Dpreview test samples

[ItsaChris]

Considering even my nex-5 has a 14-24,24-70,85 1.4 ....I think the Nex7 has them too -

yaya u know what i mean

However, we don't seem to be looking at the same image unless you only care about shadow detail.

man... I am talking about the subtle changes in the tones with the green magnet. not the shadows nor highlights but the full thing. Granted the quickest change and most impressive part is the lower right where the shadows are.

There is more to a camera performance than that. Look at detail, not just shadows and reevaluate.

I do not feel you can evaluate detail as easily on this type of test, as both images are slightly differently focus. take the far right, the blond hair looks much better on the D800 and ultra soft on the nex-7. But at the same time you look at the martini label and the nex-7 looks sharper. I feel that after you look at the image as a hole there is enough information to say the D800 is "sharper"

 

[anotherMike]

I downloaded the ISO 3200 files for the D800 and D700 (as well as the ISO 100 for the D800 and ISO 200 for the D700). Looking at the deep red patch, the D700 maintains the color integrity far better than the D800 does, which equates to my thoughts that for high ISO requirements in theater/dance lighting (which often has a lot of reds), I'm going to stick with the D700. In a same way, the D4 trounces over the D800 in this same color area. HOWEVER, before all the D800 fans rush to attack me, I think the D800 as a general purpose high ISO camera (meaning, for outdoor scenes and scenes that aren't as demanding as the really difficult scenes a theater photographer faces), it's much better than I expected. And the base (100) ISO files from the D800 look really, really good. So far my initial thoughts aren't too far out of line - for theater/dance shooters, the D700 (or better yet, a D4) will offer real and compelling advantages, but for general purpose outdoor light, the D800 high ISO is certainly better than I expected. As a low ISO landscape and studio machine, it's really, really sweet, with better color performance (thank god) than the D7000, which was my primary concern. I'll definitely pick up a D800 at some point once the supply situation gets a bit better for sure, but I'm not selling my D700 to do it.

-m

 

[sandy b]

Lightly processed raw in Lightroom, color NR 25, Lum NR 10, 25 sharpening

 

[Catallaxy]

I think you are right Mike, the reds hold up better on the D700 and D4 than the D800. The yellows hold up similar to the reds. However the D800 seems to be doing well with greens and blues.

I still want a D700s (D3s sensor in a D700 body). That would be better for my purposes than a D4 or a D800.

Maybe I will pickup a D3s as someone sells it to get the new hotness.

--
Catallaxy

 

[Neil Morgan]

It is clear to me that the 645D out resolves the D800 and the 5D and it is very clear that the 645D with just 4mp more benefits from not having an AA filter.

In the posted test image there are plenty of opportunities to initiate Moire and clearly it is not visible any where in the image, not even a whisper of it.

It could be that the lens on the D800 may have induced some softening but the image from either 5d or d800 are very similar and it could well be that NR is softening the image too. But no doubt that the 645D image is better all the way to 1600iso.

Only a comparison between the D800e and D800 and 645D will be a tell what is limiting the sharpness and we might not be able to determine whether it is lens or NR unless the image is perceivably sharper.

I am really looking forward to seeing the D800e tests.

Also, it is outstanding to see that the D800 is so strong against the 5D at all levels of ISO.

Well done Nikon.
--
A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.
A Death Certificate shows that we died.
Pictures show that we lived!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/knumbnutz/

 

[James Bligh]

From what I have seen D800 RAW is definitely noisier than D700 RAW from ISO3200 and above.

not as good as the D4. Very impressive. Can we finally bury the more megapixels = more noise myth? I think my D700 will end up gathering mothballs.

Pentax should be very worried.

--

Decision, decision, we are the slaves of decisions we made inadvertently.

May God forgive us our imperfections!

Dust to dust, what on earth are we entitled to claim?

 

[Dominique Dierick]

Don't forget you are looking at a much larger scale when you look at the D800 images... Print them at the same size and then check. From what I just saw, ISO 6400 will be perfectly usable, 12.800 too with good PP.

--
My equipment: Nikon D3s, D700, D7000, EOS 450D
The ladies equipment: Panasonic LX5 and GH2 for video

 

[Andre De Angelis]

It could be that the lens on the D800 may have induced some softening but the image from either 5d or d800 are very similar and it could well be that NR is softening the image too. But no doubt that the 645D image is better all the way to 1600iso.

