Dames in the woods, Image # FL-9577
I had some more time to spend in the field this past weekend getting to know my D800. I ventured into a new section of woods along the Clinton River, about 20 minutes drive from my house. I immediately saw some high densities of color in the distance which captured my curiosity. These flowers are called Phlox (isn’t that a weird name?!) and grow quite abundantly around my area, although clusters are typically very separated. This was a good section of woods where they appeared together. EDIT: Thanks to a reader, I realized I misidentified these flowers as Phlox, and they are actually Dame’s Rocket. It makes for a catchier title this way 🙂 )
I spent some time just wandering around this section looking for a good density of flowers that not only made for a good foreground, but also were connected to the flowers to the background. Sometimes there would be a good foreground group, but then the middle ground was a bit empty. This section seemed to have a good balance throughout. I snapped a few shots here, and then all of the sudden, my D800 locked up and started displaying “Err” on the display. Needless to say, I uttered a few choice words that I will not repeat on a family friendly blog.
I had read about some people experiencing lockups and Nikon actually published a fix/workaround for it. I took out my iPhone and looked up what the steps for that were. No luck, my lockup seemed to be different. I took out the battery, took out the CF card, switched lenses – nothing was working. Then, looking through the viewfinder, I noticed something strange – I couldn’t see through it. Further choice words on what the heck was going on. I took off the lens and looked inside to find my mirror was stuck open with the shutter curtain staring me back in the face. Err indeed! I was using mirror lockup at the time, but I think this fits the definition of a dysfunctional mirror lockup mode.
Not a welcome message!
So I took the camera off mirror lockup mode, off/on again, fired the shutter – and it reset itself. Go figure, it seemed to be working normal again. I went on shooting and a bit relieved. Then… all of the sudden the top LCD just went blank. The battery was fine, heck, I had yet to shoot 50 frames total yet. I was beginning to think I had a real lemon or this was one possessed piece of magnesium.
Then it hit me – I had my Nikon MC-30 cable release attached. Occasionally this cable release would cause me problems with my D700 in making the back LCD not work for reviewing images. I had replaced it once before because of similar issues. On a hunch, I unplugged the cable release, and the camera came back to life.
Well, now my creative language skills were directed at this $60 cable release. The second one that has caused me grief. I don’t know if these things easily develop shorts in them or what, maybe it wasn’t solidly screwed in because you need alien tweezer fingers to screw the darn thing in. I generally love Nikon’s features for ergonomics, but this is not one of them. I continued on shooting the rest of the morning using Mirror Lockup and a custom function shutter delay setting of 2 seconds, which seemed to work out just fine in lieu of the cable release. I am now thinking it may have something to do with the mirror getting stuck up also. No camera issues the rest of the morning, knock wood.
on the D800 …
I really like working with flowers around water, using water movement to create painterly backgrounds.
Normally I can pick up a Nikon camera and within minutes know where most everything is. They dramatically changed the AF mode setting from the D700 to the D800. Instead of a rotating switch on the back, it is now a press button combined with the manual/AF switch on the front of the camera. You have to press that in with your left finger while selecting the mode via the command dials with your right. I had to go to the manual for this one. I am not sure if I like it or hate it yet. Just something very different to get used to. The mode displays in the viewfinder briefly, but then goes away. The only indicator of what mode you are in is a small icon on the top LCD after that. Again, just something to get used to.
I was a bit nervous the larger files would bring my 2008 Mac Pro to a crawl. I have noticed a slow down on initial processing, Lightroom is a bit slower in generating 1:1 previews, moving through Develop mode presets, and pulling up Nik Color Efex within Photoshop. Overall not too bad, but definitely noticeable. I have 14 GB of RAM, and have 2 4GB chips to replace 2 1GB chips, so I should have 20 GB soon to see if that helps.
It is still early on in my use of the camera, it is hard to come to any big conclusions after only about 100 shots in the field. The 1:1 views continue to look great. The ultimate test will be when I have a shot I want to print big.
A note regarding your “Phlox” (Image #9577 from http://www.grafphoto.com/2012/05/14/phlox-and-more-time-with-the-d800/)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesperis_matronalis
“”In North America, Hesperis matronalis is often confused with native Phlox species that also have similar large, showy flower clusters. They can be distinguished from each other by foliage and flower differences: dame’s rocket has alternately arranged leaves and four
petals per flower, while phloxes have opposite leaves and five petals.””
TG – I finally got around to looking this up and wanted to say thanks for the ID correction. That is actually a pretty simple thing I overlooked – 4 vs. 5 petals. 🙁
Having a new expensive camera malfunction is enough to cause heart palpitations. I found out I’d gotten one of the faulty 5DMKII’s while on our Alaska trip when the shutter shorted out. Luckily I was able to dry it out and it worked again, but I’ve been paranoid about it ever since and changed the way I work because of it. I used to always be out photographing in bad weather, but now I’m too scared to get any moisture on the camera.
Mark, sounds like that Nikon is going to bring you nothing but grief… Because I like you and admire your work, I’ll do a straight-up trade of my 5D Mark II + lenses for the D800 + lenses…
;^D
— Jack
That’s almost as tempting as Ken’s offer above. So much generous help from fellow togs.
Heh – I missed Ken’s offer. Nefarious minds think alike! :^D
— Jack
Number three image is my favorite but I sure do not like number two. Whenever something with my equipment acts up I’m usually nervous for a long time. When I first got my Nikon 70-300mm VR lens I had trouble with the focusing. Sometimes it would get lost attempting to focus, even to the point of not even manually being able to over ride it. I hope your issues are just the cable and not the camera.
I am right there with you Monte. Thanks!
Every new product has a few bugs which eventually get worked out. Sounds like a buggy MC-30 if you’ve experienced problems with your D700 as well. OK, Lovely Phlox photos. I’m still rethinking that D800…. 😉
I usually hold out a little longer for those bugs to be worked out, just I thought I would be waiting a long time given the wait list for this one. Hopefully it is just the cable release. Keep on thinking Earl – you can always find room for another camera – just look at Paul. 😉
Mark: Thats weird. On both my D200 and now on my D700 I have had the same issue with a third party (vivitar electronic remote) release and with a plug in GPS. But never any problem with the MC-30, which I have connected 99% of the time. As it is a Nikon product and as Nikon is NOW charging $100 for it new, I would certainly be having a discussion with them about it.
Congrtulations on the new body. Will be interested to hear more reports.
Wow, didn’t know it was now up to $100! Mine is well past the warranty period, so I don’t know how much they would offer. I am tempted to get a 3rd party $7 one as a spare.
We have plenty of phlox here as well and it’s sold as a perennial at garden centers. I had some planted in our back yard in MN and it was very nice to have in the garden.
I’ve read about the “Err” on the D800 on some sites. It seems others have experienced the same thing but I also read that there was some sort of firmware upgrade available that fixes this. However, because I know you depend on reliable equipment day to day, I’m am offering my D80 as an even swap for the D800. I’ll even pay for shipping!
I’ll keep your offer in mind Ken, that is very generous of you.
Hi Mark! We have lots of phlox here in PA as well. Beautiful flowers and a nice shot. I really like the tree in the background.
I have to admit that as a Canon shooter the D800 has me jealous as I like printing big and I often crop before doing so. Did you give any thought to the D800E?
I am holding out until Photokina from buying the 5D MkIII as I am hoping that Canon offers a competitor to the D800 by then. I am sure (hope anyway) that it will be coming. Enjoy the new camera!
Thanks Howard. Yeah, I was on the fence about E or not to E. I was about to sway back to E when my preorder came in, and made the decision for me. 🙂