D800 - D850 Image Comparison

[tirediron]

Doing some totally unscientific performance checks on my new D850 I decided to compare it to my D800. The image below is taken at the same time, same distance, same lens, etc. I think it illustrates the improvements fairly well; before you get too shocked by the quality this is a 300% crop of a segment which constitutes about 0.9% (D850) or 1.25% (D800) of the original image.

Hey, film.... suck it!

 

[Ysarex86 80]

Congrats -- awesome camera.

Joe

 

[Vtec44]

Hey, film.... suck it!

Them fighting words You can actually shoot both at the same time!

 

[tirediron]

Congrats -- awesome camera.

Joe

Thanks; so far, other than the massive control configuration changes, I'm really happy with it.

Hey, film.... suck it!

Them fighting words You can actually shoot both at the same time!

Yep, and I need to haul the Mamiya out of the gear cabinet, but ISO 6400? I remember pushing Tri-X to 1200 and thinking, "Son of a <female dog>... I can practically see in the dark!"!

 

[Dave442]

Thanks for doing the comparison. Looks like your D800 could start gathering dust.

 

[ronlane]

An 850??? You suck....... lol

Joking. Congrats on the new camera. I can see why you'd be very happy with it.

 

[mrca]

I just got one. Now my pics will come out good because I have a good camera. All kidding aside, I just calibrated it to my meter and I come up with nearly 8 stops between clipping points. Like the d500, after shooting a d700 for 7 years, I am stunned by how much it will squeeze within that histogram. For those not familiar, it has the capability to switch to 4:5 ratio that I love for portraits and it shows the crop in the viewfinder which is all it is recording, ie 36 mp. Same for square 30 mp. I have it programmed to the video button so can change instantly as the shot requires. It allows me to crop in camera and save memory but have the 46 mp if I want a wide shot for really large prints. I haven't tested it, but the testing geeks have said there is a decrease in quality if you shoot in mid sized raw rather than large. I don't expect any degradation cropping.

 

[tirediron]

Thanks for doing the comparison. Looks like your D800 could start gathering dust.

Not any time soon, but it's likely going to get relegated to the #2 slot in my bag!

An 850??? You suck....... lol

Joking. Congrats on the new camera. I can see why you'd be very happy with it.

32" Hg worth! Thanks! Looking forward to trying it out on a couple of jobs alter this week!

I just got one. Now my pics will come out good because I have a good camera. All kidding aside, I just calibrated it to my meter and I come up with nearly 8 stops between clipping points. Like the d500, after shooting a d700 for 7 years, I am stunned by how much it will squeeze within that histogram. For those not familiar, it has the capability to switch to 4:5 ratio that I love for portraits and it shows the crop in the viewfinder which is all it is recording, ie 36 mp. Same for square 30 mp. I have it programmed to the video button so can change instantly as the shot requires. It allows me to crop in camera and save memory but have the 46 mp if I want a wide shot for really large prints. I haven't tested it, but the testing geeks have said there is a decrease in quality if you shoot in mid sized raw rather than large. I don't expect any degradation cropping.

There's a LOT of room to crop with a 45mp file, that's for sure!

 

[mrca]

Yes, but I like that I am cropping in camera and reducing the file size stored at the same time. Instead of humping a 3 lb 70-200 all day, can use a 135 2.0 and crop it to size in camera or post.

 

[D7K]

My GAS is hitting strongly now, I'm looking at investing back into the Nikon world and looking at the D850, so always good to see such positive real life reviews..

 

[mrca]

Here in the US, I have ordered the $360 battery, have it, the $350 battery pack had to return it as it was defective and due to arrive today, and a $300 charger has yet to be delivered. I don't urgently need the extra 2 fps but when dropping 4k, I would hope to receive my order in less than 2 months. Shooting without a battery pack for the first time in 7 years has been a pain as I am a portrait guy. Couple of other aspects that are important to me is the 64 optimized iso. I see most folks seeking more high iso, I love the low iso because I shoot a lot in full sun at the beach at 1.4, 2.0 or 2.8 and often want slow shutter speeds in the 1/15 to 1/30 range at the same time. Starting a stop and a half lower than my old d700 doesn't require as much dialed in with the vari nd and this camera amazingly focuses even with the vari nd cranked to 8 stops and I can barely see through the viewfinder. So no need to dial down, focus, lock focus, dial back up to shoot. I haven't tested the huge files for large prints, a major reason for the purchase, but shooting a wedding next week so will see what a huge print looks like at those sizes.