Nikon D800 Is Officially Launched. First Review Comments. Feb 7th, 2012

by Peter Zack

Update Feb 18/12: Tech Manual available for download, see the following post.

Nikon D800 from Nikon USA site

Note: as we find more information and links, we’ll add them to the bottom of this article. There have been some added since this was first posted. Check out the full sized sample on the Russian web site (link below) where you can download 112 MB of sample shots.

No not me!!! Nikon’s not ringing the phone off the hook to offer me an NDA. I wish!
World renowned wedding photographer, Cliff Mautner (also of Kelby Training fame) did get an NDA and has a prototype D800 for testing, He’s posted his first thoughts on his blog. The site has crashed several times since the launch this morning, so you might have to be patient. But suffice to say, he likes the camera a lot. If you can’t get on the site, here’s a few sentences to whet your appetite.

“In years past, wedding photography was traditionally captured with medium format equipment for maximum image quality. When the 35mm format was adopted within the genre, it was widely accepted that image quality was compromised in lieu of speed and convenience. Now, my wedding portraiture will have a depth it’s never had before, and my style of shooting won’t ever be compromised-only enhanced- with the D800.”

Coming in at $2999.00 I think this camera is going to dominate the higher end of the market (and probably be in short supply).

So good luck and I hope you can get on to take a look at his comments and sample photos. Cliff Mautner’s blog.

Update: Here’s another site that the reviewer had an early sample and he discusses the features as well as showing test images. Some of the photos here are also used on the official site. Visit Rob van Petten’s blog.

Russian site with full size images at low ISO and 25,600 avalable for download. Site, Download link and Google translate version.

If other similar early tests become available, we will try to post them here.

You can preorder it at Amazon.com and B&H.

From the Nikon USA web site

Main specs:

Lens Mount: Nikon F bayonet mount
Effective Pixels: 36.3 MP
Sensor Size: 35.9mm x 24mm
Image Sensor Type: CMOS
Dust-reduction system: Image sensor cleaning
Image Area (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
     (S) 3,072 x 2,040
     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
Storage Media:
   CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA)
   SD
   SDHC
   SDXC
Card Slot: 1 CompactFlash© (CF) card and 1 Secure Digital (SD) card
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: 0.70x Approx.
Viewfinder Eyepoint: 19.5 (-1.0¯¹)
Shutter type: Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
Shutter Speed: 1/8000 to 30 sec., 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 Options
   FX-format
     CH: Up to 4 frames per second
     CL: Up to 4 frames per second
     5:4 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
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 or 1 EV
ISO Sensitivity
   ISO 100 – 6400
   Lo-1 (ISO 50)
   Hi-1 (ISO 12,800)
   Hi-2 (ISO 25,600)
Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Yes
High ISO Noise Reduction
   Low
   Normal
   High
   Off
Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
AF-area mode
   9, 21 or 51 point Dynamic-area AF
   Auto-area AF
   Single-point AF
   3D-tracking (51 points)
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points: 51
Built-in Flash: Yes
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 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
Monitor Size: 3.2 in. diagonal
Monitor Resolution: 921,000 Dots
Monitor Type: Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD
Wi-Fi Functionality
   Eye-Fi Compatible
   WT-4A
GPS: GP-1 GPS unit
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)
Supplied Accessories
   AN-DC6 Strap
   EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
   MH-25 Battery Charger
   UC-E14 USB Cable
   BM-12 LCD Monitor Cover
   BF-1B Body Cap
   BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
   DK-17 Viewfinder Eyepiece
   NikonView NX2 CD ROM

Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

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