My dream comes true today.......
The wait is over, finally.

Nikon D3



AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm / F2.8G ED

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm / F2.8G ED

AF-S Nikkor 400mm / F2.8G ED VR

It's time to work in double before November.
And all the mod project will have to postpone.

At the mean time, I might consider getting rid some of my old gears as well.

 

Seriously... FF, still DX compatible. Good frame rate...

Might have to sell my D1x finally and pop a nut on this thing.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Glass looks interesting too...

 

Yep it's a dream, but at $5000 I'll stay with my D200.

 

D200 is truely a decent camera.

 

Yes it is. I started with a Fuji S1, sort of a Franken camera. Fuji digital guts jammed in a Nikon film slr body. Then I moved to a D70. After that was a DH2. Then came the D200. I'm truly happy with it. I know technology marches on, but I think I'm keeping the D200 for a long time.

 

I don't know how much the new D3 will drive down D200 prices, but if it's significant, I'm tempted to upgrade my D50 (which is still a nice camera).

 

I don't think the D3 will affect D200 prices. Now the release of the D300 sure will. They are both due out in October I believe. The D200 is a huge leap from the D50. The D50 is nice, but once you a D200 it will feel toy-like in comparison. Go for the D200, you won't be sorry.

 

Nice, very nice. Nice selection of lenses. What are you doing in the middle 70-300? You shooting sports with the 400 VR. I will stay with my 70s until the next generation is released.

No more mods for you.

 

I've already had the 70-200mm / F2.8 VR, 200mm / F2 and other goodies.

And you're right, no more mod for a long time.

 

You're modding your camera bag.

 

 

I needed a towel to wipe down all the drool off my desk after reading the D3 announcement. I'm so excited at the prospect of replacing my challenging, yet FF wide angle capable Kodak and my mega pixel challenged, yet bulletproof telephoto lens only D2h. I finally feel like someone at Nikon marketing was listening to me! I want to do wide landscapes and motorsport photography with a single camera like I used to be able to do with film cameras. I'll also get to go old school retro grouch and use my 28mm PC lens again.

p.s. the D200 is a great camera and should be discounted near the D300 delivery time. I personally just have too much invested in wide angle glass to consider DX sensors, otherwise I would have been using a D200 already.

 

I can see how a wide angle shooter would be frustrated with a DX equipped body. For me a DX body was a good thing. As someone who rarely shot with anything wider than a 28mm & is into motorsports shooting, the extra reach is great.

I think there will be good deals on D2x's too. Every time Nikon comes out with a new body the ones being replaced can be had at a nice discount.

Having too much invested in glass is what has kept me in the Nikon camp all of these years. There was a time when I considered jumping ship , but I'm glad I didn't.

 

I really love my work horses, the D2H, they become my own hands. I'm so get use to it.

Full frame @ >12mp (for high detail images, and supper wide shots),
DX mode on demand @ >5mp (good enough for most of my application),
Faster and more accurate focusing system (less misses, more hits )
be able to take acceptable quality images @ higher than 1600 ISO ,
3" LCD screen @ 920,000 dot VGA (be able to chimp* better and with more detail)
Better and easier to operate wireless system (become handy sometimes),
2 CF card slots, capable to have 2 copies of the files (I like the "1 for .NEF, 1 for .jpeg" config) .

Then, the D3 was annouced and it fills up with the wish list that I would want to have on my D2H.
With those above features alone, make me want and need the camera alrealy. Also after almost 3 years of hard working (without any hickup ), my work horses are about to retire.

Oh well, it's time to redo the budget and make more money.


*normally, I don't chimp in the field that much.

 

The D2H is a real workhorse. I liked mine very much, but I could not get used to its size & weight. Usually I'm not an early adopter of new technology. My D200 was the exception to that rule.

I'm glad there are pioneer's like you who embrace new tech & blaze a trail for all us technophobes to follow. I'm also glad Nikon has finally listed to the photographers & made the needed improvements.

