RAW files D600 v D800

Anybody willing to post some RAW files from both the cameras, so I can try out its processing on my HW to see how demanding the files are, and decide accordingly. Preferably ISO over 800 [1600-3200-6400].


Would be a great help. Cheers.

(Edited on 2012-11-04 16:37:53 by gipi23)

It would be most helpful if they were shots of the same scene, with the same lens, settings etc. Otherwise the comparison is betwen different types of photo, as well as differnt cameras.


 

What do you hope to achieve by this?


The D800 will have a higher IQ than a D600. 


I have had 1600iso full size 36mpx low light, handheld with VR used at 1/10th accepted, no noise reduction, no problems. Other d800 users have had images accepted at 3200 full size.


At higher iso's the amount of PP work you can do will be minimal.


As esp points out random files from users here will not help you at all. Buy one of each  yourself.


I'm Ken sure Cockwell has some very interesting lens chart comparsion pictures from both cameras, personally  I find such picture don't sell well here

What I really looking for is how well my HW is able to cope with those RAW files. I am worried that those massive files of D800, when processed through Capturex NX2, might eat up some time, hence I want to see the comparison of the two. I am quite aware of the differences, and surely D800 is a 'better' camera, especially stock-wise, yet, affording D800 I can't risk my HW will struggle with the files processing, cause I can't afford any new investment as for now. D600, having smaller files, might be a perfect fit, I just can not tell what the difference really is. BTW, which RAW converters are 'up-to-date' with those new NEFs?
Thanks a lot.

By HW do you mean HardWare?


ACR 6.7 works with CS5.1 


Obviously CS6 works as well I think that version of ACR is 7 something.


Sure the files are big. I do some teaching and some of my pupils are buying D800's. I tell them, "It's "relatively" cheap for what you get but expensive to run, memory cards, hardware,storage,backup etc."


 

That's exactly what I mean, therefore I must balance out the camera price/its performance with the extra cost that comes with it. My new desktop is working fine with D300 files, but those are only about 26MB. I use PS 5, so those files should be fine, processable, but I can't open D800/D600 files in Capture NX2 [which I use most often]

There was no software with my D800, so that is something else to buy or upgrade I have seen offers where Capture NX is bundled with a camera for a discounted price but I guess they are keeping the price low by not including any software

Why don't you visit www.dpreview.com and get the RAW files from their tests "Studio scene comparison (Raw)" , you can download each image that they take, RAW and JPEG.

I never 'cared' to check if that is available for dl [slow internet at home], though I regularly visit the site. Thanks!

This may not help but I have an a 2-year old iMac with 8 gigs of RAM and the 36 MP files of the D800 definitely slows it down but it is doable.  You can also shoot the D800 in its 1:2 crop mode which effectively gives you a 25 MP camera, basically the same as the D600.  With time as you upgrade your HW you can switch to the D800's full frame mode.

Try this solution:  first, upgrade your computer to Windows 8 using the very cheap special offer from Microsoft available until Jan 30th.  Win 8 and Win 7 can use a USB memory stick as additional RAM.  Buy a fast USB stick, say 16GB, put it in your computer and instruct the computer to use the stick as additional memory.  Make sure you upgarde to Win 8 64 bit, because both 32bit versions are limited to 4GB RAM.


Edit:  after you've done the above, try to instruct Photoshop to use the USB stick as its scratch drive.

(Edited on 2012-11-06 23:48:03 by hatman12)

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You need the latest version of Capture NX2. You also have the choice of either 32bit or 64bit.  The 64bit speeds it up a little.


I am using Capture NX2 with a D3x (so 24mp), so they are similar to D600 size.  My system does ok with it and it is a few years old.  It is - Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz q6660, 16gb ram and a 10000rpm hard drive for programs and OS, a drive for images and another one as a PS scratch disk and for Capture NX2 cache (that takes up a lot of space).


To be honest I want to upgrade for video but for photos it is fine.  I don't think using a USB as additional RAM will work because it is virtual ram (like using a hard drive). With the USB drive you have the limitations of the USB connection and with the hard drive you have the limitation of the disk spin speed (and you might as well get some more ram than buying a SSD to speed up your virtual ram).

I just tried D600 RAW with i7/8GB RAM in Capture NX 2.3.4 [the latest version], and no problem at all. So I reckon D800, with additional 8GB RAM would be just fine.