Markw's D800 Review Thread.

480sparky · Mar 28, 2012

When are you going to send me your old camera body?

Markw · Mar 28, 2012

We can trade for the Sigma 600.

Mark

Markw · Mar 28, 2012

More test shots. Most above ISO1250. Sorry guys, there has been some noise reduction done. I have this obsession for having silky smooth images. I guess this is something I'm going to have to forget about after around ISO1600 (or maybe before). The pixels are simply packed so tight together, they're almost more visible. Now, mind you, I understand this isn't the D3s we're talking about here. But, I would give anything for the images to be just a bit more smooth. I'll post a few unedited samples at the end to show you what I mean.

All images taken with Nikon D800 and Sigma 180mm F/3.5 EX DG HSM APO IF Macro

Now for the resolution-testing shots.

100% crop:

100% Crop

Mark

480sparky · Mar 28, 2012

Markw said:
We can trade for the Sigma 600.

Mark

Deal!

rgregory1965 · Mar 28, 2012

never mind

thanks

Aloicious · Mar 28, 2012

nice, great review, my local brick and mortar called on monday saying my pre-order had arrived and I picked it up tuesday. I've been way busy and haven't had a chance to really test it out. but so far I agree about it feeling small...I'm used to a D3s though, so I expected it to be a little smaller, I'll have to see how it goes when I've used it more. I've literally only taken 4=5 shots with it and haven't really had a chance to look at them.

good test images...

osirus · Mar 29, 2012

nice posts,
Im going crazy waiting for my pre order to come in :grumpy:

DScience · Mar 29, 2012

I am a little underwhelmed by the test images. The higher ISO examples are not that diff than the D700. I would like to see the originals, and also some tripod shots using ISO 200.

Markw · Mar 29, 2012

Thanks. I agree, and I will get some up probably tomorrow.

Mark

Aloicious · Mar 29, 2012

the ISO at 100% image I'm finding it to be similar to the d7000 IMO maybe slightly better, for high ISO I still would rather use a D700, or in my case, my D3s....the ISO benefit you see from places like DXOmark come from standardization of the images which favors large MP....(reducing the huge MP image to compare with smaller MP images also reduces noise)...

you do have a benefit on the other end with the D800 since the low native ISO is 100 vs the old standard of 200...and thats really where you see the large dynamic range and color bit benefits...I think the D800 will shine as a tripod dweller (studio/landscapes) where the low ISO benefits can really show off.

Hooligan Dan · Mar 29, 2012

Those 100% crops are nuts. I was planning to buy a D800 for the video backup to my D3s, but now I'm thinking I have to use it for some photos. Great review, Mark.

Markw · Mar 30, 2012

Well, a bit more photos from yesterday. All of the following were taken with the Nikon D800 and Nikon 50mm F/1.8D.

ISO100
F/2.8
1/2000

100%

200%
*NOTE*: Image was taken at F/2.8. Should I have thought I was going to do a 200% crop, I would have bumped to F/8, and details would have been rendered better.

ISO500
F/4
1/250
Dynamic range in this one is really where the camera shines. You can't really tell, but the light coming in through the windows was VERY strong. Unfiltered, late evening sun. The kind that throws shadows twice as long as you are tall. That kind of light. And detail is still seen in the highlights. Incredible.

100%

Now, here's the shocker of the day. I took this photo at dark time. It was 100% as dark as it was going to get for the day. No lights on in the truck. I was doing this to test the new AF in the camera. It was a 1.8 lens, however. Either way, it was DARK out. 100% night-time dark.

ISO200
F/2.8
1/50
Photo straight OOC (besides BW conversion)

Lightened by 4++ stops in ACR6.9
100% crop

Spot exposure increase just a bit more on the eye, noise reduction at 50%.

And, to my utter amazement, the focus was spot-on! It was hard for even me to see if I had placed the AF selector point at the right spot to get her eye. But, the camera focused on it just fine. It's clearly not the best photo in the world, but not bad considering it's at 100%, and the photo it came from. Incredible, really.

Mark

slackercruster · Mar 30, 2012

Thanks for the rundown Mark!

2WheelPhoto · Mar 30, 2012

Mark great write up and beautiful pics.

A friend told me she has a hard time reaching the aperture preview button on hers then I saw it on dpreview video. Does my friend and the chinese guy on dpreview just have short fingers or is it really in a tough spot?