Nikon unveils the D800, with full-frame 36MP sensor

Nikon has announced the Nikon D800, due this March for roughly $3,000. Also a full frame camera, the Nikon D800 is a more compact version of the D4. But while the D4 had a 16MP CMOS image sensor, the D800 has a 36MP sensor, with a D4 feature set updated to compete against the Canon 5D Mark II. The 12MP Nikon D700 will still be available in most markets.

While the Nikon D800 does not have the Nikon D4’s vertical grip and Ethernet connectivity, it has the same 51-point autofocus system with 15 cross-type sensors, 3.2-inch 921k dot LCD display, support for minimum -2 EV exposure and larger than f/8 maximum aperture lenses, RGB Matrix III meter (91,000 pixel), support for dual-memory card slots (CF and SDXC), support for H.264 B-Frame formats at 1080p30 / 1080p24 / 720p60 / 720p50 resolution, and sensitivity range of ISO 100 through 6400 (boosted to 25,600).

The D800 dSLR can deliver uncompressed HDMI video output, and has the first USB 3.0 port on a Nikon camera. It also features a new headphone jack. 

Nikon will also be releasing the Nikon D800E in April for $3,300, without a low-pass antialiasing filter, which while making the sensor vulnerable to moiré patterns, will provide sharper images at the full 36.3 megapixels. Both cameras are compatible with Nikon F-mount FX and DX lenses, with the DX mode providing a 15.4MP crop section and 5 frames per second, and the FX mode delivering 4 frames per second.