d700 now or wait???

[SwissJon]

On 7th Feb, apparently, they're due to announce the D800.

Now I got my Yearly bonus last week, and I've been saving up so that my budget allows me the luxury of buying one, if I sell my D7000.

Someone has posted a D700 + grip for a pretty good price on one of the sites like Ebay that I frequent. I'm VERY tempted by it, if I get it, I won't need to sell my D7000, and can have 2 cameras. Also, there's a D3 in the window of a local camera shop at about $400 more than the D700 is going for.

However, the D800 has the probability if being able to reuse a lot of my gear, it has CF and SD card slots. Runs in cropped mode at a resolution higher than my D7000, meaning that I can shoot in DX if I want, without changing lenses (Not sure why I'd want to, but I can). FPS count in DX mode is similar to my D7000, basically, it's going to be an upgrade to the D7000 also, and I would think the grip and battery from my D7000 is likely to fit it.. I have no confirmation of this, but I doubt they just invented a battery size for one model. after all, the D300s and the D700 share technologies.. Why not the D800 and the D7000? (Since the D800 is the logical upgrade for a D7000 user)

Now, I love the idea of getting a FX camera. Unfortunately the D4 is a little out of my reach at the moment.. So I'm left in a quandary.. D700 now and keep the D7000 or D800 at the end of the month, and sell the D7000..

Is the D700 REALLY that much better than the D7000? I'm very tempted to wait, but I really want an FX camera.

Of course I could get the second hand D3s that the camera shop is also selling for $2k less than new price.

What to do......

[sk66]

The D3 is the D700 in a better body w/ integrated grip...IMO, a bit better. For the $400 I'd get the D3 instead of the D700 and adding a grip.

D3/D700 vs D800...depends on what you want the FF for. IMO the D800's only plus is the MP's and I don't think there is anything that can resolve to that detail (36mp)...The results will be similar/same as D3x but with (probably) worse low light performance.

Of all of them I would choose the D3s if it is w/in your budget. The performance (ISO/Resolution) will be comparable to the new D4....There are other benefits to the D4 but they are relatively minor individually for most.

My approach was to get the D4 and keep the D7000. The D4 (D3/D3s) for overall capabilities and the D7000 for times I need the reach (crop) and MP's with decent light. I may eventually change my mind on keeping the D7000.

So, I recommend the D3 and keep the D7000 *or* the D3s depending on your primary needs. (D3s if low light is primary)

Now vs later...If it's a great deal, get it now. Prices/value will always drop over time. The D800 may have an impact on the D700 prices but it's doubtful it will be significant. They are just different animals. I do think the D800 will probably impact the prices for D3x's pretty hard.

[SwissJon]

Thanks for that Steve..

I'm sorely tempted by the D3s.. Very.. I love the lowlight capabilities and the High FPS, but it was obviously owned by a pro.. 81k photos..... Arrgh.. What to do.. Spend more than I was planning or stick with what I've got?? It's a realy hard decision made worse by not knowing what the D700 is like to handle..

Oh well.. I can think of worse decisions I've had to make in my life..

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

also, and I would think the grip and battery from my D7000 is likely to fit it.. I have no confirmation of this, but I doubt they just invented a battery size for one model. after all, the D300s and the D700 share technologies.. Why not the D800 and the D7000? (Since the D800 is the logical upgrade for a D7000 user)

Not likely: the D7000 is the D90 successor. The only reason the D90 grip doesnt work on the D7000 is the new battery type because of Japan's laws on exposed electrical contacts. The D800 will use the same grip as the D400, when it's announced (possibly this coming fall).

I'd say keep the D7000, get the used D700+grip, and enjoy.

[sk66]

IMO, the Dxxx and Dx series cameras handle MUCH better that the Dxxxx series. But I went "backwards" from D200>D300>D3>D7000....I've never fallen in love with my D7000 because of it.

I have to say the integrated grip is *much* better than an add-on grip. I use Spider holsters and Rapid straps. The "flex" in the add on grip has already resulted in one failure on my D7000 (had to replace grip) and isn't nearly as "solid" when tripod mounted.

