Chuck Yadmark
Veteran Member
Annoyingly overpriced vertical grip cost.
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D800 my next camera..any potentail downsides
- Thread starter simonkit1
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The Davinator
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That's because it was talked about a lot on forums, but in the real world, it was a minor issue. The shop I bought my D800 sold a mountain of them....with only a couple tha had an issue. Funniest part of all.....what are photographing on the left of the frame all the time? ;-)
If all you are going to use the camera for is landscape, I would recommend that you skip the D800 and pick up a used or refurb D3x.
Before everyone starts howling, let me explain why I say this:
The benefits that the D800 has over the D3x generally are of little value in landscape:
Improved AF
Much better high ISO performance
Smaller/lighter
However the benefits the D3x provides over the D800 are of value in landscape:
Better base ISO IQ
Better weather sealing
Better LV
People say that you can buy a used D3x for the same price as a D800. I'm not sure, but I haven't been looking. They might be right.
D800 does have more MP than a D3x but not that much more, and for me the better base IQ offsets that difference (I own and use both).
You might want to rent both and determine for yourself which is best, lest a lot of event shooters tell you what's best for landscape. ;-)
In any case, good luck.
-Pat
Before everyone starts howling, let me explain why I say this:
The benefits that the D800 has over the D3x generally are of little value in landscape:
Improved AF
Much better high ISO performance
Smaller/lighter
However the benefits the D3x provides over the D800 are of value in landscape:
Better base ISO IQ
Better weather sealing
Better LV
People say that you can buy a used D3x for the same price as a D800. I'm not sure, but I haven't been looking. They might be right.
D800 does have more MP than a D3x but not that much more, and for me the better base IQ offsets that difference (I own and use both).
You might want to rent both and determine for yourself which is best, lest a lot of event shooters tell you what's best for landscape. ;-)
In any case, good luck.
-Pat
axcentphoto
Veteran Member
The ONLY downside I've experienced is the file size, oh and the cost of the battery grip!
Chuck Yadmark
Veteran Member
Sigh... 5 words and yet grammatically incorrect and 3 words too many.
Overpriced grip. there.
Maybe silly, but after the 700 and I was hoping for a 700s, I was pondering what the 800 would do for me, and besides having to buy a bunch of new different batteries, i would have to fork over almost 400 bucks for the grip and that pretty much completely eliminated the idea from my mind with no regrets and no ambiguity.
--
www.sportsshooter.com/cyadmark
Ann Arbor, MI USA
Equipment in profile
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romfordbluenose
Veteran Member
Coming from a D300 the live view on the D800 is a wow. I have used it to do a tripod held architectural shoot, indoors and out and it worked spot on. yesterday I used it to videp a McFly concert with excellent results.
The 2 downsides I've found is that the filesize will slow down your post processing, and adjusting focus in video mode ruins the soundtrack. I haven't tried it with an external mic. though.
Everything else if fantastic and a joy to use. The camera has brought excitement and even mare satisfaction to my hobby.
I have recently used it for a photo shoot of a school concert in a difficult lighting situation. I got paid and they said the photos were fantastic. This was for photos with no post processing as they wanted to do it themselves. I used manual with auto ISO upto 1600 and the quality was great.
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larrywilson
Veteran Member
The file sizes of a 24 mega pixel camera such as the d600 is much easier (quicker) to handle then the d800 with 36 mega pixels. I sure would not worry about dust with the d600. 36 mega pixels is only needed for poster size prints so a lot of mega pixels for 99.9% of use for most people.
Larry
Larry
larrywilson
Veteran Member
I meant for 99.9 percent of users unless printing to poster size the 36 mega pixel on the d800 is excessive.
Larry
Larry
jaymc
Veteran Member
Or people that would like very nice looking crops.
michaeladawson
Veteran Member
If you don't recommend the D800 for landscape then I can't imagine that you would recommend the D800 for anything. I don't agree with your view on IQ at base ISO but not worth debating. Given your view on the value of 36 MP I would think that any advantage the D800 has, with exception of AF speed, would be in the D600 as well.
Gabriele Sartori
Veteran Member
While I don't like how Nikon handled it in perfect Japanese style, the problem is gone, can we talk about somebody else? I and several personal friends sent their camera (I bought one of the very first batches ) to Nikon and got it back perfectly fixed. In any case the left AF was not the biggest problem of the camera, in real life I never got a single photo with that problem because so many other factors enter in play. The biggest problem was the AF tuning all on one side so some lenses were not perfectly tuned. This ruined a few shots to me not the left AF. In any case even this problem was perfectly fixed by Nikon with a single trip to Los Angeles.
mistymornings
Member
I am a K5 owner and thinking about the switch to D800. How does the usability of the D800 compare with the K5? I am a bit worried by the comments re: live view, which I use quite a lot.
michaeladawson
Veteran Member
Leonard Shepherd
Veteran Member
1/ The camera can easily produce A2 prints of higher quality than another 35mm DSLR.
