Nikon D800......

Thanks Cagey, yes Im hedging towards the sigma alright I was looking at the thread on FM forum and some of the images are just Wow. Basically atm Im AF lensless so the Sigma would be a walkaround type lens I didnt really fancy a zoom. The only lenses I have right now are two very old circa 1980 Nikon manual ais lenses. I have a 24mm and a 35mm both of which are surprisingly very good. The 24mm has lots of distortion at the edges but is very very sharp. The 35mm is pretty good as well, near subjects get a bit distorted at the edges but overall a pretty good lens. I really want an AF lens though for most general stuff.
 
Is anyone getting the egg timer when they press the menu button, I very often get it.

I have updated the software.
 
Roxo said:
Thanks Cagey, yes Im hedging towards the sigma alright I was looking at the thread on FM forum and some of the images are just Wow. Basically atm Im AF lensless so the Sigma would be a walkaround type lens I didnt really fancy a zoom. The only lenses I have right now are two very old circa 1980 Nikon manual ais lenses. I have a 24mm and a 35mm both of which are surprisingly very good. The 24mm has lots of distortion at the edges but is very very sharp. The 35mm is pretty good as well, near subjects get a bit distorted at the edges but overall a pretty good lens. I really want an AF lens though for most general stuff.
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What I love about it is, though it's not exactly a light-weight, it's a fair bit lighter than the 24-70, and a lot tidier too while being a bit sharper with that option of brighter aperture too. Much easier use one-handed. For example, walking along the riverside with my kids, having to hold their hand, I can still shoot steadily one handed as I walk with this lens. The 24-70 made that much harder, your wrist would be in agony after a while. And I want to be able to use a lens in this range whenever and however ...

Also, if I want more width, take a few steps back, more zoom - a few steps forward ... :)
 
swiftflo said:
Is anyone getting the egg timer when they press the menu button, I very often get it.

I have updated the software.
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I've switched it on and off numerous times now, and though the timer shows for about a split second, it doesn't come up after that. It pretty much goes straight to menu after a brief glimpse of it.
 
swiftflo said:
Is anyone getting the egg timer when they press the menu button, I very often get it.

I have updated the software.
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Vaguely recall seeing it appear very briefly, but never gave it a thought. Don't recall seeing it prior to the firmware update. Cannot find any mention of that symbol in the manual.
 
Out shooting with a fellow photographer this evening egg timer showing briefly on his camera when switching menu, on the other hand I would just like to say I could not believe how quickly that beast D800E processes a 2min exposure super fast!
 
Took the D800 + 200mm f/2 to photograph my kid at his indoor nursery sports day (yes I was that guy) and it coped well with the bedlam of 3 year olds doing a relay race, and under the most awful orange lighting. The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is a lovely lens too if you're using it indoor and the light is poor.
 
This weekend I tried to update my firmware, but without success.

I formatted two different SD cards (a Lexar 16GB and a Sandisk Extreme 64 GB) in the camera and in the PC, copied the bin file onto them, set the D800 to use the SC card slot as the primary slot, took out the CF card just to be sure, switched the camera off an on several times in the process, but to no avail.

When checking the firmware in the setup menu, it showed the firmware, but no option to update.

Did I miss something I should have done in addition?

Thanks for all suggestions in advance
 
What can I say - I'm embarrassed :) Thanks Ozei, indeed I had downloaded the wrong version (from Cagey75's link) without reading the info and filename properly...

Thanks for your help!
 
Did the same thing myself a couple of weeks ago. At least the wrong firmware will not install and foul up things.
 
AchimT said:
What can I say - I'm embarrassed :) Thanks Ozei, indeed I had downloaded the wrong version (from Cagey75's link) without reading the info and filename properly...

Thanks for your help!
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Sorry! I should have specified in my post and/or linked to both. I've edited that post now to state it's for the E version ;)
 
Cagey75 said:
Sorry! I should have specified in my post and/or linked to both. I've edited that post now to state it's for the E version ;)
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This was my own fault entirely. Your camera list says E, you've mentioned it in posts, and the website at the link also says E. I was just being really dumb :)
 
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My D800 was purchased back in September, I never had any of the AF issues, and only one lens was off - that was a new sigma 35. A lens notorious for needing MA. The second copy I got was just fine.

I'd just treat the camera like any other, you'll know soon enough if anything seems off.
 
