Nikon D800......

Ive got both D3S and D800 and have done extensive testing regarding High ISO levels, the D800 is clearly at least 1/2 stop behind the D3S when down sampled to the exact same pixel size as the D3S, Without down sampling the D800 looks even worse but thats due to the 36mp file size.

These are my own personal findings, i find the D3S to be 1/2 stop better and the D800 sits between the D3/D700 and the D3S

You do need to bear in mind the resolution of both cameras though

In my experience below ISO 1600-2000 there is no difference but the D800 kicks the DS3 butt for image quality/dynamic range, etc, etc at those lower ISO's
 
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Ozei said:
Did it do it with several SD cards or just one?
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Several.

I was busy formatting cards ahead of a wedding with 2 more to follow in short succession. I was somewhat incentivised to get it working ;)
 
Gary Coyle said:
Ive got both D3S and D800 and have done extensive testing regarding High ISO levels, the D800 is clearly at least 1/2 stop behind the D3S when down sampled to the exact same pixel size as the D3S, Without down sampling the D800 looks even worse but thats due to the 36mp file size.

These are my own personal findings, i find the D3S to be 1/2 stop better and the D800 sits between the D3/D700 and the D3S

You do need to bear in mind the resolution of both cameras though

In my experience below ISO 1600-2000 there is no difference but the D800 kicks the DS3 butt for image quality/dynamic range, etc, etc at those lower ISO's
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Now 6 weeks in and enjoying the D800 but as i said before a little bit of a learning curve... certainly for my eyes shooting at iso 6900 and above which with my Wildlife I often have to do the D3s wins hands down and from what I see it is well above 1/2 stop difference but tbo that matters not.... I've found the autofocus to work well in low light although the outer focus points do get the camera hunting somewhat, something I'd expected anyway. I am a little bit disappointed at the camera's ability to lock on to subjects moving toward me, there does seem to be more missed shots than I'd expect from the D3s but I need to do a little more work before I'm definitely sure. The dynamic range especially at iso's of 50-100 is really really impressive and is clearly way ahead of the "S". Handheld with bigger primes and zooms I'm have to use higher shutter speeds than I'm used to with the "S" but again I fully expected that.... Had a couple or Err problems and one goosed mem card which I managed to get replaced.... and learning the new lay out has me constantly dropping the camera, especially when try to access the comp button, stupid Nikon no idea why they decided to move it all around. The level of detail the camera can capture is a revelation and quite remarkable, all in all I think I like the D800 and will def use it when subject matter and light conditions suit......
 
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Ozei said:
Hmm. I thought perhaps the casing on one card had become slightly warped - it can't be that though if several cards won't latch.

Here's someone with the same problem (1st post) - http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discus...-engage-and-multiselector-button-problems-/p1
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Thanks. Hadn't been able to find anything like that. NPS told me it was a pretty rare fault.

Camera just arrived back, I picked up an SD card off the desk (which is one I'm sure I tried with it) - latches fine! So I guess it's fixed and I paid a lot less than £200. Everybody wins :)
 
Gary Coyle said:
Ive got both D3S and D800 and have done extensive testing regarding High ISO levels, the D800 is clearly at least 1/2 stop behind the D3S when down sampled to the exact same pixel size as the D3S, Without down sampling the D800 looks even worse but thats due to the 36mp file size.

These are my own personal findings, i find the D3S to be 1/2 stop better and the D800 sits between the D3/D700 and the D3S

You do need to bear in mind the resolution of both cameras though

In my experience below ISO 1600-2000 there is no difference but the D800 kicks the DS3 butt for image quality/dynamic range, etc, etc at those lower ISO's
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I was going on various comparisons I've read/seen online. You can obviously say better having both.

All I know is I have no problem using the D800 at 6400, say at a gig, as any noise you get is easy clean up in post. I used to fear anything above ISO 1000 on the D90.

Interestingly, I find the Fuji X100s produces a cleaner file [slightly] that the D800 beyond 3200. That is a stellar performer for a crop sensor mirror-less though.

