D800

Anybody (besides me) interested in the Nikon D800 that will be introduced tomorrow?
I really want a FF sensor and this looks to be the best option for me.
Besides landscapes I make (part of) my living photographing High School athletic teams, so the extra resolution from the 36 mp sensor is attractive also. I should make every player in a big team sharper and cleaner. It should also be a huge improvement from my current D300s in landscape and nature shots.
Nikon will be offering a version without the AA filter, that should also improve the sharpness, but possibly show more moire effects. From what I have seen it looks like it will be worth it (at an additional $900.00) The res seems a lot crisper with out the AA.
Thoughts, opinions anyone?
Thanks Tom H

I'm watching this model very carefully, but I'll be slow to pick it up. No reflection on the model, but I'm just not one to buy new models when they first appear- cars, computers, software or cameras. There are often too many start-up issues for my blood, after I spend my money.

That said, I think you've nailed the advantage of the larger sensor for your team shooting, particularly for the group shots. That's the single instance in which we're still using film. Small sensors, especially with large prints, leave very few pixels for detail in each face. We resort to 120 film most of the time, but for larger crowds than you'll face with teams we've even dragged out a 4x5.

If it comes down to a choice of resolution or moire regarding the AA filter, I'm afraid I'd stick with the filter. I just can't abide moire. If there turns out to be a conflict between suitable resolution for our needs at the cost of increasing moire, I'll pass on the model.

I'm looking forward to user reports in helping with our decision. Keep us posted!

I've been following the D800 reports as well, though I often find myself wondering "why" as I have a substantial investment in Canon lenses. One thing I've been wondering is just how much advantage the extra resolution will give landscape photographers. Are Nikon's wide angle lenses generally up to the task of resolving 36mp? I don't know that Canon's 17-40 or 16-35, for example, would be up to the task. With a 17-40 on a 5DII, image sharpness near the center of the frame is spectacular even in the largest prints that I've made. Out near the corners though, things drop off somewhat and it's clear the lens--not the sensor--is the issue.

Perhaps an issue for another thread, but nonetheless worth considering as you debate taking the plunge on a D800.

Hank,
Take a look at this ....
these guys remove the AA filter and have before and after comparisons.
It's a pretty noticeable difference,
I'm leaning towards the D800e

http://www.maxmax.com/hot_rod_visible.htm

Phil all my stuff is Nikon, so I guess I see if the lenses are up to it...
I plan to get a new 25mm Zeiss or the nikkor 14-24 to go with the d800

I have been watching this closely. This seems to be one of those situations where discretion is the better part of valor. It will take some time for enough information to surface for informed decisions. Given the nature of the issues, there may be discord and debate even after the reviews start coming in. I am hoping that this is the camera I need. But it makes no sense for me to be an early adopter.

No longer a rumour - http://www.nikon.com/news/2012/0207_dslr_01.htm

I just ordered the D800 (not the D800E)
I'm thinking Morie with the team uniforms that I shoot a lot could end up being a problem.
It looks pretty good.

DPR Review:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond800/

I have been watching this closely as well. I have a D90 and I shoot mainly macro and flora. I do landscape infrequently and do not own a FX wide angle. My reason for upgrading is I wanted a camera with more fps so I can do insect in flight shots. However, the D800 can do 4 fps due to its large sensor which is not better than the D90. I am planning do some landscape when I go on the Silk road trip in April and considering on getting a wide angle lens. My dilemma is whether I should upgrade to the D800 and buy a FX wide angle or upgrade to the D300s (discontinued production) for its faster fps and get the DX 10-20mm wide angle. BTW I have the 18-200mm which I like a lot as general purpose walk about lens. Another factor that dissuade me from going for the D800 is the weight as I find backpacking heavy camera gear quite tiring.

I've ordered a standard D800 with a 14-24 lens. I've been without a camera from 5 months now, so I'm not in a position to wait around and see how these models pan out. The extra res of the E model was initially attractive, but the I don't want to deal with the moire patterning problem. The standard model looks very impressive and will do everything I need for landscape work and producing high quality prints. The movie mode functions look outstanding also (search YouTube to see some great videos).

David, I just ordered that lens too, I needed to upgrade my wide lens,
seems people have a lot of good things to say about it, and the D800 should get the max out of it.

Gary, FPS seems to be it's biggest negative, for folks that need a burst, so the D800 may not be the best for your applications.

I've found speed of acquiring VR and AF to be really important in some of my uses- aerials in rough air, "action" shooting, and even PJ. I haven't done it in a while, but I can see it could be a real issue with aerial avian. Older technology, but an early morning aerial shoot produced zero useable images from a D2X, yet everything from a D300 came out fine. The D300 was that much faster in both.

Anyone know of a place where those are compared for bodies, and where the 800 would fall in the spectrum?

Hank,
Not sure specifically but Thom Hogan seems to be the go to guy for that type of information.
Also NikonRumors and DigitalPhotographyReview could be useful.
AF seems to be one of the d800's strengths.

I'm exited about the D800 too because I expect used D700s might drop into my price range.

Pete D. never riding the crest of the wave

If any lens is up to it the 14-24 is. I have been shooting it with an adapter on my 5D2, it is great!