Review: Nikon D810
The Basics
The Nikon D810 DSLR camera may be the ultimate piece for semi-professional and consumer photographers. It’s a major piece of equipment which weighs in at over 2 pounds without a lens, but the body has a very ergonomic design which offsets the carried weight of the camera. Inside this heavyweight frame, It boasts 36.3 megapixels which produce extremely sharp images, an astoundingly clear ISO range from 64 to 12,800, exceedingly fast auto-focus motors, the most silent shutter sounds of any Nikon, and finally an ample amount of storage space for both SD cards and compact flash cards. There are limitless features and options for customization that put this impressive hardware to work.
Specs and Costs
Average price from Amazon and B&H: $2,100 (body only)
Resolution: 36.3 megapixels
ISO Range: 64–12,800
Expandable ISO Range: 32–51,200
Autofocus: 51 Points with options to reduce to 9 point, single point
Memory: SD slot and compact flash slot
Continuous Shooting Speed: 5 frames per second
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000–30 full seconds
View Mode: viewfinder and live view screen
Screen Size:3.2 inches
Video Quality: 1080p
Crop Modes: DX, FX, Canon Emulation
Inputs: Built in stereo jack and mic jack, headphone jack, micro-usb port
Flash Type: Built in, remote switch
Battery Type: EN-EL 15 battery (same as most Nikon DSLRs)
Dimensions:8.20 x 6.50 x 5.60 inches
Why I love the Nikon D810
One of the greatest things about the D810 that I personally take advantage of constantly in my night time photography, is the high dynamic range of color and amazing ISO range for low light shooting. Below is a photo I captured in the dark with a slow shutter speed and wide open aperture of F1.4.
The photo is obviously too dark, especially in the corners and sides. With the amazing clarity and high dynamic range of the Nikon D810, I can wildly up the exposure and shadows of this image in my editing software without losing any noticeable clarity in the image below.
Another bonus of the Nikon D810 over similar camera bodies is the amount of protection its durable construction provides. I have been attacked by civilians and policemen while taking photos at protests and public events, but my D810 barely suffered a scratch from hitting the pavement. This camera is extremely water, shock, and heat resistant. These qualities come in handy every day for the average photographer on the go and the combat correspondent. For a little extra protection, I have a steel tripod mount surrounding the bottom and left side of the body acting most of the time as a pseudo-roll cage.
Cons to the Nikon D810
While the camera’s strong points have been addressed, the negative aspects of this camera should be in mind as well before making any purchase. All its performance and durability adds up to a hulking body that weighs over two pounds without any kind of lens or attachments. For those that carry copious amounts of equipment and those who may suffer from back or neck conditions, this may not be the best model to choose from. If that is the case, then I’d recommend the D750. Though lacking the professional clarity offered in the D810, the Nikon D750 offers many of the same features at a fraction of the weight and cost. Mirrorless cameras are also much lighter compared to standard DSLRs and can be found from Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm. Personally, I carry a Fujifilm XT20 mirrorless camera as my lightweight back up. It has served me very well and can be found at a reasonable cost online. While I’m partial to Nikon, Fujifilm has an excellent range of options with their cameras at less out-of-reach prices.
Don’t just take it from me
The D810 almost always finds its way into the top ten lists of online rankings, being recommended by photojournalists and photographers worldwide. In the World Press Photo contest of 2018, the D810 scored among the very top of photographer’s choices with 11 of the professionals surveyed saying that they used that model.
In addition, many famous photographers use the Nikon D810 in their daily work for artistic and journalistic purposes. Some examples include profile photographer Annie Leibovitz, event photographer Sam Hurd, and sports reporter Guy Swarbrick.
Get one now!
I highly recommend any semi-professional photographer who is looking at purchasing more than a consumer camera, I cannot recommend the Nikon D810 highly enough. It serves as an excellent vehicle for the journey from amateur to professional, and will help you create incredible images for years to come.
