I've been looking at this camera for a while, and wondered what other peoples thoughts were on the camera?
After reading Laurie Campbells's glowing report on the D3, i find it surprising that i think only one forum poster uses the D3? Would more use the D700?
I think there are quite a few of us using the D3 Paul.. not all of us posting pics on UKNP though (wish I had the time )
I am not sure what the market is for the D700 to be honest. The price differential between the D700 and D3 ( at present that is) is not huge so if you are thinking of a D700, you may as well get the professional spec D3 in my opinion.
To give you an idea about the image quality of the D3, one of my images is being used as a DPS in a high quality 'glossy' magazine in the next month or so. This is one of series taken this week at a live event. It was shot at 1600 asa at 1/160th @ f/3.2 and even more remarkable, is the fact that it is a half frame crop. Pretty amazing camera (photographer was pretty darned good too of course )
Firstly, Rene, Major, Tim are amongst a few that use the D3 on this forum.
Funny you should post this topic as I was just about to write a post with the title D3 Vs D700.
From my own point of view I’d love the D3 and was just waiting to see what Nikon brought out when I heard the rumour to be honest!
The D700 in IMO overpriced at the present and you’ll need to purchased the battery grip, battery cover and an EN-EL4a battery (all the same as the D300) to bring the shooting speed up to 8fps. When you have done this it boosts the price up considerably closing the gap between the D3 and D700 (price wise). I would say that the small difference in price shouldn’t then become the deciding factor. Therefore I opt for the D3 apposed to the D700.
But as with a few other photogs I’m waiting for the release of the D3X as my main target species is small birds and the cropped sensor is a boon. I would love the D3 as well but the D300 and D2Xs combo are both serving me extremely well at this present moment in time so I’d rather keep my money in the bank (if I had any of course! ).
Hence why i said posters Barrie, i know you and Tim have one and Andy R too, but i've only seen images from Tim.
the advantage of the D700 atm, is that it offers the same ability which 5D users like... its smaller than a D3/1DS which is a big advantage in itself, which when you add the battery grip is hardly any slower, has a dustbuster, and is slightly cheaper.
The weatherproofing aspect isnt an issue... as most nikkor/all sigma lenses are not wp either.
The area i was interested with was for much lower light photography, at dusk and dawn.
As for half a D3 image being used on a DPS and being usable, impossible... you need at least 24mpixel for a useable image these days
I forgot rene, but i thought major used a D2X?
Also Paul, i skipped the D300 (too close to the D2X in my testing for me to be worried) the D700 is a very different creature to the D2X, so i have my cropped high density 12mp for birds, and the D700 for wider or lower light.
He recently bought one and has posted some superb images (check out his previous posts, but not his last one as that was with the D2Xs if my memory serves me correctly!
The D300 is much better in contrasty light than the D2Xs and shoots much higher ISO's whereas the D2Xs is best suit for low ISO. I would love a FF body for low light as you've stated plus landscape work.
It'll be interesting to hear other peoples opinions as I have been through this though process lately and decided that the better buy and performance is the D3 IMHO. This may change as more information comes in.
I do however wish that Nikon would sort of their lens predicament as the market has plenty of bodies and very few lenses at this moment in time!
I would be cautious in assuming that the D3x is going to be 'better' for wildlife photography.
In general, there is a widely held but mistaken belief that more pixels must mean 'better' image quality. In fact, all else being equal, this is completely erroneous. The more pixels on a sensor of a given size, inevitably leads to greater noise. The Canon 1D Mark III for example, although fewer pixels, is less noisy than the 1Ds Mark III and there is no reason to believe the D3X will be any different. Of course, there are other reasons for desiring more pixels but the D3 renders one of these to the dustbin of history and that is the need for more pixels to be able to crop an image.
