Just posted: Nikon D800 test samples

Canon is playing it conservative, expecting their loyal base to just lap it up. And I don't much care for Nikon's color palette; Canon colors are more to my liking.

Waiting for Sony to fire the last salvo in the Full Frame space. If they deliver the goods, I'm willing to get rid of my bag full of L lenses and move to Zeiss glass. I don't use T/S or telephoto over 200mm anyway.

Innovation trumps brand loyalty in my book.

The samples are no better, and no worse than I would expect. But don't get me wrong - this is one superb camera. I have been a Canon user for 30 years and this is a Nikon that would make me switch allegiance - were it not for my array of EF lenses (which I believe is better than Nikon's, both individually and as a range). The D800 is not badly priced in my view, ergonomically looks excellent (another Nikon forte) and they've also acknowledged that built in flash is occasionally useful for those of us who venture outside the studio.

All kudos to Nikon for this one - I think it trumps the 5D MkIII.

Whatever it was that you guys wanted to photograph, after all this arguing, is either dead, or has moved on, or if it is still standing there, is not worth photographing.

I suggest you think of a new subject for the masterpiece you wanted to create with your new camera.

To me the D800 genuinely does enter into former "Medium Format" territory. Seriously amazing detail in that shot!

Brian

Most versatile DSLR ever !!!

Use it a ISO 100 and you get perfect noise free shots at ultra high res.
Use it at ISO 3200 and simply reduce the image size until noise becomes acceptable.

Use it in FX mode on payed jobs ... use it in DX mode (with 15 MP still !!!) when snapping around.

Compared to what you get this cam is by far not expensive.

I'll definitely buy one.

The D800 files looks great. Photos are probably taken using default settings, where Nikon never turns up sharpening too much.

With a little sharpening they are on par with the 645D at ISO 1600. Also looks much better than 5D III at ISO 6400 (well maybe not much better, but still better).

Opened D800 files on NX2 and IQ is really fantastic, a 1600 ISO file is widely usable for me for high quality purposes. Seems to be a fantastic camera that will change our working mind.

I said VERY GOOD BUT VERY EXPENSIVE!.
WE JUST WANT FULL FRAME, BUT AT FAIR PRICES!

high resolution brings big but low quality photos. That's D800 will do

I can understand wanting to know how the D800 compares to the D700 but why would someone with a decent Nikon outfit care what the 5D III does and why would somebody with a bunch of good Canon lenses care about what the D800 does? This is like sports teams with people painting their faces and getting into fights. I have both because the Nikon bodies are nicer but the Canon TS lenses are a little better. But neither the D800 or the 5D III will change any of that.

Very good, but still very expensive. Definitely we do not APS-C, but only full frame cameras. Democratize prices!!!

A photographer just needs a D700 with 16MP, nothing more! Bells and whistles are marketing that cost $$.

Can't believe this, I've just learned that 5DMark III sensor is way behind, even worse in DR than the older Nikon sensors! And Sony is kicking Canon's ass too! And all thanks to posts about all kinds of techie stuff (read: I've got nothing else to do than pixel peeping and concluding from that I indeed prefer the camera I already preferred in the first place). I'll tell you one thing: the pro's warn you: don't read the posts on THE BIG WEBSITES, there're filled with the usual BS!! (coming from a fan of photography, not a fan of a brand, couldn't care less).

wow this image makes the E-5 and OM-D look awesome.

I suspect it will make great photos, like many other cameras available today. That is, if someone will actually pick it up and use it as intended. Heck, even my crappy old Nikon V1 seems to do ok (there's photographic proof of that in my postings here on dpreview). People...pick out a descent camera and go enjoy your hobby or job (whichever photography is for you) :-)

Gulp. With diffraction limiting the benefits of this sensor to f8 then, as a landscaper I'd need a suite of tilt shift lenses for anything over super wide angle.

D800 vs 5D Mark III 6400 ISO Detail and Noise Comparison:

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7368/31024752.jpg
Ding ding ding, D800 victory to me

Credits to imaging-resources.com

Nikon's rating of the D800 up to ISO 6400 and D4 up to 12800 seems justified; the D4 gives much lower color noise at ISO 12800 than the D800.

Nothing new under the stars.

