Comments on: Nikon D3x – are you buying one?

By: jes

jes — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:42:40 +0000

Besides if I’m going to drop $8k on something I’ll get some new long glass since my 400/2.8 is starting to grow shrooms between its elements from shooting sports in the rain!!

By: jes

jes — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:14:40 +0000

Well working as a photojournalist for the past 30-yrs and now stringing for the past 7 I have to buy all my own stuff ,, yuck! I was about to get a couple d700′s when someone told me about the nikon rumors site about 7-wks ago and I thought that since film bodies used to come out every 8-yrs and digees have a reputation of every 1.5-yrs or less and all the rumors floating about I think I’ll wait, but I am really disappointed in the d3x’s specs for what I use it for and at $8K a pop givin todays economic standards of the print media and its new habit of infrequently using stringers and its financial future but mostly MINE, I kinda find it hard to believe that even the wires or let alone SI will buy any of them, well maybe SI nikon shooters for studio stuff but even most of them are now canon-heads and the nikon-clan will possibly wait for a d3h version. It seems to me that nikon x’s are designed for studio heads and the h’s are more for us street shooters. But I’m almost afraid to get a d700 now since it may have a new-cousin waiting right around the new yr ?? to pop its head out to replace it. I could be wrong but the d3x isn’t for me. That’s my story and I’m stickin to it, and it’s worth what your paying for it ,, nothing. But I do need to up-grade from the d2hs and soon!! I’m down from 4 to 2 bodies and they need a rest before I’m down to 1 or worst!!! Looks to me like the d700 is to the d3 of what the 8008 was to the f3hp just before the f4 hit the street. If you can remember that 1 then ,, well ,,, you didn’t buy the dx lenses either did you ,,,, smart move fellow dinosaurs of the film-age!!

By: Robin Edgar

Robin Edgar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:58:20 +0000

How about just hanging in there a bit for the DX00 version of the Nikon D3x?

Presumably it will come out some time next year.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:14:52 +0000

Using the d3 since it’s release.. and love it for my weddings ( i shoot two a weekend on avg ) .. but.. I was looking forward to a high mp rig .. the d3 already paid for it’s self in a month.. but business slowed down months ago.. it’ll take me like 12 months to ROI with a D3x at list price.. I’m based in Australia and it’ll hit here at like $12-13k.. I paid $6950 when the D3 came out.. above rrp cos i just had to have it. I worked out yesterdays A900 pricing, with five of their best cz glass would come in at just under $14k. The quality is just under the d3x, and I’m betting the clients wont notice the jump from 12 to 24mp in any case.. so what to do.. go sony and carry twice the weight ( but gain a backup with glass if any of my glass ever packs it in – i’m doubtful though ) – my d3 rig already weighs a ton and hurts my back after a full days shooting or just add a body and get to use my same glass ( if only sony had the 14-24 2.8 it would be a easy choice ! or an adapter to use nikon glass on it ! ) and batteries etc etc and i know the d3 inside out.. geez nikon you made it hard for us to decide!.. I would of happly paid $7k aust for a d700 body with high mp for a second rig though, less weight would of been welcomed. What to do what to do ?!

By: JOhn

JOhn — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:31:59 +0000

Sorry, I am not a rich fool. $8000? Give me a break.

By: Jerry Burnell

Jerry Burnell — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:46:54 +0000

I bought the D2X the day it was available (#629) and I have been waiting for the D3X for years but at $7999 it is not an option. I was ready to buy at the $5000 level, but Nikon has totally priced me out of the market this time. I am very disappointed in Nikon on the basis of price alone with the world economy today. They missed the mark. They not only missed the mark they have chapped me off. Take a body that now sells for $4200 (D3)and take a sensor from a camera that sells for $2999 (Sony 900 put them togeather and charge $7999 does not add up. I have been a diehard nikon supporter for over forty years. But they lost my loyality on this one. I needed two upper end point and shoots for my wife and daughter for Christmas this year. I ordered two Canons this morning ( better value, forget the loyality now). Nikon has missed the mark one too many times.

By: yadda

yadda — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:40:48 +0000

I’m gonna say he was exaggerating for effect.

By: AE

AE — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:28:29 +0000

I shoot daily and this is still an absolutely ridiculous price for a body. Canon is offering a very similar camera for seven thousand less. The Nikon brand changed alot of people over with the D3, but it sure as hell isn’t going keep people by having a body priced so high.