As regards cropped sensor, the D3 of course (like other Nikon cameras before it) has the ability to allow the user to determine the format of the image being captured to that you can choose from 3 'sizes' at the capture stage. This is means that not only can you use 'DX' lenses on a full frame camera but you can choose to shoot in DX mode even on a FF lens (for the benefit of non-Nikon users - if that makes sense)
The lens issue applies to most manufacturers before major sporting events unfortunately. Nikon have pro facilities at the major golf tournaments in the UK, at the recent Football and Tennis tournaments and of course the forthcoming Olympics. Once these are out of the way, supplies will tend to get back to normal again
The D700 is perfect for people like myself I still shoot around 8 product catalogues a year having already had a couple of D3's and finding them way way to much of an overkill for the products I shoot, I mean there's not many strings of Christmas tree lights or Christmas trees that need nine frames per second a built-in grip and dual card slots and iso 6400.
All I need is the ability to use it tethered and software that automatically backs up to two destinations IE external hard drives and simultaneously displaying the image on my laptop with a 35mm frame in a small lightweight body, and that's what the D700 will give me I don't need dual card slots and don't need iso 6400, I would have much preferred iso100 as a genuine iso and as for the software camera control pro and nikon transfer do the rest, and as I already have a D300 & MB-D10 I can have the 8fps at no cost really.
Barrie I'm not after a pixel count! and really hope it's not going to be 24MP to be honest! 16MP would be more than fine. The D3 in Crop Mode is too low in the pixel count at around 4 or 5MP if my memory serves correctly. The Canon counterpart is higher in Hgh Speed Cropping at around 8MP I believe (I will check this though).
Hi Paul Barry is right in some respects but it is not as simple as you might think, for example a 27 megapixel sensor with all things being equal IE a lens capable of resolving (which is only around 90 line pairs per mm the same as a D300 D2x) and sufficient light the 27 megapixel sensor will not only out resolve but will give you much finer graduation of tone at a lower ISO's, of course if it employed the same technology already in the D300 you could have that image quality right up to ISO 1600.
Now whether there is a need for a 27 megapixel 35mm sensor is debatable ?, but there are plenty of people who would like it, me being one of them in a D700 type body it would be my perfect studio camera.
For me, i have a D40 which is my ISO400+/small cam atm, and the D700 would offer improvements in almost every respect, 5.1mp isnt a huge drop from 6 after all.
Phillip, isnt cropped better for product photography than FF with the "increased dof" you get?
The High Speed Crop on the D3 is 5.1 megapixels. A canon 1.3 crop of the D3 sensor is around 8 megapixels.
Hi Paul
Your figures are correct but that is walking into the "number of megapixels means better quality" trap. It doesn't as most photographers now realise
Both cameras produce excellent quality images but the 5 megapixel image from the cropped D3 is equally as good if not better than that from the 1D III - believe me, I have had both camera very recently.
I think you will find an awful lot of people who will agree that files from the 4.3 megapixel Canon 1D (the original) are equal to those from the 1D Mark III.
The race for pixels is just a means for the camera companies to feed off the tendency of a lot of photographers to buy the latest kit simply because it has more pixels and therefore will enable them to take better photos. In fact, the biggest improvement in IQ will come from better lenses and better camera software. We simply do not need more pixels in a 35mm camera body
Thats why I'm sticking to the D2Xs & D300 until I can decide which way I need to go the D3 wins in so many ways for me but it doesn't solve any photographic problems I encounter that I can't do so with the two bodies I presently use!
That's partly why I await the D3X - all rumour at the moment! It may or may not solve my present problems! Having said that I have reached a good compromise with my D300 at this moment in time.
In 6 weeks time you can add me to the list-The D3 will be my main camera but now trying to decide what to get as a backup-D300 for the crop factor,D700 as a cheaper D3 solution or another D3-What a great problem to have
Paul i think Nikon are pretty strong in lenses for wildlife-200-400 and the new 300,400,500 and 600, I think the 70-200 may be upgraded soon but here that its not as bad on FF as people say, The wides are good now as well with the 14-24 and new 24-70
Strong yes - available no! At present no 300mm f/4, 300mm f/2.8, 500 f/4 and 600 f/4 VR! the 200-400mm f/4 is magical (I have one!). That's my problem just can't get them!
