Kititkitzone zone
CAMERA GROUP TEST he D800 caused quite a stir when it was launched back in 2012, around the same time as the Canon 5D Mk III. Its main selling point was the comparatively monstrous pixel count of 36.3MP, putting the Canon firmly in the shade in this respect. The 800E followed, reducing the anti-aliasing element of its low-pass filter, thereby eking out the greatest possible sharpness at an increased
TIt’s
mostly
familiar but a bit different risk of moiré patterning. The D810 has replaced both, and has no low-pass filter at all.
Improvements over the D800 and D800E include a later-generation Expeed 4 image processor, a faster 5fps continuous drive rate (7fps in APS-C format crop mode), an increase in maximum sensitivity from ISO 6,400 to 12,800 (from ISO 25,600 to 51,200 in expanded mode), and a larger memory buffer. Another interesting upgrade is to the shutter and reflex mirror assembly.
The Nikon D810 shares the same range-topping autofocus and metering systems as its big brother, the top-flight D4S. The 51-point AF has 15 cross-type points; Nikon claims that it has been fine-tuned for accuracy, to make the most of the D810’s ultra-high-resolution images.
Performance
We found the autofocus system to be noticeably quicker than that of the older D800, and there’s slightly less lag and vibration in the reflex mirror. Even so, it’s best to use a tripod and the exposure delay mode, which flips the mirror up before the shot is taken. A minus point is that image noise at high ISO settings is more noticeable than with the Canon 5D Mk III.