Nikon d800 set to release March 2012…
Fellow camera gadget geeks, I hope you’re as excited as I am. The Nikon D800 release is just around the corner so let’s take a peek and see what the newest line of professional level cameras from Nikon has to offer. This camera is truly top of the line for photography but also has full blown, studio quality HD video capabilities.
If you’d like to pre-order the D800 or D800E, you can do so from Amazon right now:
Click Here to Pre-Order Your Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Let’s dig into some of the key features before getting into the nitty gritty details.
World’s Highest Megapixels
At the time of its release the D800 will have the highest megapixels of any digital camera in the world. This is thanks to its newly designed FX-format CMOS sensor which has 36.3 effective megapixels. This means every picture is as vibrant, sharp, and crisp as possible, bringing the world of digital photography to a whole new level.
Higher Accuracy
The advanced scene recognition system has an all new 91K-pixel sensor which gives this camera optimal accuracy for any scene, this of course includes face detection but goes beyond that to really take in every scene and capture every detail. This feature also helps the camera adjust automatically to different colors and lighting no matter where you are shooting. Common issues like low light, white light, and bright sunlight are conquered easily and automatically.
New EXPEED 3 Technology
EXPEED 3 is the new image processor which will give you high quality pictures but at faster speeds to not interfere with playback and data transfer. With all the upgrades you need a processor that can handle all this data management with ease and that is exactly what EXPEED 3 offers. EXPEED processing is a Nikon exclusive and this is the next level in quality and speed.
Advanced Light Source Detection
The D800 automatically detects the light source and adjusts instinctively to ensure you are making the most of the lighting no matter what the situation. This works with both natural and artificial lighting so that is never a concern. You can customize the settings as well to offer flexibility in different lighting so that you always get the best results without a lot of extra thought and work.
Four Flexible Modes
At the push of a button you can toggle between four different AF-area modes. This allows you to get the perfect shot without taking your eye off the viewfinder. The first is single AF-mode which is best suited for still life shots. Then you have three different options in the Dynamic AF-mode arena: 9 point, 21 point, and 51 point. These all work best for capturing events and other times where your subject/s is on the move. The auto setting will automatically pick up faces and will adjust the settings for you to get the sharpest images possible.
Introducing HDR
HDR (High Dynamic Range) is another sweet feature where the D800 actually takes two frames simultaneously, however one shot is overexposed and the other is underexposed, it them composites the two photos together to get the perfect shot. This feature is best suited for still shots and it is recommended to use a tripod but this is a very cool feature when taking landscape shots to take all the thinking out of it and get you the best of both pictures without the additional work and editing.
Video Capabilities
All these features make the Nikon D800 a versatile camera that can be set to do as much or as little automatically as possible, giving you, the photographer ultimate control over each and every shot. The thing that really makes this camera stand head and shoulders above a lot of other models on the market is the newly added video capabilities so let’s look into these features in more detail as well.
Two Formats One Camera
You can now shoot HD video in two formats for unlimited creativity. You can record 1,920 x 1,080/30p Full HD and HD videos and you can use either a FX-based format or a DX-based format which gives you ultimate flexibility and control when shooting videos for any style.
Crystal Clear Audio
The D800 has a built-in microphone but you also have the flexibility to use an external microphone. There is also a headphone jack which makes monitoring sound super easy and gives you ultimate control. There are also visual monitoring systems in place for even more control and ease of use when setting audio level settings.
Live Feed Video Options
When capturing video you can also us an HDMI cable to feed the video to a monitor and watch as the video is being created. This gives the whole process a studio feel where you can watch the playback as it is happening as well as store the video externally as it is being captured if needed.
The features seem almost overwhelming but there are so many aspects that can be set to automatically adjust that it makes everything seamless. It is very clear the Nikon D800 is meant to be used by professional and professional level photographers who are looking for more options, highest quality, and above all, flexibility.
Additional Specs
The D800 is also a very practical choice when it comes to size specs. It is 5.7 inches wide, 4.8 inches tall, and 3.2 inches in depth. It is also 10% lighter than the previous version (the Nikon D700) and comes in at 31.7 oz. Of course that is just the body, not counting any additional lenses, flash, or accessories.
The viewfinder has a single lens that gives approximately 100% frame coverage which allows you to see everything in the frame and is designed to be comfortable and allow you to intuitively adjust as you are shooting.
The screen is 3.2 inches and in addition to viewing photos and videos you can also make quick adjustments right there on the screen using Nikon’s Picture Control. It has an EN-EL15 Lithium-ion battery that can take 900 shots per charge. Also, you have one CompactFlash (CF) slot as well as a Secure Digital (SD) card slot.
D700 vs. D800
The D800 is the next in line for Nikon so you may be wondering how the D700 stacks up against the new model. The most obvious different is the fact that the D700 does not offer video of any kind. Of course not everyone needs or wants video capabilities so that is definitely something to consider. The second most obvious difference is in megapixels. The D700 only offered 12.1 whereas the D800 is at a whopping 36.3.
In a lot of other areas the two models are very similar. Some additional places of difference would be that the D800 offers more picture control settings such as landscape and portrait preset although both have user-customizable settings so this is not much of a sticking point. Slightly better frame coverage (100% vs. 95% approx. respectably) and a slightly larger monitor (3.2 vs. 3.0) The D800 also offers more in-camera editing options. And as mentioned earlier, the D800 is about 10% lighter and smaller in general.
Overall I think both are amazing cameras and truly top of the line. For me, it would come down to the quality as well as the ability to take professional video. There is a lot of versatility when you can take professional photos as well as video with one machine rather than having a separate device for video, especially when you can get professional quality on both sides. This is not a camera with added HD capability thrown in as an afterthought as some sort of marketing ploy. This is a well-planned out, thoroughly designed video recorder.
Of course the D700 is now predicted to drop in price as the D800 is released later this year. So that is something to consider as well.
D800 or D800E? What’s the difference?
Available later in April the D800E will also be released as an option in the D800 series. This higher end model offers sharper resolution to pick up on moiré color and false colors. It also offers better depth. If you look at side by side shots, one with the D800 and the other with D800E there is a slight difference but it is clear that the D800E is geared towards a very specific crowd, so it is something to consider but there is not a huge step above the D800.
Overall this camera is breathtaking in just about every regard and can produce studio quality photographs and movies with ease. It is cutting edge in design and technology and a very exciting indication of where digital photography is headed.
Obviously making this type of purchase there is a lot of things to consider. I think one of the things that impressed me most was seeing the images and videos created using the camera. You can talk about specs all day and that is a very important factor but at the end of the day you can tell the quality and the flexibility by looking at the images.
So check it out, watch some of the videos and if this is the right fit for you the best place to snag a deal is at Amazon.com.
References
- Photographs by Nikon USA
- Nikon Official Website
- Nikon Rumors