Comments on: Nikon D800 + Atomos Ninja = Heaven ?

By: Nikon D800 (D800E) vs. 5D MK3 (MKIII): Raw Video, HDMI, Magic Lantern | nanofunk.net

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:47:37 +0000

[…] Nikon D800/D800E The Nikon D800 performs quite well on paper, but in reality the Canon 5D MK3 performs better in low-light and high ISO. First samples of clean HDMI output and RAW Video (Apple ProRes) with the Nikon D800 are online – and they look great. Keep in mind that the Nikon D800 provides 8bit output (not 10bit), and the first RAW Video results are better than the internal codec Canon 5D MK3 Videos. Bundled with the Atomos Samurai and the Atomos h2s connect the Nikon D800 brings you high resolution 800×480 LCD (with focus peaking and zebras via latest firmware) plus 4:2:2 video. This is clearly the best setup we have as of today, maybe only topped by a D4+Samurai (c.f. mike kobal's results with the d800). […]

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:46:45 +0000

I didn’t receive my D800 yet, my guess is as good as yours, of course we assume the reason for the 1.2 crop mode is to produce a cleaner video signal, I am planning to test it right away with the ninja attached, pretty sure it is 8bit only

By: nanofunk

nanofunk — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:10:21 +0000

there was a very controversial posting at eoshd, where the sensor scaling (crop mode) was presented as one of the key issues to clean video “Now the D800 has a strange 1.2x crop mode that Nikon haven’t explained properly yet – this could be for APS-H lenses but it could also be for cleaner video.”
http://www.eoshd.com/content/7408/nikon-d800-video-dark-horse-and-the-unanswered-questions

is there any update on the sensor crop mode on the d800? as you seem to have that setting, can you tell us a little more on how sharpness and moire turns out on the d800? also, is there an update on the 10bit/8bit discussion? (is the nikon output true 10bit or actually 8bit?)

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:01:36 +0000

nope, identical

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:28 +0000

Hey Randy, I have used the 14-24mm and it is absolutely incredible, I was and still am blown away by how awesome that lens is. It is so sharp it appears like your sensor doesn’t have an AA filter, I am not kidding. After that I had no interest in trying any other super wide angle lenses. Can’t say anything about the 14mm prime.

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:58:19 +0000

Also.. Is there a quality difference between imported and domestic(USA) manufactured lenses?

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:50:24 +0000

Do you have an opinion on the nikkor 14mm 2.8 prime? Im seriously considering between that lens and the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 … do you have any experience with these two? Any advice?

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:42:47 +0000

ha, we have the same path regarding cameras, I also switched to Canon because of video. I believe Joy Ride was shot using internal codec, but I can’t confirm it for sure. I think there is plenty of talk about 36mp being too much, I personally don’t think so, I shoot studio a lot and the extra resolution is welcome.
No tests yet using an external recorder, I am planning to test it as soon as my D800 arrives…as for glass, just get the latest generation, G lenses, very impressive quality, I will be using the 24 120mm f4, the 50/1.4 and the 14 24mm to start with….

By: Randy

Randy — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:34:41 +0000

That is amazing. Very glad to hear it. Do you know if the test film Joy Ride was shot using an uncompressed recorder? Have you spoken to anyone that has used this combo? Also, how come there isnt more talk on the blogs about the 36 megapixels…. It seems that the d800 destroys the 5dM3 in every way for both stills and video…. I started out a Nikon guy and then switched to Canon because Nikon had no video at the time the 5dM2 came out but I am about to dump all my canon gear and head back to Nikon. That being said, do you know a place to read up on the best of Nikon glass?
Thanks!

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:48:45 +0000

Hey Randy, that’s the exciting news about the D800 and D4, clean, uncompressed video signal out (not possible w the 5D3), we can record in prores codec via Atomos Ninja! I was a little bummed realizing the new Samurai doesnt work but after a little research, I found out it will work, Atomos is about to release a HDMI to HD-SDI converter! I will do a blog post on that, now that’s totally awesome, because the Samurai has a much better screen then the Ninja and we can use it to focus (features focus peaking) while recording uncompressed 4:2:2 prores codec