An old DSLR in this age of mirrorless? Yup - the Nikon D800! Still an amazing beast in 2022!

(#NikonZ9 #wildlifephotography #natrephotography)
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[@peterviragphoto]

Love how excited you got about the good ole D800. I still can’t believe how beautiful those hummingbirds are, their vibrant plumage, those scale- like feathers on their throat! P.s. love those dragon fly shots from your archive!

[@JonnyPink65]

Peter - I am as excited about shooting this camera as you are about your new Canon R7. This was always my favorite camera and I am experiencing it all over again. As strange/silly as it sounds, this sensor and the way it processes the raw files was always just special to my eyes. I see it all over again and I love it!! Guitars are much the same as far as sound. The average person would not hear it, but the player does. each of us looks for something special in a camera. This one still does it for me! 🙏🤗💖

[@WalksInCamera]

Just bought a D800. Great spec and full frame. Really enjoyed using it and have taken some really cool photos!

[@JonnyPink65]

I still think it is one of the BEST cameras every made. Enjoy it!!! 🙏💖🤗

[@camcappe353]

I love my D800, the colors, the detail the quality astounds me every time. Amazing how good the AF is on this camera.

[@JonnyPink65]

It is for sure. it is a shame the newer Z cameras are not the same. 🙏🤗💖

[@alfabravofilm]

The Nikon D800 is always a great camera. It's really exciting when you go to open the photos that you have taken. Congrats for the photos, Jhon. They are fantastic.👍👍👍

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you, thank you!! It is funny but I think I was getting used the the R5 doing everything for me even though it is always in manual. Going back to my old camera has made me think about each and every shot - I LOVE it. Each time I have taken it out and take it out, I am more and more impressed with it. These past two days I was shooting in cloudy, dark terrible light...... and I LOVE the images I have. Working on new videos now, but taking time to reply!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. 🙏🤗💖

[@TheWhipidhinio]

Last time I commented I commended you on your handheld sharpness. It convinced me to go for the d800 over the already tested in my hands d810. I chose it to save over 200 pounds. Which I put towards a sigma 120-400. In love with that setup. But I’ve found even with my crop kit lenses the d800 produces incredible results and I love taking people photos as well as wildlife.

[@JonnyPink65]

The D800 is an amazing camera and i am planning on shooting it again for the next 2 or 3 days. I will have the Z9 in the bag, but man I love what the D800 produces. I will be using the 500 PF and the 1.4 tele. I have to say that I am really looking forward to it. It is supposed to be raining here again for the next couple of days so that will be fun as well!! That is one camera I am not worried about having in the rain without a cover. Such an amazing beast!! 🤗🙏❤

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Amazing shots and video John. I remember when I got the D800. Before that I was staunchly Canon. I intended my first full frame camera was going to be the 5D III. But the update from the 5DII was disappointing after much anticipation. So I saw this Nikon 36MP camera and thought I’d give it a go. I’ve been shooting Nikon since. The D800 will always have that uniqueness about it. Even underwater 😂 Thanks for sharing buddy 🤙🙏

[@JonnyPink65]

Adrian my friend - you have to have a cover on your D800 to take it underwater....😂 I am really enjoying the D800 and Nikon color all over again I was out all day today in cloudy light shooting hummingbirds and it still blows me away. I am glad I have gone back and forth between Canon and Nikon. Both are amazing and both have advantages over the other. Just out having an amazing amount of fun. Thank you, thank you!!! 💖🤗🙏

[@thomasphillips5850]

Beautiful results with that old dinosaur. I shoot with the 850, so yeah I agree 100%. It is fun when you have to work a little harder. The focus peaking is insane I love it. I manually focus an 135 f2 DC nikon on a Z6 it is amazing and that is one he'll of a lense. Thanks for letting me ramble on. Great video.

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you, thank you. I still thank that the D800 is one of the best camera bodies every made. It just has something that no other camera has or has. I loved the D850 and my R5, R3.... but the D800 for me still has a magic to it. The only long lens I still have is an OLD 300 F2.8. I want to re-buy a 200-500 at some point just as a fun going out to shoot rig!!! 🙏🤗💖

[@lemop]

Thanks for these videos! I've just moved from a D600 to a D800 and it's so encouraging to see people's actual shots with the body I'm using. I know people say the body shouldn't matter and I was happy with many of my D600 shots, but I just never saw people's results using them online.

