The Nikon D810 is a legendary full-frame DSLR, but how does its 36.3-megapixel sensor hold up when the lights go down?
The camera features a native ISO range from ISO 64 to ISO 12,800. You can push the camera beyond the native capabilities of the sensor hardware into the extended ISO range, which is boosted by the camera’s software. In the extended range, you can drop down to the equivalent of ISO 32 (LO-1) or push it all the way up to ISO 51,200 (HI+2).
About these high ISO tests
While “high ISO” is subjective, depending on what you shoot, for this gallery, I am treating it as anything from ISO 6400 and above. (If you are looking for everyday shots in good lighting, check out my separate gallery of general Nikon D810 sample images).
To give you an accurate look at the sensor’s true noise profile, here is how these images were processed:
- Shot in RAW: By shooting in RAW, these images bypass the camera’s built-in JPEG noise reduction algorithms that smooth out files straight out of the camera.
- Zero Noise Reduction: I processed these files in Lightroom, but I explicitly left all of Lightroom’s noise reduction sliders at zero. No third-party noise reduction apps were used either. What you see is the raw grain and color noise produced by the sensor.
Sample images taken at high ISOs with the Nikon D810
I’ve included the exact ISO and lens combination for each image in its caption.
Price & availability of the Nikon D810 DSLR
The D810 has been officially discontinued, which makes finding a brand-new body difficult. It was eventually replaced by the highly regarded D850. However, D810s still turn up occasionally as “new old stock” or on the used market at excellent prices.
Buy new
Check the current price and availability at:
Buy used
These cameras are relatively easy to find on the used market. Good places to check include:
you furnish the full shutter speed with these examples would help tremendously.