So many are awaiting an announcement from Nikon related to their next best thing, but let’s face it, the Nikon D810 is a pretty incredible camera that more than meets the needs of many professional photographers all over the world. That being said, why should I even consider upgrading to whatever Nikon decides to replace the D810 with?
One could say that it took Nikon nearly one hundred years to develop such a capable camera (analog shooters take it easy on me). Like with many things digital, comparing the D810 to its predecessor of 20 years prior feels a little like comparing the ISS to my childhood back-yard fort (which was also equipped with an array of important science stuff).
It's no secret that I've fallen in love with my D810. Taking into consideration the type of photography I shoot most (ninety percent of which is portrait and wedding still-photography), the D810 with its 36.3 MP files, cranks out stunning images as long as I do my part and has no problem tackling my photographic needs without complaint. So, what would make me do back-flips and upgrade to the D820, or whatever they’re going to call it?
At this point, nothing is prodding me to ditch my D810. When released onto the market in 2014, it retailed for right around $3,400. You can currently purchase a D810 for less than $2000, which is a smoking deal considering I paid well over a thousand dollars more than that on my own. Can it be beat for $1900? That's debatable, and if so, why spend so much more on whatever it's replaced by?
Rumor has it that the D810 will be discontinued in 2017, but I can't comment on the validity of that rumor. Such a move would however, force perspective D810 buyers into spending more on its replacement. Let's just hope it's spectacular if that's the case.
If I were a decision maker at Nikon, I’d be hesitant to replace anything as good as the D810 with anything less than amazing, especially since they’ve announced such great financial losses recently. Assuming that one of those decision makers stumbles upon this article and reads the comments, what are your thoughts on a D810 replacement? What direction would you like to see Nikon head with their future line of DSLR's? Has DSLR technology plateaued?
While I agree this camera is no slouch, even today.... after 3 years of use, my camera bodies are getting beat, and when I go buy a new one, I'd love it to be a NEW one. Maybe I won't do backflips over it, but it's better than re-purchasing the same tech from 3 years ago. Improvements? Sure - we can always have more megapickles! =)
Ah, a megapix junkie, I see. What do you do that you need more MPs?
Consider not everyone see MPs as a printing function...Many photographers aren't printing much anyhow...I'm a surf photographer, When I'm in the water with a prime lens in a housing, I don't always compose perfect, or the action is a little further away than I like, and swimming or zooming aren't options....So being able to crop is a powerful tool for some...And the more MPs, the more freedom.
I understand that. I find that I am able to do that with a considerable amount of flexibility on my D800. Go too far, and the crop will out-resolve the lens.
I called them 'megapickles' to reinforce that I don't put a lot of weight on pixels, but yes, I do a lot of studio work, and the question should be 'why wouldn't I want more megapixels?" -- Seems the only answer we often get is efficiency in workflow. I'm often only delivering one final ad picture, so it's not as much of a bother as someone who shoots events, sports etc.
As a D800 shooter I'm really looking forward to the successor to the D810-there wasn't much of an upgrade from the D800.
I'm also looking forward to a phenomenal successor to my D800. While I am pretty happy with it, built-in (reliable) wi-fi, better low-light/less noise performance, and faster FPS would be super. Lighter weight would be appreciated, too!
the auto focus system from the 810 is also a huge upgrade, the camera is actually usable in servo mode. Oh and the 810 got rid of the delay when using the digital zoom in live view. I owned the d800 and absolutely hated it but the refinement that came with the d810 was nothing short of amazing
wi-fi and 46MP (as rumored) files sounds like a headache. I'm sure it'll be a little bit lighter, a little bit faster, and I have a feeling it'll include more/better video features.
Given Nikon's financial crisis, I'm sure that they wouldn't articles like this very encouraging for their future...
I have D800. I'd like to have AF of D5, 60p in FHD(or even better 4K) and tilt screen.
I can't say that I'm a fan of tilting screens, but I see the benefits for video
Tilting screen might come in handy every now and then, similar to wi-fi (I'm not talking about transfering 120 photos, just a few here and there). And I think I've used the video capability twice. I wonder if there would be any benefit, other than cost, from eliminating it.
I think most people that think that way about tilt screens never worked with one regularly. They're indispensable. Nikon also showed with the D750 that all the talk of them being prone to breaking off was a joke.
