Nikon D800 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Nikon D800? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Nikon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the D800 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Nikon D800 below.
In any case, the D800 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was announced on February 7th, 2012, which means that, as of today, the camera is 4612 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Nikon D810 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Nikon's user manual for the D800
The camera's user manual is 472 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the D800 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Nikon D800 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Nikon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Nikon D800 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Nikon D800
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your D800 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Nikon D800 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Nikon D800 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D800.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Nikon D800?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D800 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Nikon equipped the D800 with the EXPEED 3 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D800?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-25600.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D800?
Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the D800. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D800 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D800?
Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D800 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Nikon D800?
No, the Nikon D800 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Does the Nikon D800 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D800 for flash photography?
The D800's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Nikon D800 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Nikon D800 use?
The camera gets its power from the Nikon EN-EL15 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Nikon D800?
Yes, Nikon offers the MB-D12 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Further reading
How does the D800 stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon 100D vs Nikon D800
- Canon R7 vs Sony A9 II
- Canon T7i vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm XP120 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D3500 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D7100 vs Nikon D800
- Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-3
- Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-620
- Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-1
- Nikon D800 vs Sony NEX-3N
- Panasonic FZ2500 vs Sony A9 II
- Panasonic G90 vs Sony A9 II
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Nikon D800.
Camera Model | Nikon D800 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Nikon F mount lenses | |
Launch Date | February 2012 | |
Launch Price | USD 2 999 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.9 x 24.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 862 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43.2 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 36.2 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 7 360 x 4 912 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.88 μm | |
Pixel Density | 4.20 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 6 400 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 25 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | EXPEED 3 | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 95 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 25.3 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 14.4 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2853 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 921k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Fixed screen | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 4 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | CF or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 3.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | no Wifi | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | Nikon EN-EL15 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 900 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
146 x 123 x 82 mm (5.7 x 4.8 x 3.2 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 1 000 g (35.3 oz) |
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