In the following article, we will compare two semi-professional DSLR cameras made by Nikon, D800 and D800E. Both are very similar to each other. They each have a 36 MP full-frame sensor, pentaprism optical viewfinder, and weather-sealed body. However, Nikon D800E is available at a slightly lower price point than Nikon D800, at the cost of not having the anti-aliasing (AA) filter. So, should you choose Nikon D800 or Nikon D800E? Is the difference significant enough to consider? Find out below.
Why Use The Anti-Aliasing Filter
So, before we proceed, let’s see first why you may or may not need to use the AA filter. Moire and aliasing are potential problems only when you are shooting photos of man-made objects, such as fabrics, brick walls, tiled roofs, and screens with fine, repeating patterns; they can also happen if you are shooting photos of star fields or the sparkles of the sun on the top of a sea wave. They never happen on natural subjects – well, unless you are photographing a bug. It can be very hard to find subjects for which moire and aliasing are problems. The AA filter is implemented in a camera to counter moire and aliasing, ensuring that every shot you make comes with accurate, detailed colors.
Take a look: Nikon D800E vs. D7000.
Nikon D800 vs. Nikon D800E: Immunity to Aliasing or Enhanced Sharpness
Many advanced cameras have built-in anti-aliasing filters to ensure excellent image quality no matter what you are photographing. Nikon D800, with a built-in anti-aliasing filter, is virtually immune to the destructive effect of aliasing and moire. This can be a great choice if your photography involves subjects that are known to cause aliasing or moire. This can also be a safe route if you do several kinds of photography, ensuring that you will be able to shoot a wide range of objects and subjects with high quality.
However, having an anti-aliasing filter is known to reduce the sharpness of the image. That’s why you will find that the images produced by Nikon D800E are generally sharper than those of Nikon D800. In addition, Nikon D800E also has slightly increased color depth and better low-light ISO. Therefore, if you are absolutely certain that you don’t need the AA filter, Nikon D800E can be an excellent choice.
Conclusion
Nikon D800 has an AA filter. It is generally the more recommended option if you do a wide range of photography. However, if you know what you are doing and you are absolutely sure that you don’t need the AA filter, you can choose Nikon D800E, which offers slightly enhanced sharpness.