I personally wouldn't buy a D800...not now, not ever. *If* I wanted MP's for portrait's/landscapes and huge prints I would buy a used D3x *if* the price drops hard.... The file size/processing/storage load (especially post) is way more costly than the benefit of 36MP's...As far as I know there isn't a lens available that can resolve to that level of detail.

My *plan* is to eventually replace the D7000 w/ a D3x if that ever becomes feasible. Otherwise I'll probably just keep the D7000. (for what I do the crop factor can be a huge benefit)

[autofocus]

IMO the D800's only plus is the MP's and I don't think there is anything that can resolve to that detail (36mp)

Steve, is this confirmed?..or still rumored to be 36mp?

[SwissJon]

Nothings "confirmed" until it's announced.. But pretty much every source I've read talks about 36MPx.. I've only seen one quoting 24MPx, and that hasn't been updated since October.

I'd totally agree about the handling of the D7000.. It had a really good sensor, but handles like an amateur camera because of the layout of the controls.. The number of times I've taken it out of the bag and it's changed from Manual or Aperture to something else, and I haven't noticed until I look at the histogram or realise that I'm getting weird readings.. Given my time again, I'd have got a D300s instead.

I don't need a second camera, I can live without one if mine needs repair.. Ok, so I think the choice is really made for me I'm going to enquire about the D3s The shop is closed on a Monday, so I'm going to go on Tuesday. There'll be other D700's, but not so many D3s's..

[sk66]

Well....
The D3s may take hit from the D4, but I'm not too sure about that. From what I can tell the D3s is 90-95% of the D4 (without video concerns).... Many will (should) opt for D3s at lower prices.

I've actually considered canceling my D4 order to get 2 used D3s's instead. But because of how I arrived here the expense for the D4 isn't much of a concern, so "why not?" (and 2 D3s's would be even more $)

I think you will be very happy with the D3s; you might be able to save a bit in a couple months, but maybe not.... If it's a good enough deal I would move on it now. Most will be selling their "backup" D3 instead of their D3s/x (D3s is ~ 1stop better than D3 and it has video)

I think the *best deal* will be a used D3 in a few months. It's a damn fine camera, but don't expect to get it fixed should something major go bad. Same might be true for the D3s soon (get insurance).

I'd "haggle" on the D3s "mentioning" the release of the D4 and maybe waiting to see what happens to prices in the next month etc... If there's no budging maybe leave and come back later. You want him to "sell you" the D3s....convince you to buy it; not "allow you" to buy it. Maybe go in inquiring about D700's/D800's... I'd be very hesitant to "trade in" the D7000 on the deal unless you know you are getting a fair deal on it (the D7000 is current top of line and backordered indefinitely everywhere).

[SwissJon]

D700's pop up on my local auction site quite regularly.. Mainly selling at ~$1800, but there's been a few sell at $1600.. One with 50,000 frames didn't even make that, and the D700 I spotted had a buy it now price of $1750 including grip. Given that it's 2 years old and has taken less than 10,000 frames, one has to assume it's a pro backup or just an enthusiast camera. Either way, it's not a bad deal. Unfortunately it's already gone.. There'll be another, there have been quite a few turning up recently for obvious reasons, I'll be patient for the right camera.

But that's the way of these things.. I'm not so fussed. If the D3s is there on Tuesday, I'll pick it up. haggle with the guy a little, since there's another D3s for sale by one of his competitors, I'll point out that there's likely to be a few turning up soon so it's in his interests to sell now, wave a credit card under his nose for $200 less than he's selling it for and see what happens.

I won't go PX on my D7000 because I can get more selling it myself.. As you said, they're out of stock almost everywhere, so it'll find its own price on the 2nd hand market, I don't need to be paying an agent to undersell it for me, I'll let my plastic take the hit until it's gone.

[jdepould]

I wouldn't bank on CF+SD for the D800. Nikon and Sony seem to be full steam ahead with this XQD or whatever it's called.

Honestly, I'm just hanging on to my D700, and I'm not sure how much more SLR gear I'm going to buy in the future. I'm waiting on a NEX 5N (next week hopefully), and if that works out well, I probably won't go back to SLRs.