Which to choose, D400 or D700 ??

[lsisaxon]

Do you want a DX or FX? simple...
Next consider about yr lenses.

Yeah.. Think about it.. For tele lenses, DX give you a 1.5x advantage comparing 12MP DX with 12MP FX. DX give you sharper corner to corner performance when you use film lenses on them. Only thing you lose with DX is the ultrawideangle lenses. However, you will need the best of the ultrawideangle lenses to give you good corner performance on FX. The price difference between a D300 and D700 could actually buy you a DX ultrawide.

The only advantage I see for FX now is the high ISO which is about 1.5 to 2 stops better than DX of the same MP count.

 

[jnet6]

Yeah.. Think about it.. For tele lenses, DX give you a 1.5x advantage comparing 12MP DX with 12MP FX. DX give you sharper corner to corner performance when you use film lenses on them. Only thing you lose with DX is the ultrawideangle lenses. However, you will need the best of the ultrawideangle lenses to give you good corner performance on FX. The price difference between a D300 and D700 could actually buy you a DX ultrawide.

The only advantage I see for FX now is the high ISO which is about 1.5 to 2 stops better than DX of the same MP count.

high iso is always improving from camera to camera.. so no worries.

 

[AlexK]

Go for the D700 and enjoy it :thumbsup:. Capturing nice and memorable pictures is priceless. Got my D700 and no regrets. Happy New Year 2009.

 

[benleez]

hmm.. waiting price to go more affordable.

Are there a lot of pple buying D700? If more pple buy, then maybe price will drop faster later when they start offloading ;p

 

[Blur Shadow]

It's a little difficult to talk about this when no one has seen a D400 yet right? Besides, even if the D400 is launched, I do not see much price movement for the D700, since they are designed for different market segments. Of course, there are always blurred boundaries, but I believe it's more of a case between a flagship DX model or a FX model... Let that decide for you...

 

[Leykid1634]

Yeah.. Think about it.. For tele lenses, DX give you a 1.5x advantage comparing 12MP DX with 12MP FX. DX give you sharper corner to corner performance when you use film lenses on them. Only thing you lose with DX is the ultrawideangle lenses. However, you will need the best of the ultrawideangle lenses to give you good corner performance on FX. The price difference between a D300 and D700 could actually buy you a DX ultrawide.

The only advantage I see for FX now is the high ISO which is about 1.5 to 2 stops better than DX of the same MP count.

Thanks Isisaxon. Yes, you get 1.5x more focal length on DX than on FX. On the other side, an adv. of abt 2 stops of light from FX.
Hopefully, Nikon knows this and improve on the future FF lenses.

Not bad.... you got the drift.....

Anyways, D700 still can use the DX lens... Just gotta be conscious about buying more lenses and making sure that these are FX from now on ?

I bought the following lenses this year alone :-

1. N 18-135mm - DX
2. N 70-300mm VR - FX
3. N 50/f1.8 - FX
4. Tok 11-16mm - DX
5. S 150mm Macro - FX

All with the intention that perhaps in the next body upgrade, I can be of a standard to put money down for a FF body...... But then again, I am sure there will be newer lenses then to tempt us all ! :lovegrin:

Yap ianurn, thank you. I am thinking getting the body 1st before deciding on the lenses. As I feel that lenses are a much heavier investment than the body. You trade more on lenses than on bodies. Just look at the Buy/Sell forum. And I do not hope to put any of my gear there. :bsmilie:

It's a little difficult to talk about this when no one has seen a D400 yet right? Besides, even if the D400 is launched, I do not see much price movement for the D700, since they are designed for different market segments. Of course, there are always blurred boundaries, but I believe it's more of a case between a flagship DX model or a FX model... Let that decide for you...

You are right Blur Shadow, they are on different platform and market niche.
I heard lots of good reviews from D300, and also end users here, say D700 are great too.
I do not think Im going to just upgrade to D300, its a waste I think. It will be D400 if I wanted another DX body.

