D800 official announcement in 3 ... 2 ...

[tasadam]

Steffen, thank you very much for the detailed, informative post above.

I was looking at the features of the D800 and D800E, and note that both optical filters have "layers of antireflective coating". I wonder how cleaning the sensors with Eclipse fluid and Pec Pads will affect that?
May he or she with the deepest pockets and the biggest dust bunnies be the first to let us know...

[ATJ]

You pay for it, then they tell you how long you have to wait before you can get it...

I followed your link and can't see where they say you pay for it up front.

[tasadam]

I followed your link and can't see where they say you pay for it up front.

Firstly, the only way to order, is to go through the checkout stage.
Secondly, as it says on the linked page, "If your payment method required further verification, we will also advise you at this point."
Indicates to me that they will take the money prior to ordering it from overseas.
Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not going to register on their site to find out.

EDIT
But I have been doing some further reading at their terms and conditions of purchase page. (Use my link as the one on their site is currently dead, I emailed them).
See "Delivery" - ownership of our product has passed to you
See "Title" - amounts owing by you to us have been paid for in full
So, according to those terms, as soon as you have paid for it, you own it, and therefore they have deemed to have delivered it according to their terms.
Further, if you read "Risk", once you pay for it, they have deemed to have delivered it, and as such the product is at your risk of loss or damage and you are responsible for its safe custody.
Sounds odd. I emailed them about that too.

[tasadam]

Just got an email response.

Your card is charged upon the time your order is placed
Regards
Sam Bala
Australian General Manager

I'll pass. I was going to anyway. Think I'll wait until after stock is available.
Did find one on eBay though, from Italy... eBay item 330683799083 and "4 available".

[photohiker]

Camerapro: http://camerapro.net.au/nikon-d800-body ... -4933.html

$3425.00 and $3695 for the D800E. $300 deposit required, $19 Shipping. If you change your mind, you can apply your deposit to something else.

Seems fair. You could always wait until there is stock available

Michael

[tommyg]

Did find one on eBay though, from Italy... eBay item 330683799083 and "4 available".

wow they have them before even Nikon!

[ATJ]

Firstly, the only way to order, is to go through the checkout stage.
Secondly, as it says on the linked page, "If your payment method required further verification, we will also advise you at this point."

Which is pretty much standard for every online order with any company I have ever dealt with. Of course they are going to check your payment method but that doesn't mean they will charge at the time of order.

Just got an email response.

Your card is charged upon the time your order is placed
Regards
Sam Bala
Australian General Manager.

That must be specific to the D800. I have ordered from D&D multiple times and was only charged when they shipped.

[gstark]

FWIW, Nikon are major sponsors of this year's Tropfest. In conjunction with that, there's an event being held this Saturday, and I've been promised a play with some new toys.

Hopefully I'll be able to give some impressions, and maybe even some image samples.

[gstark]

And Chris,

This one's for you.

[ATJ]

And Chris,

This one's for you.

That's more likely to be the D300 follow-on... D400?

[chrisk]

I agree. I'd imagine that if there is only 1 more dslr announcement it will be the d400, high end dx variant.

[Alpha_7]

Nikon rumours suggests Nikon will announce 3 more models of DSLR before the end of the year. That seems like a lot, but it does increase the chance you'll get you're D400 (or something similar).

[gstark]

Nikon rumours suggests Nikon will announce 3 more models of DSLR before the end of the year. That seems like a lot, but it does increase the chance you'll get you're D400 (or something similar).

No. Chris wants a d8000000000s.

[Raskill]

They will need to announce a D4s, and perhaps, something like a D800s, as the D800(e) is a white elephant for sports shooters. Interesting times ahead.....

[chrisk]

Nikon rumours suggests Nikon will announce 3 more models of DSLR before the end of the year. That seems like a lot, but it does increase the chance you'll get you're D400 (or something similar).

No. Chris wants a d8000000000s.

i prefer a d80000000ck so its made personally for me.

[chrisk]

Nikon NPS roadshow gear stolen worth £100k, including D4, D800
By [NR] ADMIN | Published: FEBRUARY 15, 2012

The van transporting the gear for the Dublin NPS roadshow was stolen on Saturday night near The Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. The van contained Nikon equipment valued at £100,000 ($156,000) including the brand new D4 and D800 demo cameras.

