I'll try E-model. Why? On the one hand, the idea of D800 is maximal available resolving power. On the other, I do not hear a lot of complains from Leica M9 users - and with twice more megapixels there should be even less artifacts.

Vladimir
Russian Nikonian in Switzerland

I'm getting the D800 b/c I'm impatient and cheap. I don't want to wait till April and $3K is already about $2800 over my budget so...

Nikon D800 | 24-70mm f/2.8G | 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II

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Already ordered my D800

Niether for now! Instead, I'm going to let a statistically significant number (...and I have no idea what that may be -- I'm not that smart!) of fellow Nikonians get the two versions and wring them out for me! Then -- if I decide either will do things my D700 will not do -- then maybe I will be urged to choose one. In the meantime, the growing crescendo of people speaking out in favor of the D800 or against it is wildly amusing -- considering I don't think anyone who has one or the other is talking!

Also in the meantime, I'm going to continue to shoot 200 to 1,000 images a week on my two D700s and create the best possible photos I can. The day the D800 was announced, I noticed absolutely no dimunation in output IQ from either. In fact, I just got a splendid 70-200mm f2.8 VRII lens and THAT IS making a difference.

Alan
Waterloo, IL, USA
www.proimagingmidamerica.com

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Neither! After almost 35 years of upgrading to each new Nikon from the FG to the F6 including the 8008/8008s and the 90/90S (still have the F100, F5 and F6) and the D300 to the D700 I am going to sit this upgrade out and continue to use the D700 with the D300 as
back up. I believe this combo will last me until I reach the Pearly Gates

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When I upgrade (and I'm already muttering in my sleep, trying to resist leaping before I can really afford it ...) I'd only be satisfied with the additional fine detail from the 'E'. I'll work a little harder to reduce possible moire while chosing my subjects, and I'll suffer the occasional un-recoverable shot(s).

Colin P.

--
Staying busy is easy. Setting priorities is harder!
A doorway to my other photo sites

D800 - and I really struggled with this one. But here's the logic I used to make my decision, and it came down to risk management.

Suppose through some magical whatever, that every picture I take from now on could be identically captured on both models simultaneously. So now I will always have two images to compare for every shot I take. Here are some questions to think about.

Is there any chance that the D800E image has a slightly better resolution than the standard? Yes, of course. That's the whole point of the E model.

What is the chance that without having a side by side comparison to make, I would ever be dissatisfied with the resolution produced the standard D800? Zero - not a chance. The resolution from this camera is incredible. The only way to ever question anything negative about its resolution, would be from a side by side comparision with an D800E - which, in reality, is never going to happen, so I will never know the difference.

Finally, is there a chance that without an AA filter, I could get images with Moire problems from the D800E? Yes. A very real chance, and they will be readily apparent without needing a side by side comparison to anythinig. I do not want to have to deal with this risk. I don't even want to have to think about it when I shooting, much less try to clean them up in Photoshop.

So, my conclusion was there is no risk that I will ever be unhappy with the resolution from any image from the D800. What the D800E might have produced will be irrelavent. But there is indeed risk that images from the D800E will have problems with Moire, and I would be unhappy with that. Given my finances, this is an extemely expensive camera, and I want nothing but good feelings when I get it!

D800 for me - case closed!!

I ordered the E model for the obvious reason. To quote Edmund Hillary: because it is there.

Regards, Antero

>I ordered the E model for the obvious reason. To quote Edmund
>Hillary: because it is there.
>
>Regards, Antero
Actually, it was George Mallory.
Mallory is famously quoted as having replied to the question "Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?" with the retort "Because it's there", which has been called "the most famous three words in mountaineering".

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Very interesting article related to this that makes me lean towards the E:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/the_naked_sensor.shtml

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

I went with the D800 I'm sure it will deliver enough detail to satisfy.

I have pre-ordered the 800E, even though it will probably mean a longer wait time. My reasoning being that I love the higher resolution it provides and I want the extra sharpness and detail, plus I seldom take pictures resulting in moire. If I encounter any, I think I can fix it in Photoshop without too much difficulty. So... it's the "E" for me!

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Thanks for the article!

I ordered the E on the first day...then, wondered if I made the right decision...and am now thankful I am going with the E version!

Look forward to learning from everyone here!

Laura

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Visit my Nikonians gallery.

