Nikon D800/D800E

Product Summary

Model name: Nikon D800
Focus Type: Autofocus / Manual
Format : Full Frame
Mounts: Nikon F
Purchase options: Adorama | Amazon | B&H

What’s new in the Nikon D800/800E / Key features

Newly developed Nikon 36.3 megapixels FX format CMOS sensor
91K RGB sensor with Advanced Scene Recognition system
Lightest full frame DSLR made by Nikon
Built-in AF motor, compatible with all lenses made by Nikon since 1977
External stereo mic option via a 3.5mm jack
Built-in flash (not available on the Canon 5d Mark III)
Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module driving a 51-point AF system

Overview

The D800/D800E currently enjoys the tag of being the DSLR with the highest resolution sensor. At a whopping 36.3 megapixels there is an awful amount of information that these two cameras can capture and some photographers really feel that they are what they epitome the best there can be. Are they really that good? Let’s find out. According to Nikon, the Nikon users who have DX-format lenses will be able to use them on the D800 by using the 15.4MP resolution setting as well. In DX Format Setting, the pixels that cover a DX-sized portion of the sensor will be used, allowing the camera a 1.5x crop. The D800 will be in market in both “with” and “without” a low-pass filter. The model “without” a low-pass filter is the D800E. As a result D800E will be able to cancels anti-aliasing properties and delivered the light directly to the photodiodes. According to nikon, this will enable D800E to offer the highest possible color fidelity and dynamic range that, will deliver a medium format image quality. Color moire can be corrected though the feature available in Capture NX2.

Features explained

The 51-point auto-focusing system

The D800/D800E uses the same 51-point auto-focusing system used in the D4. At the heart is the Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module. The center 15 AF points all serve as cross-type for any lens f/5.6 or faster. The auto-focusing speed of the D800/D800E is however slightly slower compared to the faster and speedier Canon 5d Mark III.

ISO performance

The D800/D800E has an ISO range of 100-6400. It can be expanded from 50-25600. When compared with the Canon 5d Mark III the Nikon has a little bit more noise but, not a deal breaker really. This is however expected with all that megapixels. However one thing that the D800/D800E does have is the proper exposure in movie mode (also known as latitude).

Continuous shooting speed

At FX format and using the EN-EL15 batteries the camera has a continuous high shooting speed of 4 fps. In DX format that slightly improves at 5 fps. Using the MB-D12 vertical battery grip one can have a slightly better burst rate of 6 fps in DX format. The camera can however shoot about 15 continuous frames before it starts to stall and when it does the camera certainly over stretches its processing power. The D800 is nowhere near the D4 when it comes to continuous shooting and is not the camera as we will see time and again for sports / action photography. If this is what you want and cannot go beyond the set budget try some of Sony’s models instead.

Videos & stills

Shooting at full resolution the D800/D800E can shoot images of the size 7,360 x 4,912 pixels. In DX format it can shoot in 4,800 x 3,200 pixels. It can also shoot 12 or 14 bit RAW (NEF), TIFF and simultaneously shoot JPEG+RAW (NEF). It also shoots full HD in 30p, 25p and 24p. At 720p HD it can also shoot at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p. The format of the movies is .MOV and the user can select either H.264 or MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding for encoding the videos. One can also use an external stereo mic via the 3.5mm pin and record audio. It is also possible to set it up for shooting time lapse photography.

The viewfinder & the LCD monitor

The pentaprism viewfinder is bright and offers 100% coverage in FX mode. In DX mode it offers 97% coverage. The 3.2” LCD monitor has the same specifications as that of the flagship D4. It boasts a 921,000 dots resolution and has a wide 170˚ viewing angle. An automatic brightness adjustment system senses the ambient light and adjusts to display the images properly.

Storage

The D800/D800E use a dual memory card slot that supports SD, SDHC, SDXC and UDMA compliant CF cards. The cards can be used in several combinations such as to record pictures concurrently, using as a buffer overrun when one is full or also used to copy files from one card to another if necessary.

