fredmiranda.com
Login

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

  

Archive 2016 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography

  
 
Joe Marquez
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Recently, I picked up a used Nikon D810A for the purpose of photographing the Milky Way here in Hawaii. Another reason for the purchase was to complement my Nikon D810 at low light events including ballet. The D810 and D810A have the quietest of all Nikon DSLR shutters and this is a necessity in some of my shooting. The concern is Nikon’s marketing which states the D810A is designed exclusively for astrophotography because it has an IR filter which captures the red tones of H-alpa emission nebulae. The offsetting benefit is slightly improved handling of noise.

So what are my thoughts?

Over the past couple of months the D810A has been a very useful addition. The ability to give me about an extra half stop of low light capability with a relatively quiet DSLR shutter is a real benefit. Because I shoot performances with a variety of stage and theatrical lighting, the ever so slight reddish tinge has not been an issue and is easily handled in post. For critical skin tones and landscape photography I can always use my D810. Thus, for my photographic needs, the D810 and D810A are a nice day and night combo. Of course, your mileage may vary. A few photos below.

Nikon D810A, 14-24, f/3.2, 4 sec, iso 8000 Panorama - Mauna Kea and Kilauea Volcano
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s2/v1/p444155744-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 14-24, f/3.2, 4 sec, iso 8000 Milky Way over Clouds and Kilauea Volcano
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s12/v174/p344770611-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 24-70, f/6.3, 1/125, iso 800 Impromptu Fashion Shoot
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s11/v27/p40724862-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 24-70, f/2.8, 1/250, iso 1600 Belly Dance Performance
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s6/v135/p503374481-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 14-24, f/2.8, 1/250, iso 4000 Belly Dance Performance
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s11/v3/p214273281-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 14-24, f/4.5, 1/320, iso 4000 Belly Dance Performance
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s6/v141/p52378051-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 14-24, f/2.8, 1/320, iso 2500 Belly Dance Performance
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s4/v67/p414507541-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 105e, f/1.4, 1/250, iso 3200 Impromptu Fashion Shoot
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s2/v1/p293679766-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 105e, f/1.4, 1/250, iso 3200 Alternative Runway Shoot
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s9/v18/p267807111-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 105e, f/1.4, 1/250, iso 3200 Alternative Runway Shoot
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s6/v134/p265986375-6.jpg


Nikon D810A, 105e, f/1.4, 1/250, iso 3200 Impromptu Head Shot
http://www.thesmokingcamera.com/img/s1/v47/p191494274-6.jpg



Sep 20, 2016 at 01:42 AM
prosumerhacks
Online
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #2 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Wow! That's an amazing set of photos! 👍


Sep 20, 2016 at 03:58 AM
Charles Loy
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #3 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Yeah Joe, keep shooting that D800A, it's a smoking camera in your hands


Sep 20, 2016 at 06:17 AM
Mark_L
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


I was expecting velvia-like skintones! They look fine.


Sep 20, 2016 at 06:23 AM
rick_reno
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #5 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Beautiful shots Joe, really enjoy seeing your work.


Sep 20, 2016 at 07:53 AM
Chris Court
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Fantastic work.

C



Sep 20, 2016 at 10:47 AM
Joseph.
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Love it, man. Great work!


Sep 20, 2016 at 12:38 PM
Joe Marquez
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Thanks everyone. Glad you're enjoying a photo or two. The Nikon D810A is definitely a niche camera but somewhat of a secret weapon for low light usage. Of course I prefer a D5 - unfortunately shutter is just too loud for my purposes.


Sep 20, 2016 at 01:12 PM
Schlotkins
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #9 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Great shots - I love how the 810A gives the reddish glow to parts of the milky way.



Sep 20, 2016 at 02:08 PM
Charles Loy
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #10 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Hey Joe, regarding the last photo. Did you smooth her skin or is her face that perfect? Killer photo, and she has attitude.


Sep 20, 2016 at 03:56 PM
Joe Marquez
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #11 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Charles Loy wrote:
Hey Joe, regarding the last photo. Did you smooth her skin or is her face that perfect? Killer photo, and she has attitude.


Adjusted clarity to -10. She has flawless skin.



Sep 20, 2016 at 04:11 PM
falconbach
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Great photos!


Sep 20, 2016 at 05:33 PM
Lance B
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #13 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Some stunning photos, Joe!!

So, have you found subject matter where you wouldn't use the D810A? Any examples that you can show where it doesn't work so well?



Sep 20, 2016 at 05:41 PM
Joe Marquez
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #14 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Lance B wrote:
Some stunning photos, Joe!!

So, have you found subject matter where you wouldn't use the D810A? Any examples that you can show where it doesn't work so well?


That's a good question Lance. I've only used the D810A for astrophotography and lowish-light events such as the ones above including some ballet. In all cases I've not encountered a situation or subject matter where I've been unhappy with the results. Have not tried landscapes or daytime photoshoots - not because of the slight increase in red tones, but more because the D810A's base iso is 200 rather than 64. So for now I have no examples where it doesn't work well.



Sep 20, 2016 at 06:12 PM
Lance B
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #15 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Joe Marquez wrote:
That's a good question Lance. I've only used the D810A for astrophotography and lowish-light events such as the ones above including some ballet. In all cases I've not encountered a situation or subject matter where I've been unhappy with the results. Have not tried landscapes or daytime photoshoots - not because of the slight increase in red tones, but more because the D810A's base iso is 200 rather than 64. So for now I have no examples where it doesn't work well.


Ah, that explains it, the lowest ISO only ISO200. You can peruse the specs, but as there are so many to go through it is easy to miss something like lowest ISO being 200.

Anyway, those ballet shots are amazing!



Sep 20, 2016 at 07:29 PM
Daniel Bliss
Offline

Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Nice stuff. Is there sort of a standard setting you can use on the D810A for skin tones, or is it a case-by-case basis?


Sep 20, 2016 at 07:44 PM
Joe Marquez
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #17 · Nikon D810A Not Just For Astrophotography


Daniel Bliss wrote:
Nice stuff. Is there sort of a standard setting you can use on the D810A for skin tones, or is it a case-by-case basis?


Case-by-case basis for me.



Sep 21, 2016 at 11:21 AM





FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

    
 

Welcome back
Log in to your account