A D800 at last (1 Viewer)

Neil · Mar 22, 2012

I picked up my D800 today after my favorite local store called me for the second time in a week. The first time was for the D4 which he had ordered for me before I had decided on the D800. He had only got one delivered by Nikon so he was a bit put out, but enough of that.
I took it down to the harbor this afternoon on a bright but hazy/cloudy day. I'm not sure how best to show the advantages of the large file size as it was too hazy for big crops to do it justice. I shot at iso 100 and 200 , using the 50/1.8 D and the 70-200/2.8 AFS VR plus TC 20E 111.
Some early observations. It is not fast - 4 fps in FX and 5 fps in 1.2 crop mode. It's layout is very much like the D7000 so you have to go into menus more than I would like (compared to the D3/D3s ).
I won't say more at this stage as I'll take it out to the wetlands tomorrow on the 500/4 AFS VR to give it a real life workout.
Neil
ps I've put some photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/sets/72157629276779902/

Hong Kong,
China.
March 2012

BillN · Mar 22, 2012

Thanks for posting - looks good to me

I just wonder when they will become "readily available" in the UK

GYRob · Mar 22, 2012

very nice, even the helicopter shows up well
Rob.

Jaff · Mar 22, 2012

I too will be eager to learn your thoughts Neil as I think I'm favouring this over the D4 now. There have been some studio samples posted on DPreview and it looks to me from those like it's high ISO is quite a bit better than the D7000.

Could you also give it a try in DX mode and see how well it fares. Cheers. B

Steve Tucker · Mar 22, 2012

Thanks for posting Neil, I am still waiting to decide whether to go for the D800 the D4 or wait for the (D400) so this is of interest.
Were these shot hand held or tripod mounted?

Chalky W · Mar 22, 2012

Neil,

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts from using the 500mm and the D800 as I'm considering replacing my tired old D300 so would love to hear how it performs.

BTW, some great shots of Star Ferry which bring back fond memories for me as I lived in HK for a while in the late 90's, not long before the handover. I went back a couple of years ago and I miss the place a lot, its a great city.

Neil · Mar 23, 2012

BillN said:
Thanks for posting - looks good to me

I just wonder when they will become "readily available" in the UK

They are not readily available here yet either. My dealer only got 4. My mate hasn't been able to get one.
Neil.

capdegat · Mar 23, 2012

why are people interested in d800 for birding when it only does 4fps ? I was told I needed a lot more .

capdegat · Mar 23, 2012

sorry , tried to do wink smiley but didn't work.

JPAC · Mar 23, 2012

capdegat said:
why are people interested in d800 for birding when it only does 4fps ? I was told I needed a lot more .http://www.birdforum.net/images/smilies/awink.gif

The D800 is the latest, that's enough for some. It has enough MP in DX mode to produce great quality prints. The focusing is supposed to be better. It's a good all round camera that's half the price of a D4.

However, the D400 if it ever shows up, hopefully may be more suited to birding as it should be DX.

4fps is slow by modern standards (IMO) but it goes up to 6fps in DX mode with the MB-D12 battery pack for another £400-ish.

4fps should still get you some passing Glossy Ibis' though, you just have control your shutter finger a little more.

Steve Tucker · Mar 23, 2012

JPAC said:
The D800 is the latest, that's enough for some. It has enough MP in DX mode to produce great quality prints. The focusing is supposed to be better. It's a good all round camera that's half the price of a D4.

However, the D400 if it ever shows up, hopefully may be more suited to birding as it should be DX.

4fps is slow by modern standards (IMO) but it goes up to 6fps in DX mode with the MB-D12 battery pack for another £400-ish.

4fps should still get you some passing Glossy Ibis' though, you just have control your shutter finger a little more.

Well, I am waiting on the reviews, I agree I would like more fps so may wait for the d400 and see what we get as I can stick with my d300s for now.

Not sure I agree that DX is more suited to birding. I stand to be corrected though but my thoughts are that at 36MP you can crop down to 12MP to get the reach. There is also DX mode which gives two cameras in one.

