8 Points of Comparison of the Nikon D800 DSLR to Its Cousin and Its Competitor

With more than six months remaining during 2012, the digital photography marketplace has been already flooded with many new cameras for photographers of all skill levels (who is buying all these cameras?). Arguably, the winner through the end of April is the Nikon D800 full-frame DSLR…and, at the time of this Nikon D800 PhotographyTalk article, you could only pre-order it, and, even then, it was only available in limited quantities. This camera hasn’t actually left the starting gate, or crossed the finish line, and it appears to be the best bet for 2012.

Considering the D800 is the replacement for the D700, a camera that was released during 2008, which is an eternity between camera upgrades, it’s understandable there is much hoopla about the D800’s release and its capabilities. A clearer, more objective evaluation of the significance of the D800 is possible when it is compared to its cousin, the new Nikon D4, and its presumptive competitor, the new Canon EOS-5D Mark III.

1.   It may not yet be apparent to everyone in the world of digital photography, but Nikon consciously released its two new pro-quality, full-frame DSLRs (D800 and D4) at relatively the same time to appeal to most of the semi-pro and pro market. It has given professionals a choice, based on the type of photography they shoot, and from a marketing perspective this is always a good strategy.

2.   Nikon built the D4 with a larger, heavier and tougher body that is more capable of withstanding weather and the rugged use of professional sports, photojournalism and nature/wildlife photographers. Although not an absolute distinction, think of the D4 as an outdoors camera and the D800 as an indoor camera.

3.   The D4 has a sensor with a much lower resolution (16.2-MP compared to the D800’s rather staggering 36-MP), but a whopping maximum ISO sensitivity of 204,800 and a standard continuous shooting rate of 10fps. The D800’s highest ISO sensitivity is only 25,600, and continuous shooting is a meager 4 fps when compared to the speed demon rate of the D4.

Of course, these differences make perfect sense. Sports or wildlife photographers don’t require extreme resolution from a camera’s sensor, but they do need as much ISO flexibility as possible and a maximum burst of frames during the shortest period of time.

The D800’s specifications skewer it towards the portrait, fashion, interior architecture and product photography pros who require this camera’s enormous resolution, but in a lighter, more compact body than the D4. Much of their work becomes prints and the D800’s 7360x4912 pixels delivers as much as a 24.5 x 16.4” print at 300 dpi. ISO sensitivity and burst rate are not as critical for these types of photographers, since they are often utilizing lighting systems and their subjects are not moving at the speed of a race car or a running moose.

Based on Nikon’s excellent job of targeting its new full-frame DSLRs to two different markets, it shouldn’t be any surprise that the D4 costs twice as much as the D800 ($5,999.95 vs. $2,999.95). The D4 is truly a pros-only camera and they should expect their investment in a more rugged body to give them many years of service. The D800 has a bit larger market, as it will also appeal to serious amateurs and semi-pros, which is why Nikon set its price point in reach of that segment of buyers.

4.   When it comes to an objective comparison of the Nikon D800 to the Canon EOS-5D Mark III, the picture isn’t quite as clear. The D800’s 36-MP resolution versus the 5D Mark III’s 22.3-MP sensor would seem to signal: contest over! The competition isn’t quite so straightforward, however. The lower resolution of the Mark III could be an asset, as one would expect it to translate into lower noise at higher ISO levels, plus deliver a wider dynamic range.

Get full details, specs and the best D800 buying experience at Samy's Camera

5.   As the analysis goes deeper, the differences between the Nikon D800 and Canon EOS-5D Mark III seem to reach a standoff. The D800 may have more advanced metering, but the Mark III boasts a more advanced AF system. The D800 has a choice of crop modes, while the Canon model provides considerably higher, maximum ISO sensitivity, 102,400 compared to 25,600.

6.   The EOS-5D Mark III is certainly targeting the same general sector of serious amateurs, semi-pros and pros as the D800. Until both cameras are more widely distributed and examined by the experts and reviewers, there is apt to be much fewer differences in the minds of this segment of the market.

