Thinking about doing this. I'd pocket the approximately $1000 difference, maybe put that money towards some new glass, or simply save it. I shoot with a 24 1.4G and an 80-200mm f/2.8D combo for weddings and portraiture.
D3s has served me amazingly, and I love the hi-ISO capabilities and how clean the images look, but seeing the extreme detail of some of these sample D800 images is making me think about the switch. Also, With fast glass (1.4 on the 24mm, and 2.8 otherwise) I find myself using nothing above ISO 6400, which the D800 tops out at natively and expands beyond.
You know, a very good friend of mine sold his D3 when the D700 came out, and he was quite happy downsizing to a smaller body with similar spec's. But in this case, you would be going to a smalller body with more spec's. Interesting. ISO and pro build I guess is the only difference between the D3s and D800/E
which points out what i am curious about, which is how is the market going to maintain the $6k price tag for the d4? seems pretty far out of line for the added value you get relative to the d800...but it is the 'flagship'. the d800 is really well priced imo.
Like you said, you DON'T find yourself exceeding ISO 6400 and therefore... limit the potentials of that D3s. Do it and yourself a favor by allocating the D3s body to an owner who will GLADLY enable its features. By doing that as well, you reinstate yourself with a camera much more "suitable" for your needs and style of photography... not to mention benefitting by attaining some more glass.
I couldn't see myself doing it unless the D800 offers a reduced resolution raw format in FX mode. (aka sRAW). I would not enjoy editing 3K 36mp RAW files from a wedding and jpgs aren't an option. The 1.2x and 1.5x crop modes are not the solution.
That's the other thing to consider - files that huge will take a tremendous amount of time to view, process, and export. Could require a whole new computer set up to be honest, which would probably run me that $1000 saved, as well as new cards to hold all that data.
Jammy Straub wrote:
I couldn't see myself doing it unless the D800 offers a reduced resolution raw format in FX mode. (aka sRAW). I would not enjoy editing 3K 36mp RAW files from a wedding and jpgs aren't an option. The 1.2x and 1.5x crop modes are not the solution.
It does indeed my friend. There are large, medium and small FX format options giving 36mp, 20mp and 9mp.
The D800 and D3s are directed to completely different types of photography. I have a D800E preordered however I would not use it as my main body at most races I shoot, water shows, air shows/ air to air, BIF, etc. That is where my D3s shines. It can be very frustrating to fill your buffer but the D3s will out perform the D800 in sports venues or action type scenarios based on the specs. Many wedding photographers are using the D3s I'm sure for the high ISO but many also wished for higher resolution and now they have the best on the market for a fair price.
If you are not using your D3s for this or have not wished for the extra speed of the D4 then the D800 might be your ticket. Weddings seem to be perfect for the D800 as well as landscape and studio work. I was pleasantly surprised at the price the D800 came in at, I was expecting it to be more considering the increase over the past few years.
I believe those are only for JPGs, I'd very much like to be wrong. The image size listing looks very similar to what they have on the D700's spec sheets and we know it only offers one RAW size.
The D3S is an amazing camera. Before all this talk about D4 and D800 we all know the D3S was the best camera on the market. It could see in the dark. I wouldn't consider trading the D3S for the D800 but rather see what other old camera gear I could sell to also buy a D800. Have some lenses you aren't using or an older body that doesn't hold a candle to the D3S/D800? Sell those! I mean most wedding photographers have 2 bodies, so make both of them really good. *cough 2 words* Business Expense
fusiongt wrote:
The D3S is an amazing camera. Before all this talk about D4 and D800 we all know the D3S was the best camera on the market. It could see in the dark. I wouldn't consider trading the D3S for the D800 but rather see what other old camera gear I could sell to also buy a D800. Have some lenses you aren't using or an older body that doesn't hold a candle to the D3S/D800? Sell those! I mean most wedding photographers have 2 bodies, so make both of them really good. *cough 2 words* Business Expense
Why do that!? I already sold my car and house . Now thats... LOYALTY lol.
I have a D3S and I would not sell it to buy a D800. I do a lot of bird and wildlife photography under low light and that is why I like the D3s. I may buy a D800 as a second body but I am concerned that the RAW files will be pretty big with a 36MP sensor. And I want to read about IQ using a sensor of 36MP before considering the D800. Anyway, at some point after the summer I will get a second camera (I sold my D300 and D700 last year) and it could be a D800 or a D4.
I have to say there was nothing I really wanted in a 36 mp camera. I just don't see myself wanting to print that large that often. There is the pain of post processing, buying large cards, forget working on the laptop. What would that camera offer me
Well, reach with my long lenses. The same pixel density as the D7000 leads me to the same crop dimensions. I was going to buy up someones D300 when the D400 is anounced, but that crop flexability has me thinking.
I'm not going to get rid of my D3s. It does too many things well to wash out of that camera. The question is what to back it up with. The D800 would be a heck of a landscape camera, as well as the pixel density to crop wildlife shots with the 600 f4.
I'm pretty sure rational thought will lead me to a crop backup at much lower cost, but I have to admit Nikon has positioned the D800 to get me thinking of one when I didn't think I would.
I have a D4 on pre-order and this doesn't change a single thing for me, it will not replace either my D3s or the upcoming D4... People are going to find out quickly that their technique is going to need to change with this camera.
. Now thats... LOYALTY lol.
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