Thanks for the tips. I do believe also the D600 will meet my expectations and more. The hi-ISO IQ on this thing is incredible, can't wait to take it for a spin in the next couple of days. And ok, you confirmed my belief, I'll get a Hoya HD filter soon for the 24-70, meanwhile it received a Hoya Pro1D filter I had on one of the DX lenses.

msmoto said:
@ Rx4Photo Why would anyone shoot without a lens hood, except when using the built in flash? Just curious....

I dunno...I've watched a couple of blogger's videos where they say just leave the hood at home. Maybe they don't see the value it it. I prefer to use it though to prevent any flaring whenever possible.

@ Mihai CH, I occasionally shoot at the beach or near piers so there's always the chance of spray and mist. I prefer to occasionally wipe off the UV filter instead of constantly wiping the front element of the lens. I think you will enjoy the D600. I met a birder yeaterday morning carrying a D90 and a D600 with a Sigma 150-500mm lens attached. She really liked the combination.

Mihai CH said:
But do you pros also put a UV or protector filter on it. I used to do this but now I'm afraid about losing IQ. On the other hand I also worry about protection of frontal element.

If you have ever been accidentally spayed but an graffiti street artist, you would know the answer to this

unless you shoot is safe and very clean safe environment, or don't mind buying new lens from time to time, i would recommend a UV filter

for those, into the light, tricky landscapes, you can always take it off

Thank you msmoto.

About the 24-70 and sorry for a short offtopic, I think the hood offers also a great protection. But do you pros also put a UV or protector filter on it. I used to do this but now I'm afraid about losing IQ. On the other hand I also worry about protection of frontal element. Been reading a lot online and it's not all that clear.

@ Rx4Photo Why would anyone shoot without a lens hood, except when using the built in flash? Just curious....

Love the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8. I even shoot it with the lens hood on (even though many people leave it off) because it's such a pleasure to see and hold the whole package.

@ Mihai CH.... congratulations..... we will be waiting for the results on PAD

Well guys, I have to share this with you because my excitement level is through the roof. I took your advice (partly) and understood I need at least one top quality lens with a FF body, so this Black Friday I was one of the few who managed to get Nikon D600 at 1550euros and the gorgeous Nikkor 24-70 2.8 for another 1100euros. Also got 2xSandisk 8Gb extreme 30 Mbps for 35euros.

I have already picked them up from the shop and I'm biting my hands here at work to try them, but I'll get home only late in the night :(

Will come back with some impressions after this weekend.

Good topic and one that I have thought about a lot over the years although obviously regarding different bodies. The D600 should continue to drop in price and used bodies will even start popping up so if I were you I would grab the excellent 24-70mm lens first. I still believe it is Nikon best lens in its current lineup with the exception of the extreme telezooms of course. I see that you need it for January 2013? Possible Christmas sales might help? Ebay? The big lens should always come before the big body purchase, but I do feel your pain believe me..

msmoto: I would love to have a D4 but for $6,000 I can have more fun with more bodies (D800 + D600 is only about $5,000 which leaves a $1,000 left for a D7200). If I shot sports professionally or speeding cars (like you do) I would get a D4 instead of the others because I would need the speed. But I don't. Shooting both a D800 and a D600 has convinced me that I don't need a D800's 36 megapixels. The 24mp on the D600 is good enough for my use and I expect the same will be true of a high end 24mp DX sensor. I think a D600 FX matched with a D7200 DX will do all I need or want to do and will be lighter to carry around.

Thank you guys for your answers. While I've been reading the NR website for years now, I am just discovering the great community hidden inside the "Forum" button -- so nice to have found it.

@TaoTeJared, although I do have the hots for a change and D600 has superb quality, when I manage to think objectively I end the same result as you - at the current price D600 is for at least semi-pros or people who make some money out of photography. And in case I go FF at some point the 35mm will leave me, I know it vignettes.

@golf007sd - yes, no point in buying FF to use with DX lenses, I think it somehow defeats the purpose. I'll try to settle down for a few more months hoping the D7000 successor comes along as the body is my biggest drawback now, not necessarily the lenses. By the way, here in Romania Nikon gives up to 7% discount when buying a FF body + a gold ring lens (in case there is a promo offer however this does not apply any longer).

@mihaich: The D600, much like the D4 & D800, will work with all DX lenses...that is why it has a DX mode on/of in the camera setup menus. So your lenses will work on it as if it was a DX body. But, as you know, you will not be taking advantage of the FF sensor.

Given that you are not a novice, you have plenty of tools at your disposal to make the right choice for which lens kit to you...after all this is not your first "rodeo." If there is a lens you have specific question on, let us know and we will each tell you our thoughts about it, with respect to how each of us has used it. FYI. TTJ, Eric, msmoto are "glass professors" they have immense knowledge on them. I'm just playing catchup.

Lastly, if you do buy new body, there are some very nice specials offered that reduce the price of a pro-glass (those with a gold ring in the front) when purchase with a D600.

Good luck...specially with the wife :P

With the quality of what DX seems to achieve now, I would stick with DX. You don't need $6,000 of glass and a $2,000 camera to make great images. What you have now is quite good. DX will allow you to get more for your money and give you more glass options than having to switch to FX. I still see the D600 as a good pro back-up and a marketing gimmick to get amateurs to spend a ton of $$ on new glass. Good camera if you have the money, but if you are stretching it, I would focus on glass and move to FX when you have the glass bought first.

