judging from dezm's excellent pictures, his subject matter would do well with a d800
What exactly do you think FF would add to Dezm images? Better hi-ISO? More depth of field? More DR? And how would that improve his picture taking abilities?
There is no magic to FF.
David & JC. I don't like the size, weight or price point of the D800. I want to go lighter, not bigger and the D800 is priced out of my budget. Plus, I don't need 36 megapixels. 16MP to 24MP is enough.
I believe a D300 update will provide better high ISO (and base ISO) as well as increased dynamic range where I can bracket
less in my sets.
So then, how much would you be willing to pay for such a camera? If you are a professional, and it is a tool to make you money, what manner of ROI would you need for the capability that a D400 would give you? For a pro, is it really a question of the cost of the camera? Would it matter if it cost $3000? or more? It is just another business expense that needs to be amortized.
Conrad, it's not just the price of the body. It's also replacing lenses and taking a loss on them. It all adds up.
Again, I don't want/need the extra expense and I don't want my rig to get heavier.
--
Dez
The d300 and d800 are essentially the same size, the d800 weighs a couple of more ounces
i am not sure why you are hoping for a d400 if you want a smaller camera
the d800 is $2500 refurbished
it also works with dx lenses, you might be surprised by how much of the frame your zooms cover and even in dx mode it is a pretty good camera at 16 mpix and there is the 1.2 crop and that 5:4 crop can cut off those corners where a dx lens might vignette
if you want smaller and better base ISO, that sounds like a d7100
Actually, the D800 is bigger & heavier by a small amount but you didn't factor in heavier, more expensive FF lenses.
Here's a comparison:
http://camerasize.com/compare/#188,290
I'm not interested in a D7100.
well, the D300 is wider by a small amount and there are some slight differences else where, like the grip - the differences mean nothing - those are my two cameras in the picture above and I speak from experience
if you don't like the d7100 and I can understand that I don't think it is about size and weight because.....
lenses
as I mentioned, the crop mode of the D800 allows you to get a 15mpix DX image so you can use your DX lenses
also you will find some of your DX zooms will likely cover the whole frame or be usable in the 1.2 crop mode at the longer end
and the reality is the expense and size is more related to build than DX vs FX
let take the Nikon 35mm F1.8 DX lens, the only nikkor DX prime that isn't micro which ought to make you pause for a second
compare that with the 50mm f1.8 G lens the 50mm is lighter, virtually the same size and cost
sure you can save some coin on the 17-55mm f2.8 versus the 24-70mm f2.8 but compare the 70-200mm with, nothing for DX from Nikon. There is only one f2.8 DX lens.
but there is that sigma 50-150mm f2.8 which by the way, shoots perfectly well on FX full frame at the long end
if you are willing to ditch everything and move to Sony, it must not be the cost
I get why people want a D400 and I love my D300, although I wouldn't use it anymore if the D800 did 8 fps in DX mode instead of just 6 because in everything else, it is better than the D300
although I look at your wonderful pictures and wonder why you want a D400 which doesn't exist when there is a at least one very viable option that does. And since you don't seem to be in the 8 fps or die crowd, it does seem a bit puzzling to me.
Even Roman Johnson seems to have moved onto the D800
now I understand the just put the newest DX sensor in the D300 specs and charge $1800 but that train has left the station, it would have to much better in specs than the D300 to exist at that price point
I hear your plea for innovation on Nikon's part but think that is coming. Agree that Sony is doing some interesting things.
you may not like the new retro camera but that appears to be an out of the box design and that might bode well for Nikon to do some more interesting things.
I am concerned about Nikon's commitment to their customers. The D600 and D800 could have been handled much better. And the customer service and turn around at repair centers seems to have been atrocious.
Anyway, keep taking your great images and good shooting and I hope you get your D400 soon and it is every thing you hoped for.
