In terms of...

-Resolution
-ISO range
-Base ISO quality
-Color
-Dynamic Range
-High ISO quality
-Build
-Shooting speed
-Buffer
-Response time
-AF speed
-AF accuracy
-Cool factor
???????????????

And how long do you see yourself using it into the future?

-5 years?
-10 years?
-15+ years (if it still works)?

An undeniable paradox: To think that there is any such thing as an absolute rule is at worst naïve, and at best, shortsighted. There is no such thing as an always-true, all context- or situation-salient, absolute rule that always holds true…including this one!

Al,

You should go first. It's your post. What are your answers?

>Al,
>
>You should go first. It's your post. What are your answers?

I'm not a D800 owner, or even a user of one, so I don't have an opinion on this topic. But my hunch is, we're getting to the point where DSLR owners expect to keep their camera bodies for a longer time period now. Would you say that's a reasonable assumption? The original post was supposed to evaluate potential for long-term owner/user satisfaction by asking about specific things.

An undeniable paradox: To think that there is any such thing as an absolute rule is at worst naïve, and at best, shortsighted. There is no such thing as an always-true, all context- or situation-salient, absolute rule that always holds true…including this one!

I am satisfied with performance and mechanics of D800E including IQ and built quality. Not only does D800E exceed the performance over D700 in terms of IQ, but also some of the glitches I had with D700, were resolved, including sync speed problems when it was used with Pocketwizard, White Lighting Mono lights and SB 900’s. I now replaced 2 bodies of D700’s to two D800E’s.

However, there are some problems when it becomes post processing, especially when I do assignments (I need to quickly process several hundreds of coverage). So I needed to invest more money for computer memory and bigger CF cards.

Though I upgraded the MacPro 2.66GHz Quad from 8 GB to 32 GB of RAM, it performs 3x longer to input, output and transfer the files to the computer comparing the files of D700.
Full res file of D700: 3 sec to export file from LR to desktop
Full res file of D800: 9 sec to export file from LR to desktop
This is not so much of computer problems but Adobe LR problems... Regardless, I need the process to be faster.

How long do I expect to keep my D800E’s?
I do not believe computer technologies including DSLR do not last more than 5 years and always in 5 years newer systems will come out. I will try to go for newer technologies if it exceeds the performance of D800E.

www.hitoshiujiie.com/photography.html

I will probably keep my D800e and D3s far longer than previous DSLRs — as the years have passed, new models or more evolutionary than revolutionary. Sensor performance will improve only gradually in the future.

I've got two camera good to ISO 6400, plenty of resolution in one and a machine gun in the other. There's not much more on my camera body "want" list.

Jon Kandel
A New York City Nikonian and Team Member
Please visit my website and critique the images!

I think I'm good for the next four years or until the D800E breaks which ever comes first. The D800 is pretty loaded with goodies. I don't know if the XQD is going to be a big hit or not. I can't think of any other features that will make me want another camera.


Regards,

Glenn

I, personaly, am afraid to say anything. Only a year ago nobody didn't dream about 36MP. Today it is reality. So if in a year or two Nikon will use a new technology, and offer new 35mm sensor which will be better, than, say, 5x7 flat sensor today? Or even bigger one? Just take a look at tiny RX-100 sensor, and you perfectly know now what I mean. Very interesting time we are living in now. Dimitri

>In terms of...
>
>-Resolution
No

>-ISO range
No

>-Base ISO quality
Yes

>-Color
Yes

>-Dynamic Range
Yes

>-High ISO quality
No

>-Build
Yes

>-Shooting speed
No

>-Buffer
Yes

>-Response time
Yes

>-AF speed
Yes

>-AF accuracy
Yes

>-Cool factor
No idea.


>Size
No, want this in a Pro sized body

>And how long do you see yourself using it into the future?
Until something comes along that makes my job easer and better

------
Webpage: http://www.ptfphoto.com

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Answers:
In terms of...

-Resolution: Happy
-ISO range: Happy
-Base ISO quality: Happy
-Color: Happy
-Dynamic Range: Happy
-High ISO quality: Happy
-Build: Happy
-Shooting speed: Not too happy
-Buffer:: Happy but could be better
-Response time: Happy
-AF speed: Happy
-AF accuracy: Happy
-Cool factor: Happy
???????????????

And how long do you see yourself using it into the future?: Until D900 comes out and if it provides better parameters.

-------------
Please visit my galleries: Reza Gorji Photography

>In terms of...
>
>-Resolution
YES

>-ISO range
YES

>-Base ISO quality
YES

>-Color
NOT YET

>-Dynamic Range
YES

>-High ISO quality


>-Build
YES

>-Shooting speed
YES

>-Buffer
YES BUT I'D LIKE A LITTLE BETTER

>-Response time
YES

>-AF speed
YES

>-AF accuracy
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU

>-Cool factor
>???????????????
>

>And how long do you see yourself using it into the future?
>
>-5 years?
>-10 years?
>-15+ years (if it still works)?