>Very interesting article related to this that makes me lean
>towards the E:
>
>http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/the_naked_sensor.shtml
>

Excellent article, full of info and keeps the mind alert.. thx,

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>>Very interesting article related to this that makes me
>lean towards the E:
>>
>>http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/the_naked_sensor.shtml
>>
>
>Excellent article, full of info and keeps the mind alert..
>thx,
>

It's surprising that he says he tends to "lean towards cameras without AA filters" when he primarily does architecture and weddings.

I went with the D800 for several reasons...

1. I shoot fashion work. No WAY I'd risk a shoot to get 3% more detail. If it's that important I'll go medium format.

2. I will likely be shooting my next film on the D800. No AA filter and having that sensor sampling at 2MP... the moire will likely be ridiculous. It's already brutal on the 5D and that HAS a filter and a lot less pixels.

3. The "E" costs more for very little gain.


More power to those willing to take the risk, or for those for whom it won't matter.

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

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Nikon insists, in video mode D800e will not have more moire.

Vladimir
Russian Nikonian in Switzerland

Ordered my D800 as soon as shops opened in the morning of the announcement. With a mixed shooting portfolio (and only few primes that will be up to the sensor resolution), only a minority of my photos would benefit from the extra detail the E-model should deliver. But many, if not most of them would carry a high risk of moire (people in clothes, events...). I had severe moire problems with canvas structures a few years ago when shooting paintings for a catalogue with a D70s, had to reshoot many of the pictures at difference distances just to get the job done. No desire to repeat such an experience...

Holger - Nikonian in Switzerland

D800!
When I do my bit behind the camera right I'm more than happy with the sharpness of the images my D700 and D300 produce.

I requested my local dealer to open two waiting lists for D4 and D800 way before they got announced and when each of the models got eventually announced, I got phone calls from them saying I was first on the list!!!

Regards
Dinil



Struck by Light - Blog & Gallery
Visible Range - Photography & Beyond

The D800E is not much more if you consider it comes with Capture NX2.

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

Is it the trail version of Capture NX 2? Don't really think I want to load another program on my computer--need to save room for picture files!

Laura

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>Is it the trail version of Capture NX 2? Don't really think
>I want to load another program on my computer--need to save
>room for picture files!
>
>Laura

I misread it as it is the viewer that comes with it.

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

>The D800E is not much more if you consider it comes with
>Capture NX2.

I'm not sure it does come with NX2 (even the trial version). Page 11 of the Technical Guide pdf says that Capture NX2 is "available separately".

I ordered the D800 for Landscapes and Video.
If it surprises me and turns out much better for Events than my D7000 I will order a 2nd one and it may be an e version.
Otherwise I may get a used D3s or D400 and dedicate it to low light Events.

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D800 to compliment my D700 and keep it company in the same forum.....lol

I may not have read all the articles about the D800/D800E, but I have not seen a comparison between a D800 picture with capture sharpening compared to a picture from the D800E. My gut feel tells me that there may not be any difference between these two pictures. i ordered a D800, but I will need this comparison before I buy a D800E. In addition, according to B&H's descriptions, the D800E is going to be "... released in limited quantity."

Enjoy your Nikons,

Juan

I do a lot of people photography (weddings including bridal and engagement portratis, events, concerts, etc.) so i'm more concerned about moire than maximum sharpness. So I've ordered the D800.

Jack

>D800 to compliment my D700 and keep it company in the same
>forum.....lol


Surprisingly, same here and same reason; I seldom agree with a canadian; I'm a quebecer

Daniel

Je vous invite à visiter
ma galerie Nikonians.

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I fought myself about this for several days, then ordered a D800. Why?

Well, although I do a lot of landscape photography, which would definitely benefit from the extra sharpness, I also shoot a lot of portrait and event images. I do not want to have to fool with patterns in clothing. I know that Capture NX can help, but not perfectly. Therefore, in the interest of saving time, primarily, I decided to go with the D800 instead of the D800E. I feel that, with careful capture sharpening, I can get pretty close to the output of the D800E, without the worries of occasional moiré.

When I am shooting a wedding or graduation, for instance, there is potential for moiré that I don't want to fool with. If I were shooting 100 percent landscapes, there's no way I would choose anything but the D800E. For now, I am going to shoot with the D800 and wring out every last drop of performance from that big, juicy 36 MP sensor. I think I may go back to shooting with primes again so that I can use nicely optimized lenses for best results.

These choices are fun, are they not! Nikon, you are genius, instead of giving us one camera so that we have to choose between it or another camera, you give us two cameras with almost, but not quite, identical features. Now, we are having to decide which of the two D800's we want, instead of the D800 vs. another camera. Smart!

