D800 for wildlife?

[CHS]

Agree, would love a D3s, but for those who still can't afford this -I just uploaded a pic (cropped a lot) on my gallery (CHS) under sport action. It shows the D7000 at 2500 ISO with a (not pro Sigma 100-300mm f4) lens shot under the dodgy Newlands lighting. A better lens would also make more of a difference, but I feel the results are totally acceptable ? - for R 11500 anyway.

[kobuspotgieter]

Took the D800 to the Tour de Freestate today.

Was very impressed with the AF. Might be a little better than the D3. Tracked the cyclist coming straight at me with no problem at all. And with the outer focus points!!

Here is one at ISO 1000 with a 100% crop. No sharpening or noise reduction on the crop.

Lens: 200VR at f2.8
1/1250s
Handheld

[kobuspotgieter]

Another one. This time @ f2. f2 is nice to have but extremely difficult to focus at with moving subjects because of the very limited DOF. If the focus point is not spot-on and properly focussed, the focus will be off. D800 really impressed me !

ISO 400
1/1250s
f2
Handheld

[CHS]

Sjoe Kobus - impressive kwaliteit. Neem aan die lens maak darem ook 'n groot verskil. Die noise op 1000ASA lyk goed, en mooi kleure met baie detail in die skaduwees. Nice.

[jaykay]

Another important consideration in favour of the D800 and D4 is that they will now focus up to f8 which makes the use of converters on f4 and possibly slower lenses much more feasible

Always shoot at f/8 and have not had problems with AF not working on D70, D200, D300 or D3 with 50-500, 200-400 or 500 lenses. Not always fast, but still working.
What is better on the newer bodies?

[Jan van Biljon]

This is not the camera setting we are talking about here but the maximum aperture setting of the lens, wide open. For example the Sigma 150 - 500 has a maximum aperture setting of f6.3 wide open. If a 1.4 converter is added less light reaches the sensor and it "slows" the lens down to F8 and you will not be able to set your camera to a bigger f/stop like f7.1 or 6.3. The autofocus function of the D300s does not work above f6.3 and the lens/converter combination now has to be focused manually. You lose 1 f/stop with the 1.4 converter and 2 or more with the 2X converter (with the 2X converter my Sigma becomes f11).

[Jan van Biljon]

Uitstekend Kobus. Did you feel limited by the 4 fps? It is good to hear that you were impressed by the AF because from what I've read this is one of the positives of the D800 and D4

[kobuspotgieter]

Did you feel limited by the 4 fps?

Not really with this sport. But 4fps will be slow in other situations.

And on the battery: Still 52% left after 951 shots and lots of reviewing on the screen.

[walterpike]

I started this thread by saying I was not happy with the image quality (especially when cropping) of the D300s after using the D3. Is the D7000 enough of an upgrade IQ wise?

I see the D7000 as the upgrade from the D90, not the D300s.

iQ the D7000 is an upgrade on the D300s. Not an upgrade for handling. It's really taking Nikon into a different direction. Which I think will become clear with the D600 and rest of the line up is launched.

the D800 and D4 autofocus system for me is an outstanding feature of the cameras. When the tech catches up with the handling of the huge files the fps will be faster, for now I will live with the frame rate. The camera is just that good.

[walterpike]

Took the D800 to the Tour de Freestate today.

Was very impressed with the AF. Might be a little better than the D3. Tracked the cyclist coming straight at me with no problem at all. And with the outer focus points!!

Here is one at ISO 1000 with a 100%

Great work.