Help...I can't decide to wait or spend..sale ahead

02/07/2011 08:44:08 PM · #1

I have been thinking about a full frame camera. There are a lot of downsides of that for me--I like to hike/travel light, but I want the best image quality I can "afford". Especially when it comes to noise. I seem to have too much of it, even with my D90.

I love my 18-200VR, and the turning point for full frame for me was the availability of the 28-300VR. If it's as good as my lens, then I'd be happy.

But I'm thinking it's silly to buy a D700 when the D800 is right around the corner. Yet the discount on lenses I'd need for the D800 is now! So I was thinking maybe buy the D7000, with the 28-300, maybe the 16-35VR, and maybe even the 70-200 F2.8.

I could use at least the 28-300 and 70-200 now; maybe even the 16-35 (though it really wouldn't be wide enough for me). Then maybe next year sell the D7000 and buy a D800? (Assuming it's not much more than the D700 is now.)

What do you think? Is it stupid to buy lenses a year "in advance" to get $300-$400 off for later? Ideas? I tried discussing with my family but they don't really understand.

Message edited by author 2011-02-07 20:44:40.

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/07/2011 08:54:59 PM · #2

Well, I started buying full frame glass two years ago when I got my d90. It plays nice on crop factor, but grows with me when I go ff. Spreads the ff transition cost.

And the 28-300 is Nice. I like it much better than my 18-200. I'm planning on a d7000 also, unless the d800 comes out before the damn thing is back in stock!

So I understand :-)

VitaminB

Nikon D800

02/07/2011 09:09:53 PM · #3

Originally posted by chromeydome:

I'm in the same place. For the last two years I have bought FF lenses, with the anticipation that I will eventually have a FF camera. My plan was always to get whatever replaced the D700. From what I have seen, it should be out within the next two months. My expectation is that it should be leaps and bounds better than the D200 I have currently. I also hope to get the 24-70 f2.8 at the same time.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/07/2011 09:33:07 PM · #4

I bought my Sigma 12-24 when I got my 10D, partly because it was the widest rectilinear lens available for any SLR and partly because I knew I wanted to use it with a full frame camera. The first FF camera I mounted this lens on was my 5DmkII. It was also the first lens I mounted on that camera.

02/07/2011 10:36:38 PM · #5

Originally posted by VitaminB:

Per today's Nikon Rumors post, it seems that FF stuff for Nikon may be in the summer. In the next couple months they are predicting a D5000 replacement. Of course it is rumor, by definition :-)

It is one of the reasons I'm considering the D7000. If a d800 is announced, say, in August, availability might be Oct-Nov, and finding it in stock might be Dec-Jan-Feb (sorta like the difficulty finding the D7000 now). I figure I get nearly a year of using the d7000 before I even need to think about a D800, as opposed to living with low light noise on the d90 for the coming year.

02/07/2011 11:12:51 PM · #6

WOO FRAKKIN HOOO!!!!!!!! D7000 body-only just came in stock at B&H, order placed, will arrive Wednesday!!!!!!!! Oh, yea, come to pappa!

02/07/2011 11:20:20 PM · #7

Me too!

Did you get any lenses? I did--and I'm thinking I must be crazy.

Had to decide quickly, or else I figured I would lose out on the D7000 option for the lens sale. I had to stop myself from buying more...it's a great lens discount (given that as far as I've seen, lenses only get more expensive with time and the rising Yen). I remember being mad I missed out on the 10.5mm when it was only $450; when I finally decided on one, they were more than $800 (as I recall).

Message edited by author 2011-02-07 23:22:37.

02/07/2011 11:42:16 PM · #8

COOL! I've been watching that puppy every day, had to do a double take just now, since the D7000 with kit lens pops up as available for a few hours now and again, but the d7000 body only has been scarce. I almost missed it.

Sadly, no way for me to take advantage of the lens deals just now. I got the 28-300 in December, when I decided that a FF body was a year away, so I could afford it and and a d7000. Didn't realize it might become available on rebate, as the rebates didn't seem to be posted for the out of stock bodies. But I have got good use of the lens on a trip, etc., so no harm no foul.

What lenses did you get? On my wish list is the 70-200, and a 2.8 wide angle zoom. (wider than 28).

Had some gift cards stockpiling from amazon, so I ordered my battery grip and a couple batteries. C'mon Wednesday!

02/08/2011 12:02:39 AM · #9

Well I got the 28-300, and a couple of the 2.8 lenses you wanted :) I'm in sticker shock right now, thinking I'm crazy, but I keep telling myself I saved $1000, I never spend money on anything, and I'm not getting any younger. :)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/08/2011 12:16:54 AM · #10

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Money on good glass doesn't go to waste. And scoring a good savings on it is even better. Your REAL problem is going to be deciding at any moment which one you want to play around with! :-) Congrats!!

tanguera

Nikon D750

02/08/2011 12:47:41 AM · #11

Awww geez. I'm in the same boat. But have been eyeing the D700 as an option to the D3s, which after numerous conversations with may folks, turns out to be almost all the same features half the price. Now you're talking D7000? What's the advantage/difference (D700/D7000), please?

