The end of an era: bodies have become more important than glass.

For me personally, I am into the glass, but only because I've been stuck there. I would have bought a Canon and adapter instead if I could use my Nikon glass without stop-down operation. Nikon use great sensors, but their deep flange depth means that you can only really use Nikon glass.

I didn't even want to upgrade to the D800; I was waiting for a mirrorless with 35mm sensor. I will have to wait for years I guess. Current bodies are much much much too large. The D600 is larger than the F2 with a smaller/darker viewfinder.

None of my glass is AF. Two are modern lenses: 35/2 Cosina/Distagon and 100/2 Cosina/Makro Planar, the rest are Ai and Ai-S lenses. Each lens I own more than resolves the 36MP D800. No problem. The only thing is the D800 is horrible for manually focusing Ai/S lenses.

I have a D200, too, but I came to Nikon thanks to an FE and FM2. Those cameras have far far better viewfinders than any current Nikon does. Thanks to all the expensive AF lenses that do most of what, in times prior, you had to do, the viewfinder is only used for framing.

If Cosina or another manufacturer made an F-compatible mount with aperture priority that obviated stop-down metering and had a great viewfinder, I'd jump from Nikon bodies in an instant. Better yet, a shallower flange depth with automatic metering and the same sensor as the D800, Nikon would be the last company I'd come back to. Apart from IQ, they have moved so far and away from the camera that I want (and I admit I'm in the minority here).

A camera has to be used and toted, too. IQ is most of the equation, but not all. I went on in my profession well with a D200 until two weeks ago with no real problems apart from hating the chintzy viewfinder. D800 is an upgrade, but as a tool, pales in comparison to the FE/FM series.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/shigzeo/
Advice/criticism/appreciation appreciated!