I think the D820 will have video, but it will be very minor in their marketing. It may get 4K, but I think the D760 will be the one that gets marketed to both photo/video and may have a few additional features (even beyond the tilting screen).
i am a d800 shooter but have also used the 810 and d5. i really want a new camera, a d900 perhaps. i find the image size of the 800 perfect and the 810 too big as it slows my workflow. i want the 900 to have image size of 800, higher buffer like d5, 4k video, and better focus in low light. i don't need touch screen and don't want tilt screen. Making the shutter quiet like the d500 would be very nice too.
x2- That being said- I have no issues with my 800. The images that thing can put out with good glass is astonishing. Cameras are at the point of diminishing returns when it comes to image quality.
? The 800 and 810 have the same image size. I think it's the same sensor in both just with a different colour profile and better focus system.
I want !!!!! Lol.
First better weather sealing because it should be . Then the af system of the d5/500 but spread the af points out a bit more like the d500. Love that about the d500. Basically the d500 with the same sensor as it has maybe tweak the processor as in making it even better to handle the bigger and more info sensor. Higher frame rate and bigger buffer and if needed the d/5 battery. Dual pixel on the sensor with a mirror lockup or whatever it takes to do phase detection in live view. And do away with the flip up flash.
That is basically just a D5x at that point.
Improve the AF system. More pixels without better noise performance would be no benefit to me. The camera already has great resolution. I don't use Wi-Fi or the built in flash. A tilt screen would be greatly appreciated for my ground level landscape shots.
To the point of this article, none of these changes would cause me to spend $3+k for an upgrade. The D810 is a great camera.
Ya, I'd agree with this, 36mp is plenty. What I'd like to see is better, faster AF with larger coverage of AF points. Personally I'm still on a D800 that is really ready to be replaced but I've been holding out waiting for the latest tech before doing so. The D810 is a great camera. Its just a bit old in the tooth. Its tech from 2 years ago now.
It's a great studio/landscape camera. My D810 is a backup to my D4, and while it yields stellar results, it's a slow poke whose buffer fills-up quick when I need to shoot a few quick bursts.
Been with my D800 since it came out. Never made the move to the D810 because while it had many improvements I tend to upgrade for sensor improvements. Other stuff tends not to affect the quality of images I shoot. AF improvement is always welcome, broader coverage of AF points would be nice, video means nothing to me, neither does hi iso unless you can get there with meaningful dynamic range. Everything else would just be icing on the cake: quieter, lighter, ergonomics. So why would I upgrade? BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OVER 5 YEARS AND I WANT A NEW TOY!!!! That about sums it up.
Pretty the same concept as the a7r to a7r ii.
I felt very much the same way about my D700 until 4K screens and the D750 came around.
Ive made a respectable living with the D800. Its made the cover of magazines and kept many editors happy. Would I upgrade, sure. But not 'til she drops dead.
Love my D810's and beat them to death. I'm going to be interested in the replacement/update Nikon body. I am probably alone in wanting move attention to video in it.
I got the d800 when it first came out and am still blown away by how good it is. I've won't be tempted to upgrade to the next iteration, no matter what they add. I suspect Nikon goofed with these cameras - they didn't build in enough planned obsolescence.
I've personally used the D800 since it was released, and I'm still loving the crap out of it. It's been absolutely amazing and perfect for my usage.
For me, I wouldn't have use for a flip-screen, but I understand why people want it. The same about WiFi. What I would love would be less noise on higher ISO, maybe a new sensor-type? Maybe a RGBW-type sensor? I'm not a sensor-geek, but if I'm not wrong they should be better on high ISO?
As I've seen other people commented, better AF would be great. Espesially in low-light situations. For film I would love to get 4k. And for the love of God, Nikon, please remove the built-in flash...
That damn built in flash.
Maybe the author should wait and see what a D810 replacement will actually be before proclaiming his lack of interest in it?
nonsense
The D810 is a beauty! Though, I would consider a successor for the new AF and ISO.
Hah, if not to shoot in low light i can easily live with d610 :)
D810 is an incredible camera. I own one and absolutely love shooting with it. That said, tech has moved on and so should Nikon. Just because we can't think of things that could be better, it doesn't mean it can't. A few things I would love to have:
1) Cross type focus points all over the frame. 100+ thank you.