I don't have many reasons to use either above 2000 mostly though.
 
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I have a D3s and D800. D3s is better in low light in terms of noise when d800 files are downsized. I find DR and colours to be better on the D800 at ISO up to around 1600 at least. DR is the only thing that disappoints me about the D3s when compared to other nikons. I find the D700 even out performs it in that area. It's low light ability is great though.

If you shoot a lot in low light I'd say go with the D3s. If you shoot 1000+ images per shoot go with the D3s. If you shoot less images and mostly in good light then go D800.
 
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cambsno said:
Having a crazy thought of chopping D700 for one!!
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I have both mate, other than my last ever wedding that I did last week, the D700 rarely gets used now,make of that what you wish. But I always grab the D800 now.

I may keep the D700 for its better FPS, but i`m contemplating selling and just having the D800.
 
I'm thinking of moving from a D700 to D800 over the next few months.
Has anyone purchased one over the past 6 months, if so, could you let me know which supplier you used please and the first 3 digits of your serial number ie: is it greater than 606*****
Any AF issues at all
Thanks
Dave
 
I have bought one here, and it does not have any issues.Bought apparently 8months ago.I will check the serial number and update
 
Bought in April from Clifton Cameras ... 609***** no issues.
 
Thanks Guys, I read sometime ago that s/n 606**** or greater were OK and your comment seem to confirm this.
Thanks for your help
Dave
 
fracster said:
I have both mate, other than my last ever wedding that I did last week, the D700 rarely gets used now,make of that what you wish. But I always grab the D800 now.

I may keep the D700 for its better FPS, but i`m contemplating selling and just having the D800.
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Thanks (and to the others who have commented too!). Used they go for £1600, guess I may get £900 for D700, so thats £700 cost to change which is dilemma!
 
cambsno said:
Thanks (and to the others who have commented too!). Used they go for £1600, guess I may get £900 for D700, so thats £700 cost to change which is dilemma!
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I flogged my D300,17-55 and some other,rarely used, bits to get the D800,I don`t regret that mate.
 
decigallen said:
I have a D3s and D800. D3s is better in low light in terms of noise when d800 files are downsized. I find DR and colours to be better on the D800 at ISO up to around 1600 at least. DR is the only thing that disappoints me about the D3s when compared to other nikons. I find the D700 even out performs it in that area. It's low light ability is great though.

If you shoot a lot in low light I'd say go with the D3s. If you shoot 1000+ images per shoot go with the D3s. If you shoot less images and mostly in good light then go D800.
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If you find the dynamic range of your d700 to be better than your D3s then I'd suggest there's something wrong with your D3s. In my experience the D3s has a much greater DR.
 
With regards to D800 noise I don't really like pushing it over 800. For me the D3s is streets ahead in low light high iso capabilities. But then I'm not downsizing my images as that defeats the object of having a 36mp camera doesn't it, or am I missing something??
 
ryanyboy said:
With regards to D800 noise I don't really like pushing it over 800.
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Hmmm, that is odd, the 800 certainly compares to the 700.Never had a D3s so cannot comment on that. But i`m happy to ramp up the D800 iso as much as I need to.

I`ll try and find some high iso stuff.
 
ryanyboy said:
With regards to D800 noise I don't really like pushing it over 800. For me the D3s is streets ahead in low light high iso capabilities. But then I'm not downsizing my images as that defeats the object of having a 36mp camera doesn't it, or am I missing something??
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That's what's stopping me pulling the trigger. While most shooting tends to be at 200 or 400 I will often go to 800 or 1600, maybe a bit more from time to time.
 
According to the DxO tables the best DR performance of the D800 is 14.3 Ev at ISO 100 and the D700 12.15 Ev at ISO 200 by the time you get to ISO 400 the difference is down to 1Ev and above that the D800 has about 0.5Ev advantage at the higher ISO settings. I only shoot my D800 at ISO 100 if I know I am going to have to work above that I use the D700 as the files are much much quicker to work with and give the same basic result.