If you like shooting small birds get a D300 as a back up to the D3 Then you'll be set! With a 14-24, 24-70, 70-200VR, 200-400VR, 500 or 600VR! You'll want for nothing! State side you'll be fine on the lenses (ie the new telephoto VR in 500 and 600).
Thats true
I am looking at 14-24,24-70,70-200,200-400 and 600vr, I put my name down in the states for the 200-400 and 600 last month and was offered a 200-400 in 2 days but the 600 i think i will have a wait for, I am abit unsure on the 14-24 as it doesnt take filters-any suggestions
There are a couple of reasons-I am moving to the States in 6 weeks so will sell all my gear in £ and buy in $ so the cost side isnt so bad, I have had a year of fighting with Canon over AF issues with the MK3 which still comtinues and they have had the camera back 4 times and still cant get to grips with the problems so i am pisses with them, I like the Nikon lens range especially the 200-400 and lastly i have the money
The 200-400mm is a nice lens, though i think its alittle too expensive and heavy. I can understand the desire to change, i swapped from canon to nikon about 3 years ago, but i had much less gear than you so it wasn't a big cost.
Wish you luck moving to the US, hope it all works out for you.
Guy's, with respect, can you continue this thread on the NPN Equipment forum as it has covered the original request- cheers - The Mods
Discussion
19 repliesAfter reading Laurie Campbells's glowing report on the D3, i find it surprising that i think only one forum poster uses the D3? Would more use the D700?
I am not sure what the market is for the D700 to be honest. The price differential between the D700 and D3 ( at present that is) is not huge so if you are thinking of a D700, you may as well get the professional spec D3 in my opinion.
To give you an idea about the image quality of the D3, one of my images is being used as a DPS in a high quality 'glossy' magazine in the next month or so. This is one of series taken this week at a live event. It was shot at 1600 asa at 1/160th @ f/3.2 and even more remarkable, is the fact that it is a half frame crop. Pretty amazing camera (photographer was pretty darned good too of course
Barrie
Firstly, Rene, Major, Tim are amongst a few that use the D3 on this forum.
Funny you should post this topic as I was just about to write a post with the title D3 Vs D700.
From my own point of view I’d love the D3 and was just waiting to see what Nikon brought out when I heard the rumour to be honest!
The D700 in IMO overpriced at the present and you’ll need to purchased the battery grip, battery cover and an EN-EL4a battery (all the same as the D300) to bring the shooting speed up to 8fps. When you have done this it boosts the price up considerably closing the gap between the D3 and D700 (price wise). I would say that the small difference in price shouldn’t then become the deciding factor. Therefore I opt for the D3 apposed to the D700.
But as with a few other photogs I’m waiting for the release of the D3X as my main target species is small birds and the cropped sensor is a boon. I would love the D3 as well but the D300 and D2Xs combo are both serving me extremely well at this present moment in time so I’d rather keep my money in the bank (if I had any of course!
the advantage of the D700 atm, is that it offers the same ability which 5D users like... its smaller than a D3/1DS which is a big advantage in itself, which when you add the battery grip is hardly any slower, has a dustbuster, and is slightly cheaper.
The weatherproofing aspect isnt an issue... as most nikkor/all sigma lenses are not wp either.
The area i was interested with was for much lower light photography, at dusk and dawn.
As for half a D3 image being used on a DPS and being usable, impossible... you need at least 24mpixel for a useable image these days
I forgot rene, but i thought major used a D2X?
Also Paul, i skipped the D300 (too close to the D2X in my testing for me to be worried) the D700 is a very different creature to the D2X, so i have my cropped high density 12mp for birds, and the D700 for wider or lower light.
It'll be interesting to hear other peoples opinions as I have been through this though process lately and decided that the better buy and performance is the D3 IMHO. This may change as more information comes in.
I do however wish that Nikon would sort of their lens predicament as the market has plenty of bodies and very few lenses at this moment in time!