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you Tim!! The D800 was and STILL is my all time favorite camera. I have compared it to the R5, and the new Z9. Of all the Nikons I have owned, this on has always just been such a superior camera and for me, has a magic that no other camera had or has had. The new Z9 is super close if not right there but only using the Z9 for a year will tell me that. But yes - the D800 is still amazing. If I found another with a low shutter count, I would buy it. Mine has way over 300,000 at this point...... and still amazing!! 🙏❤🤗

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

I have an D700 and Canon Eos R , for wedding I use R for personal hobby I use D700 there is always joy to shoot with Dslr and images are full of character with old bodies.

[@JonnyPink65]

I have see a lot about the D700 lately. I want to get an older body just for fun - I think I will look at that. The older bodies still have some magic!! 🤗💖🙏

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

@@JonnyPink65 You will love it, i print so many images out of D700 especially landscapes.

[@JonnyPink65]

@@PunjabiGymBeats I will be looking at it. Or a D3x!! Thank you for turning me on to it!! 💖

[@Eli4Bill]

Excellent video John! Always enjoy your conversation and comments. And, your enthusiasm for photography. That motivates and inspires me! Btw, great photos with the D800 and 200-500 lens! 👏

[@JonnyPink65]

Bill!!! Thank you. I so enjoy being out there with whatever I have in my hands. However, going back to the DSLR with not much auto has been an eye opening blast. I am glad I have had (and have) the opportunity to use and own the new tech and will continue to shoot it, but man I am having fun thinking about all my shots. If it is awesome, it is me. If it is terrible - it is me. Pure camera fun!!! Thank you, thank you Bill! 🙏💖🤗

[@Eli4Bill]

@@JonnyPink65 Love those comments John!!👏👏

[@Alex_Martz]

I have the D800E and is still amazing in 2024, no need to upgrade to D850 for me

[@JonnyPink65]

No need to upgrade at all if the D800E is working for you. Amazing sensor that still produces deep rich images. I dont use my D800 as much - I am so afraid of something breaking and not being able to get it fixed..... 🙏🤗💖

[@black-and-light]

Awesome!

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you, thank you!! 🙏🤗💖

[@carloscorona6542]

For an old camera it takes great pictures. The detail is amazing. And you have a great eye for photography John .keep up the great work

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you Carlos!!! This is still my all time favorite camera. Going back to it has made me have to think about each shot and I love it. The best of anything comes from the passion of the person!!! 🙏🤗💖

[@spirg]

I have no desire to go mirrorless ..

[@davidcollazos8985]

As always...you are right on the money. Old technology can provide asnonishing results even nowadays, in fact, I'm enjoying a Nikon D3X in 2022 along with much newer bodies. The quality of the files up to iso 1600 is second to none. Cheers!!

[@JonnyPink65]

David, I was looking at one of those.... or a D5 for fun. The new shooter, and I have to admit that I fell into it when I started shooting the R5 and the R7, rely on the camera a LOT. When I went back to my D800, I had to think about each shot, watch all the settings..... and it was awesome! I have seen a few out in the fields that have the newest and most expensive gear thinking they will get a great shot based on the camera and that is just not the case. You still have to know how to control the light, see your subject and get the shot you want - just just spay and pray! What I have discovered is that I prefer the thinking and feeling like that amazing shot is all me - I feel like a real photographer all over again. I do like new tech and I am glad i can play with it, but as I say a lot - it is the person behind the camera that makes for a great shot!!! Thank you, thank you David. 🙏💖🤗 PS - I am old school - on the D800 I dont set my ISO over 400. 250 and 320 are the sweet spot!

