Nikon D850, Early Impressions

Thanks, Ilkka. I'll look forward to your results.

Yes, thanks Ilkka! I too look forward to reading your findings.

A friend of mine who now has a D5, D500 and D850 has concluded that while they all have the same AF module (Multi-CAM 20000), the D5 still has the best AF. That is also my observation as well.

A friend of mine who now has a D5, D500 and D850 has concluded that while they all have the same AF module (Multi-CAM 20000), the D5 still has the best AF. That is also my observation as well.

 

That seems to be a general consensus. The question is why? One contributory factor could be the reduced black-out time on the D5 meaning more time for the autofocus to react, and less time between the AF calculation and the exposure.

 

If that theory is correct, a D850 with a grip capable of 9fps would have a reason to behave better than one without, if not quite up there with the D5. But it may also make absolutely no difference.

 

I may not shoot at 9fps often enough to justify an expensive grip/battery. If it helps autofocus in general, though, the concept is more appealing.

EN-EL18a in the battery grip definitely increases the pitch and loudness of the camera sound in S (single shot) mode. I can’t easily compare AF on a moving subjects because of reproducibility issues but it seemed to work quickly and without hesitation on subjects walking towards the camera. I think the effect of shorter blackout on AF accuracy is most relevant on a subject which follows an erratic or at least nonlinear movement towards or away from the camera. My overall impression is that the camera works fine and the grip helps me use it with typical medium telephoto lenses. When I need the camera to be quieter, a softer sound is still available using the Qc mode, or in some circumstances, in silent mode in LV.

Thanks, Ilkka. If you form any subjective opinion on whether AF on moving subjects is improved in the future I'd like to hear them, but I'm not asking for a scientific test!

I got my D850 on Saturday. I've been lacking sleep since :-)

 

The quality of the images is so much better than my D700. It's not just the details, it's the way it deals with color and renders the image.

I shot this from my living room http://fotoni.ca/other/night1.jpg (ok, I slid the patio door open) last Saturday. With an 85 1.4, around f4, 8 secs I think. 64 ISO

 

The 4K monitor of course is now essential ... Love the upgrade; now I need to learn how to stack photos...

Err, is it me..or is that nightscape soft?

 

Camera movement? Thermal effects of warm room, a cold night and an open door? Wind vibrating tripod? Epic hand-held attempt:)

 

That lens @ f4 should be pin sharp.

 

Great view by the way!

Edited January 22, 2018 by mike_halliwell

I'm just looking at it myself here at work (crappy monitor). On my machine at home (4K minotor) it's a lot clearer.

I'll go look in full 4K in the morning, when i fire up the 'proper computer'...:-)

 

Is that the Nikon or Sigma lens?

Err, is it me..or is that nightscape soft?

 

Hmm... looks damn sharp on

my iMac Retina monitor...

but what do I know? I'm only

a Great Ape...

http://bayouline.com/o2.gif

Looks a little soft to me too, but that might be because I'm viewing on a phone and I'm not sure where "100%" is. It might be a little front-focussed, if I'm not imagining it. Hyperfocal ain't what it used to be.

 

People on a conventional computer can probably see better, though.

I'll go look in full 4K in the morning, when i fire up the 'proper computer'...:)

 

Is that the Nikon or Sigma lens?

Nikon only in this household :-)

So I'm experimenting with the focus stacking process. The camera shut down on me after 40 of the 100 indicated pictures were taken. That was in full raw. I realized Zerene could not handle RAW anyways. Playing around, I went for FINE and 40 shots on this one, with a spacing of 1 (1 to 10) range. Not sure why the camera stopped recording the second time too before the number of indicated shots (100) was reached. I'll have to research it a bit. I am quite pleased with the first result: http://fotoni.ca/other/stackedglasses.jpg

It stops at infinity, even if the requested number of shots is not met, at least in theory.

 

I haven’t quite figured out what the unit for a step is, and how one can figure out which settings to start with.

It stops at infinity, even if the requested number of shots is not met, at least in theory.

 

I haven’t quite figured out what the unit for a step is, and how one can figure out which settings to start with.

