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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon D800 / D800E Review

Nikon D800 / D800E

By Nasim Mansurov 718 Comments
Last Updated On October 28, 2020

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Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Camera Construction and Handling
  • Image Sensor
  • Autofocus Performance
  • Asymmetric Focus Issue
  • Lens Selection, Exposure and Dynamic Range
  • ISO Performance
  • Camera Comparisons
  • Wedding Photography Use
  • Summary
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options
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718 Comments
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Greg
Greg
September 21, 2020 6:53 pm

I’m so glad to find your review, because tomorrow morning I’m buying a D800e used and was starting to get nervous (last-minute pre-“buyer’s remorse” I guess) about the moire issues. Sounds like it won’t be as much of a problem as I feared. :)

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Rajesh Madao
Rajesh Madao
October 8, 2014 11:52 am

Hi Nasim,

This is one of the best review on D800 to the best of my knowledge. Well, I have been using Nikon D7000 for a year or so and was really happy with it. Upgraded to D800 just a few months back. My issue is that I am seriously facing a problem of unsharp images from my D800. My D7000 used to give me tack sharp images and was always confident of what I will be my final output during the shoot.. However , in case of the of D800 the images not as sharp as at edges, I have also shot with 50mm 1.8 but still not satisfied. The sample images shot by you are really an eyeopener for me. Please guide.

Thanks

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Nikos Delhanidis
Nikos Delhanidis
September 16, 2014 4:28 am

I believe the active cross type focus points with f/8 lenses is one and not 11, with just 10 complimentary focus points that act as only horizontally sensitive ones.

imaging.nikon.com/lineu…ures03.htm

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William Jones
William Jones
August 27, 2014 10:38 am

A question about the MB-D12. I understand it can use AA batteries. Will it work with the Eneloop AA batteries (especially to increase frame rate)?

Thanks,
WEJ

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Stephen Lamb
Stephen Lamb
Reply to  William Jones
February 24, 2021 4:39 am

Yes it will.

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Seyed Ali Hoseinifar
Seyed Ali Hoseinifar
July 8, 2014 6:01 pm

Hi
I am Seyed Ali Hoseinifar from Iran.
Dear Nasim Mansurov thank you very much, photographylife.com is very very good Site for Me.
I have A question:
I have Nikon D800 With 24-120 F/4 Nikkor , I think something wrong with this camera’s Shutterو (My camera is completely safe and has no impact on the camera or lens is intact.) I have a lot of Blury Photo taken Beacuse Of Camera Shake. Lenz Shake Reduction Is Always On. I have Alot of Blury photos with below camera settings
Shutter Speed: 1/640s f/10 iso:100 Focal Leanth: 24 mm
How is possible camera Shake and caused blury Photo?
I think something wrong with this camera’s Shutter, I want to know Your Opinion aboat Nikon D800’s Shutter Porformance
(Sory my English is not good, I use google transelate for my comments)
www.facebook.com/seyed…hoseinifar

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Vinnie
Vinnie
December 25, 2013 8:18 pm

Hello Nasim, I’m not sure how often you check this post for new comments/questions, so hopefully you do. I have a question regarding the playback button on my D800, and wondered if you or any readers have experienced the same thing. When I press the playback button to view a photo, nothing happens, no photo is displayed on the monitor. Sometimes, if I turn the camera off and back on, then it works, other times it does not. Sometimes when you press the button, the photo will display for maybe a second or less and goes right out. This happens with both a photo I have just taken, and photos that have been on the camera for a period of time. I have had the camera for 10 months now and it has worked fine up until a few weeks ago. Any info you can provide would be appreciated. I’m thinking maybe I should just contact Nikon since I have had the camera 10 months now and the warranty will be up soon.

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HB
HB
November 20, 2013 9:00 am

Hi,

I have been reading your blogs for a couple of years now and find your articles very helpful. So I thought this would be the best place to ask for some advice.

I have recently become a freelance photographer having worked in a studio for quite a few years and I need to invest in a new camera. Having done some research, I have come to the conclusion that the D800 would be best for me. But I wondered if you were able to advise me on what lenses to buy?

I mainly shoot food photography and have previously used a Linhoff camera with a digital back in my previous studio. I love the camera but unfortunately it is just a total different price bracket that I wouldn’t be able to afford. My personal camera is a D80 (which i have had for many years as my first DSLR) so I am in desperate need of a new one. The current lenses I have are a AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G ED, Tamron AF 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 TELE-MACRO and I have just recently invested in a NIKON AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G ED, keeping in mind I am going to soon purchase a full framed camera. I have to confess, lenses baffle me a little and I find it hard to know where to start.

I am hoping to mainly shoot food photography but with a bit of other studio work on the side. What would you advise equipment wise? I have seen above in the readers comments about the 24mm f3.5 tilt and shift lens, this certainly look interesting but I don’t think it will quite work like my Linhoff. I really would like to know what would be best for my field of subject.

Thanks in advance for your advise. :)

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giancarlo
giancarlo
September 30, 2013 1:39 am

Thank you for all the good advice that you give us.
I have just a D800 and I would like to ask if what is best for landscapes to use: HDR or multiple exposure?. You could not say what is the optimal setting for this kind of pictures?

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Jakes
Jakes
July 14, 2013 3:47 pm

Took me hours to get to the end and post my comment. First the D800 is not a D700 replacements it is a complete new concept, read Nikon site. 2nd comparing camera’s in reviews are a stupid idea as each model was designed with a target use in mind, do show real review of how the camera execute the job, plus recommend lenses that will make up a great system. Comparing the D800 with aD7000 is a joke, and even comparing it with the D700 or D3s. They all have different users and uses in mind. I have invested money in great glass, 70-200 f2.8 vr2, 300 mm f2.8, 16-35 f4, 600 f4. My focus is nature and wildlife, I use a D300, D700 and D3s, the D800 cannot replace any of them as the 3 have each their own function and the D800 does not suit my workflow. I am waiting for a D400 for birds and when budget allows the D4, the D700 is a mid range for me and I shoot the 70-200 f2.8 on it all the time for animals at closer range and landscapes.. So I suggest, in future review a camera and lens system and highlight the potential benefits of the upgrade users in that category. I also don’t understand how people upgrade to a D800 and use a sub pro glass on it. Or is the purpose to tell people that their camera is now a loser, crank their ego, as nobody likes it when you tell them their baby is ugly, and then people go buy equipment they don’t need..I trust Nikon will soon introduce a D4 replacement so I can get my hands on a great D4 dumped by an owner who believes the new D4x will produce better IQ..

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thejohnz
thejohnz
July 14, 2013 3:28 pm

The comment by Jake on July 14, regarding the D800 (used with the 300F2.8 and the TC-14 and 2.0 tele-converters) I found most interesting. I have the same equipment and have been practicing with them for over a year now. My results have been stunning but it did not happen over night. While the 300F2.8 clearly out resolves the D800 sensor, using the tele-converters adds lots of constraints. Focusing is critical (adjust your back focus!) shutter speeds must be significantly higher, if you are hand-holding you must practice good techniques, etc. That said I have gotten fabulous photos on two trips to South Africa that I feel were just not possible before the present crop of Nikon cameras. I owned the D300 and as good as it was at the time, it is no match for the present line-up, especially when higher ISO’s are required. (and in Africa I used 800 to 3200 ISO a lot).

My personal favorite combination is the 300mm F2.8 with the TC-1.4. I still have F4, and not so much telephoto as to make DOF a big problem on close shots of birds and other small animals. The loss of IQ is so little as not to be noticeable under most shooting situations. With the D800 I can crop heavily and still have a great shot.

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