The Nikon D800 is no way a beginners camera and you will need top pro lenses to get best results. Invest in lenses first then upgrade your camera. The D800 is a fantastic camera and well worth the money but you will need a fast computer with plenty of storage. The D800 is not the type of camera that you can snap away taking photos of anything that moves. You have to think more when taking photographs and just shoot the images you need (i.e., who needs 300 pics of a squirrel , lol) been there, done that. Think of the type of photography you want to do, then buy the best lens you need to do the job. Just because the D800 is a top class camera, it won't give top results using cheap lenses so think before you buy. As others have said, there are new Nikon cameras to be released in 2013 so I would wait a little longer and see what is available then. Good luck with your choice. theoldnikonian

we seem to be going a bit off topic

so I have started a new thread

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=13613#post-125641

@Paperman: Ah, gotcha - and no programmable ranges on the D300 either.

I have to say that I would probably never use auto ISO as a default if I were you, then you would have to switch it on rather than switch it off.

Paperman said:
. The only way to protect this is to switch Auto ISO OFF ( by going into the menu - an annoyance ),

you do not need to go to the menus
press the ISO button (top left) and turn the front command dial

spraynpray said:
I'm not so sure about this. Even when using manual I don't want to have to do manual everything, so I like it that manual only relates to exposure.

Can't you use a programmable range to get what you want?

The problem arises when I switch from S or A mode ( which I do prefer to use with Auto ISO ON ) to Manual when the light is tricky and the ideal exposure is already set in my mind.

Once in manual, the camera does not care about the manually set exposure and goes for what ever it reads from the scene - changing the ISO to get it right. The only way to protect this is to switch Auto ISO OFF ( by going into the menu - an annoyance ), which I more often than not forget for a good number of shots. ( Am I the only one forgetting this :-) ? )

A stop or two higher ISO may not worry those with newer DSLRs but it does make a big difference when shooting landscapes with a D300 , which ISO Noisewise sucks even at 400.

I have read in other forums users complaining about the same issue, some suggesting there should be a menu setting giving a choice of Auto ISO ON / OFF when in Manual mode. After all, when you are in manual, you expect everything to be manual.

Paperman said:
A minor detail for most probably but as someone unable to understand why Auto ISO is not automatically turned off in MANUAL mode ( in previous models ), this is just another annoyance ( for me ) to get used to - in probably all new Nikons to come....

I'm not so sure about this. Even when using manual I don't want to have to do manual everything, so I like it that manual only relates to exposure.

Can't you use a programmable range to get what you want?

Paperman said:
D800 is not a journalist/sports photographer camera.

Sorry I not realise this,I will stop doing journalistic and sports photography immediately

Paperman said:
A minor detail for most probably but as someone unable to understand why Auto ISO is not automatically turned off in MANUAL mode ( in previous models ), this is just another annoyance ( for me ) to get used to - in probably all new Nikons to come....

I don't know why ether but the auto ISO legend does flash to remind you when switch to Manual

TaoTeJared said:

It doesn't matter if it is a tele or wide - the adjustment basically pushes it up or down based on the focal length. Neutral is usually Shutter = focal length and it moves the ISO from there. The adjustments then push up the shutter 1-2 stops in either direction.

It works quite well. I do wish it would "remember" my settings for each lens as for VR lenses I can adjust down a couple of stops vs. non-VR.

Of course if you want a "look" the camera can't tell you do, it just always wants to get the "proper" exposure. I do like the button layout on the D800 - I can change every setting from the buttons very quickly for manual exposure and do not have to dive into the menus.

D800 is not a journalist/sports photographer camera. If it were the D4 doing this - where the photographer has to get the necessary speed for freezing the action or getting the shot no matter what the quality, I would understand the compromise that comes with increased ISO .

D800 is a 36 Mp camera and its strength comes from the detail and IQ it offers. When it is a fact that minimum ISO = best IQ, I can't give credit to Nikon for its preference to use AUTO ISO this way - unlike previous cameras. It is giving very little control to the photographer.