Try opening the raws and comaring them. It tells a different story.

Also, it is outstanding to see that the D800 is so strong against the 5D at all levels of ISO.

And against the 645 at all levels.

 

[Neil Morgan]

Actually the D4 is the best ISO camera in the entire field, truly outstanding !
Compare it and the 1D. Now that is amazing ..

It could be that the lens on the D800 may have induced some softening but the image from either 5d or d800 are very similar and it could well be that NR is softening the image too. But no doubt that the 645D image is better all the way to 1600iso.

Try opening the raws and comaring them. It tells a different story.

Also, it is outstanding to see that the D800 is so strong against the 5D at all levels of ISO.

And against the 645 at all levels.

--
A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.
A Death Certificate shows that we died.
Pictures show that we lived!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/knumbnutz/

 

[Mikael Risedal]

It is not only IR that exposes cameras test shoots various , so does also DPR
The images reflecting the signal / noise in the lower levels

 

[Mikael Risedal]

and D4 converterade with Camera Raw (old 5.7) and with default noise reduction

D800 dow sized to D4 size. Not bad considering the noise reduction can be refined

 

[cluna]

Considering even my nex-5 has a 14-24,24-70,85 1.4 ....I think the Nex7 has them too -

yaya u know what i mean

Until you try it you wont realized how effective the focus technique is. The images look great.

However, we don't seem to be looking at the same image unless you only care about shadow detail.

man... I am talking about the subtle changes in the tones with the green magnet. not the shadows nor highlights but the full thing. Granted the quickest change and most impressive part is the lower right where the shadows are.

You are looking at the shadow gradient of the JPEG. I hate the Sony JPEG engine, so that was not a concern to me and unless 100%, not noticable. If you need to go greater than 100%, LR does well. I'll try to make time to post a LR version of that once time allows.

There is more to a camera performance than that. Look at detail, not just shadows and reevaluate.

I do not feel you can evaluate detail as easily on this type of test, as both images are slightly differently focus. take the far right, the blond hair looks much better on the D800 and ultra soft on the nex-7. But at the same time you look at the martini label and the nex-7 looks sharper. I feel that after you look at the image as a hole there is enough information to say the D800 is "sharper"

Certainly, but we discussed that above. It is obvious what is in and out of the focal plane. So reject it and compare in regions where both are in focus

-C

 

[ItsaChris]

I type fast (and normally in one long sentence) so this is longer then I intended... sry about that. feel free to pick it apart but this is the conclusion i have reached and once reached I know how stubborn I can be.

Until you try it you wont realized how effective the focus technique is. The images look great.

I own an nex-5. Even if you disagree 100% about the lens comment, you know what I mean (native lens (I even would even say any Sony/Minolta lens that works with the converter could be considered native but I would prefer true native lens)). p.s. I even made a dream nex lens mock up bc i feel the system has great potential (its posted someplace on the forums)

You are looking at the shadow gradient of the JPEG.

I have the raw files. I DLed them right after they came out some time ago as the nex-7 is an interest to me.

as for sharpness alone yes the difference is minor, so minor (and disputable) in fact that I would not buy the D800 over the nex-7. And in no way do I think this test shows conclusively that the D800 is sharper, but the sensor size does proved natively higher sharpness (and over all with this test I still feel the D800 is sharper).

I am not even big on dissecting test images I feel that even a low mp picture can provide the IQ needed for most clients (even with a poor lens). I got the nex-5 as i felt that kind of camera could not get much smaller, and I have pre-ordered the D800 as I feel that high MP count like 20 or in this case 36mp will be viable in clients eyes much longer then a 12 or 16mp. I believe (after years of seeing it 1st hand) that clients perception of gain is higher then the true gain when increasing the mp.

it is also constant to see that there is not much of a difference between a APS and 35mm camera with sensors made in the same time frame, just as there was only a minor difference between the D2x and 1ds II (or d1x vs 1ds) when they came out. Even back then there were conflicting views of with provided better IQ/sharpness.

But in the end for me it comes back to the client and what they have the knowledge to expect, you can only educate them so far. That is not to say I do not desire to have a better camera. I have no doubt that if I was buying a camera solely for my clients I would of gotten a D400 (assuming 24mp). But I will enjoy the VF more and I will enjoy using my T/S and super telephoto more with this camera. as for the native sharpness I have seen it improve my old long telephoto lens but apart from that I dont care that much.

Thank you for the conversation.