First Nikon D800 Tips

Here are the key Nikon D800 tips for new owners of this amazing camera!

When I got mine a few weeks ago, naturally I went and fired off some test shots in a variety of situations.  What I saw scared the cr*p out of me.  Horrors!!!!!!You already know I an not the “pixel-peeper” type of photographer, I can barely count to 10 never mind 26 megapixels! So what i was looking for was  how the camera handled, colour quality, image size, ISO performance and sharpness.

So I got back to my computer and proceed to transfer the files to process them.  I shoot RAW, and use Nikon Capture NX2 to open my RAW images to “lock in” any special settings (more on this later), and the files opened no problem, surprisingly fast, and at first look, appeared to be not so great.  At 100% they were pretty crappy to be honest – blocky, and ugly.  But when I zoomed at all past 100% DISASTER! (I know you’d probably never print something at more than 100% what I saw was definitely NOT right!!!

Further exploration revealed that the D800 image was only 1080 pixels x 1623 pixels – certainly NOT 26 megapixels, THAT file should be HUGE.

The Nikon D800 is very new, and from what I can tell, it’s slow getting into the hands of photographers because Nikon is only building a “few” at a time. (I ordered mine in February and only got it 3 weeks ago). Thousands are still waiting. As a result there’s not too much information on the Internet about any quirks, or special processes for effective and creative workflow. So I was really stumped.

But I should have known!

Grrrrrrrr – Nikon!!  Turns out all my software was able to do was work with the jpg thumbnail!!!!. Essentially ALL my post processing software had to be updated. Even Capture –  Nikon’s own product. Photoshop ACR and Lightroom too will need to be updated.

So before you rush to view your new Nikon D800 images here’s what you need to do first if you’re a RAW shooter. (I guess the first thing would be to switch to JPG – the quality is very good – but i don’t recommend this if you will be doing any amount of post processing)

 

IN THE SHORT TERM- IF YOU SHOOT RAW:

1) Install the NikonViewNX2 CD that comes with the camera.  This will allow you to view, and save your images to a TIF or JPG at the correct size and resolution. You MUST use this software, until you have upgraded Photoshop ACR. 

But using the resulting saved file, you can work normally in Photoshop and any other post processing software.

 

2) Update NikonCapture NX2

(if you’re a Nikon user and are shooting RAW files i totally recommend – no beg, you to use Cature NX2 – yes it’s a pain in the ass, yes it’s slow, and it adds another complication to your workflow

BUT it’s totally worth it – especially with the Nikon D800!!!)

Full details, installation instructions and access to download the update can be found here:

Nikon Capture NX2 version 2.3.1 (Nikon Europe)

Nikon Capture NX2 version 2.3.1 (Nikon USA)

Nikon Capture NX2 version 2.3.1 (Nikon Canada)

New in Nikon Capture NX2 version 2.3.1:

• Support for RAW images captured with the D4 and D800/D800E has been added.
• Extra High 1 (Extra High) and Extra High 2 items have been added to the Active D-Lighting pull-down menu under Camera Settings in the Develop section of the Edit List. When “Always use the latest Color Reproduction Process” in the Picture Control Utility Preferences is selected for images captured with cameras released prior to the D4, these items will be displayed.
• Event ID can now be displayed under File Info 2 in the File & Camera Information section of the Metadata palette for images captured by, and to which IPTC information has been added using the IPTC item in the camera’s setup menu, the D4.
• Display format for the following items in the Edit List has been modified.
- Active D-Lighting under Camera Settings in the Develop section.
- Color Moiré Reduction under Camera & Lens Corrections in the Develop section
• An issue that prevented sufficient application of vignette control enhancement for RAW (NEF) images captured with the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1 with A firmware Ver. 1.10 or 1.11 and B firmware Ver. 1.10 installed has been resolved.
• An issue that prevented accurate display of lens information in the Metadata palette for images captured with the Nikon 1 V1 or Nikon 1 J1 and a 1 NIKKOR lens has been resolved.
• When certain images with GPS information attached were saved in JPEG format, Capture NX 2 sometimes quit responding.  This issue has been resolved.

3) Upgrade Lightroom – if you use it;

Download Adobe Photoshop CS5 [Old Version]

Download Adobe Photoshop CS6

ACR 7.1 -Phot0shop CS6 only

Adobe DNG Converter

Older versions of ACR (for those who’s budget has been blown completely! – Like me ) Photoshop CS 5 and older. (But from what i can find,  the oldest version of Photoshop that will work for the Nikon D800 is PSCS5)