I have the money for both and a new PC, BUT do not want to spend that much money. The new PC is going to happen this year. The D800 can happen or instead get the 85/1.4G lens! I have wanted an 85/1.4 prime for long before I ever got a D200! Now I am willing to spend the money, but it is out of stock everywhere.

The D800 may be in stock before the lens is ever in stock, but I can see myself getting both anyway.

Imagine the low ISO capability of the D800 and an 85/1.4 when compared to my D200 and a 28-70/2.8 lens! I can see high school prom pictures happening with little to no flash.

Maybe I should sell my 20/2.8 and 24/2.8 AF lenses since I use the 17-35/2.8 instead. I can also sell my 105/2.8 AF micro as I have the newer VR version. They won't pay for the 85/1.4G, but they will give additional funds to it. I can't get myself to sell the 28-105 zoom lens I have as it seems like a classic. I can see myself selling my 70-300 AF lens! Selling those lenses would give me:

17-35/2.8 AFS
28-70/2.8 AFS
80-200/2.8 AFS
28-105/3.5-4.5 AF

50/1.4 AF
85/1.4G AFS (after purchase)
105/2.8G AFS VR Micro
200/4 AF Micro
300/4 AFS

Those seem like good matches for a D800!

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

Mark

In your case, I'd go for the D800. If you had a D700 or even a D7000 it might be a different story, but you are going to gain at least 3 to 4 stops of "low light, high ISO" capabilities. I've never owned a D200, but I assume that the maximum useful ISO is right around 400.

Also, all your lenses are FX, so the change won't be that expensive.

Assuming that the 85mm focal length that you were going to get with the new lens is a priority, the FX format is going to give your 105 a similar field of view. You already own enough lenses at the long end, so that combined with the additional MPs leaves the "reach" issue out of the picture. And, you would gain a huge advantage at the wide end of the spectrum.

jP

I think with the D800, you might start to see some issues with the older lens designs. I'd probably do the D800 first (along with the new computer... lol) and see what lenses you like with that body. The 28-105 will probably start to show it's issues at such high resolution (as I'm guessing my 24-85 will...)

The 85 1.4g is an indulgence you can probably wait on. I'm seeing the 85 1.4D going used in the ~$900 range. That would seem to more closely follow the "bang for the buck" lens choices you've already made. (I tend to go that direction, as well...)

Sounds like a fun "problem" to solve, regardless!

D700 l N90s l AF-S 16-35 f4 l AF-S 24-85 f3.5-f4.5G VR l AF-S 70-200 f2.8G VRII l AF-S 50 f1.8G l AF-S 300 f4 l TC-14EII l 2x SB600 l Autometer IIIF.
https://www.facebook.com/tony.johnson.photography
http://www.eyesonboulder.com
My Nikonians Gallery

So it sounds like the recommendation is to keep the lenses I have, except the duplicate 105/2.8 micro and get a D800.

The new PC will happen not because of the D800 exclusively, but because we are still using the PC I built 8 or 9 years ago with Windows XP Pro.

I am concerned if I drop $3,000 on a D800 and find the majority of my lenses have issues as I only have one newer lens. The wider primes, 28-105 and 70-300 are most likely to have issues.

Regarding the 85/1.4, I use the 50/1.4 now to get the view I want with a D200, so the 85/1.4 would do the same for me with an FX CCD. It may be out of stock for a really long time, so it really could be a much later purchase.

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

You could also consider the new 85 1.8g as a stop gap measure. Availability should be better in a few months. You can always resell when you find a 1.4g. I think most of your lenses will be fine with the D800. The beast and the 17-35 should be excellent.

D700 l N90s l AF-S 16-35 f4 l AF-S 24-85 f3.5-f4.5G VR l AF-S 70-200 f2.8G VRII l AF-S 50 f1.8G l AF-S 300 f4 l TC-14EII l 2x SB600 l Autometer IIIF.
https://www.facebook.com/tony.johnson.photography
http://www.eyesonboulder.com
My Nikonians Gallery

>The wider primes, "AND THE" 28-105 and 70-300 are most likely to have issues.

Since no one has a D800 yet it's hard to guess or predict whether or not you are going to have any problems. You have a fair amount of duplication in your lens lineup, so I doubt that you are going to be lacking at either end of the focal length spectrum, or in the middle. I hadn't used my 28-105 for years, but I put it on my D700 about 2 years ago and then on my D3s and have been using it ever since without complaint, other than the fact that it's slow. It's a nice walk-around lens.

The 20 2.8 should be ok. It has serious vignetting problems until about 5.6 on full frame, but is otherwise a good quality lens. I sold mine.

I don't know anything about the 24 12.8.

Good Luck,

jP

The duplication is why I might sell some lenses. I used them all on an F100 and F5 before the D200 and I agree about vignetting at wider apertures with the 20/2.8 AF. The 20/2.8 and 24/2.8 don't buy me much over my 17-35/2.8, while the 50/1.4 does buy me two extra stops.

The D800 is definitely one that I plan on getting.

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

Mark

If you haven't already, read this new and ongoing thread.


http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=226&topic_id=37954&mesg_id=37954&page

Nice read on the development of the D800! Thanks!

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

You could save yourself a few hundred dollars by getting an 85 f/2.8 AF-D version instead of the "G". I have the "D" and think it's great. Recently, I've seen a couple of copies for sale on the Nikonians site in the $900 range.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Did you mean 85/1.4? I know $900 is too much for the 85/1.8 D and I don't know of an 85/2.8.

Shoot nature with respect and don't trample it or startle its inhabitants.

I meant 85/f1.4. I often read these posts while having my first cup of coffee in the morning. Obviously, I shouldn't write until the second cup. I have the 85/f1.4 D and think it's great. I bought it after the "G" version was released at a reduced price. In my view, the lens lives up to its reputation. However, I also appreciate now that some have said they prefer a longer lens for greater working distance. To fill the FX frame for a headshot with an 85mm lens puts you pretty close in.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Nikon's version of the 85 1.4G is not getting such good reviews for its high price range, so I opted for Sigma's 85 1.4 and find it to be of excellent quality. Save a buck and you may be able to do both!

Paul
A Toronto Nikonian
http://www.modelmayhem.com/267869

>Nikon's version of the 85 1.4G is not getting such good
>reviews for its high price range, so I opted for Sigma's 85
>1.4 and find it to be of excellent quality. Save a buck and
>you may be able to do both!
>
>Paul
>A Toronto Nikonian
>http://www.modelmayhem.com/267869

I had an 85 1.4D and after trying the Sigma 85 1.4, sold the older Nikkor for about the amount I paid for the Sigma. Both worked well on my D7000 and D700 bodies but the Sigma was faster to focus and a bit quieter in operation.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.