 

I'm taking a very close look at the D300. I have a D-70 and D-70S now and just got a 17-55 f2.8 Nikor lense two months ago. I was thinking about another lense, something fast and long to shoot autocrosses, my daughter crew races, and wildlife. Now do I go for glass or the D-300? It will be months before I have enough cash to do either but what the hay.
John

 

Camera is definitely important. But without proper lenses, you won't get the pictures that you would like to capture.

It seems like some long lenses will fit most of your application. And since you've already have the sweet 17-55mm, I would suggest to add the combination of 70-200mm / F2.8G VR and TE-14E II into your gears bag. Which should cover most of the range that you need, 17mm - 280mm (missing 56mm - 69mm, which I barely shoot that range anyway ). You can wait a little bit after getting those glasses to get a new body later on.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Nothing wrong with your D70/D70S. A agree with Maxi the 70-200 f2.8 VR along with TE-14E II will get you some great shots.

 

Go for the glass John. The camera is nice, but your D70 & D70s bodies are great for what you want to shoot (and based on what you've posted). A good investment in glass will get you further down the road of photography and as noted prior, camera bodies will only continue to get better (and hopefully cheaper!).

The 70-200/2.8VR would be great, the 70-300/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR is a worthy economical choice if one's budget is not unlimited.

 

I have been looking at the 2.8 70-200. I have the "kit" 18-70 Nikon lense and a 70-300 Tamron that does ok (most of my autocross shots in the link below). The Tamron when zoomed between about 250 to 300 shoots at f5.6 - a bit slow. I'll most likely get a new lense, maybe not a zoom but a 300mm or 400mm.
On the other hand more pixels would allow for better cropping. The ISO range of the D300 might help the Tamron (the D70 & 70s images don't like the high ISO as much it seems - could be me though).
This is very tough....I get very attached to my cameras. I still have my FE that got flooded back in 1976 and the Voitlander viewfinder (my first 35mm) that was given to me in 1966.

More bettererer glass is the smart way to go. I know that...

but Nikon is calling, can you hear them, turn your ear to the east... the Far East.

 

It seems like you've already made up your mind.

I'd say, GO FOR IT.

One suggestion, on the day that you pick up the D300, try it with your Tamron 70 -300mm and Nikkor 70 - 200mm / F2.8. You will see the different, especially focusing speed and color contrast.

 

DaCrema, if you get a chance, take your D70s with your Tameron 70-300 lens to a camera store and compare it to the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8. I suspect you'll find this Nikon lens to focus much faster and easier to use for your motorsport photography. Personally I'd want the lens upgrade before the camera body as I love the results of the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (used for motorsports and candid portraits). Nothing wrong with your D70s that a lens upgrade can't fix. my $.02.

 

Not really. More daydreaming. For the most part I'm still very happy with the D-70s. There are still things to explore about the camera and it is a lot of fun to use.

I will likely have the 70-200 f2.8 before the D-300. As most here already know the glass is everything. The Tamron is a nice lense for the money. The pictures are sharp, the color is good. However, I find that I fewer throw aways with the Tamron when not using the autofocus. I think the Nikor would not work as hard / hunt as much in auto mode. I almost purchased the Nikor 70-200 instead of the 17-55 (which I love by the way).

Thanks everyone for the comments.
John

 

Lenses at same range, on same camera @ the same scenerial, the faster the lense (brighter), the lesser it will hunt for focus. It will lock on and/or track the target quicker and more accurate, the result, more useable images.

At the mean time, I've just make a reservation.

#43 on the list at the store. The delivery date of the D3 will roughly be by the end of November, even with NPS priority.

 

The D3 looks to be a major jump forward, Way out of my price range, but reading comments on Pbase, dgrin, but mostly DPReview this is one exciting camera. Expecting delivery any time November is good considering they only become available the beginning of November (in Europe per DP Review, I saw no dates for the USA).
Kinda like waiting for an 02 MCS after placing an order in April 2002.
tic tock