Can't make up my mind, help please

realspeed

realspeed

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Bazza
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At present I have a Nikon D300 and thinking about going full frame.

I would be grateful for advise from members . My dilemma is

A Do I save the money or and carry on with the Nikon D300

B Go ahead and get a D800 bearing in mind the huge files it takes

C Go for the D600 instead which lacks things like 10 pin connector for
remotes to name but one

D Would I notice much difference doing the upgrade anyway

E I already have a very good camcorder so the video side of the D800
D600 is not that important .

The upgrade would be for hobby use only not for professional use and the D300 would be a backup camera.

Members thought most welcome and thank you in advance if I miss anyone

Realspeed
 
Bazza, I've been pondering this for several months now ... and still can't make up my mind what to do.

In the meantime, my D300's continue to serve me well :)
 
Gramps

the answer is not sure but what either camera is capable of, from the mininum to the maximum depending on subject matter.

Steve

Glad I am not the only one pondering , suppose it mainly depends on how much better quality pictures they would take, all things being equal

Realspeed
 
Bristolian said:
Bazza, I've been pondering this for several months now ... and still can't make up my mind what to do.

In the meantime, my D300's continue to serve me well :)
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Another D300s user in the same boat. Have to say, though, if I had a wad of cash, I suspect I'd buy another flash/flash accessories or another lens.

Cheers.
 
KR did a test of d7.1K vs d600. Very little image difference. I know most mock him and his options re a bit bonkers at times, but I would buy better glass and go on more courses - gives better results than a bigger camera. Must admit, would love a d800 though!
 
grotty said:
I'm sure you have, but have you considered a D700?
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You can only get them second hand now, and those with a low shutter count are almost the same price as the D600. Again the D700 is only 12 mp same as my D300 so really they are a non starter, but thanks for the suggestion

Realspeed
 
realspeed said:
You can only get them second hand now, and those with a low shutter count are almost the same price as the D600. Again the D700 is only 12 mp same as my D300 so really they are a non starter, but thanks for the suggestion

Realspeed
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But 12mp on a full frame sensor isn't comparable to 12mp on a DX sensor.

My d700 has never needed more pixels and I have a 40x30 inch print hanging on my wall from it.

I've owned both the d300 and the d700 at the same time, and the d700 files are much cleaner and more detailed than the d300's.
 
MIKEROPHONICS said:
KR did a test of d7.1K vs d600. Very little image difference. I know most mock him and his options re a bit bonkers at times, but I would buy better glass and go on more courses - gives better results than a bigger camera. Must admit, would love a d800 though!
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He now also advocates buying cheap slow 20 year old zooms for 5D mark iii, just because ISO performance is so good :shrug: He also thinks shooting small JPEG is the best idea ever. :cuckoo: Maybe if everyone was just printing 6x4" shots

as far as FF goes, there are a few new or old options, and every one of them has better IQ than D300. Size and fps may be a different matter of choice
 
realspeed said:
the D700 is only 12 mp same as my D300 so really they are a non starter, but thanks for the suggestion

Realspeed
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I wouldn't discount it for that reason Bazza.

Unless of course you're upgrading specifically for resolution.
 
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Phil

I have seen a low shutter count on D700 for over £1000 without warranty or anything, I could get a D600 new for around £1400 with 2 years warranty which is why I didn't consider the D700

Realspeed
 
realspeed said:
Phil

I have seen a low shutter count on D700 for over £1000 without warranty or anything, I could get a D600 new for around £1400 with 2 years warranty which is why I didn't consider the D700

Realspeed
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Not to belittle the d600, but the d700 is a different league IMO.
 
The D700 is built far better though, feels much more solid.
 
I upgraded from a D7000 to a D700 and have to say the jump to FX is fantastic, I couldn't go back to DX now. The files are so clean, especially if you need to shoot at higher ISO then it really shines.

Don't find the 12MP is a problem, have cropped a few shots and they still look pretty good. RAW files only about 25MB so not too huge. Built well, handles well too.

I understand the D600 is not much more and it's new, so I can see why you would be tempted by that. D700 is tried and tested and I love mine, don't feel any urge to look at a D600 or D800, but maybe 12 MP just suits my type of photography more.

Definitely go full frame if you think the D300 is the limiting factor, don't forget you might need to budget for some good glass too though.
 
John

I already have at least one suitable lens the 24-70 f2.8G ED N and possibly the 50mm f1.4 G is ok as well

Sigma 70 -200mm f2.8 EX might suit so glass I don't think is going to be a problem Don't know about my other lenses but only one has DX on it. But you can always check out my camera bag to see the lenses I own.

