Kit re-shuffle or not?

[Bell]

I am considering a bit of a re-shuffle and seeking advice on the following:

Current setup:
gripped Nikon D700 with Nikon 24-70 & 80-200 afs (used for landscapes, small home studio setup and the odd "event")
D2x with 35mm 1.8 for (weekend walks with my wife and kids and generally always to hand around the house "just in case")

Thinking of changing to the following:
Nikon D3, 16-35, 50mm 1.4 (and keeping the 80-200)

Any advice or experience of any of the above? What would you do?

 

[arclight]

Your proposed lenses will certainly give you better scope in landscape work, but you'd probably miss the 24-70 for studio photography.
Your subjects of interest suggest to me that the hefty purchase of a D3 would not bring you much in the way of better results (there is always the "nice to have factor" that may be an influence).
I would think that a D800 would my tool of choice (as it is). Super landscape camera and the ability to crop and retain plenty detail is a big plus.
What you do does not need thevery high frame rate that the D3 provides.

 

[meonshore]

The D3 isn't going to buy you a lot over a gripped D700 unless you need the robust build, FPS or dual card slots and it seems like you have managed so far.

I'd go with Doug's recommendation and if you are switching bodies consider the D800 which would be a significant upgrade for landscapes and studio work, and could certainly handle the odd "event".

 

[andyred]

Hi Matt

I'm not a Nikon guy, so can't help with the body choice directly, what I would ask myself is what do I want the D3 to give me the D700 doesn't / can't...

Hope this helps some...

 

[Bell]

Thanks for the input guys.
The reason i got the D2x was to always have a camera to hand that could cope with the little ones 'having a go' and chucking in a bag to go on walks with etc. Thus keeping the D700 safe.
Im looking at the D3 as it is effectively a d700 but with that rugged pro body that i need for every day use around the kids as well.
I love the feeling of freedom that i get when i pick the d2x/35mm combo up but the useable ISO is a bit limited eg.
Cant fault the d700 or 24-70, its an amazing combo but i feel like its a bit of a burden when i take it out with the family.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Cant fault the d700 or 24-70, its an amazing combo but i feel like its a bit of a burden when i take it out with the family.

Get yourself an old 28-105 for awaydays. It might not be F2.8, but it's smaller and lighter, cheap as chips, and goes to 105. It's also pretty darned good.
(I use both on a D700 BTW)

 

[Bell]

One to consider perhaps but im a bit put off by duplicating focal lengths.