Camera Test | SLR and System CamerasFull-featured, 36-megapixel full-frame camera
with a relatively compact body and unlimited
length Full HD video recording to internal media
or external devices.
Good:Extremely high resolution when used
with high-end lenses. Extremely robust,
weatherproof magnesium body with great
handling. Main dial and multi-selector with
better handling and more precise than those
built into the D4. Extremely configurable.
Large, bright, high-resolution monitor with
wide angle of view and transparent protective
cover. Large, backlit control panel display. Very
bright 100% viewfinder with built-in blind. Very
fast, precise 51-area selective single point
AF that works very well in low light.
Lens-dependent AF override. Fast startup and
virtually no shutter lag. Fast data save times.
Relatively quiet, dampable mirror. Flexible
self-timer and multiple white balance presets.
Built-in wireless flash control. 1/250 s X-Sync.
CF/SD dual card slot. Powerful battery. USB 3.0
connector. Full HD video. Headphone and
microphone connectors.Not so good:Fixed monitor with no anti-glare
coating. AF assist lamp vignetted at close
subject distances. Unclear compatibility with
some (current) CF card types. No central control
dial (typical Nikon design), handling can take
some getting used to. Direct access to only
non-critical functions via INFO screen. Extremely
long custom settings menu. Average
continuous shooting rates. Loose rubber battery
contact cap on camera bottom.
Test results:Maximum contrast high at ISO 100,
satisfactory at ISO 3200 but dropping off
thereafter. Excellent white balance. Very good
signal-to-noise ratio at ISO 100, still okay up to ISO
800, thereafter dropping off steadily and poor at
ISO 6400. Visual noise values similar. Resolution
good at ISO 100, but only satisfactory between
ISO 200 and 1600, and poor for higher values.
Average continuous shooting speed. Very fast
startup and negligible AF lag. Live view AF slow.Image quality:Just missed an ’excellent’ rating
under lab conditions. Very slight yellow/green
tint. Obvious color shift in our orange test
sticker. Very good central sharpness, good
overall sharpness at small apertures. Excellent
detail rendition but slight tendency to
underexposure. Slight banding on our line chart
and some moirés in the center of the Siemens
star, otherwise no obvious artifacts.
Well-compensated fringing. Virtually no noise at
ISO 100 and 200, increasing slightly at ISO 400,
edges nevertheless intact up to ISO 800, which
is the limit for 100% viewing. Obvious luminance
and color noise at ISO 1600, but detail still
acceptable. Loss of detail and texture above ISO
3200, significant luminance noise and loss of
texture at ISO 6400 and above.Outdoor images with very good color rendition,
sharpness and detail rendition. Very good
exposure. Noise characteristics like those
observed under test conditions. Chromatic
aberrations well compensated.Nikon D800
ISO 100 ISO 400 ISO 1600 ISO 6400