I am in the planning stages of moving to an FX camera. Previously I was all about the D700, because I had used one and really was pleased with my results with it versus my D300. The other factor was price. Since the D4 arrived, I am seeing much less of a acquisition price spread between the two. Do you think the decision is as easy as it was three months ago?
all the best,
randy

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Hi Randy,

I don't think you are telling us enough about your needs, either here or in your apparently out of date or incomplete equipment profile.

The D3 and D700 have about the same low light capability but the D3s is thought to be good for another stop or so.

The D3 and D3s are said to have somewhat better AF, but that would only be useful if you are shooting very difficult fast moving subjects. If you shoot a lot of sports and focus yield is a big issue that might be a consideration. I think you will find an improvement there with the D700 over your current D300. I have no opinion on that benefits you might get from the D3/D3s over the D700 because I've never owned one.

The D3 can fire off a few more frames per second (assuming you use an MB-D10 on the D300). Do you need that? Is 8 not enough?

The D700 has a pop-up flash, which you would give up. Personally I don't use it very often for a lot of reasons but it can be very handy and carrying a speedlight can be a hassle, depending on needs. Do you use your D300 pop up flash very often?

The two cameras have very different form factors and where benefits like AF performance are fuzzy and ill-defined, the form factor is a big thing and obvious. Which is better is not so obvious....

If you own an MB-D10 that should affect the decision. If you always use an MB-D10 then I think the integrated D3 grip makes a big difference. It is more stable on a tripod, and without the additional electrical connections that, at least in principle, can possibly create reliability issues although we don't see that discussed too often. The integrated D3 grip results in a very different shooting controls setup, with the additional LCD screen on the back. Sometimes I miss that setup on my D2h but it's not something that actually makes a difference in my images and therefore I would not pick a camera based on that (your mileage may vary).

If you don't own an MB-D10 or especially if you take it off from time to time to make for a more streamlined body then you need to think that part through. I have a D300, D700 and a retired D2h so I appreciate the ability to slim down to a grip-less configuration. Being forced to incorporate a grip would narrow down my camera bag options. I don't consider an integrated grip necessarily better, but a different feature set and different people will judge that differently depending on needs.

You list a D2h in your profile so you should have some defined opinions on the two grip options and your relative needs.

The D3s offers some video capability but if that is valuable you would have to step up to that model and that may change the price spread.

Personally I would like video on one of my cameras, for very occasional use, and I would like a little better high ISO performance although really in most cases the D700 is more than good enough in that regard. I would like a little better AF than my D700 but the D700 is quite good in that area, I think better than the D300 in real world performance. But my needs for better AF than the D700 provides would be limited strictly to birds in flight, I think. For just about anything else the D700 delivers perfect focus almost all the time. That's just how I evaluate that against my own needs.

There are other differences and benefits in the D3 series but for the most part they aren't things I would throw a lot of money at. And if I did step up to a D3s I would definitely miss the smaller form factor of the basic D700 in many cases, and probably in more cases than the incremental benefits of the D3s might actually benefit my images.

_________________________________
Neil
Nikonians Team
My Gallery

Neil,
Thanks for your thoughts. Other than a couple MISC items I just added, my profile is actually up to date. I previously had a D300 and saved the MB-D10 when I sold it. While it was a big improvement under the High School football lights over my D2h, I was never really happy with the D300 night time shots. I am thrilled with my D2h for day time sports. I love the AF performance and the frame rate is really a nice feature. Unfortunately I just do not care for the D2h at night time or indoors in gyms where my kids play now. My oldest son graduated and his football days are over. My next boy will not be under lights for about four more years. The shooting I do in gymns now is with my D90. I do miss the frame rate and AF performance there.

I am a big guy and love the way the D2h fits my hand. I liked the D300 with a grip and rarely took it off. My wife will keep the smaller body of a d90.

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Hi Randy,

I believe the D700 will easily equal or beat the D2h AF. And the D700 has the advantage of more and tightly spaced sensors, which makes framing easier in single sensor mode and a generally more sensible multi-sensor mode. As much as I enjoyed shooting dynamic subjects with the D2h, I could never go back. And with the MB-D10 the frame rate is identical.

And, of course, the low light performance is light years ahead.

I think you will like either choice

_________________________________
Neil
Nikonians Team
My Gallery

These kinds of decisions are NEVER easy. I drooled for a D3 when they appeared, as I still retained all of my lenses from my F5 days. But the $5+ grand tag was out of reach then. When the D700 appeared at half the cost, it answered my needs for IQ and low light shooting. Then I added another D700 to my bag. The total still came in under one D3. When one D700 needed loving care by Nikon, I still had the other one.

-- 2 D700's = 1 D3 in cost
-- I have a back up in the bag!

That was my logic, and I still love the D700s.

Alan
Waterloo, IL, USA
www.proimagingmidamerica.com

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