[@forced_perspective]

Very nice hummer shots. With that bright sky that old camera has a heck of a dynamic range

[@alfabravofilm]

... and not only... 😉🙂

[@JonnyPink65]

I have to say that this lens is pretty awesome too. We can trade for a while so you can see what I mean - it is AWESOME. Your D810 should have the dame range - lets go out this weekend!!! 💖🤗🙏

[@withvinayak]

Love those hummingbird shots.. amazing 🎉

[@JonnyPink65]

withvinayak, thank you, thank you!!! 🙏🤗💖

[@morgankarno7335]

I love my d800e I got it upon release

[@JonnyPink65]

Awesome!!! I got my D800 just after release and it is one camera that I will not part with. It is still such an amazing camera - deep, rich, creamy photos. 🙏😁💖

[@larrysmith6797]

Your opening mountain range time lapse has a row of Porta Pottys in the foreground. Professional.

[@JonnyPink65]

🤣 Those are native to this particular region. I did manage to not get the homeless in the shot so that is a bonus. There was not much in the way of something to hide them other than adding a mask and moving something over and completely concealing it...... but this is KZbin. if I were editing for someone else, I would have done that ..... but for you little channel, I though it was rather apropos to the area! Other than getting the best shots I can, I try not to take KZbin to seriously. But that is one of the things I do talk about in my videos - watch you background weather it is shooting wildlife or events. Always be aware of what you can control and what you cant. 🙏🤗💖

[@CristiHolerga]

Hello Johnny! I'm about to buy a D800 and I'm curious how good is this beauty focusing in really low light? Is it better than D700 and D610? I only used that cameras for almost 8 years now, and the D700 focus sistem is very good, but unfortunately I'm a wedding photographer and 12MP isn't enough for me nowadays. I'm waiting for you're response! :) Thank you!

[@JonnyPink65]

I apologize for my delay in responding. In really low light, I manual focus. I never shot the D700 or the D610 so I have no reference or way to compare. I can say it is better focusing than the D750 but the D750 was awesome in low light. I am actually shooting my first wedding in about 4+ years as a favor (didnt think I would be excited about it) and since I am not sure what the beach cloud light conditions will be, I will be using my Canon R5 with another rented R5. There are specs out there that will give you a guide to the low light capability in comparison, but I can not speak to it. I will say that if I had a controlled portrait shoot or just head shots, I would use the D800. Not the answer you wanted but the best I can give!! 🙏💖🤗

[@migueljohnson432]

Dear John, long time no notice from my side, bought another Nikon. This one the D3 which I am using at the horses, mainly for sports. My D800 is still my first goto for everything nature related. Nice to see you are still gravitating towards it. BTW as always another very inspiring video. I love your photographs of the humming birds, they are lovely. Take care and cheers. Miguel

[@JonnyPink65]

Miguel, thank you!! I thought about buying an old D3 or D4. D5 but ...... I spent my money elsewhere at the moment. It was on a whim I pulled this out again and fell in love with it all over again. I have to think about each shot and I love that about it. Going to keep shooting the hummingbirds while I can until the dragonflies come back out! Spring. 🙏🤗💖

[@migueljohnson432]

@@JonnyPink65 Just passed an opportunity of getting a beautiful D4 for almost no money. Had a meeting and totally forgot about it. When I remembered the auction was over and it went for low 500 Euros in an almost mint condition. Nikon cameras keep multiplying themselves... You have one, you want to have another and another... crazy. 🥰

[@JonnyPink65]

@@migueljohnson432 I am a gear whore - gear afficiato.... You can never have too many!!! 🤗

[@migueljohnson432]

@@JonnyPink65 Just found myself again searching for a lenses. a 300mm 2.8 to fit on my D800... Will wait until after Xmas and see... ;-)

[@JonnyPink65]

@@migueljohnson432 It is an impressive lens. I have to shoot mine at a higher shutter speed since mine does not have VR! Still super sharp. 🤗

[@juanpalomo]

Superb pics man!!! Congrats

[@JonnyPink65]

Juan, thank you. I am having an amazing amount of fun with my old favorite camera. It is still amazing!!! 🙏🤗💖

[@juanpalomo]

@@JonnyPink65 my real name Marcos..from argentina. Photographer and cycñist like you.. Love old good stuff!!!!!!!

[@JonnyPink65]

@@juanpalomo Marcos, it is a pleasure to meet you here. 🙏🤗💖

[@juanpalomo]

@@JonnyPink65 same !!!