Other important features include Advanced Scene Recognition, which analyses the scene with Nikon’s 30,000 image database. A refined Face recognition, with the Color Matrix Meter placing emphasis on exposures of detected faces. An improved white balance to better recognize both natural and artificial light.

What are missing

For some unknown reason Nikon thought removed the quintessential AF Area mode selector button and the Focus Mode switch from the back where they were and instead made the options available from somewhere inside the camera software interface. This is a damper of sorts as earlier what could have been done with a sub-conscious flick now requires our fullest attention (psst!).

Some of the older (and cheaper) models such as the D7000 make use of the U1 and the U2 modes. These were basically programmable options on the mode dials where one could save a bunch of settings that could be recalled in an instant when needed. The D800/D800E does not use any of those and that is also something that does not work in favor of the camera. The D800/D800E is not as fast as the Canon 5d Mark III. For faster auto-focusing and being ready to shoot even before you can think, the D800/D800E may appear to be frustratingly slow. This is partly the reason why the camera may not appeal to wild-life photographers or journalists who live on the fact that they have to be ready when the opportunity comes their way.

An impractical top LCD design makes matter further worse. It is slow and dimly lit making them unusable in real life scenarios.

Similar products

The Canon 5d Mark III is definitely one camera that should be looked into if one is looking for a light full frame professional DSLR.

Should I buy it?

At 36.3 megapixels there is nothing else out there that can match the superior performance of the D800/D800E. For one it offers the same resolution (even more) that what a medium format camera would do and at a price that is less than one-fifteenth of what a medium format camera would cost. The superior performance and the amount of detail captured by them makes them perfect for the purpose of professional industry photography, fashion, automobiles and anything else where precision quality and detail is a must. Thanks to the amount of detail that is captured it is also possible to take a very small crop and make large prints of the same with no loss of information. Photographers looking for a sturdy camera that can serve their needs for shooting landscape, architectural and nature photography also find the D800/D800E to be perfect for them. On the other hand the D800/D800E is not the right camera if you’re into sports, fast action or night time photography. The D4 with its superior viewfinder with individual LED light system that lights each of the AF points is still the best. With the D800/800E you may find the going a bit tough and wouldn’t necessarily enjoy any significant advantage. The rival Canon 5d Mark III is also a fantastic camera. Although the 5d Mark III does lose out on megapixels it has better specs and performance when it comes to auto-focusing, low-light performance and actually is a better camera for sports and journalistic photography because of its better frame-rate and continuous shooting performance. Available at Adorama | Amazon | B&H