I will continue using my D700 for a couple more years. It currently has 72,000 shutter actuations, so I should be good for another 75,000 at a minimum - and I can replace the shutter mechanism if/when it fails. Love this camera and it performs flawlessly for me, so no need to replace it. Plus I am trying to keep my costs down after a significant expansion I did last year in lighting equipment. No lenses or camera for me any time soon - the current equipment needs to make me more money before I say goodbye to it.

________________
Paco Romero
(website|blog| RSS|Facebook|gallery)

I'm still a little on the fence. I was first considering the "E" version, since I mostly want to use it for landscape work and possibly some commercial work. However, I could see using it for photographing large groups, of which I do a fair amount of. Sometimes groups of 100 or more individuals, and I'm a little concerned about moire in this instance. I would certainly hate to have to retouch moire on a 100 individuals in one photograph! (Most of these are uniformed groups - so if one has moire, they probably all will)!

I also photograph a lot of interiors and architecture. Although the extra sharpness would be welcome, the moire could be more prominent here, so again... the non E version may be the better choice.

I want to see some RAW files with examples of moire before I make my final decision, but as it sits right now, I think the non-E will suit me better.


Mike Guilbault
Elmvale, Ontario, Canada
http://www.PhotographyWorkshops.ca
http://www.MGPhotography.com

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I just looked at the High ISO comparison on Nikon Rumors.
Although an apparent unfair test,
this and other results show the D800 as a very good High ISO performer.
I may end up with both versions.

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>I may end up with both versions.

Wow, this is not just an ordnary NAS case - this is what I would call casus incurabilis

Vladimir
Russian Nikonian in Switzerland

After much doubt and deliberation with myself I've pre-ordered D800. My wife doesn't know yet. God, help me...

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Luckily for me, all Nikon cameras look the same to my wife!

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

>Luckily for me, all Nikon cameras look the same to my wife!

Funny! Cracked me up.

I am going to wait it out and see what everyone's evaluation is after they have used it. The other thing is that I want to pair it with two primes that are Nikon G.

One would be a new 35mm 1.4G. That would give me my own prime "holy grail" - the 24mm, 35mm and 85mm G's. The other potential new lens could a medium telephoto or I could stick with my 85mm (that I will not sell) . That would give me 4 primes. Either way, I have decided to not to carry more than two prime lenses when shooting with any camera I own.

No doubt, I don't like lugging weight and bulk around. Going through an airport in 2012 with a considerable amount of photo equipment is like being bombarded with the noise of a jackpot in Las Vegas.

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I have very similar thoughts, Edward.

I'll be watching reviews and evaluations closely, and may get a D800 version in a year or so, but for the time being, I'm quite happy with my compact D7000, and also want to see what replaces the D300s.

I'd like to go to full-frame, but will have to review the advantages again versus weight and cost. Primes are also my preferred lenses and I'd like to acquire another one this year, perhaps one of the three you mention.

As many have mentioned, I'd love to see a lower priced, somewhat smaller, full frame camera, with no video functions whatsoever, but I doubt that'll be offered.

Cheers.

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

>I have very similar thoughts, Edward.
>
>I'll be watching reviews and evaluations closely, and may get
>a D800 version in a year or so, but for the time being, I'm
>quite happy with my compact D7000, and also want to see what
>replaces the D300s.
>
>I'd like to go to full-frame, but will have to review the
>advantages again versus weight and cost. Primes are also my
>preferred lenses and I'd like to acquire another one this
>year, perhaps one of the three you mention.
>
>As many have mentioned, I'd love to see a lower priced,
>somewhat smaller, full frame camera, with no video functions
>whatsoever, but I doubt that'll be offered.
>
>Cheers.

Interestingly, being old school, I did not think video was a function I would utilize or enjoy on a camera. But I was greatly surprised. With the D 7000 there a few scenes that one snap just cannot accomplish, that capture the essence of an area.. So I have gone polar opposite on that one. As we know, the D7000 should not be under rated by anyone and I will keep it if I go FX.

If (when) I go FX, I too, would like something lighter that I could take with two primes. Well, I hope Moore's Law starts advancing to Nikon FX cameras at hyper-speed. Nevertheless, I am quite certain that I will eventually wind up with the Nikon 800. It will be in one or the other version sometime after many have rendered their opinion and the bugs( if any) are removed. Based on what I have read, that is going to be an awesome piece of equipment. All the best.

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Very funny, although the question has to be asked, "How many folk have in fact bought high-end equipment without the other half knowing the full value!" I tried and failed miserably. I'm still married though. Just!