Those photographers who want the D800’s extreme high-resolution sensor are more likely to view it as an alternative to spending the extra money for a medium-format camera.

7.   For other photographers, price will be a major factor. This comparative favors Nikon, since the D800 is $500 less than the 5D Mark III. Many Canon loyalists are prepared to pay the price, however, to have access to Canon’s lens system, which is typically judged as first among all its rivals.

8.   At least, during the short term, Nikon and its D800 is standing in the spotlight; but the wise camera consumer will be patient until both the D800 and EOS-5D Mark III start to be tested in the marketplace and real shooting environments. You can’t be declared a winner until you’ve faced many challenges, and have proven you’re capable of overcoming them.

For many Southern California photographers, Samy’s Camera is their first choice when they’re shopping for 35mm and small format digital cameras and lenses, medium and large format cameras and accessories and professional-quality and amateur video equipment.

Alex Schult, president of PhotographyTalk, purchased his Nikon D800 from Samy’s and discovered its personalized service was as outstanding as its selection of photography equipment and competitive pricing.

“I had never been in the Los Angeles Samy’s Camera store, and the personal care I received was worth the hour drive. The people at Samy’s provide a level of service unavailable online. After buying my Nikon D800 there and interacting with a few employees, it’s no surprise so many photographers swear by Samy’s Camera. Thank you Samy’s for a wonderful camera buying experience!”

People who read this PhotographyTalk.com article also liked:

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• 10 Marks of Excellence for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR Camera
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Photograph © Nikon.com

This blog post about Comparison of the Nikon D800 DSLR was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-equipment-reviews/2318-8-points-of-comparison-of-the-nikon-d800-dslr-to-its-cousin-and-its-competitor

12 Hard Facts About the New Nikon D800 Full-Frame DSLR Camera

1. Forget the rumors! The new Nikon D800 full-frame DSLR has finally arrived, having been officially announced by Nikon on February 6, 2012. The company considers the D800 as the future replacement of the D700. The Nikon Web site displays the D800 as the fourth camera from the top-of-the-line D4, which was also recently introduced (with the D3S and D3X between them), but this is solely based on price.
   
   
   Read real customer reviews of the Nikon D800 here.

2. For some professionals, especially those shooting weddings, portraits and fashion, the D800 may have jumped to the top of the Nikon list. Its biggest feature phenomenon is a sensor that simply goes off the charts: FX-format, full-frame at 36.15 megapixels. This is 7360 x 4912 resolution, which is more than twice the pixel density of the D4.

3. Nikon has paired the enormous sensor on the D800 with its latest version of the EXPEED 3 image processor. The photographers who choose to shoot with the D800 would have demanded nothing less, since they need the minimization of color phase shifts, absolutely spot-on colors and tones and incredibly fast processing of their images’ huge data streams.

4. Nikon has purposely separated these two new powerhouse DSLRs by touting the D4 as being designed for fast burst of images and an extreme low-light capability. Its continuous shooting mode is 10fps compared to the D800’s 4fps. The D4 offers an astounding expandable ISO to 204,800, while the D800 is “limited” to ISO 25,600. It’s important, therefore, to match carefully your digital photography demands to either camera before spending the big bucks (although the D800 is approximately half the price of the D4).

5. Pros will also like the smaller dimensions and weight of the D800, which will make a long day of shooting a wedding or a fashion session less tiring. The D800 is 5.7” W x 4.8” H x 3.2” D (144.78mm x 121.92mm x 81.28mm) and weighs just less than two pounds at 31.7 oz. (900g).

6. Nikon’s solidifies its reputation for one of the most precise metering systems available by giving the D800 the 91,000-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering III System. Again, this is a feature wedding, portrait and fashion photographers will recognize immediately as a must-have. Add Nikon’s new Advanced Scene Recognition System and the pros will be simply drooling over its amazing accuracy for AF, AE, i-TTL flash control, face recognition and auto white balance.

7. Nikon couldn’t falter when it came to an equally impressive auto-focus system. The D800’s has a total of 51 points with 15 cross-type sensors, plus 51 3D tracking. The auto-focus system also provides an auto-area AF mode and single-point AF.