While 5 years is a long time for electronics, I hope that I'll still be using my D800 then and longer. The fact is, if I hadn't decided to switch to FX, I'd still have my trustworthy D300 now, so it's hard (though admittedly not impossible) to envision what the next catalyst will be for me to upgrade.

For me, the most dramatic improvement over the D300 is the dynamic range: I can now get excellent daylight shots where I used to have to sacrifice either highlights or shadows (and sometime both) with the D300. And the resolution is breathtaking. And having cut my teeth in the film era where anything above ISO800 is fast, the fact that the D800 can "only" go to ISO 6400 does not limit me at all.

The one thing I'm still working on is color. I think I'm spoiled by the Leica M9, and I admit I'm still tweaking my post-processing workflow, but colors from the D800 just don't "pop" quite the way I'd like. Hopefully, this is just a matter of me dialing in my post-processing.

I use my D800 mostly for portraits in a studio environment so my answers are based from that.

-Resolution: Great
-ISO range: Good
-Base ISO quality: Great
-Color: Great with ViewNX/CaptureNX2. Good with CaptureOne Pro. Ok with Adobe
-Dynamic Range: Great
-High ISO quality: not too sure
-Build: Good
-Shooting speed: More than I need. I use the D300s for FPS when needed
-Buffer: Not sure
-Response time:Great
-AF speed: Great
-AF accuracy:Great
-Cool factor: didn't get me any more friends request


And how long do you see yourself using it into the future? 4yrs plus.

Yes to all.

Especially "cool factor." Women follow me around all the time now. Can't get rid of them.

Larry Miller, Annapolis, MD
D700/D800
http://www.pbase.com/lmmiller9
http://lmmillerphotography.smugmug.com/

Hi , I agree with Larry in post #11

I am really satisfied with my D800 and I will keep it until
something much better comes along , say 3 to 6 years.

Virge

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

-Resolution: Love it
-ISO range: NO
-Base ISO quality: Great
-Color: Great
-Dynamic Range: Great
-High ISO quality: NO
-Build: Good
-Shooting speed: Would like at least 8fps
-Buffer: Its Ok
-Response time: Great
-AF speed: Great
-AF accuracy: Great

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Visit Windsor wedding photographer.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

I am about to pull the pin. Would love to hear more from the "no" to high ISO people - thoughts, impressions anyone?

To the OP, prob going to be yes to everything except fps and buffer for me and 4 years. ISO I don't know yet.

Thanks folks, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
My Nikonians gallery
My Nikonians Blog

D800, 28-300 at 300mm wide open. ISO 6400, crop of 400%. JPG off camera, no PP. Amazing DR, even on so high ISO. Dimitri.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)
Attachment #2, (jpg file)

Steve, if you are downsizing to a more normal size image (12-16 MB) then the ISO performance is in par with the D3-D4.

Jon Kandel
A New York City Nikonian and Team Member
Please visit my website and critique the images!

Thank you folks for your feedback!

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
My Nikonians gallery
My Nikonians Blog

Everything great EXCEPT . . .

AF Accuracy: All my lenses require exactly -15 for the center point, which suggests to me that it's not a lens problem but a camera problem.

And, yes, the far left point is clearly worse.

Now, I've been very busy and haven't had time to complete a truly pedantic, pixel peeping, agony inducing focus test, but I'll get there.

To be frank, I can't imagine ever using the far left focus point wide open, but the consistent -15 for all lenses is just not good enough for $3,000!

Serial 3030XXX

AviSys

>In terms of...
>
>-Resolution
Yes
>-ISO range
Yes
>-Base ISO quality
Yes
>-Color
Yes
>-Dynamic Range
No, and most likely, in my lifetime, I will never see a camera that would satisfy me in dynamic range.
>-High ISO quality
Sufficient enough for now.
>-Build
Yes.
>-Shooting speed
Yes.
>-Buffer
>-Response time
Very satisfied.
>-AF speed
Oh, yes. Coming from 5d2 it is like night and day.
>-AF accuracy
Yes.
>-Cool factor
>???????????????
>
>And how long do you see yourself using it into the future?
>
>-5 years? Probably.
>-10 years?
>-15+ years (if it still works)?

>-AF speed
> Oh, yes. Coming from 5d2 it is like night and day.

Always interesting to hear the comparative info. from guys coming from the "other" side

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
My Nikonians gallery
My Nikonians Blog

I'm a current 5D2 user and am trying a D800 for two weeks. After the camera has to go back I will determine if I jump ship. So far I have to say the D800 is an incredible camera. Ineed the AF system is amazing on the D800 but is not the only thing grabbing my attention.

