Glad to have you, and your gear, back. Look forward to more PAD posts!

Added a picture to PAD but it's not my best just what I have access to right now. Really need to look at all of my files, maybe tonight.

For anyone taking a camera out in the rain or where there is dust or sand, there is a product called rain sleeves that are very cheap. They have a drawstring for the lens and a hole in the back to fit your eyepiece through. The best thing is that B&H sells them for about $ 7.00 for a pack of two.

So cool. Looking forward to PAD photos....Congratulations on your return andrewz!

glad You're back and please post some pictures into PAD thread

Looking forward to the pics.

Soon, I'm not quite home yet and internet connection isn't so good here.

Thanks for the update andrewz- got any pics from the desert to post on the PAD?

Well my time is the Desert is now officially over! The camera gear held up well but I did baby it. When not in uses it was in a zip lock bag and inside a case. I didn’t take the cameras out during the sand storms so not really a good test. Really my job limited the time I could get out and take pictures. I did have a few friends there whose job it was to take photos and videos and their equipment took a beating but when not in uses it often sat out on a deck accumulating fine dust. Then again all pro-equipment takes a beating and when you’re not paying for it yourself…..

I absolutely love my P7000, this camera I took everywhere and probably used for 90% of the pictures I took. I’m thinking Nikon needs a DX sensor, “range finder” format camera like the Fuji X-Pro 1(but that’s another thread).

Next time would I do anything different? Not really, I’d bring the equipment I have and make the best of it. If money were no issue I would consider I would consider getting the Fuji X-Pro 1 and leaving the DSLR home. Traveling with big equipment is problematic. The DSLR traveled to the Desert on a container ship for 3 month, in a pelican case, in a trunk, in a shipping container without any issues. On the way home it traveled in the same pelican case but this time in the belly of a 747, I really should see if it’s still working :-).

Nikon will be breaking quite old precedent if they release a D700s in 2012.

Rehashing this thread just to drop another "rumor." A co-worker of mine went to the Nikon school held this past weekend in Miami, Florida and proded one of the Nikon reps. The following text is not verbatim but basically is what he says the conversation went like:

Co-worker: So what's the word on the D800? When's that coming out?

Rep: Where'd you hear about a D800, Nikon Rumors?

Co-worker: yep

Rep: Well, that site is all rumors - that's why it's called nikon rumors. I don't know why everybody is talking about a D800. We don't of know anything named D800. What we have heard about is being called D700S and we're about a year away from releasing that.

Co-worker: What about video...will video be improved in your cameras.

Rep: Right now video in our DSLRs still lacks what people expect because the autofocus is just not the best.

.........

Disclaimer: these were all the words from my co-worker. We don't even know how well connected that rep was to corporate Nikon. After all....this is Nikon Rumors.

Just get a couple 1 gallon zip lock bags and cut a hole for the lens to stick through.

Let us know how it goes!

My carry everywhere camera arrived this week. Coolpix P7000, very impressive little camera, it has more controls and option than my D200. Now I haven't tried to compare image quality yet but so far I really like it. This one will definitely need the zip lock bag when not in use. Word from most of my friends is that most point and shoots don't survive the tour. We'll see, I'm going to try hard to keep them clean but still pull them out and use them as much as possible.

Next year durability report!

sprayandpray said:
In that case, get eye-fi, a rain proof bag and a 18-200 so you never have to take it out?

you missed the solar power battery charger!
I think it would be possible to make a dust proof, permanently sealed unit :)

andrewz said:
Great suggetions. But what's the point of having good equipment if you don't use it. So for better or worse I'll use what I have.

In that case, get eye-fi, a rain proof bag and a 18-200 so you never have to take it out?

rbid said:
I don't think it will pump dust right on the sensor... but beware of changing lenses on a dusty environment.

I will blow dust right into the mirror box and right onto the sensor if using live view. Not that a dirty mirror box is anything but a few shutter actuations from a dirty sensor...

andrewz said:
On the subject of the 18-200 as an air pump. If you zoom it in and out fast you can actually feel the air blow out the back of the lens. Yes effectively pumping dust right on to the sensor!

I don't think it will pump dust right on the sensor... but beware of changing lenses on a dusty environment. I have a giotto rocket blower, that served me a lot when I traveled across the Altiplano in Bolivia, lot of dust/wind as well... I still have some souvenirs from that journey on my sensor.. (from 5 month ago).. I guess I need to apply the "Copperhill" wet method for cleaning the sensor of my old camera (D70s)

Great suggetions. But what's the point of having good equipment if you don't use it. So for better or worse I'll use what I have. Hey and if after a year it's shoot, it will be a good time to upgrade to a D700/800.

On the subject of the 18-200 as an air pump. If you zoom it in and out fast you can actually feel the air blow out the back of the lens. Yes effectively pumping dust right on to the sensor!

@Drdobs - The D300 was better than the D2x in allot of major ways. That didn't stop Nikon before. The whole D3 series is nearing it's life cycle end. Why would it be odd that a new body would outdo a 3-4 year old body?

aetas said:
If the d800 is going the way of high iso I would hope for a better then d3s not the same. I agree though.
I want to see a dx (d400) with some d3s iso abilities. That would be a camera.
~Cheers

I can't imagine Nikon letting their D700 replacement actually have better ISO performance than the D3s, I mean, why would anybody spend twice as much on a D3s then? I know they are going to release the D4 at some point, but I'd have to believe ISO performance will probably fall somewhere between current D700 and D3s - which I think would be perfectly acceptable and welcome to the entry level FX community.

On the D300s replacement (presumably D400) it would be nice to see D700 level of ISO performance... I am quite content on DX, as a D90 shooter, I am quite anxiously waiting for the D400.

Jon

I too, have been waiting for a replacement for the D700. I've been waiting so long, that now I can afford a D4 and will probably buy that when it comes out. I've been preparing for the transition to FX, and have been changing my lenses accordingly. I currently own the holy trinity.

I'm a photography student, aspiring to become a pro. I had a D90 for the longest time, patiently waiting for that D700 replacement, but when the D7k replacement came out, the ISO capabilities was such an improvement that I upgraded to it, and will use it as a 2nd body when the appropriate FX camera comes out.

As for how I like the D7k, it's a great camera. If it wasn't for the fact of that DX crop, I would've just bought another one as a 2nd body.

i was going to suggest that, specifically to buy a d90 or something. But he's going for a whole year, so i dont think that flies :)

Well my reasoning for keeping it CF is because I have quite a few of the cards and a couple of readers but if they are more durable then still I want to stick with what works.

About the more MP Vs low light resolution. Say the "D800" came out with a sensor that had 32.4 MP and had the same light resolution of the D7000 made today. The FF sensor has more than twice the area of the DX sensors (for nikon at least). I would more expect to see something like that on a "D4" than a D700 replacment but just wondering everyones thoughts on this (and yes I know enough about sensors to hurt myself, if I am totally off on this feel free to correct my thinking).

I could see if you can make a 32.4 MP sensor with that low light resolution you can make a 20 MP sensor with even better light resolution (and understand why someone would want this, just not my needs).

Talking of eggs; I would take the chickens way out and buy/waste a reasonable point'n shoot. I'd rather leave my good gear at home.

Bring a prime or two and try to use them as much as possible. plus like others said limit your lens changes.

do not trust your standard camera bag to keep dust out, even with a rain cover. keep every camera, lens, whatever electronic device in its own zip-loc bag.

also watch out for heat, a car can get hot enough to cook an egg at times, a camera wont stand a chance.