What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

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NathanHamler
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p.1 #1 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

So part of me is STILL lusting after going full frame eventually, most ikely a d700 or d3....d700 's are still hovering at $1,800, yet i see D3's at $2,400...sure there are some cheaper on both sides, but which is really the better value here

I almost feel like it's the D3 at this point...i think i'd almost be inclined to pick up a D3 with 200k shots on it, and then pay $300 for a new shutter, than a D700 with 60k shots that someone still wants $1,800 for, which i think is still high...

Jul 11, 2012 at 07:39 PM

mfear
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p.1 #2 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

plenty of low-shutter d700s on the buy-sell forum for $1650

Jul 11, 2012 at 07:45 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #3 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

I think the D3 is the better value at these prices. Both still take great pics!

Jul 11, 2012 at 07:51 PM

JHsu
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p.1 #4 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

Considering that used products don't have any set price, I'd say the better deal is with whatever seller that offers the better deal. I, for one, have not seen D700 prices hovering around $1,800, at least not ones that've sold anyways. In that sense, it would appear as though buyers in the market do not perceive them to be of $1,800 in value. Personally, I'd say go with whichever one you really want rather than worry about the better deal, since despite their similarities the cameras do have their differences.

Jul 11, 2012 at 07:52 PM

SloPhoto
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p.1 #5 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

d3 without a doubt. They are silly cheap for such a wonderful camera.

Jul 11, 2012 at 10:17 PM

CGrindahl
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p.1 #6 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

I agree with the statement that what really matters is which camera suits your needs. Both take great photos. And lets not set up a straw man here. There was a D700 unopened in the box that sold for less than $1,800 last week. You should be able to get a low mileage camera for below $1700. But what do you want to be shooting with? The D3 is a full-sized professional camera with built-in grip at a hefty weight. The D700 is extremely well built, certainly to professional standards but in a smaller form factor. Personally, I went for the D700, but I learned shooting with a Canon 1D that my shoulder isn't happy when I'm carrying around a huge camera. Do you need a machine gun shutter response? Do you need the rugged build quality? If so, the D3 is clearly the way to go. Otherwise you'd doubtless enjoy the D700 a great deal and save a few dollars for new lenses.

Happy shopping!

Jul 11, 2012 at 10:31 PM

NathanHamler
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p.1 #7 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

CGrindahl wrote:
I agree with the statement that what really matters is which camera suits your needs. Both take great photos. And lets not set up a straw man here. There was a D700 unopened in the box that sold for less than $1,800 last week. You should be able to get a low mileage camera for below $1700. But what do you want to be shooting with? The D3 is a full-sized professional camera with built-in grip at a hefty weight. The D700 is extremely well built, certainly to professional standards but in a smaller form factor. Personally, I went for the D700, but I learned shooting with a Canon 1D that my shoulder isn't happy when I'm carrying around a huge camera. Do you need a machine gun shutter response? Do you need the rugged build quality? If so, the D3 is clearly the way to go. Otherwise you'd doubtless enjoy the D700 a great deal and save a few dollars for new lenses.

Happy shopping!

see i think you just read me like a book haha...i like the IDEA of the D3, just like i liked the IDEA of the D2x...i sold the D2x b/c it was frankly not the camera for me, not because of the weight, but for other reasons....HOWEVER, the thing was a tank...so prob not the camera for me to be lugging around a wedding for 10+ hours at a time!!

Jul 11, 2012 at 10:55 PM

jmcfadden
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p.1 #8 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

For me the choice was simple, I had a D3 since the day it came out, bought a D700 for backup on an important gig and decided to start using the D700 First and I never wnet back to the D3. Once the gig was over I sold the D3

YMMV

J

Jul 11, 2012 at 11:37 PM

VinnieJ
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p.1 #9 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

$1000 for the D700.....as soon as the D600 is released.

Jul 12, 2012 at 12:08 AM

mfear
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p.1 #10 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

VinnieJ wrote:
$1000 for the D700.....as soon as the D600 is released.

not a chance

Jul 12, 2012 at 12:21 AM

CGrindahl
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p.1 #11 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

VinnieJ wrote:
$1000 for the D700.....as soon as the D600 is released.

I'm not certain a cheaper, smaller FX camera would hold much appeal for me, even as the D800 has not convinced me it is time to switch from my faithful D700. I shot for a week with a D800 and as good as it was, it didn't lead me to rush out and place an order. I think you reckon without considering the affection with which that camera is held. I expect it will decline in value as all cameras do but I sincerely doubt the arrival of an FX camera in a D7000 body will mark a precipitous plunge in value. Of course, it doesn't really matter because I'll use the D700 until there is something that convinces me I need to switch cameras.

Jul 12, 2012 at 12:46 AM

Thang
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p.1 #12 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

for me, if you're going with the d3, might as well go for the d800. The price dif is "only" about $500. Otherwise, d700 might be a best bang for the buck. Tough decision huh?

GL.

Jul 12, 2012 at 12:56 AM

brett maxwell
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p.1 #13 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

I think the D3, but it really depends on what you shoot and what features you value. The D700 has a smaller/lighter body, popup flash (with commander ability), and sensor cleaner. The D3 has amazing build quality, 100% VF, higher frame rate, and dual cards. For me, the dual cards seals the deal for D3.

