Comparison of plane photography with Nikon D3s and D810

merv

merv

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Mervyn
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Have been asking recently for comments about these two cameras for aviation photographs.
Enclosed are two sets of four photos taken with the lens combo of Nikon 300/2.8 with 20 TC III converter. The first batch was taken last week at Portrush with my D810 AND the second at Kemble 3 years ago with my D3s. I can see a large difference in image sharpness, can you?





NOW 3 YEARS AGO WITH D3S






I wonder if this is enough to place one camera ahead of the other.
None of the photos have been PP.
Comments please
merv
 
Based on those, it's pretty much a no-brainer in favour of the D3s. Having said which, you've not explicitly stated it, but were both sets with the 300mm 2.8 + TC combo? Same settings for each? e.g focus tracking with lock-on, same focus points etc, etc.
 
It looks pretty black and white to me... but not for the one camera over the other...
The D3S shots are clearly a hell of a lot closer than the 810 shots!

Have you got a comparison where the subjects are about the same distance away from you?
 
Remember the D3s is about £1400 more expensive than the D810 to start with given original prices new. So I would expect the D3s to produce a better picture

D3s new £3759

D810 new £ 2339

So to my mind doing a direct like for like comparison does not do the D810 justice

What about doing a comparison of cameras in the same price bracket instead?
 
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Thanks guys you all make valid points. Yes Kemble was closer and Portrush out over the sea after recent accidents. However focal lengths were all similar, about 600mm. Same actual lens combo for both. Yes price difference matters too. But I, mistakenly possibly, assumed the 810 being higher resolution would mean sharper shots, not less sharp ones!! Settings generally the same although hard to get exactly the same. My gut reaction is that the D3 and D4 are better for sports etc and I've had both of them and nearly regret changing! Thanks all for comments
Merv
 
The D810 shots shouldn't be so poor, have you calibrated your lenses?
 
TBH I am surprised to see such a difference, I've had D3S/D4/D4S and now use the D810 ... I loved the D3S, less so the D4 and sold the D4S to gain extra MP and I'm not regretting it. I don't do aircraft so I'm not able to comment with knowledge of that field but I did find the 300 f2.8 VRll with the TC 2.0E lll to provide very useable images so doubt that combination is the problem ... as above, I wonder if you need to do an AF Micro-adjust for lens and lens/TC :)
 
I don't know if you guys saw another of my posts where last weekend during the airshow on four occasions nothing happened when I pressed the shutter. To cut a long story short, Grays, where I bought the camera are going to send it to their Nikon service people, Fixation for a free check up. All I have to do is pay one way postage. Seems a fair deal.
Micro focus adjustments or lens calibration are foreign to me!!
 
Lets hope it solves your issues Merv, the D810 is a great camera :)
 
merv said:
I don't know if you guys saw another of my posts where last weekend during the airshow on four occasions nothing happened when I pressed the shutter. To cut a long story short, Grays, where I bought the camera are going to send it to their Nikon service people, Fixation for a free check up. All I have to do is pay one way postage. Seems a fair deal.
Micro focus adjustments or lens calibration are foreign to me!!
Click to expand...

I haven't had a lens that didn't need a little adjusting for years to be perfect have a look at this guide
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zE50jCUPhM
 
merv said:
I don't know if you guys saw another of my posts where last weekend during the airshow on four occasions nothing happened when I pressed the shutter. To cut a long story short, Grays, where I bought the camera are going to send it to their Nikon service people, Fixation for a free check up. All I have to do is pay one way postage. Seems a fair deal.
Click to expand...
Good to hear. My D800 had no problems with focus acquisition and tracking the other week at the Victory Show [my duffers were down to low shutter speed camera shake, not the camera's ability].
 
I may be testinf my D810 with my 70-200 f2.8 and a tc20iii this weekend at southport so will post some shots. Depending on how our house move goes......waiting for the keys
 
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