Well I went and spent my budget for 2010 already on a D3 - Updated

[darrenb]

I limit myself to one spend per-anum and just blew the lot on a D3.

I wanted FF (already slowly upgraded all my old DX lenses) and much better low light capability and a bigger viewfinder, as I find myslef wanting to shoot hand-held in low light a lot....

Found myself looking at the D700 as I thought I'd miss the pop-up flash of the D300, but settled on the D3 as it has for me these feature over the D700:

Better battery life
100% viewfinder
Faster fps without gripping it
Dual CF slots
Voice notes for shots

Things I hope I dont miss that the D700 has:
Self-cleaning sensor
Pop-up flash
Shares batteries with D300

I feel confident I've made the right decision having already tried a D3 but it's how you get on with these things in the long term that count.

Im sure others have already voiced their own comments, pro's and con's, etc, but thought i'd share my own initial thoughts and I'll be in a better position after this weekend to comment after 48hrs of ownership.

 

[Anorakus]

Very surprised the D3 doesn't have a self-cleaning sensor!

One of my reasons for upgrading from the 5D to the mk II was the self-cleaning coated sensor. I was forever cleaning the 5D sensor, got to be a nuisance

A.

 

[Hairyduck]

Good choice, just the battery life on the D3 is something else, can't remember the last time I charged mine up!

 

[Naboo32]

...

I feel confident I've made the right decision having already tried a D3 but it's how you get on with these things in the long term that count....

You've hit the nail on the head there, Darren . You know that you've made the right decision (it's always better to 'spend up' in my book, rather than 'settle for second choice') and the D3 is well-proven, fantastic workhorse of a camera.

I'm sure that (if you can just ignore reading too many threads about "D3 vs." etc. on here ) you will go on to have many happy years together, especially if you have the glass to go with it.

Congrats !

 

[dod]

you are going to love it I got mine fairly recently and while it's a fairly steep learning curve (moved from Canon) the effort is worth it

 

[Tractor Boy]

Congrats on the upgrade - enjoy it

If you are selling the D300 I might be interested in a few weeks:shrug:

 

[kevshore]

You wont regret it. Excellent camera. I rarely use the D300 since buying my D3.

Kev.

 

[darrenb]

Thanks fellas, Im planning on some early morning and late evening shooting and am keen to exploit the ISO performance....

Nick, I'll be keeping the D300 for when I need some extra reach........I'll have two bodies again so long lens on the D300 and 24-70 on the D3, hoping I will be able to avoid changing lenses that way, espec outside in the summer...

Looks like Jessops are doing the D300 at 749 now.....wonder how long it will take for the D3 to get doen to that

 

[darrenb]

After a day with the D3....

Feels great in the hand...so much better than my gripped D300.

Build is superb, switches feel solid, but the thing thats really caught me out is the lack of crop factor having been so used to it with the D300....

Low light is as i knew it would be, fantastic, a quckie shot handheld at ISO 6400 last night:

Dust on the sensor already , only had 24-70mm on it initially, went out today, came back and stuff all over the shots I took...obviously more noticable in the snow and I can clone them out in LR....but a pain in the butt nevertheless....

Need to get more Dust Aid Platinum refills....