p.1 #1 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I recently picked up a D800 and traded it for my D3. I was previously shooting with dual D3 bodies and loved the results and never had any issues. I don't currently do any commercial work, nor is video a capability that is all that important to me. I bought the D800 because I got it for a fair price and I figured it of course was no worse than the D3 (aside from not having a pro body), but I'm thinking it might make sense to go back to dual D3 bodies and I'm wondering if anyone has been in my shoes.
The downside I'm realizing is processing the D800 files takes a bit more time (on a 2.8 i7 MBP w/ SSD), of course the file sizes (these aren't a huge deal), and of course the green cast on the LCD when chimping isn't exactly comforting. Fortunately after importing and applying my standard LR preset, the files visually appear the same, so I'm not having to tweak and re-edit D3 files and D800 files for consistency, which I was worried about...oh, and my D800 isn't plagued with the AF issues either, it's a fantastic copy.
The upside? Well I have a newer body/technology, DR, resolution, Video, low-light AF...all better (however the D3 never let me down in these scenarios) and of course it won't depreciate as much as the D3.
So there you have it...I think I'm starting to talk myself back into snagging another D3. The D3s is awesome, but for the additional $1,500 over a D3, I can't justify the price difference. The D4, well I want one, but then again, who doesn't?
Thanks in advance and sorry for the long read.
Cliffnotes: Should I sell my recently acquired D800 and switch back to the D3 I was perfectly content with prior?
p.1 #2 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I'm getting a D3s within a week or two, and my D700 will then be my backup. I don't really see the D4 as worthy of the $$ difference right now, the only thing I'm getting the D3s for is low light, and it seems to be just about even with the D4 if not in favor of the D3s. I'll probably eventually replace my D700 with a D800 as a backup camera, but only because I like to do landscapes in my personal time/photography and a D3s/D800 combo would be the best of both worlds.
All that being said, I don't blame you at all for ditching the D800 for a D3. I like the D800 and all, but I just feel like its not really necessary for primary camera duty, and I feel like it's a role better served by a D3/D3s/D4. I don't know about you, but I don't make huge prints, just albums at most, and 12MP is more than fine for that. I'm not saying the D800 is bad, I just wouldn't want to deal with it as a main camera because of all the extra resolution, storage space on the computer and memory cards, etc. I simply don't need it, and I feel like there's a lot to be said for using a pro-style body with the built in grip as far as comfort and speed, not to mention the ease and simplicity of dual CF slots.
Like I said, the D800 is a great camera, I'm just not convinced its the best match as a tool for this trade, at least for me.
p.1 #3 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
Main wedding camera is the D3, used D700 as a second body, and then sold that(don't like using camera's with only one card slot) and used rented D3s/D3 as second body. Couple weeks back I picked up a D800.
From the limted personal use to date the D800 is a cracking camera, the image quality is great, very little work needed on the image, compared to the D3 images (WB and exposure seem more accurate and no need to apply extra contrast or vibrance). Being a smaller form than the D3 it is more fun to carry around for casual use and I also do some landscape stuff too.
However when my current computer hardware I don't think the D800 is a viable main body for a wedding due to the file size, to much demand on the computer to cope with a few thousand images from a wedding, so I will stick with the D3 and 24-70 as the main set up to do the bulk of the work and use the D800 as a second body and for images I know will be printed big in the album. But do remember when cameras like the Canon 1Ds MKII came out we thought the file then was too big!!
As for the green tint, started to notice that over the weekend, but not a deal breaker for me and my money is on a firmware update that will allow you to alter this.
D4 with a D800 would be an ideal set up, similar controls, same AF, AWB and metering and you can use the D4 battery in the D800 grip, but the price seems too high and out of wack when you compared with the price of the D3 when it came out. Maybe when I'm doing more weddings and the D4 price comes down I'll change the D3 for a D4 but for now I'm more than happy with the D3/D800 combo
p.1 #4 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I don't understand why so many wedding photographers are jumping into these D800's. Sure the picture quality is great, but is it necessary? As I have heard from Nikon reps themselves, the D800 was created to compete with medium format digital backs like the Phase One and Leaf Aptus backs, hence the 36mpx.
With the file sizes that this thing produces, its going to cost you more in the long run than you'll make on the images it produces. The D800 basically doubles file sizes, which doubles your storage. You'll need more hard drives to store everything on, and then you'll need more computer to sort through it all in acceptable amounts of time.
p.1 #6 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I picked up the D800 about two months ago and shot D700/D800 at a birthday party last week. after the cull I was left with 75% of my keepers coming from the D800. I've noticed that the focus on the D800 is better than the D700 -- by a large enough margin that it effected my final selection of images. At the end of my workflow, I'm now deleting the raw files and rejects to save space. I'm thinking about downsizing the images as well.
p.1 #7 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
Thanks for everyone's input, sincerely. I thought long and hard before I pulled the trigger on the D800 and now after having shot 2 weddings with it, I'm second=guessing my decision, clearly.
cas5, the low-light AF system is definitely amazing, however I didn't notice a noticeable keeper rate, but then again, I was getting a pretty high percentage prior using my D3.
