in the past, i have used a d80 and also a Canon 7d. last spring i sold the 7d to try my hand at rangefinder/film photography (using an Leica m6).
i'm now in the process of liquidating all of my Leica stuff, and want to get a FF SLR in short order.
at the start of the year, i commenced a 366 project. for the time being, i have used a ricoh GRDiii, because it's the best digital camera i have at the moment.
over christmas, i tried out a 5d mark 2 + 24-105, but i just didn't feel comfortable with it, so i returned it. a part of me wanted to hold out for whatever Nikon may offer, and then choose accordingly.
here is my dilemma: i want an SLR as soon as i can get one. i have money burning a hole in my pocket. if i go with Canon, i can get something pretty current right now. i could easily get a 5d + 35L, plus maybe a 50mm, which would keep me within my price range.
conversely, if i go with Nikon (either d700 or its successor), the body and similar lens would cost (significantly) more. although its not the end of the world, it concerns me a little.
so do i just compromise, learn the canon system and buy now? or wait, excruciatingly, until the nikon equivalent comes out? i realize the hypothetical nature of this question, as the Nikon is currently unknown.
How much money have you lost switching systems and rebuying? How much time have you lost re-learning a new system? You've got to very carefully figure out what you can justify in a situation like that. Unfortunately there's no right answer. Otherwise everyone sensible would shoot the same camera.
The D800 could be a $3500+ body, could you really justify that? If all you want is full frame, a used original 5D is a good value and as you've noted many things in the Canon system are less expensive then their Nikon counterparts.
maybe $500, tops. i actually gained a bit of money on my Leica stuff (enough to pay shipping, etc.). the biggest lost was on my 7D, but even then it wasn't much because i got such a good deal when i bought it. i am pretty frugal, when it comes to buying and selling stuff.
i probably lost money on my D80, but i never sold it, which means that loss was never realized.
Not that hard to do, jump around and not lose, I've jumped around a ton, had 7 bodies and I don't know how many lenses just in the past year, love to try stuff out and buy almost all of it used on craigslist so it's cheaper than renting.
Am 4 figures ahead comfortably in all the back and forth, but yeah, with the time you spend scouring for deals and dealing with buyers and sellers who knows how it all balances out. Hey, it's a hobby :-) Just picked up a D7000 for about $500, 40k plus clicks on it but after I cleaned the sensor it might as well be new
Only thing I really miss is my D700 but I'll pick up another one much cheaper than I sold mine, next week or next year haha
Kent's question is on the right track. We have no idea what you want to shoot and that is the most important question. Why do you feel you need FF. For 90% of us FF is a want not a need.
I my case my primary interest is landscape and I shoot with an APS-C DSLR and 4x5 film. Although my hope with the 4x5 is to get some spectacular images, the real reason is because I enjoy it. The fact that it is difficult, expensive, has an appallingly low keeper rate is irrelevant, because I am having fun.
What are your goals? Do you have a clear technical need for FF or do you just like playing with the gear (like me with the 4x5 )
Yeah we jump around and spend some money and time. Buying, learning, it's all part of the fun in my opinion.
I guess the most appropriate question here is why full frame or as previously posed, what are the goals? By the way, what are you shooting for 366?
If you picked up a 5D and you felt something was lacking, then I'd say you possibly haven't found what you're looking for.
There's a lot of options out here, especially if you're thinking about the 35mm range as stated in the OP.
So, for that, I would say keep that nice little GRIII. In the scheme of things, Nikon may or may not announce something in a few weeks. But it's a few weeks away.
If it doesn't materialize, get something current. OR... get something intermim maybe second hand that will allow you to fullfil a gap for say 6 months.
I'm sure I will get trolled/flamed for this, but to the OP, I can't recommend enough to stay away from Canon for now and keep your eyes open for a deal on a D700 or rent one for a bit and try it out. It's simply a home run camera body, you may want more MP but then you could find it much less forgiving of technique and your keeper rate going down. The D700 is an overall sweet spot of lethally accurate AF, beautiful rendering from the sensor with enough MP for most shots, and great handling, and it will get beautiful shots even with bargain basement used glass like the old MF lenses or stuff like the 35mm f2.0.
I had 3 Canon bodies and a bunch of L glass and nothing but frustration. Swapped to D700 and Nikkors and same subjects and shooting technique yielded vastly more keepers ;-)
i do like the idea of a D700, but i'm somewhat reluctant to buy something old for the amount of money. (which is ironic, because i bought an M6 that was made in the 90s.)
i have looked at many D700 pictures on flickr, and i think that's what i'll end up going with. i am just getting somewhat impatient, and its nearly impossible to find a D700. i probably want to buy new, just because.
thegoldfi wrote:
i do like the idea of a D700, but i'm somewhat reluctant to buy something old for the amount of money. (which is ironic, because i bought an M6 that was made in the 90s.)
The Leica holds its value because it's already suffered the big drop. And, it's not a digital camera. Leica prices are generally stable. A one generation old DSLR, not so much. At this point, I would hold off buying ANYTHING. New cameras are coming out. Odds are great that if you buy a D700 now, the value will be dropping like a rock over the summer. The shortage on them was artificial because of the damage to the Nikon plant. Right now the prices are at a high ebb, and the tide is about to go out........ By simply waiting, you will either end up with a better choice (D700 has fallen way behind on resolution) or you will save hundreds buying what will soon no longer be a current generation product.
thegoldfi wrote:
i have looked at many D700 pictures on flickr, and i think that's what i'll end up going with. i am just getting somewhat impatient, and its nearly impossible to find a D700. i probably want to buy new, just because.
It's full frame. 
