14 DAY TRIAL // As anticipated, the Nikon refreshed its D800 camera with the freshly squeezed D810 model, which according to the company will offer “the highest image quality in Nikon’s history.”
The D800 has been called one of the best DSLR products of its kind available on the market. It was released two years ago and back then it came boasting a capable 36 megapixel sensor.
Now Nikon has taken the opportunity to roll out the successor, in the form of D810 which focuses on minor improvements that make a difference.
The most important new addition to the D810 is the newly developed 36.3MP FX CMOS sensor, which comes without the optical low pass filter characteristic of past Nikon DSLR products.
Moving along, the Nikon D810 arrives with a native ISO range starting at ISO 64 and going as far as ISO 12,800. This can be extended from the equivalent ISO 32 to ISO 51,200.
Nikon has taken some of the feats of the D4s and has smeared them on top of the D810. For example, it bundles the EXPEED 4 processing engine, which is supposed to bring about higher definition, improved depth/clarity and accurate Auto White Balance to shots.
On top of that, you should also be noticing improved processing capability, bumped continuous shooting rates but also energy-saving capabilities that will enable you to shoot until your arms go numb.
The new D810 has a group-area AF (in the vein of the D4s) with 51 points (15 cross-type), an OLED display in the viewfinder and the option for recording RAW files in the lower “S” resolution file size.
The mirror balancer should help you reduce vibrations, plus it will enable quieter all-around shooter and give you exposure control for the intervalometer (used to cut down on changes in brightness when time lapse recording).
The bumped continuous shooting speeds will work in concert with Multi-CAM 3500FX 51-point AF system in order to deliver full-res images at up to 5fps. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can shoot 15.3MP images at 7fps in DX crop model or you can go for 25.1MP images at 6fps in 1.2x crop mode.
The Nikon Picture Control 2.0 arrives with a set of new feats, like the Clarity menu, which now allows for finer adjustments to contrast in .25 increments.
When it comes to video, the new camera records full HD video (1080p) at 50p/60p frame rates and has FX and DX sensor crop formats plus HDMI out.
A new audio control system will be able to cut own on wind noise, thanks to a stereo microphone input working in concert with an audio outlet in order to fine-tune audio levels in isolation before and after recording.
Last but not least, the new Nikon D810 offers the ability to film in an auto ISO mode, but gives you the chance to have manual control over aperture and shutter speeds.
The photo gear manufacturer will be making the body-only D810 available worldwide starting July 17 for $3,299 / €2,419 a pop.
