Nikon D800 Focus issues

I've been testing my D800, and have discovered that some bodies (including mine) have a documented left focus point issue out of the box. The camera has to go into Nikon for half a day to be re-calibrated. Has anybody here with a D800 experienced this problem?

Hi Derek
I had the same issue but 30min @ Nikon and they had it sorted.

LOL!! Very funny. I was just thinking. If this was a Canon 5d3 that had these issues, out of the box, nogal, then this would have been on page 6, right now, and Canon would have been called all sort of things. Human nature.

@ Hannes. Apparently it's a software issue...the camera works fine, but it has 55 focus points in three banks and the left banks calibration is out on some cameras. Not majorly serious if you're aware of it and use the right bank or centre bank. Software patches are quite the norm, and both Nikon and Canon release patches all the time for their firmware.
@ Olaf. Nikon in CT can do it for me on Monday. Their techie said it'd take 3 hrs, but he hasn't done it before, so maybe he thinks it involves more than it does.

@ Derek. Was just making fun at all of us passionate consumers. BTW, I remember you saying here or somewhere that you will stick to your D700 for now. How do the 2 differ in hand, and IQ? No charts and stuff, but the general gut feel?

I came across this issue some time back when testing a D800, I was way too afraid to bring it up as I am a known Canon fan boy :).

I believe it can't be fixed by a firmware upgrade the affected units must go in.

If this was a Canon 5d3 that had these issues, out of the box, nogal, then this would have been on page 6, right now, and Canon would have been called all sort of things

Nope, Canonical nature.

Nikon made the issue known, immediately, and is offering to fix it, for free.
Canon goes into ANC-like denials and will fix it for a modest fee, if you can find someone who can actually do it for you.

Gerry, you are talking crap. Sorry to say. The 1D3 focussing issues and the 5d (classic) mirror issues are fixed FREE of Charge at any Canon ServiceCentre. (CameraTek) The 5d is now a good 6-8 years old, but still the repair to mirror gratis, as it is regarded as a weak spot during assembly.

Okay, but what happens when you are NOT near CameraTek?

[quote=]I believe it can't be fixed by a firmware upgrade the affected units must go in.[/quote]
Yes, the unit must go in for about 3 hrs for a software-based recalibration of the left focus bank.

I decided to upgrade to the D800 while my D700 still had some resale value. I love the D700 and its low-light capability, but one must move with the times, and I'm off to Namibia on a photo expedition next month and the 36mp will be great for landscapes. So far I like the D800 :)

I saw a second-hand D3x going for 35k. I'm asking, is there a market for that? Would anyone buy a used D3x when the D800 is here?

[quote=]Would anyone buy a used D3x when the D800 is here?[/quote]
That's the problem with upgrading. If you don't time your resale of gear properly you lose out big time. I bought my D700 with 3000 actuations for R 14 000 two years ago from a guy who'd bought it in Singapore for R 21 000. I sold it with 140 000 actuations for R 14 000 :) The D800 is priced in SA at R 32 700, which is on par with prices in the US when you take VAT and duties into account. The chance of laying hands on a D800 second hand for 30-40% cheaper than new is I think unlikely for the foreseeable future. So it made sense to sell the D700 and put in the extra R 20 000 now.

I think a D3x may go at under R 30 000 now, but not much more than that. Together with the D300s and D700, it is part of the previous generation of Nikon tech, and as we know, old technology still works, but becomes eventually almost worthless as compared to its original purchase price. The D800 is pretty much future-proof for a few years I think...

I saw a second-hand D3x going for 35k. I'm asking, is there a market for that? Would anyone buy a used D3x when the D800 is here?

The D3X certainly is no slouch in terms of image quality, and you can't beat the "built like a tank" feel of a Nikon with an integrated grip. It's old tech now, sure, but if the pricing werent so skewed because of original purchase price, I would certainly consider getting a D3X