Whether the photographer can produce the extra potential quality is another matter.
The more you magnify image detail (which for me is a primary reason for using a D800 or D800e) the better your technique needs to be to avoid camera shake, and the fewer lens apertures there are that can deliver the highest quality.
2/ If you want no better quality than your current camera (ignoring greater dynamic range) - you do not have to do anything
3/ I would ignore what seems to be left autofocus internet hype. NOBODY out of 146 posting images on this forum they say demonstrates the fault seem able to test either to Nikon's guidance on how to avoid poor autofocus accuracy or with a subject containing suitable detail for a single direction vertical reading sensor.
Maybe the lack of current complaints about "left focus" is similar to previous largely forgotten internet hype about the 24-70 leaking light and the 70-200 having peeling paint and dust inside - which turned out to be unfounded.
4/ If there were a few problem initial cameras with an AF issue if you think ANY manufacturer cannot resolve this type of fault 15 months after launch your judgment is they are inept. If you think Nikon are inept (it is your right) do not buy.
Whether the photographer can produce the extra potential quality is another matter.
The more you magnify image detail (which for me is a primary reason for using a D800 or D800e) the better your technique needs to be to avoid camera shake, and the fewer lens apertures there are that can deliver the highest quality.
2/ If you want no better quality than your current camera (ignoring greater dynamic range) - you do not have to do anything
3/ I would ignore what seems to be left autofocus internet hype. NOBODY out of 146 posting images on this forum they say demonstrates the fault seem able to test either to Nikon's guidance on how to avoid poor autofocus accuracy or with a subject containing suitable detail for a single direction vertical reading sensor.
Maybe the lack of current complaints about "left focus" is similar to previous largely forgotten internet hype about the 24-70 leaking light and the 70-200 having peeling paint and dust inside - which turned out to be unfounded.
4/ If there were a few problem initial cameras with an AF issue if you think ANY manufacturer cannot resolve this type of fault 15 months after launch your judgment is they are inept. If you think Nikon are inept (it is your right) do not buy.
MisterHairy
Veteran Member
The D800 can produce amazing image quality, but in spite of what some say to the contrary, it does have some autofocus issues still.
The much maligned (and grossly overblown) left side AF problem is all but a non-issue now, but dramatic focus shifts with changing light temperature (or source type) still abound and accuracy with fast primes is still poor.
If you are going to be using your D800 with more typical lenses such as the professional and prosumer zooms then you will no doubt be very happy with the results that it produces. If you are going to be using it with the fast primes then prepare for frustration. I think that the fault for this lies partly with the camera and partly with the lenses as the issues are more marginal with the D700 or D3(s).
The much maligned (and grossly overblown) left side AF problem is all but a non-issue now, but dramatic focus shifts with changing light temperature (or source type) still abound and accuracy with fast primes is still poor.
If you are going to be using your D800 with more typical lenses such as the professional and prosumer zooms then you will no doubt be very happy with the results that it produces. If you are going to be using it with the fast primes then prepare for frustration. I think that the fault for this lies partly with the camera and partly with the lenses as the issues are more marginal with the D700 or D3(s).
simonkit1
Forum Enthusiast
Thanks everyone for the input and the potential issues to look for.
I've read a little more regarding lenses and my list currently includes:
16-35 F4
24-70 F2.8
24mm F1.4
As I'll be using it only for landscapes, keeping the K5 for travel etc, I'll only need a limited number of lenses, would appreciate feedback on these too.
Also Liveview is a feature I use all the time on the K5, using selective focus points to focus at the Hyperfocal distance to save recomposing shots...I find it a great tool. Is it easy to achieve this on the D800, I've experienced first hand the limitations of Live View on the D600?
Thanks
Simon
I've read a little more regarding lenses and my list currently includes:
16-35 F4
24-70 F2.8
24mm F1.4
As I'll be using it only for landscapes, keeping the K5 for travel etc, I'll only need a limited number of lenses, would appreciate feedback on these too.
Also Liveview is a feature I use all the time on the K5, using selective focus points to focus at the Hyperfocal distance to save recomposing shots...I find it a great tool. Is it easy to achieve this on the D800, I've experienced first hand the limitations of Live View on the D600?
Thanks
Simon
[email protected]
Veteran Member
Love the D800/d800E twins.
maljo
maljo
Silverstreaks
Forum Enthusiast
>>>>Anyway would appreciate some feedback from owners of the D800 regarding any downsides, I'm primarily using it for landscapes<<<<<<
None than I think of, other than for the last fourteen months waking each morning and seeing it lying there on the opposite pillow
Such bliss !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
None than I think of, other than for the last fourteen months waking each morning and seeing it lying there on the opposite pillow
Such bliss !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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