[capdegat]

Just received D800 .No problems with af or lcd so these are without fine tune etc.
First couple of shots taken , first is reasonably cropped - second fx.
d800
300mm f4 + 1.4 tc
iso 280 @ 1/1000
Happy so far after 24 hours

[Jaff]

How did you get the ISO set at 280?

[capdegat]

actually I made a mistake in that the dunnock was 280 and the coot 220. This was with auto iso as reported by lr4. On hindsight funny numbers I agree.

[ericbowles]

Auto ISO can actually choose ISO settings that cannot be selected in the camera with the options available for 1/2 stop or 1/3 stop increments.

[capdegat]

I read somewhere that in between iso's are not as good because they're forced . Is this the case for the d800 ?

[ericbowles]

Originally Posted by capdegat

I read somewhere that in between iso's are not as good because they're forced . Is this the case for the d800 ?

Les

I've never heard that before for any camera. There is a user option to select 1/2 stop or 1/3 stop increments for manual changes. ISO is simply amplifying the signal, so there is no real reason why any specific number is better than another. Even the reported numbers are simply approximations - measured ISO at every level is slightly different than reported ISO.

Auto ISO was designed this way by Nikon and they made a conscious decision about what ISO levels are reported. The auto ISO feature is one of the elements that is tested in the field with pre-release cameras. It's been around for a while, so I would expect any issues are well reported.

I'd be interested in a source with more detail.

[capdegat]

I hate say it but I think this was when I was a canonite ( briefly I hasten to add )
I think now, that this was probably on the older cameras and all the modern/new ones are perfectly ok.

[Jaff]

I'm sure it has been said somewhere that cameras have to calculate for themselves what the 1/3 stop ISO increments are which is meant to lead to an increase in noise. So for example ISO 640 might sometimes be only a tiny bit less noisy or even the same as ISO 800 and that you may as well stick to using 800. If the AUTO ISO can set any ISO value it wants then it must calculate that too and setting some dodgy values like the above seems quite odd really and can't be good for noise I'd guess. There must be a setting that can force the AUTO ISO to stick to the main increments surely?

However I can't comment on whether things are any different with newer cameras or not.

It might just be all complete crap too for all I know.

[capdegat]

Some more shots from new d800 . I'm very happy with it so far but I've only taken a couple of hundred shots so still plenty to learn . Most things are better than d700 i.e. colour , a/f etc ( to be expected ) but battery life is rubbish.
BTW has anybody seen a more mangy hare !
all taken with 300mm f4 and 1.4 TC. Auto iso at this stage.

[pe'rigin]

Les,


Could you explain your experience with the battery life?

Very nice clean images.

[ericbowles]

My experience with the D800E has been very good battery life with and without the grip. I am easily getting 600-1000 frames from a single battery. My only battery life issue has been when using the Eye-Fi card.

The first couple of cycles on a new battery are not as good as the same battery a little later.

[pe'rigin]

Eric,

That's good to know, I was a little worried with using the 600mm, I've had no problems before, just concerned that the D800 consumed more power and I should have got an extra battery. Two weeks in, I've still got to get out with the kit, a combination of bad weather and other commitments have hampered me.

What were the issues you had with the card?

Judging by others results, it looks like this camera needs a rock steady support and remote with long lenses, certainly a beast of a camera.

[ericbowles]

I have more images with the Nikon 600mm f/4 than any other lens - covering everything from birds in flight to slow shutter speeds and high ISO. The 600 f/4 really shines with the D800E and I have seen no sign of moire. I have seen that you need to pay more attention to depth of field - the focus point is incredibly sharp when you get it right, and out of focus areas are clearly noticeable. Of course, the 600 f/4 is used with a good gimbal head. I did see a drop off in quality with the 1.4 teleconverter but it was still quite acceptable.

I've used a range of other lenses - 200-400, 70-200, 24-70, 16-35, 105 f/2.8 VR, and 50 f/1.4. All the lenses have performed well. I have confirmed that I do not need any kind of focus adjustments. The 16-35 and 70-200 have been used handheld and there are no issues - I use them with the D800E just like any other camera. Good technique is required and rewarded - poor technique shows up - but handheld is just fine where appropriate. I have done some testing with the 200-400 and it is very good but does not match the 600 f/4. The 1.4 teleconverter maintained nearly the same image quality on the 200-400.

The Eye-Fi card worked fine but if you leave the card active in the camera, you need to watch your battery. The Eye-Fi card drains the battery quickly - overnight it caused the battery to be completely drained. You can turn off the card in the camera using the camera menu and the battery drain stops.

[JPAC]

I read for the first few times the battery charges up the internal D800 camera battery so after a few charges you should get about 800 shots per charge.

[pe'rigin]

Brilliant Eric and JP,


I didn't know about the recharge.

