Decided to trade my D3s for a New D800e

ndwgolf

ndwgolf

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Neil Williams
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Last month I bought a new D4s to replace my D3s and at first I was going to keep my D3s as a spare body but I am now thinking of trading it for a new D800e to use as a second body but mainly for shooting landscape when I am in Scotland in August.............does all that sound about right???
 
I don't really know the Nikon range so maybe talking out of tern but when chatting to a local dealer he said the basically the different between the 800 and the 800E was the removal of a filter that optimised the E for studio/portraiture work..how true that is I don't know but you have to wonder if its worth the extra for your intended use
 
ndwgolf said:
Last month I bought a new D4s to replace my D3s and at first I was going to keep my D3s as a spare body but I am now thinking of trading it for a new D800e to use as a second body but mainly for shooting landscape when I am in Scotland in August.............does all that sound about right???
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TBH - I think you've thought about it too much, and should just use your d4S for the landscapes


MWHCVT said:
I don't really know the Nikon range so maybe talking out of tern but when chatting to a local dealer he said the basically the different between the 800 and the 800E was the removal of a filter that optimised the E for studio/portraiture work..how true that is I don't know but you have to wonder if its worth the extra for your intended use
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The e features a much less aggressive AA filter. Thats the only difference between the two. Its really set up with landscape in mind.
 
boyfalldown said:
TBH - I think you've thought about it too much, and should just use your d4S for the landscapes





The e features a much less aggressive AA filter. Thats the only difference between the two. Its really set up with landscape in mind.
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Well there you know clearly the person I spoke to got it wrong, that or I seriously got the wrong end of the stick but cheers for correcting me Hugh its appreciated
 
Hi
I think the D800 (I own one) would be a better choice, especially if you want to do portrait work, less moire on clothes. I think the 'e' actually doesn't have an AA filter so would be ideal just for landscapes.
HTH
JohnyT
 
Do you have to have full frame? Buy a D7100 and have 24mp on a crop sensor and you can use your telephoto lenses with greater reach.The D7100 has no AA filter.
 
As you have a d4s it would give you the best off both i suppose. Most d800e users would probably go the other way. I know I've thought about switching up or adding a d3s/d4/d4s and will do when/ if i ever get the funds that allow it. The DR and detail is great with the d800(E) and do wonder if I would miss that if switching to a d3s.
 
shapeshifter said:
Do you have to have full frame? Buy a D7100 and have 24mp on a crop sensor and you can use your telephoto lenses with greater reach.The D7100 has no AA filter.
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I never thought about that before you mentioned it.................sounds like a good idea but let me think about that some more
 
pmac said:
As you have a d4s it would give you the best off both i suppose. Most d800e users would probably go the other way. I know I've thought about switching up or adding a d3s/d4/d4s and will do when/ if i ever get the funds that allow it. The DR and detail is great with the d800(E) and do wonder if I would miss that if switching to a d3s.
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I wouldn't switch from a D800 to a D3s and I don't know anyone else that would unless they need the speed. I can't think why anyone who doesn't shoot sports, wildlife or press would sell a D800, and DOWNgrade to a bigger, heavier, lower resolution camera, especially if portrait and landscape is the main interest. What would they gain?


If landscape and portrait are the main uses for the D800, then I'd say definitely this is worth doing. You'll have the D4s for speed, the D800E for quality, and the Leica for travel and for when you need to be inconspicuous. Sounds like the best all-round solution to me.

The D800E is basically a D800 without the AA filtering, and does result in higher quality, but it's not a deal breaker. I owned both D800 and D800E for some time, and it's not a massive difference. If you print big though, the D800E is worth it. The D800E is the ideal landscape 35mm camera.

pmac said:
having owned both d800's i saw no more moire in shots with the E over the standard, its over played.
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Likewise. I've never seen any moiré from the D800E since I bought it.

The D800E is a superb choice. Massive dynamic range, and quality is as good as it gets with a 35mm format (I've printed up to A0 and it holds well), and noise levels are pretty much up there with the D4s up to ISO3200, and there's not much in it at 6400 actually. Not an issue with landscapes and portraits though... usually.


[edit]

If big prints are where you're heading, you'll need good lenses.
 
