 鲜花( 5)  鸡蛋( 0)
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Speed and power, without compromise. That’s how I’d sum up my impression
5 t' z0 k1 L% S _% c" n/ I4 ?of the new Nikon D800. Established medium-format image quality is( G, Y% ]/ I) D5 s. S
now inside a phenomenal, incredibly responsive Nikon machine. At 36.3
1 U! p0 T( K$ f9 K$ {megapixels, the D800 produces unprecedented image quality and resolution/ |% Y N( A" l# A8 R
within a body that boasts revolutionary technological advances. The 3D color# V" W5 W2 m$ T3 C+ b* L: a
matrix metering III, wide dynamic range and the improved AF performance# K! d3 K+ _, H6 j; i
in low light are just a few features that are glaring improvements. The D800
9 I4 S- p( v% G+ qallows me to concentrate on the light, the composition and my subject
5 g l- X' ~& U( Y) N2 \0 q, Swithout having to think about much else. In years past, wedding photography
7 u0 V1 {" s4 z2 ywas traditionally captured with medium-format equipment for maximum
$ O5 {0 M6 e& T w' eimage quality. When the 35mm format was adopted within the genre, it was
& Q# U1 T1 z m, |widely accepted that image quality was compromised in lieu of speed and: u+ f% B- Y, V& M5 T
convenience. Now, my wedding portraiture will have a depth it’s never shown8 m F# o! Y9 z
before, and my style of shooting will be enhanced rather than compromised,
* l" C! I, A9 H( O* jthanks to the D800.6 d: {5 e6 Y/ X% x! J8 s
When I’m shooting beauty and jewelry in the studio or fashion on location,3 ~4 u, U) M2 q7 K+ R! q
36.3 megapixels changes the industry standard: in image quality, dynamic
3 H% Y: O c: A& I- Grange, color rendering and the final print. The detail from the D800 produces
1 _2 j) G: O, Pthe look of a medium-format camera, but gives me the feel and response of a4 M" H2 q1 G$ D. r
D-SLR. The improvements in rendering skin tone and specular highlights, as
9 S8 t/ p- U- Xwell as fabric and hair detail are superior to anything that has come before.' ~# @/ a3 ]+ X- c
Autofocus quickly tracks models in motion. Nikon’s 91K-pixel RGB sensor+ H+ I7 E' Q% e6 h# @) M5 i
has noticeable improvements in metering accuracy, while the larger LCD is
+ A9 N- R, l# D- y1 c+ a8 Eeasier to read. The camera body feels solid and ergonomically simple, while
& a* X! X4 X: i; Z5 U7 D) Balso feeling lighter and smaller than previous high-resolution Nikons. New3 Q# g1 |6 ?1 d) N1 m$ I
cameras always inspire me to test and explore, and all the useful features
' w5 t* C n6 P. A+ Ain such a compact package will open huge creative possibilities for my highquality q# U) b1 a: _9 z7 C
prints and video.6 ~: c0 n0 ]$ Q6 _" g
To me, cameras are more like paintbrushes than technology. The goal is4 z6 B' g9 h) Y2 S1 S- Q' E
not megapixels or technique but the image, and while camera models5 ~" K$ r# w& a8 G
are important, they are not the be-all or end-all. But after a lifetime using
! D. u3 J! p' t* ^countless cameras, I have found a new best friend. It was not love at first& w1 V7 R( Z# m
sight. The sharpness and detail were initially intimidating, exposing my flaws
7 _) ^2 {3 ?# h. xlike never before. Subtle camera movements showed and differences of
" B, e- g1 D- }7 wacuity between aperture choices on various lenses were apparent. But now I+ N9 _9 E x7 m
am enthralled with this technology. Why? Because the images almost feel as: U2 k+ G/ F/ U- `
though they were made with a 4x5 view camera! Special features like timelapse
+ Q1 X( Q# {) m% k- [photography and the improved HD video quality and flexibility also add& O9 C3 T8 ^" g" }; {
tremendously to the camera’s personality. After spending a month with the- ^" H. P+ d- j r* T+ E* v
D800, I’ll never be the same again. Perhaps the best compliment I can express
8 q( E k0 t5 @* x; E+ eis that now I will think differently about the images I make.2 v: ]. F$ M5 ^, \
As a modern architectural photographer I am always looking for a lightweight,
4 V; e9 Y K/ c* H3 ?* d, [& ccompact and reliable camera system fulfilling the requirements of my personal8 Q" A7 L0 b- R; T* t
artistic and client expectations. The Nikon D800 will set new standards for# h3 ?. l8 \: g% ~' S1 `5 ]
the high-end 35mm D-SLR market. I have never worked with a 35mm digital0 }) A S9 T# H1 ~8 @
camera that produces images with such exceptional quality and detail till% b( z; z9 f( F6 H# Q% ~
now. Particularly, the live view mode enables extremely precise compositions
0 }3 K3 Y) r+ e3 Jand easy focusing in dim lighting, which simplifies my workflow. Superior
" E2 J2 _; f, c3 Q" Uquality lenses such as the PC NIKKOR tilt & shift lineup are indispensable for
6 G b( R P1 R7 [9 b' K1 v: Harchitectural photography. From my hands-on experience I found that they5 }$ e) c! ?. z% D# G
perfectly match with the newly invented system and produce breathtakingly
. m% X( o4 `( e' b6 D' ?clean, clear and sharp files. This camera gives me the photographic flexibility0 l7 z, z" k& U8 V
to work at unusual shooting locations and capture images in an exceptional4 B" y$ r) r- _" M9 L
range of light. It definitely takes my photographic versatility and image quality5 }; X6 R; m* S. g* \5 O
to a new level. What a new companion!
4 Q* p& Y2 G/ h$ x& d4 U9 wThe D800 On Assignment' p' B3 ]" W. a8 b
Rob Van Petten
! a; S$ _0 ]. K, gFashion (U.S.A.)
. o7 t0 ?1 R) z8 ~) D; {* ]) [Cliff Mautner- n+ |( v# r( C
Wedding (U.S.A.); @8 ~ } S w; R4 W2 Z
Jim Brandenburg
' Z& n9 t: P0 {$ eNature (U.S.A.)
! V' F7 n8 N1 n/ EBenjamin Antony Monn0 [3 s. I% ^) x; W. X% p1 I$ \
Fine art/Architecture (Germany)
! v! R2 {; ~8 I' l% z+ t$ Q5 `6 N' tPrinted in Holland Code No. 6CE11030 (1202/A)K |
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