2) Wifi and a workable app that transfers shrunk files instead of full RAW files for client/tog previewing during shoots. Similar to what CamFi does
3) Focus peaking so we can work with older, more interesting manual lenses with less hassle
4) Live view that shows final exposure, not just a glorified dumb viewfinder
Man, I should be offered a job a Nikon labs
Owned the D800, loved it, sold it and purchased the D810, love it more, ..... I would love a new iteration this model, more MP, more dynamic range, better focal system, .... BUT, if that doesnt come for a year or so, I am sure I will be fine, because the D810 is PERFECT in those areas. All i know, and I dont know much, is that this camera does way more, and is capable of better images than what I produce, ..... so, YES, I want newer, more, .... because I am American, and always want way more than I need, or what I am even capable of using, ..... the D810 makes me MUCHO $$$$ and will continue to do so, ..... anyway
Sensor stabilization, faster focus, and eye autofocus. Essentially a (sports capable) fast focusing A7rII. Am I in the wrong place?
on top of all the wishful addition to the future D8xx series, i want to see the auto fine tuning like in d500 and manual focusing highlight like the one in mirrorless cameras
I went for the D810 because I didn't like the flippy screen on the D750. I was upgrading from the D200, I think there will be a lot of features of the D5 and a flippy screen. If not, it will be a touch screen and maybe around the 50 Mega Pixel mark. I'm more than happy with the D810, it's a monster all round, size & features. Happy bunny!👍
Never and better cameras will always show up and are push our photography further. It's a good thing. Period.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with. I'll judge it from there. I use the D800 for portraits, studio, macro, and landscape. I do own the D750 which I like as an all-around and travel camera, and the D500 for sports and wildlife, so I'm a fanboy. I thought the restructuring announcement was long overdue and they were right to ditch Coolpix and focus on mirrorless and high-end DSLR's. I would also like to see them work on the software side and listen to users the way Fuji and Panasonic do. Firmware updates from those guys add real value for their cameras while Nikon firmware updates address real obscure bugs.
I'd love a larger LCD in the back and a larger viewfinder. I want it to be a monster LCD in the back like those digital back hasselblads.
18 stop dynamic range (the extra range is only for top end highlights) 80mp multi-shot sensor with sensor splitting technology, 6k,at 30fps, 4k at 60fps, 1080 at up 480fps, or 1080p raw at 29.97 also low res high speed modes, like 720p at up to 2500fps, also sensor split iso video to shoot 2 separate iso's with video. huge iso improvements, but the big thing is they will start doing better highlight recovery, so if you shoot a couple or a building into the sun and it looks fully blown out, you can bring back the highlight portions just as good as you can do the shadows in post. it will also be able to shoot at up to 9 fps, built-in flash transmitters for hss, so no more bulky things on hot shoe, it will also be able to do a mirror lock up mode, in conjunction with its new electronic shutter mode, where you can use the pop-up sensor filter like alpha, or uv, similar to how you can do variable nd filters on a broadcast camera, also because of the new dynamic range, you will be able to do long exposure during the day, the electric variable nd helps that part as well, the long exposure is going to do great because the new battery is a built in one that lasts for 20K clicks or 50 hours of video and then the recharge only takes 20 mins. not to mention on some lenses they will be rolling out its the only camera capable of doing 5 axis video stabilization that is better than the ronin. a ton of new features that could be possible but will never see, in the new Nikon d8XX :/
I'm in the same boat but a little more "behind." I purchased my D800 in February 2012 (received it May 2012) with tons of anticipation and yearning for all that Nikon could offer. 115,xxx actuations later, it's still a work horse.
Every few weeks or so I check nikonrumors and discuss with a buddy (who has a D750) what should my next move be? The temptation of Sony mirrorless is always there, but I doubt I ever will jump ship (atleast in the near future). There are new rumors of a D750 replacement coming the end of 2017/beginning of 2018 as well as a mirrorless venture.
With all that, plus my D800 is still an incredible beast shooting smooth and far better than me, it's inevitable that I'll be keeping my D800 unless something absolutely blows my mind and has many must-have features!
I love the D810, its an incredible camera. I do have to say i'm excited to see what they replace it with though.