First look: The Nikon D800 36-megapixel sensor DSLR

First look

If you are already wedged with Nikon’s hotly whispered D800 DSLR, then all we would say is ‘hold on guys, there’s a lot more to come.’ In spite of putting their best foot forward in keeping the upcoming titan well under wraps, it seems Nikon could not escape from the ‘gossip flies’ who are always honing their skills to serve across the latest tidbits. Coming to the point, the news now revolves around some of the recently leaked specifications of the highly anticipated 36 megapixel D800 DSLR from Nikon. Apparently slightly smaller and lighter than the company’s D700m model that weighs just over 2 pounds, the new camera will be making its debut with the unbelievable 36 megapixel sensor and an image resolution of 7360 x 4912 pixels.

Nikon D800

What’s new?

Although there’s a whole new bag of goodies for you, the Nikon D800 will definitely sweep any photography enthusiast off his feet through a massive 36 megapixel sensor capable of 7360 x 4912 resolution. The ISO range of 100 to 6,400 is another attractive aspect that might intrigue you, to notify, the stated range can however be pushed to 25,600. Featuring a sturdy yet stylish body, the incredibly promising photographic equipment will be equipping a larger display and amazing video quality than the D3s. If that’s not enough, you may also notice a new red button next to the shutter release – which we assume is intended for video recording, and a new switch towards the lower back. The latter however appears to be dedicated to switching between a still and video capture mode.

What’s been refreshed?

If you really want to place Nikon’s next pro DSLR across the comparison sheet, then it should nowhere throw a curve at you on realizing that the camera indeed comes with certain modifications. Somewhere similar to the D700, the new D800 has also been enclosed in a black chassis with sturdiness and a serious look. Amongst a few minor cosmetic changes that it comes with, there’s a new red button next to the shutter speed and a new switch on the lower back. Users may even find the latest camera slightly lighter and smaller than its companion Nikon D700 which has a body of more than 2 pounds. At the same time, the display of the camera looks considerably bigger.

Features walkthrough

While Nikon is yet to divulge details on their new muse’s specification, there are still some details for you to glance through. Out of which, the integrated 36 megapixel sensor with resolution of 7360 x 4912 highlights the most. Users can benefit from its 86K pixel split control and shutter durability of 200,000 cycles. There’s a 3-inches larger LCD monitor that enables one to indulge in automatic brightness adjustment and unprecedented picture sharpness.

In the body only, there will be 4 frame per second continuous shooting and about 6 frames per second in the DX mode (with the optional battery pack. Users will seemingly be allowed to record high definition videos in 1920 x 1080/30p and have 100 percent viewfinder coverage. Some other highlights include Expeed 3 processor, improved AF with face recognition, and high ISO range.

What’s good?

There’s a high possibility that photography aficionados may switch their preferences to Nikon due to the model’s 36 megapixel sensor and 51 points Auto-Focus point. The great features list also subsumes ISO range of 100 – 6400, ISO LO @ 50 and ISO HI-2 @ 25600, dual memory card slots, USB 3.0, and a larger display. The incredible picture quality and high definition video capability are sure two other most highly anticipated features.

What’s not so good?

Apparently, the device will not be featuring any built-in GPS. No significant change in the overall appearance is another aspect.

Industry buzz

Joe Pollicno from Engadget, shares:

Notably, Nikon is apparently stepping up its DSLR video chops with this cam as well, as it's said to be capable of filming 1080p HD video at 30 fps, while 720p grants you up to 60 fps. Of course, this type of primo kit won't come cheap - if it all proves true you can expect to slap down roughly $3,900 to make one yours, although, a release date is still anyone's guess.

The D800 DSLR from Nikon is expected to cost about 300,000 yen with an official word yet to be received on its availability.

Wrap up

Since Nikon D800 36MP DSLR has not opened its mouth yet, it may be a bit too early to comment on the device’s functionality standards. But whatever we could see, it definitely appears to be one of the most competitive DSLRs in the technology world. Hopefully, the next-gen model will indeed be revamping the user experience in a true sense.