Time for a 2nd full frame body... thoughts?

johnwartjr

Senior Member
I've been using a D700 as my primary camera for a little over 3 years now, and have had my old D90 as a 2nd body / backup camera since adding the D700.

All my glass, save for the kit lens that came with the D90, is FX glass. I have the 14-24 2.8, 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 VRII Nikkor zooms, and an 85 1.4 G Nikkor. Future plans at this time are for a macro of some sort, and a 35 1.4.

Sometimes, I shoot 2 bodies. Sometimes, I just use the D90 as a backup. Just depends on what I'm shooting. I do a lot of events, and some wedding photography.

I'm getting to the point where I need another FF body - and I'm torn to say the least. Hoping some of the helpful Nikonites I've talked with in the past can make some suggestions, or raise interesting/poignant questions that make me think.

I'll probably be making the purchase in the next 60-90 days. I don't have enough cash saved up to make the purchase immediately, but I could be there pretty quickly.

I'm debating over whether I want to consider the D800, a used D700 (that I send to Nikon to have a shutter replacement, cleaning, etc), or a D610. As nice as the D4 looks, I don't do enough business to justify the expense.

If I've used a D700 as my workhorse, am I going to be disappointed by the D610?

Perhaps a D800 is the best choice, and I could have Nikon clean/inspect/repair my D700 and it could retire to backup?

The D610/D700 route would save me some $$, but in the long run, the price difference between a new D610 and a refurb D800 is 400 bucks. I'm not going to let $400 talk me out of a D800 if that's really the best route to go... of course, I've not factored in the cost of the grip that I'd of course add to the D800, since I grew up shooting film on a F3/F4/F5, and really like how the grip balances things out...
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Why not a D7100? It will increase your lenses yes i know its DX but I have a D800E and D600 I use my D8e 90% of the time. I think if I had a D7100 I would use that more for wildlife etc. Just thoughts.
 
If you move up to either the D610 and especially the D800 you need to consider the size of the images. Can your computer handle the size and do you have enough storage for all the photos after you shoot them.

D700 is 12.1 MP
D610 is 24.3 MP
D800 is 36.3 MP

so both are great upgrades but are going to take a lot more horsepower to work with. The D7100 is a great option too but you have the same question to answer there. Can your computer handle it.
 

stmv

Senior Member
my vote is D800,, my combo is D800/700 with the D800 doing the lion share of the work. Today's computers, and the cost of storage is not hight anymore, so, I have not had any file size issues as I near my second year of the D800.

If you a D700 user, then the D800 will feel totally natural, and perfect transition to the 800. I also have a 7000 for an extra camera, and while fine, does not match the 700 or 800 for feel and toughness.

I would vote spending the extra 800 dollars if you can stretch,,

but,, the debate is 800 vs 800e,,

I have the 800,, but the 800e is shade sharper.

610 would be fine too,,
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
Computer horsepower is not a problem. I'm going to have to invest in a drobo or expand my raid array in 2014, even with my current gear. Right now, I've got a pair of mirrored 2tb drives that I archive data to, after editing on 10k rpm WDC raptors, along with external drives that I back the mirror up to every month or so, and take one to my bank to stick in a safe deposit box that is waterproof/fireproof.

I know anything I buy will be FF. I've used my Dad's D7000 a bit, and it's a nice body and it feels a lot more rugged than my D90 - but I really want to be all FX.

The more I think about it, the more I lean towards D800/E. But this is good discussion, thank you. Please feel free to continue to discuss :)
 

Bill16

Senior Member
If I had the money and the computer to handle it, if I were you I would go with the D800 vs the D610 or the D7100. But for my situation unfortunately, the larger files and costs of the needed equipement makes it impractical for my current and foreseeable post processing abilities. :(
 

jrleo33

Senior Member
The D600/610 is a “consumer grade” camera, versus the D800 as a “professional grade.” The video delivered by the 600/610 is not professional grade, versus the professional video delivered by the D800.

The CMOS sensors in both Nikon cameras are Sony, and with your listed Nikkor available lens lineup, both sensors are going to deliver outstandingly sharp images with maybe the D610 providing a little less noise than the D800 at higher ISO’s.

