My Quandary - Need A Sanity Check

[Rick M]

One of the frustrations to me is that with the price reduction the D700 is getting close to whatever the next top of the line Dx will cost (D400?). So for a few hundred more you could go FX.

But here is my real problem- If I get a D700 and go FX, I will then be drooling over the D800 within a year, it's just my nature, I won't be happy until I get the D800.

So the decision for me becomes the next best DX or a D800 which I certainly don't need. The D700 is out of the equation, due to my own nature. I have the best DX sensor nikon has and I am 99.9% satisfied, I think the D400(or maybe D7100) will make me 100% content for years.

 

[Eduard]

Rick: I totally get your point. I bought the D300 in December of 2007 - right after they were announced. It has served me extremely well.

I put the poll on the thread because I thought more folks would "vote" rather than reply. Not too many votes but the "Get a D700" choice has 55% of the votes when I just looked.

 

[bobmielke]

Equipment lust is a powerful force. Technology marches on. There will always be a bigger, badder, more powerful toy than the toy you now have. Computer lust is the worst. By the time you open the box on a new computer it's already obsolete, ditto software.

I just retired. That means no more paychecks coming in and the need to live on a fixed income. It means going from a lifestyle based on $70,000 a year to one based on $3,200 a year plus Social Security. Ouch! I have no savings to speak of and just one stash of cash left. I decided to go for it & pre-order that D800. 3 days from now my new 24-70 F/2.8 FX lens arrives. I can use it on my D7000 until the D800 ships. I happen to be blessed with a 50mm F/1.4D that's FX compatible as well. I'm not selling the D7000 or any of the great lenses. The D800 has a DX mode that will use all my fast DX lenses if I need their specialized focal lengths. ie. a 11-16mm F/2.8 Tokina for example.

Everyone can justify the purchase of anything if they choose to. I'm single and live alone. If I ask the empty room if I can have a new toy the answer always comes back, "You bet"! May the force be with you! LOL

 

[gqtuazon]

Equipment lust is a powerful force. Technology marches on. There will always be a bigger, badder, more powerful toy than the toy you now have. Computer lust is the worst. By the time you open the box on a new computer it's already obsolete, ditto software.

I just retired. That means no more paychecks coming in and the need to live on a fixed income. It means going from a lifestyle based on $70,000 a year to one based on $3,200 a year plus Social Security. Ouch! I have no savings to speak of and just one stash of cash left. I decided to go for it & pre-order that D800. 3 days from now my new 24-70 F/2.8 FX lens arrives. I can use it on my D7000 until the D800 ships. I happen to be blessed with a 50mm F/1.4D that's FX compatible as well. I'm not selling the D7000 or any of the great lenses. The D800 has a DX mode that will use all my fast DX lenses if I need their specialized focal lengths. ie. a 11-16mm F/2.8 Tokina for example.

Everyone can justify the purchase of anything if they choose to. I'm single and live alone. If I ask the empty room if I can have a new toy the answer always comes back, "You bet"! May the force be with you! LOL

Good for you Bob. Life is too short. If the D800 and Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 will make you happy, then why not?

I thought I was done with NAS before. I had a D700 and D7000 plus all the nice heavy zooms. Any other release didn't make it on my list. SB 700, SB 910 and Nikon 50mm f1.8G are amongst the gear that were released and were not successful in creeping into my obsession.

Then comes the D4 and D800/E. As soon as the D800 was announced, I new it was just a matter of time before the value of my D700 starts dropping. My co-worker was interested so I sold my D700 plus the Nikon 24-120mm f4 VRII lens.

I quickly pre-ordered the D800 right after that. After a week of debate, I cancelled my D800 pre-order and pre-ordered the D4. I am not a pro and I have no justification on why I need the D4 except to tame my NAS.

Let me just list some of the things that makes the D800 a worthy D700 FX replacement. This is my perspective as a D700 user.
- 100% view finder vs 95%
- 3.2 LCD screen which is much better than the existing D700 LCD. You can pixel peep all you want.
- Faster processor which leads to faster AF. Same AF system used with the proven D4.
- Face detect. AF prioritizes the people's faces.
- Dual card slots. You can use your SD cards and CF cards for video and/or RAW files just like the D7000
- 36.3 MP. 15MP if you use your DX lenses.
- HD video. There are times that video will come in handy.
- 200,000 shutter actuation vs 150,000
- two virtual horizon references available on the view finder and 3.2 LCD screen
- Built-in HDR feature
- Time lapse capable. Automatically converts it to a short video.
- Better metering, and lighter are some of the things that are welcome improvements.

The strong magnesium alloy construction and weather sealing are just some of the "Other" brand users wish that their brand would implement.

The cons that may affect your decision could be the slower fps when you add the external grip. This is not an issue since the D7000 can fulfill that role. The need for higher capacity memory cards and computer storage.

With that said, I voted for the D800.

Here is a digital tutorial on how to use your future camera.

Nikon | Imaging Products | Digitutor | D800/D800E

 

[Mjaydakid]

My motto is, "Go for it." If you can afford it, do the 36.3mp. Even if you don't want to paper the den with a single enlargement. Remember what Mae West said: You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ​

 

[bobmielke]

Thank you for the information. I've been reading all the online reviews just to educate myself when discussing the D800. I've already been to Nikon's Digitutor site and watch the training videos on every aspect of the D800, D7000 and D90 before that. I was a pro wedding & portrait photographer in the mid-70s, using two Mamiya 645s and processing all my own prints. I even shot slides and used the Cibachrome process to create some beautiful prints up to 16"x24".

 

[bobmielke]

My motto is, "Go for it." If you can afford it, do the 36.3mp. Even if you don't want to paper the den with a single enlargement. Remember what Mae West said: You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ​

Careful about quoting Mae West, she also said "...if you've got it flaunt it"! LOL