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>>I may end up with both versions.
>
>Wow, this is not just an ordnary NAS case - this is what I
>would call casus incurabilis


Yup! If my "ship came in" it would have one of everything Nikon makes on it.
And, Then I would have to change my nick name to include NAS.

I actually need two cameras for my Event Business.
It used to be two D3 bodies but they got to heavy for me.
So, I like that the D800 is lighter than a D700,
but I may keep shooting a D7000 hand held
and let my wife use the D800 for Events
while I use it for my Nursery Plant Pictures, some Landscapes, and for group Portraits.

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I ordered the D800. The D800E was tempting until I realized I was upgrading from 24MP (my D3x) and 12MP (my D3s, which is being replaced by a D4), and, given my needs, it's a bit ridiculous to want a smidge more detail. I could just hear my colleagues saying, "What!? 36MP isn't enough???"

Given that most of my photos are published in 5x7-inch size and smaller, rarely blown up to huge enlargements, and when I need to crop in on a detail of an overall product shot 24MP has proved to be more than enough, I'll probably feel a twinge of "because it's there" but will find that the D800 will do a great job.

Should my circumstances change, I can't imagine I'd have much of a problem selling a D800 and buying a D800E in its stead six months down the road.

David,

I'm glad to see you are a Nikonian now. Great to finally meet you!

Neither for the moment! I will still enjoy my D700.
But, when I will change my D700, for sure I will go to D800. It is 300$ less than D800E and my opinion is that the advantages of D800E does not worth 300$.

I too am on the list for a D800. The unfortunate part is that we will definitely be waiting easily into april for just a D800. I pre ordered the day of and that point I was already like number 300 on the list. While at WPPI I asked BH Photo for a guess and they simply said they are shipping on a first come first serve basis, but to be patient because Nikon's distribution is always known to be a little behind (thus why always out of stock etc). So at the mean time, since Im converting from Canon Ive purchased a few D7000's and a D700 to get accustomed to Nikons menu/control layout. Im sooo excited to be switching brands for 2012. I will still be keeping my trusty 5d Mark II/7D setup as well as my 35L/85L/135L setup until I'm confident I have a lens setup as worthy with my nikon gear.

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BeXposed Photography on ModelMayhem

Nothing right now. But in near future may go for D800.

Look at this images , its pretty much a wash . A bit more contrast .

http://images.nikonians.org/galleries/showphoto.php/photo/363054/size/big/cat/14500.

I have the D800 on order at B&H .

Hans K.

My Gallery

Visit my Nikonians gallery. nikonus@nikonians.org

>Look at this images , its pretty much a wash . A bit more
>contrast .
>
>http://images.nikonians.org/galleries/showphoto.php/photo/363054/size/big/cat/14500.
>
>I have the D800 on order at B&H .


Hans,

That forum requires a password. Couldn't get in.

I think it will be a while before I make up my mind. With all the pre-orders it's going to take a while before I will be able to get a loaner and make a test for myself. I feel it's just too close to tell, with the benefits only turning up in the most extreme situations and the potential pitfalls liable in the average kind of portraits that I make, I think I'm going to have to see both to decide if the pain is worth the gain.

Then there's always the evil NAS voice in my head... 'get them both... don't forget that the best back up is an identical body... better get spares of both too...' Ah NAS... my evil master... lol.

Happy shooting,

Howard

Will shoot for fame...fun...food... a heck I'll shoot anytime anywhere.

Ordered the plain vanilla D800 from AMZN a few hours after orders became available. I looked at the full-crop shots on the web comparing the 800 with the 800E and decided the difference wasn't worth the wait and price difference to me. Also don't waht to have to fool around with removing moire from any of my images.

Interesting that the poll has stayed about 65% in favour of the D800.

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

Quote>Interesting that the poll has stayed about 65% in favour of the D800.<Quote<<<

Perhaps not, as we cannot change our vote.

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Good point, Roger; as more reviews become available, some of us may want to.

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

I have a D800 on order from Berger Brothers. NAS has become NWS - Nikon Waiting Syndrome. I just hope I receive it before my San Juan Islands trip in late April.

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It's unlikely I'll buy either, although many comments on the forums make me slightly more than interested lately. I will probably await the D400, but would need to see at least one image from each D800 before I could make a decision in any event

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interesting discussion of the issues in general by Sean Reid at Luminous landscape

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/the_naked_sensor.shtml

Steve and Camille

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