Nikon D800/D800E (2012)

Name: Nikon D800
Brand: Nikon

A high-resolution DSLR camera officially announced on February 7, 2012, and released in late March 2012.

Overview

The Nikon D800 and D800E are full-frame DSLR cameras from 2012, built around a 36.3MP FX-format CMOS sensor. Nikon announced them on February 7, 2012, and they went on sale in late March of that year. The D800E is identical to the D800 except that it has no anti-aliasing filter, which gives sharper image detail. Nikon marketed the line for outdoor, nature, and landscape photography. It offered a lot more resolution than many contemporary models. One later user noted a deliberate upgrade from the D800 to the Nikon D850.

Specifications

Exact product name	Nikon D800/D800E
Manufacturer	Nikon
Product type	DSLR camera
Resolution	36.3MP
Sensor size	36x23.9mm, FX (full film frame)
Sensor type	FX-format CMOS image sensor
ISO range	100–6400 (expandable to 50–25600 equivalent)
Announcement date	February 7, 2012
Market release	Late March 2012
Original price (US)	$2999.95
Original price (UK)	£2399
D800E availability	Mid-April 2012

Design

The D800E differs from the D800 only in the removal of the anti-aliasing filter. Both models share the same optical assembly and core construction. That lets the D800E deliver marginally higher sharpness while keeping production costs low, and there is a $300 price difference between the two.

Context

The D800 was positioned as a benchmark in high-resolution DSLR performance. It gave clean, crisp images across a wide ISO range and more creative flexibility for photographers. It started Nikon's D800 series. It was claimed to be the same core camera as other Nikon models, though with fewer autofocus controls than earlier versions.

Market

The D800 has a secondhand market, with reported prices from $400 to $1000 depending on condition and region. Known issues include oil splatter on the sensor similar to the D600, and failure of the 10-pin connector, which can recede into the body. Memory card-related malfunctions turn up too, particularly in the D800E. Some units also have defective components that need service or replacement.