Read more on NikonRumors.com: http://nikonrumors.com/2012/02/15/nikon ... z1mXeGeKnA

[tasadam]

203336 AFS200-400/4G VRII ED
200382 AFS300/4D IF
200661 AFS300/2.8G ED VR2
200606 AFS200/2G VR II
205164 AFS 600/4G VR ED
200169 400MM F2.8G AF-S VR IF-ED NIKKOR BLACK
200733 500MM F4G AF-S VR IF-ED NIKKOR BLACK


Ouch!

[gstark]

They will need to announce a D4s, and perhaps, something like a D800s, as the D800(e) is a white elephant for sports shooters. Interesting times ahead.....

Neither of the D800 variants are intended for sports shooters. Please go to D4; do not pass Go.

Nikon's goal here is the London Olympics, and I expect that will be their priority in terms of sports shooters. Anyone who's not at the Olympics might need to move to the back of the bus.

[Raskill]

Yeah, the D4s will be the new sports shooters camera. I just find it odd that the 'replacement' for the D700, precludes such a large section of the market. Oh well, time to start saving!!!

[gstark]

The D700 has not been replaced though.

[radar]

Yeah, the D4s will be the new sports shooters camera. I just find it odd that the 'replacement' for the D700, precludes such a large section of the market. Oh well, time to start saving!!!

For now, the D700 will continue to be sold alongside the D800 and D4, so there still is an option for those that want the battery grip D700 combo and high fps and low light. I'm certainly not selling my combo in a hurry but I will be getting a D800E sooner rather then later.

As others have speculated, the D700 replacement/mini-D4 will probably be seen in a year's time, that's my feeling as well.

[Raskill]

The D700 has not been replaced though.

Replacement might be the wrong word, more a successor. Giving it the name of D800 suggests from a marketing viewpoint that it is a natural 'successor' to the D700. I.E. D1, D2, D3, D4 or D100, D200, D300....

Besides, I want a new body or two!!!!!!!

[tasadam]

If I'm getting a D800, I'm not waiting for a year to get 36Mp with more features.
Once they're moving, I reckon I'll be getting.

Problem is whether or not to go for the E. I think I will, as if there's something to shoot that will likely moire (eg fabric), I can use the D700 for that. Sharpest possible images at 36Mp appeals to me.
(Still looking at options like this though.)

[gstark]

Giving it the name of D800 suggests from a marketing viewpoint that it is a natural 'successor' to the D700. I.E. D1, D2, D3, D4 or D100, D200, D300....

No. Certainly not in Nikon naming conventions. The D80 didn't replace the D70, and the D70 predated the D60 by quite some time.

The D100 had been discontinued while the D70 was in production, and then they produced the D200. The D700 and D300 both remain in production alongside the D800 variants.

Besides, I want a new body or two!!!!!!!

That's a different question, altogether.

[sirhc55]

The D700 has not been replaced though.

Replacement might be the wrong word, more a successor. Giving it the name of D800 suggests from a marketing viewpoint that it is a natural 'successor' to the D700. I.E. D1, D2, D3, D4 or D100, D200, D300....

Besides, I want a new body or two!!!!!!!

Remove the words replacement and successor and insert the words progressive development.

All the of the semi-pro and pro cameras from Nikon have a progressive numbering system as you have illustrated in your post.

Gary - please note I said semi and pro cameras which IMHO does not include the D70 et al

[ATJ]

No. Certainly not in Nikon naming conventions. The D80 didn't replace the D70, and the D70 predated the D60 by quite some time.

And the D7000 was the replacement for the D90.

[chrisk]

i think theres a bit of semantics going on here to be honest. the d70-d70s-d80-d90-d7000 and the d40-d40x-d60-d3000-d3100 and the d200-d300-d300s were all relatively logical progressions of the prior models in some way. i think it would have been perfectly logical to assume the d800 would be a logical successor, (evolution), of the d700. its not, we get that. all it means now is the d700 is still current and it will be interesting to see if they do indeed redirect the numbering or they use the d800s as the nomenclature. i'm banking on d800s.

[Aussie Dave]

It would be interesting to know how/why Nikon began naming their models in the way they did.

