Nikon D810

NIKON D810: full review

The 36 megapixels full frame sensor already gives you an idea of its power. And it can make you imagine how tremendous Nikon D810 is. Indeed, five years after its birth, it’s still one of the most loved reflex cameras from Nikon. Of course, with 45 megapixels, the upgraded Nikon D850 has gone even beyond in terms of definition. But in this review I’ll focus on the features of D810 disclosing right now that definition, sometimes, isn’t everything. And in some cases it can cloud other kinds of performance.

Lights and shadows then for Nikon D810? Definitely more lights but, as we’ve just stated, definition is not necessarily the only option to take high-quality pictures.

Design of the camera body

Looking at it and holding it is enough to notice that Nikon D810 is a professional reflex. The solid magnesium alloy and the tropicalization make the camera body of this camera very pleasant to the touch, giving it stability and solidity. Including battery and two memory cards Nikon D810 weighs 980 grams, with this size: 146 x 123 x 82 mm.

The grip is superb, extra-comfortable also for big hands. The buttons are reachable without any particular effort. So, the first approach with Nikon D810 is truly exciting. And we haven’t taken any picture yet…

The controls are positioned in a harmonious way, both on the left and on the right side. For those who come from entry level models, this is a real novelty. Sure, you need to know the buttons and using them is not immediate, but once you’ve learned some commands, you’ll have conquered Nikon D810 with all its technological heart.

Technical features of Nikon D810

Is size important or not? When you look at the technical features of a reflex like Nikon D810 it would seem yes. But studying closely such a tremendously technical camera, it can be seen that size is important but is not everything. Let’s see why.

Sometimes, knowing how many megapixels the sensor has, how powerful the processor is, what the ISO range is, is not enough to understand how a camera works. But it’s an inevitable first step to understand whether or not to buy it. For this reason, before talking about practical experience, I’ll list the technical features of Nikon D810.

Nikon D810 has a 36.2 megapixels full frame CMOS sensor: when it was launched, just talking about it was striking. Not anymore, but we’re still in front of an extraordinary sensor as well as an ISO range between 64 and 12,800, expandable up to 32-51,200!!! Meaning: brighter sensor, and therefore excellent!

Concerning the processor, Nikon D810 has Expeed 4, the top of the line at the time of its launch.

Shooting top speed of Nikon D810 is 1/8000 sec, minimum speed is 30 seconds. Burst mode reaches 5 frames per second max, buffering 47 frames on FX RAW files. This data is not up to a camera of the same level in 2019.

The AF of Nikon D810 is based on 51 points (15 cross-centered). In standard lighting conditions it works very well, but the same cannot be said about live view when the light is low. Nothing to do with the dual pixel system of Canon, to be clear (present also in non-pro cameras).

Non-integrated WiFi doesn’t help Nikon D810, as well as video resolution, stuck at 2k: I’m doing a comparison with the current situation of course, not with the competitors of 5 years ago.

Going back to the excellence of Nikon D810, I’ll mention its 1,200 shots battery life and, above all, the new shutter, activated by an electronic (so not mechanical) system: no more vibrations.

Taking pictures with Nikon D810

We’re outside the technical features area, as I had said before. So let’s see how it feels to take pictures with Nikon D810. The first thing that comes into my mind is: you need a lot of practice, especially if your experience is based on entry level cameras. In fact, there are neither scene nor guided mode. We’re standing in front of a real professional camera.

About the shooting, well… there are several factors of Nikon D810 that simplify it: a solid and tropicalized camera body, back-up battery grip and slots for the second memory card.

In optimal shooting conditions, few cameras beat Nikon D810, even though it’s not a novelty on the market anymore. Prepare for extraordinary photos, with a really exceptional quality. In other situations, though, some limits will come out, almost to remind you that perfection doesn’t exist. Let’s see why.

My opinion on Nikon D810

Probably it’s obvious. If you can read between the line, you’ll have noticed that Nikon D810 is an outstanding camera that, however, doesn’t win me over. And the reason for my skepticism is the excessive imbalance towards resolution, at the expense of other fundamental functions. Such limits are tangible when you need to seize the moment, in non-ideal situations. In this sense, today the market offers better products at more affordable prices.

A practical example? Nikon D7500 is far better than D810 for sports and action photography. And the camera body is much cheaper. Of course, if you capture landscapes or studio portraits, Nikon D810 is unbeatable, but it’s definitely not a versatile camera.

To be short, Nikon D810 is not a camera for all kinds of situations. It’s not a luxury all-round. And being a camera that makes tremendously defined shots only in certain conditions is both a quality and a flaw. Whatever you judge it, this model will stay in the annals of Nikon as one of the most technically evolved cameras with the most controversial feedback.