For y'all with either a D3 or D300:
Firmware updates

And for anyone looking into upgrading DSLRs:
Nikon D700

 

I would almost consider the D700, except I don't have any full-frame zoom lenses. Oh, and $3,000.

 

When I got my D70s few years ago, I needed a wide-angle zoom. I avoided the DX lenses because I knew eventually all the dSLR will be full frame, albeit it will be a few more years before the entry level dSLR have full frame.

 

Ah but there are a few good DX/ digital wide angles out there. Nikon has their 10.5mm fisheye prime along with their 12-24mm zoom. Sigma also has a more-than-decent 10-20mm zoom.

 

Not that I don't think the DX lens aren't good, it's just that I like to use all of the real estate on the image sensor. Plus the crop factor always screws me up; 50mm becomes 75mm, 14mm becomes 21mm, and to get a 1:1 image, you need to use a 34mm focal length, but the final image isn't really a 1:1 as the foreground to background relationship is of a wide angle one.

 

I understand your points.
As for myself, I adapt to all this stuff. Exposure concepts are still the same. You can control depth of field and composition as always, keeping in mind the 1.5 factor.

It's kind of like when we graduated from Brownies to CoolPix.

 

Been using a D70s w/ 18-70mm DX lens. I haven't felt the need to upgrade just yet.

 

I kind of hope that doesn't happen. As much as I love the D3, for most motorsports work, I like the 1.5x "crop factor".

 

It's actually exactly the same as a crop from a larger image. A DX camera with a 34 mm lens, an FX camera with a 50 mm, or an FX camera with a 34 mm and with the image cropped will have exactly the same field of view and exactly the same perspective provided you're standing in the same place.

 

Found this through Wired:

 

Nikon D200 w/battery packNikon 24-124mm 70-300mm 50mm 90mm 60mm macroTokina 12-24mm 100mm macro

 

Nikon D200 MB-D200 Vertical Grip/Battery Pack, Nikon 24-120mm VR, 70-300mm, 60mm macro, 1.2 50mm, Tokina 12-24mm, 100mm macro

 

D200
MB-D200
SB-800
50/1.8D
17-55/2.8 DX
70-200/2.8 VR

Race photos I shot with this equipment here: http://racetripper.com

I would love a D300, but I have to get my JCW first.

 

Hey guys. I have been doing a ton of research on the D40 and the D80 and can't make my mind up between the two. so i figured that you guys would have some good input on this. i like that fact that the d40 is cheaper than the d80 and that money saved can be put into a good lens. is the extra money worth the extra megapixles and other functions the D80 has over the D40?

 

IMO the D80 is a better camera than a D40. I do believe it is worth the extra money. I bought my D40 as a knock about cheap SLR that I can keep in my car at all times to augment my D200. It excels at that & is quite a nice little camera. I guess it all depends on what you want to do & how much you want to become involved in photography.

 

You can always go for what's in between- the D60.

 

I have been getting into photography recently and decided to head into more of it in college. Right now i have no idea what subject matter i really want to get into.

 

It sounds like you will want to progress further. In which case I'd recommend the D80. The D40 is a very good deal right now, but the D60 is not. For $100 more than the D60 you can have a D80 body. You will have to buy a lens for it, but you could pick up a Nikkor 50 f1.8D for $100 & have one of the sharpest lenses out there.

If you want to progress I think you'll find the D40 or D60 limiting. The fact that both of those have no focus motor limits your choices in lenses too. With the D80 that is not an issue.

Much good info here....

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/

EDIT... Here's a better link for you & may help answer your questions better than I can.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=28583103

 

thanks crashton, those links were pretty helpful. i know that i am pretty much set on getting a nikon, i'm also looking at the canon 40d, but as far as the nikons go, what lens setup would you recommend? i was either thinking of going for the 18-200 or the 18-55 + 55-200. i did hear things of lense creep with the 18-200. any helpful info with this?

 

I'm a member of NikonCafe. That's also a good place to look for help deciding on what camera to get.

 

I have a Nikkor 18-200 AFS VR & that is on my camera most of the time. I'm pretty happy with it. Yes it does have zoom creep, but only if you hold your camera pointing at the ground. I hold my camera with both hands one on the body & one cradling the lens so the creep has been a non-issue for me. All in all I find it is an amazing lens when you consider the range it covers. For an old guy like me it is very nice to have VR. The other lens that I shoot a lot is the 70-200 AFS VR with a Nikkor 1.4 converter. Mainly for track use.

If these lenses were available at the time I bought the 18-200 I would have bought the Nikkor 16-85 AFS VR to go along with a 70-300 AFS VR. I think that would make a nice kit.

Here is another useful link for you....

http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm

 

nikon D 100
18-70 dx lens

 

Corin,
A D80 - new or used - with the two lenses above will make a very nice kit that will cover a wide range of shooting. The link below from DP Review speaks to what to look for when purchasing a used D80 and readers give some good advise on where to look for rebuilt used ones with a warrenty. If you can't tell, from what I have read in your postings in this thread, I am of the view that a D80 would be the better choice over the D40, 40x, 60 and even a used D70 like mine. If cash is an issue go used camera and good glass. If there is money left a nice flash (you might be able to pickup a used SB600 or 800 from someone upgrading). Save up for a good tripod. If money is an issue go for one that is strong vs one that is light.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=28587684

 

The FX bodies will automatically crop the image when you mount a DX lens, but I'm sure you can manually set it to DX format with non-DX lens (as in the D700). And of course, you can alway crop in post. I guess in digital photography, it really doesn't matter how big the size of the sensor is, it's the number of pixels on the sensor that will affect the final image. Although a FX sensor will likely have more pixel count than a DX sensor (given they're produced in the same time period).

 

But will an Fx sensor set to shoot as a Dx sensor have as many pixels per square mm? Currently, I believe that is not the case. For example, the D3 has 12.9 vs 12.1 on a much smaller D300 sensor.

That is a problem if you need to crop the picture for to properly frame the subject. If you're close to the subject the Fx sensor should be cleaner, but for subjects further away croping the picture to properly frame the subject may become an issue. For example a shooting err taking pictures of the family or MINIs at the Dragon vs. shooting (there I go again) a bird, or the driver in a race car.