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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Question for D3 Users
Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 9:30 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> Is there ANYTHING about this camera you don't like?
I have an option to buy one with just under 4000 actuations for $4300..would you do it or wait til a brand new one right out of the box is available?
Debbie |
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Denny Medley, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Kansas City | MO | USA | Posted: 9:37 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> About the only thing I wish Nikon would've included in the D3 would be the in-camera 'sensor' cleaning ability that the D300 has. Other than that - it's an incredible camera.
As to the used one - why on Earth would anyone want to sell theirs?
8-) |
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Marc Browning, Photographer
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Wichita | KS | | Posted: 10:04 PM on 02.05.08 |
| ->> Buy it! If I had the money I'd buy 2 more. You know just in case one goes down... remotes! You can't have to many D3's. If you like your D2X as much as I did/do.( I know you do, I've read your posts) you'll love the D3. I haven't used my D2x's sense I've bought my D3's. |
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Hassel Weems, Photographer
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Locust Grove (Atlanta) | GA | USA | Posted: 10:08 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> There are only two things I do not like about the D3 and they are minor.
1. The focus sensors do not cover the frame as they do in a DX camera.
2. The exposure scale has moved to the far right side of the viewfinder rather than the lower right hand corner as in the D2X. I have to look away from the picture to adjust exposure. I'm sure I will get used to this in time but I have been looking at that same spot for the meter since shooting with a D1 and now it's been moved. (It's now where the +0- is on the FM.)
I would wait for a new one rather than pay an almost new price for a used one with no warranty. I did not pay full list for mine from a Sports Shooter sponsor so $4300 is not a very good price. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:13 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> Hassel,
I am sort of with you on this. The person selling it is a great friend (and the one who sold me the D2X I am still using-my 3rd D2X but by far the best one I have had-with over 278k actuations) and I am not worried about the warranty or having it sent to NPS by him if it needs repair...But I was also thinking that it's not too much of a break on the price and I can wait and afford the additional $700.
With almost 4k actuations, what would one expect to pay? Or, would you just wait it out for a new one. |
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Peter Hoffman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens/ Naperville | OH/IL | US | Posted: 10:18 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> I would second trying an SS sponsor ... 4300 isn't great when you can get it at a good price for the peace of mind buying new.
And, about the camera ... I couldn't care less about a lot of the options on this thing (which are great), but I will say it feels like it gets in my way less than anything else I've used before. Not to mention I have no worries jacking up my ISO, or the fact that I highlights are lost far less often.
No, there's not much wrong with this thing. I guess I wouldn't mind a self cleaning sensor, but .. meh. |
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Michael Troutman, Photographer
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Carmel | CA | USA | Posted: 10:21 PM on 02.05.08 |
| ->> Why on earth would anyone sell their D3, that's what I'm wondering. |
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Jon Thorpe, Photographer
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Toronto | On | Canada | Posted: 10:27 PM on 02.05.08 |
| ->> It would be nice if it came with a protector for the LCD.... |
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Michael Brown, Photographer
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Roxburgh Park | Victoria | Australia | Posted: 10:49 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> Jon,
I found the cover is a pain in the behind. I removed mine from the D2Xs and never got a mark on it.
The D3 does not have one because the screen is tempered glass and not plastic. |
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Michael Brown, Photographer
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Roxburgh Park | Victoria | Australia | Posted: 10:50 PM on 02.05.08 |
| ->> Oh and the only thing I don't like about this camera is the speed........it's way too fast for the sport I shoot, it takes the photo before the action now ;-) |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 11:21 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> Don't mean to hijack the thread but for those D3 owners that also have a D300. Are the two pretty comparable when it comes to image quality? I know the D3 and the d300 aren't in the same class in ISo performance but does it still perform well?
For those of you who have had a D200 is it that night and day that I should upgrade? I shoot day to day PJ and occasional sports.
Thanks all. |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 11:45 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> I have one complaint that is VERY minor. When chimping and scrolling through images you move the thumb thingy on the back of the camera left to right, not up and down like every other Nikon pro DSLR.
I'm guessing this can probably be changed in the functions, but it's not a big enough deal for me to bother trying to figure it out.
