My fascination with photography began at a young age. Growing up poor in the south, my first exposure to cameras came in the early 70's with the Polaroid Swinger camera. I became enthralled with this amazing technology, the sleek white body and film that developed in your hand...instant gratification, the sign of things to come. I have always been drawn to the creative process with regards to photography. Although not trained as a professional, I took classes at a local comunity college to understand the process of film, light, exposure and processing. I collected old cameras (Brownies, Duoflex etc) for a while and my first "real" camera was a Pentax ME Super. I shot B&W and processed in my own basement darkroom, eventually learning color processing and the variations of temperature with regards to processing. In photography, digital will never come close to the thrill in developing your own film, making the exposure calculations and using your enlarger to capture the image on paper and watching the image appear in the developer.

I grew into various Nikon and Canon 35mm film cameras and as I got busier with my career and family I sat the latest camera down and technology started moving quickly past me. I eventually re-discovered my passion for photography as my children grew and I wanted to get back in to it. At that time, digital cameras were in their infancy and I purchased a Sony DSC1 P&S camera for the whopping amount of $400. It had 600X480 resoultion and internal memory that would only allow you to shoot about 10 images but the technology was amazing as you could load these images on your computer and eliminate film...woo hoo...instant gratification.....fast forward...after many P&S digital cameras and hating the lag time for the shutters, I started exploring the modern DSLRs. Technology had made tremendous leaps in just a few years and I found myself looking at a brand spanking new Nikon D40X kit camera in Costco. I made the impulse purchase and jumped in feet first. Actually got my first published photo with that camera but quickly outgrew it and started looking around for the latest, greatest DSlR. I discovered that Nikon was going to be releasing a new D300 model around Thanksgiving 2007. The more I researched, the more I saw the beauty in wanting to have this camera...notice I say beauty in "Wanting" to have this camera. I was lucky and got the D300 as it was released and have enjoyed it immensely. I wanted the D3 but could not justify the cost for such an expensive hobby, my cycling hobby is more expensive than the photo hobby. So after having the D300 for 8 months and really getting to know the camera and the different menus and creative menus, I discover that Nikon is releasing a full frame (FX) camera that bridges the gap between the D3- FX and the D300- DX processors...oh my, what to do? My first impulse is, "I have to have one". I can afford this now but I have to ask myself, will it help me in my quest to be a better photographer or do I want this just because it is the latest and greatest? I contemplated selling the D300 body and standing in line for the D700. At the same time I was contemplating getting a new Iphone 3G. As I have tried to get the Iphone and seeing how HYPE sells, I decided to look at where I am with regards to my growth in photography. Have I outgrown and learned how to use the D300 to the best of my ability? The answer was "NO". I decided that for the time being, I would not allow myself to be caught up in the hype to once again stand in line just to have the latest in technology for bragging rights. The D300 produces amazing photographs just like the D80, D70, D40 and D40X, D200 etc. I have decided to wait out this latest, greatest camera in hope of understanding the D300 and where my limits are. Good luck to those of you that get the newest D700 and I look forward to watching the progress of your shots.

A Bike can save your life!
www.pixeljuicephotos.com

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Thanks for the story,nice to see that you have been thinking . I dident buy the D300 for the same reason why you dont want the D700. I really cant justify buying every new model. I got the D200 and to be honest i have not outgrown it and i dont think i ever will cuz then i would be able to make perfect exposures every time with it.
I notise the same hype in flyfishing,every year SAGE and other manufactors make the newest rods with the newest carbon-fiber. Now i got 15 sage flyrods from #3 to #12 and thats expensive,trust me.
But when i start to think about it i keep telling myself thats its a hobby and many people are buying boats and cars and so on,just to justify my own needs.
When all that is said, i really like to buy the D700 or even the D3.
And when i got one of these great bodies,then i might be lucky to be rid of NAS for good.
Dont you think so ?

Regards
Nikolaj Freiesleben
The diffrence of kids and adults toys is only the price.

Good post. So many people have more money than ability. In the UK we call them 'All the gear, no idea'.

You need a camera that is somewhat better than you, but spending Ks because you think it will make you a better photographer is vanity at best. I plan to move from D200 to D700 not so much for the full frame, but the outstanding low light performance as I frequently work in churches.

