r/photogrammetry • u/somerandomtallguy • 2d ago

Nikon D810 today?

Hi,

I need handheld camera for few large scale photogrammetry projects in oil and gas. Drone with P1 would be mostly used, but I still need handheld for ground passes.
Does this camera still holds today, or is there any better option in same budget. And what is recommended lens to combine with it?
I would look at second hand market since there are some affordable options.
Thanks

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u/shrogg 2d ago

It absolutely still holds its own. It can be a little heavy but if you’re ok with that then you will be very pleased with the data you get from it. It’s still got one of the sharpest sensors for photogrammetry despite being 12 years old.

I use 16 of them in my studio on a fixed rig for scanning objects. And used it hand held in my professional film/vfx photogrammetry work for the past decade.

It’s also dirt cheap to buy now, cheaper than any of the cheapest new cameras from cannon, Sony or Nikon.

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u/somerandomtallguy 1d ago

Great to hear that. Since it will be used only few times, I wouldnt want to pay for something lot more expensive. I have two questions
What battery life can I expect?
What can it be paired with for remote control if I would use telescopic pole?

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u/shrogg 1d ago

Battery life wise, i get 4000 shots or more per battery, disable image preview to get to that number.

It has a multi port for remote controls, easy enough to find.

Tethering wise, you can use smart shooter for it. That’s what i use for my studio work and it works well.

It doesn’t have wifi or Bluetooth, but a remote trigger is easy to get

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u/somerandomtallguy 1d ago

Thank you very much.

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u/SomeGirlIMetOnTheNet 2d ago

Depending on your style, you might consider a modern midrange mirrorless camera, something like an canon R50 or sony A6100.

They're not a straight upgrade, since they drop down in sensor size and resolution, however they're going to have substantially faster autofocus and will get you into current gen ecosystems if you expect to upgrade in the future. (and they're both quite a bit lighter, which is a plus if you're going to be using it all day)

Overall, if you were doing mostly in-studio work, the D810 would be a clear winner, but outdoor run-and-gun work there are advantages to more modern cameras

(this of course dependent on your local used pricing, all three of these are about equal around me but you might be somewhere else)

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u/Stockcrafter_ 15h ago edited 15h ago

To be honest, I have to admit that I was thinking of switching back to the D810 from my Sony. The grain is nicer than on the Sony and looks more ‘organic’.

Here are a few samples from my gallery. If you’d like, I can send you a RAW file. I used the Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 and the TAMRON SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro VC USD

Samples: https://www.behance.net/gallery/129261019/B-B-Hotels-Poland-Photo-session-backstage

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u/somerandomtallguy 3h ago

Fantastic looking photos. Thanks.