Thom Hogan posts his D800, D800E review

[cyclohexane]

In case you wanted to hem and haw some more over which one to buy. For those unfamiliar with him (unlikely, given the readership of the Camel) Hogan very thorough and usually addresses a few things other reviewers don't; his opinions are often a little different than the conventional shooter though. Just something to read if you would like to take the time to.

Nikon D800 and D800E Review by Thom Hogan

[Brooks]

Sounds like I should stay with my D3X though I am always looking for more resolution.

[BovrilArg]

As with any reviews I believe he has some valid points and some are not. No review is 100% objective as it usually boils down to personal preference.

One thing this review brought me is my decision to buy locally. I live in Australia where the D800 goes for 3600 compared with 3000 in the US. Problem is that if I buy it in the US I cannot have it serviced here. Still 20% is a big mark up.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by BovrilArg

As with any reviews I believe he has some valid points and some are not. No review is 100% objective as it usually boils down to personal preference.

One thing this review brought me is my decision to buy locally. I live in Australia where the D800 goes for 3600 compared with 3000 in the US. Problem is that if I buy it in the US I cannot have it serviced here. Still 20% is a big mark up.

Every reiew is based on views , and personal . indeed the only true test would be a robot testing both camera's and writing it on the net .

it is always what you want to hear and not to hear

reviews from my gear i have seen them , some i agree with but not on all points
there are reviewers who are mainly canon based and there will never be a frank and honest review of a nikon dlsr on on canon based group , same in reverse

[km6xz]

Thom is a straight shooter but his priorities are not usually the same as mine. He is critical about changes to the normal for Nikon but some of those changes were already the new Nikon standard for all per performance Nikons released in the last 2 years. The Focus mode selection using the button and command wheel is a change I like and it will be more flexible in the future when more modes are introduced. I find it faster once you get used to it.
I think he gloss over some of the biggest improvements such as metering and its assistance to AF, or the AWB effectiveness. The camera does the little things that are fundamental to a good capture, very well indeed, and would be appreciated even if the sensor was only 12mpx.

[BOB DA]

For cost and performance, I'll stick to my D7000. Two SD card slots, 16 MP, 6 FPS, light, EN-EL15 1000+ shots/charge, etc, etc! My 16x 20's look great.

[cyclohexane]

Originally Posted by km6xz

Thom is a straight shooter but his priorities are not usually the same as mine. He is critical about changes to the normal for Nikon but some of those changes were already the new Nikon standard for all per performance Nikons released in the last 2 years. The Focus mode selection using the button and command wheel is a change I like and it will be more flexible in the future when more modes are introduced. I find it faster once you get used to it.
I think he gloss over some of the biggest improvements such as metering and its assistance to AF, or the AWB effectiveness. The camera does the little things that are fundamental to a good capture, very well indeed, and would be appreciated even if the sensor was only 12mpx.

Stan, I think Thom's point is that, personally, he does not feel the changes to focus mode selection, command wheel, buttons, metering, and so on, are improvements. It is, of course, his opinion.

I know a guy who returned his D4 because he hated the new control placement. I should probably try to sell him my D3S.

I haven't seen a D800/E in the wild (yes to the D4, 1D X, 5D Mk.III though) but I usually don't mind the new buttons unless I lose something I could do before. Ultimately though, even after talking to the NPS reps, whatever Nikon does is what we get, and we have to live with it.

[km6xz]

When I got the D800 I was traveling and spent a lot of time waiting for planes or going on side trips so I never opened the package the manual is in. I kept telling myself I would read it when I got home and started shooting more serious. I found that nothing on it was confusing or needing a good head scratch to figure out something, I just started shooting and adjusted to the little differences in a few hours, such as the review +zoom button in the middle. All and all it has been the easiest camera to get up to speed on. I think Nikon decided to move all their new cameras to a new standard layout so future transitions will be almost automatic.
Those who are disappointed in button placement and metering biased to FL, etc will learn the new placement in no time and reap the rewards of these new performance kings.
This is discontent is expected for a few days or a week in any change. But everyone gets over their peevishness pretty quickly when they consider the alternative....not having the step up in features and performance that Nikon seems to surprise us with regularly. Shooting with an D800 becomes a pretty compelling habit and soon even Thom will be measuring any new camera against the "standard", D800.

[jerryph]

Some people adapt fast to button changes, some don't. In the short while that I've had my D4, I got so used to it that I had to think for a second about where I see the ISO setting on the D700... lol.

I adapt as fast as a mofo, we're talking maybe an hour to go from the D700 to D4... and about 2-3 hours to be able to make any change to ISO, aperture, shutter, metering and AF mode changes without taking my eye from the viewfinder.

That guy that returned his D4 because of button placement... was an obvious block of stone when it came to adaptability... lol

[jerryph]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Sounds like I should stay with my D3X though I am always looking for more resolution.

Brooks, that depends on how important some more resolution, a full stop of DR and useable ISO 3200 are to you. You could likely sell that D3X for more than $3000 and get a D800 for pretty much free... if it fit your bill.