I imagine like many photographers my first reaction to Nikon’s D800/800E announcement was ‘Oh No, who needs 36Mp!’ or something rather less polite, but thinking a little more about it I’m not so upset, particularly as it offers a 15.4Mp DX option.
I’m also very pleased that at last Nikon have introduced a new Auto ISO system that relates the minimum shutter speed to the focal length in use, something I’ve long suggested – since before cameras had auto ISO.
Other useful improvements appear to include a better LCD monitor and USB 3.0, though I’ve already moved over to faster transfers simply by using a USB 3.0 card reader. And certainly some with be pleased with the video, though it isn’t something that greatly interests me at the moment.
Of course my first reaction on hearing about it was to go to the ‘Hands-on Preview‘ on DPReview, much easier to read than Nikon’s own pages, and giving a little more idea of what it might be like to use. But as always it will be some time before any proper reviews that actually give us the details and in particular the performance of actual production cameras emerge.
But despite what Nikon calls its ‘light weight and compact size’, at 146 x 123 x 81.5 mm (5.7 x 4.8 x 3.2 in.) and 1,000 g (2 lb 3.3 oz) with battery and SD memory card it’s rather too big and heavy for me, more or less the same as the D700 I already have which is still working well, and which I don’t really have a need to replace. If I could persuade myself I could work with a single camera, I’d think much more carefully about it, as the ability to switch to DX mode and still get good size files would make a lot of sense. That 16-35mm would double as a 24-47mm as well as being able to use my existing DX lenses – such as the 10.5mm on the camera. Perhaps when I see the full reviews I’ll decide I can and get one to replace both the D700 and ailing D300.
But for the moment, I think I’m waiting for later in the year when perhaps we can expect the D400 (or whatever Nikon decide the D300S replacement should be called) – possibly to be announced in March, though likely rather later in the year. We may also see a replacement for the D7000 which might also be possible in place of the D300.
Nikon do rather seem to be making the running in DSLRs at the moment, just a shame they haven’t produced a serious competitor in the mirrorless class.
My first call, which although brand loyal is usually well balanced. Interesting in that with the new generation the road map for the next is not as clear as it used to be.
http://www.bythom.com/d800intro.htm
Yes, interesting in parts but as he says “I don’t have a D800 in my hands yet”