By: Peter Lombardi

Peter Lombardi — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:53:49 +0000

And I knew it was going to be expensive, I just had held out hope, haha
-peter

By: Pablov

Pablov — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:33:28 +0000

wait to see full reviews or at least full size images from D3x (not just those useless flash-presentations posted in Nikon website)
Wait to get full detailed specs images, in raw format, with detailed lens specs used to take them.

Then you can really check the quality.

Nobody (so far) knows what sensor is in the D3x, nobody can tell if it’s Sony’s or not.

Just remind that so high res will demand (to achieve the wanted results) best quality lenses…

By: Pablov

Pablov — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:25:34 +0000

I was watching this 3Dx as the future base for a D800… But I guess I was completely wrong

Now that is announced I don’t know what to think.
Will Nikon release a D800 double the price of a D700 ?
Will Nikon just upgrade the sensor without any extra improvement and no new feature?
Will Nikon ignore Movie/Video in HD professional implementation?

If the D3x was at USD 5.500, then I’ wouldn’t wonder so much. But at 8.000, that makes me wonder what they are thinking of, and what their strategy is…
And more important to customers: what is the future of Nikon FX cameras (in terms of specs/performance, features and prices)

By: Pablov

Pablov — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:13:40 +0000

If I really needed MF, I would consider the modular options of some MF cameras, that Nikon doesn’t have.
And seems nobody has noticed either…

Also an interesting post by Chuck here:
http://nikonrumors.com/2008/12/01/nikon-d3x-announcement.aspx

And if the budget is not a problem for you, then you may also consider the upcoming RED’s digital camera (with modular system)

I like Nikon a lot, but this camera is overpriced, with the excuse that is aimed to MF pros.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:53:12 +0000

The 1Ds Mark III was announced at $8000. What’s “insane” about Nikon introducing the D3x at the same price???

It sounds like most people here were expecting the D3x to be the D800.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:40:52 +0000

Before you changed the subject to “the right tool for the job,” you talked about the D3x possibly producing results comparable to 4×5 film. This is what I refer to as “nonsense” — nothing personal.

By: Paddy McKay

Paddy McKay — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:16:53 +0000

Has this camera touched a sensitive nerve, or what??? Obviously Nikon is targeting the D3x at the potential Leica/MF shooter, but the consesus here is that Nikon has clearly mis-calculated,…big-time. On top of the fact that there’s a serious world-wide economic downturn (that ain’t over yet). There’s already the 5D-MKII, and the A900, in the $3000 ballpark, and it’s looking like the Canon is producing some very decent files; it’s just too bad they didn’t improve the rest of the camera while they were at it. But the fact is that the Canon’s going to sell like hotcakes.

Usually, I enjoy reading Rockwell’s updates for his skewered and entertaining comments, but I have to say that his current summary on the D3x pricing strategy, hits the nail right on the head. I’ll be buying a D700 in the coming months, and won’t regret it in the least.

It leaves one to wonder, just how Nikon plans to position the upcoming D800? Do they expect to be able to price it out above the D3? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Nikon,…DOH.

By: oz

oz — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:46:04 +0000

Over 84% @ 2,000 votes say NO… eeek! Isnt it like 1,000 voices represents 10,000 people?

I hope nikon gets this pole.

By: stephen z

stephen z — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:58:47 +0000

In my view, if you have some budget for photo equipment, always take the lenses as priority, as the lenses will not depreciate while at the same period, a certain DSLR that you prefers will drop significantly and will sooner or later come to a price level that you can afford to. For example, I still own my D70 bought in 2004, and have no plan to upgrade it till that desired time arrives. In contrast to chasing the new machines, I have done my best to upgrade my lenses, bought 70-200mm/2.8,24-70mm/2.8,14-24mm/2.8,and 85mm/1.4, for nearly $7000. 3 years later, I will probably see Dx00 version of full frame DSLR with 2.4MB drop to $2k or even less, while my lenses still keep their value. This is the rule of the game. Right?

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:23 +0000

I will reply to that – I completely agree that a 4×5 chrome represents the highest quality print possible. What it boils down to is the best tool for the job – whether you want to carry a massive backpack for days in the Colorado rockies, or a small and light camera that enables you to shoot places impossible with a 4×5 camera. What baffles me is how quickly people become aggressive over something as innocuous as photography. Why on earth would you call my comment nonsense? Hope you enjoy shooting your 4×5 camera.

By: [NR] admin

[NR] admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:50:15 +0000

Good idea. I will post another poll shortly.

By: rthomas

rthomas — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:28:15 +0000

True… still, you get the idea. I usually print 6×9 inches; if I get ambitious, I go up to 12×18. I simply DON’T NEED 24 megapixels.