Once again, some common sense in all of this:

'The bottom line is that neither the D800 nor the EOS 5D MkIII sensor is "better". They are different. The Nikon sensor should have higher resolution which will be desirable for those making very large prints or who need to significantly crop their images. On the other hand the EOS 5D MkIII sensor will produce images with lower noise and higher dynamic range in lower light conditions where the use of higher ISO settings are desirable.
It should be remembered that the Nikon D800 has larger pixels then the Canon EOS 7D and the 7D isn't exactly a noisy camera! However the EOS 5D MkIII is said to be a couple of stops better than the EOS 5D MkII (at least for camera JPEGs), and the 5D MkII is maybe a stop less noisy than the EOS 7D, so it looks like the 5DMkIII will probably have a couple of stops lower noise then the D800. Significant importance at ISO 6400.

Source: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/technical/pixel_matters.html

How can many, commenting the studio samples from D800, claim that the samples from Canon 5D mark III are better WHEN DPREVIEW HAS NOT YET POSTED THE STUDIO TEST SAMPLES FROM 5D MARK III?
Please...

Looking at those and other web-available NEFs from D800 I must admit that this camera is great.
Initially I was disappointed hearing of 36mp, hoping for D4 sensor in D800 body, as low-light photography is very important for me.
However, looking now at the benefits of having 36mp in a camera with shorter lag and viewfinder blackout, 100% vf, supposedly more sensitive and faster AF, capable video AND better hi iso performance (perhaps even at pixel level, not mentioning comparing same size prints - which is BY FAR better than currently owned D700), fantastic DR (I was blown by imaging resource image @100iso ability to recover both highlights and shadows) I think that a D800 is a fantastic deal for the price. It will be fun to go and try to use all of its mp from time to time, in right conditions (lens, technique, subject) - quite a challenge! Knowing that it will perform in less optimal conditions, too.

DPR: ISO 100 settings for D800: 1/15s, f/11. For D4: 1/8s, f/11. That's one full EV difference, how come?

Why don't you guys arguing over the Nikon / Canon "thing" wise up and stop cluttering the thread. The difference between this board and a pay board is quality of comments. If you have something to say about Canon verses Nikon do it in such a way (has some have done here) that is constructive and get over the "my thing is bigger than your thing" bologna. They are both great camera manufacturers and either is a great tool. I personally am happy for the competition.

People trying to conclude from this test wether this camera of 5D Mark III is 'better' are only subjectively giving their own preferences based on......nothing. Most comments are firmly stating things nobody can know at this point, only extensive testing will reveal the weak and strong points of any camera.

I have no idea where half of the comments below come from, it's absolutely laughable. The D800 image in my view is BETTER than the Pentax, but someONE shot it at f/18 so it's bound to be. As for the 5DMKII, it's nowhere near, plain and simple, it's not in the same class - the details are a mush where you want resolution and I don't expect any better from the 5DMKIII based on what has been shown across the internet so far.

Can't wait for direct comparison shots between D800E and the mundane version :D of D800.

I think Nikon did a good job. Excelent resolution and this isn't even the D800e. High Iso noise is very acceptable once you look at the images on the right scale.

Noise-wise it is better than Canon 5D mk2. DR (and shadow noise) is probably either. Good for Nikon, bad for me =).

Point made that the IQ war is won. On the basis of those unless you shoot in the dark there is no point in buying that over an OM-D (or whatever floats your boat) and giving your back a rest.

Or unless you push and pull load of stops in PP at base ISO of course, which I do. So the D800 is still on my radar - but for people taking fairly un-manipulated pictures, they're just wasting money and wearing themselves out lugging round something with bragging rights.

I dont understand why so much negative comments here. This is a fantastic camera and absolutely a game changer. No question about it.

I'm also very impressed how good OMD is. Do I really need FF? That's the question for me.

I will buy 5D mark III soon

Good to see these , but they're not great for comparing resolutions. They were shot at f/11, and are badly affected by diffraction. Nikon recommends shooting at f/8 or lower for best results. I'd suggest f/5.6 would be a better test. Incidentally the 645D is shot at f/18 and is also affected by diffraction, even with its large sensor.

I want to know when it released.
It looks great.

Hmmm.... Put the D800 against the EM-5 and the Nex-7 and quite frankly, up to 1600ISO there is no major diff... Of course: higher ISOs, things change dramatically. But do I need to take all my shots at nose-bleed ISO? No way.
It's looking very much like the EM-5's all-lens compatibility and in-body stabilisation is winning the day. Ah well, roll-on the SD1 test, that might be a true eye-opener... Sorry, just realized this is dpreview and they don't do Sigma!

Forever has a good point. Substitute the Nex7 and Leica M9 for the two bottom comparisons. They all take exceptionally beautiful pictures. Only one is small and relatively inexpensive.

is the d800e coming up? that should give the 645D a run