The advice given above concerning file size is extremely important to consider, particularly if you use the NIX High Dynamic Rangesoftware, where TIFF files can sometimes reach 125 MBs or more per image.

If you plan heavy use of the camera, it would seem the D800 is built better, and would hold up better in the long run than the D610.
 
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Computer horsepower is not a problem. I'm going to have to invest in a drobo or expand my raid array in 2014, even with my current gear. Right now, I've got a pair of mirrored 2tb drives that I archive data to, after editing on 10k rpm WDC raptors, along with external drives that I back the mirror up to every month or so, and take one to my bank to stick in a safe deposit box that is waterproof/fireproof.

I know anything I buy will be FF. I've used my Dad's D7000 a bit, and it's a nice body and it feels a lot more rugged than my D90 - but I really want to be all FX.

The more I think about it, the more I lean towards D800/E. But this is good discussion, thank you. Please feel free to continue to discuss :)

You sound a lot like me with backups except I use a NAS drive that backs up the file everytime I create it. I have also recently started using Carbonite to back up off site. I have it set up to backup constantly and I really like it. The home version is pretty cheap and gives you unlimited space. I like it too since I can access any of my photos with any device anytime even my iPhone.
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
You sound a lot like me with backups except I use a NAS drive that backs up the file everytime I create it. I have also recently started using Carbonite to back up off site. I have it set up to backup constantly and I really like it. The home version is pretty cheap and gives you unlimited space. I like it too since I can access any of my photos with any device anytime even my iPhone.

I tried Carbonite. I really liked the concept, but it wasn't practical. It would've taken me quite some time to back up the entire contents of my mirror. Comcast caps me at 250GB a month - to upload 2 TB, if I used the connection for nothing else, would take 8 months - and that's if nothing changed.

I looked at a few similar competitors to Carbonite, some of which would even send you an external drive to 'get started' that you fill and ship back to them, and then they upload it to your storage space - but the current way I'm doing it gives me a lot of control, and the only real expense, other than the 35 bucks a year for the safe deposit box, is the drives.

If I buy a bunch of drives next year, it'll be an expensive year for me - but I bought all the 2 TB drives about 4 years ago, so I've 'absorbed' it over several years of use.
 

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
What is your budget? Is the extra $800 for the features & resolution of the D800 worth it to you?
 
I tried Carbonite. I really liked the concept, but it wasn't practical. It would've taken me quite some time to back up the entire contents of my mirror. Comcast caps me at 250GB a month - to upload 2 TB, if I used the connection for nothing else, would take 8 months - and that's if nothing changed.

I looked at a few similar competitors to Carbonite, some of which would even send you an external drive to 'get started' that you fill and ship back to them, and then they upload it to your storage space - but the current way I'm doing it gives me a lot of control, and the only real expense, other than the 35 bucks a year for the safe deposit box, is the drives.

If I buy a bunch of drives next year, it'll be an expensive year for me - but I bought all the 2 TB drives about 4 years ago, so I've 'absorbed' it over several years of use.

I am lucky here. We have no cap and a very fast connection. It still took a long time to get the initial backup done. But keeping in updated is very fast.
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I also have the D800/D700 combo and love it. I use the D700 for outdoor action stuff smaller file size is great when I am shooting on continuous high, use the D800 for all the inside stuff and have the D700 ready incase of emergency. They feel the same in my hands and really like them both.
 

johnwartjr

Senior Member
The budget is open. It's an amount less than a D4. The D800 or D800E would be within the budget, if necessary. The only other piece of kit I'm hoping to pick up is a 35 1.4 - so if I did another D700, used, the 35 would be possible in 2014, if not, the 35 would likely get pushed out til 2015 - unless I pick up a bunch more business.

I think I've pretty much convinced myself that I'm going to go the D800/E route. Just need to figure out whether or not I want the E.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
fWIW, I upgraded from D700 to D800e. The feeling was even better with D800e compared to when I had my D700.

The good thing about having two identical cameras is with the controls although both are very similar.

I paid full $3,300 when the camera was first released.


Sent from my iPhone.
 
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