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I would imagine the only advantage of a D3s over a D800, is better high ISO performance. Which means nothing when it comes to landscape. The D800 will have better DR, overall image quality and it's neater and lighter! Surely something to consider when you're out and about trekking though mud
 
this is a genuine post not at all spamming ..

you must put a Sigma DP1m up for consideration, there is a reason IQ freaks are leaving there £4k set ups at home and using these instead, unrivaled image quality.. perfect if you are going to be trekking to get those landscapes, Sigma DP1m + compact tripod = no bulk and weight.
 
strumstrum said:
this is a genuine post not at all spamming ..

you must put a Sigma DP1m up for consideration, there is a reason IQ freaks are leaving there £4k set ups at home and using these instead, unrivaled image quality.. perfect if you are going to be trekking to get those landscapes, Sigma DP1m + compact tripod = no bulk and weight.
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No thanks
 
strumstrum said:
this is a genuine post not at all spamming ..

you must put a Sigma DP1m up for consideration, there is a reason IQ freaks are leaving there £4k set ups at home and using these instead, unrivaled image quality.. perfect if you are going to be trekking to get those landscapes, Sigma DP1m + compact tripod = no bulk and weight.
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Sorry.. but it is not a replacement for a D800E. He already has a Leica M for travel. They're good yes, but not a D800E replacement.


Cagey75 said:
I would imagine the only advantage of a D3s over a D800, is better high ISO performance.
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I've already demonstrated in other threads how there's almost nothing to choose between them up to ISO6400. As others have said though... pretty irrelevant for landscape... as even night time shots you'll be using ISO100.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Sorry.. but it is not a replacement for a D800E. He already has a Leica M for travel. They're good yes, but not a D800E replacement.




I've already demonstrated in other threads how there's almost nothing to choose between them up to ISO6400. As others have said though... pretty irrelevant for landscape... as even night time shots you'll be using ISO100.
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Well, exactly, I was plucking at straws for the D3s to show it doesn't have anything the D800 hasn't got really
 
Just been offered 1700 quid for the D3s so will take that and use that for the D800e..........seems like a bargain concidering only 30k shutter count and camera like new (been in dry box for nearly 18 months)
 
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£1700 is very cheap for a D3s. I'd say good condition with 30k on it £2k minimum, maybe £2.2k - you can get it appraised here - there is a dedicated forum I'm sure, but I wouldn't but jumping on that offer unless I was the buyer.

I have a D3s and a D800e, I've also had the D800. Never had any problem with moire by the way.

If I had a D4s instead of the D3s I would genuinely consider just sticking with that. The only reason why I've stuck with my D800e is because I've printed big from it on several occasions and would like to do so again, I'm talking 120cm-150cm wide prints which I wouldn't be that comfortable doing with 16mp files...

I would consider then - being a hobbyist in your position - how much and how big you may print your d800e work. If not big, seriously, stick to the D4s and buy some more glass if you've got money burning a hole in your pocket :)

Also, if you want to be super generous with that D3s, perhaps you'd be tempted to swap it for my D700? ;)
 
I shoot D4S/D800 and it pretty much covers all bases, certainly makes more sense than your current D4S/D3S. The slight differences in handling bother me though, it would be so much easier if all the buttons were in the same place... For that reason alone, i'm one of the few people hoping for a D4X this year... fat chance I suppose!
 
I wouldnt even consider buying a D800/800E again unless you print over 100cm on a regular basis, mine has probably fewer than 500 actuations on it as i still prefer to pick up my D3S, if i had my time again i would have stuck with my D700 and stitched images if needed, and theres no way on this planet i would let my D3S go for £1700, someones taking the mickey there.
 
Gary Coyle said:
I wouldnt even consider buying a D800/800E again unless you print over 100cm on a regular basis, mine has probably fewer than 500 actuations on it as i still prefer to pick up my D3S, if i had my time again i would have stuck with my D700 and stitched images if needed, and theres no way on this planet i would let my D3S go for £1700, someones taking the mickey there.
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That is one of the reasons I think the D3s/D4s with D7100 crop with no AA and 24mp makes sense if more resolution is required and you get the additional reach.Unless I did big prints I could not see a reason for buying a D800.Sport/speed D3s/4 and the rest D7100.A cheap setup if you can get second hand it would be less than £3000 for both.
 
