Nikon D850 previews, commentary - first reviews

[chambeshi]

Just came back from a NPS meeting in the Netherlands.
There was a presentation of a Nikon photographer/ambassador; Little Shao. He's an action photographer and showed some impressive work with the D850.
After the presentation there was a possibility to check the D850 out (they had 4 of them).
I asked if i could put a card in it and to my surprise they said yes.
So now I have some RAW-images but no software to develop.

So Ann please...., which software you're using?

This is an SOOC JPG D850, 28E, @6400 F1.4 just downsized to 900px in PS

Thanks for this interesting feedback. So it appears Capture NX will not work on the new D850 raw files?

here's a couple more summaries
https://nikonrumors.com/2017/08/24/what-others-are-saying-about-the-nikon-d850.aspx/#more-115179

and Little Shao in Prom clips
https://youtu.be/-RD9orbiwgE

https://youtu.be/zVmlMpwqOu4

[Ann]

DNG will also need an upgrade to access the new camera profiles for the D850.

[chambeshi]

D850 compared against D810

https://nikonrumors.com/2017/08/24/nikon-d850-vs-nikon-d810-specifications-comparison.aspx/#more-115275

and presentation slides
https://nikonrumors.com/2017/08/24/nikon-d850-presentation-slides.aspx/

[chris dees]

The deeper grip of the D850 feels much better for me as I have small hands.
The touch screen is better than with the D500. You can go thru the menus with the touch screen.

The rep demonstrated the silent shooting and I was impressed with the AF in LiveView.
Also the focus peeking is a nice feature in LV.

The camera is very responsive with everything.

Files are large. The ones I have are from 61-75Mb

[chambeshi]

Thanks again! All the more impressive summary (and intimidating files but to be expected!)

The web is swamped with rehashed info - mostly soundbites as the D850 launch stirs the pot.... best to await proper test reports

So a final trench of Previews - the Wex video is revealing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0y9md98rt0

http://www.wexphotographic.com/blog/reviews/nikon-d850-first-look-review--a-high-resolution-force-to-be-reckoned-with/

http://gearopen.com/cameras/nikon-d850-hands-on-review-first-impressions-64476/

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/nikon-d850

Today's been a long day in August but stimulating :-)

The deeper grip of the D850 feels much better for me as I have small hands.
The touch screen is better than with the D500. You can go thru the menus with the touch screen.

The rep demonstrated the silent shooting and I was impressed with the AF in LiveView.
Also the focus peeking is a nice feature in LV.

The camera is very responsive with everything.

Files are large. The one I have are from 61-75Mb

[David H. Hartman]

If my D800 is worth at best $850.00 (USD) then what is my D300s worth? -$850.00?? 

The only thing (stupid phone) that I own that's worth more than $3,400.00 is my house. I asked Satan and he isn't interested in buying my soul. He said he's got it in the bag anyway.

The BSI sensor, 0.75x viewfinder and medium NEF has my attention. The D5/D500 AF would be so welcome.

Dave Hartman who is forlorn...

[chambeshi]

a couple of reports of interest....
https://nikonrumors.com/2017/08/23/thinking-of-upgrading-to-the-d850-this-is-how-much-you-can-get-for-your-current-full-frame-nikon-dslr-camera.aspx/

First Dynamic Range estimates of the D850:
http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Nikon%20D810,Nikon%20D850

from the  D850 Directory collated by NR - a most useful compilation :-)

https://nikonrumors.com/2017/08/24/nikon-d850-directory-the-big-recap.aspx/

[arthurking83]

Thanks for this interesting feedback. So it appears Capture NX will not work on the new D850 raw files?

.....

CNX-D(version 1.4.3) is struggling to preview the D850 NEF files.
It says generating preview, but doesn't seem to be able too.

ViewNX2(version 2.10.3) can open the NEF file, but with the caveat that you preview the file in JPG mode(making sure the small NEF icon in the upper LH side is not yellowed).
Of course this means that you can only preview the embedded jpg file in the NEF file, but it still gives you an indication as to how the NEF file has rendered.

We now await the release of CNX-D version 1.4.6, which is the version that Nikon seem to have used to generate jpgs from the NEF files.

[Eddie Draaisma]

Nikon USA has the .pdf brochure online:

http://cdn-4.nikon-cdn.com/e/Q5NM96RZZo-YRYNeYvAi9beHK4x3L-8h09FYyKWnWU6L2l14O7STBw==/Misc/D850_brochure.pdf

[chambeshi]

CNX-D(version 1.4.3) is struggling to preview the D850 NEF files.
It says generating preview, but doesn't seem to be able too.

ViewNX2(version 2.10.3) can open the NEF file, but with the caveat that you preview the file in JPG mode(making sure the small NEF icon in the upper LH side is not yellowed).
Of course this means that you can only preview the embedded jpg file in the NEF file, but it still gives you an indication as to how the NEF file has rendered.

We now await the release of CNX-D version 1.4.6, which is the version that Nikon seem to have used to generate jpgs from the NEF files.

just read feedback to the post of these images that Android RAW2DNG app (free) works converting to DNG [ http://www.photographyblog.com/previews/nikon_d850_photos/ ]

[Eddie Draaisma]

Nikon USA has the .pdf brochure online:

http://cdn-4.nikon-cdn.com/e/Q5NM96RZZo-YRYNeYvAi9beHK4x3L-8h09FYyKWnWU6L2l14O7STBw==/Misc/D850_brochure.pdf

One of the (imho) interesting tidbits from the pdf:

"In addition to offering superb autofocus performance, the D850 also makes manual
focusing more precise. Its electronic rangefinder identifies whether a subject is in focus
more accurately than ever before, allowing you to capture sharp images when focusing
in manual mode, or using a manual focus lens."

[John Geerts]

One of the (imho) interesting tidbits from the pdf:

"In addition to offering superb autofocus performance, the D850 also makes manual
focusing more precise. Its electronic rangefinder identifies whether a subject is in focus
more accurately than ever before, allowing you to capture sharp images when focusing
in manual mode, or using a manual focus lens."

That is a very interesting quote.  Makes me wonder how it will be done. With the 'green' dot?

[Eddie Draaisma]

That is a very interesting quote.  Makes me wonder how it will be done. With the 'green' dot?

Yes, with the "green" dot. It is mentioned top-left on page 62.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

Already on the D5 I find the focus confirmation dot to have less range where it is lit than on the D810. With the latter I would have to study both ends of the range and make a selection in the middle of the range.

[Frank Fremerey]

What I find exciting is that the negative scanner supports in camera conversion to positive. Meaning it is a one-step-process. Plus the 2.8/60 micro is mentioned as the recommended optic for the ES2, so I can have my slide scanning solution and negative scanning solution and can sell all the stuff that I just bought to interested parties...

Plus the D3 and D600 possibly and the 1.4/24G. The beloved  D600 only after a deep test of the tonal response of my D850. The first shots on the net seem more than promising

It is no long wait. If the first shipment arrives here at 7 September it is only 13 days to survive without her.