D700: $4000 budget

[An drew]

I will say hold your horse first, my concern for you is you will need another $5k in 6 months time if you really go for it....for the AFS 14-24 f2.8 and AFS 24-70 f2.8 lens :lovegrin:

I am in the same dillema as you, I am also a D70 user and is about time I move on to another body....but I've decided to wait after Xmas when the price and supply is a little stabilized....also hoping Canon will roll out the new 5D to pressure Nikon on the pricing :sweatsm:

Quite right, to do justice to a D700 you should pair it with the 14-24 and/or 24-70. I bought the D700 together with the 24-70. A good lens is important, and since it depreciates slower, better to get the lens before the body if have to choose either one.

Another body to consider:http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08082702nikond90previewed.asp

 

[woofmy]

hahaha... additional angle to ponder... D90 - D300 sensor but DX however got movie mode

enjoy

 

[Genie In A Lightbox]

I will get the D700, pay with instalment if needed, and still have some money for some decent primes.

I think it is not a matter of affording a D700, but rather you want to buy everything (a new body and good lenses) at the same time am I right to say that? Get the D700 :thumbsup:

I do not like the idea of buying camera equipment and pay them in instalments. I prefer to save up and buy everything upfront with cash if I can.

Of course I would love to have everything! But to be realistic, I don't need everything Nikon put on the table.

 

[Genie In A Lightbox]

Dun be like me. One of my weak point is I dun bare to sell them after looking after them carefully for so many years.

But seriously, those lens I'm having are all still usable in the D300. That's the sweet thing about Nikon.

I would suggest you go for D300 and try to sell away the D70, while continue to build up your lens plus saving up. D700 is still new for Nikon and they will perfect it in the next model to come. So, save for it.

Cheers!

Hi cheeseme

You've got quite a collection there! :thumbsup:

May I know any of those are DX lenses? Or you bought normal lenses?

 

[johnbrown]

Several interesting points have been raised in the threads, here's what I did.

My faithful 35 mm camera was an F3 bought back in 1980 would you believe and over the years some very good glass to go with it all AI Nikkor manual focus of course. I finally ventured into Digital SLR 2 years ago with a D80. Recently I got all excited about the new D700 and the thought of being able to use all my A1 lenses again. At the time I first read about the D700 it was not available in Singapore so in the prevailing weeks I got to thinking about my choice more and more the pro's and cons.

Cut a long story short 6 weeks ago I bought a D300 and 2 good nikon lenses for a little more than I would have paid for the D700 body. Why, the D700 is brand new, it is using pre-existing technology but is basically untested and therefore subject to some teething issues or it may just turn out to be on consensus of opinions not exceptional, on the other hand my A1 lenses are in the most part 30 years old and yet they still create fantastic exposures and will obviously last another year or to. By which time Nikon may offer a a full FX DSLR at more modest pricing or the D700 turns out to be a real star as I hope and worth the wait.

 

[Genie In A Lightbox]

I think you should spend your 4k on (FX) lenses first, especially if there are certain lenses that you want to get. Prices and resale value of DSLR bodies drop continuously and unless you NEED FX today, buy the lenses first. Ask yourself how long you can be patient for.



As for body, if you are not happy with your D70 you can get a 2nd hand D200 for 1k or a D300 for 2k or less.

What is the current market price for a D300 body?

Introducing the FX camera is like introducing a new camera system, got to upgrade body and lenses. Seems like old FX lenses may not bring out the best in D3 and D700.

 

[entropy_h]

What is the current market price for a D300 body?

Introducing the FX camera is like introducing a new camera system, got to upgrade body and lenses. Seems like old FX lenses may not bring out the best in D3 and D700.

Can check out the price guide here for all things Nikon:

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=292045

 

[Genie In A Lightbox]

With 4k, what would be a good lens to go with a new D300?

 

[lsisaxon]

What is the current market price for a D300 body?

