D7000 user - D610 or D800

[goshigoo]

(I am asking this on behalf of my sister as I am a Canon user)

The price difference is only $650 USD

The main advantage of D800 to me is better control layout, higher pixels and better AF;

while D610 is lighter and cheaper and it has the same control as D7000

However, I concern whether it is difficult to master the high pixel count of D800; as I heard it needs faster safe shutter speed

Any idea?

 

[ttorda]

The big advantage of the '800's pixel count comes to the fore when you enlarge a part of a shot. For example it is invaluable in bird photography.

Tom T

 

[Photofunster]

Yes, the D800 is a better buy, the higher pixel count will be appreciated more, when she learns how to use it to her advantage.

Chas

 

[jkjond]

(I am asking this on behalf of my sister as I am a Canon user)
The price difference is only $650 USD

The main advantage of D800 to me is better control layout, higher pixels and better AF;

I'd argue that yes, the AF is better but the layout is debatable (610 has U1 and U2 settings) and higher pixels is irrelevant unless you print HUGE. The focus array on the 610 is small, but I've found it quite adequate.

while D610 is lighter and cheaper and it has the same control as D7000

I don't think the weight difference is of any consequence once a lens is added. Make sure your sister holds one with appropriate lens before she buys. My wife wouldn't thank you for either.

However, I concern whether it is difficult to master the high pixel count of D800; as I heard it needs faster safe shutter speed
Any idea?

Although camera shake is amplified at a pixel level, in real use shots are no softer at a given size than with other cameras unless the mechanism itself is introducing shake. An over-hyped issue. If going for major cropping of images, then yes, the 800 has an advantage, but 24mp is also a lot.

My conclusion is that for landscape/still life the 800 is a winner, but for people i wouldn't swap my 610. I think the 610 is the better all round camera (I don't have any sports/wildlife requirements).

 

[jtra]

Could this help?
http://jtra.cz/stuff/essays/d610-vs-d800/index.html

 

[goshigoo]

Could this help?
http://jtra.cz/stuff/essays/d610-vs-d800/index.html

This is very useful; thanks guys!!

I think I will go for D610 + a nikon lens over D800

I am not sure if the D610 kit lens - 24-85 is worth getting?

 

[TerryAnderson]

goshigoo,

The 24-85 is a light kit lens that is sharp in the middle and performs okay to the outsides. If she is a fairly serious photographer that likes to shoot events, portraits and landscapes. Getting either the Tamron or Nikon 24-70 would be a very good lens. I own both and have been pleasantly happy with both. If money is a bit of an issue, then get the 24-85 and if she wants to shoot portraits, then the 85 1.8g is an excellent lens that gives its big brother the 85 1.4g a run for image quality for 1/3rd of the price.

 

[Sergey_Green]

Yes, the D800 is a better buy, the higher pixel count will be appreciated more, when she learns how to use it to her advantage.

If she is coming from D7000 then the more familiar layout would be D6100. Had she used D300 before, the more familiar layout would undoubtedly be of D800. Personally I'd prefer D800 day and night, where I can change settings without taking my eye off the viewfinder.

The biggest difference I see however is in the viewfinder itself, where I find D600/D610 is just so clustered that I start doubting it is even possible to effectively use rule of thirds without recomposing the image,

--
- sergey

 

[InTheMist]

(I am asking this on behalf of my sister as I am a Canon user)
The price difference is only $650 USD

The main advantage of D800 to me is better control layout, higher pixels and better AF;

while D610 is lighter and cheaper and it has the same control as D7000
However, I concern whether it is difficult to master the high pixel count of D800; as I heard it needs faster safe shutter speed
Any idea?

I shoot side-by-side my D7000 and D800. Most times I can't tell the difference unless I zoom a lot.

The number of pixels is less important for "sharpness at a given focal length" than pixel pitch. The D7000 pixel pitch is nearly identical to the D800.

The advantage for me is that I can literally copy settings in post processing and they work between the cameras. The main disadvantage is that the D7000 shoots at 6 FPS, the D800 only four. If you shoot fast moving objects, you will feel the difference.

One additional benefit of the D800 is that if you shoot it in crop mode, wiht the grip and AA batteries, it also has 6 FPS. Then I LITERALLY can't tell the difference. Zero. You'll have two nearly identical files and cameras with teh same FPS. For example, one set up for wide angle, one for telephoto.

How serious is she?

 

[axcentphoto]

When I switched to FX I looked at both cameras. To me the D600 (610) seemed a little small, but that might be an advantage for a lady, by the time you put a hefty lens on the D610. Both cameras are excellent and either would be great for her.

 

[goshigoo]

The number of pixels is less important for "sharpness at a given focal length" than pixel pitch. The D7000 pixel pitch is nearly identical to the D800.