I get that less 0's in the model number the more pro the body is (and the more 0's in the price...LOL)
I can see why D2 evolved to D3 and now up to D4.
I can see why D100 evolved to D200 then to D300
I can see why D70 went to D80 and then D90 (though I'm not sure why they started at 70)
Then they threw in the D40 and D60 (which in the scheme of things were down the heirachy from the D90), which then moved onto D3000, D3100, D5000 and D5100

Now the confusion of D800 (not the replacement of the D700)
The D7000 is the replacement of the D90, but with no room left in their naming convention they couldn't use D100 so instead they jump to D7000.

So at this point in time:
D3xxx series in entry level dSLR
D5xxx series in upper entry-level dSLR
D7xxx series is midrange dSLR
D3xx and D7xx series is prosumer dSLR DX/FX (so does D8xx fit in here, even though it's not the D7xx replacement ??)
Dx series is high-end pro DX/FX

Am I the only one confused by all of this (please don't say it's so...)...

Dave

[ATJ]

And is the D800 a whole new class? Perhaps the D700 successor could be D710.

The D7000 successor could be D7100.

[gstark]

i think theres a bit of semantics going on here

Only a bit of semantics?

Chris, please give credit where credit's due.

And that should be mostly to whomever should be blamed - oh, sorry, held responsible - for Nikon's camera naming processes.

At least the on/off switch doesn't change its location every time they announce a new model

[gstark]

And is the D800 a whole new class? Perhaps the D700 successor could be D710.

D700X and/or D700S

Or perhaps the D701.

The D7000 successor could be D7100.

Very likely.

[Raskill]

A few thoughts from Scott Kelby:

(1) The D800 was apparently created for a very specific type of photographer. There is no law that every camera introduced by a camera company has to be designed to fit your personal needs. If you read that it has 36.3 megapixels and you're like "36.3 megapixels is overkill!!!" then obviously this camera isn't for you, but that doesn't mean there aren't photographers out there who read that spec and cheered! (Me being on of them). It looks like this was designed for commercial photographers, and wedding and landscape shooters that want to be using a camera with Medium-Format type resolution without the medium-format price. If that's not you, that's OK. Nikon makes other camera models for you.

(2) The D800 doesn't appear to be designed for sports or action photographers (like the D700 was). In fact, it looks like the D800 is an entirely different camera intended for an entirely different market, which is why it only shoots 4/fps (which for a camera with that high a resolution is actually very fast. If you've ever shot a medium-format camera, this is blazing!!!).

(3) The D700 was kind of a stripped down version of the D3, but the D800 doesn't seem to be a stripped down D4 on any level (even though the name D800 alone would make us think otherwise). I wish Nikon had given it a different name just to make a more obvious break with the D700 line, and I really hope Nikon does introduce a stripped down version of the D4, because I always thought the D700 had an important place in their product line that a lot of people really benefitted from (I have a D700 myself).

Pulled from his Google+ site.

[gstark]

Scott's observations are pretty well spot on.

I've just had the opportunity to play with the D800e and the D4, and they're both very impressive, but very different, cameras.

They are both smooth as silk in operation, and the 800 is perhaps a little smoother than the D4, at least in single frame mode.

Not that I tried the D4 in single frame mode. Just hold down the shutter release, and let her sing. and sing she does. Who remembers what a super 8 movie camera sounds like? it's not that different.

I'm not permitted to put any cards into any of the bodies here, so I'm unable to post any images. However, in the NSWAG, looking out east towards the 'Loo, and shooting some of the high rises there. The detail available on the rear screen, from images shot from inside, through the glass, was pretty impressive.

I have the respective sales brochures for the two bodies, as well as the latest one for the lenses. BTW, who knew that there was a new version of the 24-120?

[radar]

 BTW, who knew that there was a new version of the 24-120?

When was this announced? I assume you aren't referring to the current AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR as that has been around now for a while.

André

[radar]

Nikon USA have added some info on the difference between the D800 and D800E.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/ ... /D800.html

[tasadam]

How come that site has the D3x listed at $2000 more than the D4?

[gstark]

 BTW, who knew that there was a new version of the 24-120?

When was this announced? I assume you aren't referring to the current AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR as that has been around now for a while.

André

I'm told it was released about a year ago. If you look at the official studio imagery for the D800e ... the first thing I noticed was that it wearing a 24-120, and that prompted my questions of the Nikon people this morning.

