Nikon D810

The Nikon D810 is a full-frame DSLR released in 2014. It uses the Nikon F FX mount, so it takes the F-mount lenses built for Nikon's full-frame bodies.

Its sensor resolution puts it firmly in high-resolution territory. That makes it a natural fit for landscape, architecture, studio and portrait photographers who print big or crop hard, and a poorer fit for anyone whose main subject is fast action.

Carrying it is a commitment. At 980 grams and 146 x 123 x 82 mm, this is a body you pack deliberately rather than sling in a small bag.

A 36.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor sits at the core, driven by the Expeed 4 processor. That resolution leaves room for big prints and tight crops, and it is a major strength behind the good optics score of 76, placing the D810 in the top 13% of cameras in our database for Optics.

Sensitivity starts at ISO 64 and reaches 32000. The low base suits bright daylight work, and the 1/8000 second maximum shutter speed adds further control over exposure. The upper end simply gives you settings to keep working when the light gets thin.

Fifty-one autofocus points give many placement choices, and the optical viewfinder shows the scene directly while you compose. The 5 fps maximum suits deliberate shooting; for sports or wildlife bursts it limits how many frames you catch around a peak moment.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so sharp handheld results depend on shutter speed, technique or a stabilised lens. On a tripod-heavy workflow like landscape or studio work, that costs little.

The D810 records video up to Full HD in the MOV file format. That resolution is enough for web video, documentary clips and personal projects.

Frame rates reach 60 fps, while the maximum resolution is Full HD. The built-in intervalometer supports timelapse work by firing frames at set intervals without an external trigger, removing one piece of gear from the bag during long tripod sessions as a scene changes slowly.

The video score of 70 is good, held back mainly by resolution. Full HD is the maximum, so there is no 4K output, and anyone delivering in 4K will find that a hard limit. For HD workflows, though, the basics are covered well.

The 3.2-inch LCD carries 1,229,000 dots, sharp enough to check focus and detail confidently, and live view is available for tripod work. It is not a touchscreen and does not tilt, so you work the menus with buttons and lose easy high and low framing angles.

Weather sealing is present, which helps in dust and drizzle, though the body is not waterproof. A built-in flash covers emergencies, and support for external flash units opens up proper lighting control for portraits and events.

Wireless options are absent: no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth and no GPS. Image transfer relies on cards rather than any wireless link, and locations are not recorded automatically.

The modest features score of 59 reflects the missing touchscreen and Bluetooth, while the display, live view and weather sealing hold up well.

Two card slots accept SD, SDHC and SDXC cards alongside CompactFlash including UDMA support. That mix gives flexibility in what cards you buy and keeps older CompactFlash stock usable.

The EN-EL15 battery is rated at 1,200 shots, though that figure is a rating rather than a promise of real-world endurance. For long shooting days, packing a second battery is a sensible precaution.

There is no in-camera USB charging, so the battery needs another charging method between shoots or while travelling. The Storage and Battery score of 79 is good, with USB charging absent from an otherwise capable setup. Carry a charged spare as well.