John
www.blokewithacamera.co.uk

I don't think we ever get rid of NAS, ha ha, nice thought though.

A Bike can save your life!
www.pixeljuicephotos.com

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It is nice to hear that you had the constraint to avoid the hype; I have been waiting awhile also in hopes of making a good decision as to when to jump into the dslr market. I have been squirreling up all my money in hopes of a full frame dslr and the D700 fits the bill perfectly. Going from a F100 to the D700 should be very exciting.
Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Nikon F100
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF
Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 AF
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D AF
Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.6D AF
Nikon SB-28DX

Very sound reasoning ShakenBake. I admire your resolve in avoiding NAS.

My history in photography is similar to yours. My first camera was at age 7, I believe it used 110 size film (remember flash cubes?).

I have lusted after an Fx Nikon since the D1. I avoided Dx lenses even though Nikon and their dealers insisted, until about a year and a half ago, that they would NEVER make a full frame DSLR. The only Dx lens I own is a Tokina 12-24.

Anyways, being a D200 shooter and having avoided NAS for the D300/D3 generation, the D700 is irresistable. Wide at 24mm, 35mm format depth of field, low light capabilities, and D200/D300 size were enough to overwhelm any resistance to NAS I thought I had. I'm first on the list at my local dealer (paid a $660 deposit for the priveledge) and am like a kid at Christmas waiting for the arrival of my new toy.

Will I take better photos? Probably not. The D200 is an amazing camera that produces excellent photos when used within its limits.

I have, however, hit the limits of what I can do with the D200 many times and look forward to the capabilities of my new D700. If not better pictures then at least I can look forward to more opportunities for getting the shot I want.

Thank you Nikon.


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I never have taken a picture I've intended. They're always better or worse. - Diane Arbus

It's interesting how different cameras suit different people's needs. I have been waiting for a while, holding on to my D70, for a camera EXACTLY like the D700. There are some who want a 24 megapixel FX camera and don't want a 12 mp D700. I'm the opposite. I would have no need for that much resolution or print size. I don't have the computing power or computer memory for files that big. I don't want to lose the ISO performance or frame rate of the D700. The D700 is perfect for me and I am glad that I waited past the D300 release to see an FX camera that fits me perfectly.

On the other hand, I have definitely outgrown my D70. The viewfinder, the speed, the LCD, the image adjustments, the white balance, the auto-focus, the jpeg quality all leave me wanting much more and technically I am beyond that camera now.

Flub

Please vivit my photo-centric blog: www.shutterblogger.blogspot.com

Well said, Flub. I agree 100%. The D700 should be a body that will satisfy me for many years, at least enough to skip the next generation or two of Nikon Fx cameras.

It seems that the largest market for the D700 is going to be those of us who skipped the D300/D3 models. Part of Nikon's master plan?

What an excellent marketing strategy; release 2 superb new camera bodies in late 2007 and then when the dust settles throw in another (the D700) to catch the hold-outs.


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I never have taken a picture I've intended. They're always better or worse. - Diane Arbus

>It's interesting how different cameras suit different
>people's needs. I have been waiting for a while, holding on
>to my D70, for a camera EXACTLY like the D700. There are some
>who want a 24 megapixel FX camera and don't want a 12 mp D700.
> I'm the opposite. I would have no need for that much
>resolution or print size. I don't have the computing power or
>computer memory for files that big. I don't want to lose the
>ISO performance or frame rate of the D700. The D700 is
>perfect for me and I am glad that I waited past the D300
>release to see an FX camera that fits me perfectly.
>
>On the other hand, I have definitely outgrown my D70. The
>viewfinder, the speed, the LCD, the image adjustments, the
>white balance, the auto-focus, the jpeg quality all leave me
>wanting much more and technically I am beyond that camera
>now.
>
>

I couldn't agree more. This is exactly the situation that I am in, since I also have held on to my D70 pending something exactly like the D700.

Even the name seems perfect, just adding a "0" to the end of D70!

Boy, do I ever remember flash cubes and the 1 shot disposal flash bulbs. Thank goodnes I don't remember flash powder...yikes!

