Do I need a D700 ?

Sootchucker

Sootchucker

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Andrew
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No
I know the actual answer to the above is totally my decision, but let me explain my (irrational) thoughts.

I'll admit to having a bit of GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), and have built up a nice collection of Nikon bodies and glass over the years. I've recently sold off quite a bit of older stuff and this has left me with 3 bodies - The D800, the D3s and the D7100.

Now the D800 is my de-facto landscape body - don't use anything else. If I'm shooting low light or sports, it's the D3s (and as I bought it at such a steal of a price last year - I'll probably keep it until it falls apart). the D7100 is my birding or wildlife body for when the FX bodies are not long enough. Yes I know I already have far too much equipment, but I don't smoke or drink, and photography is a passion of mine, and so long as I can afford it, I'm not hurting anyone.

Now the only thing I don't have covered is my holiday / special trips abroad body. I love the file sizes and the general image quality that the D3s gives me, but whilst I love the camera, it's just too big and heavy to travel abroad with (it's a UK camera). So I was thinking about getting a D700 - all the goodness of a D3s (up to about ISO 1600-3200 ish), in a compact easy to carry quality package. However.................

Whilst I did have a D700 some years ago (and loved it), I have this nagging feeling that whilst I can afford to buy one, that the D800 or even the D7100 should be able to fit my needs. The D800 is a similar size and weight to the D700, has all the pro controls and fantastic image quality, however, I do think that for holidays etc. 36mp is just overkill. I was thinking about using it in 1.2 crop mode for a much more manageable image size, but haven't properly investigated this yet. I already have my walkabout lens (the Nikon 24-120 VR F4, which is tack sharp on both FX bodies).

Another part of me says use the D7100 as it's even smaller and lighter than the FX twins, has more than enough resolution (without being overkill), and is a fine camera in it's own right. The only problem is a while ago I sold off all my DX lenses, so now my 24-120 would be a 36-180 equivalent (which I'm not sure is wide enough).

Am I looking at the D700 though rose tinted spectacles, and is there anything it actually does better than say a D800 ? Or should I just use the D800 in a crop mode, or re-purchase a walkabout lens for the D7100 (say a Nikon 16-85 VR) ?

I keep seeing all those D700's up for sale in the classified section and just need someone to give me a reality check, as to be honest, I probably do have enough bodies :) I don't really want to carry another format (M4/3 etc) as whilst probably very good, I don't have any lenses, flash batteries etc for anything other than my Nikon gear so would rather stick with that.

I know I'm going to be in for a lot of flak from people that think I have more money than sense (which I don't), but I (like most), work bloody hard for a living and photography is my way to relax, so don't feel in the slightest bit guilty in buying equipment.
 
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The current second hand prices are very tempting and it is one hell of a camera, but you don't need it. When it comes to camera kit I made a decision a long time ago to put off any large purchases for 12 months. In that time prices will have dropped and I'd have had plenty of time to think over the purchase. What I've found is that I actually don't purchase much anymore because my obsession with a piece of kit fades away very quickly.

GAS will eventually take all the pleasure out of photography if you let it. Shoot what you have until it falls apart.
 
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Sounds a very sensible point of view John. Thanks.
 
I have your D700, and very happy with it! It is a great camera, for all the reasons you list, however, you are looking at spending around £900 on one, when you have 3 very good cameras there.

Why is the 36mp overkill on the D800? If you shoot jpg just select a lower quality one or even if its raw, does it really cause an issue to edit? Maybe, use that £900 to go towards a new lens for the D7100 (wide, like the 10-24 for example).

Or... you could do what I did - get a Fuji Xpro. Great looks, and gives images that are right up there with a dslr. Some great lenses, and very small and light compared to what you have. For fast moving AF its not great, but everything else is perfect.

Funnily enough, while i love the D700, do have GAS too for a D800!
 
Ha thanks Simon, glad my old D700 is still doing the business, and thanks for reminding me that I sold it :D:D
 
Limiting yourself with what you have is the way to better results! (pretty sure Confucius didn't say that though)

TBH, I'd get a 16-85mm as you like the 24-120 range on FX and possibly the 35mm 1.8 as a 'treat'

I had a D700, moved to a Sony NEX-7 and have recently come back to a D7100 for better focusing speeds - to me the D7100 is the pick of the three.
 
If you really HAVE to buy something...:D, then why not get a wider equivalent lens for your D7100 so that you can use that as your travel camera. A 17-55 f2.8 as an example.
 
Hmm, only recently sold my 17-55 F2.8. TBH, don't know if it was my copy or not, but whilst OK, it was never stellar like I thought it would be. The 24-70 F2.8 AFS on any of the 3 bodies pummelled it. Also, possibly too big and heavy as a duty of a walkabout lens.

