It is day two. I have possessed my Nikon D800 full frame DSLR for exactly 24 hours as I write (3PM Tuesday). I am ecstatic and overwhelmed at the same time. I have already been back to the camera store, prepared to do battle to make them exchange my malfunctioning camera for a working one. The camera would not format the disk, neither using the menu option nor the two button option. I spent last evening worrying about it, scouring the manual, reading on-line about D800 problems. I barely slept and I worried about it all through Pilates class. I fought my inclination to go straight to the camera store from the gym, already steamed up, hot and sweaty from my work out. I went home, took a shower, packed up all of the cords and bags and manuals. I had to return home twice to retrieve things I forgot to put back in the box; first trip: the body cap; second trip: the USB cable. I arrived at Action Camera at 11:09, 25 hours and 1 minute after I received the initial call from them yesterday that my camera had finally arrived. I was greeted by the owner who smiled at me and then frowned as I handed him the camera and declared that it was not working and that it would not format a disk. In less than 5 seconds, he had formatted the disk and erased the files. My relief was palpable. My embarrassment manifested in the beet red of my face. I had not pressed the OK button to OK the action to erase the disk. I didn’t realize that the OK button was located in a different place on the D800 than on the D90. I think I am not ready for this sophisticated a camera.
I spent a couple of hours after I returned home rereading the “Getting To Know The Camera” section of the manual before I felt comfortable again actually taking some shots. I hoped the hummingbird would pose but she bathed two feet away from me and drank at the feeder while I read the manual and wouldn’t return after I put myself on alert. My roses came in as a second option.
I took the shots at about the worst time of day: lots of bright sun directly overhead. But in the suddenly warm weather, roses that were buds yesterday are full blown today and will be gone tomorrow. I could have waited until the “golden” hour, but I was itching to get out and take some shots. I used my 28-300mm zoom lens and my 50mm prime lens and took similar shots. I think, once I understand the incredible sophistication of this camera, that I will eventually get some really nice photos.
I wanted to share similar photos taken with the two lenses I bought specifically for the D800: 28-300mm zoom lens and 50mm prime lens, with both lenses wide open.
Betty Boop at 300mm:
Focal Length 300mm
Manual Mode:
ISO 100
f/5.6
1/500
SOOC
Betty Boop at 50mm:
Focal Length 50mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
F/1.4
1/4000
SOOC
Just Joey at 300mm
Focal Length 300mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
f/5.6
1/100
SOOC
Just Joey at 50mm
Focal Length 50mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
f/1.4
1/3200
SOOC
Sheila’s Perfume at 300mm
Focal Length 300mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
f/5.6
1/100
SOOC
Sheila’s Perfume at 50mm
Focal Length 50mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
f/1.4
1/3200
SOOC
Rio Samba at 50mm
Focal Length 50mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
f/1.4
1/2000
SOOC
Just Joey (again) at 300mm
Focal Length 300mm
Manual Mode
ISO 100
f/5.6
1/100
SOOC
Just gorgeous! I don’t know if it’s the camera or the lenses, but these shots are just gorgeous! Hard to pick favorites- but probably the first shots of the Betty Boop and the Just Joey. But then there’s that creamy bokeh with the 50mm! I’m so glad you’re enjoying your camera and that there’s nothing wrong with it (I didn’t really think there was)! It will take quite awhile to get used to it, I’m sure- but what fun!!!