| Author | Thread |
|
|
12/28/2008 08:52:03 PM · #1 |
I'm in the same boat as many I've read posts by, of updating my camera from a D70 to either a D300 or a D90.
I haven't gotten my hands on a D300 yet, but a friend of mine just bought a D90, and I have to say - it feels like a damn toy! I couldn't believe it, that it felt not only significantly lighter but flimsier as well - it felt like a D40. Cheap Plastic.
Now, I now from the specs that a D90 is actually heavier than the 70, and that a D300 is heavier than the D90. But does it feel any... well... more like the D70? I love the feel of the 70 over the 90. Maybe this sounds strange, but it could be a strong deciding factor for my purchase. |
|
|
|
12/28/2008 09:06:15 PM · #2 |
| The D300 feels fantastic in the hand and weighs 'just right' for it to feel solid, especially if you add the battery grip, the handling is superb...I just wish it had HD Video ;) |
|
|
|
12/28/2008 10:48:25 PM · #3 |
| D300 is similar to the D200 body and built like a tank. I use it backpacking, mountian climbing and out in the rain. it feels substantial in your hand compared to a D70 or D90. |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 04:41:56 AM · #4 |
| You'd have to go back to an F3 to find a camera that feels more solid than the D300 :) |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 12:43:14 PM · #5 |
The D300 is substantially larger and heavier than the D70. It has lots more buttons and doodads, too.
I don't know what this obsession with big and heavy is, though. If my D60 had the features and IQ of my D300, I'd be a happy woman. I know that we use weight as a proxy for quality, but I wonder how true that actually is. I've never broken either a camera body or lens, despite all attempts to thoroughly abuse them. From my perspective, heavy is overrated, especially after carrying it around all day. Maybe it's a guy thing.
Some specs, though, so this post doesn't go completely off topic....
D60 (body only, no battery, grip, lens, etc) - 17 oz.
D90 - 22 oz.
D300 - 29 oz.
D700 - 34 oz.
D3 - 43 oz.
D3x - 43.2 oz.
|
|
|
|
12/29/2008 12:51:56 PM · #6 |
With my 300 (with grip) in my hands, I feel like I can go anywhere and do anything!
I've handled the 90 in the store, and yeah, I agree, feels like I'm messing with my wife's point and shoot. |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 01:06:50 PM · #7 |
| I, too, was worried when I walked by a D40 in a store and, for a lark, picked it up. Thing's a child's toy. I was worried all Nikons would be like that, but when I finally got my hands on a D300, my fears were assuaged. That thing is built, as jbsmith says, like a tank, and is the most full-featured crop-sensor camera that Nikon has (sans video). Get it, love it, never look back. |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 01:56:41 PM · #8 |
Well, maybe someday, my little D40 will grow up and morph into a Nikon D3, but until that day...I have to say...I'll always enjoy child's play!
(Or, so Dr. Seuss would say!)...>>>:-P |
|
|
|
12/29/2008 02:19:00 PM · #9 |
| I have not tested a D300 in hands before, but I must say: D90 was a decent upgrade in itself from the Rebel world. I think this is the biggest and heaviest it should get for an -enthusiast- camera. If one needs a tank, then there are other high end choices I think;-) |
|
|
|
01/05/2009 04:38:54 AM · #10 |
Interesting Posts, ...
First of all, I'd like to say I love the heft and solid shutter feel of my D3, and putting the big battery in the D300/MBD10 doesn't hurt. As long as I stay on the ground, the weight isn't a problem, and actually provides stability - inertia - particularly with f2.8 zooms.
FYI: My upgrade path was also from a D70 to a D300, then the 14-24mm and 24-70mm, followed some 6 months later by the D3 for its FX wide angle capabilities. It was a stretch, and less than a month later the D700 was announced! (Oh well, no regrets! It's paid for itself)
I find the D40/D40x/D60 too small for my hands and I miss the sub-command dail on the front. On the other hand, the big stuff is a pain when travelling. It seems OK here in North America, but with a 14 Kilo backpack, the airlines were not amused in Bangalore & Madrid. The D3 and pro-glass are not going in the hold. Bearing this in mind, I'm thinking of a nice travel kit containing:
Camera: D70/D80/D90 class camera (D60 is too small, used D80s & D200s can be had cheap now)
Lenses: 10-20 Sigma + 18-200VR -or- 16-85VR+70-300VR (love wide angle, hate swapping lenses)
Flash: SB600
+ my 15 inch LapTop
This should at least get the weight down to "acceptable" levels for Economy class.
Tony |
|
|
|
01/05/2009 05:47:13 AM · #11 |
Further to the weights, my insomnia kicked in, ...
--
Background:
Sorry for digressing here, and maybe this should be in a separate discussion. I did have an interesting experience: Lufthansa out of Bangalore restricted me to 1 carry-on at less than 10Kg, so I had to combine 2 bags and ended up with 14Kg. Next stop Madrid, still Lufthansa, I was allowed 2 bags totalling 10Kg, and they wouldn't allow the now single 14Kg bag, so I had to split them again (or upgrade to 1st class @ $8000).
Being a Canadian: Air Canada allows 2 10Kg carry-ons and wasn't bothered by my 14Kg bag. It didn't bother Lufthansa anywhere else either.
--
Here's what I got off my scale, batteries included ...
Bodies (no lens, per my Kitchen scale)
D70 732g
D300 937g
D300+MB-D10 1391g (including EN-EL4a)
D3 1476g
EN-EL3e battery = 77g
Lens w/Filter:
AF-S 24-70 f2.8 1025g
AF-S 18-200 607g
--
Per Nikon (without EN-EL3e battery):
D40 = 475g
D60 = 495g
D70 = 595g
D80 = 585g
D90 = 620g
D200 = 830g
D300 = 825g
D700 = 995g
* 1g = 0.035273oz
Tony
Message edited by author 2009-01-05 06:31:22. |
|
|
|
01/06/2009 04:41:46 AM · #12 |
| I went through this before I got my D90. I handled both cameras in the store. The D300 felt BIG. I have small hands for a guy too. I personally love the feel of the D90 compared to my old D50. The deciding factor for me though was price. I don't normally beat my cameras up much so I really didn't need the extra ruggedness of the 300 and the sensor is virtually identical. My suggestion is go to a shop that has both and handle them both. I must add that I am VERY happy with my 90 and video had nothing to do with my choice. The video can be nice to have on rare occations but I prefer still photography. The video option is kind of gimmicky IMO. |
|
|
|
01/06/2009 05:07:12 AM · #13 |
I just went from a D70s to a D700 a couple of months ago, and I believe the D700 has a similar sort of build to the D300.
I gotta say, it's heavy, in a reassuring way, but also in a strap cuts into your shoulder way if you're carrying it about too long.
I found it reasonable to carry over the shoulder with a 50mm lens, but I put my 105 Micro lens on and after about 30 mins I felt it digging into my shoulder.
My solution was to replace the strap with the RS-4 strap from BlackRapid. Now it's perfectly comfortable to carry around all day. If you do go for the D300 and are putting a heavy lens on it, be prepared to do something similar, I don't know why Nikon insists on those straps for their heavier cameras, they're next to useless for any prolonged use! |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/25/2024 11:37:03 AM EDT.
