New Nikon Body
Discussion
I recently went for a new D700. I already have a D300s so all the bits are interchangeable; batteries, grips etc. and the grip isn't built in so its possible to travel lighter when you want to. There's also a built in flash; useful in itself but it can act as commander of wireless control of SB600/900 etc.
D3 gives you better 'pro' build/waterproofing if that's important to you. I use one and it is indeed a very fine camera. It's only 28 months old, so not THAT long in the tooth.... I still use a D2X which is now +/- 7 years old, and is a perfectly good camera (except being rubbish at high ISO).
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 13th April 07:46
.)I am still on old steam-powered D2X brick. What led me away from the D200 and later the 300/700 was that although you can add the grip, or remove it for travelling lighter, the build quality of the solid body is a real confidence booster. in fact I picked up a demo D300 in Jessops a few months back and was amazed at how it was falling apart. Clearly this level of camera - being built for "amateur" use (whatever that really means) - is built to the price point and where they can save on manufacturing, they will.
Personally the main reason I am holding out for a secondhand D3 when I do finally change will be what it feels like in the hand - whichever lens I fit and whichever orientation I use. The additional peace of mind of taking it to the seaside, out in the rain, throwing it around with abandon, dropping it from time to time et cetera, all adds up to a feeling that the money's worth spending. Whilst I don't "mistreat" intentionally or particularly heavily, that's just my take.
Then again, my decisions (despite the logic that digital technology will be far over the horizon every 18 months) are usually based on cost/use or cost/time in the kit bag. My D2X was intended for about a five year tour of duty.
Calculation: (Secondhand D2X in 2007) £1800/5 = circa £360 per annum. For that I could probably buy a D80/D90 every 18 months? Then I'd be closer to the latest technology I suppose. D200/D300/D400 would have to do me for 30 months at a time. D700/D800 would still have to last the 5 years by the time I've bought a grip to give me similar "clicks per buck".
Ideal would now be a secondhand D3s in 2011 for £2.5 and lasting me about 6 years through 2017!
Personally the main reason I am holding out for a secondhand D3 when I do finally change will be what it feels like in the hand - whichever lens I fit and whichever orientation I use. The additional peace of mind of taking it to the seaside, out in the rain, throwing it around with abandon, dropping it from time to time et cetera, all adds up to a feeling that the money's worth spending. Whilst I don't "mistreat" intentionally or particularly heavily, that's just my take.
Then again, my decisions (despite the logic that digital technology will be far over the horizon every 18 months) are usually based on cost/use or cost/time in the kit bag. My D2X was intended for about a five year tour of duty.
Calculation: (Secondhand D2X in 2007) £1800/5 = circa £360 per annum. For that I could probably buy a D80/D90 every 18 months? Then I'd be closer to the latest technology I suppose. D200/D300/D400 would have to do me for 30 months at a time. D700/D800 would still have to last the 5 years by the time I've bought a grip to give me similar "clicks per buck".
Ideal would now be a secondhand D3s in 2011 for £2.5 and lasting me about 6 years through 2017!
Mermaid said:
The rumour mill has been working overtime for the last 12 months on a replacement for the D700 - 700S, D700X(larger sensor), D800, D900....
Havng said that, the D700 is a great FF camera.
I waited a few months but decided to buy anyway. I expect the D700? will add video (yawn - I have it on my D300s and used a couple of times only) and maybe dual card slots (why) to extend the production life of the body. I wouldn't be surprised to see a D900 though, based on the 24M sensor of the D3x. Anyway, the image quality from a D700 is stunning. The practical limitation is the lens quality not the camera. Say goodbye to £2-3k for the matching zoom lenses. More if you go fixed focus.Havng said that, the D700 is a great FF camera.
ian in lancs said:
I waited a few months but decided to buy anyway. I expect the D700? will add video (yawn - I have it on my D300s and used a couple of times only) and maybe dual card slots (why) to extend the production life of the body. I wouldn't be surprised to see a D900 though, based on the 24M sensor of the D3x. Anyway, the image quality from a D700 is stunning. The practical limitation is the lens quality not the camera. Say goodbye to £2-3k for the matching zoom lenses. More if you go fixed focus.
Dual card slots is a very good pro feature. Allows you to have a backup of your shots onto 2 cards, store raw on one jpg on the other or just plain store more.I know canon 5D wedding shooters who'd love dual card slots just for the security of a backup.
As for glass, 12mp isnt nearly enough to out resolve even average lenses I think.
I think (I'm not absolutely sure) that I would like the 12MPs on a full frame sensor rather than a larger pixel count. I just think larger pixels make more sense. So I'm not waiting for more pixels, doesn't bother me at all.
Is the self cleaning sensor worth it on it's own? I'm leaning toward a used D3 at the moment.
Is the self cleaning sensor worth it on it's own? I'm leaning toward a used D3 at the moment.
Bob_Defly said:
I think (I'm not absolutely sure) that I would like the 12MPs on a full frame sensor rather than a larger pixel count. I just think larger pixels make more sense. So I'm not waiting for more pixels, doesn't bother me at all.
And that is why the D3 and D700 are such low light monsters - big pixels.
K12beano said:
Schrödinger's black cat meets Heisenberg's Uncertainty in a Colcutta Coal Seller's Cellar, anyone! 
We'll be photographing random subatomic particles next, Colliding Hadrons!
I presume a 'colcutta' is like a peat cutter, only a few millions years older? We'll be photographing random subatomic particles next, Colliding Hadrons!Anyway, there's no such thing as darkness, it's only the absence of light...
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