8. Nikon has also purposely designed the D800 to appeal to multimedia creators who require broadcast quality video. They will be able to record 1080p Full-HD video at 30/25/24p or 720p at 60/50p in AVC format. Connect the D800 to an external monitor via its HDMI port for simultaneous Live View as well as recording to a computer or external drive without filling the dual memory card slots. Audio capabilities are also pro quality with connections to stereo microphones and headphones as well as monitoring audio from the LCD monitor.

9. To view all the details of high-resolution stills and video, the Nikon D800 is built with a 3.2-inch, 921,000-dot LCD monitor. Brightness is automatically adjusted and allows you to magnify images to 46 times real size to be absolutely sure of focus.

10. With all the large files the pros will be creating with the D800, they’ll appreciate the inclusion of USB 3.0, so data moves amazingly quickly through the workflow process.

11. Nikon will also release the Nikon D800E during April. It will include a different low-pass filter, without anti-aliasing characteristics, so photographers can achieve even greater sharpness for RAW files.

12. As of the writing of this PhotographyTalk article, the Nikon D800 (body only) can be pre-ordered from B&H Photo Video for $2,999.95 (for a projected March delivery) at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Nikon+D800&N=0&InitialSearch=yes.

People who read this PhotographyTalk.com article also liked:

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Photo © Nikon Corporation

This article about New Nikon D800 Full-Frame DSLR Camera was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-equipment-reviews/2073-12-hard-facts-about-the-new-nikon-d800-full-frame-dslr-camera

22 Mind-Blowing Rumors About the New Nikon D800 DSLR Camera

1.     Who Actually Knows?

The Internet creates a rumor mill of galactic proportions that can include speculations about the members of a teenage girl clique at the average high school or issues of global significance that could affect everyone. Somewhere in the middle of these extremes are the current rumors about the new Nikon DSLR camera that is “rumored” to be named the D800, thus replacing the D700.

Read real customer reviews of the Nikon D800 here.

The point is no one actually knows because as of the date of this article (10/6/11) Nikon has made no official announcement; however, enough is known that it is a virtually certainty that this new high-end DSLR is coming.

The latest rumors from various sources (reliability unknown) are presented below, dated from September 21 through October 5, 2011.

9/21/11

2.     Nikon will likely make an announcement during October, probably the week of October 17th. It is likely much of the delay is attributable to the Japanese earthquake, which reportedly affected a Nikon plant. Nikon may also have a release-date strategy that takes into account the impending introduction of the new Canon 5D Mark III, which will be the D800’s primary competition.

9/23/11

3.     In a recent interview, Swedish Nikon executive Lasse Pettersson stated, in a response to a question, that there would be no announcement during October.

9/29/11

4.     The sensor will have 3,620 megapixels.

5.     The camera body will fire 4 frames per second in continuous shooting mode. An optional battery pack will increase the rate to approximately 6 frames per second.

6.     Full HD video in 1920 x 1080 at 30p.

7.     Built-in headphone jacks, with input from an external device, such as a PCM sound recorder. It will correspond to USB 3.0. A new small wireless transmitter will be available.

8.     86K pixel split control, AF, exposure, white balance, etc. compatible.

9.     Face Recognition AF features.

10.  Larger LCD monitor and automatic brightness adjustment.

11.  Two media CF and SD card slots.

12.  Shutter durability of 200,000 cycles.

13.  A market price of approximately $3,900.

14.  The announcement to occur on October 26; the product released on November 24.

10/3/11

15.  A reliable source is willing to confirm a 99% probability that the camera will be named Nikon D800 and have a 36-megapixel sensor.

16.  As a reference, the D800 will be very much like a mini-D3x. It will not have the same high ISO sensitivity as the D3s.

