Based purely on specs, used only for landscapes: D800 or MKIII?

[AdmiralTwizzler]

I'm too much of an amateur to tell from the specs which is better for landscape photography.

I've read multiple posts on various sites that the D800 is better.

If you wanted to just do landscape photography, in a variety of environments, for the purpose of selling framed prints, selling cards, and entering contests, can you tell just by looking at the specs which one is better?

Thanks! I'll go back to my T1i now. But I'm going to buy one of the two.

 

[Daniel Flather]

What did we do before the d800 and 5d3? What did we do before the d700 and 5d2?

 

[Alker]

What did we do before the d800 and 5d3? What did we do before the d700 and 5d2?

Exactly

 

[dtaylor]

I'm too much of an amateur to tell from the specs which is better for landscape photography.

I've read multiple posts on various sites that the D800 is better.

If you wanted to just do landscape photography, in a variety of environments, for the purpose of selling framed prints, selling cards, and entering contests, can you tell just by looking at the specs which one is better?

Thanks! I'll go back to my T1i now. But I'm going to buy one of the two.

If you want to print larger than 24", the D800 is better.

 

[chito]

I'm getting a 5D3, but being absolutely honest, for the sole purpose of landscape then the D800 is better..

 

[pharding]

The D800 is better for landscape photography, however the D800E is even better yet. The requirements of architectural photography are similar to landscape photography. According to one of the finest architectural in US that our firm has used and a personal friend, the Nikon D800 is better for architectural photography. He would switch except Canon offers a 17 mm perspective control lens. Based upon that the Nikon D800E is better for landscape photography. The other benefit to Nikon is that their controls are more intuitive than Canon.

 

[traveller]

As dtaylor has correctly pointed out, for landscape prints the higher the resolution of the sensor the better. This is the reason why serious landscape photography was generally the preserve of the larger formats in film days.

It is very exciting that Nikon is offering a camera with a megapixel count that offers resolution that was previously the domain of medium format. Of course, image capture at 30MP+ will hold short shrift for those with careless technique. For a photographer armed with a sturdy tripod, head, remote release, mirror lockup, great lenses and knowledge of the trade offs between depth of field, optical abberations and diffraction softening, 36MP should allow indulgence of their desire to see their work printed at a size that allows for immersive viewing.

If you do not fully appreciate the requirements or desires that I have described in the previous paragraph, then I would seriously reconsider whether such high resolutions meet your photography requirements.

 

[Radiating]

I'm too much of an amateur to tell from the specs which is better for landscape photography.

I've read multiple posts on various sites that the D800 is better.

If you wanted to just do landscape photography, in a variety of environments, for the purpose of selling framed prints, selling cards, and entering contests, can you tell just by looking at the specs which one is better?

Thanks! I'll go back to my T1i now. But I'm going to buy one of the two.

The D800/E is your best bet. The D800 and 5D3 aren't too different overall for normal use, because the 5D3 has a very weak AA filter, so for general purpose it's not that big of a deal.

Here's a comparison with randomly arranged samples, with the 5D3 uprezed to the D800 resolution at 100% and one of the sharpest lenses in the world a Sigma 70mm f/2.8:

http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/7801636/img/Picture-Box/crops5d3vsd800.jpg


The D800 is still better but if you're not using the best techniques, lenses etc or pushing base iso raw files a lot, it will be a wash, plus the 5D3 has in camera HDR for jpgs.

The D800E is going to be extremely supperior to the 5D3 though for landscape work. It doesn't have an AA filter which means you might have to do a lot of work to reduce moire but it will be decidedly sharper and noticably so.

Nikon cameras also have much better dynamic range, while signal to noise ratio tests show that they are similar they are not because the Canon has what's called banding noise, which noise reduction cannot remove. Noise reduction is good for 2-5 stops of improvement so there is a noticable difference when you're trying to make the shadows more than 7 times brighter on a Canon camera. This video should explain that:

http://testcams.com/blog/2011/05/03/nikon-dx-vs-canon-aps-c-dynamic-range/

So in conclusion: Landscape Pro = D800E, Landscape Amateur = either one

 

[thure1982]

Don't give me S___ now all you guy's at CR. I always been Canon fanboy...

If you have some or any good lenses with either brands, go with that brand.
Its a super-camera witch ever you get. Either will be just fine.

Don't use spec when you shot, use your eyes.
Good lenses are far more important then high MP or ISO-performance.
They can only help you to print bigger and take pictures in less light.

PS. I'm waiting for my 5D3 because I already have my L-lenses and i love my 40D.