>Always interesting to hear the comparative info. from guys
>coming from the "other" side

LOL, Thank you for saying the "other" side. Most Canon people say (while giving me the dirty look) "switched to the dark side" to which my answer is "I see the light now". Not a joke. I still have 7D though.

-Resolution:Overjoyed
-ISO range: Very Happy
-Base ISO quality: Could not be happier, the best of many great features
-Color: Very Happy, best SOC, never adjust WB or skin tone tweaks...for the first time with Nikon
-Dynamic Range: Happy
-High ISO quality: Happy but do not use very high as much as I assumed I would, I find that the rewards for shooting at 100 are so obvious that I use that more than ever since film days.
-Build: Happy
-Shooting speed: It could be 1fps and I would be OK, have not even tried burst modes. Dealing with events, portraiture, theater(ballet, club shooting that might seem strange but it is so responsive that if I miss peak action it is my fault.
-Buffer:: Happy but never run out so I do not know
-Response time: Very Happy
-AF speed: Very Happy, the best I have experienced
-AF accuracy: Happy
-Cool factor: Happy???? The label is small so no one notices what it except big with the grip, 70-200 and SB900 mounted. but so is the D7000 and I have to look twice to make sure I grabbed the right one.

-Length of time? I will likely never sell it, haven't sold anything yet even my never used 17-55. But I might spring for a truly low light theater/action camera like a used D3s or D4 when the D5 arrives. Lenses and bodies are slippery slopes, I got my first DSLR only 4 years, a D90 which I still use...when I can get it away from my GF. I was happy with the kit lens and D90 and put 80,000 frame through it before adding a D7000 and barely had 25,000 shots on it before getting the D800. The 18-105 is still used but almost all the quality lenses I can think of wanting I have gotten, even though the money would have been better used somewhere else. Newest lens to play with on the D800, 50 f1.2. It is fun but I would rather have an 85 1.2 if one is released. The D800 reminds of film so much from build feel, smoothness and VF and even the quality of the "grain" is not like other digital cameras. That works well for both portraits and landscapes.
Since I do not need speed of frames, I can't think of anything the D800 lacks. For more casual shooting I have fallen in love all over again with the D7000 since the files are so small, it is still a very capable image capture machine. I shot a wedding a week ago and used the 70-200 on the D7000 and 24-70 and 85 1.5 on the D800. The couple could not see any difference except the darkest scenes where the noise was visible in the shots of the bride being escorted in up a dark entry hall. Her favorite was a candid using the D7000 at 200mm. I am surprised so many people are wishing to switch to the D600, maybe if they got good lenses they would discover how good the 7000 is. It is more practical and is better suited to the style of shooting most users(based on posted images) shoot, and few people have progressed to the point that they exhaust its capabilities.
Stan
St Petersburg Russia

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Partial Quote>>
I am surprised so many people are wishing to switch to the D600,
maybe if they got good lenses they would discover how good the 7000 is.
It is more practical and is better suited to the style of shooting most users
(based on posted images) shoot, and few people have progressed
to the point that they exhaust its capabilities.
>Stan<<<

The D7000 is more camera for the money than a D600
And, there are tons used for sale cheap right now.

I agree with everything you said about the D800.
It is the best camera (for my use) that I have ever owned or shot with.
Plus it fits my hand so much better than the D600 that
even through it is heavier I can still hand hold it longer
I am in the process right now of trading my new D600 for a second one.
Not that the D600 is not a very good camera,
just that the D800 is worth the difference in price
and for Events it is best to have two cameras that are exactly the same.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

>I am surprised so many people are wishing to switch to
>the D600, maybe if they got good lenses they would discover
>how good the 7000 is. It is more practical and is better
>suited to the style of shooting most users(based on posted
>images) shoot, and few people have progressed to the point
>that they exhaust its capabilities.

Mmmm....

Well I'll tell you why I did it.

1. 24MP helps me more than 16. I need the cropping ability.
2. ISO performance is WELL beyond that of the D7000, and better than the D800
3. Faster frame rate than the D800, close to the D700/D7000
4. Easier to hold with long glass than the D7000
5. The D400 is still not yet available

And believe me, I have plenty of good glass.

------
Webpage: http://www.ptfphoto.com

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Those who have good reasons are not included in that above statement(and know it) which is about the vast majority switching because they hear that their images will be better when they have not come to 1/10 of the way to exhausting the capabilities of the camera they use now.
Probably 1/2 the D800 shooters moved directly from a point and shoot or entry level Dx with kit lens to get the new model that far in excess of their actual use, because, ostensibly, its is better so their images will be better. Their images would be further along if they invested in a good series of workshops or an art appreciation university level course than a new camera. You know very well that many of the images posted have not used the camera to any more facility than their D40 they came from.

Stan
St Petersburg Russia

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

A bit harsh but pretty much on the money.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.