Introducing the FX camera is like introducing a new camera system, got to upgrade body and lenses. Seems like old FX lenses may not bring out the best in D3 and D700.

Yup.. You got it right there.. That's why Nikon was slow in adopting FF.

 

[yyD70S]

You have the budget ... you asked about the D700 ... you craved for it.

GO FOR IT.

Early adopters pays a premium. You know about that.

You have read that your old lenses may not be up to it. So what???

You still want the FX. You won't be satisfied till you own one.

If you don't go for it, you'll probably regret your decision. Not because the D700 is better (or worse)... but because if needs and your wants are unbalanced.

* My wife asked for an upmarket rolex some years back. I bought her an omega. Yeah! Yeah! It's a good omega. But it's not a rolex. A few years later... surely I don't have to complete my line, eh?

 

[An drew]

With 4k, what would be a good lens to go with a new D300?

Many people letting D300 go below 2k. Nikon has many good lenses, depends on what you want to shoot. If wide-angle, perhaps 14-24 which can be used on FX.

 

[h2chng]

Hi


I also come and Kipo Kipo.

First thing first, you must tell your wife she is so nice, let you spend $4k on a hobby. But then maybe she spend more on shopping.

Actually, all the talk about FX and DX are all marketing tricks. It is there to hightlight the difference between the various products, so that consumer focus on the difference the marketer wants consumer to see. You will not see Nikon coming out to say, " Don't worry, you can always take the same picture without the new FX logo"

To a photographer, what is important is knowing your own needs. What is it in for you? Do you see that you are limited by your current cam? Events shoot, sports event or candid shoot that you are missing out due to the limitation of your cam? If so, then what do you need? Higher ISO (good for PI's job), Movie mode( good for PI's job) or Infra red etc. To us, what is important is to get the picture that we want.

Enough said, so now you have to decide for yourself if you are willing to spend the money. You must accept the fact that this is a hobby, all money spend is expenditure, not investment. Lens don't depreciate as fast, but does not mean they should be bought in the first place. Why buy things you don't even have intention to use at all.

By the way, D90 is out, it is my time to think about BBB.......

Cheers

 

[Genie In A Lightbox]

You have the budget ... you asked about the D700 ... you craved for it.

GO FOR IT.

Early adopters pays a premium. You know about that.

You have read that your old lenses may not be up to it. So what???

You still want the FX. You won't be satisfied till you own one.

If you don't go for it, you'll probably regret your decision. Not because the D700 is better (or worse)... but because if needs and your wants are unbalanced.

* My wife asked for an upmarket rolex some years back. I bought her an omega. Yeah! Yeah! It's a good omega. But it's not a rolex. A few years later... surely I don't have to complete my line, eh?

Actually I am fine if I do not own a FX. I do not crave for it until I lose sleep. I have been doing some reading up on the internet on the FX. All I want is to upgrade from my current D70 body. During the thought process, I discovered FX is out and D700 is the more affordable FX alternative to D3. In addition, I have the budget for it so I wondered if it is sensible to jump to FX now. The current DX range is already very good enough for me and D300 fulfils my needs. I read up on D300 and D700 in www.dpreview.com and found them similar in many ways less the full frame.

So perhaps you have helped me phrase my question in a more explicit many - should I jump onto the FX bandwagon now? Premium for it is high though.

 

[Xiao_shin]

You seem to be able to fight off most upgrade urge (You kept the D70 for 5 years!).

If you can continue this trend, I would advise you to get the D700. Forget about the dx lens.

 

[Miles]

Wow, 8 years of shooting and you bought only 'that much'?!

Personally i'm looking at D3 or D700 - not that budget allows but just *thinking*. Anyway imo either D700 or D300 you wont regret; they will both be quite a leap from what you are used to (yes, everything is about the sensor, and yet not everything is about it too!) and while re-learning stuff - it would probably will rekindle your passion for photography, and you might just find yourself digging out more $ for those new lenses.

