Re: Why I'm switching/upgrading to the Nikon D800 and why you shouldn't.
How do I put this nicely... ? ;-)
OK, I\'ll start by pointing out that I always enjoy seeing your new photographs here at FM. I think of you as one of the \"good guys\" around here.
That said, I\'m left wondering just a bit about the purpose of a post in which you imply that a particular camera, in this case the very nice Nikon D800, is something that might be needed by those (the photographic 1%?) who are in the \"upper echelons\" of photography, with the obvious implication that those who don\'t need such a camera (the 99%?) are at some sort of lower level photographically? You perhaps didn\'t mean that the way it sounds, but it is difficult to take it any other way.
I might also point out that the purpose of this board is specifically to focus on photographs and photography and not to focus on equipment. There is a very fine and very active equipment forum (a couple you could use, actually) here at FM where this post might have been very appropriate, or in which you could easily have added it to several existing threads..
If you really plan to regularly print beyond 40 x 60 (or at 40 x 60 in my view - I feel that, compared to high quality MF digital and LF film, consistently excellent quality beyond about 24\" x 36\" is tough with a DSLR) there are significant other issues with the full frame DSLR format besides photo site density that you must deal with... and the real answer is to move on to MF digital in almost all cases. You can produce quite decent print quality from full-frame DSLR originals, but at the sizes you mention the difference between this format and MF digital is not insignificant. Neither the D800 or some future Canon DSLR or any other FF DSLR with the same number of photo sites is going to get you to that place.
Speaking of \"some future Canon DSLR,\" it is essentially certain that a high MP Canon camera will be introduced in a relatively short period of time. It is also almost certain that it will essentially (at least) equal the resolution of the fine D800. There are a ton of reasons why any other expectation would be the unlikely one. (Both the marketing reasons and the photographic reasons are compelling.) I would predict that within a year your \"need\" to switch to Nikon will seem a bit premature. We often hear from Brand A photographers who decide to \"jump ship\" when Brand B comes out with a produce that includes some feature not currently found on Brand A. But looked at in a time frame that is longer than months, such decisions more often turn out to be a matter of \"jumping the gun\" instead as the back and forth between Brands A and B plays out.
It is also well worth doing the calculation to see just how much larger you\'ll print at the same ppi resolution with the 36MP original. You may be surprised at the relatively modest increase.
I\'m not dissing the D800 or Nikon at all. I\'m absolutely convinced that Nikon is a fine company that makes absolutely top-notch gear and that the D800 is a wonderful camera. If I were a Nikon shooter I would almost certainly be getting one.
I apologize for the relatively direct tone of this message, but I think that it calls for some very direct and honest dialog about a bunch of issues.
Take care,
Dan
aFeinberg wrote:
I posted this on a couple of social networking sites but thought I\'d start a convo here...b/c I <3 you all
Why I\'m switching/upgrading to the Nikon D800 and why you shouldn\'t.
One of the most asked questions I get when in my Galleries or on the street is what kind of gear I use. People are always curious what tools are utilized to create images and I completely understand. I\'ve even been guilty of a few of those types of questions myself. However, for most people it\'s akin to asking a chef what type of pots and pans they use to cook the delicious food you just ate. It doesn\'t matter. And that is the true point to this post.
Gear is a tool. And we all need the equipment to be able to capture images but what gear is right for each person? Usually the answer is entry level with TOP lenses. Why? Sensors these days are incredible….truly. All entry level dSLRs are capable of producing great images that can be printed LARGE (up to 40x60 with proper technique!). The real difference comes down to the lenses that are used as the more expensive \'pro\' glass will result in much sharper images and happier photographers.
So then why if I have been able to print 40x60 from my 16mp 1Ds2 (and 21mp 1ds3), do I take the leap and not only buy a NEW camera…which I\'ve never done but completely switch brands? Good question.
In short I, and a handful of other photos are in the upper echelon of what we produce images for. By no means do I insinuate that lots of other photogs are not producing incredible imagery for their clients…they absolutely are, however what our goals are with our images tend to be slightly different. A good friend of mine and incredible wedding photographer, Preston Palmer, was completely stoked that the new 5d3 is only 22mp. As a wedding photog that\'s a great amount of detail. However a handful of us on the landscape side felt completely abandoned by Canon. 22mp is great…but now we have the 36mp D800. For those who\'s goal is LARGE (>60\") fine art prints there only seems to be one option (outside of a very expensive medium format with lower high iso performance). I always tell people start with your basic or prosumer dSLR body and a GOOD lens and upgrade when you feel that the gear you have is limiting your creativity in some way (not your knowledge of how to use the gear).
So what am I getting at? 36mp is WAAAAAY too much for, I\'m going to guess, 99% of photogs. There is no reason for that much resolution for what MOST people are shooting or producing for. For those of you that want to print a 90\"+ pano cropped from a single frame…then 36mp is where you want to be. If you want to produce a 60\" pano cropped from a single frame then stick with your 16 or 21/22mp even!
I\'m curious to hear the discourse on this issue and believe me, switching brands was the last thing I wanted to do. However I\'m excited to see what new possibilities I will be able to explore, even if it takes a few months and some headaches to make the dark side transition :P.
Thanks all and happy shooting!!!
aF
Apr 09, 2012 at 08:47 PM
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