 

[pharding]

Apparently the Nikkor 24 PCE lens does not work with the D800. Not good for landscape or architectural photographers using this wonderful lens. Someone screwed up big time at Nikon .
http://nikonrumors.com/2012/03/10/nikon-support-nikkor-pc-e-24mm-f3-5d-ed-lens-cannot-be-used-with-shifting-and-tilting-on-the-d800.aspx/

 

[traveller]

Apparently the Nikkor 24 PCE lens does not work with the D800. Not good for landscape or architectural photographers using this wonderful lens. Someone screwed up big time at Nikon .
http://nikonrumors.com/2012/03/10/nikon-support-nikkor-pc-e-24mm-f3-5d-ed-lens-cannot-be-used-with-shifting-and-tilting-on-the-d800.aspx/

This assertion has now been denied by Nikon:

http://www.megapixel.co.il/english/archive/28747

via Nikon Rumors (who, I believe broke the story)

http://nikonrumors.com/2012/03/10/nikon-support-nikkor-pc-e-24mm-f3-5d-ed-lens-cannot-be-used-with-shifting-and-tilting-on-the-d800.aspx/#more-35516

 

[Bruce Photography]

Apparently the Nikkor 24 PCE lens does not work with the D800. Not good for landscape or architectural photographers using this wonderful lens. Someone screwed up big time at Nikon .
http://nikonrumors.com/2012/03/10/nikon-support-nikkor-pc-e-24mm-f3-5d-ed-lens-cannot-be-used-with-shifting-and-tilting-on-the-d800.aspx/

This assertion has now been denied by Nikon:

http://www.megapixel.co.il/english/archive/28747

via Nikon Rumors (who, I believe broke the story)

http://nikonrumors.com/2012/03/10/nikon-support-nikkor-pc-e-24mm-f3-5d-ed-lens-cannot-be-used-with-shifting-and-tilting-on-the-d800.aspx/#more-35516

I'm going with the 14-24 for now, but if you compare the flexibility of the Canon 24 MK2 with the Nikon, that Nikon was due for some sort of upgrade anyway. I mean why have a landscape camera that can't do perspective control? Also Nikon doesn't have a 17mm pce yet. Perhaps 2012 will be the year that both the 24 and 17 mm offerings come to pass for Nikon to compete with the Canon offerings. The 24 and 17 mm TSE Canon lenses are my favorites and also my sharpest lenses edge to edge. They are just great.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

I'm too much of an amateur to tell from the specs which is better for landscape photography.

I've read multiple posts on various sites that the D800 is better.

If you wanted to just do landscape photography, in a variety of environments, for the purpose of selling framed prints, selling cards, and entering contests, can you tell just by looking at the specs which one is better?

Thanks! I'll go back to my T1i now. But I'm going to buy one of the two.

For landscapes and nothing more, I'd say D800, more dynamic range and more mega-pixels. More DR could surely help some shots, more MP may or may not depending upon what you do and what your goals are.

What lenses do you have for the T1i already?

 

[justsomedude]

I've read multiple posts on various sites that the D800 is better.

If you wanted to just do landscape photography, in a variety of environments, for the purpose of selling framed prints, selling cards, and entering contests, can you tell just by looking at the specs which one is better?

As many people have already stated - the d800 is superior to the 5D3 for landscape photography. Now, the important question is... for how long?

If you are invested heavily in Canon glass, I would hold tight. The last two weeks have been a flurry of reviews, tests, and postings all over the photography forums. People are going bonkers over the d800 right now. I think it would be difficult at this time for Canon to ignore the d800, and the fact that its sensor has leapfrogged pretty much every body they have in that market and at that price-point ($2999).

I am confident that Canon will respond accordingly. If by Photokina they do not - well - then perhaps it's time to consider other options.

 

[AdmiralTwizzler]

Thanks for the replies. Very interesting.

I only have the kit lenses with the T1i.

My goal is to make the leap from avid amateur to semi-pro or even pro.

I think I'll wait awhile.

I spoke with a full time professional photographer in the Seattle area and he still shoots with the MK I.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Thanks for the replies. Very interesting.

I only have the kit lenses with the T1i.

My goal is to make the leap from avid amateur to semi-pro or even pro.

I think I'll wait awhile.

I spoke with a full time professional photographer in the Seattle area and he still shoots with the MK I.

It really depends on what level you are shooting at, and the size of prints you are making.

Remember, the nef file from a D800 opens up into a 200mb file for your computer to manipulate. Certainly, most newer computers with 9gb or more can easily handle the 200mb file, assuming only one or two are open, but processing special effects, nr, etc might take a bit longer.

Those who are running windows 32 bit might have a real challenge though to keep things from slowing way down. I suppose we will hear about that.

One thing that appeals to me is to have as many pixels as possible in the original image. What seems large and excessive today, will be tiny in a few years.

 

[traveller]

I'm too much of an amateur to tell from the specs which is better for landscape photography.

I've read multiple posts on various sites that the D800 is better.

If you wanted to just do landscape photography, in a variety of environments, for the purpose of selling framed prints, selling cards, and entering contests, can you tell just by looking at the specs which one is better?

Thanks! I'll go back to my T1i now. But I'm going to buy one of the two.

The D800/E is your best bet. The D800 and 5D3 aren't too different overall for normal use, because the 5D3 has a very weak AA filter, so for general purpose it's not that big of a deal.

