My brand new D800 arrives tomorrow! How can I test for common issues?

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Fashion

New member
Hello everyone,
My name is Nathaniel and I'm a starting Fashion & Beauty Photographer! My brand new D800 arrives tomorrow afternoon and I want to make sure everything is fine as I have read that many early editions had focus issues, screen issues and a couple of other things! I live in Europe so I don't know if european models were fixed already or not, but either way I was wondering if there were simple tests that I could do at home to check that everything is alright?
Thanks!

Nate
 
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mr2_serious

Senior Member
Google Thom Hogan d800. There's pretty good information there. My d800 is about three weeks old. I sent to Nikon on the 4th day after testing it for left focussing issue. Seems good now and I still have 11 months of warranty left. Good luck!

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
 
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papa2jaja

Senior Member
I'm not a pro so take the following with a grain of salt.

I know of three issues - the left AF sensor issue, the hanging hourglass, and dirt on the sensor. I have had neither of them, my camera was purchased in April 2013, in Europe.

The hanging hourglass I think was fixed with the firmware update published in April 2013, so you might want to check your firmware is up to date. The update is available on the Nikon support pages.

The dirt on the sensor I think was never a major issue, I have about 1000 exposures now and no dirt yet. On my D600 it started at around 367 exposures. I've never read from someone who actually had this problem.

For the left AF issue, there is a description here: How to tell if your D800/ D800E/ D4 has the ‘left focusing problem’ which describes how to determine whether you have it or not. I'm not sure whether this issue is also affected by the firmware update, or not, but the changelog does not mention it, only an improvement to the AF-C.
 
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Cowleystjames

Senior Member
Another issue that my D800e had along with another in the dealers and a D800 is a rattly flash. Just turn the camera upside down and side to side. If it rattles quite noticeably take it back and try another.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
 
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Sambr

Senior Member
Fashion said:
Hello everyone,
My name is Nathaniel and I'm a starting Fashion & Beauty Photographer! My brand new D800 arrives tomorrow afternoon and I want to make sure everything is fine as I have read that many early editions had focus issues, screen issues and a couple of other things! I live in Europe so I don't know if european models were fixed already or not, but either way I was wondering if there were simple tests that I could do at home to check that everything is alright?
Thanks!

Nate
Click to expand...

Take some photos - what are you shooting with now?
 
J

JDFlood

Senior Member
I got mine from the waiting list last year... Have absolutely no problems with it. Assume there will be none... Paranoia can make you crazy... Enjoy your wonderful new camera. JD
 
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Fashion

New member
Apparently there was a mix up at the store and they accidentally sent me the Nikon D4. I don't know if a trainee handled my order or whatnot but how can you possibly confuse the D800 with a D4? o_O Anyway, I sent it back and a replacement is due today.
 
F

Fashion

New member
Woah, I just read something super scary, I don't know if it's an invention of the internet but apparently some people have had the rubber parts on their D800 become loose and then come off! I plan on using mine for a very long time, probably ten years or more (Having the shutter replaced) as I don't see how I could benefit from any kind of improvements but this scares me! What if it came off during a shoot? I don't use any kind of strap... Do you think it may have been due to a manufacturing defect? Or will this eventually happen to mine?

I thought Nikon were supposed to have the best build quality together with Pentax.
 
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Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Fashion said:
Woah, I just read something super scary, I don't know if it's an invention of the internet but apparently some people have had the rubber parts on their D800 become loose and then come off! I plan on using mine for a very long time, probably ten years or more (Having the shutter replaced) as I don't see how I could benefit from any kind of improvements but this scares me! What if it came off during a shoot? I don't use any kind of strap... Do you think it may have been due to a manufacturing defect? Or will this eventually happen to mine?

I thought Nikon were supposed to have the best build quality together with Pentax.
Click to expand...
Newsflash... It's an imperfect world we live in. The obvious having now been stated, I imagine if you searched enough you could find just about anything happening to someone's camera regardless of maker. I suggest you chill out over this fabricated emergency situation and cross this proverbial bridge when, and IF, you ever actually come to it.

What if it happens during a shoot? Well, gosh... I guess you either keep shooting or you stop and fix the problem with the judicious use of some Gorilla Glue or something similar.



...
 
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Sambr

Senior Member
Fashion said:
Woah, I just read something super scary, I don't know if it's an invention of the internet but apparently some people have had the rubber parts on their D800 become loose and then come off! I plan on using mine for a very long time, probably ten years or more (Having the shutter replaced) as I don't see how I could benefit from any kind of improvements but this scares me! What if it came off during a shoot? I don't use any kind of strap... Do you think it may have been due to a manufacturing defect? Or will this eventually happen to mine?

I thought Nikon were supposed to have the best build quality together with Pentax.
Click to expand...


I have had to replace mine on all my Nikons D300,700, D200 & the D800 is going now too. No big deal only $60.00 a pop. I wrap gaffer tape on the rubber grips now seems to have done the trick. You will have to replace the rubber on the pro-semi pro level Nikon bodies because Nikon uses two sided tape instead of glue.
 
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JDFlood

Senior Member
I have owned a D100, D200, D700, and D800. No service ever required other than normal sensor dust removal... Which I do myself.
 
F

Fashion

New member
Maybe those that did have the issue had really bad luck? That or maybe a series of grips was defective?

I live in Europe and it's not so easy having a Nikon fixed here as I would imagine it is in the US. Besides I often find myself traveling to Sicily for shoots.
 
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JDFlood

Senior Member
With today's manufacturing techniques, after initial runs, there should not be a single failure in many thousands of cameras if not more. So the probability should be really, really small. On forums, one guy has a problem, and your going to hear it. Relax. JD
 
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