02/08/2011 03:24:52 AM · #12

Originally posted by tanguera:

Well, d7000 is NOT full frame. The high ISO performance seems to top out about a stop lower than the D700 (noise-wise) from what I read.

My reasons for D7000:

Dual SD card slots, flexible usage (D90 uses SD cards, so I am stocked already-D700 uses CF, one slot) For paid gigs, redundancy is sweet. For casual shooting, still nice, can duplicate at time of shoot, or double capacity, or put jpegs on one card, raw on the other. I'll probably just duplicate all the time.
100% viewfinder
Better High ISO than d90
Best (apparently) new focusing/color sensor in any nikon camera (will likely show up in D800)
Weather sealed
51 point focusing
two user programmable exposure modes on the mode dial--set a specific combination of things and then you have them ready all the time, no menu hopping
a fair few other things, too
$1199 (vs $2300+ for d700, probably more for d800)

Cons:
Not FF (been living without it, can do so a while longer)
uses different batteries and battery grip than d90
ISO ability not quite as good as D700, d800 will probably be even better

But for the price, I can use the d7000 for at least a year, rather than wait on the d800.

Lord knows I would spring for a FF puppy if I could afford it. D3s is outta reach, D700 is about to be replaced. So for me the choice really comes down to a D7000 available now, or a D800 that will cost me at least twice as much, maybe in a year. For Less money than a D700, I got a D7000 and a 28-300 FF lens now, and a year with each before I will even consider a d800. It works for me. I'm not saying it is right for anyone else, but it meets some needs for me right now, rather than waiting.

I'll still likely yearn & burn for the d800 when it is announced. :-) But I will have been using my d7000 for several months in the interim :-)

ETA: just checked on B&H--body only is still showing as available. When the body/lens kit became available late last week, it lasted less than 24 hours. Now that mine is ordered, I am happy to let folks know about it being in stock. :D

Message edited by author 2011-02-08 03:29:02.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/08/2011 09:35:38 AM · #13

Wow...if I didn't see your name on it, I would have thought I wrote that last message. Are you in my brain?

ETA: My stuff has shipped already!

Message edited by author 2011-02-08 10:15:46.

tanguera

Nikon D750

02/08/2011 10:53:08 AM · #14

Ah, yeah. I'm for sure going FF on whatever I get next. For me the issue is whether the improvements on the D800 are REALLY so phenomenal (like does it have an automated blue ribbon setting) as to wait for it, or go with the D700 now, which will be more than adequate for my needs.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

02/08/2011 11:20:04 AM · #15

I'm buying a remote control helicopter. That's what you should do too.

02/08/2011 01:10:20 PM · #16

mine shipped too :D

FWIW, they are still in stock at B&H

tanguera, I hear you. I would expect, but do not know, that the d800 will have even better high iso performance, the new metering sensor that is in the D7000, probably better video capability, and possibly the dual card slots (though I don't know if that is feasible easily with dual CF, maybe one CF one SD like some of the competition)

So it might be worth waiting for or not. I suspect it will cost more, and would not expect the d700 to come down much in price (inventories seem to be drying up). You have the "secret plan" needs, so only you can make that assessment. Everyone I know with a d700 is thrilled with it. You might be more thrilled with a d800, but you might be more cumulatively thrilled if you get a d700 now and have all these months of thrill accumulation :-)

I went for cumulative thrill maximization with a d7000 now, maybe a d800/900 later on. So you can see how I played it. Clearly you need a FF, so d700 now might be the trick....

[Full Disclaimer: I work neither for Nikon nor B&H, and receive no commissions or fees--dammit!--for promoting purchase of their products]

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

02/08/2011 01:10:44 PM · #17

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

I'm buying a remote control helicopter. That's what you should do too.

I want one of those, too!

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

02/08/2011 01:27:00 PM · #18

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I'm buying a remote control helicopter. That's what you should do too.

I want one of those, too!

Walkera HM V120D02 Smallest Flybarless 3D Helicopter

02/08/2011 01:54:39 PM · #19

Nikon Tutorial for D7000

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

02/08/2011 11:25:55 PM · #20

D7000 already marked Temporarily Unavailable at B&H, When it was available, it should have been marked Temporarily Available

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/09/2011 12:12:26 AM · #21

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I'm buying a remote control helicopter. That's what you should do too.

I want one of those, too!

Walkera HM V120D02 Smallest Flybarless 3D Helicopter

Pff, that's nothing.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvRTALJp8DM

ETA: Make sure you watch pt II

Message edited by author 2011-02-09 00:14:44.

tanguera

Nikon D750

02/09/2011 01:54:03 AM · #22

So, I went to Samy's today to check out the D700 and make sure the weight wasn't an issue for me. It wasn't. It felt GREAT. I fell in love with it. They wanted $2,600. Well, THAT wasn't going to happen...

I just feel I need to get this camera NOW for some reason. I have a lot of images in planning that requires better low light handling. So I went on line and guess what? I bought one for $1,776!!!!!!

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

02/09/2011 02:07:15 AM · #23

Originally posted by tanguera:

FANTASTIC!!! Wow--great news :-))

spiritualspatula