A Bike can save your life!
www.pixeljuicephotos.com

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Nice post - in your first paragraph replace Pentax ME Super with Olympus OM-2n and it sounds like my own photographic history. And your reference to cycling: There is also something like NAS when it comes to cycling. In my case it was called CAS (Cannondale....) and I knew very well that the even ligher road bike frame would not make me faster or a better cyclist, but still I wanted it. It is just awesome to lift an ultralight bike...

Back to our photography: Like you intend to leave out the D700 (I hope for you that you will succeed, but NAS can hit in quite hard), I left out the D300 hoping for a less expensive low light full frame (I love 14mm) alternative to the D3. Now that the D700 is here, I am tempted, even though I currently enjoy the challenge to max out the D200 capabilities with carefully chosen low light exposure plus Aperture 2 and Noise Ninja (with good results!) - still, I'm thinking about the D700.

Enjoy your D300 and I really agree with what has been said before: In many cases the gear does not matter, in fact I took quite a number of great shots with a low spec Casio P&S just because I carried it in my pocket when I would never have taken the big one with me...

Oliver

As long as one has children, one always has a justification to pass cameras on down the line. They are thrilled with a D70 and the next in line with the D200.

>As long as one has children, one always has a justification
>to pass cameras on down the line. They are thrilled with a
>D70 and the next in line with the D200.


Agreed, I think I am going to be handing down my D40x kit to my son this weekend in Colorado.

A Bike can save your life!
www.pixeljuicephotos.com

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Now that I'm on the downhill side of my 50's, I realize that no bike is going to get me back to the performance I once could achieve. That has tempered my BAS. (Although every time I tour on my 20-year-old bike, I think about replacing it.) Unfortunately, I still suffer from the illusion that a better camera will net me better images.

OT: My steel 2001 Lemond Buenos Aires frame broke about a week ago -- after about 8,000 miles of riding the weld on the chainstay at the dropout just came apart. Fortunately, there is a lifetime warranty on the frames, and the bike shop called yesterday to tell me that Lemond/Trek wants to replace the frame with a new one -- which is CF. Pretty cool. It's as though Nikon replaced a broken D1 with a D3. (We can only wish!)

-- Jon
Wethersfield, CT, USA
Connecticut High School Sports Photos

I waited 15 years to replace my 1991 aluminum Trek with a CF one in 2006 (actually, my wife did it for my 50th bd). I was amazed as the difference - you will be too, I'm sure. enjoy
lee
From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse, the going up was worth the coming down

Speaking of replacing cameras: When my Olympus OM 4 Ti needed a service (constant over-exposure) after using it for 7 years, the same problem appeared only 6 months later. Guess what: Olympus Germany gave me a brand new OM 4Ti for free without me even asking or complaining...

So congrats to your new frame - enjoy!

Oliver

>Now that I'm on the downhill side of my 50's, I realize that
>no bike is going to get me back to the performance I once
>could achieve. That has tempered my BAS. (Although every time
>I tour on my 20-year-old bike, I think about replacing it.)
>Unfortunately, I still suffer from the illusion that a better
>camera will net me better images.
>
>OT: My steel 2001 Lemond Buenos Aires frame broke about a week
>ago -- after about 8,000 miles of riding the weld on the
>chainstay at the dropout just came apart. Fortunately, there
>is a lifetime warranty on the frames, and the bike shop called
>yesterday to tell me that Lemond/Trek wants to replace the
>frame with a new one -- which is CF. Pretty cool. It's as
>though Nikon replaced a broken D1 with a D3. (We can only
>wish!)
>


Good customer service. I'm still riding a 13yr old Eddie Merckx Titanium frame (built by Litespeed) with Campy Chorus/Record gruppo. My Mtn Bikes have kept more updated as I still race and need the performance and technology of the newer bikes. My race bike this year is a CF Specialized S Works Epic that comes in at 22.3 lbs for full suspension. My road bike is 19lbs but the Specialized feels faster...CF is awesome.

A Bike can save your life!
www.pixeljuicephotos.com

My Nikonians gallery

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

I ordered D700. I like the camera the first minute when it come out.

But know sice I'm reading some reviews , post I get more and more feeling that I will stay with my D300 for a while and wait for next FX in small body.

Regards

Kind regards,
Cayzi