Perhaps this has been discussed previously in this forum however, I
am on the verge of purchasing a D1x and have read enough about it
to know that I will not regret the purchase. Nevertheless, I am
concerned that as soon as I buy it, Nikon will announce a new and
improved version that will address certain issues I have been
reading about on these pages. I have not been able to find anything
relating to this anywhere, and was wondering if anyone has any
usefull information on the subject?
--
Roper
So when will you ever get into the digital imaging arena. We can always keep waiting for the next latest greatest thing, but all the while you are waiting, you're not taking images or learning how to do digital imaging and post processing. There will always be something new which will make the current model obsolete for the "techno collectors" here who only collect cameras and don't shoot any images. If Nikon even announces a new full frame today, it won't be released for another 6 months at a minimum. Can you afford to wait a year? And, if they announce a new full frame, it will cost even more than the D1x anyway. Can you afford the new one in 6 months? Just look at Canon vs Nikon on the cost
SD9 $1800
D60 $2000 D100 $2000 S2 $2300
D1h $3400
1d $5000
D1x $4500
1Ds $8000 D2x Certainly at least $7000
So if cost is an issue and you're worried about the latest greatest, get a 1Ds (full frame, 3 fps) if you can even find one right now. It'll be the same cost as any D2x. You can't get something for free, so lets get real here.
Ask yourself do you really need the tool (these are, after all, just tools to capture an image). Each class of camera is geared at a different style of photography
D60, D100, S2, SD9 are one class of photographer -- consumer level
and studio/wedding
D1h and 1d wildlife and sports, photojournalism, pro
D1x photojournalism, studio, pro
14n
1Ds studio, landscape, pro
(categories above are general and not all inclusive, but just to give an example, not to incite a flame war). Bottom line is each tool has its positives and negatives. No one camera will suit all needs, though the 1Ds seems to come close and the D1x with new buffer upgrade will keep pace IMO.
Getting a D100 as a "stop gap" to avoid the feelings of buying a potentially "obsolete" D1x may not be a real solution for you. Choice of tool (camera) depends upon what you intend to do with it and whether or not you need the features.
I find that for me the D1x and D1h meet my needs far better than the consumer cam like N80 body based cameras (D100, S2, 14n). All digital cameras can acquire excellent images, its really more dependent on the photographer and the quality of the lens than it is the body.
If you use two cameras as I do for sports, A D1x/D100 combo or D1h/D100 combo or 1D/D30 is nowhere near as interchangeable or rapid to manage due to differences in lesser performance rates for D100 or D30.
D1x/D1h and 1d/1d combos are much easier to work with for fast action.
If you shoot studio or casually, then the N80 based systems should work just fine. It's all a matter of your shooting style. Buy the tool which is right for you now and go out and start capturing images rather than worrying about having to buy the latest and greatest (unless of you course you are just one of those techno type gadget junkies that collects systems and doesn't take photos and instead spends there time shooting brick walls, newspapers on a wall, resolution charts, and macbeth color charts to brag about the resolution of their camera or lens).
Note that nothing is perfect. Even on the full frame 1Ds, there is reported lateral chromatic aberration using ultra wide angles and shooting high contrast images (bottom line avoid high contrast imaging or buy better lenses (and even that is not a solution since even the top of the line wide angles will still manifest lateral chromatic aberration on these full frame dSLRs and even some film cameras).
Again, trade offs, trade offs, trade offs. No system is perfect. Select one and go out and take pictures. Learn the system and have fun.
