6 replies to this topic

[guyharrisonphoto]

Is anyone shooting the D800E? What has been your experience with artifacts/moire in subjects like fine patterns in sea fans or fish scales? How about video quality? Would especially like to hear from people who have shot it in comparison to the D800 underwater.

Thanks, Guy

[Udo van Dongen]

Hi Guy,
I have them both and to be honest, i think the differences between both camera are exaggerated. I never experienced negative effects like moire in the D800E nor extra sharpness when shooting macro. From what i have seen, differences are only visible with fast (f/1.4), high quality lenses when they're stopped down to f/4.0-5.6. As far as i am aware most photographers use none of these lenses under water. For video i can't tell you, but i'd expect the same.

Udo

P.S.: i have the D800E because an online shop sold it to me like it was the D800 (they weren't aware of the difference...)

[loftus]

I agree with Udo, I have both, and the differences are minimal and only visible at optimal apertures say from f4 -f8, and then only at high magnification. If your goal is large prints with images shot in this range, then it may be worth it to go with the 800E. Macro generally will not show the difference as small aperture diffraction will obscure the differences. Underwater other issues will also minimize the differences. On the other hand the moire differences are minimal as well, so it's questionable whether Nikon even needs to make an 800.

Edited by loftus, 27 September 2012 - 06:36 AM.

[Kogia]

I've got only the D800E, and have been using it mostly underwater, and only for still photos. I have not noticed any moire problems to date, and will probably buy another D800E for my next camera. You can read my notes and see photo samples at

http://www.reefphoto.com/kb.php?id=44

[PeteAtkinson]

Nice article Doug. Will you try the 16-35? I have one on order - Alex M's empressive corner sharpness persuaded me to switch from DX. I'll do some pool tests!

[John Bantin]

I posted this feature by Doug, on to a FaceBook page for a group of users that keep berating me for not using a mirrorless camera!

[adamhanlon]

With due respect to Doug's images, I am pretty certain that the D800 could have captured them too. If you plan to shoot in carefully controlled underwater conditions, I can see an argument for the "E" version, but as Loftus has said, in the "wild", the loss of resolution as we shoot through water negates its advantages. The resolution advantage that the D800 offers (which can also be a disadvantage) is the key to capturing the details that Doug has done, not the anti-aliasing filter or lack of it.

That said, there does not seem to be a downside (beyond price) in the D800E. The moire problems don't seem to be an issue underwater either.

Separately, I am now shooting a 16-35 and can confirm that it is very sharp even at the corners, but only when used with a large dome. It does not look good with an 8" dome. Using the correct set up with extensions is also critical.

I have been shooting video with the D800 and it looks very good. I plan to post about this soon, so please stay tuned. I am also planning a D800 housing review, with side-by-side tests of current D800 housings which will be published here on Wetpixel in March-please stay tuned!

Adam