Deciding To Upgrade: Here are a few of my handheld shots from last evening done with my Nikon D300s and a Nikon 18-200 VR II. I've been awaiting the upgrade, and even possibly...

Edmund Dworakowski

Here are a few of my handheld shots from last evening done with my Nikon D300s and a Nikon 18-200 VR II.
I've been awaiting the upgrade, and even possibly switching to FX with the D750 or used D800. My question is, How much improvement in sharpness, detail, dynamic range should I expect my prints if switching to one of the FX models with a 24-70 Nikon or Tamron lens ? I usually print 16x24 without problems, but would like to be able to print and crop larger and tighter. Any advice fro anyone shooting a 600 an/or 800 series ?

Egret At Glimmerglass

Paddleboarder At Glimmerglass

(Download)

Drawbridge At Glimmerglass

(Download)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Ed, come on now, get out from under that rock.
Nikon has just announced the D300s successor.
Oddly, Nikon calls it the Canon 7dmkll !!
Ed, just kidding(NOT)!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
SS

amehta Loc: Boston

Edmund Dworakowski wrote:

Here are a few of my handheld shots from last even... (show quote)

I think you will see an improvement because of all three things:
1. larger sensor
2. more mp
3. better lens
For me, going from the D200 + 18-55mm/55-200mm lenses to the D700 + 28-70mm/70-200mm lenses was a huge jump, and then going to the D800 + 85mm/24mm/300mm was another large jump.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The D800 series would likely be a better fit that the D600/610/750 models because it has the same body size, build and control setup as your D300 has so you would be familiar with it right out of the box.
The detail and dynamic range you get over the D300 will astound you! And wide angle lenses WILL BE wide angle lenses again. Plus the high ISO and low noise results will be beyond compare.

amehta Loc: Boston

Looking at your drawbridge picture, there is some visible noise in the drawbridge and support pylons even at ISO 400, as well as the dock. That will be much cleaner with an FX camera like the D800 and, I'm sure, the D610.

CO

The D300/D300s did not have a very wide dynamic range. DXO labs has a camera sensor comparator online. You can see the test results for up to three cameras on the same graphs. One of the graphs is for dynamic range. Go to that site and select the D300s and two full frame cameras. It's really evident how much wider the dynamic range is of the full frame cameras. Another graph is for signal to noise ratio. The signal to noise ratio of the full frame cameras is higher.

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

I went from a D300 to a D700. Loved the results. Then went to the D800. The improvement in resolution was phenomal. I now use the D800 as my backup camera and the D810 as my prime. You will be amazed at the difference in resolution if you jump to the D800.

Edmund Dworakowski

jack schade wrote:

I went from a D300 to a D700. Loved the results. Then went to the D800. The improvement in resolution was phenomal. I now use the D800 as my backup camera and the D810 as my prime. You will be amazed at the difference in resolution if you jump to the D800.

Do you see much of an improvement in the 810 over the 800 in resolution stills or are the upgrades mostly in the video ? Do you think it's worth the extra $700 for the 810 over the price of the 800 refurb?

amehta Loc: Boston

Edmund Dworakowski wrote:

Do you see much of an improvement in the 810 over the 800 in resolution stills or are the upgrades mostly in the video ? Do you think it's worth the extra $700 for the 810 over the price of the 800 refurb?

I wonder how significant the AF improvement is from the D800 to the D810? Perhaps those with both could comment?

Edmund Dworakowski

I also wonder if the filters can be removed from the D800 by the Nikon Factory to make it a D800e and what the cost would be...???

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

I have noticed very little diference in resolution for stills. However there is some. I don't think that I would upgrade just for that.. the color balance seems to be a bit better out of the camera but that can be perfected in post processing. Video is definately better. I love the 64 base iso. I have been shooting a lot at iso 64 and 32. Terrific results. In my film days I shot a lot of kodachrome 64. The 810 was well worth the upgrade for me.

Edmund Dworakowski

Thanks, The video isn't much of a concern for me. I Most of my interest is in shooting landscapes not much larger than 36x48 inches. A local dealer has a factory refirb for $2300, I think I'm going to snap up. Thanks

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

You will be glad that you did

amehta Loc: Boston

Edmund Dworakowski wrote:

Thanks, The video isn't much of a concern for me. I Most of my interest is in shooting landscapes not much larger than 36x48 inches. A local dealer has a factory refirb for $2300, I think I'm going to snap up. Thanks

A refurb D800 for the price of a new D750 sounds like a good idea for someone who mainly shoots landscapes.