I think this deserves its own thread.

Nikon D300

Nikon D3

I just plunked a buck on the Mega Millions lottery. Wish me luck!

 

I love my old school D70...wish I could afford the D3, heck I'd settle for the D300!

But I'd rather spend my $$ on my MINI!

 

Gotta love Japanese made & Italian design, Mr. Giugiaro.
So sexy.........







By the way, that Nikkor 85mm / F1.4D is my most favorite lense.

 

We went all through last week when I was on Mid shifts.

I must save money for good glass
I must save money for good glass
I must save money for good glass
I must save money for good glass


I must save...

I hear voices ...
I hear voices from the far east
I hear voices from the far east saying buy a D-300


I

 

I've got a D200, but the D300 may be too good to pass up, if only for the updated AF module.

The 85mm f/1.4D is my favorite lens, as well

 

must save for FX lenses!

 

And I just bought a D2Xs!!

Jim

 

I feel for you brother. That has happened to me several times.

Your D2x is still a great camera & will take great pictures.

 

For sure! I just have that uncanny ability to jump onto the very end of the band-wagon!
D2Xs example below.



Jim

 

I am pretty much a novice at cameras... I have a Nikon 8008 old school that I have not used for years... I want to start a book that will include photos and am looking at a camera for this project. The pictures will be mostly outdoors scenery and interesting scenes and people. I have been looking at the 40X, 80 and 200... any help from you guys will be appreciated including lens selection..... don't want to hijack the thread but this kind of "iron" makes me drool

 

Any of those cameras will work for you. IMO the D40x is a bit limited. The D80 with the 18-135 kit lens is a good place to start. A D200 is a very fine camera, but may be more than you want or will use. If you haven't already, start looking at DPreview & Nikonians. Lots of good info there.

http://www.dpreview.com/ http://www.nikonians.org/

 

I don't know how serious you'd like to go into photography, since that will dictate how much you want to go for.

I agree with Crashton and I'd suggest the D80 to start with. By the time that you out grown the body, you will know exactly what camera features that you'd need. Then you can upgrade to the one that will fit your needs.

For lenses, I would suggest to pay more on that catagory.

I'd start with the AF-S 70 - 200mm / F2.8G VR (you can get a re-furbished directly from Nikon USA for $1,200), and a fixed 24mm / F2.8D (~$300). Good for all around, not extreme on both long and short sides of the range. Play with it, get use to it, until you really know that you need something additional to it. You will love the set up.

24mm / F2.8D is a very good lense. It will help you learn a lot of the foundamental, help you practice your eyes and creativity as well.

Basically, it will make you move to compose a shot, since you can not zoom in or out.

Those lenses will be with you forever.
My 2 cents.

 

Maxicooper you are 100% correct. Learn with a prime lens. That is the way I learned & zooming with ones feet works well. I'd suggest a 50 F1.8 lens. A very sharp lens with screamin deal price of under $100. Learn one lens & move to the next. The 70-200 F2.8 VR is a wonderful lens. I have one myself.

 

Or try this first. ...... .

"the 3 Musketeers".

24mm / F2.8D, 50mm / F1.8D and 85mm / F1.8D.

 

THanks... why the 80 vs the 40X (I continue to hijack shamelessly)

 

The D40 & D40x do not have a focus motor in the body. The 3 musketeers will not autofocus on that body. The only lenses that will are AFS lenses. IE lenses with a built in focus motor. The D40 & D40x do not have a depth of field preview. That is something I use a lot & would sorely miss.

 

2 main things:

First, the 40X will not fully functional work with all Nikkor lense. You can still take pictures with most of the Nikkor lense but only AF-S lenses wlll give you the auto-focus. So you will have a limited numbers of lenses to be able to use.
The 3 Musketeers can not be used on the 40 series.

Second, the 80 has much better focusing machanism. You will have a better focusing lock-on and tracking.

Also, the 80 has a shorter shutter lack.

 

I remember lusting for a 8oo8 when they came out and had to settle for the 6006 (a very good camera in its own right). When I made the switch to digital (D-70 April 2004) I was happy with how much the camera felt like my 6006. I could do most of the same kind of shooting with out reading the manuel and only a quick look at manuel for other things. Nikon just extended the logic of the buttions and that made if very easy to learn to use the other settings.

If you were comfortable with all the 8008 could do, you will quickly out grow the d40. So unless budget is an issue I would not go with the D40 or D40x, Both are very good cameras I just think you will get flustered with the camera after a couple of years. The D80 will have more features that you could grow into but in my mind sits about where the 6006 did as compared to the 8008. In that you want to shoot out side you will want to take a long hard look at the speeds that you want to shoot at. In the DC area you can rent most of the cameras at Penn camera (not the D300 or D3). I am sure there are other places that would let you try. I do not think you would out grow a D200 for a while - if ever.

All the cameras will use your Nikon 8008 lenses, but you may not be able to use all the features on some of the lenses - it depends on the lense. I do not believe the D40 has the gear drive for the camera to work the autofocus, it uses the contacts some how. Not a biggie if your old Nikon lense did not autofocus. The D-80 should work all the old glass, talk to the dealer. You might be suprised at how far lenses have come. When I gave my 6006 to my nephew I did not keep any of the glass and the new "kit" glass was ofter better. That might say something about the lenses I could afford while in college (late 1970's) and I wish I kept the 50mm 1.8 that came with the 6006.

Finally advise came very cheep. Some of the people that responded above are far above my level, in the case of conflecting advise you may want to give a little more weight to their view.
John

 

Thanks ..... I think I will look hard at the 80..... I may do some of this off road on a MC which one is the most rugged and will the 80 hold up ......

 

The build of the D80 is better than that of the D40. The D200 has a very rugged build. It has weather seals that I believe the D80 lacks. If you shoot in a dusty environment you may be cleaning the sensor in the D80. I've had my D200 for almost 2 years & have shot over 15,000 frames. I have not had to clean the sensor once. I only change lenses when it's safe to do so. A bit of caution helps keep the dirt out.

In contrast my Fuji S1, Frankecamera was a freakin dust magnet. There always seemed to be dust on the sensor.

When the D300 is released the price of D200's will drop. If you can find one after the D300 release you may ****** up a bargain.

 

I just ordered the training dvd for the D300 .... I am lusting after it right now

 

Wow you went from the D40x straight to the D300. I don't think you'll be disapointed.

My sister just got her D300. She's in love with it.

 

Congrats. It is a great camera. I'll have one.....someday.

 

As some on this board know I am the sports photographer for the Baltimore Sun. I received my D3 Friday and used it at a high school football game Fri and the Army/Navy game yesterday. I will also use it at the night Ravens game Monday. All I can say is WOW! Nikon has finally delieverd the real deal. The results are just incredible and, well, I"m glad I didn't have to shell out the 5 grand for it.

If you have that cash laying around and are serious about photography, go for it, you won't be disappointed.

Gene
www.bugguardsforbeemers.com

 

let me clarify.... I did not order the D300 but rather the "training dvd" to get an idea of what it can do etc...... I am now thinking that this is the way I want to go...... but that is a lot of money.... I want to be sure that I will be able to take advantage of its features