davpal Loc: long island

WILL YOUR COMPUTOR SCREEN OR PRINTER BE ABLE TO PROCESS A 36 MEGA PICTURE SO YOU CAN SEE THE CAPABLTIES
OF SO MANY PIXILS NO MEGA PIXILS ARE A SALESMANS GIMMICK TO SELL HIGH END CAMERAS .THERE ARE MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THAT
CREATE A SHARP PICTURE WITH GOOD COLOR.CAN TYHE PRESENT LENS DO JUSTICE TO SO MANY PIXILS I DOUBT IT
IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO READ ABOUT HOW A DIGITAL CAMERA
WORKS ITS COMPLEX AND MANY FACTORS ALL WORK TOGETHER
TO CREATE THE FINAL IMAGE. MEGA PIXILS ARE NOT THE MAIN
FACTOR

wolfbay Loc: Alpharetta, GA

I somewhat agree, but when I look at the samples of the D800 I'm blown away. One big advantage of that large of a file is you can crop a large amount and still have a killer picture. I read one article that hinted that one could shoot with a 200mm lens and crop down and have the same picture that it would have taken a 600mm lens to shoot. With the high cost of quality long lenses it might make sense. But you are right, quality glass makes the most difference.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

36MP is nothing. My medium format film scans regularly run around 400MB and I have no problem processing them, in fact I like the big files as there is never a doubt about whether or not you really got the adjustment you were after. Just don't try to open more than one or two at a time is all!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

But high quality glass on a large, high quality sensor? Prepare to be totally amazed!

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Nokia Readies 42-Megapixel Camera Phone
http://www.twice.com/article/481639-Nokia_Readies_42_Megapixel_Camera_Phone.php

Nokia just announced a cameraphone with a 41-megapixel sensor
http://gizmodo.com/5888503/nokia-808-pure-view-phone-has-a-41+megapixel-camera-forty+one-actual-megapixels/gallery/1

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

1. Please turn off your caps lock. Internet etiquette is that you are yelling when using all caps and we are a peaceful bunch around here normally. Thank you.

2. Pixel is not spelled PIXIL. Megapixel is also one word not two. Thank you.

3. High megapixels allows massive cropping while maintaining an acceptable resolution result for printing purposes. As was already said, cropping away 65% of a 36MP shot done with a 200mm lens can feasibly give a better result than a 12MP shot done with a 600mm lens- partially because a 200mm lens is easier to keep steady while shooting.

4. There is no glass in any lens that is going to hamper any megapixel resolution. All glass, whether kit lenses (or affixed ones on bridge cameras) or highly superior top end lenses, have optical quality far in excess of any digital camera resolution now or in the foreseeable future. When digital camera pixel size is down to the molecular level of glass itself, then we'll worry about that. While superior glass is obvious when the resulting photo is seen, it's because the glass is superior to our eyes not because it better matches the megapixels of the body.

5. You're preaching to the choir here. We know digital cameras are complex, we know there's more to color and sharpness than just resolution, most all on here (except newbies) know the theory of photography and light, we also know lens quality improves photo results whether the camera is 3MP or 36MP.

If you can calm down and lurk in UHH for a while, you'll find that there are wise photography teachers and professional super photographers beyond all of our skill levels on here. They don't need to be told about megapixels because they are using the highest megapixel full-frame models they can buy with the best lenses and at costs exceeding the selling price of some nice 3 bedroom homes.

The megapixel race has also been discussed many times on UHH to the point of ad nausea. You can read these by using the "Search" function above and type in "Megapixel" to see what people think about the subject.

Personally, when 100MP is refined and available I'll be there with a wad of cash in hand. 11MP is required to equal 35mm film quality - that's been known for years. I'm at 16.2MP now and I can easily see the difference compared to 35mm film I shot for 30 years. I've worked my way up to this point from a 768KP Sony digital so I know what increasing megapixels is about. But I also enjoy driving option-loaded Cadillac and Lincoln land yachts with huge V-8 engines that get 32mpg on the road and 20 in town instead of rough riding Kia Rio cracker boxes getting 34mpg on the road. I like excess, always have, always will. I'll probably never have a reason for 100MP because I'm not a true professional but I'll buy it anyway and now it will be just to spite you!

On the other hand, you have randomly picked some MP rate that you feel comfortable with and choose to buck against the system who wants to sell you more. I'm sure you use GIMP free software too. That's your prerogative so go ahead and afix yourself there while many of us continue on our quest for perfection as we see it brought within our grasp through new technology, better camera body electronics, higher pixel rates, and better glass.

Better car mechanics use top quality tools. Better photographers do too.

PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach

36.3 Megapixels, in the Nikon D800, is the first camera to begin to approach the lofty heights film once held. As to lenses, as I have posted elsewhere, it is ALWAYS "garbage in garbage out." By a great lens and reap the benefits. Buy a not so great lens and try to be happy with the less than perfect. It really is very simple.

In the wayback machine, I remember when the slide film Kodachrome was blown up to 70 FEET wide, and it was stunning. Try that, even with a 36.3 megapixel image, and you will likely suffer digital degradation. Still, the D800 is a massive game changer, given all of its capabilities. Uncompressed video output you can record at cinema speed is a very, very big deal.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

Outstanding and well said!

downing Loc: Cincinnati

By the way D7000 DX camera has 16 MP and has the same Pixel
resolution as the 36 MP FX D800.

PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach

I own the D7000, which does not have uncompressed output. Further, the D800 offers FX and DX 1080p shooting, with full pixel coverage in both, which therefor offers much more lens and imaging versatility. The D800 is the first true game changing camera in DSLR photography: great stills resolution and spectacular uncompressed video modes combined with the next generation of XPEED technology.

Basically, this is the camera that sets FILMMAKERS FREE, without the nasty sub-quality of compressed video recording. Being a film festival winner and former Academy Award Nominee, the D800 will ignite my future as I get back to the thing I do best.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Well said. I concur.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Could you possibly explain a bit more about this?

Cheers,

R.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i am a canon shooter and i am crying over this camera. the 36 meg pixel photo is what i am buzzed about.

post processing with that many pixels would be a dream.

currently, if i have a photo that i really want to save and it needs work, like noise or under or over exposed.....i will take my 18 meg pixel photo and 1.5x re-size it. so far, i have been able to save every shot i like that maybe has a problem or 2. i know this sounds weird, but it works....so a 30 or 36 meg pixel shot would be my dream come true.

i am going to rent a d800 when they hit the rental companies and test it. i just may end up a canon/nikon guy!!!!

my 5d is going to the for sale section as soon as i decide which new one i am going to get.

i will never get rid of my 7d....i love this camera....but i want a full frame and the 5d is a disappointment.

so, i am going to check out the d800...if it blows me away, i am going to buy it without trying the 5d mk3.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

You are a brave soul. I will pray for your conversion.

<Bazinga!>

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

i guess i should of asked..."am i allowed to have 1 of each?"