I do have an issue with the battery. While it's nice that it takes the same battery as my D2h's and D2x, I don't know why they had to change the end cap. It would have been nice to just be able to pop a new battery in without having to change the end cap. I haven't really used the D2x since I got my D3, but I image I'll be using it once spring comes around and sports move back outside. Then I'll have to make sure to figure out a way to mark the end caps for the D2x and the D3 so I can change batteries quickly.
Debra, I'll agree with people who say $700 off isn't really a good deal. I figure the one year warranty on the camera is worth $700 because most of my Nikons have been back to Nikon for warranty work. Without the warranty, that repair would cost around $700. So, $700 off, in my opinion, is a wash, not a good deal. |
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Thierry Gourjon, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:55 PM on 02.05.08 |
->> Deb,
I agree with Hassel on his first point: the focus sensors only cover a small portion of the frame (both laterally and especially vertically) compared to the D2 series. However unlike him it is a major drawback for me and why after shooting for a few weeks with one, I gave it back to the friend who generously lent it to me and decided not to get one for myself.
I felt extremely limited in my framing and can't understand why Nikon did that. I got another D300 instead, which also has a smaller area compared to the D2s but is more manageable and a little less contrived than that of the D3.
That is the only flaw I found, but as far as I am concerned, it is a big one.
T. |
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Tony Rawlings, Photographer
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Foothill Ranch (Irvine) | CA | US | Posted: 11:58 PM on 02.05.08 |
| ->> I'd rather get a new one for $700 more. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 12:33 AM on 02.06.08 |
->> thanks everyone...looks like I will wait and get the new one.
Debbie |
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Randy Vanderveen, Photographer
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Grande Prairie | AB | Canada | Posted: 9:48 AM on 02.06.08 |
| ->> Kirby: For a comparsion between the two camera's read Dave Black's Workshop at the Ranch column on his web page http://www.daveblackphotography.com/ this month. Randy |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 10:35 AM on 02.06.08 |
->> Deb, I switched back and bought both a D3 and a D300. There is very little not to like on the D3 that I have run into so far. Keep in mind I've only been shooting with one for 3 weeks. I'm still totally in awe of the images it produces @ ISO 6400. I strobed a gym for a district wrestling competition and shot @ ISO 200 ... I'm still shaking my head.
You should check with the SS.com sponsors regarding pricing.
Kirby, I can't do a comparison between the D200 and D300 but if you'll search the threads I think you'll see virtually everyone agree that the D300 represents a significant upgrade over the D200.
Michael |
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Jock Fistick, Photographer
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Brussels | Belgium | | Posted: 2:19 PM on 02.06.08 |
->> I will have to agree with the criticism about the focus sensors - I too wish they covered the whole frame - but for me it is a minor thing considering all that is right with the camera. I really can't get over what a pleasure it is to work with this camera.
I usually don't get very excited about equipment - but I have to say that I haven't been this pleased with a camera since the F5 and I was "one" with my F5's :-)
Another thing I am trying to get used to - the idea of 51 focus points is nice in theory - but I am finding it much faster to work with the 11 point grid. But this really depends on the job at hand.
Another small annoyance - they moved the vertical backside focus button to just above the command dial (it is just below the command dial on the D2X) so when shooting vertically - I keep reaching for the focus button with my thumb and whiffing - but this will pass in time.
To look at the front of the 2 cameras (D2X & D3) - specifically the grip side - they appear identical - but the ergonomics have changed ever so slightly and the D2X actually fits my hand better - but someone with smaller hands than mine will probably say just the opposite :-)
But Debra - for your dilemma - buy this camera new and enjoy it! :-) |
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Jeff Snyder, Photographer
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Metro DC Region | MD | USA | Posted: 2:44 PM on 02.06.08 |
->> Deb, Jock, and all...
I have had tremendous results with the D3...I just updated my SportsShooter member page from the Super Bowl, all D3 images at 2500 ISO
Jeff |
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Michael Myers, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Miami Beach | FL | USA | Posted: 1:22 PM on 02.22.08 |
->> I won't have my D3 for another few days, but thanks to the sponsors of this site, I got one at what I think is a reasonable price - but still more than I can really afford. My goal is to try to do enough extra work to cover the cost of the camera.