One thing Eric, you were commenting on the convertors, overall were you happy with the results or not? I wasn't planning to use any with the D800, I figured that with the file size I should be able to achieve all I've planned with the 600mm. You basically have the same lenses as myself, except I don't have the big zoom. So I'm pleased that you have found them all very acceptable and I thank you for reporting.

I agree with you that any judgement error will show up with the results and I accept that. I don't think it's a camera for blasting-off like a machine gun willy-nilly. My aim is to achieve colour correct,razor-sharp images, I may have to bin more than usual, but I see it as progress for my image data base.

My hope now is for some good light for the Autumn migration, and a break in this awful weather.

[capdegat]

thanks for the info JP . Another one who didn't know ( but should have done ! )

[birdeast]

Traveling back to Singapore for a break next week and pretty much decided to pick up a D800. Any reason I shouldnt go ahead and grab the D800E if its available?

Ive been monitoring the web for updates on issues with moire.... so far doesnt seem to be much of an issue.

[Dave Williams]

I almost changed my mind and bought one yesterday, stock is becoming available in several places now. They couldn't get it to me in time for my leaving on holiday so I didn't go ahead and on reflection I'm glad.
Prices are coming down..Amazon have knocked £100 off the price and they are selling the "E" for the same as the standard body.
The main reason for not going ahead is the fps. I still maintain it's not fast enough. I had a session shooting Stoats a few days ago using my D300s and the number I binned because the subject had changed direction etc was huge.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...p/photo/419238

A fraction of a second does make a lot of difference in some situations.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...5/limit/recent

[JPAC]

The number of complaints is still putting me off. Some reckon half need fixing, AF problems, quality control issues, software faults, LCD colour, flash control, hanging - needs battery removed to work again, oil splatter on the sensor and more.

The price went down during the week to £2,399 even at Jessops but I think I'll give it even longer before I jump in.

The quality difference between the D800 and the E version is too small to justify the price increase IMO.

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=5517
http://bythom.com/ various see D800

[RMWD]

Originally Posted by JPAC

The number of complaints is still putting me off. Some reckon half need fixing, AF problems, quality control issues, software faults, LCD colour, flash control, hanging - needs battery removed to work again, oil splatter on the sensor and more.

The price went down during the week to £2,399 even at Jessops but I think I'll give it even longer before I jump in.

The quality difference between the D800 and the E version is too small to justify the price increase IMO.

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=5517
http://bythom.com/ various see D800

Yes DXOMark only gave the D800e one more mark than the D800.
My D800 is sharp as a knife. I'm content I didn't pay extra for the e.
Good to see that supply is improving and prices coming down.

[horukuru]

I was thinking, if I get the D800 once the stock is available in my place, most of my subject at this moment is mainly birds and also wildlife, does the megapixels gives us extra in cropping let say 50% when we use 300mm - 400mm lenses ?

Will the quality retained for printing etc ?

[ericbowles]

The resolution of the D800/D800E can be used in whatever manner you desire. It's no magic bullet, but it will be much better than the same crop from almost any other camera. The high resolution can be used for a crop while retaining detail and still taking advantage of the dynamic range and color rendition.

[Hor Kee]

Originally Posted by horukuru

I was thinking, if I get the D800 once the stock is available in my place, most of my subject at this moment is mainly birds and also wildlife, does the megapixels gives us extra in cropping let say 50% when we use 300mm - 400mm lenses ?

Will the quality retained for printing etc ?

Jason, from what I've read DX mode will give you approximately 15.5 megapixels in resolution, so the D800/D800e gives great resolution even when either used in crop mode or should you manually crop your photo. It is akin to, literally, having two birding cameras in one. You'll have to get used to the slower but usable fps in FX mode though, at least in comparison with your D300s.

[gergrd]

Interesting review of the D800 / D800E by Thom Hogan here: http://bythom.com/nikond800review.htm

Thom suggests that for most bird photography, the D7000 would be a better option than the D800 or D800E (greater pixel density, higher frames per second, lower cost, etc.). Other things to consider of course, but food for thought.

[RMWD]

Originally Posted by gergrd

Interesting review of the D800 / D800E by Thom Hogan here: http://bythom.com/nikond800review.htm

Thom suggests that for most bird photography, the D7000 would be a better option than the D800 or D800E (greater pixel density, higher frames per second, lower cost, etc.). Other things to consider of course, but food for thought.

I read his review and also bought and read his D800 book. However Thom isn't a small bird photographer. I have both the D7000 and the D800 and the performance of the latter is significantly better apart from fps which is 1fps less than the D7000 with I do not consider important in practice.. For BIF the D800 autofocuses, tracks and shoots much more accurately than the D7000. Sure the D7000 can be used for this but it requires more patience anticipation and luck.