Odd focus for choosing a camera or gauging how good it is. Just my thought.

If the comparison was between the D3 series and the D7k I would understand but Nikon beefed up a consumer line camera. I would think most would be rejoicing rather than where if COULD fall short of something.

I choose to accept that any beefed up body is a good thing.

Birds_I77 - I understood what you said and I do see the humor in the replies. ;)

poster said:
LOL does D7k have any crumple zones?

No, but I think the added expense for the new battery grip comes from the built-in airbags.

I find it hard to believe a D7000 will fail after one wedding session when in fact Mamiya RZ67s and Bronica ETRs and SQ-Ais are also made primarily from hardened polycarbonate with metal underlying shells.

Ever notice there's no Mamiya Rumors or Hasselblad Rumors sites?

LOL does D7k have any crumple zones?

Only thing I wanna know is how someone has already tested the D7k to find out it can't last a single wedding season...

Let's save the personal reviews for when you get your hands on one, eh? ;)

It's like my Mustang, how new Mustang owners think they're better than older ones or vise versa... The main thing is, it's a Mustang, you're all winners, or losers if you're looking at it from Chevy's perspective. Likewise, It's a Nikon! We're all winners! And probably losers from Canon's perspective... But come on... who cares about them :p. JP

Birds_I77 said:
As they say the current super model is old hat in 18 months. Lenses.

Yeah! Birds_I77 everybody, recognize! Lenses!

lol

Somewhere on youtube a guy in South East Asia abuses the hell out of Canon and Nikon consumer bodies (drops, torching, water) in a less than scientific test. You guys should check that out (don't have link handy).

A friend's F4 has suffered a much worse fall without damage. As an investment, I think magnesium alloy makes sense. However, the N90 was an awesome block of polycarbonate and I have seen professionals in Europe using them alot (not everyone can afford the top end stuff). Whether it will survive you landing on it when you slip on spilt champagne in a dance hall I can't say, but an alternative is having backup bodies and insurance.

Personally I like the partial magnesium for how I assume it will feel in the hand, how much flex it will have. It should make it more mechanically robust, but the connections between the lense and body are where I'd worry most -- If that part isn't fully metal, I'd need to see alot of information to believe it is as good as an alloy body. Thankfully the 18-105 I'll have on the camera as a default is almost designed to break apart and protect the body ;)

maybe birds_177 used google translate for his/her post.

Yes... and... uh... We love bananas because they have no bones.

uh, what?

The makers of Canons and Nikons have hired the best PR people in the world. I haven't seen such bickering since Roger Maris broke the Babe's record. Marketing geniuses. I think behind the curtain we'll see reps of both companies laughing their sides off as photographers square off on this. One thing I do know the next gen of Canon DIGIC processor will make everyone wish they waited. And the improvements to the prosumer Nikons will also knock everyones socks off. So I guess you can't lose which ever u buy. Enjoy it. As they say the current super model is old hat in 18 months. Lenses.

Yeah, honesty guys the build quality of the consumer cameras from Nikon are very good, and the D700 is about as good as it gets for a consumer camera! I never felt like I couldn't trust the build quality of my D50, D80 or D90, although I didn't like taking them out in the rain for more than a minute or two.

drpeters said:
A D7000 would give up the ghost after a single wedding season.

wow ! this is the first time I'm hearing such comments :o.I've used my D90 in rains ,dust etc and its still working flawlessly .Seems like you drop your gear a lot .

do you use your gear like this

youtube.com/watch?v=-UBGWOpEVcU&feature=related

or like this

youtube.com/watch?v=cueq-lqWK9c

I hope posting funny youtube links isn't banned :)

Hi all,

My D90 has made it through two seasons of weddings and everything else, to include Montana's extreme Winters and the hot heat of Hawaii beaches, and it exceeded it's shutter actuation expectations by far. It seems okay.

I think the metal parts above and below are to correct some issues with connectivity on the battery pack and beef up the top, to include the hot shoe connection and, I'm guessing, help with weather proofing the knobs.

My best to all,

Mike

Resolved, found a cnet article that confirms that its an all metal chassis with mag-alloy top and rear covers. The rest of it is polycarbonate.

Hey guys, just saw this video that says magnesium alloy for top and rear covers but that its and all metal chasis, can anyone confirm. Does anyone have another source (online) that reports the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCopSqHDZss

RFP and drp, I'm wondering if you've used both types of camera extensively, because I have and I think you're off your respective rockers. I'm guessing you haven't because there's not as much difference as you imply here.

While the D7000 has good specifications, there's a reason they make cameras like the D200/D300. They are overall better. Now I'm not realistically scoffing at the D7000, because it'll outperform any compact any day. Some pro and semi-pro photographers might scoff at it because it doesn't live up to our own standards, but it won't be a bad camera.

Personally, I consider it an entry-level camera, or a "toy" camera, but that's because I have the better equipment...but for someone getting into photography, it might be the best place they can start. Let's see what the reviews say in the next year.

I dont understand this blatant misconception that the polycarbonate i flimsy as a fisher price toy camera. As for the D7000 not lasting a single wedding season, are you serious? What kind of weddings do you shoot? or do you just drop your cameras on a routine basis. My D90 has recieved heavy wear and been banged around quite a bit, it work just fine, there are no creaks, cracks, or points of weakness. the camera is every bit as solid as the day i got it.

who caresif it is magnesium or not, so far i have never ever ever heared of a single instance where a polycarb camera broke because it was not made with magnesium My prime concern is weather or not it will be weather sealed, and it will be.

Not last a single season. give me a break. Just because the D7000 has a better sensor, a better processor, will likely have superior low light performance, and cost a lot less than your D300 does not make your D300 a lesser camera, so the consistant need to dog on this new D7000 out of insecurity is just not needed.

some of you guy really blow my mind.

I wanted to replace my D90 .I was thinking of getting D300s ,but after D7000 release I got confused .now I'm further confused :(

Maybe if this was a pro body and not a hobby camera. It makes perfect sense to me, keep the construction cheaper so you can tout all the bells and whistles. A consumer level user won't notice things like body construction. They will simply be dazzled by all the megapixels and video offerings. My D300 and D2x bodies are built like tanks, which is necessary for their constant use. A D7000 would give up the ghost after a single wedding season.

Wow, just realized that the d7000 is not full magnesium alloy body after all. The front cover is I guess still poly carbonate and so is the bottom. Just don't understand why the rear and the top cover were made with mag-alloy. (I know a full mag-alloy body would weigh more, but why half-assed mag-alloy body. Also shouldn't the chasis around the lens mount be a more apt place to put the mag-alloy instead of polycarbonate resin.