Nikon D810 Workhorse Camera + Nikon 24mm f/1.8G = Winning Combination
With $500 instant rebate + 10% rewards, effective price of the Nikon D810 is $2517. Note that the $500 rebate expires Dec 12th. [Deal over - 10% rewards is gone as of Dec 9, now it’s at 2%].
The D810 has been my workhorse camera since it was introduced, and I still consider it the best DSLR on the market for image quality.
The Nikon D810 dynamic range trounces the Canon 5DS R—in field shooting in November, I was hard pressed to find a resolution advantage of the 5DS R over the Nikon D810 (even using Zeiss Otus): backlit sunny shots were a serious headache with the 5DS R, because to avoid blowing the highlights, the dark areas get cheated by about two stops over what the D810 can accept in its special ISO 64 setting—it’s just no contest in favor of the D810. Plus the Canon 5DS R runs out of shutter speed at f/1.4 and f/2 and even f/2.8, having no true ISO below 100.
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I’ll be publishing images with the about $747 Nikon 24mm f/1.8G this month—it’s a winner, so my recommendation is the D810 + Nikon 24/1.8G—wonderful combination of size/weight and image quality. It’s not often I regret sending a Nikon lens back from testing, but the 24/1.8G won me over.
While you’re at it, pick up the Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO-Sonnar—it has no peer in that range, and it’s $300 off and I don’t expect a Milvus badging for it any time soon. It’s basically an Otus for less than half the price. On a Nikon D5500 DSLR (diminutive APS-C camera with 14-bit sensor), it’s like having a 200mm f/2. A D810 and a D5500 may be an interesting combo for long tele work, particularly with the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 (300-750mm equivalent on D5500).
- Nikon D810 $500 instant rebate + 10% rewards = $279 = $779 total discount
- Nikon D810 DSLR Camera with 24-120mm Lens $1100 instant rebate + 10% rewards = $329 = $1429 total discount.
- Canon 5DS R $300 instant rebate + 10% rewards = $360 more = $760 total discount
- See previous blog post on additional deals.