D3: Buy or Wait

I know not many people will be replying to this post...but I'll just give it a shot.

Ive been wanting to get a d3 since earlier this year...been saving up for it.

Saved up 5 grande...so its time to buy....I have a d200...but always wanted a pro body ff camera.

D700 was announced....but still prefer the big body...don't like grip..since its stays on my d200 all the time...

QUESTION IS....i can get a d3 for around 4.6k(grey from jpn) in melbourne but a trusted seller.

Should I wait till photokina's announcement? to know what is coming out?

I know 12.1mp will be sufficient for my needs for a long long time.....but still with the announcement at least ill know what is out and with "new" announcement....d3 price is going to fall somemore (would be a Plus)....
Even now with d700...d3's price been coming down pretty quick..so wait it out?

I'll still be shooting with my d200...so there won't be any big loss in pictures....just my URGE of getting a FF PRO BODY LOW LIGHT WONDER!!

DISCUSS? thanks!

D3 prices have already fallen. Look around and you'll see prices ranging from $4000 - $4500 for US models from reputable resellers (check various threads in this forum for more details).

Used D3s (which are at MOST 8 months old) are only fetching $3500-3700 while the D700 with the grip, big battery and accessories is nearly as much $$, weighs more and is taller! (see my thread about talking myself out of a D700 today).

So I'd say find a reseller you are comfortable with and get a new US D3 for $4K.
--
Cheers,
Joe

Buy and never look back.. Keep and master for next 3 to 5 years. Do not even read reviews or ignore new releases.. This camera will last a lifetime.. Get some new glass instead.. Many get every new camera that comes out. Their choice but not necessary... Just my 2 cents.. ( kept and still use my D-100 for 5 years)



--
http://www.pbase.com/pillman
Nikon D-100
Nikon D-3 (exceeds all expectations)
Napp Member
WWJD..
My drug of choice-- Photography

Yeap...thats what i thought...

d3 will be good enough for me for the next few years....don't really care bout 24mp and all that...

Just the price....knowing when photokina announce something new....the price will drop even more...it will be even a better bargain...

unfortunately i live in australia....and to get us d3 is pretty far off....and import tax and warranty and all...

the shop that i normally buy my gear from imports it from japan...so if anything goes wrong...they will send it back for me with no cost......bought my sb800...burn it out after 2 months...sent it to him...got a new board in 2-3weeks..so i trust him.

OK, lets play a game,

Lets say that in Sep. Nikon comes out with a "D3.5" it is a 24 Meg FF with IQ/ISO like a D2x and costs $6,000-ish USD, and the price of the D3 drops maybe $500-750 USD.

Or maybe it will be just a replacement for the D80, but the big money is on a 20+ MP "D3" type camera

OK, so how do you feel now?

Mike

--
If you have low standards, you can take a look:
http://michaeljberman.zenfolio.com

I would say if you are that worried about the price w8 a little bit to photo show and see...It might drop some but still going to be around the 4000 mark..Some sellers are getting cheaper but my local camera guy stated nothing that I can do if the price drops soon..He thinks the D3x will be out soon...

If you have something that works keep shooting and save it for some glass...You can get the 105VR or 85MM or have money towards something else...

However I LOVE MY D3 : > )

My local camera shop says a newer version of the D3 IS coming soon...He has been right so far

michaeljberman said:

OK, lets play a game,

Lets say that in Sep. Nikon comes out with a "D3.5" it is a 24 Meg
FF with IQ/ISO like a D2x and costs $6,000-ish USD, and the price of
the D3 drops maybe $500-750 USD.

Or maybe it will be just a replacement for the D80, but the big money
is on a 20+ MP "D3" type camera

OK, so how do you feel now?

Mike

--
If you have low standards, you can take a look:
http://michaeljberman.zenfolio.com

Click to expand...

Lol...thats exactly what I did....I got a 105 Vr...2 weeks ago...great lens!!

next in line is 14-24...thats the only reason i did consider d700...could get that with my budget for d3...

but still prefer d3....
yea..."new" d3 might be the same spec...but with cleaning sensor?
lol...wider autofocus area? lol...wishful thinking

Kingston Liu said:

Lol...thats exactly what I did....I got a 105 Vr...2 weeks
ago...great lens!!

next in line is 14-24...thats the only reason i did consider
d700...could get that with my budget for d3...

but still prefer d3....
yea..."new" d3 might be the same spec...but with cleaning sensor?
lol...wider autofocus area? lol...wishful thinking

Click to expand...

currency futures? Probably not. You can wait and still get screwed if your local currency devalues against the yen. I'd say, if you can use it now, get it now and once you buy erase the price from your mind since you can't control the future. I had a business partner with your outlook about computers...he waited about 10 years before getting one during which time I'd gone through about 3, learned many programs and some programming languages, and my kids had become very computer literate at a very early age (2! -- and this was DOS and w/o a mouse, they had to actually TYPE). What I'm getting at is that with electronics you'll always get more features for your money in the future...you can "future" yourself out of EVER having ANYTHING electronic. If the EXPERIENCE is worth anything to you AND you can afford it, do it.

Hi Kingston,

I would have to say wait a little.

I am also in Melbourne and in a similar situation. I was going to be happy to buy the D700, but then when adding up the price for it and a grip with the news of a possible D3 replacement not too far away, I have decided to wait and see about a cheaper D3.

