Nikon strikes back: D800 & D800E release HDSLR power

by Sebastian WöberFebruary 7^th, 2012

Everybody’s talking about it: At yesterday’s Nikon press release the Nikon D800 was released and it looks nice for HDSLR:

It was a cool surprise when we saw that the new Nikon D4 would have clean hdmi output which means high quality recording with a field recorder like the Atomos Ninja that just received a firmware update. What was uncool about the D4 was its pricetag of $6000 and its unpleasant bulky size.

Well here’s the Nikon D800 that apparently offers the same clean hdmi output (4:2:2 8 bit) as the D4 and goes for $3000, available for preorder at B&H.

Nikon calls the D800 an “HD-SLR” camera. Sounds good. The press release says:

“(…) full manual control, uncompressed HDMI output, and incredible low-light video capability.”
and
“Filmmakers have the choice of various resolutions and frame rates, including Full HD 1080 at 30/24p and HD 720 at 60/30p. By utilizing the B-Frame data compression method, users can record H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format video with unmatched integrity for up to 29:59 minutes per clip (normal quality). This format produces higher quality video data without increasing file size for a more efficient workflow. The optimized CMOS sensor reads image data at astoundingly fast rates, which results in less instances of rolling shutter distortion. The sensor also enables incredible low-light video capability with minimal noise, letting filmmakers capture footage where previously impossible or expensive and complex lighting would otherwise be necessary. Users are also able to have full manual control of exposure, and can also adjust the camera’s power aperture setting in live view for an accurate representation of the depth of field in a scene.”
and
“(…) HDMI port (8 bit, 4:2:2). This output signal can be ported into a display or digital recording device or routed through a monitor and then to the recording device (…)”

The camera is already available for pre-order at B&H:

There’ll also be a Nikon D800E (=enhanced) that will do some more magic to the sensor. However we do not know how or if this will affect HD video recording quality. The press release doesn’t mention it:
“D800E – Maximum Resolution Unleashed
In addition to the D800, Nikon will also be releasing a supplementary model for those professionals who demand even higher resolution and D-SLR versatility; the D800E. This model treads in medium format territory for studio work or landscape photography when there is no exception to only the highest fidelity and sharpness. This unique alternative model will effectively enhance the resolution characteristics of the 36.3-megapixel CMOS sensor by cancelling the anti-aliasing properties of the OLPF inside the camera. By doing this, light is delivered directly to the photodiodes, yielding an image resulting from the raw light gathering properties of the camera. A color moiré correction tool will also be available within Capture NX2 to enhance the D800E photographer’s workflow.”

Here are a bunch of promo videos for the camera, I’m sure you can do better:

via NikonRumors and a bunch of others