Need advice on purchasing full frame DSLR body

gustafson

Senior Member
Hello all! So call me crazy, but I have realized that I might now need a full frame DSLR to accompany my D3300 and D7100 to keep up with my growing vintage lens collection. This dawned on me after I picked up a 28 F2.8 AIS and figured out that its reputed wideangle awesomeness would be kinda diluted by my crop sensor bodies. So question is: if you were looking to buy an affordable older full frame DSLR primarily for use with older lenses, what model(s) would you first consider? I'd be happy to give up some of the newer features (e.g. super high res sensor) for a solid camera. I'm hoping this post results in a round-up of the better full frame Nikons in the last 5-10 years or so. Thanks!
 

skene

Senior Member
Nikon D700 or D3 depending on what you need out of a camera. The D700 can be found within the range of $500-800 USD. The D3 can be found 900-1400 USD.

However when you speak of vintage lenses... the D3XXX/D5XXX can accept all F Mount lenses even pre-ai, whereas you are limited from ai-recent for any body which has the focus motor.
 

gustafson

Senior Member
Thanks @mikew, @FredKingston, @skene. Thanks for the pointer to the D700, will keep an eye out for one. Looking it up on Roland Vink's site, I also noticed that, price aside, the D750 would be a good FF big brother to the D7100 as it seems to have similar buttons and functions and can share accessories (batteries, storage media, etc.).


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gustafson

Senior Member
@skene, good point on the compatibility of non-AI lenses with the D3xxx series and D5xxx series. Word is you lose the meter coupling ability that the D7xxx and comparable FF bodies allow with AI and AI-s lenses, but I'm finding that the meter coupling is inconsistent at best and I'm having to shoot in manual on my D7100 anyway for proper exposure.

That said, the bodies with the AF-motor do allow for a cool hack that was brought to my attention by @salukfan111. You can use a modified TC-16a autofocus teleconverter to bestow partial autofocus capabilities on older manual lenses. For instance, This weekend I was able to get some nice shots of birds in flight using AF-C with the modified TC-16a paired with my 200 f/4 Q.C on my D7100. It wasn't 100% AF (you need to manual focus to make sure you're not way off from focus as the AF has a limited range), but I imagine a lot easier than 100% manual. While that AF hack technically works for wide angle, the magnification unfortunately defeats the purpose of the wide angle. If only there was an AF wideangle converter that worked the same way


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Bill16

Senior Member
I'm in need of money right now, so I would be willing to sell my D700, oem grip, and RRS L bracket for $650.00. It is in great shape with just over 20,000 actuations. Pm me if your interested.
 

skene

Senior Member
I'm in need of money right now, so I would be willing to sell my D700, oem grip, and RRS L bracket for $650.00. It is in great shape with just over 20,000 actuations. Pm me if your interested.


Had you have mentioned this maybe a week earlier, I would have helped you with that. I just ended up ordering a D700 from Robert's Camera.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I'm sorry my friend.:( I have been grieving, and so I didn't see you were needing one buddy.

Had you have mentioned this maybe a week earlier, I would have helped you with that. I just ended up ordering a D700 from Robert's Camera.
 

gustafson

Senior Member
I'm in need of money right now, so I would be willing to sell my D700, oem grip, and RRS L bracket for $650.00. It is in great shape with just over 20,000 actuations. Pm me if your interested.

Thanks for the heads up, Bill! I'll give it some thought and message you if I decide to go that route. If I had bought the D300 as I had originally planned instead of the D7100, you know I'd be all over it!


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Bill16

Senior Member
Good luck on whatever you decide to buy. :) I wouldn't sell, but I need money to pay my electricity, utilities,phone,internet, and cable.:(

So if anybody wants it, now is the time to get a steal.

Thanks for the heads up, Bill! I'll give it some thought and message you if I decide to go that route. If I had bought the D300 as I had originally planned instead of the D7100, you know I'd be all over it!


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gustafson

Senior Member
Good luck on whatever you decide to buy. :) I wouldn't sell, but I need money to pay my electricity, utilities,phone,internet, and cable.:(

So if anybody wants it, now is the time to get a steal.

I was just catching up on the forum. So very sorry to hear about your loss. Best wishes that things start to turn around in your favor soon. Hang in there!
 

salukfan111

Senior Member
@skene, good point on the compatibility of non-AI lenses with the D3xxx series and D5xxx series. Word is you lose the meter coupling ability that the D7xxx and comparable FF bodies allow with AI and AI-s lenses, but I'm finding that the meter coupling is inconsistent at best and I'm having to shoot in manual on my D7100 anyway for proper exposure.

That said, the bodies with the AF-motor do allow for a cool hack that was brought to my attention by @salukfan111. You can use a modified TC-16a autofocus teleconverter to bestow partial autofocus capabilities on older manual lenses. For instance, This weekend I was able to get some nice shots of birds in flight using AF-C with the modified TC-16a paired with my 200 f/4 Q.C on my D7100. It wasn't 100% AF (you need to manual focus to make sure you're not way off from focus as the AF has a limited range), but I imagine a lot easier than 100% manual. While that AF hack technically works for wide angle, the magnification unfortunately defeats the purpose of the wide angle. If only there was an AF wideangle converter that worked the same way


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set the manual focus to infinity and you will be full AF past 40 yards or so with that tc 16a, you won't need to get almost there at all.
 

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
Don't forget the D600 or D610, which can also share batteries with your D7100 and, practically, almost the exact same buttons and features, including U1 and U2 modes. You can set up both cameras with exactly the same settings. The D600 has twice the MP as the D700, though that's not important if you're not making huge prints.

I'm not dogging the D700. Certainly Marcel and others on this forum have proven how great it is. The D600 is a great body, however, and that one issue with spots really killed its reputation. That said, it means you can get one pretty cheap, all things considered.
 

AC016

Senior Member
Good luck on whatever you decide to buy. :) I wouldn't sell, but I need money to pay my electricity, utilities,phone,internet, and cable.:(

So if anybody wants it, now is the time to get a steal.

Where have you advertised your camera so far? If you don't mind, i would like to post a sales ad for your D700 on my blog. A few more people will be able to see it and who knows, it may sell. I will just redirect them to Nikonites. What do you think?
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I've only put it up for sale here my friend. Your idea sounds like a good one.Thank you buddy.:)


Where have you advertised your camera so far? If you don't mind, i would like to post a sales ad for your D700 on my blog. A few more people will be able to see it and who knows, it may sell. I will just redirect them to Nikonites. What do you think?
 

AC016

Senior Member
I've only put it up for sale here my friend. Your idea sounds like a good one.Thank you buddy.:)

Alright man. I found your ad, so i will copy/paste the link in a new post on my blog. I can't guarantee anything, put at least more people will see it. ;)
 
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