A back up is something I use in a pinch, not sure I'd drop $3K + on it as these bodies depreciate at an alarming rate. I just sold my D3x and bought a D600, this is what I've wanted for a long time a small portable high res FX body.
One actual advantage of the D3x (and other "pro bodies") is the AF motor can really torque the screwdriver AF lenses in ways the D800 and similar can not. That isn't a big deal for a lot of people, but the difference between the AF on a 80-400 vr or a 80-200 with a D1/2/3 is considerable compared to a D(N)00.
DGC1 wrote:
Are you trolling again? Your post (as usual) makes no sense at all. You say a larger camera with expensive batteries and lower IQ is the better choice? Exactly what do you base this ridiculous opinion on? D3X has poor image quality? What's wrong with you? I'm sure the usual apologists will defend you with the tired old excuses about your poor command of the English language but I don't buy it. I think you post here just to stir the pot.
I think it's already been said, but I'll chime in.
Compare the D3x to a D800+grip ($3500). The D800 will provide a better image in every respect. But there are some reasons why some would prefer the D3x, even at a similar price or slightly higher.
1. Some shooters prefer the integrated body to a small body plus grip. Better ergonomics, buttons, layout, rear LCD, and so on.
2. The build quality is more rugged and the D3x will be more resistant when facing foul weather or physical abuse.
3. There is more torque and a little more speed in the AF performance of the big bodies, IMHO probably due to the higher voltage delivered by the EN-EL4a battery. But the big bodies can definitely drive something like an 80-400 or 80-200 faster than the small bodies, as someone just mentioned.
4. For those shooting a D3/D3s, having a D3x provides two identical bodies with identical controls. Some of us care about that and find it valuable.
5. It's not like the D3x images suck...
In general, I would tell most people that they'll be happier with a D800. But some people will prefer a D3x, and there are solid reasons for that. Only you can tell if those reasons matter to you personally.
Doug, in this case I gotta hand it to Kitty. Her English is definitely not perfect, but her sarcasm was excellent... and quite a few people seem to have missed it. Her post was on-topic and made a specific point very well indeed. I happen to disagree with her, but that's OK... it makes for good discussion.
What's with this jumping on whatever Kittyk says? Whether her/his opinion makes any logical sense to you or not is irrelevant because you can simply ignore it. We're supposed to be grown ups but some of you guys come across like teenage cyber bullies.
funny thing, I never had to send in my D3x for repair because I couldn't get the left AF boxes to work like my D800s... never had to send it in after visits to tropics because my card reader had to be replaced due to humidity damage like my D700. I actually could use f16 with only very slight diffraction softness. Everybody dumps on the D3x but most of them have never used one.
harvey steeves wrote:
funny thing, I never had to send in my D3x for repair because I couldn't get the left AF boxes to work like my D800s... never had to send it in after visits to tropics because my card reader had to be replaced due to humidity damage like my D700. I actually could use f16 with only very slight diffraction softness. Everybody dumps on the D3x but most of them have never used one.
Bob - For the Yosemite, etc. BIG landscapes you like get the D800E. You'll never look back. PERFECT complement to your D4. With those two you have ALL bases covered: Landscape, Wildlife, Fast Action, BIG Prints...
We have both the D800 and D800E and they are the landscape cameras we've been waiting for for years.
Chaz wrote:
Bob - For the Yosemite, etc. BIG landscapes you like get the D800E. You'll never look back. PERFECT complement to your D4. With those two you have ALL bases covered: Landscape, Wildlife, Fast Action, BIG Prints...
We have both the D800 and D800E and they are the landscape cameras we've been waiting for for years.
harvey steeves wrote:
funny thing, I never had to send in my D3x for repair because I couldn't get the left AF boxes to work like my D800s... never had to send it in after visits to tropics because my card reader had to be replaced due to humidity damage like my D700. I actually could use f16 with only very slight diffraction softness. Everybody dumps on the D3x but most of them have never used one.
harvey steeves wrote:
funny thing, I never had to send in my D3x for repair because I couldn't get the left AF boxes to work like my D800s... never had to send it in after visits to tropics because my card reader had to be replaced due to humidity damage like my D700. I actually could use f16 with only very slight diffraction softness. Everybody dumps on the D3x but most of them have never used one.
The question is, what is sample variation and what based on design differences.
20 months ago I had serious a AF issue, impacting multiple bodies and lenses. On first thought, my thinking was it is an D7000 (consumer body) issue. It was not. The new 1.4G lenses (24mm, 35mm, 85mm) were so badly decentered, that Nikon finally replaced them.
My D3X got a complete new AF module (it could not properly focus with fast pro lenses) and a new mount - both were out of specification. My D700 was fine and the D7000 got an adjustment.
If you don't want video, but do want a full-quality, non-acrylic-lensed viewfinder for eye-focusing, the D3X may a good choice.
All others, why not save $$$ over a used D3X and get a new D600?
let the D3x sleep. Progress moves on.
I know lot of photographers are very traditional, you see it how painfully they were holding onto a film (135 at that), but come on.
If you ever used the sentence "camera won't matter, i do", pick D800 and be happy. There is no better on the world and anything what any other camera can offer over it is 1) not really important
2) not image quality issue
Digital world is as it is. New gen comes, old is forgotten. You just won't stick to old school cam for it's controls. It is not like in film days, where you still had same images regardless of what cam you used to capture them.
D800 is hunted by the Af issue, i know, i have 4 all of them with it, but my cams have combined 60000 photos made and i work around it. I would never give up what the cam gives me over anything. Imagine like you can have FM with best film on the world or F6 with some stock Kodak. That's what D3x is now.
Kittyk wrote:
let the D3x sleep. Progress moves on.
I know lot of photographers are very traditional, you see it how painfully they were holding onto a film (135 at that), but come on.
If you ever used the sentence "camera won't matter, i do", pick D800 and be happy. There is no better on the world and anything what any other camera can offer over it is 1) not really important
2) not image quality issue
Digital world is as it is. New gen comes, old is forgotten. You just won't stick to old school cam for it's controls. It is not like in film days, where you still had same images regardless of what cam you used to capture them.
D800 is hunted by the Af issue, i know, i have 4 all of them with it, but my cams have combined 60000 photos made and i work around it. I would never give up what the cam gives me over anything. Imagine like you can have FM with best film on the world or F6 with some stock Kodak. That's what D3x is now....Show more →
Kitty,
I am with you 100%. The old timers died off. Back to the Kodak time, the technology moved at an easy pace. It didn't much change in a life time. So it made sense for some arrogant ones to claim that the tools didn't matter.
but now, there is a sea of difference within a year.Just wait for the d800 the next generation.
As we all know, when somebody gets personel they are skating on thin ice.
I stick to honest and thorugh reviewers, and they are more usefull to read and the two I have read said that the D3x still shines in many areas, and that is the reason Nikon still has it on the list.
It is like buying a new house - you like the new house, but there were certain things in the older house, that was better, not all, but something, even there are some improvements in the new house, and it also shows up there are some problems in the new house.
And you could ask: What is the best ? - to have something you need to word around, or to have nothing to work around.
