I just upgraded to a D800 from a D200. I used to be able to hold the D200 in my hand all day long and the button location made sense in terms if the reach of my fingers.

I don't have the D200 on hand anymore to compare, but did Nikon make dramatic changes to the shape of the grip? It's very hard to hold with one hand and also to reach the buttons. Anyone else notice this or am I just not acclimated to the new body?

Not a one handed camera if you want good sharp shots. Tough enough getting crisp sharp shots with two hands let alone one handed. Much more of a pro body then the DX D200 and with it being full frame it has the body size to match. Quite alot stuffed into that camera you know. Mine is on a tripod 50 to 75% of the time for landscape shooting. I use the NEX 7 as a light weight carry around camera these days. At least for me my D800E is not used as a carry around camera. Many folks purchased this camera not knowing the issues of size.shutter speed restrictions. Most importantly it performs the best on a tripod with mirror lockup and remote shutter release.
Since I have my own large format printing business I have the D800E for those super large prints in my gallery and for that it makes sense.
Unless your printing large (24"x36" My definition of large) or cropping, the D800 may be overkill for you? Maybe a D7000 or D5200,sure would fit your hands alot better.

Dan Berg
www.bergscanvasgallery.com

>Not a one handed camera if you want good sharp shots.Much
>more of a pro body then the DX D200 and with it being full
>frame it has the body size to match. Quite alot stuffed into
>that camera you know. Mine is on a tripod 50 to 75% of the
>time for landscape shooting. I use the NEX 7 as a light weight
>carry around camera these days.
>Since I have my own large format printing business I have the
>D800E for those super large prints in my gallery and for that
>it makes sense.
>Unless your printing large (24"x36" My definition of
>large) or cropping the D800 may be overkill for you? Maybe a
>D7000 or 5200,sure would fit your hands alot better.
>

Oh I always shoot with 2 hands, I just like the ability to carry in one hand. I do intend to continue making massive enlargements that will be subject to close viewing.

Does the battery grip improve the grip area during landscape orientation?

Thats good to hear. It is a fantastic camera.
Will have to let someone else chime in about the grip,as I do not have one.

Dan Berg
www.bergscanvasgallery.com

Can’t definitively say whether the D12 grip improves the handling characteristics in landscape orientation or not given that I put mine on almost immediately when I bought the D800. I don’t have sufficient time behind the un-gripped camera for a good comparison.

I will say I like the ergonomics and balance with the grip very much and have no desire or reason to use it without the grip.

I’ve had grips or motor drives (back in the day) on all my SLR/DSLR cameras so it would feel strange for me not to have a gripped body.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

The shape of the grip changed slightly - it's got a sharper corner on the front inside edge (near the lens mount). Here it is against the D700. http://www.bythom.com/Images/d800-v-d700-back.jpg Having had both cameras I prefer the new shape.

While the shape is different than previous bodies (which were all a bit different), I can't say I actually notice any differences when I'm using the camera. It feels fine to me in comparison with the D700, D300, D200, etc.

Rick Walker

My photos:
GeoVista Photography

Download from our library of Image Doctor podcasts here

By holding with one hand do you mean to carry around? I am sure that you shoot with both hands on the camera. Even on a tripod I rest my hand on the lens unless I am using a remote trigger.

I have not noticed any inconviences in the D800 vs my D90. But it is heavier and bigger. Many folks with large hands also say that the grip makes a big differnce for them in handling, especially vertically.

Dan

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

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Yes, I always use a camera strap as well but I liked having the camera in my right hand at the ready to lift and then shoot with 2 hands.

There is considerably less camera to hold in the grip area vs. the D200, though the D800 is taller. The D200 also had a ridge in the back which protruded into the palm of yeah hand to keep the camera from slipping.

You won't notice this at all if you carry the camera by its lens. It's only when you carry one handed with the grip area.

More time with this camera body will probably help.

I undestand what you mean about keeping the camera in your hand at the ready. I made a custom hand strap that attaches to the right neck strap mount of the camera body and makes a big loop around the back of my hand with a leather pad. I have it adjusted so that when I pull up the camera to shoot, the strap actually supports a bit of the camera weight and the lower right corner of the camera body rests on the edge of my palm. Hard to explain ....but I really like the way it feels. It provides support and procection from a fall.

I have not used a neck strap for a few years. I got it caught twice on a few things when I was carrying the camera by the lens and almost lost it to a drop. Don't want to do that again, so I switched to the wrist strap. Plus, in my opinion, the D800 with the 70-200, 28-300 or 300 f/4 is too heavy for me to carry around my neck safely. A lot of guys like the Black Rapid type of straps but I have not yet gotten used to having my camera swinging around or perhaps knocking into door jams.

