Has anyone with a D800 noticed anything different with the Picture Control Setting results on their D800 vs their previous Nikon?? I had a D90 set to 'vivid' and +1 saturation to get what I thought looked good to me. On my D800 I have to set Picture Control to 'standard' and 0 saturation to get the relative same results as the D90. I take that as a good thing that the D800 produces what I actually see using 'standard' and no adjustments, but I'm wondering what others are seeing. If so, do you think that's due to the improvements that Nikon made?

Dan

"My most rewarding photos are those that capture something I didn't 'see' in the frame....so just SHOOT."

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Walk,

I'm not sure I completely understand what you are saying. Do you mean your D800 is giving you similar contrast and saturation levels in Standard (SD) as you got in Vivid (VI) from other Nikons? If so, that's different from what I am seeing and from reports I've read elsewhere on the internet.

The extra dynamic range (14.4 EV) of the D800, the broadest ever recorded (according to DxO labs), may tend to lower the contrast in many images and give the appearance of less snap. I noticed this immediately with my D800. As an example, I always shot my D300, D300S and D2X in RAW with Neutral (NL) Picture Control. I liked the extra dynamic range I got from the images with NL.

However, with the D800, NL Picture Control may be too low contrast in some situations. The fact that the camera can record so much more shadow detail and even a little more highlight detail than previous Nikons tend to make the image have a low-contrast look. That is wonderful for those of us who like to shoot RAW and post-process images later. There is plenty of room to add contrast and saturation manually.

For a JPEG shooter NL may be too low in contrast. I don't think I would shoot in JPEG at anything less than the Standard (SD) Picture Control. Even the Vivid (VI) Picture Control doesn't seem to add as much snap as with other Nikons (in my opinion). While some may not like this, I think it is wonderful. The camera is getting closer to being able to record what the human eye can see.

Darrell,

"Do you mean your D800 is giving you similar contrast and saturation levels in Standard (SD) as you got in Vivid (VI) from other Nikons?"

I think the answer is yes but let me rephrase my comment.

In order to have the D90 and the D800 produce similar images to my eye (brightness, richness, contrast, etc.) in "JPEG, large, fine", I have to set my D90 to 'vivid' with all other picture conrols set to "zero".

In different words...the D800 shoots brighter, richer, more saturation, contrast, etc., with the same settings on both cameras. Same lenses, same distance, same aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. also. WB is also set to manual 'zero' on both...so as to not mix D90 Auto with the D800 Auto1 and Auto2.

I see this as a good thing... since I do not have to adjust the D800 from 'standard' to get what I think is a picture that looks the same in digital as with the naked eye. 'Standard' in my opinion should be the default to produce 'natural' looking pics, whereas I had to set the D90 to 'vivid' to do that.

The added DR does reduce the 'snap' when I shoot macros of butterfly's with black hair on their bodies or when I shoot close-ups of robins and want the detail in there rust feathers and black/grey wings. And that has made my bird and macro work much better..more natural looking. I also shot the D800 in 'neutral' and agree with your comments about too low contrast and that is the reason I went to 'standard'.

Regarding "Even the Vivid (VI) Picture Control doesn't seem to add as much snap as with other Nikons (in my opinion)".

'Vivid' on my D800 in JPEG produces slightly more color, brightness, saturation, etc. for my taste as a 'default' setting. When I shoot brightly colored subjects with the 'prime' colors, I like to use 'vivid' to accent the color as a standard and lower it in PP if I want.

I noticed one other post that referred to a portrait pic being too red in the face (my wife agreed and she knows nothing about photography except what she likes). I also thought it appeared too red and not natural. I don't know or remember if the OP said what his settings were.

I would be interested in your response. My feeling is that I would rather have the D800 work this way as it shoots more natural looking pics at a default 'standard' setting....which is the way I think it should be.

I ran several tests again this morning and rechecked all of my settings on both cameras before this post....just to be sure.

In summary you say:

"For a JPEG shooter NL may be too low in contrast. I don't think I would shoot in JPEG at anything less than the Standard (SD) Picture Control. (I agree)

...and:

"Even the Vivid (VI) Picture Control doesn't seem to add as much snap as with other Nikons (in my opinion)."

My results appear different...the 'vivid' adds too much 'snap' for a default setting...in my opinion.

Point of reference: You are a pro and I trust your opinions. I am just an advanced enthusiast having fun in retirement and learning daily from folks like you..

Dan

"My most rewarding photos are those that capture something I didn't 'see' in the frame....so just SHOOT."

Visit my Nikonians gallery.