Here's a comparison with randomly arranged samples, with the 5D3 uprezed to the D800 resolution at 100% and one of the sharpest lenses in the world a Sigma 70mm f/2.8:

http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/7801636/img/Picture-Box/crops5d3vsd800.jpg


The D800 is still better but if you're not using the best techniques, lenses etc or pushing base iso raw files a lot, it will be a wash, plus the 5D3 has in camera HDR for jpgs.

The D800E is going to be extremely supperior to the 5D3 though for landscape work. It doesn't have an AA filter which means you might have to do a lot of work to reduce moire but it will be decidedly sharper and noticably so.

Nikon cameras also have much better dynamic range, while signal to noise ratio tests show that they are similar they are not because the Canon has what's called banding noise, which noise reduction cannot remove. Noise reduction is good for 2-5 stops of improvement so there is a noticable difference when you're trying to make the shadows more than 7 times brighter on a Canon camera. This video should explain that:

http://testcams.com/blog/2011/05/03/nikon-dx-vs-canon-aps-c-dynamic-range/

So in conclusion: Landscape Pro = D800E, Landscape Amateur = either one

Interesting, but where this guy's credibility falls apart a bit is where he claims that this show a "real world example" of the Sony sensor's lower read noise. Yeah, pushing an image six stops is really a real world example. Can you imagine a conversation between a professional architectural photographer and their client:

"No, I didn't bother to light your interior photo correctly, I decided to shoot it six stops underexposed and then push the shadows in post; look it's fine if you don't want to print it larger than 8"x10", especially if you only want it black and white".

This doesn't change the fact that the 16MP Sony crop sensor has lower read noise than the 18MP Canon, just that it's not quite as relevant as is made out in these videos. I doubt you would see such vast differences in actual "real world" use, which is probably why we don't see it in 99.9% of photos.

I would also mention that the jury is still out on how well the latest Canon sensors will perform until we have some real world tests; this shouldn't be far away with the 5D MkIII now shipping. There is also this point made by Thom Hogan about the sensors in the latest Nikons:

"Also, the thing that is a bit unique about the D3/D3s/D700 sensor tech is that it is relatively friendly to highlights. More so than any other Nikon camera, I can recover more highlight detail, even if my exposure is a little hot (but not too hot). What's happening with the new sensors (J1/V1, D7000, D800) is that we're getting really good detail definition in the shadows (partly due to the on-board ADC and very low read noise). We're all finding an amazing level of detail down in the lower bits with these latest sensors. To a small degree, more so than with the D700. But at the highlights, not the same. So one thing everyone is going to have to adjust slightly is their exposure practices--highlight recovery is tighter on the D800 than on the D700. Thus, maximizing a D700 is a bit different than maximizing a D800 (okay, I'm theorizing here, as I don't have a D800 in my hands yet to test that assumption; but still, I'm pretty sure from everything I've heard and seen so far and the side evidence of other recent sensors that this will be the case)." http://www.bythom.com/d800intro.htm.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Interesting, but where this guy's credibility falls apart a bit is where he claims that this show a "real world example" of the Sony sensor's lower read noise. Yeah, pushing an image six stops is really a real world example. Can you imagine a conversation between a professional architectural photographer and their client:

"No, I didn't bother to light your interior photo correctly, I decided to shoot it six stops underexposed and then push the shadows in post; look it's fine if you don't want to print it larger than 8"x10", especially if you only want it black and white".

You can't re-light nature though.

This doesn't change the fact that the 16MP Sony crop sensor has lower read noise than the 18MP Canon, just that it's not quite as relevant as is made out in these videos. I doubt you would see such vast differences in actual "real world" use, which is probably why we don't see it in 99.9% of photos.

it depends how and what you want to shoot, plenty of shots it's no big deal at all, but it's not easy for some to run into a barrier relatively easily at times either

I would also mention that the jury is still out on how well the latest Canon sensors will perform until we have some real world tests; this shouldn't be far away with the 5D MkIII now shipping. There is also this point made by Thom Hogan about the sensors in the latest Nikons:

released version already tested, the one copy looked at had 10% more read noise than the IR pre-release copy, so again 5D3 looks to be the same as the 5D2 in this regard

 

[Ricku]

D800 is the obvious answer. It has everything that the 5D3 has, + more, and at a lower price. Most importantly, the D800 has wider dynamic range at low ISO, and captures way more detail.

The 5D3 is a sports / photojournalism / general purpose camera.

I'm selling all my gear right now and moving to Nikon for the D800.

 

[Seamus]

D800 is the obvious answer. It has everything that the 5D3 has, + more, and at a lower price. Most importantly, the D800 has wider dynamic range at low ISO, and captures way more detail.

The 5D3 is a sports / photojournalism / general purpose camera.

I'm selling all my gear right now and moving to Nikon for the D800.

Will you come back to Canon in six months when they release their high megapixel camera? :-*