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Previous versions of AlexDROP's message #10640508 « Nikon D800 + Zeiss ZF lenses - ur experience »

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Nikon D800 + Zeiss ZF lenses - ur experience

Hi alt fellows,
Could you share your real life experience with Nikon D800 and Zeiss ZF lenses (or other manual lenses)? Zeiss Z* lenses is the most crucial factor (in the bunch) to be taken into consideration that\'s why it\'s posted here.

- overall impression
- manual focusing features and difficulties (if any) and help of camera AF system
- viewfinder brightness and distracting factor of AFsquares and AF zone borders for making a good composition
- LV focusing convinience
- grip and ergonomics
- other non-obvious features or striking experience
N.B. RAW-shooting is considered. And wide open aperture shooting draws my attention more.

And it would be totally awesome if a reviewer also has an experience with Canon 5DII/III to compare these two FF systems for alt users with manual focus lenses.

And please no holy war - just your real life experience and facts.

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Here are answers.
Some time ago I had an opportunity to put my hands on Nikon D800 and as well as Canon 5D3 cameras at a local camera shop. I can�t judge IQ aspects but I have plenty to say about handling and operating these cameras. The next words reflect my personal opinion only, and please remember I�m a 5Dc user in past.

First impressions come first. �What a bulky brick?!� when I took D800. And �What a handy grip!� when I grabbed 5D3. Assume it as a introduction.

1) Focusing with MF lenses. Everyone is aware of Nikon rangefinder focus assist system and no doubt it works but� In the lower left corner in VF there are 3 indicators: 2 arrows and one green dot that has quite a large tolerance (with a 50/1.4G lens on). So its accuracy is in question. Somebody suggests to make MA so that consecutive blinking an arrow and the dot tells about acquiring focus. Canon�s implementation of manual focus assistance is straight forward. A single dot lights green if the focus is nailed and it seems to have less tolerance. Moreover � and it�s the most important thing IMHO - 5D3 informs of acquiring focus by an audio signal (beep) and illuminating a focus point in red. So with 5D3 a photographer has no need to turn his eyes to the green dot in a corner and may pay all his attention to the VF frame and making a good composition.

2) I couldn�t find any difference in brightness level of viewfinders of both cameras at first glance. They are quiet bright and large. Also I�d want to mention that AF points of 5D3 can be customized so that they are illuminated in red or black only if focus is nailed and but stay transparent all the other time and do not distract from making a composition. Consider it as a small trick and not as a huge advantage.

3) LV focusing. Handholding a camera and trying LV MF focusing is a real pain and no difference how grainy a picture on LCD is. It�s a real challenge. On tripod D800 may give quite good results whatever people say. And no doubt Canon�s LV implementation is much convenient and eye-pleasing. Just don�t zoom too much, he-he

) The only thing that can make sense is the time you shoot in dim light and then 5D3 is in favour.

4) Ergonomics. Well, what would I say? I�m on Canon side. D800 grip seems uncomfortably fat. 5D3 grip dimensions are more appropriate for my hand. All buttons and dials are on their places. Maybe it�s a matter of a habit who knows. Menu navigation is equally complicated on both cameras yet custom menu helps a lot. And both cameras feel heavier than 5Dc.

Additional 5D3 advantages: side-by-side playback mode for 2 images comparison, silent continuous shooting mode that id really silent (opposed to Nikon postponed shutter release after a mirror gets up), MA for both wide and tele ends of a zoom lens.

And finally some more pros to D800: a built-in fill flash that weights nothing and doesn�t need separate batteries, a built-in VF shutter that a must have option for LV and tripod shooting, a cheap plastic LCD cover that is useless in fact yet very welcome by a customer.

Edited by Guest

Jun 10, 2012 at 06:52 AM

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Nikon D800 + Zeiss ZF lenses - ur experience

May 16, 2012 at 12:45 PM

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Nikon D800 + Zeiss ZF lenses - ur experience

May 16, 2012 at 12:06 PM

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Nikon D800 + Zeiss ZF lenses - ur experience

May 16, 2012 at 11:46 AM


Previous versions of AlexDROP's message #10640508 « Nikon D800 + Zeiss ZF lenses - ur experience »