs is.  I own both.  For dedicated "art" shooting, I use the D800E.  When I'm away for the weekend with the wife, I use the RX-100.  They are both terrific cameras.  The RX-100 does very nicely in good light for prints up to around 13x19, but if I'm thinking gallery prints, I use the D800E.  OTOH, I get lots of shots with the RX-100 I would never get with the D800E because I don't always want to be carrying a large camera around with me.

[thomashoven]

I am trying to compare manufacturing Quality Control issues, as web-posts indicate a big difference between the Sony RX-100 and the Nikon D800 (in what people expect compared to what they get). I am not trying to compare the image quality of the two cameras, they are too different for that.

For me, the RX-100 is the camera to take when you didn't really want to carry a camera. The D800 is for studio and landscape (almost always tripod-mounted).

Kers is so far the only person who has tried to answer my questions. May be we are just expecting too much of the D800?

I would like to hear from users who have had actual D800 experiences with one of the problems I indicated in my initial posting.

[ErikKaffehr]

Hi,

Check this: http://tashley1.zenfolio.com/blog/2012/10/six-months-of-the-d800-two-photographers-reflect

Tim has or had D800, D800E, RX100, RX1, IQ-180...

Worth reading!

Best regards
Erik

This may be a strange question, as the cameras are very different and for very different uses. I am considering buying both, and as always check the web (dpreview, Nikonrumours, LL etc.) for comments. What I find on the web is what I compare and the reason for my question:

Sony RX-100: Everyone is positive and enthusiastic about what Sony has managed to put in this little package. Almost no complaints and issues.

Nikon D800/D800E: Many complaints about several issues including the major "left AF focus issue" and debris or oil on sensor, and some less significant ones like loosening 10 pin contact, greenish LCD screen, won't trigger wireless flash, camera "freezes" and dark live-view screen. Nikon QC issues??

My search was more thorough as I will also buy a complete set of lenses, and I found the search worthwhile before spending thousands of $. All the Nikon-issues I found also resulted in a search on the Sony, where I found little to raise concern. The Sony is definitely a YES.

Here on LL, few seems to have D800 concerns. Answers to my questions below may assist in my D800e purchase decision:

1. Has anybody here experienced any of these issues? Any problems fixing them under warranty?
2. Does anyone know if there are any fixes, like firmware upgrades or product recalls?
3. Are people expecting too much from the D800? What can you expect compared to some of the cameras I have been using: Some very simple test-pics can be found at www.abamas.com/test (A very mixed bag of cameras indeed)

[K.C.]

I am trying to compare manufacturing Quality Control issues, as web-posts indicate a big difference between the Sony RX-100 and the Nikon D800 (in what people expect compared to what they get). I am not trying to compare the image quality of the two cameras, they are too different for that.

If only you had stated this in your original post.

[Ellis Vener]

[quote am trying to compare manufacturing Quality Control issues, as web-posts indicate a big difference between the Sony RX-100 and the Nikon D800 (in what people expect compared to what they get.)[/quote]

To do that you'll need to look at the number of D800 and RX100 cameras that have been sold vs. the number of complaints and positive comments for each camera. You will then need to subtract from the number of complaints and positive remarks all entries by people who either do not sign their real name or provide a valid email address so that you can confirm that for whatever reason they are not just trolling or blindly echoing what others have said.

[HSakols]

I have a nikon d800 for landscape work.  I still have not checked the focusing issue that Thom Hogan mention.  Already a close friend has sent back his because of problems with the 10 pin shutter release connector.  He is quite frustrated. 

[elliot_n]

I bought a D800 last summer that had the left focus issue. The problem wasn't subtle - it would backfocus by about 2ft when focused at 5ft. Nikon UK spent over a month trying to fix it, and returned it with the left AF points perfect, but all other AF points front-focusing. This rather knocked my faith in Nikon (I've been a user for 25 years). I got a refund on the camera. Lately there have been far fewer complaints about focus issues, so I'm considering giving the D800 another go.

[thomashoven]

Erik,

Thank you very much for a useful link. It is in line with my impression of the Nikon D800E acquired on the web. I have decided to put my D800E + lenses purchase on hold. Before considering a purchase, I will require the right to have a 14 day full refund no questions asked. May be some of the other guys (with better QC) comes out with something similar soon, or Nikon gets their act together, admit and sort out the problems.

Also thanks to elliot_n and Hsakols for additional supporting information.

Still no negative comments on the Sony RX-100, so I will buy before the next event where I need such a camera. This also involves significantly less money.

