If the D800 has taught me anything, it's...

[Hooligan Dan]

That I need to update a couple lenses.

For the last two years I've been using my D3s as my primary body and my D300 as a secondary. For work I produce a lot of multimedia pieces. For those I use the paper's Canon rebel something or other as my secondary video camera. It works well enough but there is an obvious drop in quality when I switch between D3s footage and the rebel footage. This is the main reason I got the D800 - video.

As for photos, I love shooting close and wide. The 17-35 2.8 has been my best friend. On the D3s it looks great. But pop it on the D800 and its age really shows. Very soft around the edges. Horrid CA. And not even that sharp in the center. Same goes for the older 105 macro. I rarely shoot macro photos(ones of those areas I was never very good at). I mostly use if for super closeup video. But I shot some bees today and it was not pretty. Those excellent 100% crops I've been seeing can't happen with it. The shots still look pretty good and are better than any other camera I own could do, but they are far from what they could be.

Looks like I'm finally moving to the 24-70 and the 105vr.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Wow thanks for this post. I see I'm going to have to tap the piggy bank and order a D800 soon.

 

[Derrel]

The D800 has been like printing money for Nikon...the D800 "sells new lenses" on its own!!! It's better at selling lenses than those magazine ads Nikon's been buying for so many years!

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Yeah i have "the glass", seems the body only is coming to me at a discount

 

[rexbobcat]

I didn't think that ultra sharp lenses mattered as much for video since you're throwing out most of the resolution anyways.

 

[Hooligan Dan]

I didn't think that ultra sharp lenses mattered as much for video since you're throwing out most of the resolution anyways.

Oh, video with my current lenses looks pretty good. But I still plan on using the camera for photos too even if my main reason for purchasing it was for video. Cant pass up using the D800 to its max potential.

 

[IgsEMT]

The D800 has been like printing money for Nikon...the D800 "sells new lenses" on its own!!! It's better at selling lenses than those magazine ads Nikon's been buying for so many years!

Perhaps, that is the reason why the produced it ~
On similar note, it is one of the most controversial cameras out there.

 

[Derrel]

The D800 has been like printing money for Nikon...the D800 "sells new lenses" on its own!!! It's better at selling lenses than those magazine ads Nikon's been buying for so many years!

Perhaps, that is the reason why the produced it ~
On similar note, it is one of the most controversial cameras out there.

Yes...the D800 *is* controversial, and is being mentioned in the same breath as people like Kanye West, Kim Kar-trashian, Lady Gaga, and even Lindsay Lohan!!! Shocking!

 

[Mach0]

Yeah i have "the glass", seems the body only is coming to me at a discount

So what's good with your d700? Lol

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Yeah i have "the glass", seems the body only is coming to me at a discount

So what's good with your d700? Lol

D700 is great with the glass I have in my signature. Not as great as the D800 though.

The tonal resolution and dynamic range of the D800 I'm seeing with the new expeed 3 processor is calling my name

 

[Enticingimagery]

I just got my D800E, and stuck a 50mm 1.8G on it until my 24-70 comes through. A cheap as chips lens, and it is amazing on the D800E, razor sharp., pixel peeping not a problem with this combination. Proof you don't need a $2000+ lens on a $3000 camera.

 

[matthewo]

I just got my D800E, and stuck a 50mm 1.8G on it until my 24-70 comes through. A cheap as chips lens, and it is amazing on the D800E, razor sharp., pixel peeping not a problem with this combination. Proof you don't need a $2000+ lens on a $3000 camera.

yep, you are correct sir. i was about to post this. a $100 nikon 50mm 1.8d looks great on the d800. its also razor sharp. i think where we are going to see the biggest problems are lower end non-pro zoom lenes. seems like the d800 really is tough on anything zoom that is not part of the holy nikon trinity LOL.

 

[Hooligan Dan]

I just got my D800E, and stuck a 50mm 1.8G on it until my 24-70 comes through. A cheap as chips lens, and it is amazing on the D800E, razor sharp., pixel peeping not a problem with this combination. Proof you don't need a $2000+ lens on a $3000 camera.

The 50mm f/1.4G holds up very nicely on the D800 as well. There's not much around the office to shoot, unfortunately.

 

[Derrel]

Dan,
The new 85mm 1.8 AF-S G-series Nikkor is also an amazing, high-resolution lens for a field telephoto. It's not too big, and not too expensive, and has very good performance across the frame. I bought one and have been pretty impressed with its optics. HERE is a fun web article by Ming Thein, entitled "Recommended Lenses For The Nikon D800e". http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/06/30/recommended-lenses-for-the-nikon-d800e/

He has also got some more detailed comments on-line,scattered around the world wide web. Some on dPreview's various forums.

 

[Hooligan Dan]

For kicks and giggles, D3s/50mm f/1.5G with same settings.