And agreed, I'm sure Nikon will soon address and fix the green tint in the LCD, but it's pretty rough, especially from a $3,000 camera.
Anyone want to trade straight across for a D4 + lots of appreciation?!
p.1 #9 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I am using both right now, the D800 and the D700, and I am starting to prefer to use the D800 more and more over the D700 when using both. I dont understand the big deal about the green LCD screen, who cares, thats not what the actual image looks like, you as the photographer are the only one looking at it (not the client), and even though mine isnt green I shoot everything RAW so Im not making any white balance decisions based on what the LCD looks like.
p.1 #10 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I say keep it! I'm using a D4/D800 combo and loving the new AF and metering systems. The DR is a plus too. Honestly with the price of storage these days that shouldn't even factor in. Computer power of the other hand is something that makes a difference especially with the D800 but it's not a deal breaker in my opinion. I usually use the D800 for prep and formals and the D4 for everything else.
Aug 21, 2012 at 02:29 PM
whtrbt7 Offline • • [X]
p.1 #11 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I've heard of a lot of photogz switching from the D800 to D3 or D3S. The main reason being that the D3 and D3S were just better for the job. Part of it is the comfort of having the same/similar setup on the cameras and the other is to shoot more SOOC. The D800 is capable shooting SOOC but the file sizes undoubtedly always means more time processing files. DR is also a big factor in choosing a D3S or D4 over the D800.
p.1 #12 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
We do everything with a pair of D700s, which are essentially the D3 without an integrated grip. They've never let us down. The D800 is certainly an interesting camera, but our portfolio probably wouldn't look any different if we were shooting with a pair of them. Use what works.
p.1 #13 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
I'm probably going to sell my D800. Maybe also the D3, and get another D3S. Probably not a D4. Maybe. But doubtful.
D800 is great image quality, but I've decided to focus on weddings and stop going after commercial and portrait work. So I'd prefer the beefier camera with lower-resolution and manageable image files, and that handy dandy S mode that the original D3 is lacking.
p.1 #14 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
So much great info in here...I appreciate everyone's input and it's helped with my decision. I think for now I'll end up selling my D800 as I don't see any significant and glaring advantages, especially regarding my workflow and since I'm doing mostly weddings. I appreciate everyone's input!
p.1 #16 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
TTLKurtis wrote:
P.S. after revisiting the D4... yeah no thanks, I'll just pick up another D3s thank you kindly.
Just curious, what made you say that?
I was thinking about the D4 as well, but then decided on the D3s when I saw multiple tests show them to be nearly identical if not in favor of the D3s in noise and detail at high ISO, plus the $$ savings. I feel like the extra D4 $$ is mostly for minor updates and changes, and the resolution update isn't a big deal and would probably barely be noticeable.
Just looking to compare notes, and I've never even held a D4, so maybe you can share some additional input.
p.1 #17 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
The reason I say that is I see basically nothing but negatives from my standpoint for the D4:
1) Higher price
2) No improvements in ISO/noise
3) Different battery, lower battery life
4) XQD card for 2nd slot, a Sony technology (ugh) and a new tech. at that
5) Focus mode switch changed in a negative way in my opinion
...
That's the more important things that come to mind. The few improvements there are really aren't important to me.
p.1 #18 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
The D4 is an awesome camera, but hard to justify. Especially if you own a D3S. The AF is better, DR is better, Ergonomics are better and the metering is better. Noise is the same. However, color accuracy and DR are better at high iso. There are other improvements, but those are the ones that I noticed the most (of course video is killer, but I don't really use that function). There are other little custom functions and buttons that make shooting A LOT easier and faster, but YMMV. The only downside for me really was a different battery. It last almost as long as the D3S battery. So that's not really a big deal. Plus I've always owned two batteries for every camera so it's not noticeable. Once you actually use the new focus mode switch you will love it. It's much faster. I honestly hated it at first.
p.1 #19 · Selling D800 and going back to D3...thinking out loud.
TTLKurtis wrote:
The reason I say that is I see basically nothing but negatives from my standpoint for the D4:
1) Higher price
2) No improvements in ISO/noise
3) Different battery, lower battery life
4) XQD card for 2nd slot, a Sony technology (ugh) and a new tech. at that
5) Focus mode switch changed in a negative way in my opinion
...
That's the more important things that come to mind. The few improvements there are really aren't important to me.
I hated the concept of the XQD card slot at first. Now I wish both slots were XQD. Luckily, Lexar is coming out with cards soon.
