Nikon D700 Vs D3

dore187

dore187

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Chris
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Hi
Just wanted some advice really
I recently bounced my D200 at a wedding (for those of you that are wondering D200's dont bounce off concrete)
the insurance company might one day pay out its been 4 weeks already!
if and when they do I would like to buy a D700 new or a D3 used
I have found a D3 used which is mint
The thing is will i really need to go to the D3 or will the D700 do?
the D200 has been superb so far and just really want to but a step of 2 up
from it.

your advice is welcomed

cheers
 
If you don't need a fully bomb-proof Pro-Spec camera that will last longer than you will, attract the envy of other photographers, make you breakfast and make you more desirable to beautiful women, then the D700 will be fine - all I can say is that the D3 is BEAUTIFUL to use...
 
I've always been a great believer of buy the best you can afford if you are passionate about something otherwise it costs you greater in the long run as you are on a 'constant' upgrade path.

Thats just me though, I'm sure other people have a different take on the subject.
 
I'm lucky enough to own a D3 and a D300. The D700 has the same button layout etc as the D300 and for me the D3 is far superior to handle. I actually never use the D300 anymore so it'll be for sale at some point. I can't comment on image quality differences as I haven't played with a D700 enough but the D3 is outrageously good!
 
Arkady said:
If you don't need a fully bomb-proof Pro-Spec camera that will last longer than you will, attract the envy of other photographers, make you breakfast and make you more desirable to beautiful women, then the D700 will be fine - all I can say is that the D3 is BEAUTIFUL to use...
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if only that was all it took to make me more desirable :D:D I'd have one like a shot.

Its up to you if you think the extras a D3 gives you over the d700 are worth the extra grand or so, I think for weddings the d700 does more then well enough that that bit extra isn't worth it and I'd rather have glass instead

others disagree

Hugh
 
boyfalldown said:
if only that was all it took to make me more desirable :D:D I'd have one like a shot.

Its up to you if you think the extras a D3 gives you over the d700 are worth the extra grand or so, I think for weddings the d700 does more then well enough that that bit extra isn't worth it and I'd rather have glass instead

others disagree

Hugh
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I genuinely need a camera that is bomb-proof...the seals and weatherproofing have been proven on more than one occasion...
 
who cares if you need it!!! Do you want it????

I would say D3 all the way!!!!!!
 
that I can believe..........

I'm not sure UK weddings, even this summer, ever get quite that extreme though

Hugh
 
BUT the dual cf cards in the D3 could help prevent a catastrophic loss of data if a cf card fails....

</devil's advocate... :P >
 
Handle both. Are you comfortable with the size of the D3 compare to the D200 you are used to. Do you think you might want to put a grip on ? The D700 - in that case, consider the D3 seriously.

Since the D700 came out, I can't see any reason to buy a D3 as its all about IQ really, but others will disagree. But then I don't like bulk, and would prefer a smaller camera to the D700 with the same sensor! I'd never ever carry a D3 type bodies on a 15 mile nature hike - too much bulk for no gain.
 
Arkady said:
If you don't need a fully bomb-proof Pro-Spec camera that will last longer than you will, attract the envy of other photographers, make you breakfast and make you more desirable to beautiful women, then the D700 will be fine - all I can say is that the D3 is BEAUTIFUL to use...
Click to expand...

There's a lot of truth in that post, I had a D3 for a while, when you go somewhere there are a lot of photographers they look at you with hate in their eyes :D

I don't know about the making you more attractive to beautiful women, didn't work for me, i'd need Rohypnol for that.:D

As far as whether you need a D3 or not, if you are happy with the weight and can afford it you won't regret it, the D700 may be full frame but it feels like a plastic toy in comparison.
 
Arkady said:
I genuinely need a camera that is bomb-proof...the seals and weatherproofing have been proven on more than one occasion...
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Yeah, but you really need a bombproof camera, everyone else just needs a weatherproof one :lol:
 
Listen - you're a bloke - it's like a Porsche 911 - Ferdinand Porsche said it all - a Porsche is a car that nobody needs, but everyone wants...some cameras are like that - you may not need it, but there's nothing wrong in wanting it - and if you don't buy it now, you'll regret it - maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week, but one day and for the rest of your Life...
You know it makes sense...
 
Arkady said:
nobody needs, but everyone wants...some cameras are like that - you may not need it, but there's nothing wrong in wanting it - and if yo
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Thats not applicable, as not everybody wants a D3. Far from it. One reason - size.

And thats a good enough reason to put of nature Pros like Thom Hogan (Nikon guru) for example. And he could probably afford about 300... ;)

You need to buy the tool for the job. Its a camera, not a willy waving exercise :lol:
 
Never wanted a Porsche (or a Ferrari for that matter!) and the D700 fits me better than a D3 does AND left me change for a 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 (even if they are only Sigmas!) to go with it.
 
I had the same decision to make earlier in the year. Decided that the D700 offered me all that I needed and spent the difference on some better glass. The choice is yours but when looking at the cost differential remember - there is difference between wanting a D3 and needing it
 
puddleduck said:
Thats not applicable, as not everybody wants a D3. Far from it. One reason - size.

And thats a good enough reason to put of nature Pros like Thom Hogan (Nikon guru) for example. And he could probably afford about 300... ;)

You need to buy the tool for the job. Its a camera, not a willy waving exercise :lol:
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I really don't care what other photographers say or use - especially anyone who thinks they're a flippin' 'guru' FFS...
I use what I decide I need - or want - and if wanting drives the need, then it's perfectly valid IMO...

