D700 vs D3

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D700 vs D3

thursdaylsr
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p.1 #1 · D700 vs D3

So I bought a D700 a few weeks ago, already put about 6000 shots on it and I absolutely love it. The problem with that 6000 shots is well, my D700 is rated for 150k and the next camera up (D3) is rated for 300K. I could care less about the settings and differences between the two other than the shot count difference. I'm really just curious: DOES THE D700 SHUTTER HOLD UP AS WELL AS THE D3...

This is all I want to know. I'm looking to Trench and a few other regs to answer this. I'm a skilled enough photog that I can make a D700/7000/5200/akjf;lksdjf;lkdajs whatever you want look the same under 6400. All I want to know is if the D3 has seriously proven to last longer than the D700.

ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS IN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HAS YOUR D700 LASTED AS LONG AS YOUR D3

Jan 20, 2013 at 02:53 AM

workerdrone
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p.1 #2 · D700 vs D3

Is this a serious question? The D3 is a pro body, so odds are it should last longer and take more of a beating than a non-pro body. And a shutter can easily fail at 1,000 cycles or 100,000. And is cheap to replace. Why worry about something that you'll likely never have to deal with, just buy the camera you like best and can afford.

Edited on Jan 20, 2013 at 03:04 AM · View previous versions

Jan 20, 2013 at 03:03 AM

M635_Guy
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p.1 #3 · D700 vs D3

The shutter isn't expensive to replace, and some last well beyond their rating. Don't worry about it...

Jan 20, 2013 at 03:03 AM

thursdaylsr
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p.1 #4 · D700 vs D3

Yes it's a real question.. Essentially I'm seeing is it worthwhile to pay the extra amount (equivalent to the amount of a new shutter+some) and go expect a much longer life.

Edit: I apologize (as I roll my eyes) for the db question, I would really like to know from people that were personal users 'was it actually worth the extra couple'

Jan 20, 2013 at 03:08 AM

Grantland
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p.1 #5 · D700 vs D3

i have shot both.

if it is your main body i would get a D3.

Jan 20, 2013 at 03:36 AM

NathanHamler
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p.1 #6 · D700 vs D3

There was a D3 on here a while back with like 742,000 shots on the shutter and still going strong!! That being said, most d3's you find for sale, will generally have more shots than the average d700...9-11fps adds up quick haha...i just bought one (d3) with 250k on it, and i'm not sweating it...between $300 and $500 to replace the shutter..not too bad if you get a deal to begin with!!

Jan 20, 2013 at 04:05 AM

zesto
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p.1 #7 · D700 vs D3

Recently sold a D3 with under 16,000 on it to sports pro who wanted to have a another backup for his D3 backup that had done 665,000 and was still going. Yet, I had a friend who's D3 shutter failed at 43,000.

I doubt whether you'd ever get close to the D700's expected shutter life of 150,000 with non pro use.

Jan 20, 2013 at 05:01 AM

BenV
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p.1 #8 · D700 vs D3

A used D700 is $1400. A used D3 is $2000. How much does a shutter replacement cost? $400ish. I've laid out the basics, you do the math.

As to your question....it really is a common sense. As to which will last longer.

Jan 20, 2013 at 05:07 AM

patricksmith04
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p.1 #9 · D700 vs D3

The amount of releases on a camera is not the only variable that can cause problem. In most cases it is the environment in which the equipment is used and that causes problems, not the amount is has been used.

Jan 20, 2013 at 12:11 PM

tonyc90
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p.1 #10 · D700 vs D3

thursdaylsr wrote:
So I bought a D700 a few weeks ago, already put about 6000 shots on it and I absolutely love it. The problem with that 6000 shots is well, my D700 is rated for 150k and the next camera up (D3) is rated for 300K. I could care less about the settings and differences between the two other than the shot count difference. I'm really just curious: DOES THE D700 SHUTTER HOLD UP AS WELL AS THE D3...

This is all I want to know. I'm looking to Trench and a few other regs to answer this. I'm a skilled enough photog that I can make a D700/7000/5200/akjf;lksdjf;lkdajs whatever you want look the same under 6400. All I want to know is if the D3 has seriously proven to last longer than the D700.

ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS IN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HAS YOUR D700 LASTED AS LONG AS YOUR D3

Still currently using both D3 and D700, they have 110k and 90k actuations respectively. Odds are they will last as long as I own the cameras. If they ever need a new shutter, it can be replaced for a few hundred dollars. I utilize more than one camera. If one fails and goes to the shop, there's another one to take its place. In theory the D3 will last longer. Theory and practice don't always agree. Like an other mechanical part, it could fail early in life, it could go on for decades. Knock on wood, have yet to have a shutter totally fail.

In almost 30 years of using Nikon gear, shutter life is one of the last criteria I have used for body selection. Other factors such as overall handling, synch speed, TTL, AF capabilities, and now in the digital age, dual card slots, dynamic range and noise performance are more important to me.

Jan 20, 2013 at 12:32 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #11 · D700 vs D3

Hi Justin, I'm still shootin' with both.

The D3 was built for the long haul. Buying used you probably won't know
the way they've been handled, but I'd expect with similar use...the flagship would outlast the D700. The shutter
sound alone, might be enough to win you over. GL

Jan 20, 2013 at 12:43 PM

Storm300
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p.1 #12 · D700 vs D3

I also own both... bought both brand new and put both through pretty rough environmental conditions over the past several years. Storm photography is my main subject with these cameras, and while the actuations are not all that high (D3=25,000 D700=14,000), I have put both these cameras through some big time dust, rain, dramatic humidity fluctuations, etc.. and they're still going strong. I don't expect either camera to falter anytime soon, especially the D3 and it's weather sealed pro body. I hope to have this camera for a long, long time photographing storms! What a tank.

Mike U

Jan 20, 2013 at 02:34 PM

M635_Guy
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p.1 #13 · D700 vs D3

thursdaylsr wrote:
Yes it's a real question.. Essentially I'm seeing is it worthwhile to pay the extra amount (equivalent to the amount of a new shutter+some) and go expect a much longer life.

Edit: I apologize (as I roll my eyes) for the db question, I would really like to know from people that were personal users 'was it actually worth the extra couple'

I think you've got a case of the jitters. Don't worry about shutter count. Spend the extra ~$600 on a nice lens and worry about the shutter if/when it is an issue. I've seen several D700's here on the B&S with well over 200K clicks. I've seen D3/D3s failures at 75K. The rating is just that - a rating. There is no guarantee.

Also consider that the D700 weighs a lot less than the D3 and has a couple of other small advantage (sensor cleaning, etc.).

There are plenty of wedding photographers and other pros running around with D700's putting thousands of clicks per shoot. I doubt they are worrying about shutter life. It is a cheap and easy fix if/when it happens.

(sorry if this post sounds terse - not intended that way)

Jan 21, 2013 at 01:29 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #14 · D700 vs D3

Also consider that the D700 weighs a lot less than the D3
Ahh, but by the time you add a grip to get 8 fps...it'll be slightly larger AND heavier than the D3

Jan 21, 2013 at 01:42 PM

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