Upgrading from a D80 - D2X/D3/D700??

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Coxy914

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Alistair
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Hi there,
I'm currently using a Nikon D80 but am looking to upgrade (budget between £1000-£1500). Don't mind second hand as long as it's been well looked after.
I was going to upgrade and buy a new D700 but looking around, I could possibly get a good D2X/D3 for similar money, if not less.

Majority of my photography is car related although I've just started getting in to portrait and landscapes again after a long absence.

any pointers/advice?

Is it worth buying the new D700 over a good second hand D2X?
 
Your budget is too low for a D3 even second hand - they go for just over 2K. Try looking at a D2Xs which you should find for under 1K these days. If you need high ISO then maybe a D700 - but I don't like the smaller bodies. D2Hs is also a good buy if you can find one.
 
It depends how much value you place on the features that are different.

The D2X is still a very capable camera but the sensor is not a patch on the D700/D3 one in certain circumstances.

Also depends on the output you want from it, if it's web content you could almost get away with a camera phone (insert sarcastic smiley ;)) but if you want to produce something poster sized then the pixel count is going to count for something.
 
thanks for the quick replies.
So realistically, I'm looking at either buying a new D700 or a good second hand D2X then. I'm guessing the D700 is still to new a camera to find many second hand and they seem to hold their price well from the last couple I've seen on the bay of thieves.

From a general users point of view, what would be the overall disadvantages of going for the older D2X over the D700?
 
D2Xs is a better bet than a D2X.
They have a poorer LCD screen and are not good above 800 ISO - but are built like a tank.
D700 has better high ISO and screen - probably better focus as well. I just don't like the little body. Maybe better to keep saving and get a D3?
 
I'm not sure the D700 would qualify as a small body....gripped you could fight your way out of a bar with it.!!
Seriously though, remember the D2 series are cropped sensor. Maybe it is time to go FF. Used D700's are about, got mine for £1300. Super condition, very happy with it. The low light capabilities are really important to me, and it excels.
 
I mainly use a D3 but I still have a D2X with D2Xs firmware and I use it in the studio, the quality is excellent but agree the high iso performance is poor although at iso100 it is super.
 
Coxy914 said:
thanks for the quick replies.
So realistically, I'm looking at either buying a new D700 or a good second hand D2X then. I'm guessing the D700 is still to new a camera to find many second hand and they seem to hold their price well from the last couple I've seen on the bay of thieves.

From a general users point of view, what would be the overall disadvantages of going for the older D2X over the D700?
Click to expand...

You'd be better with a D300 or the new D300s than a D2x with your budget.
 
I guess a lot of the choice will come down to whether or not your current lenses are FX compatible, if not then a D300s would be the sensible choice.
 
In laymans terms, what are the main benefits of the D700 over the D300s?
I can pick up a D300s for around £800 used, but looking at nearly double that for the D700.
Would I benefit from saving a little longer and getting the D700?
 
Your sigma lens isn't a good match for the D700, it will crop the sensor only giving you a small image and negating most of the point in getting the D700. So, realistically, you'd be left with your 50 1.4 and whatever money you could make from selling your 18-200 to get another FF lens.

A D300 would be a good buy for your budget, and spend the rest on some decent glass... tamron or nikon 17-50/55 2.8 would come to mind...

D300's are about £700 second hand atm, bargain :)
 
Well, to be frank your lenses aren't really good enough to warrant going full frame (although the 50mm will work - the 18-200 won't), you'd achieve MUCH better results from buying better glass.

With that in mind, if I were you I'd get a D90 or D300s and then invest the rest of the money in good glass.
 
Coxy914 said:
In laymans terms, what are the main benefits of the D700 over the D300s?
I can pick up a D300s for around £800 used, but looking at nearly double that for the D700.
Would I benefit from saving a little longer and getting the D700?
Click to expand...


You'd be doing well to pick up a kosher D300s for £800.....

Any of these bodies will punish "cheap" glass, so you'd be better upgrading your glass collection first and then start looking for a new body. You'd be surprised how much difference a few good lenses would make to the output from your D80.
 
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