The D800, a case for the higher resolution

If you follow the comments of some folks, like Nikon guru Thom Hogan, essentially it boils down to two things:

1. The Eco System

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Once you get this camera, PROVIDED YOU WISH TO MAXIMISE ITS POTENTIAL, you will have to

~ buy the best performing, and this often means the VERY expensive, lenses compatible with the camera AND at all the focal lengths you are likely to use, if you don't own them already. This creates a massive financial burden. And note that Nikon went to great lengths to publish a list of recommended lenses for this camera, which is something I don't think they did for any of their previous cams (correct me if I am wrong);

~ buy a new computer, or at least an upgrade to some components; this will be needed if your current one isn't up to the job of processing the large Nikon D800 files as fast as your current lower res files can be processed;

~ buy a new backup system to store the huge archive you will now have;

~ buy a new printer to print larger prints, or perhaps there will be an increase in printing costs if you usually send your images off to be printed;

~ consider whether your current tripod is up to the job

2. Technical Demands on the Photographer

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~ if like me, you hate using a tripod, well you ain't gonna be a happy chappy with this Nikon resolution monster, because any flaws in stabilizing your camera will be shown up for all the world to see which follows on from the above criterion of considering whether or not your tripod (if you have one) is up to the job of keeping a 36Mp camera steady enough;

~ So now that you have got a tripod, you are now going to have to invoke all the other techniques to ensure max image quality e.g. mirror lock-up, lowest ISO etc

~ If you were a JPEG shooter before, you will probably have to become a raw shooter (handling massive files) unless the D800 has a Canon-like Reduced Raw option.

~ If you like to "spray and pray" you won't be able to do that with the D800 because it's frame rate ain't exactly fast at it's optimum quality settings.

The result of all this

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is that if one is currently using X camera hand held and printing on W x H paper and using AB computer and is happy with the results they are obtaining, the Nikon D800, for the sake of buying the latest and the greatest, is going to cause a lot of misery and will be under-performing in one's hands.

However, the point you raise that having the D800 gives you a better starting point is a valid one and I guess that one can always "grow into" the camera. I guess, those folks who warn against buying the D800 are simply trying to warn folks of the "problems" they face when buying the camera; it's not simply a matter of popping down to the shops and buying a shiny new camera as there are a lot of other factors to take into account when buying the D800 camera (in essence, the camera is "medium format" in all but name and requires the same shooting discipline and considerations that medium format does).

That then is my take on the matter.

A good thread/discussion (and I don't even shoot or like (the ergonomics of) Nikon cameras)

Regards,