I am curently shooting with a D200 that I plan to keep. I need the high iso performance of the D3/D700 for my band work.
There is less than a $1000 difference between the two.

I will wait until September to see which new body is announced, (if any), then make a purchase.
Although I do have to make the purchase before the Amberly airshow in October.
cheers
Tim

I think it's better to wait.

It's almost Photokina already.

I was point and shooting.
Then, April 2008, I thought I have researched enough on internet,
and D300 has received surprisingly good reviews.
Everyone said on forums: buy now, you can never wait for
technology, as technology would not wait for you.
I think it's sound advice.

So, I bought it. I think I have made the technically right choice.
But, I wish I had the D700 or maybe a D3. I do want a full frame.
I would feel happier if the sensor in my camera is a full frame.
Despite whether I really need the real technical advantage.
To me, a full frame is a real camera. DX is not.

D3 price may drop after Photokina. Now, you have the excellent
D200.

The longer I live, the more I know that I don't know about things.
E.g. The Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) lasted longer than I thought,
so is my DELL Laptop computer with an Intel Pentium M 1.7 GHz.
Maybe they announce something new that you like in Photokina, and
then future products from 2009 have bells and whistles that you
don't need: e.g. a 45 Mega Pixel camera.

Afterall, Photokina is very soon. I would say different if Photokina is 2 years
away.

Kingston,

If you can wait until Photokina, then do it because there might be some decline in the price of the D3 over the next few weeks. However, most of the big drop has occurred already. You should not expect the camera's price to match that of the D700 in the immediate future. In the event you feel that you have waited long enough, then go ahead and buy the D3 now and don't worry about a small price drop.

More megapixels won't give you or most photographers an advantage. When the D3X eventually is released it will be expensive and probably have 16 - 18 MP. The dramatic improvement in IQ will arrive in the form of extended dynamic range. Better than 90% of all photographers fail to understand this point yet. They think that just adding more pixels will improve the IQ, yet one only has to look at Canon's top-of-the-line camera to see there isn't a major improvement in the IQ by merely increasing the quantity of pixels much higher than the D3.

When the D3X arrives it is going to be expensive. Expect a price in the range of $6,000 - $7,000 USD. If you cannot afford that much camera, there is no point in waiting for it. You will miss a lot of great technology while you wait.

Why not get a used D3 to play with while you wait? BTW 4.6k from Jp is NOT the best price.

We all know the D700 is gonna drop in price a little bit more than the D3. So it's not a good time to buy if you don't have to have it.

Sell your used D3 when something better gets along.

--

Some how I don't really trust 2nd hand equipment. and the local shops in melbourne selling new and used is pretty pricey. If I'm going to spend Thousands...i don't feel safe gettign 2nd without warranty...

The local stores sells d3 at AUD$5.5-6.5k. So don't think 2nd will be that much cheaper.

The importer sells D3 for Aud$4.6k (2weeks ag) might be 4.5k now with the currency and price drop.

Sounds like a good decisiong... waiting 1-2 month.. photokina is in September....not that far away...been waiting since august last year when it was announced...wats another 1month.

if they announce something I want...i still can get it...if they dont..ill get d3 at a better value...! win win-ish....just lose 1-2 months of waiting....or 3-4 months for the newer version...Thanks for the advice...in the meantime...ill still be shooting with my DX!

Good on ya, mate.

Hey Kingston, do you have a link to the dealer you said is selling the D3 cheap?

Cheers
Tim

With the announcement for d90 yesterday...does it mean thats it for photokina?? Just the new d90??

Or will there suprise us at photokina?

Sigh...because of this photokina wait..and the aus currency falling...the d3 is 250Aud more expensive than it was 1 month ago!! lol....

how long do i have to wait now!!
sorry for trolling...just wanted to vent!

Just remember, It's much faster to work the excellent 12.1 D3 files than it will be to work 24 megapixel D3x files. Yes, your work flow will crawl to snails pace with a 24 megapixl file. Just an thought...

If you intened on working with two cameras in the future I think it'd be a hard choice between a d3 and d700. The d700 is great for traveling and will be a great second camera for a long time.

If there is a really cool camera announced soon, it may be a while before you get one. And either way, the d700 as a second body ain't bad now or in a few years.

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[email protected]
http://www.courtlevephoto.com

You're not trolling; you asked a genuine question, and got good replies.

Basically, it sounds like you've already decided that the D3 of today is exactly what you need, regardless of any new cameras that might be on the horizon.

I say, buy it now. Who knows what the price will be tomorrow, given currency fluctuations and all? The D3 is honestly a game-changer, and well worth every single cent. Enables you to do far more things than you ever imagined would be possible.

Every day you have it in your possession and being used is a good day that's not wasted. So, my suggestion would be to get it now and put blinders on to disregard any price fluctuations or future announcements.

The D3 that I have has already lost a healthy chunk of financial value, and will continue its way downwards as all cameras are bound to do. That's OK; it is EXACTLY what I need, and does everything I ask it to do, and gotten superb photos. I care not what its financial value is nor what comes after it. It does for me TODAY what I need it to do, and it's given me a solid portfolio of great shots. I feel I am better for having gotten it months ago, even at the higher cost, instead of waiting out a price drop.

For most people, I would tell them to wait a little or sort out exactly what their needs/wants are. But in your particular case, it sounds like you've been thinking through it for a long time and know exactly what you want/need and have the financial ability to acquire it. So, in that case, why wait?