I've read much of what's been posted, and I've held one in my hands for a few minutes to see how it "feels". I love the fact that my lenses will once again do what they were intended to do (without the 1.5 factor). I also like the fact that my "slower" lenses will become more useful thanks to the higher ISO speed capability, and that for even my faster lenses, I'll now be able to use a higher shutter speed when I want to.
Something that has always bothered me (but nobody's mentioned it) is that when I used my earlier Nikons, my "old" style lenses (not designed for the smaller sensor) were wasting a good part of their glass, and they were bigger and heavier than they needed to be. With the full frame sensor, all that glass will be working for me once again.
I also read Ken Rockwell's long articles on this camera. I think I agree with what he had to say, but I've got to do some more thinking about this to accept that a larger format camera will make "better" images, even when it and a smaller format camera have images reduced to an even smaller size for printing or posting on the 'net. Images here are usually 800 pixels wide - would it be better to take the photo with a sensor five inches wide than with one one inch wide? Ken seems to think so.
As to buying new or used, if the difference is "only" $700 or so, to me it's far better for peace of mind to go with the warranty you get with a new camera. Nikon USA has gone way out of their way to help me with my previous digital cameras, and had they been used, all of that would have been done at my expense, not covered by Nikon.
(On the other hand, if it was a good friend of mine who was selling me the camera, and if it would still be covered by him with his warranty, I might be tempted to go for it. I also like the idea of buying a camera that's been used for a while, as it's more likely to continue to work perfectly than one that's new out of the box. When I had my problems before with D2h cameras, and Nikon was about to send me a D2x, I asked for one that people in the service dept. had been using for a while, and which was already known to be a "keeper". Maybe this is silly reasoning, but I had gone through three D2h (and D2hs) bodies which all had problems, and my "slightly-used" D2x has been perfect since I got it. Part of me feels that way about any piece of computer equipment - if it doesn't fail in the early days/weeks, it's most likely going to keep on going.) |
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Joy Absalon, Photographer
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Clifton | VA | USA | Posted: 1:50 AM on 02.23.08 |
->> Deb:
I LOVE my D3 and hope that when you get yours, you love it just as much :) The high ISO is amazing.....
I also got a D300 which is a great camera as well. I haven't used my D2X since buying both new bodies though I imagine I will in a few weeks at spring training.
Best of luck Deb :) |
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Richard Orr, Photographer
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Longmeadow | MA | USA | Posted: 6:29 PM on 02.24.08 |
->> If you have a heavy finger, you will find yourself shooting a lot more frames. It took me a while to calm down and switch to C_low for most events.
I find myself shooting more without strobes. In several of my gyms the light is more than adequate. This is wonderful. Except, i used to walk away from basketball and swimming with a couple of hundred shots tops. Thats not the case now. So consider additional post processing time.
I am also spending more time doing WB adjustments. They look fine, but some of the shots take a few more minutes to get right.
A kind of funny problem is due to the fact that the files are much larger. This means when I burn disks for my clients, it takes up more CD's. Most of the D3 Colleges i work with do not have DVD players in their PCs. Instead of getting two or three disks, some of them get 6. I have one SID who's PC couldnt handle the file size because he didnt have enough memore. So I have to shoot them at a different resolution.
The NEF files are simply too huge for my day to day work. Its too bad, because they are really, really nice.
Quite frankly, I cannot wait to get outside and shoot some fast moving day time sports this spring. |
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Ron Holman, Photographer
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Visalia | CA | USA | Posted: 1:44 AM on 02.25.08 |
->> We have had a D3 for about a month. Coming from the D1H, all four of us absolutely love this camera. It's in such high demand among the staff that it reminds me of the office supply commercial where the whole office shares a single pen.
My only complaint: shutter sync = 1/250th. Images from the high ISO are truly amazing. But the lighting around here is often very flickery. Some places are so bad it looks like remote strobes on meth as you go from one frame to the next. Shooting at 1/500 with the D1H allowed me to light gyms with just a couple SB-800's and be fine. Losing a full stop on shuter sync has allowed a noticable amount of ambient light to creep in.
Still, I am thinking of buying one myself.
-Ron |
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