Nikon D810 First Shots posted: See Nikon’s new megapixel monster up close and personal

 

 

When the D800 was first released it made a big splash with its massive 36.3-megapixel full-frame resolution. Nikon shortly followed with the D800E, which used a different sensor filtering arrangement to effectively cancel-out the effect of the optical low-pass filter and thus increasing image resolution. With the inclusion of Nikon's speedier, more powerful EXPEED 4 image processor, the new single-model Nikon D810 completely does away with the low-pass filter for better resolution, while the new chip is more capable of removing moiré and false color. 

Our review sample of the Nikon D810 arrived this morning, and it's been given the First Shots treatment in our test lab. In addition to the new filterless sensor design, the improved microlenses help with light gathering, allowing this DSLR to have a native base ISO of 64 (as well as a native upper limit now at 12,800)!

While comparisons to the D800E are surely on top of many Nikon shooters' minds, we're also curious how the new Sigma dp2 Quattro, with its new Foveon X3 Quattro image sensor (that's been shown to out-resolve traditional 36MP sensors), stacks up against Nikon's new full-frame 36.3MP DSLR.

 

ISO 100: The Nikon D810 (left) compared to the Nikon D800E (right).

Our Nikon D810 Still Life test images are shot across the full ISO range -- from the extended ISO 32 (yes, 32!), all the way up to 51,200 -- and, as usual, these are now available for side-by-side comparisons in our world renowned Comparometer. Here you can put it up against its predecessor the D800E or its rivals like the Canon 5D Mark III, Sony A7R or anything else you're considering as an alternative. From our samples page you can access images across the full ISO range, including access to the RAW files and EXIF data, as well as compare these images against the competition in our Comparometer.

Happy pixel-peeping!