[radar]

I'm told it was released about a year ago. If you look at the official studio imagery for the D800e ... the first thing I noticed was that it wearing a 24-120, and that prompted my questions of the Nikon people this morning.

I've got that one in my bag and am very happy with it.

[radar]

Adam,

How come that site has the D3x listed at $2000 more than the D4?

The D3x has always been more expensive then the D3s/D4. As far as I know, the D3x is still for sale. With the D800 now released, I suspect the D3x sales would dry up. Unless you want a D3x that is the same form factor as the D3s, same battery, etc, not much reason to pay the premium. But I'm sure to some people, that may make a difference.

[the foto fanatic]

Plenty of D700s being sold on eBay. Prices between $1750 and $2000.

Are you a buyer or a seller?

[aim54x]

Just going back to the naming convention....may I confuse the matter further?

-D* = pro body (D1, D2, D3, D4)
-D*** = semi pro (D100, D200, D300/D700, D800)
-D**/D**** = varying levels of consumer (D40, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100, D70, D80, D90, D7000)

However there is a higher level to the convention.....GENERATION
1st (odd) Generation
-D1, D100, D70, D50 (and their variants)

2nd (even) Generation
-D2, D200, D80, D40/D60 (and their variants)

3rd (odd) Generation
-D3, D300, D700, D90/D7000, D5000/D5100, D3000/D3100 (and their variants)

4th (even) Generation
-D4, D800.......(D400?), (D8000?), (D6000?), (D4000?)

One could argue that the D7000/D5100 are more like Gen 3.5 but in essence they are Gen 3 cameras with Expeed 2 processors, whereas the D4/D800 have the new Expeed 3 processors.

This naming convention is something that read from Thom Hogan's site years ago and made sense to me. Oh well I am firmly stuck in the 2nd/3rd generation.

[chrisk]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/03/20 ... st-samples
to my eyes, the d800 is losing around a half stop to the d700 in outright noise performance.

[the foto fanatic]

At first glance that appears to be so.

However I thought about it:
the D800 files are so much bigger (14MB compared with 5.2MB) that the field of view in the dpreview window is greatly reduced and the image is magnified. Compare the area of view in the moveable window.

I think this is the cause of the apparent increase in noise.

[gstark]

I think it's sad that the thread seems to be awash with trolls.

Here we are, living in a time when we have so many truly great cameras to live and work with, and yet ...

[chrisk]

It's dpreview. What did you expect ? lol

[gstark]

Not a whole lot.

But I am expecting you to wander in to a store in the next day or three, armed with a CF card, and to shoot some images on some product examples, so that you can see, for yourself, how good or bad it really is.

[radar]

But I am expecting you to wander in to a store in the next day or three, armed with a CF card, and to shoot some images on some product examples, so that you can see, for yourself, how good or bad it really is.

Correct, D800's are meant to be around sometime this week, so will be taking a card in to check out the D800 if I can find one in stock somewhere.

[gstark]

But I am expecting you to wander in to a store in the next day or three, armed with a CF card, and to shoot some images on some product examples, so that you can see, for yourself, how good or bad it really is.

Correct, D800's are meant to be around sometime this week, so will be taking a card in to check out the D800 if I can find one in stock somewhere.

The official word is tomorrow. That's directly from Nikon's PR, who also told me that there's no RRP.

May be a good day to make a few phone calls.

[chrisk]

At first glance that appears to be so.

However I thought about it:
the D800 files are so much bigger (14MB compared with 5.2MB) that the field of view in the dpreview window is greatly reduced and the image is magnified. Compare the area of view in the moveable window.

I think this is the cause of the apparent increase in noise.

yes i accept that. but my point is that this increase in resolution has the offset effect of increasing the noise. looking at the mkiii samples going round, i think canon may have nailed it this time around just like the d700 nailed it 3 years ago. just MO.

dxomark have the d4 tested now:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Camera ... ings/(type)/usecase_sports

it is a poofteeth down on the d3s for low light iso and nicely ahead in other respects, especially colour depth. so here's to hoping we get what i really wanted personally which is a d800 with the d4 sensor.

[gstark]

yes i accept that. but my point is that this increase in resolution has the offset effect of increasing the noise.

Perhaps not.

dxomark have the d4 tested now:
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Camera ... ings/(type)/usecase_sports

And the D800 as well. Here's CNet's discussion of the results ...