No, it was for the D800E, but I never specified, it still leads to the D800E firmware
 
Jeff.B said:
I get delivery of a pre-owned d800 tomorrow. It was originally purchased last October. Is there anything I need to do as far as firmware updates etc. Or anything else.

jeff
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I would perform the tests for the left focus issue as the first D800 I received from an online camera dealer had the issue so i had to return it and they sent me another which was fine. They asked me for the tests i used to discover the issue and said that they would work them into their testing process. Its been discussed previously in this thread and I don't want to mention the companies name again as after the initial disappointment they were genuinely excellent when I reported the issue but all I would say is that sometimes they slip through the net when owners/dealers test them out. Chances are it will be fine and you may not think it to be a big deal even if it does have the issue but that's down to you.
 
Jeff.B said:
What are the left focus tests you mention.
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If you search the forum for "Testing d800 for left focus issue" you will get a thread that I started a few months back that has pretty much everything you need to know including links to youtube videos. Sorry I'm on the iPhone app so can't link to it directly.
 
Cagey75 said:
My D800 was purchased back in September, I never had any of the AF issues, and only one lens was off - that was a new sigma 35. A lens notorious for needing MA. The second copy I got was just fine.

I'd just treat the camera like any other, you'll know soon enough if anything seems off.
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you have a E though which seems to for the most part missed most of the issues.
I dont think purchase date can be used just yet to find affected ones, theres still plenty cropping up online with the issues. Im my first was bought september also but had the issue.

I would even say they haven't fully nailed down this issue yet.

Either you love your D800 to much and its blinded you, as all you ever do it praise it or you have to be the luckiest person ever when it comes to body lens matching. Both my d800's and my d700 all needed MA on lens. Both the d800s more so.
 
I have seen others with the E say they had some issues.

Should I moan about it in some way for the craic? Plenty of people have had zero issues with theirs, and stated so in here. It's just the ones with issues go on about it more. So it seems like a rampant problem. Sorry, but I will of course say I love my D800, in a D800 thread ... when there's nothing wrong with it. What's wrong with that exactly?? And yes, all my lenses have been bang on with it besides the sigma

I'm so glad I don't have a reason to moan, if I did, I'd be doing it to the store I bought it from [got that Sigma changed pronto] or contacting Nikon direct. I doubt doing it here would do any use.

Blinded? Ok ... I'm blind or extremely lucky, because I got a normal, fully functioning FX dslr that happens to work as it should do with most of my lenses ... :bonk:

I don't praise it to goad others, that would be ridiculous, I'd say there's way more people here that got good copies, they're probably just too busy shooting with it to be posting all the time ;)

This thread needs more positivity or a separate one for issues and faults, because it's a mess. It isn't a D800 issues thread
 
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E's have had issue but no where near as many maybe due to the lower no.s produced.

Yes you probably do hear about the issues more than those that don't but there's plenty that do have issues and Nikon don't even seem to be able to rectify them. Some get fixed others don't ,look else where and see the no. Of people returning there's multiple times to Nikon with no fix.
It is a rampant problem, and has to be the most plagued camera Nikon have released. The no. Of defective cameras shouldn't be out there, or Nikon should be admitting this issue and swapping or properly sorting it.

There's nothing wrong with saying you like your d800 but when ever anyone comments on it,your the first every time to disagree and say there's no issues, they work fine, no problems with technique, needing higher shutter speeds,it can be used for sports, ect ect

Regarding the lens ..all of mine work they just needed MA, I've never seen anyone say that None or only one of the lens they own has needed any adjustment. Either that or they haven't checked. I think having so many lens and only one need any MA is probably one in a thousand. So yes you must be extremely luck. I've needed it on most of my lens on all 3 of my fx cams and had lens that were off on my dx body's that couldn't be adjusted. Guess I'm just extremely un lucky Or all my pro glass and body's were bad.

I don't think that there's any need to have two threads this is an issue with d800 how every small you may think or large others think... But it is a fact that there's a more than except able no of issues.

And I do love my d800, more so than my d700 despite the issues I had with my first body and the extra work I need to put in to get the best from it. I had looked at switching to canon but only for the glass, but don't think I could let the body go.

The sad fact s that's its the body that probably cause the biggest stir, be it from the boundaries it's pushed or issues its been plagued with.
 
I don't think there's an overly need to continuously turn it into a repairs thread either, so I DO think there is a need for a second. Every other specific camera thread is good natured and full of great images and people loving using their cameras. Look in here then ... A lot of it scare mongering.

