New D610 or Used D800 for the same price?

gdourado · Mar 4, 2015

Hello, how are you?

I was wondering about these two options...

Both cameras cost the same.

The D610 is new with 2 year warranty.

The D800 is in great condition with 1 year warranty left and less than 30.000 clicks.

I was wondering what is the best option.

I know the differences about the bodies.

The D800 has a better control layout and it is more solid feel.

The D800 is supposed to have a much better AF system with the AF points more spread across the frame. It also does 1/8000 shutter speed.

What I am wondering is about the image quality.

The D610 is newer and as such has a newer sensor.

How do these cameras compare in dynamic range, sharpness and high ISO performance?

Is the D610 better at any of these metrics?

I am talking absolute performance and down sampled performance.

Thanks.

Cheers!

toomanycanons · Mar 4, 2015

I'll go first: D800. There, I said it.

wasserball · Mar 4, 2015

Do you need and want 36mp? Do you buy a 36mp camera and shoot at DX mode? Only you can answer your needs.

CliveTJ · Mar 4, 2015

Probably not a key factor but check the D800 warranty. If it's Nikon warranty it won't be transferable unless your local laws override Nikon rules.

ranalli · Mar 4, 2015

gdourado said:
Hello, how are you?

I was wondering about these two options...

Both cameras cost the same.

The D610 is new with 2 year warranty.

The D800 is in great condition with 1 year warranty left and less than 30.000 clicks.

I was wondering what is the best option.

I know the differences about the bodies.

The D800 has a better control layout and it is more solid feel.

The D800 is supposed to have a much better AF system with the AF points more spread across the frame. It also does 1/8000 shutter speed.

What I am wondering is about the image quality.

The D610 is newer and as such has a newer sensor.

How do these cameras compare in dynamic range, sharpness and high ISO performance?

Is the D610 better at any of these metrics?

I am talking absolute performance and down sampled performance.

Thanks.

Cheers!

--
My blog:
http://g-d-photography.blogspot.pt

The fact that the camera has been released slightly later doesn't mean anything with regards to the sensor quality.

The only reason I would see to buy a D610 over a D800 would be FPS. Other than that D800 all the way.

balico · Mar 4, 2015

gdourado said:
Hello, how are you?

I was wondering about these two options...

Both cameras cost the same.

The D610 is new with 2 year warranty.

The D800 is in great condition with 1 year warranty left and less than 30.000 clicks.

I was wondering what is the best option.

I know the differences about the bodies.

The D800 has a better control layout and it is more solid feel.

The D800 is supposed to have a much better AF system with the AF points more spread across the frame. It also does 1/8000 shutter speed.

What I am wondering is about the image quality.

The D610 is newer and as such has a newer sensor.

How do these cameras compare in dynamic range, sharpness and high ISO performance?

Is the D610 better at any of these metrics?

I am talking absolute performance and down sampled performance.

Thanks.

Cheers!

chuhsi · Mar 4, 2015

Exactly. 36MP should be your first deciding factor

toomanycanons · Mar 4, 2015

"It also depends from what you are coming. I had a D600 in my hands when I had a D300 myself and thought the D600 felt like a toy, probably same comparing D610 to D800."

You guys crack me up with your "felt like a toy" statements. LOL.

grazuncle · Mar 4, 2015

say get the D810 and forget the D800.. It's c### and can't use f1.4 lenses. Left AF problems.. Etc

The D810 is the new King.

Also..as others intimate, the D610 is a toy. Neither are universally correct of course.

Some don't need each other's strengths.
--
There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.' :'!':

calson · Mar 5, 2015

I would much prefer to get a used D800e over a used D800 even if it cost $300 to do so.

A second question is do you have need for a 36MP camera for the prints you make? The 36MP RAW files when converted to a TIFF or PSD file jumps in size to over 70MB and this can be cumbersome. A 12MP RAW file is more than adequate for 20x30 size prints and the 24MP D610 provides a 50% gain in resolution.

I bought a D750 in part to get better autofocus but also to have a 24MP RAW file size as 90% of the time that is all I need.

Brucies Heroes · Mar 5, 2015

The D800 has some more comfort functions that make handling the body just much more enjoyable. Amongst these are:

- Installed viewfinder curtain

- Aperture control during live view

- Different live view displaying options (might be handy if you photograph darker scenes with tripod alot)

- 100% Zoom with one button click

...

Don`t want to hurt anybodies feelings, but the D800 feels like a real tool and the D610 just doesn´t.

RightLight · Mar 5, 2015

Beside the control layout, spread of AF points, more solid built and feel (the feel is really of different class), rest depends on what you shoot mostly. If you do more landscapes, D800 is much better. I tested, D610, Df and D800 before getting my D800E. I used to regard 36 mp as too much. Now, I take it as a big plus because of the amount of cropping it allows. The only reason for choosing 610 is its lighter/smaller body and slightly higher fps, as has been pointed out in earlier replies. IQ is almost the same unless you pixel peep at 1:1. However, D800 shows the limitation of some lenses better than D610. I however observed that DF pops out better looking jpegs straight out of camera, if one is interested in that, than both D800 and D610.

jkjond · Mar 6, 2015

For no compromise quality, 36 has an edge.

