Thoughts on the Nikon D800

Hey guys,

So this post will just be solely my thoughts on the Nikon D800. What can I say that can't be found all over the internet? Like how the D700 is a smaller D3, the D800 is like a smaller D4, except with a different sensor. But that's just the surface, I expect there's more under the hood then I know or would actually need to know.

Having watched the short video titled "Joyride" below.



Its pretty good. The D800 seems like a good performer. Other than the video, the specs state that natively the camera can shoot from ISO 100 if I'm not wrong, up to ISO 6400, expanded ISO 50 to ISO 25,600. Very impressive. So I thought to myself "hey, 36 megapixels, won't there be a lot of noise? The D3x was rate ISO 100-1600 in native mode and expanded from ISO 50-6400, what gives?

I just saw the noise samples for the D3x at ISO 6400 on DPReview in comparison with the D3. I honestly shoot at ISO 6400 once, most of the time high ISO, I shoot at 1600 and max 3200. The D3x isn't good compared to the D3 at ISO 6400, but its acceptable to me, and the ISO 6400 for the sample D800 image looks better than the ISO 3200 sample image from the D800 but its in different lighting condition so I can't really judge, but from the pictures I saw, and how I use (ISO from 100-3200), the D800 should be good enough for me. D3 used for weddings, events, sports while the D800 used in studio (for whatever cases it is). I don't shoot landscapes though I'd probably will after I learn to drive and have money to travel.

The file size? Huge! I'm was talking to an old friend of mine who studied business and she knows nothing about cameras, so I simplified for her. She told me that I should get the D800 for the video mode since these days, as I explained to her, photographers are expected to do double duty as a videographer though I'm unsure if I'll ever go into videography professionally, but I guess she's right, save up a bit more and get the video, in addition, higher resolution which will be useful when I go back to work at my old job full time.



Credits to Ken Rockwell.com

I think the D800 looks pretty good both on paper and in its performance so far. I'll look forward to getting mine though it'll take probably a year or 2 to get mine since I got to build up my system and lighting setup first. The D800 paired with the D3 suits what I shoot nicely. Your mileage may vary.

Before I forgot, apparently there's a D800E, I haven't seen pictures from it so I can't really comment too much, but I don't want to have to deal with the images taken with a camera without a Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) though the images supposedly are sharper. But that's just me, I don't know much about fixing images with false colours and moire.





Like I said, I'll personally get it in a couple of years time. It suits me even if new models come out, like how the D4 is better than the D3 but the D3 suits me just nice. Sure the files will be big, but now we have 3TB hard drives, won't be soon before long that we see even bigger ones. I think this is a great camera. And the video would be a great bonus, and I know how to shoot videos, so the video part isn't a hard learning experience for me. Have a good day everyone!

Some updates

Hey guys!


So recently it has been quiet as I haven't got much things going on. Anyway! Recently some stuff came as well as yesterday. So it'll be a short entry with just some updates on what I got


My stuff from USA a few weeks back



My Under Armour Heatgear socks! Those who are thinking of buying this to wear with combat boots, please don't, it is comfortable and thick, but its extremely long for XL, its like soccer socks,so do think twice! I'd probably buy other socks that are shorter



My pens and belt, still in their packaging


The belt is 54" and its kinda long even for me, so I'd probably get a 50" next time. The pens are great despite being ballpoint!



Canon Platinum Pro a3+ photo paper. Big and heavy, can't print without my trimmer, will print when I have a good picture




My package from Hong Kong which took 3 weeeks! Nuts!



The cheap 3rd party Nikon strap, it feels good except where the webbing is. Its thin, and hard to tie it, I'll never buy 3rd party straps again, I'll just pay more for the original (I don't use the ones given in the box because it has the name of the camera)



Magic Milk straws from Vat19! Splitting them with my sister's friend! So excited to try it!




Stickr Frames, really interesting and cool especially when opened



I didn't expect it to be like a book with the stickers on the page, I thought it'll be like, hanging inside or something.



That's pretty much for my stuff. I just got a letter from MOE that I'm eligible to apply for bursary! Weird thing is, its been almost a year since I graduated and they've only sent me now. But whatever, its good cause of the congratulatory "cert" inside, saying that I'm in the top 25% of my course/stream, I showed good academic performance and conduct. I'm really proud of this cause I felt I earned it!

Nikon D800 is out and I guess after deliberating and talking with an old friend of mine who studied business, I'm getting the D800. Despite the huge file size and the need for more hard disks. The video may be needed in the future. I guess I'll shoot less spams and more quality images with it then. Besides, hard drives are now at 3TB, won't be soon before long that they have even bigger ones! I shall post my thoughts on the D800 this weekend after I look around at the specs, sample images and watch the videos. D800 for studio and landscape (whatever landscape I do, when I go overseas especially) and D3 for events, weddings and others. Both can do good in low light, but D3 for the smaller size unless I absolutely need the resolution.

That's all for now! I can't wait to get my Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VRII! Its coming next month! Will do my own update when I get it!

My thoughts on the Nikon F5 (My own review)

Hey guys!

This post will be basically my own review on the Nikon F5. I know I'm like how many years late, but there are still people that shoot with film, no one I know shoots with it commercially, but I know of a few who shoot for fun, hobby, leisure, whatever other terms there are. This is my own review on the Nikon F5, its not going to be 100% accurate, but I'll try to make it as accurate as I can.

What I write is mainly my thoughts on the design of the camera as well as how I feel about it. For specs, can check out Ken Rockwell. I'm not a master of using Nikon, nor have I used Nikon film cameras, the F5 is my first Nikon film camera.


