Nikon Releases the 36.3-megapixel D800 DSLR
By
Nikon Releases the 36.3-megapixel D800
The D800 Has Landed
Nikon's D700 has been on the scene for quite some time (3.5 years to be exact), so it's no surprise many enthusiasts are clamoring for a refresh. Just earlier today, Nikon has introduced the D800 that features a whopping 36.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. Besides the bump up in resolution, there are other areas that the D800 has improved over the D700. Join us as we take a quick look at some of the changes.
FX-format 36.3 Megapixel CMOS Sensor and New RGB Sensor
Hogging the headlines is the D800's FX-format 36.3-megapixel CMOS sensor. This is the highest resolution sensor that you'll find in a non-medium format camera. At 36MP, it's more resolution than the 24MP Nikon D3X. In theory, the new sensor should allow for images that are on a par in terms of resolution to medium-format cameras. The sensor even allows for Full HD 1080-quality video recording at 30p.
The D800 also features a new 91K-pixel RGB sensor (also found on the D4) that works together with Nikon's 3D Colour Matrix Metering III for more accurate control over autofocusing, auto exposure, i-TTL flash control and auto white balance.
Increased ISO Range
Nikon has managed to produce an increased ISO range in the D800, with standard ISO range covering ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The D800 also has support for an expanded range, from ISO 50 to ISO 25600 equivalents.
Expeed 3 Image-Processing Engine
The D800 features a new Expeed 3 image-processing engine (also found on the D4) that manages massive amounts of data at faster speeds than the older Expeed 2. The new image-processing engine also helps in producing images with richer colors and less noise.
Dual Format Video Recording
Fully capable of full HD video recording, users can choose between recording at 1920 x 1080p/30fps by using the FX-based mode or the DX-based mode. The FX-based mode allows for a shallow depth-of-field, while the DX-based mode allows for zooming into the subject without changing lenses while filming due to the crop factor.
The D800 is equipped with a headphone jack and is capable of precise adjustment of microphone sensitivity. The camera also allows for simultaneous display on the camera's monitor and on an external HDMI display device during recording.
D800E
In conjunction with the release of the D800, Nikon has also released a slightly-modified version, the D800E. It is basically the same as the D800 except that the D800E sports the ability to disable the aliasing and moiré pattern reduction operation done by the optical low-pass filter. While this may result in more noticeable aliasing and moiré patterns, images should also show even greater resolution - something that can never be too much for landscape and studio photographers.
| Nikon D700 | Nikon D800 | Nikon D4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effective Pixels | 12.1 megapixels | 36.3 megapixels | 16.2 megapixels |
| Shutter Life | 150,000 exposures | 200,000 exposures | 400,000 exposures |
| ISO Range | 200 - 6400 (100 - 25600 with boost) | 100 - 6400 (50 - 25600 with boost) | 100 - 12800 (204800 with boost) |
| Continuous Shooting | 5fps | 4fps (FX mode), 6fps DX mode | 10fps |
| Storage | CF card | Dual slots (CF, SD) | Dual slots (CF, XQD) |
| Dimensions | 147 x 123 x 77mm | 146 x 123 x 82mm | 160 x 157 x 91mm |
| Weight (with battery) | 1075g | 900g | 1340g |
Of course, these are not all the features that the D800 has. Other goodies include a 51-point AF system with 15 cross-type sensors, a 100% viewfinder, USB 3.0 support, and uncompressed video output via HDMI, among others. For those interested, hit this link to Nikon's product page to find out more.
Local pricing and availability of the D800/800E will be announced at a later timing.