TBH, the idea of sticking to what I have and maybe adding a 16-85 for the D7100 is starting to sound more appealing. There's probably a lot of truth on what jimbo_wa said above, as some of my all time favourite shots were done on a lowly D100 !
 
I sometimes use my D800 as my "walkaround." I'll even put a 28-300 on it. It's not often anymore because I also own a V2/Fuji X20 now (undecided between them, but one will probably eventually go).

IMHO, the D700 doesn't have much on the D800. The only benefit would be the ability to use a lower ISO/SS in a given situation which could put the D700 ahead. But I would expect that to be atypical. (the D800 does require a higher SS than the D3/D700).

I often use my D800 in DX mode (D7000 equivalent); mostly for wildlife but it could be done for file size... and you have the ability to change your mind easily. I actually have the "preview+dial" set to switch between image areas.
Or you could just record Jpegs...3/4 of the editing I do is just to get raw files to Jpeg level (it's automated w/ LR, but still).
Or you could buy a lens for the D7100.

Bodies (and many lower level lenses) devalue quickly. Just because a used D700 is cheaper now doesn't mean it's going to hold more relative value later.
 
I'd spend the money on a flight to somewhere nice and take photos there with one of the cameras you already own.
 
If I was getting anything for a holiday I would buy a nice compact, enjoy your holiday and stop lugging loads of heavy expensive cameras around.

We always either use Katie's Sony compact which produces photos good enough to hang on the wall if needed (what else do you need) or sometimes a bridge camera which is a bit bigger but nothing like a DSLR and no need for loads of lenses
 
If you really want a new camera for travel then how about a Nikon 1 system camera, I like my wife's J1 so much I just bought myself a V1. The image quality really is top notch as the lenses are very good.


I love using the FT1 with my longer Nikon SLR lenses for some crazy 2.7x crop factor fun and it should be much easier with the ovf of the V1.
 
John Young said:
If I was getting anything for a holiday I would buy a nice compact, enjoy your holiday and stop lugging loads of heavy expensive cameras around.

We always either use Katie's Sony compact which produces photos good enough to hang on the wall if needed (what else do you need) or sometimes a bridge camera which is a bit bigger but nothing like a DSLR and no need for loads of lenses
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Thing is that when u are used to pro glass and bodies a compact will never give you results you are happy with. Certainly the case for me, my canon s95 never gets a look in.
 
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cambsno said:
Thing is that when u are used to pro glass and bodies a compact will never give you results you are happy with. Certainly the case for me, my canon s95 never gets a look in.
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Neither did my S90 but the J1 really is good, so much so that I imagine I will use my V1 a lot, my current 'lightweight' camera is a D3200 which I use when I can't be bothered to lug the D700 about.
 
Nawty said:
If you really want a new camera for travel then how about a Nikon 1 system camera, I like my wife's J1 so much I just bought myself a V1. The image quality really is top notch as the lenses are very good.
I love using the FT1 with my longer Nikon SLR lenses for some crazy 2.7x crop factor fun and it should be much easier with the ovf of the V1.
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Yeah exactly or even some cheaper cameras that give good results.....

cambsno said:
Thing is that when u are used to pro glass and bodies a compact will never give you results you are happy with. Certainly the case for me, my canon s95 never gets a look in.
Click to expand...

I hear what you are saying but sometimes I reckon its in the mind..... " I don't have my top of the range super-dooper camera so my photos are rubbish" - kind of thought... ( that was not referring to you by the way :))
 
Ditched my D700 as a travel camera because of the weight, now use a V1 and Ft1 adaptor, got the 10-30 and 30-110 zooms plus my 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.4 for low light street photography. The DSLR's only travel now if I'm doing any wildlife work and sit in the hotel room more often than not. I've printed to A3 off the V1 files and there stunning.
 
005269 said:
Ditched my D700 as a travel camera because of the weight, now use a V1 and Ft1 adaptor, got the 10-30 and 30-110 zooms plus my 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.4 for low light street photography.
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I've been trying the FT-1 for wildlife (V2 on the new 80-400 or 400 f/2.8)...honestly, I don't think it works very well.
 
I decided to buy a Fuji X Pro1 for use as my travelling companion.
It is a small, light, great IQ system. With 3 lenses (18, 35, 60) it takes up very little room, so I am starting to take it out far more than my Nikon gear when walking etc.
And when the deals are on, it's good value too.
 
You could sell the D7100 and use the D800 in DX mode for your nature shooting. Use the funds towards the D700.

Just an idea.
 
Thanks chaps. Just snagged a really good deal on a V2 kit after seeing the comments and trying a friends one out. Really is very very good, and just ideal for travelling.

So now have a V2, with the 10-100 (non PD), 18.5mm and the 6.7-13mm as well as the SB-N7 flash, all for £500 from a friend that wanted to upgrade to M4/3. Well, as a friend I had to help him out :)
 
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