On reflection I think I would have been better of with a D600, for me it has the same DR benefits as the D800 without the stupid file size.
 
nikonuser said:
I'm thinking of moving from a D700 to D800 over the next few months.
Has anyone purchased one over the past 6 months, if so, could you let me know which supplier you used please and the first 3 digits of your serial number ie: is it greater than 606*****
Any AF issues at all
Thanks
Dave
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Hi, I bought my D800 from HDEW Cameras in January 2013 Serial No 803***** no problems whatsoever.

Hope this helps.
 
ah5168 said:
On reflection I think I would have been better of with a D600, for me it has the same DR benefits as the D800 without the stupid file size.
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I cannot understand why people bring the file size up at every available opportunity, you knew the file size before you bought it.If it is such a hardship,why on earth buy the camera?
 
Anyone shed any light on this. Took a series of photographs yesterday and downloaded them to LR. Looking at the images there are a couple, taken less than a minute apart with only an exposure adjustment, one has the normal of size of 4912x7360 and the other 3776x6720, much narrower. What would cause this to crop.

jeff
 
fracster said:
I cannot understand why people bring the file size up at every available opportunity, you knew the file size before you bought it.If it is such a hardship,why on earth buy the camera?
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Agreed, I don't get why its a problem either.
 
Jeff.B said:
Anyone shed any light on this. Took a series of photographs yesterday and downloaded them to LR. Looking at the images there are a couple, taken less than a minute apart with only an exposure adjustment, one has the normal of size of 4912x7360 and the other 3776x6720, much narrower. What would cause this to crop.

jeff
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Sounds like you've switched to 'FX-based (movie) format' somehow. 6720 x 3776 is the exactly the same as the 'L' option. See pages 67 & 68 in the manual.
 
To change the subject a bit; D800 cases. I just thought I'd mention that I've been looking for one for a while and decided to risk buying a Nikon CF-D700 leather case which is actually for the D700. It fits really well with a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 attached and was about £100 cheaper than the official D800 case.
 
Sold mine the other day on the chance of picking up a cheap D4 but it went before i could get it, DOHHHHHHHHHH, will pick another one in a couple of month.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Sold mine the other day on the chance of picking up a cheap D4 but it went before i could get it, DOHHHHHHHHHH, will pick another one in a couple of month.
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Did wonder why you sold it Gary! You were right about the 70-200.....immense!!
 
Gary Coyle said:
Sold mine the other day on the chance of picking up a cheap D4 but it went before i could get it, DOHHHHHHHHHH, will pick another one in a couple of month.
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That's a shame. I paid as quick as I could!
Not had a chance to try it yet. Hopefully get out over next day or 2 :)
 
Looking for either a messenger bag or backpack to carry the D800 16-35, 70-200 f4... Ideally big enough to take the D800 with 70-200 attached
. Favourite so far is lowepro event 250

Thanks

Simon
 
If I use the smaller file size in the NIkon D800 camera settings, will I still get the full benefit of the sensor in terms of dynamic range and ISO sensitivity.Can someone enlighten me please?

My computer struggles with the huge file size and hence this question?
 
renu said:
If I use the smaller file size in the NIkon D800 camera settings, will I still get the full benefit of the sensor in terms of dynamic range and ISO sensitivity.Can someone enlighten me please?

My computer struggles with the huge file size and hence this question?
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The smaller file size is only for jpegs, so you'd loose all the associated benefits of shooting raw.

There's plenty of people who produce amazing pictures and never go near a raw file, but I would miss that flexibility that raw gives.

Having said that, the jpegs from my D600 have really impressed me, so I'm sure the D800 would give the same or better results!
 
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Just as a replort, I'm at around 1200 exposures and this weekend I had 5 very small specks of dust on the sensor, and no oil spots. 4 specks got eliminated by a Rocketblower, 1 by the Pentax sensor cleaning tool.

Wet cleaning was not required. I use primes, so I change lenses quite a bit. Some specks of dust are to be expected under these circumstances. So I guess my D800 (purchased end of April 2013) has no issues with oil or other unusual contamination of the sensor.
 
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