Manual: This camera is a royal PITA to manually focus. Think of it
this way: the same great detail the camera delivers in output
requires the same degree of technique going in, i.e. focusing. It is a
bear to focus manually because you can’t see well enough in the
LCD screen. Perhaps live view would help and in the studio,
tethered to a laptop would probably be wonderful. However, in the
field, in standard conditions, trying for pinpoint focus is going to
require a learning curve on all our parts. Although totally
understandable, manual focusing for a single shot is my least
favorite feature of the Nikon D800E, even though I expected it.
Unexpected
And there is another effect I am experiencing with the Nikon D800E
that is harder to put my finger on. It has to do with ‘process’. I am
so used to the very tedious process of focus stacking that I almost
feel guilty just taking one photo and moving on. I am all about
process for working with the camera meditatively, getting my mind
right. With a single shot, I have hardly begun letting the mind rest.
I know that I will adapt to whatever adjusted process is required, so
I am not really worried. It does give me more pause to consider
composition, color, and perhaps most important the whole idea of
photos as impressionistic. With so much tedious technique perhaps
removed or at least limited, I seem to be increasingly interested in
photography impressions, so watch out. I might be changing...
again.
My guess is the D800E will be in short supply because of its
qualities, unless Nikon decides to cut it some more slack on the
production line.
I have posted many photos using the D800E in recent weeks. See
the Macro Forum for examples.
Photo: The photo shown here is a single-shot photo taken with the
D800E and the Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR lens, with ISO 400,
f/11, and 1/25th of a second, taken in some wind. It is not an
inspired photo, but just an obligatory sample to show how the
D800E can take a reasonable one-shot photo with some depth of
field. Yes, If there were not wind, I could focus stack this more