Beshlie
newbie
Reged: 10/04/2007
Posts: 4
Loc: Devon, UK
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It's my birthday soon and my hubby wants to buy me a new camera  . I was planning to go for the D300 (I use a D70s at the moment) and now the D700 is coming out and I'm not sure what to do 
I've upgraded on the kit lenses which came with my D70s so don't need a lens - well - there is always a lens I would like!
My main photography is animals - close up and telephoto, birds and close up work, with occasional scenery.
Any advice would be useful.
Thanks in advance.
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FujiSigmaNolta
I can pan!
Reged: 21/06/2005
Posts: 1391
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The D700 is £1000 more than the D300 but you benefit from the larger sensor and bigger buffer size among other things that the D700 has. On the other hand, the fact that the D300 has a APS-C sized sensor (which gives you a magnification factor on your lenses, you can get closer to your subject with the same lens than with the D700) and you like close up and wildlife photography the D300 might as well suit you and the rest of the money can go on more accessories/lenses.
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Regards,
FujiSigmaNolta
My Flickr mess
My Blog
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 5614
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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I think the only way to tell is to see two images, one taken with a D300 and one with a D700 to compare and see if the D700 image cropped to match the ratio of the D300's image is significantly better or not. You seem to be in the same boat as me whereby the 1.5 crop factor is an advantage. If that advantage is negated by the fact that the allbeit lower resolution cropped image from a D700 is sharper and has less noise then get the D700. If not then get the D300. That's the kind of testing that AP should do, and hopefully they will, but I'm not sure it will be in time for your birthday.
One thought it what lens you intend to use with it. If it's the 70-200 f/2.8 VR then you may be better getting the D300 as this seems to be the one Nikkor which seems to give the Nikon Full Frame's problems. I'm sure Nikon will bring out a version optimised for Full Frame in the near future though, but if you've already invested then this might sway you. Google it to make your own mind up.
Finally, I upgraded from a D70s to a D300 and although I haven't had chance to really put it through it's paces (I'm going to the Yorkshire show today so this will be it's first big test) I'm really chuffed with it. The one thing is, I really wish I had a 70-200mm to go with it.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 4170
Loc: Devon, UK.
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Not sure what lenses you have for your D70s but if they are Dx (or Sigma DC or Tamron DiII) or any other lenses that only cover the Dx sensor, be aware that you'll be needing a new set of glass to get the benefit of full frame from the D700. If you do go for the D700, I would suggest you keep the D70s for the telephoto work since the crop factor gives it that extra reach.
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MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3510
Loc: Up North, England.
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"since the crop factor gives it that extra reach."
This is something that I've wondered about. I wonder what produces the best results, an APS-C or a FF cropped to give the same effect? I assume that a cropped FF image will utilise fewer MP's but I wonder if this will really matter?
I've never used an EOS 5D or any other FF DSLR so I don't know but I'd be interested to hear what those who have used both FF and APS-C or 4/3 DSLR's think.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
Edited by alanS (09/07/2008 11:31)
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FujiSigmaNolta
I can pan!
Reged: 21/06/2005
Posts: 1391
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...but the D700 will give you automatically a masked viewfinder and crop the image to 5.1MP if you use DX format lenses. Given the sharpness of the samples I have seen, I personally think this is not a big problem you will still get some nice largish prints out of it.
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Regards,
FujiSigmaNolta
My Flickr mess
My Blog
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 5614
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
"since the crop factor gives it that extra reach."
This is something that I've wondered about. I wonder what produces the best results, an APS-C or a FF cropped to give the same effect? I assume that a cropped FF image will utilise fewer MP's but I wonder if this will really matter?
Only a proper comparison will tell us that. Hopefully AP or one of the other mags will do it. Fen and I had talked about doing it ourselves using Fen's D3 and my D300, but I've not been in London with any spare time for a while.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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Towershot
old hand
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 744
Loc: Lancashire, U,K.
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I would get the D300,cracking camera for an armature,
But whatever you get ,keep the D70 as backup as Nod says.
I got rid of the D80,but Do I wish I had kept it.
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Got a good camera, now to get a good photographer.:~<
Rick
My Flickr
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Beshlie
newbie
Reged: 10/04/2007
Posts: 4
Loc: Devon, UK
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Thank you all for your info. I'm leaning towards the D300 with a battery grip at the moment. I don't usually blow up photos above A4, though I've had some good results with going bigger with my D70s.
I will keep my D70s, it will still be useful.
Don't laugh, but one of my favourite cameras is a very basic film Praktica, and I mean REALLY basic! Yet some of my best work has been with that and a 70-200 Zeiss zoom, especially for shots of birds. It was my very first SLR and I still get the urge to dig it out at times. Am I sad?
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Adesw
The phantom flasher
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 706
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Indeed, keep the D70.
My primary camera is now a D200, but I just found a real use for my d40, which is its electronic shutter! Using it I can sync my off camera flashes as fast as I my triggers can (which is 1/1000)
The D70 has the same type of shutter.
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photogeek
Professor Yaffle
Reged: 02/01/2007
Posts: 219
Loc: Londonish
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the geek in me says I should want the D3/D700, but I still can not get over how good the D300 and its images are. I just can not imagine that except in the case of very low light / high ISO's the quality of the D3/D700 is going to offset the drop of in edge performance with most of my glass.
I think to gain the benefits I would need to spend another £3-4k on glass and that I can not justify.
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Be yourself you know its true and in the end whats left is you.....
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 5614
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
the geek in me says I should want the D3/D700, but I still can not get over how good the D300 and its images are. I just can not imagine that except in the case of very low light / high ISO's the quality of the D3/D700 is going to offset the drop of in edge performance with most of my glass.
I think to gain the benefits I would need to spend another £3-4k on glass and that I can not justify.
Out of interest, what leneses are you using on your D300?
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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PaulatUKcamera
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 24/05/2005
Posts: 1900
Loc: West Wales
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I have been pondering the same point for a fortnight now.
Since the acquisition of a large f2.8 AF-S 80-200mm my photographic requirements have changed considerably! The unexpected side effect of the purchase of such a unwieldy lens, has been the recognition that no longer was it convenient to change lenses! I decided that a second camera was the only answer to the problem of "Next time we go out, will you stop constantly changing lenses and keep up with the rest of us!"
The purchase of the D300 a couple of months ago made me realise that it was much better camera than my D200 for the things I wanted it for (MF AiS lenses are such a "doddle" to focus through live view) that on Friday I decided to part ex the D200 for a second D300 rather than the new D700.
Why not the D700 ? For me it was just two things - the first being money D700 =£1900 D300 + f2.8 70-2000 VR lens = £2100 (- part ex!)
A visit to Matthew at Carmarthen Camera co is always tempting fate as he has such a wide range (shameless plug!) that when he also offered to "bribe" me by giving all my money back on the AF-S - if a bought the VR version, I didn't put up much resistance!
The second is the fact that I need the telephoto end more than the high iso - photos for the holiday trade need bright sunny days and blue skies to convince people West Wales is permanently bathed in bright sunshine (It is, I tell you! Rain, what's that!)
So if money is limited, £900 saved over the D700 is quite a way towards a bird watcher's ideal lens!
To those of you reading this thinking "rich git!" parading his latest gear - if you had paid into a life-insurance policy for nigh on 30 years, wouldn't you be tempted by your dream outfit as a retirement present? (not that I can afford to retire!) OK, I know, I know I should save it for a rainy day - then the Government can seize it when they put me in an old folks home!
Paul
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Paul Winter (CRIPN)
Web Site: UKCamera.com
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