And it is annoying to see AUTO ISO managed different ways in different cameras. The D5000 came with different Auto ISO behaviour than previous models in flash mode. Now with the D800, you have to remember to be in S mode if you want traditional Auto ISO - ( which chooses lowest ISO when possible )

A minor detail for most probably but as someone unable to understand why Auto ISO is not automatically turned off in MANUAL mode ( in previous models ), this is just another annoyance ( for me ) to get used to - in probably all new Nikons to come....

We shall see what happens. My camera is expected to arrive tomorrow. UPS usually delivers to my house around 8pm

I decided to give Amazon a try. A camera customer concierge person sent me an email saying she was tracking my shipment and would alert me to any problems. she gave an email and a phone number to contact for problems. I was quite pleasantly surprised by this.

Rx4Photo said:
@ Geoff_K, you could probably feel safe with ordering a D800 by now. I got mine from the Nikon Store, I don't know, a few months ago, and the Lot # was #3028XXX. Totally flawless for me. I even shoot occasionally using the leftmost (and right) focus points and get focused images. Honestly, I don't know if lot # has any bearing on what problems lurk inside but they should be pumping out those higher lots by now. Best of luck to you.

+1 - everything was fixed by the 3 batch (4th month after release) and have never heard of issues from the new cameras. Remember they built up stock before releasing it, so it took a time for it to appear and made it seem worse than what it was. Of course there are always outliers here and there.

Paperman said:
I was under that impression since you said it chose a higher ISO for the sake of a higher shutter speed - when a tele lens is on.

It doesn't matter if it is a tele or wide - the adjustment basically pushes it up or down based on the focal length. Neutral is usually Shutter = focal length and it moves the ISO from there. The adjustments then push up the shutter 1-2 stops in either direction.

It works quite well. I do wish it would "remember" my settings for each lens as for VR lenses I can adjust down a couple of stops vs. non-VR.

Of course if you want a "look" the camera can't tell you do, it just always wants to get the "proper" exposure. I do like the button layout on the D800 - I can change every setting from the buttons very quickly for manual exposure and do not have to dive into the menus.

sevencrossing said:
I don't think it does. in daylight. between f4 and f 8 it will normally chose native ISO

I was under that impression since you said it chose a higher ISO for the sake of a higher shutter speed - when a tele lens is on.

@ Geoff_K, you could probably feel safe with ordering a D800 by now. I got mine from the Nikon Store, I don't know, a few months ago, and the Lot # was #3028XXX. Totally flawless for me. I even shoot occasionally using the leftmost (and right) focus points and get focused images. Honestly, I don't know if lot # has any bearing on what problems lurk inside but they should be pumping out those higher lots by now. Best of luck to you.

Paperman said:
but it would be frustrating to see the camera choose "not the minimum ISO" when light conditions actually allow it.

I don't think it does. in daylight. between f4 and f 8 it will normally chose native ISO

Thanks Sevencrossing...

I am not sure if this is a function that would please everyone. It actually makes using it complicated and out of control. I like using the Auto ISO but it would be frustrating to see the camera choose "not the minimum ISO" when light conditions actually allow it. Just like I find it frustrating to be unable to shoot in manual mode with Auto ISO on ( where the camera changes the exposure to its liking shifting the ISO - totally disregarding the photographer's exposure choice. Every time I switch to manual, I have to remember to also switch off the Auto ISO )

Anyway, I don't have a D800 yet so no need to worry :-)

Yes. As the focal length increases, it sets a higher ISO value and higher shutter speed

but it will NOT go above the MAX ISO value you have set

nor, of course, will it go below the ISO value you have set

it does not seem to take into account if it is a VR lens

I set my max ISO at 6,400 and the default at 100

Thanks sevencrossing . This is typical use of AUTO ISO as we all very commonly use but it is not the answer to my question.

I was just querying about what you said " the D800 auto ISO takes into account the FOCAL LENGHTH " .

So does it choose exposure values the way I gave an example of - overriding the minimum ISO choice to give a higher shutter speed when a TELE lens is on ?