Images taken by Nikon D800on Flickr

Nikon D800 Specifications

Lens Mount	Nikon F bayonet mount
Effective Pixels	36.3 million
Image Sensor	CMOS sensor, 35.9 x 24 mm; Nikon FX format
Total Pixels	36.8 Million
Dust-Reduction System	Image sensor cleaning
Dust-Off Reference Photo	Yes
Image Are (pixels)	FX-format (L) 7,360 x 4,912 (M) 5,520 x 3,680 (S) 3,680 x 2,456 1:2 format (30 x 20) (L) 6,144 x 4,080 (M) 4,608 x 3,056 5:4 format (30 x 24) (L) 6,144 x 4,912 (M) 4,608 x 3,680 (S) 3,072 x 2,456 DX-format (L) 4,800 x 3,200 (M) 3,600 x 2,400 (S) 2,400 x 1,600
File Format – Still Images	JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression NEF (RAW): lossless compressed 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed or uncompressed TIFF (RGB) JPEG: JPEG-Baseline-Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
Picture Control System	Landscape – Monochrome – Neutral – Portrait – Standard – User-customizable Settings Vivid –
Storage Media	CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA) – SD – SDHC – SDXC
Card Slot	1 CompactFlash (CF) card and 1 Secure Digital (SD) card
File System	Compliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0 DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) EXIF 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) PictBridge
Viewfinder	Eye-level Pentamirror Single-Lens Reflex viewfinder
Viewfinder Frame Coverage	FX (36×24): 100% Horizontal and 100% Vertical Approx. 1.2x (30×20): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx. DX (24×16): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx. 5:4 (30×24): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx.
Viewfinder Magnification	Approx. 0.70x
Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment	Built – in (-3 to +1)
Viewfinder Eyepoint	19.5 (-1.0)
Focusing Screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII with AF Area Brackets (grid lines can be displayed
Reflex Mirror	Quick-return type
Depth-of-field Preview	Yes
Lens Aperture	Instant-return type
Depth-of-field Control	Yes
Lens Compatibility at a Glance	AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible Metering with AI lenses
Compatible Lenses	AF NIKKOR other than type G or D*2: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering III AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering III DX AF NIKKOR: All Functions Supported Except FX-format (36×24)/5:4 (30×24) Image Size Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All Functions Supported Non-CPU: Usable in [A] or [M] mode Center-Weighted or Spot Metering; Electronic Rangefinder can be used if Mazimum Aperture is f/5.6 or faster
Shutter Type	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter Speed	1/8,000 to 30 seconds, bulb
Flash Sync Speed	Up to 1/250 sec. Synchronizes with shutter at 1/320s or slower (flash range drops at speeds between 1/250 and 1/320s)
Shutter Release Modes	Continuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-4 frames per second Continuous high-speed [CH] mode; 4 frames per second Mirror-up [Mup] mode Quiet Shutter Release Self-timer mode Single-frame [S] mode
Continuous Shooting Speed	FX-format: CH: Up to 4 frames per second CL: Up to 4 frames per second FX-format CH: Up to 4 frames per second CL: Up to 4 frames per second DX-format CH: Up to 5 frames per second CL: Up to 5 frames per second 1:2 format CH: Up to 5 frames per second CL: Up to 5 frames per second
Top Continuous Shooting Speed	4 frames per second at full resolution
Self-timer	2, 5, 10, 20 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled
Exposure Metering System	TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
Metering Method	Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame Matrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses) Spot: Meters 4mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point
Metering Range	0 to 20 EV (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering) 0 to 20 EV (spot metering)
Exposure Meter Coupling	Combined CPU and AI
Exposure Modes	Aperture-Priority (A) Manual (M) Programmed auto with flexible program (P) Shutter-Priority (S)
Exposure Compensation	±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Exposure Bracketing	2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 o
Exposure Lock	Yes
Mirror Lock Up	Yes
ISO Sensitivity	ISO 100 – 6400 Lo-1 (ISO 50) Hi-1 (ISO 12,800) Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity	100
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity	6400
Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity	Lo-1 (ISO 50 equivalent)
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity	HI-2 (ISO 25,600 equivalent)
Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options	Lo-1 (ISO-50 equivalent), Hi-1 (ISO-12,800 equivalent), Hi-2 (ISO-25,600 equivalent)
Long Exposure Noise Reduction	Yes
High ISO Noise Reduction	Low – Normal – High – Off
Active D-Lighting	Auto – Extra High – High – Normal – Low – Off
D-Lighting Bracketing	2 frames using selected value for one frame 3-5 frames using preset values for all frames
Single-point AF Mode	Yes
Dynamic AF Mode	Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
Auto-area AF Mode	Yes