Jul 12, 2012 at 02:17 AM

niXer
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p.1 #14 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

I was faced with this decision and I went D3.

The D700 is great and all but after buying the grip + battery I'd still be left with a poor man's D3 without any of the real benefits that D3 offers over the D700. Plus the price wouldn't be that far off from a D3 anyways. Got a good deal on a D3 and haven't looked back, absolutely love it and it makes a great companion to my D7000.

Jul 12, 2012 at 02:30 AM

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #15 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

I personally like the larger cameras. I had a 1Ds for a few years and grew used to the weight and of course build. I have an F5 and will most likely pick up a D3 this fall/winter - especially if the price is right.

Jul 12, 2012 at 02:34 AM

jojomon11
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p.1 #16 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

Jul 12, 2012 at 03:24 AM

pbraymond
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p.1 #17 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

For build quality and features I would say the D3 is the better deal, especially if one intends to use a grip most of the time with a D700. I faced the same question when I got my D700 quite a while ago now, and even though I could have afforded the D3 I went with the D700. Factors included the ability to have a smaller and lighter DSLR for travel, the built in commander capable flash, and the ability to easily adjust focus point with the optional grip vs a long stretch to the D3's focus pad with my smallish hands. I biggest thing I missed from the D3 is the 100% viewfinder and (learned later the hard way) dual media slots.

Ray

Jul 12, 2012 at 03:32 AM

taob
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p.1 #18 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

niXer wrote:
The D700 is great and all but after buying the grip + battery I'd still be left with a poor man's D3 without any of the real benefits that D3 offers over the D700. Plus the price wouldn't be that far off from a D3 anyways.

But then you get all the benefits of the D700 that the D3 lacks as well, so it goes both ways. The information we don't have is how much value the OP places on each feature/benefit. I like that if I want to travel small and light, I can simply remove the grip from the D700. Can't do that with the D3. I like that I can do one-speedlight CLS with the D700's pop-up commander. Can't do that with the D3. I like how the D700 can take an EN-EL3e, an EN-EL4a, or even AA batteries in a pinch. Can't do that with the D3. I like how I can impress girls with the D700's virtual horizon... okay, the D3 can do that too.

Jul 12, 2012 at 03:55 AM

NathanHamler
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p.1 #19 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

taob wrote:
niXer wrote:
The D700 is great and all but after buying the grip + battery I'd still be left with a poor man's D3 without any of the real benefits that D3 offers over the D700. Plus the price wouldn't be that far off from a D3 anyways.

But then you get all the benefits of the D700 that the D3 lacks as well, so it goes both ways. The information we don't have is how much value the OP places on each feature/benefit. I like that if I want to travel small and light, I can simply remove the grip from the D700. Can't do that with the D3. I like that I can do one-speedlight CLS with the D700's pop-up commander. Can't do that with the D3. I like how the D700 can take an EN-EL3e, an EN-EL4a, or even AA batteries in a pinch. Can't do that with the D3. I like how I can impress girls with the D700's virtual horizon... okay, the D3 can do that too.

Jul 12, 2012 at 04:39 AM

niXer
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p.1 #20 · What's the better deal now? D3 or D700?

NathanHamler wrote:
taob wrote:
niXer wrote:
The D700 is great and all but after buying the grip + battery I'd still be left with a poor man's D3 without any of the real benefits that D3 offers over the D700. Plus the price wouldn't be that far off from a D3 anyways.

But then you get all the benefits of the D700 that the D3 lacks as well, so it goes both ways. The information we don't have is how much value the OP places on each feature/benefit. I like that if I want to travel small and light, I can simply remove the grip from the D700. Can't do that with the D3. I like that I can do one-speedlight CLS with the D700's pop-up commander. Can't do that with the D3. I like how the D700 can take an EN-EL3e, an EN-EL4a, or even AA batteries in a pinch. Can't do that with the D3. I like how I can impress girls with the D700's virtual horizon... okay, the D3 can do that too.

The OP might not care about any of the above, but really does want dual CF cards and 9 fps, in which case it might be worth the $800 premium. OTOH, it might be better putting that $800 towards some nice glass?

I really like dual card slots...have them in my D7000, and i dont really use it for the redundancy feature, but more for overflow so i dont have to worry about switching cards so often...i like the 100% VF too...I've got a D300 grip already, and D300 batteries (which both work with the D700)....so honestly i might just end up going D700....but we'll have to see....the move to FX is a whole nother animal....i gotta stay the same with my range of lenses...right now i just have a 55 ais, a 50 1.8, and a 70-200 VR that'll do FX...everything else is DX...which isn't TERRIBLE, b/c i'll still be using the D7000...but i gotta at least pick up a 17-35 or a 24-70 at the same time....so i guess there goes the D3 idea!! haha

I wouldn't say you HAVE to pick up a 24-70. I originally was going to sell off my 17-55 for a 28-70/24-70 but held off for now as the 17-55 and D7000 is an amazing combo and I don't mind the loss of reach for what I shoot with my 70-200mm on my D3.

I did get an N70 that came with a cheapo SUPER PLASTIC 28-80mm f/3.5-6 and it works as a wide on my D3 in a pinch. Really D3 + D7000 is a great combo, I say just got for it. Money can be made later for lenses or yeah you could wait and sure prices may go down but the wear and shutter counts just keep going up.

Jul 12, 2012 at 04:44 AM

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