Nikon D800 Pro Reviews

With its 36 megapixel sensor, sophisticated feature set and amazing image quality, the Nikon D800 offers a solid--and more affordable--alternative to photographers who crave medium-format files without stretching a budget to the breaking point. It's no speed demon with a continuous shooting speed of about 4fps but it's not designed that way. It's great for studio, portrait and product photographers, as well as landscape shooters who want the ultimate amount of information. Heed our warning, though. Be sure your computer and storage systems are up to the task of handling large files. This camera's files can quickly eat up valuable space on your hard drive. An external hard drive is a necessity when purchasing this camera. With DSLR video becoming more ubiquitous, Nikon has done a good job of expanding the D800's video capabilities. If you've not shot video with a DSLR before, be prepared for a learning curve especially in focusing. The D800's AF--like many other DSLRs--requires some special skills, but the results are well worth the effort. Whether or not you have an interest in shooting video, though, the D800 is first and foremost an excellent camera for capturing stills. And, if you're a pro with a high speed D4, the D800 is the perfect complement for your portrait or studio needs.

As we said at the outset, this review is more about the single difference between the D800 and D800E: the absence of a low-pass filter and its effects. It's clear from our analysis that both the D800 and D800E have moiré issues, but the D800E's is much more apparent and challenging to address. What we also found was that the D800E indeed captures more detail than the D800, making it uniquely suited to landscape photography, or scientific applications where moiré won't be an issue. Unfortunately, our review of our sample images revealed quite a few instances where moiré was a problem with both cameras, with amplified effects in the D800E that we think outweighs the resolution advantage for most photographers. In almost every instance of man-made items, from buildings to fabric, you're at risk of encountering moiré among repeating patterns. It's also easy to find rainbow colors in hair, both human and animal, that could be objectionable. There's no way to avoid it, so people without a special use for the D800E will do well to avoid the camera. Removing moiré from more than a few images is really more trouble than it's worth.

A class act across the board, but the massive resolution brings drawbacks as well as benefits

The Nikon D800 is a triumph for still shooters. The new 36 Megapixel full-frame sensor delivers tremendous quality, comfortably out-resolving the Canon EOS 5D Mark III while matching its noise levels when viewed at 1:1. For the best quality you should be shooting in RAW, but even the D800's in-camera JPEGs using the default settings are very pleasing. This really is getting close to medium format quality but from a body that's smaller, quicker and much cheaper, not to mention superior at higher ISOs. Pack this quality into a superb body with a great viewfinder, decent screen and the convenience of a built-in flash, interval timer and deep bracketing, and you've got what's arguably the best DSLR for landscape, architectural and studio shooters. You will need to shoot with the same care as a medium format system though, which means getting your tripod out and focusing very carefully, but treat it with care and the D800 will deliver quality unrivalled by any DSLR.

Sublime ergonomics and a record-breaking resolution, but performance suffers

There's no doubt the D800E is a slightly specialist offering, but if you think you'll be able to take full advantage of the potential of the D800E, then the extra investment is worth it. This is why it's likely to appeal to existing medium format owners who already know and understand the pitfalls of moiré and how to get the best from a sensor without the effect of an optical low-pass filter. For the majority though, the D800 is still the one to go for.

Saying the Nikon D800 is a very good camera is as easy as saying “Breaking Bad” is great television series — both are slam dunks. Now buying the D800 — due to expense and commitment required — is a serious decision. Supplies for the camera are very tight, so don’t expect to buy it for less than the $2,999 list price, if you can find one at all. And high-quality Nikkor lenses are a must — primes and zooms. Don’t expect spectacular results without tweaking, and noise at high ISOs is definitely an issue. In the end, however, your photos will be worth the effort.

The Nikon D700 has been a hot seller ever since it was introduced back in the summer of 2008. It had a great sensor, a robust but relatively lightweight body and a comprehensive feature set, and was sold at a price that many thought was reasonable for all the goodness it offered. Yet after 3.5 years it was admittedly a bit long in the tooth, and by not offering a higher-resolution successor at an affordable price, Nikon was increasingly at risk of losing its full-frame user base, particularly as rivals Sony and Canon have been marketing competitive 20+ megapixel cameras for quite a long time. With the introduction of the 36-megapixel D800, Nikon is obviously targeting users who have been looking at high-resolution alternatives to their aging D700s, as well as users of other brands who might feel the extra resolution and compelling feature set may be worth the trouble to switch - or switch back - to Nikon.

The Nikon D700 has been a hot seller ever since it was introduced back in the summer of 2008. It had a great sensor, a robust but relatively lightweight body and a comprehensive feature set, and was sold at a price that many thought was reasonable for all the goodness it offered. Yet after 3.5 years it was admittedly a bit long in the tooth, and by not offering a higher-resolution successor at an affordable price, Nikon was increasingly at risk of losing its full-frame user base, particularly as rivals Sony and Canon have been marketing competitive 20+ megapixel cameras for quite a long time. With the introduction of the 36-megapixel D800E, Nikon is obviously targeting users who have been looking at high-resolution alternatives to their aging D700s, as well as users of other brands who might feel the extra resolution and compelling feature set may be worth the trouble to switch - or switch back - to Nikon. On the resolution front, the Nikon D800E delivers images with a truly stunning amount of detail, even more so than the standard D800 model, and certainly comparable to what you can achieve with a number of medium-format digital cameras and backs. The D800E's photos are subtly but discernibly sharper and more detailed than the D800's, and unless you shoot a lot of subjects with very fine details like fabrics or man-made patterns, you'll be hard-pushed to spot any moire or colour aliasing. Even if you do, there are certain techniques that you can employ both during shooting and in post-production, so if out and out resolution is a key requirement then we'd recommend paying the small price premium for the D800E.