I mean, someone has bought one ... without checking up on common issues, and straight away people are in with the negatives. Like it MUST have some!

I'm 'always' the first?? er, I haven't even been posting on here much lately, so where you get that from? Got sick of some of the bitterness in general around here, common on photo sites in general where everyone's a know-it-all. But if I have something to say, I'll say how I feel, not how others want me to, if you don't mind ;)
 
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If I ever start making serious money from shooting, I'd buy another. I pondered on a D4, but since I don't shoot sports, or anything really fast moving, besides kids running about, the D800 is more than fast enough for me. And after using it for months, I think it might be hard go to a bigger body. I never use grips, got one, never use it. I think this size body is just right. Bought an X100s for more casual shooting, so the D800 can have a rest more often :D it'll keep the actuation count a fair bit not using it for family snaps and that sort of thing.
 
I purchased my D800 fairly soon after launch, and have been very pleased with it - I use a tripod most of the time, and have not come across some of its "shortcomings" and difficulties in use due to needing extra shutter speed, etc.

I have noticed that this in the main is not a D800 thread, but a D800 faults and focussing thread, and I have to agree that there is a lot of scaremongering on here, where some users will look for faults that they would never have found in normal use.

It probably is time some users started to use the camera to take photographs; if the results are not what you like, buy a different camera.

I see in a thread above that Jeff B is buying a D800 and asked for advice about firmware updates, etc, but the advice he gets is to check for the left focus issue, and micro-adjustment of lenses. Jeff B then must start worrying whether he has made the right purchasing decision with the D800.

There is nothing unusual in this, those owners that have the problems will always vent their opinions everywhere and loudly, while those who have problem-free cameras will quietly get on with .......................................taking photographs. Note also that some opinions on some forums (fora?) are given by people who have never handled the camera, but who have read about the issues.

All in my humble opinion, of course, and not directed personally at ANYONE, but hopefully to reassure potential D800 purchasers that the camera can be absolutely superb, and is seen as so by a huge number of photographers.
 
I bought a D800 end of April 2013 and it doesn't seem to have any issues. Left AF looks good, no dirt on the sensor yet (800 exposures now), no hourglass and lockup issues either.

For anyone thinking I might be blind to issues or just being a fanboy, please read the D600 thread. I had the sensor dirt issue, I had it bad, and I talked about it.

But the D800 luckily works like such a high-tech piece of kit should - i.e. flawlessly (so far).

I'd like to say that indeed when you read of a lot of people who have the issue, and then you have it too, it requires a bit of discipline to remind yourself that probably the majority of the cameras work well, or else they couldn't be sold anymore, and that you personally just had some bad luck in getting one of the problem-ridden copies. After the issue started with my D600, it kept contaminating the sensor at such a rate that I was most amazed to read from people who said they didn't have any issues, and silently I always wondered whether they had tested it thoroughly, or would maybe still get them later - simply because so many people had the issue, and for example 100% of the cameras in the initial batch of Lensrentals were affected. That sounded like simply all of the D600s had an issue. But apparently some don't, and looking at it soberly, it has to be the majority which doesn't, because otherwise the repair cost would make Nikon poor.

So, I believe that probably the majority of D600 and D800 don't have issues. I did not have so much luck with the D600, I had good luck with the D800 apparently. Mathematically/statistically a well balanced final result ;)
 
I do feel sorry for anyone who has suffered issues. When you spend big on gear like this, you would expect it to be fine out of the box. But I thought Nikon were taking any problematic bodies back for service? Maybe that's not easily done? especially if you're going to be without a camera for a while. But I have heard they will fix them if sent on. Or if you visit a Nikon service center.

Back to lenses: Is anyone using, or has anyone tested out a 28-300 VR lens on their D800?

Wondering how well it performs as a walk-about? I have thought on one for travel.

I don't want to take a bag of lenses on a holiday, but I know once I get there I'll be wanting to shoot a lot [when I'm allowed!] I've a week in Turkey end of month with the family, and I will take off for at least one of those days to shoot. I was going to just bring my X100s, but that's a fixed 23mm[35mm FX equiv] - fine for street and general touristy shooting. But I know I'll miss some zoom-ability!

Just pondering. I could just bring the D800 with the 85mm and use it in crop mode for extra reach.It would be much lighter, and use the Fuji for wider shooting. Actually now I've typed all that, it seems a good option :D
 
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