For shooting flexibility, U1/U2 without doubt.

For my work, easy choice, flexibility is everything as I can't reshoot. I prefer 24mp (and see 16 as ideal). More than enough quality and it simplifies storage when taking around 2000 shots in a day.

If it were a hobby, I'd value portability above all else and scale down to fuji/olly.

Prioritise the real benefits for what you do and how you work - they're both great cameras but one will suit you better than the other. If you can't separate the two, then it is all down to your views on money.

--

Wedding and fine art photographer based in the Lake District, UK

gdourado · Mar 6, 2015

Hello,

I have been reading some more about both cameras.

I have came upon the issue of the d800 and the 36 mpx sensor having problems focusing with fast lenses, mainly wide angle lenses on the 24-50 range.

Is that a real issue? Does it also affect the d610?

I am asking because I would like to go for the sigma art lenses 35 and 50 in the future.

The d800 is also said to have AF issues under artificial light or using AF assist from flashes.

I have a sb900 that I use indoors to bounce from walls and ceilings. So again, is this a real issue?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Cheers!

grazuncle · Mar 6, 2015

gdourado said:
Hello,

I have been reading some more about both cameras.

I have came upon the issue of the d800 and the 36 mpx sensor having problems focusing with fast lenses, mainly wide angle lenses on the 24-50 range.

Before the D810 came out it was all denial except for a few.. not it's popped up again. I can't say I don't have one.. However many seem to think it's blown out of proportion

gdourado said:
Is that a real issue? Does it also affect the d610?

No one I know of has mentioned the left AF problem with the D600 series.

gdourado said:
I am asking because I would like to go for the sigma art lenses 35 and 50 in the future.

gdourado said:
The d800 is also said to have AF issues under artificial light or using AF assist from flashes.

I have a sb900 that I use indoors to bounce from walls and ceilings. So again, is this a real issue?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Cheers!

balico · Jun 15, 2015

toomanycanons said:
"It also depends from what you are coming. I had a D600 in my hands when I had a D300 myself and thought the D600 felt like a toy, probably same comparing D610 to D800."

You guys crack me up with your "felt like a toy" statements. LOL.

It felt very small in my hands and the spread of the focus points over only the center of the viewfinder is ridiculous. The D6x0 is The Focus-Recompose-Shoot (toyish) camera

RightLight · Jun 15, 2015

As you have been advised whether or not 36 mp should be your deciding factor. Before going to full frame, I rented and tested D600, Df mainly to avoid too much megapixel of D800/E. Then tested 800 and ultimately bought D800E! The high mp turned out to be a feature because of the sheer amount of cropping it allows (see the foloowing screen shot). For landscape 800/800E has no challenger! (I am not counting Canon 5D R or the newly announced Sony mirrorless). for birding, you will find the cropping really useful.

Plus (the feature not mentioned so far in my quick reading):

1. if you do long exposure, D800/E has built-in viewfinder curtain.

2. If you put weather sealed lens, you do not need to worry about rain or water splash you can't avoid sometimes.

I do not personally know about focus problem with some f1.4 prime lenses that has been discussed here quite a few times.

fbe049e3f62a48e1ac9707b83b1f45d2.jpg.png

--
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23155184@N07/

Kaso · Jun 15, 2015

There is no point in replying by asking what you shoot and what you really need. If you knew the answers, you would chase after the "right" camera already.

The current $1500 price of a D610 is quite attractive for an FX DSLR camera. (Just last Friday, I bought one for a family member.)

The D610 is no toy. Its lighter weight and smaller size can be an advantage. Its NEF files, like those of the D750, are awesome to work with.

Get a D610 and a few good lenses. Then go out and shoot.

Good luck.

RightLight · Jun 15, 2015

balico said:
toomanycanons said:

"It also depends from what you are coming. I had a D600 in my hands when I had a D300 myself and thought the D600 felt like a toy, probably same comparing D610 to D800."

You guys crack me up with your "felt like a toy" statements. LOL.

Click to expand...

It felt very small in my hands and the spread of the focus points over only the center of the viewfinder is ridiculous. The D6x0 is The Focus-Recompose-Shoot (toyish) camera

I came from D90 and D7000. D600 and 6100 does not feel different from d7000. But if one tests D600/610 after using even D200, D300 (let alone D800) for some time, D600/610 does feel toyish! And yes, this Focus-Recompose-Shoot ads up another toyishness

However, for light travel I do not undestimate the benefit of these 'toyish' cameras, especially when attached with good primes, that they produce superb pictures from a light package. It is amazing that camera manufactures have been able to put amazing picture taking capacity in these toys.

--https://www.flickr.com/photos/23155184@N07/

stevef1961 · Jun 15, 2015

toomanycanons said:
"It also depends from what you are coming. I had a D600 in my hands when I had a D300 myself and thought the D600 felt like a toy, probably same comparing D610 to D800."

You guys crack me up with your "felt like a toy" statements. LOL.

I agree - totally ridiculous.

New D610 or Used D800 for the same price?

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