Camera Labs

On another note when processing D800 RAWs with Capture NX2 regarding noise-reduction (NR): CNX2 applies the same settings as the camera does and that is non-zero even at base-ISO of 100!
At ISO 100 the camera and CNX2 at standard-settings apply a NR of 1 and sharpening of 5. If you switch this off you get a visible gain in sharpness. See the following image (a 100% crop):


D800 NR at ISO 100 by Thomas, on Flickr

Left is with standard setting, right with NR=OFF.
So you need not get the D800E, just switch off NR when processing your images and save 300$!

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Here's a real-life example of what the standard noise-reduction of the D800 at base-ISO can do (left. NT=standard, right: NR=OFF):


D800 NR at ISO 100 (2) by Thomas, on Flickr

I almost didn't believe it: The exact same image (as jpg) suddenly has 7,5MB instead of the 6,4MB it had before (with standard NR). That amounts to 1MB (or 17%) more information in the image simply by switching off NR!
---
Btw.: Here's an article in the Mail-Online that reports about the cliff-slide and has some nice aerial photos.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

And another sample image, this time shot with the Nikon AF-S 14-24/2.8G:


Tower Bridge 50648 by Thomas, on Flickr

Development in CNX2 with standard-settings apart from NR=OFF and vignette-control=OFF. +0.2EV added in post-processing, otherwise the image is as shot. Seems like the 14-24mm can pull it off on the D800 body.
Full-res version available as usual (click through the image).

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Great bunch of discoveries Thomas. Insight on the file handling time in Lightroom also very interesting. Thank you for sharing and keep the posts coming.

_________________
Photo Taker for ~30 years.
Books: The Art of Photography- Barnbaum, Photographically Speaking- duChemin.
@Clifford Rourke on Twitter, Clifford Rourke on Google Plus

How 2 the signature below?
In your profile signature, click on BBCode ( linked under options ) and read up!
___________________

Visit MrCliff on Flickr
___________________

Thank you, MrCliff!
I'll certainly be posting what I find out about the D800 as I think this is the greatest target body for anybody thinking about upgrading from Nikon's DX bodies (be it D7000 or D5100) for the next three to five years. I personally will not buy a new body for more Megapixels again as I can clearly see the best Nikon lenses reaching some performance plateau on this body.
So the only real issue to make me reconsider the acquisition of another Nikon FX body after the D800 for a long time would be the addition of sensor-based image stabilization. But that doesn't seem to happen in the foreseeable future - unfortunately...

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Here's the complete table of all settings that the D800 uses for noise-reduction:


D800-NR by Thomas, on Flickr

Hope that helps to avaoid the dreaded blur that even an intensity as low as 1 can induce!
Note: RAW-shooters are always at liberty to change NR settings. But sometimes it#s easier to set it right from the beginning and not worry about it.

Btw.: There's an excellent collection of similar tables for the D4, D3, D3s, D3x over here.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Here's another one, this time shot with the micro-Nikkor AF-S 105/2.8G VR at 1/125 sec (handheld), f8.0, as I slowly rotate through some lenses to evaluate their potential on the D800. The fine hairs of the felt make for a good test-case:


Felt Dress 51157 by Thomas, on Flickr

As usual the full-res image can be accessed by clicking through the image above. Seems like the lens passes the D800-test
A note on processing: This was an ISO 200 shot and I felt that it needed some +1EV exposure compensation. Development in CaptureNX2 was completely standard apart from noise-reduction=OFF and vignette control=OFF.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

And here's a little landscaping, near and far. As usual you can reach full-res images by clicking through them.

Cheddar Gorge:

AF-S 24-70/2.8G, @24/8.0, 1/60 sec, ISO 100

Drystone Wall:

AF-S 24-70/2.8G, @70/8.0, 1/125 sec, ISO 100

Both images are practically straight out of the camera. I used Standard setting with NR=OFF and vignette-control=OFF, no exposure comp, WB=Auto1.
Enjoy.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Enjoying your assessment Thomas.
Got to say, i'm slightly surprised how much difference the NR actually makes! Also glad the 105 macro, passes the test.

_________________

Nikon D700 & D7100 bodies + Nikkor 300mm F2.8 VR11, 1.7TC, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

From what I've seen so far, the 50/1.4G should also perform very satisfactorily.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Enjoying the photos from the Cliffs of Dover to Bristol museums to the Cheddar Gorge and, the tech too!
The drystone wall is a wonderful subject and, composition. Is it recent construction or thousands of years old?
Seems the D800 may find work as a recording - cataloging - archiving instrument.

_________________
Photo Taker for ~30 years.
Books: The Art of Photography- Barnbaum, Photographically Speaking- duChemin.
@Clifford Rourke on Twitter, Clifford Rourke on Google Plus

How 2 the signature below?
In your profile signature, click on BBCode ( linked under options ) and read up!
___________________

Visit MrCliff on Flickr
___________________

Very interesting. A quick search online shows that the D7000 may perform in the same way. I must use mine for a while with NR switched off.

Well, drystone walls always look ancient to me. But some are even built (or rebuilt) today!

Here's something more contrasty from me: The Canterbury Cathedral Gate in the afternoon sun:



This is developed in LR4 with sharpening values of 70/0.5/36/10 and +0.5EV exposure comp. Clicking through the image gives you access to the full 36MP version.
And anybody interested in handling and developing the original RAW/NEF file, can find four of my posted images here.
These files are for personal evaluation only and cannot be used in another publication or website without my permission. But feel free to post your own processing results from these files here at Camera Labs.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Sounds like fun to have a play with those files. Downloaded them and found... none of my serious software supports it yet! Guess I'll have to wait a little longer.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Really enjoying your discoveries Thomas, especially so since I'll be publishing some D800 RAW conversions in the near future...