Ok, that explains that one .. makes sense, as some of the later shots were way out of focus, it probably hit infinity. Since I was shooting indoors at close range, I went with 1, the smallest step. But also no idea what it represents. Sure is a difference from starting with 5. I guess it depends on how wide of an area you want to cover and how many shots you want to take. It's my first ever stacked photo, so I am thrilled with the results.

Yup, real 4K looks much, much better. Odd how 100% seems to look way different on different platforms? I kinda thought 100% was 100%, ie 1 sensor pixel for 1 screen pixel?

 

Re- Stacking....Some software shows focused distance, I guess that should show the step increments.

 

Seems nuts that the only 'obvious' way would be use it lens wide open and shoot an inclined ruler and look at the pics frame by frame.

 

I thought this was the 21st century not a darkened workshop in 1850!

I've heard it reported that some cellphones downsize the image in the browser somewhat. I should probably check that, but there are memory limits that may discourage authors from holding huge images in RAM.

No sure who else here has a D850... I am trying to figure out two things: Is there a way to program the fn2 button for anything else than rating, menu or "my menu"? Seems like a waste of space .... I had hoped to set it to the auto-level.

 

When shooting in Silent mode 1 or 2, not Q mode, how do you stop the camera from trying to keep focusing when you are done shooting? Turning it off seems aggressive. "Ok" or other buttons seem to have no effect. The manual is silent on both topics.

The menu guide, pages 131-2, does indeed indicate that fn2 is very restricted in what it can do. Thanks for the heads-up; I'd missed that, although fn2 is, for me, in about the most useless place it could be for shooting.

 

Interesting to know the silent shooting behaviour, too. Does it do this even when AF is set to AF-On only?

Hi Andrew, I have not tried to set it to AF-On only, but that is an idea. When set to Silent mode and the Lv button is pressed, it wants to focus as you move the camera around, like it's on auto focus. Not touching the release button at all. Probably a PICNIC error but again the manual is not helpful. When you want it to stop doing things, like adjusting focus as you move the thing around, the only option I found so far is to simply turn the camera off. Setting silent mode to "Off" does not turn it off strangely, it keeps going. Silent mode is nice but you need to hold the LCD up to eye level or tilt the screen. Clicking the LCD anywhere where you want to focus and take a picture does just that. Touch the screen, release your finger and it takes a shot. It works a treat and it's of course 100% quiet. I've been playing more with focus stacking. I think it's fast becoming my new hobby. You really need a 4K monitor for this one: http://fotoni.ca/other/dust.jpg

I haven’t noticed any extra focusing activity in silent mode. It focuses when I press and hold AF-ON. I haven’t tried what it does in shutter activated AF.

 

I think there must be some setting that you have activated. Do you have subject-tracking AF on?

In LV, I'd guess anything other than AF-S, it will keep trying to focus?

 

The only other option is AF-F, and that means Full Time!

 

From the online D850 manual... Autofocus

 

AF-S

Single-servo AF: For stationary subjects. Focus locks when shutter-release button is pressed halfway. You can also focus by touching your subject in the monitor, in which case focus locks until you lift your finger from the display to take the photograph.

AF-F

Full-time-servo AF: For moving subjects. Camera focuses continuously until shutter-release button is pressed. Focus locks when shutter-release button is pressed halfway. You can also focus by touching your subject in the monitor, in which case focus locks until you lift your finger from the display to take the photograph.

Also, regarding Silent Mode (Live View)....has anyone tried this yet? Silent Live View Photography

 

On (Mode 2)

Photographs can be taken at a higher rate than when On (Mode 1) is selected. In release modes S, Q, E, and Mup, one photograph will be taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed, while in continuous modes photos will be taken at approximately 15 fps (Cl and Qc) or 30 fps (Ch) for a maximum of 3 seconds. Image area is fixed at DX (24×16), image size at 3600 × 2400, and image quality at JPEG normal.

 

Do you really end up with 90 DX JPEG frames if you keep the shutter down? In effect 1 pic is a frame grab from a 30fps, almost 4K, movie,

 

There was a post a while back, but I can't seem to see the answer!

You do get a ton of pictures in the 30fps silent 2 mode.