Wetpixel D800 review

My photo above was taken with Adam's shaved 15mm Sigma and 4" Zen dome. Alex

My photo above was taken with Adam's shaved 15mm Sigma and 4" Zen dome. Alex

Ahhh...

... but I don't like shaving!!

Has Adam described his butchery of the poor lens?

Tim

Didn't Fred Bavingdon already make the point that it would be better to shoot FX with the 15mm and crop rather than fit the Tokina and zoom to 17mm on DX? It was the argument that cost me a lot of cash but I am still awaiting my housing (promised for tomorrow) to find out!

This was shot last week with D800, shaved Sigma 15mm behind a Zen DP-100-NN:

My photo above was taken with Adam's shaved 15mm Sigma and 4" Zen dome. Alex

Now the serious questions: does shaving affect the flare performance?

I can't remember, off-hand, the exact lens dimensions, but seem to recall that the Sigma 15mm is a little longer than the Nikon 10.5mm and a little shorter than the Tokina 10-17mm. You used the Nikon version of the Zen dome? Has anyone seen if the Sigma has significant vignetting in the Tokina version of the dome (which might accomodate the unshaved shade)?

Tim

Now the serious questions: does shaving affect the flare performance?

 

I can't remember, off-hand, the exact lens dimensions, but seem to recall that the Sigma 15mm is a little longer than the Nikon 10.5mm and a little shorter than the Tokina 10-17mm. You used the Nikon version of the Zen dome? Has anyone seen if the Sigma has significant vignetting in the Tokina version of the dome (which might accomodate the unshaved shade)?

 

Tim

 

The shade on Sigma 15mm is quite long and I've seen two different shade shapes. The one we opened (and shaved) for the Digital Shootout last week was the long curved variety. Not sure if the more squared type is shorter though. Either way, it won't fit in the Zen DP-100 for 10-17 to my knowledge, and if you were to add enough extension, it would vignette.

Cheers,

Cp

... it won't fit in the Zen DP-100 for 10-17 to my knowledge...

Thanks.

Oh, the (growing) pains of FX!!

Tim

Hey Tim,

I can concur with Chris.

I accidentally left a 15mm extension on my dome whilst using it with the Sigma-strange circular fisheye effect is the result!

Adam

How are all you D800 users finding your camera now the hyperbole has subsided a little? Still as impressive as it seems on paper? Any major performance issues?

Despite being a Canon shooter genuinely intrigued by this camera as there are certain features that are unique with it. As much as it pains me I might be tempted to get one for underwater shooting. I have a couple of Nikon mount Sigma lenses (15mm, 70mm macro) from my F90 days, so I would only need a wide angle. I am guessing from the reviews here the 16-35mm is the lens to use for wide angle?

Erol

Hi Erol,

I think that those of us using the D800 are still adjusting to just how good it (potentially) is

I have used Alex's 16-35mm and it is very clean I does need a big (9"+) dome and a long extension though.

Adam

I have used Alex's 16-35mm and it is very clean I does need a big (9"+) dome and a long extension though.

The edges are prettty messy in the image above: what f-stop were you using, and what extension? I have a little sneakiness that I want to try when I get housed, and will report if it works, but knowing what's already been tried would be very helpful.

Tim

Unfortunately, my Nauticam NAD800 is already showing signs of rusting. 3 NAD800 housings here and one rusting, being the one most used in water... daily for 9 days!

Another 2 NA7D (about 7 months old) housings here also have rusting view finders. More evaluation is coming.

I have a little sneakiness that I want to try...

OK: preliminary trials (in the bath - just watch Wimbledon to see what British conditions are like this "summer") show the Nikon 16-35mm working behind the Anthis/Nexus custom 12-24mm port with a 30mm extension; I haven't worked out if its better with the bare lens or a +3D diopter. The bare dome seems to accommodate the Sigma 15mm with a Kenko teleconverter.

Tim

Unfortunately, my Nauticam NAD800 is already showing signs of rusting.

What state are the two sacrificial anodes in?

Tim

Hi,

I got my D800 waterproof (Ikelite housing) and did my first shots last weekend in a pool.

All done with the Nikon 16-85mm behind the 8" Dome. I was quite happy with the results. Autofokus was the whole time in 3D mode and did pretty well.

More pics in this thread.

Regards René

Hi Erol,

 

I think that those of us using the D800 are still adjusting to just how good it (potentially) is

 

 

I have used Alex's 16-35mm and it is very clean I does need a big (9"+) dome and a long extension though.

 

Adam

Thanks Adam

Yes I am sure it will take a while to get the full picture. Thats a nice shot..

I have been very interested by this camera for a number of reasons, the massive DR, 1/500th sync in DX and generally the increased ''hackability'' of Nikon.

However when all is said and done, my 5D2 and 7D are better cameras than I am a photographer and I think I d prefer to squeeze the best out of them before moving to something else.

Erol

D800 in DX:

.....Poorer viewfinder (using D800 viewfinder in DX mode means a much smaller view than D7000 viewfinder). This is a significant point - unless you like small viewfinders!

Thanks for this point Alex, if you are saying the DX mode gives a smaller image thru the viewfinder than a D7000, but excuse my ignorance, never experienced a full frame camera yet. How does the viewfinder image view on the D800 in FX mode compare in size to a viewfinder on a DX body? I assume they are the same size?

I thought that I'd copy this over from the wide-zoom thread. I was very pleasantly surprised, not to say impressed: Nikon D800, Nauticam NA-D800, Sigma 15mm, Tokina x1.5 T/C, Nexus 12-24mm port. ISO 1600, illuminated by a single Sola 600:

Tim

Tim

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Nikon D800 in Nauticam housing...

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A crop from the camera's jpeg file:

Tim

What state are the two sacrificial anodes in?Tim

For me, it's more an annoyance more than a major issue. Other brands also have corrosion issues at some point but it'd be nice if Nauticsm made this less of an issue.. It certainly doesn't deter buyers. In fact I'm selling the housing and camera already to a very happy buddy of mine after I finish up my stint in Africa.