Helios · Mar 23, 2012

If you believe DxOMark, the D800 has been crowned as having the best sensor that they've ever tested. ISO performance is just a little below that of the D4, which strangely is slightly below that of the D3s.

Jaff · Mar 23, 2012

capdegat said:
sorry , tried to do wink smiley but didn't work.

It does now.

capdegat · Mar 23, 2012

The reason I did smiley was because of small discussion between myself and Jaff. Perhaps that's why he corrected my smiley ( thanks by the way ).

Hor Kee · Mar 23, 2012

JPAC said:
4fps is slow by modern standards (IMO) but it goes up to 6fps in DX mode with the MB-D12 battery pack for another £400-ish.

4fps should still get you some passing Glossy Ibis' though, you just have control your shutter finger a little more.

With the correct discipline, technique and timing, 4fps can still get you beautiful action shots. I use a low0level Eos 600D which only does 3.7fps but have gotten great action shots. The degree of effort put in to anticipate action would be much greater though, but the challenge factor it gives really makes me look forward to going into the field.

Neil · Mar 24, 2012

I took the D800 out to the mudflats yesterday to give a real workout.
I shot it on the Nikon 500/4 AFS VR with Nikon TC14 and TC20111. The light was poor (pollution) so not a good test but here are a few anyway.
The AF seemed to be as good if not better than the D3s so the slower fps didn't bother me too much. I was able to get on Greenshanks and Marshies flying by, although all were going away rather than coming. I will get them coming at me with the tides of next week.
I was impressed that the AF worked well with the 2x teleconverter as I plan to use it on the 300/4 on my coming trip down to Sydney ( I don't travel with the 500/4).
I started shooting at iso 3200/6400 as light was dim but I'm not sure about noise as it was so hazy.
The Grey Plover was at iso 3200 and with the TC20E 111 teleconverter and Crop Mode for an equivalent 1500 mm ( VR switched on). First photo is jpeg straight out of the camera, the second is cropped and adjusted in CS5.
The Great Egret is same magnification but at iso 6400.
The BW Stilt and Eurasian Wigeon were at iso 1600 and 1.2x Crop with the TC14 teleconverter.
The camera was a bit light on the back of the 500 mm lens so getting it balanced on the Manfrotto 501 head was a problem. I will need to look at this.
I shot some video too but it was difficult as there were 15 photographers crowded into the hide with a wooden floor. I have posted a short video here
http://vimeo.com/39049509 . The video options can be a bit complicated but I chose 1280 x 720/25fps .
That's all for now but ask any questions and I'll try and answer them as I learn more about the camera.
Neil

Hong Kong,
China.
March, 2012
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/

capdegat · Mar 24, 2012

excellent shots Neil . I was especially interested in the f8 ability as I'm proposing to use 300 f4 +tc2 myself .I'd love to carry my old big lens but bad neck has curtailed this. The egret at 6400 jpeg is much better than I expected .I'm looking forward to playing if I ever see my camera in UK !

Pasquier · Mar 24, 2012

Thanks for posting Neil.
The results with the tc20EIII are most encouraging!
Looks like I will have to place an order!

Neil · Mar 24, 2012

capdegat said:
excellent shots Neil . I was especially interested in the f8 ability as I'm proposing to use 300 f4 +tc2 myself .I'd love to carry my old big lens but bad neck has curtailed this. The egret at 6400 jpeg is much better than I expected .I'm looking forward to playing if I ever see my camera in UK !

Les,
I'm interested in the shorter lenses too. I have to carry my kit for a couple of kms and my knee started playing up again on Friday. I think the 500/4 will go back on the shelf and I'll restrict myself to the 300/4 AFS. I've got some of my best flight shots with this lens anyway.
Most of my migrating wader shots are on the ground anyway so I can digiscope those or use the Kowa Lens/Scope 500 and 850 mm lens modules which are about the same weight as the 300/4.
Neil

Neil · Mar 25, 2012

Just for interest sake here are some avocets taken with the D800 and V1 on the 500/4 and digiscoped with G1X.
You can make up your own mind which is better.
Neil

Hong Kong,
China.
March, 2012

A D800 at last (1 Viewer)

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