Therefore, getting opinions is the best place.
Thanks so much to all for your suggestions and directions.
Well, I hope it dont stop here. Please do pen in your consideration, and give me a clearer path, and others who are in the same boat as me.
C & C are welcome.

Me Wishing All a Happy New Year.

Cheers !!

 

[Lord Soth]

The best advice I ever got from a fellow photographer about purchasing a camera was this :- Do you need it NOW?

As we are all living in the digital age, it is always best to put off any camera purchases until you really need the equipment.

In my case, I did not require the use of the D700 when it was just launched. I only bought it when I needed it 2 months after the official launch and saved $500 off the recommended retail price. This $500 went back into my purchases of extras (such as B+W filters, Nikkor Lenses etc).

The D700 is currently retailing at around $3,500 and is expected to drop even further. That would have meant a $1,000 saving to those who bought it around this time.

After buying a camera, don't ever regret seeing the price drop coz' it can't make up for the lovely photos that you took with your new camera.

If you do go for the D700, the 14-24 AFS is really a remarkable wide angle lens and is worth investing in too. The wide angle pictures are so good that it eventually became my walkabout lens and I got used to the 2kg combined weight.

Anyway, even if you decide to stick to DX, there is a very good Nikkor DX wideangle lens (AF-S Zoom-Nikkor ED 12-24mm f/4G IF DX) which Thom Hogan claims can be used by a FF camera!)

http://www.bythom.com/1224lens.htm

So any DX investment in the above lens is not wasted should you ever decide to go for a full frame camera eventually.

Cheers and HAPPY NEW 2009 YEAR!

 

[Leykid1634]

The best advice I ever got from a fellow photographer about purchasing a camera was this :- Do you need it NOW?

As we are all living in the digital age, it is always best to put off any camera purchases until you really need the equipment.

In my case, I did not require the use of the D700 when it was just launched. I only bought it when I needed it 2 months after the official launch and saved $500 off the recommended retail price. This $500 went back into my purchases of extras (such as B+W filters, Nikkor Lenses etc).
Great move Lord.
Times flies you know. Im still saving and reckon by Mar, I shd be able to afford a D400 then. For D700, I need to cut down on my other expenses and make sure not to spend on anything expensive.

The D700 is currently retailing at around $3,500 and is expected to drop even further. That would have meant a $1,000 saving to those who bought it around this time.

After buying a camera, don't ever regret seeing the price drop coz' it can't make up for the lovely photos that you took with your new camera.
Congrate !

If you do go for the D700, the 14-24 AFS is really a remarkable wide angle lens and is worth investing in too. The wide angle pictures are so good that it eventually became my walkabout lens and I got used to the 2kg combined weight.
I not talking big. I will to carry any weight as long as i can take good pix. The concern is $$$. 14-24 dont come cheap leh :bsmilie:
Maybe next saving up.

Anyway, even if you decide to stick to DX, there is a very good Nikkor DX wideangle lens (AF-S Zoom-Nikkor ED 12-24mm f/4G IF DX) which Thom Hogan claims can be used by a FF camera!)

http://www.bythom.com/1224lens.htm

So any DX investment in the above lens is not wasted should you ever decide to go for a full frame camera eventually.

Cheers and HAPPY NEW 2009 YEAR!

Thanks so much Lord for you advice.
Happy New Year to you too.

Cheers !!

 

[chngpe01]

Happy New Year

1. To wait for a D400 you probably have to wait awhile. So far the rumours are just pure rumours.

2. Of course a D400 will come out, it is like predicting that the recesssion will be over in due course. The question is when.

3. So if you can afford to wait for it to come out than you don't need any new camera or even the D700. No reasons to buy any now, cos you don't need one that's why you can afford to wait.

4. When the D400 comes out than go and compare it it with a D700 no point talking about some thing you can't even see now.

With this I am closing this thread.