D3 vs D300

[ccb]

Hi, hope someone can help me. I have a D60 which I have been playing around with for over two years now. As my pictures have slowly improved I feel it is time for me to upgrade my camera and start getting a more serious about my photography.
Could anyone get me some input about the D3 and the D300. Pro's and cons? Differences?
Greatful for all feedback!

Cecilia

[OsmosisStudios]

Uh, really?

D300(s) is a DX-sensor, 7FPS semi-pro camera designed for the advanced amateur or professional needing the extra DX focal advantage.

The D3(s) is a FX-sensor, 9fps professional camera designed for sports and photojournalism. It's especially used for low-light situations because of the insane high ISO noise characteristics.

Theyre VERY different animals.

That being said: What is it about the D60 that you don't like? Going from a D60 (entry level) to a D300 (semi-pro/pro) to a D3 (pro) is a BIG jump that may not be necessary.

[ccb]

thank you for you reply. it might sound crazy to you to go from a d60 to a much more advanced camera, but me it makes sense since I feel that i am so used to the d60 now i am ready for a new challenge.
I think it is a great camera, but i guess i am just keen to take on a new challange.

[inkista]

The difference between a D300s and a D3s is about $3700.

B&H is listing a D300s body at $1500, a D3s at $5200.

Which is why most folks who are considering one aren't really considering the other. It's more common for someone to waver between a D300s and a D700.

If you are rich as Croesus and can drop that kind of cash on a whim, then maybe yeah go for whichever of the two posts from strangers on a messageboard tells you to. But I think maybe just doing your own homework would be a better guide. Also, imho, a lower-end body is "more of a challenge" than a high end one. The lower-end body has more limitations on it than a higher-end one, not less.

[candleman]

wow.. and do you have Fx lenses ?
if you buy the D3 and all you have is a set of Dx lenses you will need to start your lens collection all over again.

making a jump to a D300s is more of a logical step if you dont already have Fx lenses.

to be honest.... a D3 isnt going to challenge you much.

a real challenge is using off camera light, long exposures, stop motion, crazy warped images that look like globes , panoramics, WB correction gels, etc etc
.

if all you are doing is pointing it at a cat and firing away... the only difference you will see is more megapixels, more frames per second and cleaner images at high iso's, and a sore hand by the end of the day because its a big heavy camera.


if you do have money burning a hole in your pocket,
i'd suggest a lower level body, and some good lenses

prettymuch the only reason i upgraded from a D80 to D300s is for image quality.. the pictures stil look exactly the same because the techniques i'm using are still the same.

[ccb]

thank you, candleman - i appreciate your input!! I always thought a D300 would be more my speed, someone told me to scrap that and consider the D3 and because of the price it hadn't even occurred to me before.
Thank you!

[sk66]

There are many hidden costs when upgrading to a D3. I went from a D200 to a D300 to a D3....The step to FX cost me A LOT!
And while I don't regret it, there are times I miss my D300 (commander mode, 1.5 factor). And I don't think I would really consider it money "well spent". I don't think you can consider it money "well spent" unless you are making enough money from your photography to pay for it...

IMHO, if you do not have a definite NEED to go FX, it is not advisable. When you step into the "pro" arena EVERYTHING jut costs more, lenses, filters, accessories, etc etc.. And in some ways my D3 is LESS capable than lesser cost "pro-sumer" cameras.

[ccb]

thank you sk66 - I appreciate your thoughts! A teacher once said to me: always figure out how many gigs you have to do in order to get the money to spend on whatever it is you want to get - that will tell you if it's worth it or not.

[nokiN]

The biggest boon of a D300s or D3s over the D60 would be the auto focus module.

The D60 has a CCD type image sensor and rather limited ISO capabilities while the D300s/D700/D3s all have CMOS type image sensor and improved ISO capabilities with the D3s having a quite stunning usable ISO range.

The D300s and the D3s have the same AF module (Multi-CAM 3500) though the D300s only has the DX portion while the D3s has both the DX and FX capablilities.

While the D60 has 3 auto focus points, the D300s & D3s each have 51 focus points, and 15 of those are cross-type focus points.

The D3s has a built-in vertical grip, while Nikon offers an add-on vertical grip (the MB-D10) for the D300s.

Like the D300 the D700 doesn't have a built-in vertical grip and uses the same MB-D10 the D300s uses.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by ccb

As my pictures have slowly improved I feel it is time for me to upgrade my camera

An upgrade for the sake of an upgrade won't do you much good, tbh.