Front





Top









Left




Right




Back







Ergronomics



Compatibility
So far I've only been able to confirm that it works with AFD lenses, AFs G lenses and VR. It doesn't work with flashes starting from SB900 unfortunately. I haven't really had the chance to do flash photography with the F5 though I will do it when I get the chance, be it manual or TTL auto. Will just have to use a light meter.

Works with quite a number of things I already have for my digital setup since the things I got are pretty much universal, like my trusty Metz 45 CL-1.



My thoughts
My thoughts on the Nikon F5... Having used the film flagship from both Canon and Nikon, I'll have to say that while I enjoy the automation and the comfortable grip of the Canon EOS 1n, I prefer the overall look, feel on the Nikon F5.

While both feel solid, its like, the Canon EOS 1n is like a bulletproof car whereas the Nikon F5 feels like a tank. The one thing I hate is the LCD on the Nikon F5 where you cannot view it head on but only at and angle, though it makes sense to view from an angle, it doesn't feel right to me but this is just a minor issue to me.

One thing I hate about Nikon cameras, DSLRs or SLRs, is that the vertical grip doesn't feel comfortable, but the plus point is, I'm forced to support the whole camera and lens on my left hand which is the right way anyway.



Conclusion
The Nikon F5 is a great camera to use! Despite its age, its still feels extremely solid. I can only imagine how tough it is when its brand new. The rubber is starting to come off mine and I've used gaffer tape to prevent it from getting worse. It feels great in the hand and isn't as heavy as DSLRs. Works with a majority of Nikon accessories today and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who is looking for a solid film SLR which will have supported for the next few years at least.



Sample pictures


Shot on Fujifilm Provia 100F (first roll)
Most pictures are gone due to the roll being exposed to light, my fault since the film couldn't rewind

Some updates

Hey guys!

Firstly, I just realized that this is my 301st post, yay? Ok... That was lame... Anyway! Chinese New Year just passed, and its the third day of the year of the water dragon, what a mouthful! But who cares! It sounds pretty cool!

So hmmm... Lets see... I got my light stands recently and I've gotta say, they're pretty light! When the box came, despite its size, I don't really see why it'll weigh 8.5kg but yea, what I can tell so far... Its tall! Its like a head higher than I am, its like me standing tiptoed with the flash balancing on my finger tip! Its pretty light even with all 3 in one hand and the foot opens up really wide! Place beside my 3rd party light stand, its quite a monster but I guess its quiet essential for balancing. I'll have to get sandbags when I put heavier strobes on it. One thing I hate is the locking and unlocking mechanism. Its a turning type, unlike my 3rd party one and my Manfrotto tripod which are like flip locks. I don't really know how to explain, but no big deal, not like I'll be constant changing the height of my light stands once they're up and ready. Though the only thing I really hate about my light stand is the way to lock and unlock, I'm pretty much satisfied with it overall.


The box height



What I see when I opened it



The 3 light stands together


I kinda question now why in the world would I need so many light stands but then... You'll never know how much light to use, I now wonder how many justin clamps to buy as well... Another problem for another day!


I still have yet to receive my 3rd party Nikon neck strap, kinda infuriated that its taking so long despite it coming from Hong Kong.


So last Saturday... I went to the Singapore Zoo with Rizal and Fizah. I mainly shot with the F5 and some with the D3. I didn't manage to use finish my film due to bad weather. And for the first time, I was caught in a situation where a public place had no electricity... Sort of... We were at the proboscis monkey exhibit when it started to rain, so we hang around. Lightning struck, lights went off and fans turned off. Fizah and I went to the toilet in the rain and well... My trusty poncho that I got when I enlisted tore from the neck and now there's a big V on it. But its a cheap product, can't blame it. My pants were wet no doubt, but feet are dry thanks to my boots and body was dry thanks to the poncho. So here are some photos from my D3 from that day.


The lovely couple, Rizal & Fizah, I wish them many more years of happiness!



Watching "The Rainforest Strikes Back" show or something like that, one of the guys playing drum



Some random tourist, but quite gung ho *salutes!*



A spider-monkey, never realize that the tail and limbs are nearly the same length with each other, I was telling Rizal if only we had the Ultimatrix, we'll show them Spidermonkey XD



An Orang Utan eating a coconut, I learnt something that day, apparently an adult Orang Utan has a strength equivalent to 5 grown man, kinda scary



2 Zoo keepers carrying a python, can't remember which species, this one should be albino



Our presenter carrying another python, can't remember what species, but its a small one, I think it was a Ball Python? The presenter doesn't look local, doesn't speak like one either



One of the zoo keepers with a type of macaque I believe



Fun and interesting day. The zoo had many people that day considering it was a long weekend! There was also rainbow when I got home to Redhill! Its been a long time since I last saw rainbows with my own eyes! Really beautiful. The one thing I love being a photographer is that I learn to enjoy everything I see =D Its not the best photo, but still, its a memory


Shot from the ground floor in case its gone by the time I go up to my level



Its still there so I shot from my level!



I got back my film as well. Cost me $19 to develop 2 rolls of slide film! Gonna stick with negatives now. One roll from the F5 which will be in my Nikon F5 review and the other roll was shot with Olympus OM2n last year when I went to Pulau Ubin last year. The F5 roll, quite a number were ruined due to the fact I had to open it to rewind the film. But I'll update as and whenever possible with more photos. That's pretty much all for now, will end with photos from my trip to Pulau Ubin shot with Fujifilm Provia 400x. Have a good day everyone!