Autofocus System	Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection
AF Detection Range	-1 to 19 EV (ISO 100, 68°F/20°C)
Lens Servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
AF-Area Mode	9, 21 or 51 point Dynamic-area AF Auto-area AF Single-point AF 3D-tracking (51 points)
Focus Lock	Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF)
Focus Modes	Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A) Continuous-servo (AF-C) Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only Full-time Servo (AF-A) available in Live View only Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder Normal area Single-servo AF (AF-S) Wide area
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points	51
Autofocus Sensitivity	-2 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)
Autofocus Fine Tune	Yes
Built-in Flash	Yes
Flash Bracketing	2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV
Built-in Flash Distance	39 ft. (ISO 100)
Flash Control	TTL: i-TTL flash control using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-700, or SB-400; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighting metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
Flash Sync Modes	1) Front-curtain sync (normal), 2) Slow sync, 3) Rear-curtain sync, 4) Red-eye reduction, 5) Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Flash Compensation	-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Flash-ready Indicator	Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-910, SB-900, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX or SB-50DX is fully charged
Accessory Shoe	Yes
Flash Sync Terminal	Yes
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)	CLS Supported
White Balance	Auto (2 types) – Choose color temperature (2500K 10000K) – Cloudy – Direct Sunlight – Flash – Fluorescent (7 types) – Incandescent – Preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored) – Shade
White Balance Bracketing	2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3 EV
Live View Shooting	Live View Shooting Photography Live View Mode Movie Live View Mode
Live View Lens servo	Live View Lens servo Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (MF)
Live View AF-area mode	Face-priority AF – Wide-area AF – Normal-area AF – Subject-tracking AF
Live View Autofocus	Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Movie Metering	TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Movie Frame size (pixels) and frame rate	1280 x 720 (30p): 30 fps (29.97 fps) – 1280 x 720 (60p): 60 fps (59.94 fps) – 1920 x 1080 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps) – 1920 x 1080 (30p): 30 fps (29.97 fps)
Movie Maximum recording time	20 minutes at highest quality 29 minutes 59 seconds at normal quality
Movie File Format	MOV
Movie Video Compression	H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Movie Audio recording format	Linear PCM
Movie Audio recording Device	Built-in monaural microphone – External stereo microphone (optional)
Movie	HD 1,920×1,080 / 30 fps – HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps – HD 1,280×720 / 30 fps – HD 1,280×720 / 24 fps – HD 1,280×720 / 60 fps
Movie Audio	Built-in microphone, monaural – External stereo microphone (optional)
Monitor Size	3.2 in. diagonal
Monitor Resolution	921,000 Dots
Monitor Type	Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD
Monitor Angle of View	170-degree wide-viewing angle
Monitor Adjustments	Brightness, 5 levels
Virtual Horizon Camera Indicator	Virtual Horizon Camera Indicator Yes Also visible in LiveView Modes Also visible in Viewfinder
Playback Functions	Auto Image Rotation Full-Frame and Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) Histogram Display Image Comment Movie Playback Movie Slideshow Playback with Zoom Slideshow Highlights
In-Camera Image Editing	Color Outline – Color Sketch – D-Lighting – Distortion Control -Edit Movie – Filter Effects Fisheye – Image Overlay – Miniature Effect – Monochrome – NEF (RAW) Processing -Perspective Control – Quick Retouch – Red-eye Correction – Resize – Selective Color – Side-by-Side Comparison – Straighten – Trim – Color Balance
Image Comment	Yes
Interface	HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector – Headphone Connector – NTSC – Stereo Microphone Input – Super Speed USB 3.0
Wi-Fi Functionality	Eye-Fi Compatible – WT-4A
GPS	GP-1 GPS unit
Save/Load Camera settings	Yes
Total custom Settings	54
My Menu	Yes with customization
Recent Settings	Yes
Supported Languages	Arabic – Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) – Czech – Danish – Dutch – English – Finnish – French – German – Indonesian – Italian – Japanese – Korean – Norweigan – Polish – Portuguese – Romanian – Russian – Spanish – Swedish – Thai – Turkish – Ukrainian
Date, Time and Daylight Savings	Yes
World Time Setting	Yes
Battery	EN-EL15 Lithium-ion Battery
Battery Life (shots per charge)	900 Battery Life (shots per charge) (CIPA)
AC Adapter	EH-5b AC Adapter Requires EP-5B Power Supply Connector
Battery Charger	MH-25 Quick Charger
Tripod Socket	1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Approx. Dimensions	Width 5.7 in. (144.78mm) – Height 4.8 in. (121.92mm) – Depth 3.2 in. (81.28mm)
Approx. Weight	31.7 oz (900G) Camera Body only