D800 User Thread I

[zoom3]

what lens are you guys using on your D800??

I have the 35mm f1.4G, 14-24mm and 70-200mm VR2.

35mm f1.4G is very soft on the D800. I shoot quite a lot on f1.4 on the 35mm. There really isn't much improvement for the D800 vs D700.... In fact I think the AF on the D700 is more reliable and thus the lens performs better on the D700.

14-24mm is a mixed bag. I have to dial a -12 AF finetune else the lens shows serious back focus at 24mm. Maybe that is why people say it is soft on the D800. I don't have to do any AF finetune on the D700.... After fine tune, the lens looks much better. But the 14mm is close to showing a slight front focus at f2.8. The AF at 14mm and 24mm is not sync... But after tuning the AF, the lens looks pretty sharp, only slightly soft at f2.8. Probably not an issue as I usually step down the lens to f5.6 anyway.

70-200mm VR2 is perfect. Zero AF fine tune. Very sharp even at 100% with the D800. After spending lots of time on "optimizing" the 35mm and 14-24mm, I was very happy that the 70-200mm does not need anything.

Which makes me wonder, did Nikon over emphasize the AF for tele lens? All the problems reported online seems to be for 24mm and wider lens....

Generally speaking, no matter how good the lens, it will be relatively soft wide open esp on fast lens. It's just that the 36 MP sensor accentuates the softness. I'm using the 24mm F1.4G and couldn't be happier

 

[dniwkh]

Generally speaking, no matter how good the lens, it will be relatively soft wide open esp on fast lens. It's just that the 36 MP sensor accentuates the softness. I'm using the 24mm F1.4G and couldn't be happier

Do you shoot at f1.4 often? 35mm dof is probably thinner than 24mm. I find that the minor shift in af accuracy basically killed whatever resolution gains moving from 12 mp to 36mp. Since I have both d700 and d800, decided to mount the 35mm on the d700 since there is not much improvement using the d800.

 

[zoom3]

Do you shoot at f1.4 often? 35mm dof is probably thinner than 24mm. I find that the minor shift in af accuracy basically killed whatever resolution gains moving from 12 mp to 36mp. Since I have both d700 and d800, decided to mount the 35mm on the d700 since there is not much improvement using the d800.

I hardly shoot at F1.4. I prefer to operate in the "safe range" from F2.8 & up. And especially with the D800, I am trying to capture as much detail as possible in the frame :bsmilie:

 

[bomby929]

16-35mm F/4
A few picture stitched together...
... on Flickr

Wow.. looks like from a property poster!!

 

[lunas]

My first test run!

ISO8000+ . Amazing performance.


New Kids on the Block. by yaw yong xin, on Flickr

 

[neoro]

Wow.. looks like from a property poster!!

thanks!!
Its fun pplaying with 36MP real estate

 

[lunas]

I added noise.


Striking an Iron Man pose... by yaw yong xin, on Flickr

 

[san2001]

2800 ISO, handheld

 

[lunas]

I would like to know if it's the right time for me to upgrade my Mac.

Current I'm using a Mac book, core 2 duo 2.26 GHz. 4GB ram. Is it good enough for video or should I.upgrade to the new i7 processor?

Thank you.

 

[rain5533]

I would like to know if it's the right time for me to upgrade my Mac.

Current I'm using a Mac book, core 2 duo 2.26 GHz. 4GB ram. Is it good enough for video or should I.upgrade to the new i7 processor?

Thank you.

Mac Book, nothing can upgrade the cost can be decide to buy new.

If you can upgrade the only way for change the HD to SSD.

That's good enough fast for opening Raw file.

 

[lunas]

Mac Book, nothing can upgrade the cost can be decide to buy new.

If you can upgrade the only way for change the HD to SSD.

That's good enough fast for opening Raw file.

Thanks. So what is the input? Through USB? SOrry, I am new to this...

 

[trd2970]

Mac Book, nothing can upgrade the cost can be decide to buy new.

If you can upgrade the only way for change the HD to SSD.

That's good enough fast for opening Raw file.

Ram can be upgraded if i am not wrong. I am handling full reso Raw files with 8gb ram on i7 2nd gen chip 64-bit windows, could do much faster with 16gb ram.

Usb 3.0 will help with file transfer but u will prob need to get a new laptop.

 

[lunas]

I know I will be hammered for using D800 with DX lense...but with the combination of Sigma 10-20mm....It's very sharp.

Also, you still get to keep 15MP


MEOW! by yaw yong xin, on Flickr

 

[Cheesecake]

I know I will be hammered for using D800 with DX lense...but with the combination of Sigma 10-20mm....It's very sharp.

Also, you still get to keep 15MP

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alpha_lunas/7716342042/
MEOW! by yaw yong xin, on Flickr

Come. Upgrade to sigma 12-24 v2 n be amazed.

 

[slth123]

I know I will be hammered for using D800 with DX lense...but with the combination of Sigma 10-20mm....It's very sharp.

Also, you still get to keep 15MP

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alpha_lunas/7716342042/
MEOW! by yaw yong xin, on Flickr

Wow! Have you tried using it in FX mode with 1.3x teleconverter? How is it compared to DX mode?

 

[ortega]

Congrats! Looks like more than enough. Arrived from where?

USA b&h

 

[ortega]

Folks, I'm a proud owner of D800.

Congrats

 

[JimmyChooShoots]

Wow! Have you tried using it in FX mode with 1.3x teleconverter? How is it compared to DX mode?

Now, I consider your suggestion to use the TC 1.3 as a very great idea. Why I didn't I think of it?
Looks like I'll keep my 17-55mmDX lens.

The 17-55mmF2.8 is still very good on the D800. A few days after I acquired the D800, I did a group photograph of about 290 people with it, as I did not have any other FX lens with me at that time except for an 85mmF1.4.

Anyway, I took some shots of the group with the DX lens at about 23mm. There was a little vignetting in the corners which was no problem as they could be cropped out. I printed the central part of the picture of only the people. The print was like a pano that was 3 x A4 long, ie 3 x 297mm long. It was so clear and sharp that most of each person's head and shoulders could be used as a passport picture. This is the reason why I am keeping this lens.

Can anyone think of better reasons to get rid of it? The only unknown now it it's performance with the TC13 or any other suitable TC.

 

[rain5533]

Now, I consider your suggestion to use the TC 1.3 as a very great idea. Why I didn't I think of it?
Looks like I'll keep my 17-55mmDX lens.

The 17-55mmF2.8 is still very good on the D800. A few days after I acquired the D800, I did a group photograph of about 290 people with it, as I did not have any other FX lens with me at that time except for an 85mmF1.4.

Anyway, I took some shots of the group with the DX lens at about 23mm. There was a little vignetting in the corners which was no problem as they could be cropped out. I printed the central part of the picture of only the people. The print was like a pano that was 3 x A4 long, ie 3 x 297mm long. It was so clear and sharp that most of each person's head and shoulders could be used as a passport picture. This is the reason why I am keeping this lens.

Can anyone think of better reasons to get rid of it? The only unknown now it it's performance with the TC13 or any other suitable TC.

Why you not shots direct used in DX mode?
The crop sensor is same as DX format in 15mp only.
For the length is still same at 25.5-82.5mm in DX 17-55mm that is cost saving at the moment.

 

[lunas]

Come. Upgrade to sigma 12-24 v2 n be amazed.

Is that for FX?

Wow! Have you tried using it in FX mode with 1.3x teleconverter? How is it compared to DX mode?

Thanks sharing. Worth a try. Good idea.

Congrats

Thank you.