Dan

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

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

I don't think it is any less comfortable to hold than my previous camera, the D700, but it does feel a little different. Compared to my D4, which I believe has far superior ergonomics and probably the best Nikon has ever designed, I think the D800/e comes pretty close but not quite as satisfying in the hand as the D4. For the first time since the D100 I did not get the battery grip for the D800, so I can't comment on the addition of that accessory.

Ernesto Santos

esartprints.com Ernesto Santos Photography
Now offering fine art print services and ICC printer profiling.
Great service - at a great price!

I came from the D7K and felt the grip was small on that body. My pinky was on the buttom edge of that body. Know I have the D800E and the grip is a little bigger and more comfortable. I also have the Nikon battery grip and don't ever take it off as it adds more room for my hand/pinky to hold the camera (adds more weight also so keep that in mined). If I could afford a D4, I would use that for everything... I got the D800E for being able to crop as I tend to shoot loose and am working on filling the frame more and more.

Chris

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Also, the D800 body weighs 3 ounces more than your D200, and if you have moved from DX to FX lenses in the change, the additional weight and, especially, balance difference could be huge!

AviSys

I have used the D800 without any grip for nearly 11 months. I did not have any problems when I upgraded from D70. It was definitely bigger and more solid. Actually I liked the more heft with the D800.

I just recently (a couple of days ago) added a 3rd party Mag.Alloy grip. I have not used it much to give any opinion whether the grip helps or not. But I am used to heavy body (used to F5) and I feel the extra weight helps in stabilizing the setup during hand held shooting.

I think the more you use D800, you will feel more comfortable as your hands will get used to the bigger size and extra weight.

The D800 definitely took a while for me to get use to it. The the feel of a ungriped D700 was and IMO still is perfect. After a couple of studio sessions, I have become quite acclimated to the feel and grip of the D800 however, the thought of adding a grip has piqued my interest.

Nikonian in Upper Marlboro, MD

ADCole
www.adcoleweddingphotoimages.com

Could you please provide more info on the new grip? Perhaps even do a mini review? I think there would be some (myself included) who would be interested in these new mag alloy units.

Cheers
Rob

It's all about the light

I don't know about a review, but I will certainly take some pictures and post it within a week.

>... It's
>very hard to hold with one hand and also to reach the buttons.
> Anyone else notice this or am I just not acclimated to the
>new body?

I don't find it difficult to hold, though I don't like the "feel" of it as much as my old favorite, the D300, which I prefer over my D700 in that regard.

I find that weight and shape don't matter to me much once I start shooting since I'm so involved with my subjects. You're really going to enjoy the D800 once you've shot it for a while. I didn't like mine at first, but now I'm sold on it.

Congratulations on your new camera!

Mike

what a cool site! thanks for the link (below)

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

This link is relevant to this discussion:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#194,290

>This link is relevant to this discussion:
>http://camerasize.com/compare/#194,290

jec6613, thanks for the link, what a great site!

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Wade -- Sizes of hands vary so much that it is just impossible to design a camera that ergonomically seems like "an old friend" to every user. The link in this thread that allows you to compare camera sizes is priceless. Cameras got larger and heavier as the FX format entered the game. I think you are correct in that you will get better used to your D800 as experience with it grows. In the end, the camera is what it is -- I think we, are who will have to adapt if we want 36 mpixels! You'll get there. (But wasn't the D200 awesome?)

Alan
Waterloo, IL, USA
www.proimagingmidamerica.com

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

>Wade -- Sizes of hands vary so much that it is just
>impossible to design a camera that ergonomically seems like
>"an old friend" to every user. The link in this
>thread that allows you to compare camera sizes is priceless.
>Cameras got larger and heavier as the FX format entered the
>game. I think you are correct in that you will get better
>used to your D800 as experience with it grows. In the end,
>the camera is what it is -- I think we, are who will have to
>adapt if we want 36 mpixels! You'll get there. (But wasn't
>the D200 awesome?)

The fact that the D200 served me so well for so long (2005-2013) is amazing in the digital age. While I was always yearning for more resolution in my enlargements and dealing with high ISO noise, I absolutely felt one with the camera. Hope I get there with the D800 soon.

I just returned from shooting at an indoor soccer field with challenging light and the difference between the D200 and the D800 is tremendous. These newer sensors that can shoot in lower light make possible images I could never have had before.

I agree with the others. It is imposisble to engineer the same ergonomics on two dissimilarly-sized bodies. And ergonomics have evolved over the years.

My shooting history is the D2x - D3 - D3s. My slightly small hands are comfortable with my D3s. And they love holding my much smaller and lighter D800e!

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

I will not reiterate what my fellow Nikonians have so well put above. Having the D100-D300 plus now the D800, it takes time to get used to it. It feels heavier with the good lenses it needs and needs 2 hands to give you a sharp picture.
-------------
Please visit my galleries: Reza Gorji Photography