Additional D800, D810, D610, D4s, or...?

Killerbob

@henrik1963; it was the same a few years ago with the D800, but my usual gear-pusher, is usually able to get what I need - I'll contact him.

If they run at 26K, it's cheaper for me to get them CH or DE - I still get to not pay VAT.

sevencrossing

@killerbob as you have a D800 you know what its high ISO is like
The D810 is meant to be better but don't think any of us, would expect it to match the D4s
For landscapes and most wild life, high ISO values seem rarely, if ever, needed
but if you want to try photographing black cats, in coal holes may be the D4 s is for you

haroldp

@haroldp

My initial impressions of a D4 vs. a D800E is the D4 has very clearly less noise at ISO 6400 and above. The D800E, IMO, gets noisy above 3200.

Now, this could be my error, but I can say the same "error" on the D4 seems to not produce noise.

@Msmoto

Have you tried down ressing the D800 36mp images at ISO 6400 to 18mp or 12mp (I use 12) the reduction in noise is dramatic with little loss of visual resolution (for ISO 6400).

I have no D4 to compare it to, but it is much better (at least one stop) than my D700 at same ISO.

If you have not, try it you may find a new space for your D800.

I have incorporated this into my workflow for high ISO, so that it is not even an extra step.

Regards .... H

Golf007sd

@Killerbob: sevencrossing is correct; in relation to shooting wildlife and landscapes. Moreover, you have the best tripod system money can buy. Your duration of owning the D800 has given you plenty of hands-on experience in knowing what the proper settings to use.

However, the doors that will be opened, with a D4s, will allow you to do things that you had found far more challenging in the past.

spraynpray

@haroldp: Not having a D800 I don't have to do 'down-ressing' but I'm interested in your process - care to share?

haroldp

@spraynpray

This is very straightforward.

In capture NX2, you can do this directly to the raw file by dropping down the 'edit' menu, selecting 'size/resolution', and changing the large side from 7360 pixels to 4256. Capture will automatically adjust the smaller side to 2840 to maintain proportions.

Since I do this often in theater work, I have saved an 'adjustment' that sets PC to neutral, corrects aca , lca, distortion, sets my default sharpening, and does the above resizing.

When processing a folder of nef's, I load that adjustment and run the batch.

In photoshop, I do not believe that re-sizing ia available in ACR, but it is in PS-6, where you would select 'image size' from the 'image' menu and again set the long side to 4256, PS will constrain proportions as above. In PS I use 'bicubic auto' as a method, but I have not conducted rigorous tests to determine if it is the best, as I almost always do the resizing directly to the nef in capture NX2.

This number (4256) will give you the exact pixel resolution of a D3 / D700, and in my experience, is not only lower noise, but has better DR, oolor, and more visual resolution, even with the same lens.

That is why I gave my D700 to a relative, I no longer had a mission where I would choose it over a D800.

Is the D4/s better, I do not know because I have not tried it.

One reason I am so positive about the D800 is it's versatility. 36mp FX landscape camera, 16mp DX camera and 12mp low light camera in one body.

I think I will like the D810 even better.

Regards .... H

proudgeek

... but my usual gear-pusher, is usually able to get what I need - I'll contact him.

Oh sure, blame the dealer. Our addictions are never our own fault.

Killerbob

...and now the b....... are coming out with yet another FF body:) Maybe that will be the one i need, who knows, but I'll wait until PhotoKina 2014.

henrik1963

@proudgeek: That is what pushers do :-)