4K to spend...thats really a tough one, because from what i see, you have build your collection in neither way i.e. collection of great lenses (imo18-35 and 50 are good..but not great) and all i need is a great body, or already great body and all i need are great lenses.

I think if i were you, i would buy D700 (as an ex-film user you are, you'll love the w-i-d-e viewfinder), use your 18-35, 50 to full effect, and build the rest around it - because trust me.....you'll never stop at 4k

 

[unseen]

IIRC, deprecation for accounting practices for computer is one year, cameras and lenses fall under equipment is 3 years.

Okie. I'm not in an accounting firm, but where I'm at, we process all ICT equipment as having 2 years life. All equipment will depreciate anyway, it's just a matter when they'll be considered to have little/no value.

Anyway it's strange the big 4 seem expect their own laptops and equipments to last 4 to 5 years. :bsmilie:

 

[unseen]

Actually I am fine if I do not own a FX. I do not crave for it until I lose sleep. I have been doing some reading up on the internet on the FX. All I want is to upgrade from my current D70 body. During the thought process, I discovered FX is out and D700 is the more affordable FX alternative to D3. In addition, I have the budget for it so I wondered if it is sensible to jump to FX now. The current DX range is already very good enough for me and D300 fulfils my needs. I read up on D300 and D700 in www.dpreview.com and found them similar in many ways less the full frame.

So perhaps you have helped me phrase my question in a more explicit many - should I jump onto the FX bandwagon now? Premium for it is high though.

Nah.
If you ask me, we're talking about 1st generation full frame. A few years back full frame cost more than $8k. Now it's $4k. If you don't need it, wait a couple of years it'll be even cheaper. Perhaps, you may even find a need then, that regardless of budget you'll get a full frame anyway.

Seriously, what have you lost out by (measurable stuff that is) by not going FX now?

 

[cosycatus]

i agreed with unseen.
I find it most economical to use cameras that are a generation behind. If you trend back the prices of cameras, they all become half price whenever a new one comes out, and the current pace of technology sees a new camera every 18 months.
IF you are buying stocks, lugi like siao liao.
D200 at 1K is STILL A very good camera, heck, people are selling D2X at 1.6K which is 4 times cheaper when it came out 3 years ago. What does a D700 buys you ? If you are a pro photographer who makes $$ and expect to make more $$ with a D700 ( which i think is hardly the case...i mean, you can't really charge ur clients more cos u have a new camera rite? ) then there is a good reason to do so.

Of course, there are gadgets whores who dun mind splurging $2.5K on an iphone 3G when it first came out in the states. It's $1.2K in singapore now..Give it half a year more when M1 and starhub joins it, it might go for $398 with a normal plan...in which case, you shouldn't be asking folks about FX good or not. You just have a craving u need to satisfy. What other says that bloster your desires becomes ur arguements for and u will just dismissed what goes against your desires..

 

[mcn]

\if u need d700, buy it

if u think d300 is enuf, buy it

but since u can afford $4000-- spend it and help our local biz, help the country grow by spending more... not that your d70 no good

u already know about fx, dx, lens up to standard, not up to standard... u mentioned u have read them... so... do something... it's good that u hv the $4000/-; not many people can afford that... n since u hv that choice.... make use of it

why this thread becomes topics like product cycle, overkill, investment, depreciation, accounting, watches, etc.....................

haiz............ :sweat:

tell me something

 

[erictan8888]

So perhaps you have helped me phrase my question in a more explicit many - should I jump onto the FX bandwagon now? Premium for it is high though.

hi,

after reading all your posts... let me sum up what you might actually want:

buy the d300 now, and spend the rest on non-dx lens so they can be used with FX camera that you will be getting, maybe 2 years down the road....

if i were you, i can wait for the price to drop....
remember, you are not earning a living from photography....
so, in my opinion, not really worth it to pay the premium....
patience.... will save you a lot of money....

just my 2 cents... cheers