D800E - used at a grand ($1300 CDN) - good idea or pass?

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
While shopping for a gimbal head was tempted by a used D800e on offer in the city. Shuttercount I was told was 56,000 (or there abouts).
It seemed to work fine when I tried it out. Shutter was much louder than I've heard on any of my other cameras. I liked the feel of it in my hands (but I also liked the feel of the $1,300 in my own pocket).

I did a wee bit of reading on line about it over lunch, and while at 36 megapixels it has more than my 24 megapixel D610 - but not sure that warrants the cost of adding another camera to my stable, nor is it enough of an upgrade.
I wonder if the D750 which would only be a few hundred more was a better idea? And the D810's can be had for a few hundred more too (there was one of those on offer at another shop at $1800).

I decided not to return and buy it, although I could call on Monday and buy it as they set it aside for a day for me to think about.
Looking on line the price $1300 (CDN) or about a grand US$ is isn't lose change but I don't see myself spending $4000 on the new D850 or even $3000 for a new D810.

Of course my wife asked the wrong question "why do you want yet another camera?" ... saying I have a pair of DX bodies and only one FX body which is lonely, was not the right answer. (I don't count the D5100 anymore, that is officialy her camera now). Does one need a reason?

I was tempting but it is still in the shop. . . . for now.
 

pforsell

Senior Member
There's two sides to a DSLR, the digital side and the camera side. To me personally the camera side is more important than the digital side.

I think the D600 series is quite full featured body, so the camera side differences are small or nonexistent. The digital side gives D800 series about 20% more linear resolution (7360 px wide vs 6000 px wide image). Worth it imho only at pretty modest price.

It is not like, say D5500 vs D2X, where I'd choose D2X every time because of the body, controls, handling, battery and features, despite over a decade newer sensor in the D5500.

What does D800E offer over your current model, that you can't do now? Better AF, I think, but what about frame rate and buffer? (I'm not familiar with either body, sorry. Just posing possible questions for you to ask). :)
 
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spb_stan

Senior Member
The D800e is a pro-level camera, rugged and with a longer lasting shutter. It does have better AF and DR, and better construction, weather resistance and is far better a camera than most of the buyers of them. I would much rather have a D800e than a D750 or 610 prosumer level cameras. I have a D800 and see nothing that gives an advantage in image quality.
But why do you need another camera, is there something you need that has no workaround. For me, the prosumer cameras do not offer the higher shutter speeds needed to darken backgrounds in too high ambient light levels, but not many people need that unless doing low key lighting or fine art shooting. You wife has a legitimate question and it is one worth thinking about before answering. Almost all camera upgrades I see have no real reason other than wanting a new toy. Upgrades seldom create better images because a camera upgrade does not change the photographer's eye and storytelling skills.
Upgrading bodies return the least on investment of all the options. Investing in lighting more modifiers or lenses or even workshops return much more value in improvement than another body.
I use my D800 for all sorts of subjects but if I was doing BIF or pro sports I would be seeking a different body. Since I primarily do events, portraiture, travel, studio occasional weddings(if I can't weasel out of it), product and club shooting, the D800 is more than enough.
 

Texas

Senior Member
For me, I think about just how much use a camera or lens will get.
There's only so many hours in the week for hobby photography.

Once you (or I) get more than a few, some will almost never get used and ought to be traded off.

This is a hard decision. Every time I buy something I work to part with something else.

It it hard to do ! Especially since some old things like lenses hold their value well it is tempting to keep them for a while longer.

Some things fall into a weird category like the new-in-box series E 50mm I bought for next to nothing last week. Worth close to $200 if I don't open the box.
I'll probably open it, make some photos with it and then sell it on for half that. Yes, I'll do that. Cannot risk becoming a collector.
 
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Fortkentdad

Senior Member
For me, I think about just how much use a camera or lens will get.
There's only so many hours in the week for hobby photography.

Once you (or I) get more than a few, some will almost never get used and ought to be traded off.

This is a hard decision. Every time I buy something I work to part with something else.

It it hard to do ! Especially since some old things like lenses hold their value well it is tempting to keep them for a while longer.

Some things fall into a weird category like the new-in-box series E 50mm I bought for next to nothing last week. Worth close to $200 if I don't open the box.
I'll probably open it, make some photos with it and then sell it on for half that. Yes, I'll do that. Cannot risk becoming a collector.

You have much more self discipline than me.

Good points but don't see me doing that. Indeed, I'm way beyond being a collector, the term hoarder may be applied by some, ... not TV hoarder material (yet), but throwing stuff out, or trading it in is tough for me. Did give my daughter-in-law a box of gear with a D90 and half dozen lenses suited to that camera.

I have not considered trading in my D610 for the D800.

As for being a collector - that is one of my other hobbies. I have a few dozen vintage cameras in a display case. The cabinet does not hold all of my old cameras - I have another dozen not on display.

https://flic.kr/p/Z3Z5ek on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fkd54/albums/72157686078215954/with/37446104381/ Links to my Vintage Camera album

As for the D800e; my reading of sites comparing the D800 / 800e with the D600 / D610 did not make me regret passing up on this bargain. Yes an upgrade for sure. A $1,300 upgrade, not really.


But hopefully when I retire I'll have more time for all of my hobbies, .... and that day isn't that far away as I just turned 64 Saturday past. One more year .... (said that before, but this time I mean it...)
 
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Texas

Senior Member
I've been retired for almost 5 years now and wonder how I ever had time for a job.
Plenty of things need doing.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Of course my wife asked the wrong question "why do you want yet another camera?" ... saying I have a pair of DX bodies and only one FX body which is lonely, was not the right answer. (I don't count the D5100 anymore, that is officialy her camera now). Does one need a reason?

I was tempting but it is still in the shop. . . . for now.

The brave ones will reason out and return similar question with regards to their shoes or bags. Why do they need another bag or shoes? How many shoes do they need? It has similar application to "Lenses".

You can never have too many lenses - BH Photo
 
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