BUT, I have already had to send it back to Nikon TWICE, once for a focusing issue (which is well documented apparently) and also for a potential sensor failure where it corrupted the files in one of my shoots!!!

It's great otherwise, and I'm hoping to get it fixed some time in future when I send it out for sensor cleaning

I have posted to flickr the test I conducted on a tripod with a cable release and lit by flash; you will notice that all of the live view and the right phase detect sensor produce acceptable focus; the center phase detect is marginal and the left phase detect sensor is awful.

Granted, I'm changing lenses quite a bit (6 of my 7 lenses are primes), but the sensor cleaner DOES NOT WORK AT ALL

If under warranty, you can send back in to Nikon to clean the sensor of the oil specks but you will do this more than once if you don't learn to clean it yourself.

The FX sensor is great the quality is unreal.

Nikon packed everything that they had; their best sensor, their best meter, and their best AF in this package, and that for a very reasonable $3k

They have to be removed with sensor cleaning

Even though the sensor is good, I'm still giving this camera one star.

Prepare to clean the sensor yourself.

Is this due to the better sensor or the better imaging processor?6

I found a batch of dead sensor.

High Dynamic Range, new focusing alternatives, High ISO low noise, larger LCD and of course the best sensor in market makes D800 teh best camera you can get for the price

The sensor seems very sensitive, too sensitive if your subject is moving quickly, because maybe you are focused on the skin or maybe you're focused on the hair and the exposure will be dramatically different depending on where the focus point is

I have already cleaned my sensor twice in just 5000 images

Totally stunned by the images it produces (provided that you have great glass to compliment the sensor)

This sensor is so good that it will show up anything less

Excellent sensor

I always told myself that I would get into FX when a 24mp sensor became affordable (meaning no more than $3000).So, when Nikon announced the

Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)Update:Talked to an anonymous source at Nikon and that person recommended that I purchase Copper Hill's basic kit to avoid the 3-4 week mailing, repair, and return time to Nikon to clean the sensors on my new cameras

The sensor is right at the physical edge of the optics for SLRs

Good thing I bought that additional Squaretrade warranty, because Nikon's warranty doesn't cover sensor cleaning

Center/right sensors requires no AF FT.At 70mm F2.8:(which most people are less concerned of)Left/center/right all shows optimal focus results without AF FT.Strictly speaking, the D800 I have do have minor left AF issue,In my opinion, it's totally tolerable, if it just require -1 to be sharp

And it is an outstanding sensor

the new sensor just works in regards to WB

Over the years ive collected only FX lens’ and was waiting for a decent full frame camera (D610 sensor in a D700 body!!) and the D400 which never came to be

Sent the camera in for "adjustment" - left sensor got much better but center sensor now is completely blurry

Nikon software can produce excellent results, but it is clunky and slow.- Handling: Awkward placement of the mode selector button (to make room for movie record), lacking the D7000 U1/U2 style custom banks, switching of AF modes is not as effortless as the D700.- Autofocus: All 51 points are still too centrally located, no increase in cross-type sensors over the D3/D700, all the cross-type AF sensors are in the middle, like the D3/700, the outer sensors are near useless in low lit, low contrast situations.

Although the APS-H 16mp sensor, the raw at 3200 and 6400 are pretty cool

Coming from the D7000, this camera has unreal clarity and the FX sensor really makes all the difference.

All that said, the Nikon has the superior sensor

The sensor is magnificent.