The advantage for me is that I can literally copy settings in post processing and they work between the cameras. The main disadvantage is that the D7000 shoots at 6 FPS, the D800 only four. If you shoot fast moving objects, you will feel the difference.

One additional benefit of the D800 is that if you shoot it in crop mode, wiht the grip and AA batteries, it also has 6 FPS. Then I LITERALLY can't tell the difference. Zero. You'll have two nearly identical files and cameras with teh same FPS. For example, one set up for wide angle, one for telephoto.

How serious is she?

 

[JerBill]

When I switched to FX I looked at both cameras. To me the D600 (610) seemed a little small, but that might be an advantage for a lady, by the time you put a hefty lens on the D610. Both cameras are excellent and either would be great for her.

I've shot a D7000 for personal use for a couple of years and a D800E where I work. Yesterday I took delivery of a D610 for personal use and my first impression was that it was a bit of a let down. The ergonomics of both the D7000 and D610 leave a lot to be desired for my hands. Whoever designed these bodies had smaller hands in mind. For me, the D800E fits like a glove, but is cost prohibitive.

If money were no object, the D800E would be an easy choice. However, a D610 coupled with some fast glass will enable you to produce some fantastic imagery, whether in low light or in studio.

 

[Tak555]

any reason why she's sticking with nikon? i'm a nikon person, but if she's not married to nikon (i.e., she has a ton of glass), then why not see if she likes your canon....

or maybe she doesn't like to lug a DSLR around... is mirrorless an option? i'm just thinking out loud here.



i mean, i get what you're asking... but i think to really give good advice, it would help to know maybe why she looking for something new. just want something better? need higher ISO? looking for a step up of IQ? also, what type of photography does she like? is it mostly family stuff? or perhaps landscape? street? people? birds? because maybe there's something better suited to her needs, outside of just what nikon has to offer right now.

 

[Vladi Stoimenov]

I have D610 and I think this is the better choice. The price difference can be used for a more important good lens e.g. Sigma 50/f1.4. Something new, better than D800 will appear in a couple of years (may be next year), but the lens remains.
Vladi

 

[thejohnnerparty]

I've seen a lot pics that were taken with 24-85 kit lens. Overall, it's not that bad. If you're a purist and want absolute perfection, you'll probably need a lens for every situation. But if "good" is good enough, the 24-85 does a decent job. Good luck and enjoy shooting. ;-)

 

[JerBill]

When I switched to FX I looked at both cameras. To me the D600 (610) seemed a little small, but that might be an advantage for a lady, by the time you put a hefty lens on the D610. Both cameras are excellent and either would be great for her.

I've shot a D7000 for personal use for a couple of years and a D800E where I work. Yesterday I took delivery of a D610 for personal use and my first impression was that it was a bit of a let down. The ergonomics of both the D7000 and D610 leave a lot to be desired for my hands. Whoever designed these bodies had smaller hands in mind. For me, the D800E fits like a glove, but is cost prohibitive.

If money were no object, the D800E would be an easy choice. However, a D610 coupled with some fast glass will enable you to produce some fantastic imagery, whether in low light or in studio.

To update my initial thoughts on the D610, having had a chance to capture some pictures yesterday I am happy to say it meets and even surpasses my expectations in terms of image quality; I'm very satisfied. The ergonomics can be improved for larger hands with the addition of a battery grip, which is what I did with the D7000. So, while it would be great to have that 24 Mp sensor in a D800 body, for the price difference I have no complaints.

 

[Chris2J]

We need a D600 sensor in a D800 body - as a current D300 user, I will miss some features if I switch to D610, while the 24Mp sensor seems what I need. Is Nikon listening?

--
Chris J

 

[goshigoo]

Totally agree on this
I thought Nikon is going to release D800s with a 24M sensor on it

We need a D600 sensor in a D800 body - as a current D300 user, I will miss some features if I switch to D610, while the 24Mp sensor seems what I need. Is Nikon listening?

--
Chris J

 

[Robin Casady]

Totally agree on this
I thought Nikon is going to release D800s with a 24M sensor on it

We need a D600 sensor in a D800 body - as a current D300 user, I will miss some features if I switch to D610, while the 24Mp sensor seems what I need. Is Nikon listening?

High MP numbers are the future. You will get over your rigintasexophobia with time. In the last two years the it has been interesting to watch the numbers increase in statements such as, "I don't want a camera with more than 12 MP! Is Nikon listening?" It then moved up to 16, and now it seems 24 has been accepted. That is a doubling in a couple years. Going to 36 is only a 50% increase.

 

[Nexu1]

People get used to what they handle the most.

I wouldn't mind a D610 with a smaller body to be honest.