Second Thoughts on Nikon D800

  About 2 weeks have past since I bought the D800, I started noticing the pros and cons of this camera even more (limitations/strengths). Might as well write what I found out so far. In terms of handling yes it is actually heavy if you consider the total weight of lens and body. I currently use the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens with the D800 and it weighs about 1.2kg and if I add an external flash (SB700) about 1.5kg.

   Another area that stood out for me was the 2 card slot function not found in the entry level APS-C sized camera I used (D5100) Compared to Nikon's entry level FX camera the D600, uses 2 SD card slots. I must say the D800 loses at this match. The D800 uses 1 compact flash slot and 1 SD card slot, for me it gives me a headache since the two medias are different in size and price.

     What I did not like the most was the Compact flash is at the brink of extinction. Although Compact flash came out earlier than SD cards, manufactures are almost halting the production of CF cards since it is already substituted by the SD cards due to the low cost high production rate along with the higher capacity being produced to the market. As of 2013 (Tokyo) 16GB Sandisk CF is about $70 vs same 16GB Sandisk SD for $20-30 for same speed (Class10 30mb/s)

     But the pros (good) to having two card slots is the ability to separate the files (RAW and JPEG) for example writing Raw files to my SD card and JPEG to my CF card. this helps me alot when transferring files to my notebook pc to view on Photoshop and post process.

     The 36.3megapixel should NOT be underestimated lightly. In order to support the full megapixels I realized, it is essential to have a very large capacity hard drive to store your photos. Raw files are about 50mgb and Jpeg 20mgb (total 70megabyte) and I have taken about 500 photos which is about 35GB already in 2 weeks. In a year that is equivalent of somewhere about 420GB. In order to support the data it is worth to consider having the enough storage, And horsepower (laptop computing power) to efficiently transfer the data and post process the files. Honesty it takes 2-3x more time to read a raw file on my computer!!! than my D5100 photos.

I might have rambled too much but that was my 2nd impression of what I have thought about this camera, there is more to say, but Im still happy that I got this camera instead of the D600 although its popular among enthusiast.
  

First FX Camera the Nikon D800! (First Impression)

    Its summer vacation here in Japan, and to celebrate myself for surviving the first semester at photography school. I was able to buy my first FX camera the Nikon D800. This is actually a big step up for me, not only because I have been using a cropped sensor DSLR, the D5100 for the past year, but also realizing the physical limitation of having a smaller sensor in the camera compared to a full sized 35mm sensor.
  
   Opening up the D800, I was really surprised by the weight of this monster. It weighs nearly 1kg, about twice as much as my D5100, and it felt really solid. Lots of people complain by the weight saying its too heavy. But lots of people don't realize the fact that this is not a typical dslr you see most of the time. With 36.3 megapixels this is almost the equivalent to a medium size format camera. With that mindset, it is actually about one-third lighter which is revolutionary.
  
   When I entered school in Tokyo, the majority of students in first year either purchased a Nikon D600 followed by D7000-7100 or a Canon 5D Mark 3, 6D,(7D). The main reason why I bought this camera instead of a D600 (newer) was the D800 will be used longer compared to the D600. After I graduate from school, most professionals using Nikon tend to use D4, D800-D800E (D7100 might be option) Canon aside, a  1DX, 5D Mark 3 or 6D,  putting the D600 as a sub camera category. I did not want to invest in one entry level FX camera then another better camera for later.

<Please note, other cameras one generation old are still being used by professionals such as>
     Nikon: D3s, D3x, D700 -out of production though its a really good camera-, F6 (film camera) etc..
     Canon: 1D(series before X), 5D Mark 2 etc..

    Another reason why I chose this camera instead of a D600, is megapixels needed for my type of work. Compared to fashion/portrait photographer who need the extra burst rate to shoot continuous with flash, my work which is mostly commercial work (advertising shooting products mainly) tends to be done in a studio with sometimes the use of a tripod and resolution matters the most.

   I am still reading the instruction manual for the D800 and probably do a part 2 for this after I understand the functions of the buttons. Maybe a review on the camera. hopefully by end of the week I am good to go. (^_^)



 

55mm-200mm 4-5.6G ED (Nikon) lens

Shot using 55-200mm outside found a cute Mejiro bird 

   Lots of people online criticize this lens as `cheapo lens` (cheaply built) since its mostly accompanied when buying a W kit zoom lens (dslr+ 18-55mm and this 55-200mm) It is true that its a lens meant for beginner in terms of quality, but I think lots of people neglect the true fact of how this is a zoom lens should be used.The aperture is 4-5.6G meaning that compared to prime lens like the 35mm 1.8G, this lens cannot open wide as much as the 35mm. Thus not making it a indoor lens. 

  

Also used 35mm lens to compare the difference with 55-200mm lens

  I actually never bought this in w zoom lens kit because it wasnt worth an extra $200USD (the price difference between dslr+18-55mm+ 55-200mm and normal kit lens was about 2万円 in Japan=200USD). So I bought this in a used new shop for about 7,000yen=70 dollars and I would really say this lens is worth that price range 50-100 dollars at max. 
  
     




         In terms of speed in focusing, Yes it is slow but as a startup photographer patience is essential to taking good photo the Mejiro bird I took above took me 1hr to find one, not to mention it MOVES sooo darn fast! Overall I am happy I bought this lens since now I have one prime and one zoom lens so it gives me an idea of what each type of lens are for and what they are mainly used for, and I believe from this point on it is the photographer`s choice of whether to take close still shots or far-away pictures. It boils down to the photographer`s preference so good luck!