[thomashoven]

Ellis,

I know I am not very scientific, but I have seen more than 20 posts on issues with the Nikon D800, many reporting the same issues. There are also a number of posts by happy D800 owners who do not observe these issues. To me, this boils down to a clear QC issue - enough to put my D800 purchase on hold. I don't think this is the result of a anonymous "hate" movement against Nikon going on out there, or some other irrational explanation to anonymous posts.

On the Sony RX-100 I have found posts from many happy owners, but only one with a complaint: The camera had a particle on it's sensor that appeared after a few shots. To me, that's not an issue, being only a single post. The camera is not environmentally sealed.

[LKaven]

I think certainly that distressed D800 owners are the more active voices, in disproportion to the number of satisfied buyers.  This is not to discount the problem at all.  But when they work, they just work, as mine does.  If you have a good return policy, then I would say buy with confidence.  Once you've established that it is free from left-focus aberrations and any other concerns, I think you will enjoy a long life with it.  In general, Nikon bodies are conservatively engineered to be reliable under constant use. 

[JohnBrew]

Happy camper here with D800. No focus issues, no issues period. Just a damn fine camera.

[TMARK]

D800e x 2. No issues except for the green cast on the LCD.  Nikon said a fix was coming.

Only one 1.4 lens needed micro adjust. These D800s were purchased in the summer and fall of 2012.

[Rhossydd]

I am trying to compare manufacturing Quality Control issues,

Just as important is after sales service. No manufacturer is ever 100% perfect, so what their after sales service is like can be vital.
In the UK Sony's consumer service is terrible, whereas Nikon's is far less moaned about.

Another issue to remember here is the expectations of users. The D800/E will be bought by very demanding photographers that are more likely to discover any minor issue and anything found will be shouted about on the web. Can the same be said for the RX100 ?

[Eric Brody]

Playing with internet statistics, as Ellis said, is a real can of worms. There are a lot of crazy people out there, some have an axe to grind, most probably mean well, some are well informed, some are simply idiots. I am fortunate to have a lot of photo friends. Most of them, I'm happy to say, are honest knowledgeable folk but some are more knowledgeable than others and when I want advice, I pick and choose. I'm sure my friends who ask me questions do the same, choosing me when they think I might be helpful. No one asks me about video, they all know I'm quite ignorant. Reading objective reviews, if there are any such things, can be helpful, but adding up posts from people you do not know makes as much sense as asking a complex medical question of the local car salesmen and will likely get you the same quality of results.

I have a D800e and it seems to be working well. I do not have a Sony, though I'd like to. I am fortunate to have an excellent local store where I can go in, bring my own card and make some images with almost any camera or lens I'd like. That, and my friends, has been more helpful to me than anything else. I just bought a micro 4/3 zoom for a trip, an expensive lens, and while I had and took the option of testing it in the store and just outside the store, I'm still considering bringing it back. I know they'll be good about it, I'm an excellent customer and try hard to make purchases there. Their prices are fair, usually the same as or within 5% of B&H so it makes financial sense as well as. I realize this may seem off topic but there's a difference between reading and using. I will say no more...
Eric

[thomashoven]

After sales service:
I live in Norway, and Nikon used to be distributed and serviced by an independent company here. That company was fantastic. A few years ago, Nikon took over itself (through their Swedish branch?), and my experience is that the quality of after-sales service dropped to average. They had three attempts on my Nikkor lens before it was tolerable. Does this go hand-in-hand with their revised level of QC? (Just my thoughts).

Expectations:
I believe these are very different for the RX-100 and the D800. My impression is that RX-100 better meet it's expectations than the D800 meet it's. I must admit the average D800 customer is likely more skilled, but I anticipate many RX-100 customers are also advanced users looking for a good pocket-camera (like I do).

Decision:
My plan was to use the D800 for some studio and landscape photography after I took some photography classes and got inspired. There I also had the opportunity to use the Nikon D3 and the D3X (I really liked these cameras, the results and the way they handled, but not their price and weight). My photography is only a hobby, and I don't NEED the D800. I would buy it if I expect a positive experience, but now I am too concerned it will give me more headaches than pleasure, and my decision is to put the D800 purchase on hold for now. Thanks to all contributors here who helped me make up my mind.

[LKaven]

I think the D800 lives up to expectations of it.  But I'm not pushing it for you.

But I would not walk into a photography course with an RX-100 either.

Did I hear you say you already have Nikon glass?  What lenses do you have?

Is there any reason the D600 would not be good, or even the great new D5200, which is a bargain? 

Think of the cost-to-use, which is the depreciation from purchase to resale.  It doesn't cost you very much to own a DSLR for a year, especially a D5200.  After your class, if you're inspired, you can trade up...or not.  Total cost for the year is around $200 or so.