Where next ?

Looking at getting myself a new Niko Camera can't make up my mind which way to go,until Nikon came out with there new range The D800 with 36.3 MP and the D4 With its 16.2MP i really did like the D3s and have seen some superb images produced with it and almost got to the stage of buying one.Some Canon users i have spoken to told me that it could be a disadvantage having to many MP [ie the D800]the review for the d4 sounds very good if a bit exspensive,i ask the question forget the cost, which one?

Nikon D800.
Nikon D3s
Nikon D4.
Thanks Keith.
Bit i missed is how you think these would perform in low light this is important to me.

Keith, I just received my D4. I am also tempted by the D800 but for my kind of photography I think the D4 is the best option. It has plenty of pixels, is as fast as my D3S and has manageable file sizes and excellent high ISO performance.

The D3S will still be an excellent camera and I am sure there will plenty availability once the D4 becomes more widely available. Expect to pay for a low mileage camera around £2600-£2700. They keep their value well at the moment.

The D800 has of course a very high pixel count, which makes the camera the best choice for landscape photographers. High ISO's will be not as good as with the D4. So if that's what you need i would go for a secondhand D3S if the D4 is to much money.

Also with the file size of the D800 you will have to make sure that your PC or MAC is kind of state if the art, as it needs to proces those files in an acceptable time frame. And don't forget storage space!

So you need to decide for yourself what kind of photography you will be doing most. (landscapes, wildlife or birds) and based on that assessment make your choice!

There are plenty of so called "reviews and tests" on the Internet available about the D4 and D800 . None of them are particularly good. A very good independent review 9in my opinion) can be found on the website of Brad Hill.

http://www.naturalart.ca/

Good luck and if any questions, feel free to drop an email.
Rene de Heer

Keith I agree with Rene, but will also say that it may be worth waiting to see if Nikon bring out a D400 in the near future. The D300s is 2 and a half years old now, so it can't be long before a replacement is due. That would certainly be cheaper than a D3s or D4, and has the crop factor if you need it.

Oscar

If you need speed then the D800 is out. Money no object, D4. Money an object D3s. Crop factor a problem, D3s and D7000.

Keith, there aren't any useful reviews on the D4 and D800 yet as the reviews you see on the internet are based on the pre-production models lent out by Nikon before the production models are on general release. I always feel that you should wait at least six months from the relaese date for new models to see what the users reviews have to say and if any teething problems come to light. A 36MP camera using RAW 14 bit files will yield 75+ MP files and as Rene says will require a very fast computer with tons of storage to boot. I note you shoot with a D7000 which is 16MP and is pretty good with higher ISO's. I think you have to ask youself why you need to change the camera you have and what it is that these other models can offer that is significantly better than the one you have and what it is you intend doing with your images.

Nick.

Very good points Nick.
JR

The D7000 is a fine camera. I use one as back up as well and like it a lot. You might want to wait and see if a successor of the D300S will appear. I would think there would be! And it will be more friendly prices I would think.

Indeed the reviews are all based on preproduction models. These tests don't mean a thing in my book are totally useless and are often reviewed by individuals who hardly have an independant opinion.
Rene

Thanks ,Nick i'm happy with my D7000even though the build quality is not as good as the D300 that i had, but i'm not so sure about it's low light capabilities when put up against a D3s,i will drop you a email if that's ok?.
Thanks Oscar,Neil,and Rene.

Thanks Keith.

Hi Keith the D7000 is a great camera a bit small in the hand yes but great camera. I have had the D3S for two years and its never missed a beat amazing camera up to iso 4000 with little noise. I also had the D300s as a backup camera and this was great too. I have sold all these and now have a D4 and on a few test shots those extra megapixels make alot of difference and the iso is brilliant. I am testing it all this week on workshops and my own projects so looking forward to that. The prices of the D3S's are falling and I would say buy one of these or if you can get the D4 you will never look back. Good luck and if you want any help just email me all the best

D800 shot in 1.2 crop which is around 25 meg pix and @ 5fps the high ISO is very very good as good as a D3/700 I will be getting the D800e later on.

Phil.

Thanks for these tips.

Keith.