Paperman

I mainly use a 24-120 vr

I have found when shooting a "busy" event, I have failed to notice the light failing and aperture priority giving me unacceptably low shutter speeds . Auto ISO takes care of this. I use this as my default setting

If I am working in a controlled environment, were the light level is not changing, I am more likely to set the ISO my self

It is a very personal thing, at most of the events I shoot, high ISOs is acceptable and I have found, I am more likely to lose a shot, due to camera shake or subject movement, than noise

I also use auto ISO for sunrise and sunsets, when I am not using a tripod

sevencrossing said:
On my D800 I tend to use Auto ISO
the auto ISO is set to 2 "clicks" faster than default
the D800 auto ISO takes into account the focal length
This feature does not exist on the D700

Just curious sevencrossing ...

Are you saying D800 would choose to go for ( let's say )

- 1/500 f4 @ ISO 800

if it has a 300-400mm lens on, instead of staying at

- 1/125 f4 @ ISO200 ?.

For the above case, I am considering AUTO ISO ON and set at 800 , Aperture Priorty . ( It obviously won't change the shutter speed in S mode )

I can't see this being a good thing. The loss from 2 stops more ISO can be more than the loss due to camera shake. ( I might as well be shooting birds on a monopod or sandbag. )

Previous DSLRs were set to go first for minimum ISO for best quality in AUTO ISO ( except flash mode ) and then play with shutter speed/aperture.

donaldejose: thank you for the suggestion. i am thinking (right or wrong) that nikon did not spend hte time checking and correcting the focus on every camera and would let the buyer send it back in for repairs. cheaper for Nikon that way because not everyone would notice/check/care and just keep it.

parke1952: thank you for the information. cool beans on the no problem. i am happy to hear success as i do want one. i really liked what i saw from the images shot with center point on the ones i had. i am willing to try again soon. i would feel better getting a 3008xxx in the hopes the glitch was ironed out. ;- )

Geof_K: I got my D800 from BestBuy back in August it's SN#3033xxx and Firmware version A:1.00 B:1.01 L:1.006. No problems.

Geof_K: If you are worried about a focus issue why not get a Nikon reconditioned D800? Most likely it came back for that reason and was fixed. At least you know a reconditioned camera was checked out carefully and repaired while one of the assembly line may not have been.

On a side note. I called BestBuy and Amazon to ask what SN they were shipping. Neither one could/would tell me though BB did say they were shipping from a June lot they had received. I passed on that since they have sent me 2 from that batch that went back.

Amazon could/would not tell me anything, but someone posted they received a 3004xxx SN recently from Amazon gift. When I saw that Amazon had them for sale I almost pulled the trigger hoping for a 3007xxx or 3008xxx SN. Not certain I will now.

I may call Adorama, does anyone know if their return policy is hinky ? I am not going to get caught up in repair hell, so sending it in for repair is not an option for me.

Nikon D800 36.3MP SLR
Format: FX
Megapixels: 36.3
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100-6400 ISO (Expandable to 25600)
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and the camera available on snapdeal
http://www.snapdeal.com/product/nikon-d800-363mp-slr-body/422659

Nikon D800 is a 36.3 megapixel FX-format HD-SLR ideal for professional photographers. The camera boasts of superior performance, speed, handling and a fully integrated imaging system. Cinematographers and multimedia professionals can benefit from the true 1080p HD cinematic quality video. The camera includes inputs for stereo microphones and headphones, peak audio meter display, DX crop mode to maximize NIKKOR lens selection and angle of view. With magnesium alloy construction and environmental sealing, the D800 is as good out in the field, as it is in the studio.

D800 digital SLR camera is great for all shooting situations. It is an ideal camera if you want to shoot RAW (NEF), JPG or TIFF images. If you do not want to adjust your workflow (via software) to reduce the occurrence of moire and false colour, D800 will provide you optimum results.

Shoot broadcast quality video
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Benefit from EXPEED 3 image processing
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Dedicated button for picture control

sevencrossing said:
Chris
Set min shutter speed to auto
Then R click for faster slower option

sevencrossing, THANKS so much! I would have NEVER figured this out, "Auto" is at the end of a list of something that feels like 500 items...

Thanks again,
Chris

Chris
Set min shutter speed to auto
Then R click for faster slower option