Nikon D800 Digital SLR Camera Body

The Nikon D800 Digital SLR Camera Body is designed for the serious photographer offering an astonishing 36.3 megapixels in a full-frame (FX) format, and incorporating many of the crowd-pleasing features of the recently launched flagship D4 Digital SLR camera. The Nikon D800 features a newly developed CMOS sensor with an area of 35.9 x 24mm, a standard ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to a range ...

Key Features: Nikon D800 Digital SLR Camera Body

• 36.3 megapixel FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-6400 extendable up to 25,600
• 4 fps consecutive shooting in FX
• 5 fps in 1.2x/DX crop mode
• Multi-area D-Movie records FX- and DX-format Full HD (1080p) movies in 30p, 25p and 24p
• Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system
• EXPEED 3 image processing engine
• 8 cm (3.2-in.), 921k-dot LCD monitor
• 3D Color Matrix Metering III
• 100% viewfinder coverage
• Quiet shooting mode: perfect for discreet photography, the sound of the camera's mirror return mechanism is noticeably reduced
• Storage media - High-speed CF and SD dual card slots
• Built-in i-TTL Speedlight
• Durable Magnesium alloy body - moisture and dust resistant
• Wireless LAN and Ethernet support via optional Wireless Transmitter WT-4

Nikon D800: Resolution, colour and dynamic range

Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor with 36.3 effective megapixel
The D800 renders levels of texture, nuance and detail to your photography that, until now, have been the exclusive domain of the complicated medium-format system. Define every eyelash, every line in tree bark, and every shimmer of light. Savour the exceptional depth in your still images — with the astounding 36.3 effective megapixels, you can. Enlarge them as big as A1 poster-sized prints (59.4 x 84.1 cm/23.4 x 33.1 in.) at 200 dpi, or crop aggressively to reach the composition you desire, all without sacrificing the detail and tonal range of the original. In order to maintain clean, high-resolution images, 14-bit A/D conversion within the sensor and a high signal-to noise ratio deliver phenomenal images in a diverse array of situations. The image sensor’s incredible potential does not stop with photography, either. For cinematographers ready to put their exceptionally sharp NIKKOR lenses into action, the D800’s 36.3 effective megapixel data is efficiently processed for exquisite 1080p broadcast quality video at 30p.

Standard ISO 100 to ISO 6400, range expandable to ISO 50 to 25600 equivalent
High-resolution, studio-quality images shouldn’t be restricted to the studio. The D800 sets a new benchmark for high resolution D-SLR cameras, with crisp clean images across a wide ISO range. Flexibility like this opens up new imaging opportunities for both still photographers and cinematographers alike during the “magic hour”, the time just before dawn or at dusk when available light is often beautiful but scarce. Even at high ISO settings, the camera’s intelligent noise reduction systems manage noise without sacrificing fine details, giving the D800 the edge. The difference can even be seen in low-contrast subjects such as hair and grass textures, which are often essential elements of cinema as well as high-resolution portraits and landscape images. High image quality at higher ISOs also means that you can shoot still images handheld more confidently, knowing that fast shutter speeds will reduce blur

Optical low-pass filter optimized for sharpness
Reducing false colour and moiré is the main job of the optical low-pass filter located in front of the image sensor. However, this benefit is generally gained with a small sacrifice of sharpness. Moiré occurs in scenes containing repetitive details, such as strong vertical lines in architecture. Finding the right balance between benefits and sacrifices is the key to higher image quality, and that is what the D800’s optical low-pass filter delivers. As a result, the astounding 36.3 megapixels unleash their potential through an optimized balance between sharpness and effectively prevented moiré and false colour. Furthermore, the multi-layer structure of the D800 low-pass filter utilizes layers of antireflective coating that have been optimized for the camera, contributing to sharper and clearer images

EXPEED 3 image-processing engine: speed, versatility, and high performance
High-megapixel still images are detail-rich but data-heavy. With the D800, however, you don’t have to sacrifice speed for this privilege. Dedicated to understanding speed and its role in image making, Nikon engineers designed a powerful EXPEED 3 image-processing engine exclusively for digital SLRs. From image processing and card recording to image playback and image transfer, EXPEED 3 manages massive amounts of data at faster speeds than EXPEED 2. Even with specialized processing features like Active D-Lighting and high ISO noise reduction, capture speed is not affected. EXPEED 3 is so powerful that it handles data-intensive tasks such as Full HD video recording at 30p with ease. You’ll also notice the difference in your still images and videos through minimized noise and even richer colours and tones. In addition to these fundamental advantages, the D800 reduces the kind of colour phase shift that some cameras have difficulty with in similar situations.

