D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

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Stany Buyle
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D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

Post by Stany Buyle »

According to Chasseur d'Images there will be two versions of the D800: D800 "normal" and D800E without anti aliasing filter.
Assuming you are tempted to get a D800 soon, or just if you would have to choose between both, which one would you buy and why?

More here on the Nikon website:
How does the D800E differ from the D800?
The D800E and D800 are both high resolution D-SLRs, with the same 36.3 MP sensor. The difference between the cameras is that the anti-aliasing filter (part of the low-pass filter structure in the camera) on the D800E has been optically disabled.

Anti-aliasing filters are incorporated in the low-pass filter to reduce the effect of aliasing and moiré patterns that can occur in digital images. Aliasing and moiré patterns are more noticeable with subjects that include high-frequency (finely-detailed) patterns. A side effect of incorporating an anti-aliasing filter is that it reduces resolution within the image. Removing the anti-aliasing properties from the low pass filter results in improved image resolution, as the light is transmitted without being filtered through the lens onto the photodiodes in the image sensor. All other D800E functions and performance are the same as the D800; colour reproduction characteristics, infra-red coatings, anti-reflective coatings and image sensor cleaning functions are the same on both cameras.

The D800E is not suited to all users, but is intended for users who can control the conditions under which aliasing and moiré issues occur. Examples of use would be landscape and studio photography.

The D800 is more suited to general photography, for example wedding photography where the photographer is constantly adjusting to the shooting conditions and the subject matter is not controllable i.e. clothing is often a source of moiré patterns caused by finely detailed patterns.

kindest regards,

Stany
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pam.meier
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Re: D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

Post by pam.meier »

Name AA-filter and I am there!
Of course, it would be tempting to get the D800 without AA-filter.
But even though I have been known to have AA-filters removed from my Fuji S5 and Nikon D3, I would not opt to get the D800E as of yet.
I would like to see comparisons between these two camera versions before I´ll decide. The difference I got from the filterless D3 was hardly perceivable.
So it is really too early to tell!
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Re: D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

Post by Leen Koper »

Same with me. Although I do not intend to buy one in the near future, I would like to see the difference under various circumstances before I buy one.
Moreover, it depends on what you need this camera for. If you shoot fashion you will need the filter more than someone who shoots landscape as there is no repeating pattern in this kind of photography.
Nevertheless, there should be a considerable difference between the two cameras. Why would Nikon produce something different if there would hardly any difference? I cannot imagine they would.
But, we will know pretty soon.
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Re: D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

Post by pam.meier »

Leen, it may be my eyes, but resolution differences smaller than 20% are not striking. And the increase of resolution (or acuity, some say, false artefacts rather than more detail) would be around 13% in the D3. As I said my eyes did not see much of a difference. Then again, that is on a tripod with mirror up and remote control release. A little vibration and there will be no difference at all.
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Re: D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

Post by Leen Koper »

I am not planning any camera; my D7000 fulfills all my needs and it allows me -without any problems whatsoever- quality printing at 60x90 cm and that is large enough for me!
And, morover, my D700 is for sale and, in the next years, I don't want to invest in camera gear any more.
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Re: D800 or D800E ? Which one for you?

Post by thom »

1. See my D3x review for my comments on non AA filter. http://www.bythom.com
2. Removing an AA filter doesn't give you more resolution. The AA filter should be at the Nyquist frequency (or close). What you're seeing is faux detail.
3. The AA filter has impacts on noise visibility.
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