[@eltinjones4542]

I have one - Brilliant resolution 📷👍

[@JonnyPink65]

You know, in a side by side with the same lens and same light, the resolution is just about the same as the Z9. This was and still is to me, the best camera every made. It is my all time favorite and the standard to which I measure every other camera. ❤🤗🙏

[@ullybleil]

Great video!!!

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you, thank you!! 🙏❤🤗

[@TC-hl1ws]

Terrific audio selection for the slideshow. Amazing sharp photos as well. What software did you use to create the slideshow?

[@JonnyPink65]

T C!!!! I do everything in Adobe. Photos, I use Lightroom Classic and never any AI - just the filters in lightroom and since I keep my ISO low, I have really clean images. I edit all my videos in Premiere Pro and the stuff I have done for others as well. I have tried DaVinci but it was not for me. When I put the videos together, I have to find the music for the mood I want to set. The photos I put in the timeline and set all the key frames so that I get the presentation I want. I put it up on KZbin as private and watch it a couple of times before I make it live because If I am not happy with it, I change it - it its not sharp casting to our big 70" screen then it is not ready and I change it. Thank you, thank you for noticing - I put my heart into each one to give the best presentation possible. 🤗💖🙏 PS - in the hummingbird one I have coming out, I can see the surrounding clouds in the hummingbirds eyes - my wife noticed that watching with me.

[@TC-hl1ws]

@@JonnyPink65 The quality is top notch on your recent productions, a big improvement from the videos you produced when I first started watching your channel.

[@JonnyPink65]

@@TC-hl1ws Thank you!!! I have learned a lot over time - I hope! Thank you for letting me know! 🤗💖

[@helgividar]

Awesome results! Did you calibrate the 200-500 lens to the D800 through AF fine tune?

[@JonnyPink65]

Thank you!!! No, the newer lenses right out of the box are usually spot on...... for the most part. Both this and my 500 PF were awesome out of the box. My old 500 F4 is not so much as this point. 🙏💖🤗

[@samsen3965]

I know D800 is a fantastic body and know in the day, a very photographically serious friend of mine that was a devoted Canon 1Ds user, switched to Nikon only for this, actually the E version that is a tad sharper, and yes you showed a lot of merits of Nikon D800 but for 2023, what is the major lags and nags about D800? In short, what is it that can't par with today's modern cameras? given AFing on a moving subject.

[@JonnyPink65]

Hi Sam!! Well, I may be prejudice, but the D800 has always been my favorite camera and the bar I measure all other cameras against. It is almost as sharp as the Z9 (you would only see it if you pixel peep). I use single point and find it to be amazing on the D800 even tracking birds in flight. You have to think about every shot and watch the ISO and exposure meter .... I really like that. There is no EVF or in body stabilization but it has a creaminess about it that no other camera has - the Z9 is close. The Z9 is a beast of a camera like the D800 (the E version is not one that I have owned). The Z9 shoot AMAZING video and stills in full raw at 20 FPS instead of the 4 fps of the D800. And of course, both have that amazing Nikon color! I will grab the Z9 first in most cases but the D800 is still amazing today. 🙏❤🤗

[@samsen3965]

@@JonnyPink65 TY very much for your reply. I can easily confirm considering the price factor, the winner is clear. Have a great one.🙏

[@JonnyPink65]

@@samsen3965 My pleasure!! 🤗

[@JonnyPink65]

@ericparker8905 That is awesome!!! 💖

[@keithbuck8252]

John just subscribed loved this video, just brought a D800 had bedn using Sony A7mk111 but before that a D7200 missed the old style thinking! That the sony had relived me off .. Just one question John do shoot jpeg and raw always just so you can quickly review the pics or do you use the jpegs Thank you in advance K

[@JonnyPink65]