14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for rich tones and natural colour
Tonal gradation is where an image transforms from simply representing life to taking on a life of its own. The D800 does exactly that, with cutting-edge image processing that injects vital energy into your images. Black is rendered as pitch black, and shadow details are subtle and rich. Even under harsh, high-contrast light, where some cameras can fail, the D800’s gradation remains smooth with abundant detail and tone all the way up the scale to pure white.

Nikon D800: Broadcast quality video in two D-Movie formats

Full HD video quality and minimized rolling shutter effect: Dynamic movie shooting in diverse lighting situation
Many filmmakers, multimedia professionals and still photographers need the highly mobile, lightweight and compact form of a D-SLR in order to cover large events or make documentaries, music videos or movies. For these professionals, the D800 is ready to create true cinematic experiences. By using the B frame data compression method, you can record 1080p Full HD video at 30p in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format with unmatched moving image integrity for up to 29 min. 59 s* of recording in a single clip. Thanks to Nikon’s latest image-processing optimizations, the monumental power of 36.3 megapixels transforms to sharp, exquisitely rendered videos. Expect exceptionally smooth gradation in blue skies, with minimum block noise and beautifully natural movement rendered clearly and sharply. The D800’s intelligent image sensor reads out movie images at faster rates than ever, significantly reducing the rolling shutter distortion that can occur during panning shots or when shooting fast-moving lateral subjects like trains. Thanks to EXPEED 3, your movies will take on a distinctive look of their own, even with dimly lit scenes. Combine these benefits and you’ll begin to realize exactly the new creative opportunities possible for photographers and cinematographers alike.
*Maximum recording time varies according to frame rate, frame size and image quality settings. Maximum recording time for time-lapse photography is 20 min

Multi-area mode Full HD D-Movie: Creative movie-making freedom in FX- and DX-based format
The D800 is designed to stimulate cinematographers to explore different moods and perspectives by enabling Full HD and HD video recording in two frame formats; Nikon FX- and DX-based movie formats in just one camera. When using wide-aperture NIKKOR lenses, the large image area of the FX-based format* renders exquisitely shallow depth of field with beautiful bokeh effects. The DX-based format uses an image area similar to 35mm movie film, allowing cinematographers to shoot with picture angles that they are accustomed to. Having the advantage of two D-Movie formats in one camera and an arsenal of NIKKOR lenses makes the D800 an incredibly versatile movie-making tool.
* The aspect ratio of movies is 16:9 whichever format is selected. Also, in the FXbased movie format, the width of the image area is approx. 91% of that in the still image FX format.

Smoother video recording under fluorescent or mercury lamps: Auto flicker reduction
With the D800, it is easier than ever to reduce flicker effects during live view and video recording. Simply use auto in the flicker reduction menu to automatically identify the flicker frequency at the beginning of live view and switch to the one that will work best. You can also manually switch between 50 Hz and 60 Hz

Live view selector for optimized still images and movies
The D800’s live view operation has evolved even further, optimizing camera control to become more intuitive for shooting video as well as still images. Simply clicking the live view selector switches between live view modes designed specifically for still images or movies. Live view photography lets you shoot still images while confirming the exposure level on the LCD monitor*. You can even magnify images up to approx. 23x to check the exact focus. For movie live view on the other hand, the D800 incorporates a dedicated exposure control for quality video shooting, enabling smooth exposure transition when shooting moving subjects. You can also shoot video with full manual control. When needed, press the shutter-release button while filming to instantly capture still images in 16:9 aspect ratio. Each time you use live view, for either still photography or movie shooting, your image area and camera setting information will be clearly indicated, allowing you to confirm quickly.
* Exposure preview display and resulting image may vary, depending on the settings used.

View simultaneous live view output on external monitors and record uncompressed video via HDMI
During movie shooting, you can now simultaneously check videos on an external monitor* using an HDMI connection, in addition to the camera’s TFT monitor. And for those who need the purest video output for professional quality editing, you can now record uncompressed movie live view footage to an external storage device via HDMI interface.
*When video is output through HDMI interface simultaneously with recording to a CF/SD card, output image through HDMI interface will be smaller than 1,280 x 720

Specifications