The DX mode is good for bird photography …. it is a pity that Nikon do not produce a new DX body, built like the D300 with the same UI, max 24 meg with the high ISO capability that the D's or the D800 has.
stick a grip on it and it would be almost perfect for me, for most of the time.
 
I have never owned a D3s but - at least in my laic opinion - a D4+D800 combo makes more sense than D4+D3s for most shooters. Perhaps unless shooting exclusively photojournalism/sports with two bodies. Even then I would guess a 2xD4 or 2xD4s or even 2xD3s combo is better due to being able to share batteries/chargers/cards, same style of settings/controls, etc.

Also, I am not sure if there is really anything on the D3s that D4 can't do.
 
The OP has the 14-24, for that reason alone I think I personally (had I decided I wanted a bigger pixel count for print purposes and wasn't happy to live with a single D4s body) I wouldn't look at DX but rather a second hand D600 from a dealer. Get one with either no sensor spot issues or one that's been sorted and you'd get a steal that can't end up further from a D7100 body and a DX ultra wide zoom (personally wouldn't bother with the 14-24 on a DX body).
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys..................I think I have someone in KL who has made me a reasonable offer for my D3s so when I get back to the UK at the end of the month I will get a new D800e. If the deal falls through with the D3s I will wait until just before I go to the UK (August) and just buy one and continue to try and get rid of the D3s............trade in price in KL for the D3s is crap so not going down that road.
Looking forward to getting some nice weather in Scotland (like you always do around August) and hopefully shoot some nice west coast of Scotland landscape pictures and hopefully some big old Scottish birds.................feathered ones :) :). I left behind the real ones many yeards ago :) :)
 
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Me² said:
£1700 is very cheap for a D3s. I'd say good condition with 30k on it £2k minimum, maybe £2.2k - you can get it appraised here - there is a dedicated forum I'm sure, but I wouldn't but jumping on that offer unless I was the buyer.

I have a D3s and a D800e, I've also had the D800. Never had any problem with moire by the way.

? ;)
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How much is a D800e in the UK............it might be better for me to buy when I arrive in Solihull and enjoy the 20% VAT rebate at the airport when I leave
 
Gary Coyle said:
I wouldnt even consider buying a D800/800E again unless you print over 100cm on a regular basis, mine has probably fewer than 500 actuations on it as i still prefer to pick up my D3S, if i had my time again i would have stuck with my D700 and stitched images if needed, and theres no way on this planet i would let my D3S go for £1700, someones taking the mickey there.
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Would it be more useful if you said why you never used it?

You have to remember this is all opinion. I obviously disagree with Gary. Neil.. have you held and used a D800? Ultimately, that's the deciding factor. If quality is what you want though, there's not really anything to come close at the moment.. not for the same cash anyway. Sony A7r perhaps, but it's a little toy-like to handle, and has the usual EVF issues.
 
I can also see the benefit of the D800e when I am out shooting birds and I see a perched Bird say at 30 ft so shoot it with my 300mm f2.8 and crop.....should still have a nice picture
 
Pookeyhead said:
Would it be more useful if you said why you never used it?
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I originally bought it for a specific reason, large prints of professional Rugby Grounds which were asked for by the clubs, but i no longer do that so the camera usually stays in the bag, i did say this at the time in the D800 thread and to be fair the project did pay for the camera several times over.
 
ndwgolf said:
How much is a D800e in the UK............it might be better for me to buy when I arrive in Solihull and enjoy the 20% VAT rebate at the airport when I leave
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£2339 is the cheapest uk price just now. It really depends if you want a uk model or not and what you will do with any warranty. I've hear nikon uk won't touch a non uk body even if you pay(similarly like the US). I had to pay for a sensor clean in shanghai as it was not a chinese model,which would have been free had it been. might be worth checking your local nikons policy first.
 
Gary Coyle said:
I originally bought it for a specific reason, large prints of professional Rugby Grounds which were asked for by the clubs, .
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You see.. that gives it context. You didn't sell it because you thought it was rubbish or anything.. but because it was designed for, and very adept at, something you just had no more need of. :)
 
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