Each individual decides what's important and if a camera a level above what he actually needs makes him happy, then what's the harm...?
 
Arkady said:
If you don't need a fully bomb-proof Pro-Spec camera that will last longer than you will, attract the envy of other photographers, make you breakfast and make you more desirable to beautiful women, then the D700 will be fine - all I can say is that the D3 is BEAUTIFUL to use...
Click to expand...

You don't want to lose one of your service issue d3's in the sand and give it to an ex- forces tog do you:D


Sorry for straying off topic but I just couldn't help it (Iv'e been diagnosed with forum tourrettes:help:)
 
Arkady said:
I really don't care what other photographers say or use
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So what are you doing writing on a public forum then?

If you are going to write everyone wants a D3 then it might be nice to ask a few of those other photographers who you don't care about before first ;)

Its just a tool, I agree. But its not for everyone, finances or otherwise.
 
D700, it's a great camera. I could have bought the D3 but the 700 fits in my bag, has the sensor cleaning and the little idiot flash is useful when the sun pops out on a wedding (it has happened this year). If you need the extra speed you can buy the grip and still have change to buy something like a 85mm 1.4.
As they have the same sensor and shutter the image quality is the same, so use the money saved for a holiday to use it.
I have used the D3, but am very happy to have the D700 instead. If you are coming from a D200, you will be more than happy.
 
D700 is smaller, lighter, cheaper, has built-in flash which is always handy and in every other important way (for me) is identical to the D3.

I nearly bought a D700 system but then sanity prevailed and I stayed with Canon (mainly for the lenses ) ;)
 
Spydercris said:
As they have the same sensor and shutter the image quality is the same, so use the money saved for a holiday to use it.
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they haven't got the same shutter - the d700 is rated to 150,000 clicks and the d3 300,000

Hugh
 
puddleduck said:
So what are you doing writing on a public forum then?

If you are going to write everyone wants a D3 then it might be nice to ask a few of those other photographers who you don't care about before first ;)

Its just a tool, I agree. But its not for everyone, finances or otherwise.
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Because I like picking fights with people...lol

And I didn't say 'everyone wants a D3' - read it all again please.

However, most people do aspire to better kit than they either need or can afford - there's no harm in that is there?

Are you be being deliberately obtuse, by the way?
 
Well I'll be leaving soon to to buy a D700, but just to throw in another "can of worms" is the difference in image quality very noticeable when you compare the D700/D3 to D3x?
I need to convince myself not to come home with a D3x instead:shrug:
 
treeman said:
Well I'll be leaving soon to to buy a D700, but just to throw in another "can of worms" is the difference in image quality very noticeable when you compare the D700/D3 to D3x?
I need to convince myself not to come home with a D3x instead:shrug:
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What size are you looking to print out at?
 
treeman said:
Well I'll be leaving soon to to buy a D700, but just to throw in another "can of worms" is the difference in image quality very noticeable when you compare the D700/D3 to D3x?
I need to convince myself not to come home with a D3x instead:shrug:
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The D3x is a different animal. Not as good as D3/D700 at high ISO, slower, much more expensive BUT higher resolution for studio work or where you can control the light well. Get one of the others.
 
treeman said:
I'm aiming to put on an exhibition of 30"x20" prints.
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Then you would not notice the difference between the D700 and the D3 I'd suggest. Not at that size. I'd stick my neck out and suggest that you wouldn't notice the difference between a D3 and a D200 at that size.
 
D700

God knows I tried to find a reason to want a D3. The only one I could come up with has been mentioned above, and that's envy from other photographers. (Sad I know)

Even then, then size would put me off.
 
Arkady said:
If you don't need a fully bomb-proof Pro-Spec camera that will last longer than you will, attract the envy of other photographers, make you breakfast and make you more desirable to beautiful women, then the D700 will be fine - all I can say is that the D3 is BEAUTIFUL to use...
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more.

daugirdas said:
I don't think D3 would survive a fall on the concrete just like D700 or even D5000. So pick the one you can afford and feel comfortable with.
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State the distance of the drop. You might be onto a looser there :)
 
Spydercris said:
D700 ... has the sensor cleaning and the little idiot flash
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Another small advantage of the flash would be if you plan to use CLS with your flashes, the D3 needs a commander unit (something like £150 or so) while the D700 has it built in with the flash. I find it useful, others might not.

Let's face it, for most the D3 is the sexy option and the D700 is the sensible option.
 
Someone quite high up in Nikon UK told me the shutters are the same in the D700 / D3. They have to justify the extra cost of the D3 somehow....
 
ripclaw said:
Let's face it, for most the D3 is the sexy option and the D700 is the sensible option.
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Nicely said. I almost went the sexy route... and when I say almost.. It was down to clicking "Complete Order" :D. The sensible side of me won over though and so far I have not been disappointed in the D700. I was outside shooting in almost pitch dark last night. lol
 
I've got a D700 and have used a D3 extensively and for me the D700 wins out as I prefer the smaller size and extra cash in my pocket.

If I ever go pro then I would move to a D3 in an instant just for the dual CF alone but right now I would rather have a camera that I will take on 80% of my trips rather than on 50% just because I don't want to carry the extra weight/bulk.
 
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