In general, there is a widely held but mistaken belief that more pixels must mean 'better' image quality. In fact, all else being equal, this is completely erroneous. The more pixels on a sensor of a given size, inevitably leads to greater noise. The Canon 1D Mark III for example, although fewer pixels, is less noisy than the 1Ds Mark III and there is no reason to believe the D3X will be any different. Of course, there are other reasons for desiring more pixels but the D3 renders one of these to the dustbin of history and that is the need for more pixels to be able to crop an image.
As regards cropped sensor, the D3 of course (like other Nikon cameras before it) has the ability to allow the user to determine the format of the image being captured to that you can choose from 3 'sizes' at the capture stage. This is means that not only can you use 'DX' lenses on a full frame camera but you can choose to shoot in DX mode even on a FF lens (for the benefit of non-Nikon users - if that makes sense)
The lens issue applies to most manufacturers before major sporting events unfortunately. Nikon have pro facilities at the major golf tournaments in the UK, at the recent Football and Tennis tournaments and of course the forthcoming Olympics. Once these are out of the way, supplies will tend to get back to normal again
Barrie
All I need is the ability to use it tethered and software that automatically backs up to two destinations IE external hard drives and simultaneously displaying the image on my laptop with a 35mm frame in a small lightweight body, and that's what the D700 will give me I don't need dual card slots and don't need iso 6400, I would have much preferred iso100 as a genuine iso and as for the software camera control pro and nikon transfer do the rest, and as I already have a D300 & MB-D10 I can have the 8fps at no cost really.
Phil.
Now whether there is a need for a 27 megapixel 35mm sensor is debatable ?, but there are plenty of people who would like it, me being one of them in a D700 type body it would be my perfect studio camera.
Phil.
Phillip, isnt cropped better for product photography than FF with the "increased dof" you get?
Hi Paul
Your figures are correct but that is walking into the "number of megapixels means better quality" trap. It doesn't as most photographers now realise
Both cameras produce excellent quality images but the 5 megapixel image from the cropped D3 is equally as good if not better than that from the 1D III - believe me, I have had both camera very recently.
I think you will find an awful lot of people who will agree that files from the 4.3 megapixel Canon 1D (the original) are equal to those from the 1D Mark III.
The race for pixels is just a means for the camera companies to feed off the tendency of a lot of photographers to buy the latest kit simply because it has more pixels and therefore will enable them to take better photos. In fact, the biggest improvement in IQ will come from better lenses and better camera software. We simply do not need more pixels in a 35mm camera body
Barrie
True! Simply true!
Thats why I'm sticking to the D2Xs & D300 until I can decide which way I need to go the D3 wins in so many ways for me but it doesn't solve any photographic problems I encounter that I can't do so with the two bodies I presently use!
That's partly why I await the D3X - all rumour at the moment! It may or may not solve my present problems! Having said that I have reached a good compromise with my D300 at this moment in time.
Paul i think Nikon are pretty strong in lenses for wildlife-200-400 and the new 300,400,500 and 600, I think the 70-200 may be upgraded soon but here that its not as bad on FF as people say, The wides are good now as well with the 14-24 and new 24-70
Strong yes - available no! At present no 300mm f/4, 300mm f/2.8, 500 f/4 and 600 f/4 VR! the 200-400mm f/4 is magical (I have one!). That's my problem just can't get them!
If you like shooting small birds get a D300 as a back up to the D3 Then you'll be set! With a 14-24, 24-70, 70-200VR, 200-400VR, 500 or 600VR! You'll want for nothing! State side you'll be fine on the lenses (ie the new telephoto VR in 500 and 600).
I am looking at 14-24,24-70,70-200,200-400 and 600vr, I put my name down in the states for the 200-400 and 600 last month and was offered a 200-400 in 2 days but the 600 i think i will have a wait for, I am abit unsure on the 14-24 as it doesnt take filters-any suggestions
Wish you luck moving to the US, hope it all works out for you.
Guy's, with respect, can you continue this thread on the NPN Equipment forum as it has covered the original request- cheers - The Mods