Complete Guide to the D800 and D800E

[ClintS]

Thom Hogan has released his Complete Guide to the Nikon D800 and D800E. It is available for immediate download!

[Douglas]

From his review, I expect it to say "Send it back to Nikon and get something else instead". He does not like change, apparently.

[km6xz]

He will get used to it in a few weeks. The changes he complains about are ones that require new habits, not losing anything.
Those who never developed habits that apply, due to coming from another brand or another level of camera might adjust easier. Moving the + zoom button would never cause me to lose all the benefits of a D800 to go back to another model and era.

[Douglas]

I loved the new location of the focus button, inside the focus switch. That was something they introduced with the D7000. Made life easier then menu diving on my D90. But I admit it did cause me to hit the lens release button a few times.

[RoyC]

Originally Posted by Douglas

From his review, I expect it to say "Send it back to Nikon and get something else instead". He does not like change, apparently.

From his review....."Personally, the D800 and D800E are near perfect for me and the types of things I shoot (nature, wildlife, landscapes). It's the first time I've felt 100% back to where I was with an F100 (film body). Indeed, I'm ahead of the game...."

You might want to take the time to read through his comments again.

[km6xz]

Originally Posted by Katherinejjm

That was something they introduced with the D7000. Made life easier then menu diving on my D90.

Yes, when it was introduced in the D7000 the D300 users were up in arms saying it was a toy camera since all real cameras had that 3 way lever switch. Many still cite that as why they will stay with the "pro" dx camera and forego the advances in image quality that newer cameras are providing. When the only real pro camera(D4) came out with it also, they were strangely silent. Many of them probably refused to switch from the rotary dial to touch tone in the early 60s.
Besides being faster to select more options, using a data encoder instead of a hard wired mechanical switch, Nikon paved the way for having firmware updates for more AF modes or options within a mode, or having AF mode and option remembered in user memory. I can see no downside, its is all good.

As good as the Complete Guide probably is, I will not buy it, primarily due to the fact that the D800 is the simplest camera I have ever used to set up the way it works best for me. When I got it, I was traveling and started using it, without having time to read the manual. I still have not had time to read it, although I typically like reading manuals and customarily do read them cover to cover when getting a new device. So, as it stands the current manual that came with it is in a pile of other books on my to read someday on a snowy winter's day.

[gostwick]

Ah, A complete guide. Very interesting I will have to have a look. Where is it available?

[jerryph]

Only one place, on his website. I wish he made one for the D4, I have his books on the D200 and D700 and both were beyond excellent.

[Doublehelix3216]

I downloaded the guide a few nights ago and have been slowly making my way through it (it is over 800 pages!). Great guide, well written and quite helpful. I highly recommend it.

[SA_Tosterud]

I got this email from David Busch yesterday (I prefer his guides and am not-so-patiently waiting for the D800 one to come out).

I've seen most of the guides for the D800 that are already available, and one, which I won't single out, is incredibly bad, shallow, and padded out with chapters on general photography that have nothing to do with the D800. In 300 pages, yet! (Thom Hogan's ebook, on the other hand, is quite good, but might be a bit more rambling and detailed than readers who choose mine prefer. We really write for different audiences.)

His email goes on to talk about his own books ("My D800 book is light years ahead of my D700 book") and why the D800 one is taking so long, but I thought you might be interested in what he had to say about the Hogan effort.

Cheers,