Have to say I am leaning towards the D800 more so than the D600.
Another thing is the D600/800 have duel card slots, and I have both CF and SD cards, one of my SD cards is 64 gb big enough to take large files. The D700 is a single CF card slot and CF cards are more expensive that SD cards.

The money side isn't going to be a problem for whatever camera I go for its just which one.

As I said I will keep the D300 for action shots as I have a battery pack with the EN-EL4A battery( x2) for 7/8 fps

Maybe in the future if you see some old guy with 2 x cameras around his neck and a camcorder bulging out of a trouser pocket it could well be me

Realspeed
 
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If your used to the build and handling on the d300 the d700 is identical and the d800 is very similar, just a few tweaks.
The d600 is a downgrade in his regard, so that might be worth considering.
If possible get a hands on with both.

The D800 files can be as large as 74+MB if you shoot 14bit uncompress abut get smaller using lossless compressed or compressed(still around 30MB)
I shoot 14bit uncompressed and get 400 ish i think it is on a 64GB card.

If i was to buy a second body to go with my d800 it would be the d700, I kind of miss having it, I would even say its a better all round and forgiving camera than the d800.
 
Believe it or not there is not one shop in the Midlands that actually stock both the D600 and the d800 let alone in or near Walsall, or I have yet to find one, so hands on to try is out of the question.

Realspeed
 
realspeed said:
John
The money side isn't going to be a problem for whatever camera I go for its just which one.

Realspeed
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You are in a quandary about which to buy and money isn't apparently an issue so is it worth visiting a local shop who appear to stock both or having a punt on the cheapest you can find online if it means you buy the one you need?:thinking:
 
realspeed said:
John

I already have at least one suitable lens the 24-70 f2.8G ED N and possibly the 50mm f1.4 G is ok as well

Sigma 70 -200mm f2.8 EX might suit so glass I don't think is going to be a problem Don't know about my other lenses but only one has DX on it. But you can always check out my camera bag to see the lenses I own.

Have to say I am leaning towards the D800 more so than the D600.
Another thing is the D600/800 have duel card slots, and I have both CF and SD cards, one of my SD cards is 64 gb big enough to take large files. The D700 is a single CF card slot and CF cards are more expensive that SD cards.

The money side isn't going to be a problem for whatever camera I go for its just which one.

As I said I will keep the D300 for action shots as I have a battery pack with the EN-EL4A battery( x2) for 7/8 fps

Maybe in the future if you see some old guy with 2 x cameras around his neck and a camcorder bulging out of a trouser pocket it could well be me

Realspeed
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the 24-70 will be perfect, as will the 50mm 1.4G on FX (I've got this 50mm lens too and it produces excellent results). your sigma should work as well I think.

sounds like you will be happiest with the D800, if you can afford it, just go for it, you will be really pleased with it I'm sure. Don't worry about file sizes etc.. The quality will blow you away and will make all that feel irrelevant!
 
DECISION MADE!!!!

Just ordered a Nikon D800 and spare Nikon battery. from Amazon supposed to get it Tuesday.


Realspeed
 
MIKEROPHONICS said:
KR did a test of d7.1K vs d600. Very little image difference. I know most mock him and his options re a bit bonkers at times, but I would buy better glass and go on more courses - gives better results than a bigger camera. Must admit, would love a d800 though!
Click to expand...

I actually saw a review somewhere that stated the D600 had cleaner images at high ISO than the D800.... cannot remember where I saw it and it could be rubbish but it did seem a thorough in depth test from what I can remember

I think it has something to do with both cameras having the same size sensor but the D600 is lower resolution so lower noise
 
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John

The only courses I would even consider would be those strictly on getting the best out of the camera and its features and nothing else.

No way on this earth would I consider going to photographic classes at college or uni. doing this is only teaching what others have done before which is pointless, no originality.

I always quote the great masters such as Constable or Picasso to name but two. Their pictures are worth millions, whereas copies are two a penny and worth nothing.

Same with photography David Bailey for one, an original and developed his own style and known world wide, people copying him one has never heard of .

Quote " I actually saw a review somewhere that stated the D600 had cleaner images at high ISO than the D800" unquote.

May well be true but one has to ask if the conditions for the test were the same, such as using the same lens, we all know you get good and bad copies, was the lighting the same you can't compare daylight half an hour apart it can change so much. Even the sensor on the camera may vary on the same model. There is a tolerance that products are made within allowing for slight differences. Just some variables straight off my head and may well be more in PP for example.
I tend to take all comparison tests with a pinch of salt and prefer to use my own judgement.


Realspeed
 
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