Nikon D800

NIKON D800

The Nikon D800 is a full-frame 36 Megapixel DSLR with Full HD video capabilities. Announced in February 2012, it arrives three and a half years after the D700, Nikon's first 'affordable' full-frame DSLR. Three and a half years is a long time in the digital camera industry and to describe the D800 merely as highly-anticipated feels like an injustice. This is a camera which many people have been waiting a very long time for and Nikon has pulled-out all the stops.

The D800 features a brand new 36 Megapixel full-frame FX-format sensor, which makes it the highest resolution camera outside of the medium format world. That's one third more than Nikon's previous flagship, the D3x, more than a third higher than Canon's EOS 5D Mark III, and a whopping three times more than the D700. I'll go into much more detail later, but anyone with concerns over noise should find it reassuring the D800 shares essentially the same pixel density as the D7000 which bodes well for quality and dynamic range.

The earlier D700 predated the video revolution on DSLRs, so it's not surprising to find the D800 making major upgrades in this respect - indeed the D800 shares almost exactly the same video specifications as the D4 which means you get 1080p and 720p at maximum frame rates of 30 and 60fps respectively, along with an external microphone input, headphone jack and uncompressed HDMI output. The D800 also inherits the 51-point AF system of the D4 along with its 91k metering sensor and 3.2in screen. The D800 is additionally available in a D800E version with a modified low pass filter for those who want manage their own moiré and potentially unlock the maximum detail from the sensor. There's loads to discuss and digest so in my review I'll explain the new features in detail and what impact they'll have in practice, while also comparing it closely to its arch rival, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.