10/4/11

17.  ISO range: 100–6,400, ISO LO at 50 and ISO HI-2 at 25,600.

18.  There is likely to be a different D800 version with the anti-aliasing filter removed.

19.  The D800 may have been already released in a number of countries.

10/5/11

20.  The D800 will improve on the D700’s 95% frame coverage by offering 100% coverage.

21.  The same 51 points AF system as in the D700 and D3s.

22.  The dual memory card slots were confirmed, but not SD, CF or both, as of yet.

This post about New Nikon D800 DSLR camera was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-equipment-reviews/1626-22-mind-blowing-rumors-about-the-new-nikon-d800-dslr-camera

Nikon D750 vs Nikon D810: Are They Still Worth It in 2019?

In this review, we will compare the Nikon D750 and Nikon D810, two full-frame cameras released by Nikon in 2014.

In the year they were launched, these two models were among the best semi-pro full-frame cameras on the market. However, five years have passed and technology has advanced so it is reasonable to have doubts if they are still worth buying in 2019. Nikon D810 vs Nikon D750 is always a topic of debate by Nikon fans.

Let’s answer this question immediately. The Nikon D750 and Nikon D810 still have a lot of things to offer and you will not get disappointed if you decide to buy one of these two models.

Now, let’s see what is so great about these cameras.

Nikon D750 vs Nikon D810 Image Quality

Nikon D750

The D810 was one of the most successful cameras released by Nikon. The primary reason for this is outstanding image quality you get for the invested money.

What makes the Nikon D810 so great in the first place is its 36MP - full-frame CMOS sensor without an anti-aliasing filter. The images you make on this camera will be rich in details even if you perform cropping or decide to make large prints. 

Nikon D810

On the other hand, the Nikon D750 has a 24.3 MP sensor. Although this is 12 million pixels less in comparison to the Nikon D850, it will be perfectly enough for most of the photographers. However, the D750 uses anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter to reduce moire in images, which comes at a cost since it can make your photos lose few details.

Overall, there is no significant difference in image quality between these two cameras. Although there is a bigger resolution in the D810, in most cases you don’t need more than 24 megapixels that can be found in the D710.

Learn More:

• Nikon D850 vs Nikon D810
• The Ultimate Full Frame Showdown: Nikon D810 vs Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R II 
• Nikon camera reviews

Nikon D750 vs Nikon D810 Low Light Evaluation 

photo by Artem Peretiatko via iStock

Another thing that makes the Nikon D750 and Nikon D810 still relevant for those who are looking for a full-frame DSLR model is their impressive low-light capability. 

With a native ISO range of 64-12,800 (expandable to ISO 32 - 51,200), the Nikon D810 allows better flexibility than the Nikon D750 which has a native ISO sensitivity of 100-12,800 (expandable to ISO 50 - 51,200).

At the high-end of ISO, both models produce good results and this makes them particularly effective if you enjoy photographing at night.  However, although the Nikon D750 has lower price it seems that it performs a bit better than the Nikon D810 when there is not much light around.

The Nikon D750 produces less noise on images when they are shot at high ISO levels. This is, among other things, because of the lower resolution of this camera and bigger individual pixels that can gather more light. 

This does not mean the Nikon D810 performs badly in low-light, and in the end, the difference is not that significant. Given its price, it comes as a surprise that the Nikon D750 produces better results in low-light than its more expensive sibling.

In the video above, Heather Lahtinen compares ISO performance of the Nikon D750 and Nikon D850.

Nikon D750 Specs vs Nikon D810 Specs

photo by stonena7 via iStock

Now, let’s compare other important features of these two models. 

There are no substantial differences in terms of autofocus capabilities. Both cameras feature a Multi-CAM 3500 AF module with 51 AF points (15 cross-type points). The Nikon D750 can autofocus down to -3 EV, while the Nikon D810 goes down to EV -2.

When it comes to burst shooting, the Nikon D750 seems to be a better performer. This camera offers 6 shutter flaps per second, while the Nikon D810 has continuous shooting speed of 5 frames per second.

However, what is good about the Nikon D810 is that it has a faster shutter, bigger RAW buffer, and finally it is much less noisy than the Nikon D750.

Additionally, both cameras can record videos up to 1080p at 60fps.

Get more information about Nikon D750 or Nikon D810 in the video above by ArtoftheImage.