Just a note, the 35mm 1.8g does work on FX but has heavy vignetting. I like it, not technically correct, but I usually had a lot of vignetting to my photos anyway.

Hi guys.

I would really want to upgrade also and D600 sounds very tempting. However, I do not make any money out of photography, I'm just a passionate amateur and on a budget
Currently I own: Nikon D80, Tokina 11-16, Tamron 17-50 (without VC), Nikon 70-300 VRII and the primes: Nikon 35 1.8G, Nikon 50 1.8D and Tokina 100 macro.

In case I go FF, the only compatible lens are the last 2 primes and the 70-300 although quality wise this tele is not great. Also, I heard that the 11-16 should be ok @16 on FF.
I shoot landscape, urban, portraits and very little macro and studio. However, lately I've also started shooting dogs agility (running, jumping obstacles etc) and the D80 is totally overwhelmed.

Whatever I choose for body I would like to get it new, for warranty and peace of mind. Lenses I'm pretty ok to buy SH. The options I see are: D600 but also a 24-70 2.8 (keeping the primes, maybe the Tokina and the 70-300) or wait & buy the future D7100, get some good FF lenses (the trinity?) then move to FF - this would mean a few years probably.

Last but not least - tried the D7000, maybe I had bad luck but I got 3 bodies all with problems. And don't ask about budget, I need to negotiate with wifey after I make up my mind what I want to do :))

sevencrossing said:
If you not having any moire problems with your 800E i would get another one
bought a grey P7100 and several SB900s and have had no problems
but then I have never had any problems with any Nikon gear

My main camera is a D800 and my second a D700 if I did / had more work I would probably buy another D 800 but I would have serious look at a D4
here is a 2nd Camera thread

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=8401

Cheers that helps quite a lot.

If you not having any moire problems with your 800E i would get another one
bought a grey P7100 and several SB900s and have had no problems
but then I have never had any problems with any Nikon gear

My main camera is a D800 and my second a D700 if I did / had more work I would probably buy another D 800 but I would have serious look at a D4
here is a 2nd Camera thread

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=8401

That sub $3k price for the D800 in OZ is a grey import. I'd rather not take the risk with something as complex as a camera or lens and buy local treating the extra cost as a 2 year safety net that I can't imagine the grey importer matching.

I am thinking of picking up a second D800E (selling off all of my Pentax kit to fund the rest of my Nikon system) and was wondering what others would do. Would you prefer two of the same body or one of each? I'd rather keep workflow the same and hence have two of the same body but others may have legitimate reasons for having one of each body type. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Cheers

I see you are from the Nederlands which is funny because it is where the HQ of Nikon Europe is. As I understand it, if you need warranty or service and your item was not bought in Europe, it will be chargeable. If you look on line, you can see it for £1969 and you do not get customs charges plus you get a warranty.

There is a time for penny pinching and a time to just pay up - this is the time to just pay up!

In the US, this is a 10% discount...and service is going to be a potential problem. The shipping costs with insurance also a problem. And, US Customs is sometimes a crap shoot. One may find another 3-6% added on plus a custom's broker so one ends up paying another 15%.

Much wiser to purchase locally or via online from B & H, Adorama, or another of the reliable online merchants.

And, if a problem occurs, and there is an irregularity in the origin of the camera, it may never return.

In the 1960's we used to purchase from Hong Kong, and this was at about a 40% discount. The primary reason was we could not afford a camera which costs three months salary but could swing the less than two months... risky, and when one was not functioning correctly, well, we were stuck with it.

For most folks, the $3000 USD cost of a D800 is only a start. Either one has a lot of glass already, or the next $2,000 or so is going to purchase a lens or two. The risk/benefit of importing does not seem to make sense to me.

I see that the D800 body costs 145450 INR in India, that is € 2145,-
Why should I not order my camera in India? (or ask an Indian friend to take it with him for me)
Or Australia? € 2081,--

@ donaldejose ...so when are you ordering your D4?

Funduro has a good point about Nikon D lens. Great value. But if you buy any lens used from private sellers outside companies like B&H you'd better make sure you don't get them with dust, fungus, etc. There are used lens buying tutorials. EBay can be a problem here.

The two brothers time lapse video on the Nikon USA site clearly shows how long the D600 test mule cameras (Nikon preproduction cameras) have been out there working. Those stills and videos were taken last winter mostly. The D400 test cameras are out there getting stills and video that we will be seeing in 2013. Check that out and look at the Nikkor lens in use for much of it. Big glass, big bucks, and supersize that for the travel to those locations.....Alaska, Monument Valley, Arizona Navaho colored rock shots, etc.

donalddejose wrote: I have a D40, D70, D80, D90, D3100, D3200, D7000, D800 and a D600 on order. LOL I thought that having aD300s AND a D700 made me feel like I have OCD. Thanks for curing my phobia ! ;-) ( my post is meant to be funny)

OP you do have great suggestions being posted so your decision will be very well thought out and reasonable. Don't forget the D type Nikon lenses, they are a great value.

I wouldnt buy a camera or lens just to get me through. I don't have the money to buy multiple cameras so when I buy I want to buy what I like. So if you can afford the D600 which is what you want then buy it and use your lenses on your trip and save for the lens. Or otherwise, buy better glass which should last ages and should help your images even with the D60 as long as your D60 is still in good working order and save up to buy the camera you like.

Its just my opinion...my funds are limited so I only buy what I really like and what I can afford...

Look at a D5100 if you want to save some money for a later purchase of a D7200 or D400. It has the same 16mp sensor as the D7000.