Nikon D800 review

Are 36-million pixels too many?

Nikon D800 review
Nikon's D800 has been one of the most highly anticipated DSLRs of recent times

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As part of our image quality testing for the Nikon D800 we've shot our resolution chart.

If you view our crops of the resolution chart's central section at 100% (or Actual Pixels) you will see that, for example, at ISO 100 the D800 is capable of resolving up to around 36 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files. It produces some of the best results we have ever seen from a full-frame SLR.

See a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them please click here.

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 100

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 100

JPEG images

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 50

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 50

ISO 50, score: 36 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 100

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 100

ISO 100, score: 34 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 200

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 200

ISO 200, score: 34 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 400

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 400

ISO 400, score: 34 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 800

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 800

ISO 800, score: 32 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 1600

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 1600

ISO 1600, score: 30 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 3200

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 3200

ISO 3200, score: 28 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 6400

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 6400

ISO 6400, score: 28 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 12800

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 12800

ISO 12800, score: 24 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 25600

Nikon D800 review: resolution ISO 25600

ISO 25600, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Raw images

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 50

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 50

ISO 50, score: 36 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 100

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 100

ISO 100, sore: 34 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 200

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 200

ISO 200: score: 34 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 400

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 400

ISO 400, score: 34 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 800

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 800

ISO 800, score: 32 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 1600

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 1600

ISO 1600, score: 30 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 3200

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 3200

ISO 3200, score: 30 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 6400

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 6400

ISO 6400, score: 30 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 12800

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 12800

ISO 12800, score: 28 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 25600

Nikon D800 review: Resolution ISO 25600

ISO 25600, score: 26 (Click here to see the full resolution image)