Learn more:

• Head to Head: Nikon D7500 vs. Nikon D750 
• Nikon D750 Review 

Nikon D750 Body vs Nikon D810 Body  

When it comes to design, both cameras are pretty comfortable and easy to use. The Nikon D810 has a slightly stronger body although both cameras are weather-sealed and built to have a long life.

The Nikon D750 is smaller and lighter than the Nikon D810. The camera measures 5.55 x 4.45 x 3.07 inches and weighs 1.7 pounds, in comparison to the Nikon D810 which has dimensions of 5.75 × 4.84 × 3.21 inches and weight of almost two pounds.

Both cameras have displays of the same size (3.2”) and resolution (1.229k dots) and none of them provides touchscreen technology. However, there are certain differences in LCD screens.

Nikon D750

If you are looking for a camera that has an articulating screen, you might get disappointed to hear that the Nikon D810 has a fixed LCD . The Nikon D750 allows better flexibility in shooting images from different angles since it is equipped with a tilting LCD monitor.

Nikon D810

One more thing where the Nikon D750 wins over its sibling is in terms of connectivity. This camera has a built-in Wi-Fi connection while you would need to buy an optional Wi-Fi dongle if you want to connect the Nikon D810 to smart devices.

Nikon D750 Price vs Nikon D810 Price

Photo by Kamil Feczko on Unsplash

Overall, the Nikon D810 and Nikon D750 share a lot of common features, and both cameras produce great results in different environments.

Since they were released almost five years ago, at the moment you don’t need to spend a fortune to get one of these models for yourself.

If you don’t mind using an old camera, you can find the Nikon D810 for a price as low as $939.00.

If you opt for the Nikon D750, you can spare even more money since you can find a used model on websites such as MPB, for only $879.00.

See why MPB is a top-rated used camera store in my MPB review.

This article about Nikon D750 Vs Nikon D810 was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/nikon-d750-vs-nikon-d810

The Way Nikon Tests the D850 is Straight Up Crazy

I'm a Nikon guy and have been for years and years.

I started out with a D750, then had a D800, then a D810, and now my primary camera is the Nikon D850.

They've all been great cameras, each one better than the last. In fact, the D850 is hands-down my favorite camera I've ever owned. Its the best Nikon camera.

But despite being a big Nikon fan, I had no idea the lengths the company goes to test its cameras for durability.

You'll see what I mean in the video above from Nikon Asia in which they put a D850 through some straight up crazy tests to make sure that it's as reliable a camera as you can find.

In addition to dropping it, vibrating it, and hitting it with things, the folks at Nikon also put the D850 through its paces in incredible temperatures and humidity.

YouTube Screenshot/Nikon Asia

In fact, these Nikon D850 tests put the camera through a range of temperatures from 32 to 104 degree Fahrenheit, though the camera is technically designed to handle an even wider spectrum of temperatures.

The Nikon testers also place the camera in a high-humidity chamber to ensure its delicate components will continue working even when the humidity soars to 100 percent.

Since the D850 is a high-end camera (and one of the best Nikon cameras ever made, in my opinion), the body is weather sealed against things like dust and rain, so, of course, Nikon has tests for that stuff as well.

In the screenshot below, you can see that Nikon isn't fooling around when it comes to creating a dusty environment - that camera is completely covered!

YouTube Screenshot/Nikon Asia

Though I haven't had an occasion to be out shooting in the middle of a sandstorm, rain, snow, or other elements, I do go to the beach to shoot on a regular basis.

I can attest to the weather-sealing of the D850 because I've never had an issue with humidity causing a problem or sand from the beach finding its way into my camera.

But for those of you that are more adventurous or tougher on your gear than I am, at least now you know just how far Nikon takes its testing of its cameras before they come to market!

Learn More:

• These NASA Photos of Earth Will Blow Your Mind
• Dog Runs Off With GoPro, Proves She's The Next Filmmaker

Via Nikon Asia and Petapixel

This blog post about Nikon D850 Test was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/8756-the-way-nikon-tests-the-d850-is-straight-up-crazy