Need help with a decision

[RLucas]

Lately, I have been highly interested OCL, and have been working with some continous lights that I have rigged and it has been enjoyable. I really want to delve more in to this type of work, either strobist or studio type strobes. Here is my conundrum. Right now, I am shooting mainly with a Nikon D70, which is bordering on old. I don't really have any problems with the camera per se, but it would be nice to have a couple of extra stops of ISO, and a larger LCD. Right now, I can only afford a lighting kit, or a newer body, such as a D90, or maybe a D300. I have been bouncing this back and forth for a while now, and still feel undecided. What do you guys think? I just want some more opinions than the voices in my head. Thanks in advance!

[OsmosisStudios]

Have the continuous lights been working well for you? If so, keep them and upgrade the body.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Have the continuous lights been working well for you? If so, keep them and upgrade the body.

Yeah, but they are just little clamp lights. Kind of a PITA to set up. I may just do some more fabricating to make it a little easier.
Thanks Os.

[NicoleScraps]

ICK, I hate decisions like this. I know you had said that it takes a while to get your lighting set up. That would be a huge pain....for me. I am lazy and like the faster set up. Especially since I do not have a space that I can dedicate to leaving stuff set up all of the time.
My 2 cents-if you can fabricate your current lighting for a better ease of use, then go with the camera body. If not, I would probably go with the lighting set up because OCL is super duper fun! But that is just me. I know nothing of the cameras that you are speaking of so maybe my opinion is not the best one.

[dakwegmo]

That's a tough call. As someone who made the switch from the D70 to the D300, I have to say I was definitely pleased with the improved high ISO performance, but I don't know that I would make that same choice again if shooting in low light was my biggest concern. If that were my main issue, I'd go for better lights or faster lenses first, since they will be a better long term investment than a new body.

Since your considering strobes, you might want to stick with the D70 anyway. It has a 1/500th flash sync speed, while the newer cameras like the D300 and D90 only sync up to 1/250th. The difference that one stop can make in controlling your ambient light can be dramatic. And using strobes, you'll rarely be shooting at the ISOs where you see the biggest improvements in the newer bodies you're looking at.

So yeah, I think, go with the lights.

[Elmo]

For me the question would be which I would get the most use out of until the second could be purchased.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

ICK, I hate decisions like this. I know you had said that it takes a while to get your lighting set up. That would be a huge pain....for me. I am lazy and like the faster set up. Especially since I do not have a space that I can dedicate to leaving stuff set up all of the time.
My 2 cents-if you can fabricate your current lighting for a better ease of use, then go with the camera body. If not, I would probably go with the lighting set up because OCL is super duper fun! But that is just me. I know nothing of the cameras that you are speaking of so maybe my opinion is not the best one.

Nicole, I value your opinion just as much as anyone else. You make a good point. I am lazy too, and this will definitely be a consideration.

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

That's a tough call. As someone who made the switch from the D70 to the D300, I have to say I was definitely pleased with the improved high ISO performance, but I don't know that I would make that same choice again if shooting in low light was my biggest concern. If that were my main issue, I'd go for better lights or faster lenses first, since they will be a better long term investment than a new body.

Since your considering strobes, you might want to stick with the D70 anyway. It has a 1/500th flash sync speed, while the newer cameras like the D300 and D90 only sync up to 1/250th. The difference that one stop can make in controlling your ambient light can be dramatic. And using strobes, you'll rarely be shooting at the ISOs where you see the biggest improvements in the newer bodies you're looking at.

So yeah, I think, go with the lights.

I shoot mostly with fast primes now, so lenses aren't really an issue. They aren't high dollar by any means, but they do their job, and well. 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.8 ( not really happy with), and the 85mm f/1.8, which I love.
I think you may have swayed me a tad in the lighting direction. Like I said, there is nothing inherently wrong with my current body. A large portion of my "work" is done outside as well, so lighting may just be the way I go.
Thanks for the info!

[AdrenoJunkie]

I'd say go with lighting. I always hear people talkin about how cameras and lenses arent what make great photos anyway. But light does make great photos. You may not see any difference in photo quality with a new body, but you will see a difference in quality with lights(after you learn how to use them that is). There are some great benefits to strobes over continuous lights, plus doing strobist stuff is just fun. You can do alot of cool stuff with em.

[AdrenoJunkie]

Oh yeah, and the 1/500th sync speed is a big plus.