Nikon D800 for wildlife

[Snorkel]

Okay, so I recently visited the Kgalagadi with a new addition to my bag - the Nikon D800.

My initial thoughts in acquiring this camera were confirmed on this trip.


1. It will be my go-to landscape camera - the resolution is ridiculous and the dynamic range is amazing.
2. It will do nicely as a 2nd body on wildlife-excursions, mostly to be used for static shots and wider animal-scapes.
3. It is slow. 4fps is one thing, the time to write the massive images to the card from the small buffer is another. Don't rely on it for action.

I will post more results as I get round to processing them, but here's the first set of results.
For most of my trip I was using the Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II on the D800.

On one day, for kicks I was using it with the Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II. This African Wild Cat was photographed in the last light of day in a tree by the roadside using this combination.

EXIF for this shot:
f4.0 | 1/800 SS | ISO-6400 | EV +0.3


1st image:

UNCROPPED - 7000px high
BASIC RAW ADJUSTMENTS in LIGHTROOM 4 (NO NOISE REDUCTION)
NO PROCESSING OR NOISE REDUCTION IN PHOTOSHOP
RESIZED TO 800px HIGH, SHARPENED




2nd image:

50% CROP - 3600px high
BASIC RAW ADJUSTMENTS in LIGHTROOM 4 (NO NOISE REDUCTION)
NO PROCESSING OR NOISE REDUCTION IN PHOTOSHOP
RESIZED TO 800px HIGH, SHARPENED




3rd image:

100% CROP - 800px high
BASIC RAW ADJUSTMENTS in LIGHTROOM 4 (NO NOISE REDUCTION)
NO PROCESSING OR NOISE REDUCTION IN PHOTOSHOP
NO RESIZING AND NO SHARPENING APPLIED



So, what do you think??

[Bushcraft]

Brilliant stuff Snorkel

[Sprocky]

What do I think????

I could do with the 2.8 lens!

Unreal quality Snorkel!!

[Flutterby]

Do you need to ask??? Stunning!!

[nan]

magnificent
the 1st one said the story...

what do you think ?
a 70-200 (or other) F2.8 is certainly the best
I've got a 5,6 (4,5 - 5,6)

well, I don't dare to use ISO 6400, except for almost night/dark
and more, with + 0,3 (do you use +0,3... when not enough light ? and with a lot of ISO ?)

I only use "-" (minus) 1/3 in full light
really novice -O

thank you to help us... ME to understand

[Flutterby]

I hardly understood anything you said there nan , but I'd be interested in Snorkel's reply! -O

[nan]

maybe he will understand also nothing -O

[Flutterby]

It's not you nan...it's me!! I'm technologically-challenged!

[Rumuruti]

Great to read there is somebody out there who is using my same equipment.

I have recently moved up from Nikon D90's, which I now keep as second cameras, to the D800E. On top I also got the amazing Nikon 70-200 mm 2.8 which I find is one of the best pieces of glass on the market today.

So far I've been taking macro shots and basically learning where the various controls are and stuff like that.
Will be fully using it at the end of july during a photographic safari in Kenya, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, following the great wildebeest migration.

Brilliant shot Snorkel.

[Mel]

Good to know that that lens is popular. Although affording it, is a different story...

Looking forward to August when we get to see your photos, Rumuruti.