Nikon D800 review

Probably one of the most highly anticipated DSLRs, and most widely rumoured cameras, of the past few months, the Nikon D800 is finally official. With its substantial 36.3-megapixel full-frame FX sensor, Nikon is aiming the D800 at the higher end of the market, namely professionals and top-end enthusiasts. The £2399.99 price tag reflects that. Update: We now have a full-production sample of the Nikon D800 in and our testing is underway, but we've added our resolution, noise and dynamic range results here so you can get a taste of how the camera performs.    HomeNews by technology Photography & video capture Cameras Hands on: Nikon D800 review Hands on: Nikon D800 review Updated First look at new semi-pro, full-frame DSLR By Amy DaviesTue 15:48 UTC Page 1 of 7Overview and features Hands on: Nikon D800 reviewFirst look at the new full-frame DSLR Probably one of the most highly anticipated DSLRs, and most widely rumoured cameras, of the past few months, the Nikon D800 is finally official. With its substantial 36.3-megapixel full-frame FX sensor, Nikon is aiming the D800 at the higher end of the market, namely professionals and top-end enthusiasts. The £2399.99 price tag reflects that. Update: We now have a full-production sample of the Nikon D800 in and our testing is underway, but we've added our resolution, noise and dynamic range results here so you can get a taste of how the camera performs. Watch our first look video, complete with specs run-down: The company is keen to point out that it is not a replacement for the Nikon D700, but will sit alongside it (for the moment, at least).This is of course Nikon's second DSLR announcement of 2012, with the flagship Nikon D4 arriving just a couple of weeks before. The D800 utilises many of the new features of the D4 in a smaller body and at a cheaper price point. These include the same EXPEED 3 processor, the same Multi-Cam 3500 FX autofocus system which offers 51 autofocus points and the same 91k pixel metering system. It's also capable of focusing right down to -2 EV (moonlight, essentially), which coupled with its ability to shoot at up to ISO 25,600 (at the Hi 2 setting), should make this a promising camera for its low-light shooting. The D700 doesn't feature a video mode, but the D800 brings Full HD functionality. It can record 1080p video at 30, 25 and 24fps frame rates, along with 60 and 50fps rates at 720p for shooting slow-motion movies. Both FX and DX crops are available in video mode, although the D800 lacks the D4's useful new 1920 x 1080 crop mode. In another upgrade over the D700, the D800 features dual memory card slots. Unlike the D4, the D800 makes use of existing memory card formats, namely Compact Flash and SD. The decision to include two formats might prove mildly frustrating for some pros, who will now have to carry two different sets of cards. Altogether, Nikon claims to have included 36 new features or improvements to this full frame DSLR camera, when compared to the D700, and is also introducing a new battery grip which is compatible with multiple types of Nikon batteries. The D800 will be available in two versions: a 'standard' body, plus a special edition, called the D800E. This will have the anti-aliasing filter removed, but comes with an extra £400 premium as a result. Removing the filter allows for a potentially greater amount of detail to be resolved, and is a feature most commonly found on medium-format cameras, which Nikon is clearly aiming to target with this latest release. But this comes at the price of increasing the chances of false colour or moiré patterning. This type of noise is relatively straightforward to remove in photo-editing software packages, such as Lightroom 4. Nikon's own Capture NX2 can also be used to reduce or remove the effect, and will come bundled with the D800E.