The full-frame Nikon D800 manages to deliver 36 megapixels of resolution, without sacrificing image quality at high ISOs. It only shoots 4 frames per second, but that should be sufficient for event photographers, landscape shooters, and well-heeled enthusiasts.

The D800 combines swift operation and well-designed controls with outstanding image quality that is particularly impressive at high ISO settings. Expanded video capabilities hold appeal those who need to produce both stills and video while on assignment. The camera's 36MP sensor allows for class-leading resolution in a 35mm format camera...if you're prepared to hold your technique and equipment to the highest standards.

In many ways the D800 doesn't feel like a natural upgrade to the D700, but rather a new line in Nikon's full-frame DSLR line-up. While the D700 was a great all-round full-frame DSLR, the D800 is slightly more specialised - whereas the D700 was seen as a baby D3, the D800 could be seen as more of a baby D3X with even great resolving power. The ISO performance sees it loose out to the competition ever so slightly if you're going to be shooting handheld in lowlight, while the frame rate, even in DX mode can make it feel slow when shooting action. That's not to say you won't be able to achieve great shots in these situations, but you'll just have to work a little harder. These negatives are to some extent brought about by the camera's main appeal, resolution. If you're prepared to make small sacrifices in other areas, then the results from the D800 will blow you away. The amount of detail rendered is excellent, while the tonal range very broad, allowing you to produce super-sized, high-quality prints. Combine that with the quality feel, extensive feature set and polished handling, and the D800 is an excellent DSLR that won't disappoint.

Many see the Canon EOS 5D Mark III as the D800's natural competitor. While the average serious enthusiast is likely to think long and hard about switching manufacturer, professional photographers are less loyal and will go with whichever option works best for them. The D800 will be very attractive to photographers who need a comparatively light camera that is capable of capturing a lot of detail and producing large prints. As it is an especially good choice for those who shoot in normal or daylight conditions or at low sensitivities, we think the D800, or perhaps the D800E, will be a big hit with landscape and studio photographers. Meanwhile the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is perhaps a bit of an all-rounder that will appeal to enthusiast photographers who want to shoot a range of subjects in lots of different conditions.

There is little doubt that the D800 is a terrific camera. Photographically speaking, the 36.6-megapixels is an amazing leap forward, images have an awe-inspiring level of detail and this gives a lot of flexibility over using the camera. Shoot something that’s good, but a little poorly framed, and there’s room to tweak and improve. Likewise, the high resolution will give opportunities to photographers who want the option of printing their photos in large sizes. Happily, the large, high-resolution sensor doesn’t suffer with excessive noise as a result of the pixel density. Indeed, the D800 image performance, even in low light, is one of the most impressive things we’ve seen. Images are usable right up to ISO 3600 and even in to the extended range they have some value, though there is significant noise. Having said that, despite the noise, image sharpness is incredible, which makes for very likeable shots with an interesting grain that could have some artistic merit.

The Nikon D800 offers unprecedented resolution at an unthought of price point, packed full of features, many from the Nikon D4 that is almost twice the price. Build quality is very good, and the camera gives excellent handling with a solid metal body and weather sealing the camera should be suitable for almost any landscape or outdoors project. Value for money is a strong point, with cameras with a similar resolution costing significantly more (at least 3 times more). Image quality is stunning in every way. To make the most of it you'll need to have high quality lenses, for example the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G lens used in this review is available for around £1200. It will be interesting seeing how Nikon's lens range is put under additional scrutiny by this camera. The Nikon D800 performs extremely well and is deserving of our Editor's Choice award. Nikon have another winning camera on their hands and I expect demand will be extremely high for a long time to come. The D800 is extremely desirable, so much so that I can see people selling an arm and a leg to get it.

Really, the question here isn't, "Is the D800 a great camera?" Nikon would really have had to botch something to get a "no" on that. The questions are whether it's a significantly better camera than the D700, whether it's good enough to merit switching from another system (say, a Canon), and, for some, whether it's worth the price premium of jumping from an APS-C system to full-frame. The answers are yes, it depends, and maybe. There's no question that the D800 is significantly better than the D700, with the single exception of burst-shooting performance. The image quality is better -- it can't not be, given the advances in sensor and noise-reduction technology that have happened over the last few years -- and the additions and refinements in the design and features have something for everyone to appreciate. But if you're looking for a first full-frame Nikon camera and the now-$800 price differential between the D700 and D800 makes a difference to your budget, and you don't care about video, the D700 remains a great choice, especially if you can sink that $800 into a good lens.

The Nikon D800 is a pro-grade DSLR that will primarily appeal to landscape, commercial and studio photographers, but which also has the flexibility to tempt well-heeled enthusiasts. Given the massive boost in resolution to a class-leading 36.3MP, we can understand the disappointment of those who’d simply hoped for a revamped D700 with around 18MP and extended ISO capabilities. That said, we’re more inclined to see the D800 as a new model in its own right, rather than as a direct successor. Viewed on these terms, it could well open up new territory for Nikon while taking on an ambassadorial role for the video capabilities of the company's other pro-grade DSLRs. If image and video quality live live up to the bold claims being made, then it’s likely to be a hugely successful camera too.