Review: Nikon D800E specs

The 36.3-megapixel Nikon D800E is a full-frame variation on the Nikon D800 DSLR. The removal of the anti-aliasing filter means the Nikon D800E is designed to provide increased resolution and sharpness in images—making this camera an attractive option for shooting portraits, still life, studio work and landscapes.

At the core of the Nikon D800E is its full-frame CMOS sensor, which, at the time of its launch in 2012, was significantly higher in image quality than any previous DSLR. Due to incorporating 36.3 megapixels, the D800E crept into the medium-format type resolution in a DSLR body—a mammoth megapixel path that was later expanded on by the Nikon D850 and the Canon EOS 5DS R.

The D800E’s sensor operates alongside a 91,000-pixel, 3D RGB Matrix Meter III system that is designed to provide accurate metering, even in demanding lighting conditions. The sensor and RGB meter first analyse each scene for colour and brightness and then compare all the gathered data with a huge in-camera database to ensure incredibly detailed, accurately-exposed images. This process is known as the Advanced Scene Recognition System.

The camera’s 51-point autofocus system offers 15 cross-type points at its centre and 9 cross-type points at f/8—useful for shooting with longer lenses. These cross-type autofocus points analyse both vertical and horizontal lines and hence are more accurate than autofocus points that only analyse vertical lines. The D800E’s autofocus setup is sensitive down to -2EV, making it capable of precise focusing in low-light conditions. While the D800E isn’t really an action camera as such, the autofocus system is able to swiftly lock on to moving subjects, making it an acceptable system for shooting nature or sports—especially as you can shoot at up to 4 fps and at up to 1/8000sec.

The rear colour monitor is a large, 3.2-inch [8cm], 921K-dot LCD screen that lets you compose stills or video in Live View and allows you to review the results. The LCD screen automatically adjusts its brightness according to the environment and lets you view menu options, histograms, video settings and enlarge images by up to 46x to ensure accurate focusing in areas in the image. Other notable specs in the D800E include in-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture and Full HD 1080p video capture at 30p.

Even today, the D800E still stands up well, mainly due to the sheer strength of its high-resolution sensor in megapixel terms. Clearly many technologies have advanced since 2012, but very few DSLRs have ever surpassed the resolution 36.3-megapixel sensor. So, the D800E remains a top-quality performer—especially if you’re already invested in the Nikon DSLR.