Keith - first, thank you!!!! I do set all my cameras to JPEG and RAW - always. I don't like wasting time in Lightroom. I got through everything and keep both files, dump all the garbage I don't want, then cull though again so I can get what I feel is the best of the best. This is a method that I have found works best for me. I have done it for events that way for years. You know, I had switched to Canon with the R5 after being a life long Nikon guy - I wanted the tech. I took the D800 out one day on whim and had to think about every shot - it was AWESOME. I realized that I had become used to letting the camera do everything for me and as a result, my photos were not as good in my opinion. I then started shooting my mirrorless cameras - including the Z9, the same as I was shooting the D800 - thinking about everything and letting the camera do not nothing, and in my opinion, my quality went way up. I keep my ISO low, shutter high, and use exposure compensation to get more light. It really seems to work for me. I am happy with the image quality I am getting. Again, thank you, thank you thank you!!! 🙏🤗❤

[@keithbuck8252]

John it's funny you say that, I had brought the Sony A7111 with a couple lens to replace my beautiful Nikon D7200 ...but firstly I didn't see any major quality improvement certainly not just under £3000 worth ! And then as I got used to all the focus stuff zebra, manuel focus highlites, eye focus, insane ISO, then also seeing my finished picture on the screen. I gradually became bored and lost the passion I'd had ....so I just sold it went back to a D7200 brought two beautiful full frame lens, a Nikon 24-70 f2.8 and a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 but then realised I was not going to get the best from them on crop body so I brought the D800 in a spontaneous moment got the body with 15,500 on it for £379!!!!! Crazy I have just started getting to know it but already my interest is back to before.sorry long reply I'll continue to follow your posts mate thanks for replying

[@keithbuck8252]

Where you based John if you don't mind me asking Love your pictures just excellent 👌

[@keithbuck8252]

Also John last question promise ! Do you save RAW and jpeg to same CF card ? or jpegs to the SD card only Thanks in advance John

[@JonnyPink65]

@@keithbuck8252 I get it completely!!! Almost every time I buy a new camera body, I get that excitement all over while I am learning its quirks. The D800 to me is the holy grail of cameras and the standard I hold everything else to. Now, shooting everything like it is a DSLR, I think about every shot and I really think my images are better. For me, max ISO on the D800 is 400. On the Z9 I will not go higher than 1000 and and the R7 (an amazing crop sensor body), I will not go higher than 800 but really try to keep it in the 250-400 range. And....renting or hiring gear has also given me a chance to try many other lenses as well. It has been so much fun!! 🤗

[@andreAI3007]

What is so good about mirror less?

[@JonnyPink65]

Well, it does have a few advantages. The focus is faster even with the older lenses and more accurate because it is focusing on the sensor (at least that is my understanding). I really do like the EVF for just about everything and the IBIS. However - overall, I prefer the eyepiece of a DSLR in many ways too. I have discovered that I prefer to shoot with sound instead of silent most of the time. At first, I thought the high frame rate was a gimmick but it does have its uses but you take way more shots that you have to dump. I heard one photographer say that switching to Sony made him a better photographer but I think it is the opposite. The camera does so much for you , that you let your skill fall by the wayside a bit/ Going back to this amazing camera has made me appreciate the art of photography all over again. I have having an absolute blast!!! Both have advantages and disadvantages, but both are fun to shoot!!! 💖🤗🙏 Oh yeah - the focus peaking in the EVF on a mirrorless is awesome!!!

[@smkunder1]

So are you finding the focus capabilities standing up to today’s cameras? Your results say yes.

[@JonnyPink65]

Steve - simply yes. I had switched to Canon with the R5 for the eye tracking and a color that was comparable to Nikon. I discovered that I was relying on it. When I went out one weekend for fun with my "old DSLR', I discovered that since I had to think about every shot, I had more shots I was really happy with and that all came from me. I like having the AF - have things I like and dont like about both, but even now going back to Nikon with the Z9, I rarely use the eye AF. Nikon's still does not compare to Canon by any stretch, but since I am shooting like I do the D800 with a higher frame rate, I am still getting shots that are blowing my mind with a wonderful bunch of new tech. For my D800, I leave it is single point AF-C and just focus where I want and move the point around. I am doing that exact same thing with the Z9 but I do switch the 3-D now and again. Long answer, but yes. The D800 was and still is my favorite camera and will my back up to my Z9, then the R5 in that order. I think James and I have a big wedding coming up in April and I will have all those cameras on me! I also no longer use auto ISO - I set EVERYTHING!!! Thank you Steve 🙏🤗❤