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Advice for upgrading to FX

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Orval

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 10
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Hi all,
I hope you will be able to help me out.

I've had a Nikon D70 for 5 years (my first "serious" camera) and it's been a great workhorse but I want to upgrade to an FX camera due to better lenses and improved ergonomics as I want to push myself further into photography and see how good can I get.
I've been trawling through tons of data and read a lot in the past months on this site (thanks for all your tips) as well as managed to save myself enough money throughout the years to enable me this upgrade (also had to convince wife also which was probably the hardest part of all;-)).

I currently have a very limited gear :
D70 + 17-70 DX kit lens
50mm 1/8d
+ good tripod, Nikon flash,...

So my initial idea was to get a D700 (prob second hand) with the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 AFS which would hit my budget to the max. The reason why I want the 24-70 is the flexibility to shoot pics on a wide range of stuff until I save enough for other FX lenses to complement like a wide lens or a telezoom.

My questions are this :
1. I've been hearing a lot about the possible launch of the D700s this year.
Would it be better for me to put on hold buying the D700 for now and use the 24-70 lens on my D70 in the meantime or will the weight of the lens be too much for me to handle with my "small" D70? (I know the crop factor of an FX lens on a DX and I'm fine with that for a while).

2. Also, while I do want the Nikon lens, it is very expensive. Instead, is there any really good value for money on Sigma/Tonica equivalent lens out there that could be more affordable in order for me to get 2 sets of lens instead of 1.
My ideal situation actually would be to have a wide angle and a mid range lens. Any good recommendations.

3. On Ebay, I have seen vendors (i.e King trade)that supply brand new bodies from HK which are cheaper (without VAT or duty of course). The customer service seems impeccable however I want to know if any one has actually been through that before and if so is it recommended?

Thank you for your help on these 3 questions! It's really much appreciated.

Posted 3 years ago #
SquamishPhoto

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Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 1,076
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The D700 replacement is going to cost a lot more than it will cost you to buy a second hand D700 right now. I would make the same suggestion as NikoDoby and just buy the 24-70 and keep the D70. then start saving a few more bucks until this summer and you'll be set.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
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Hello Orval and welcome to the forum

I would wait on the D700 replacement. Just get the 24-70 for now. It'll work and handle just fine mounted to your D70. There are other alternatives from Sigma and others but I'd stick to Nikon. I've gotten burned too many times by Sigma to recommend them.

I'd also stay away from cheap out of country vendors you see on ebay. It's still a lot of money and I personally wouldn't take a risk on a vendor I know little about regardless of how impeccable they seem to be.

I still use my D70 on occasion. Great "little" camera :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
Orval

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 10
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Thanks NikoDoby and Squamish,
I'll be patient until the D700s arrives this summer then....I've waited a few years so can wait a few more months.
My 24-70 is now ordered on Amazon and on it's way :-) Can't wait to try it out on my D70!

This is a good forum - thanks for taking your time.

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 1,701
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The 24-70 will be very nice on your D70 great buy. You will still be using it in 20 years time! I have a D70 as well. Great little camera! I still use it as my second camera.

Posted 3 years ago #
Orval

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 10
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Thanks - my D70 has been my baby for years and I'm sure will still cherished even when I'll have the D700s in a few month's time.

Actually I have convinced many people to get a Nikon DSLR after they saw my D70 including 3 best friends, 2 uncles and 2 work colleagues. I should get a commission from Nikon one day ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 1,405
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Hi,

I was in the same situation and I thought the D700 replacement was going to come in the spring so I didn't know if I should have bought my D700 at Christmas or not. I am glad I did it has been a wonderful camera. It has been said on here millions of times before, but there is nothing like shooting with whats available and waiting around will kill you. Nobody can predict when the D700? will ever come out. I even hear now that it will offer lower MP, and only offer video mode, which I don't care about and dual card slots! Thats it!

Heartyfisher is right you should get the 24-70mm now. Its great on any Nikon body and probably is the best glass you could buy at any focal length. Its a heavy sucker though..

Welcome to the board!^^

Posted 3 years ago #
kyoshinikon

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Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 1,200
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I just convinced a Cannonite to get one today.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
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The proper term is Canut :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 841
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the 24-70 is retarded on anything less than a D200.

I just got the 24-70 and 70-200. . . .with a D90 as an equal swap to my old D200. . .it's retarded. . .dammit. . .oh well, busted my budget like you on lenses, figured it would be smarter to get the D700s this fall or next spring depending on how wedding season goes (if at all). . .

Posted 3 years ago #
kyoshinikon

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Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 1,200
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I've shot the 24-70mm on my D90 (as well as some other big lenses)and Love it! The only sidenote is that I usually used a grip when I did due to size...

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

The Predator
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 3,461
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shivaswrath - why it's retarded, I'm using the same combination and can't say a bad word about it

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 841
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weighting is totally off IMO - but that's possibly a personal thing.

Might also be that I've been shooting with a D200+24-70, and the switch has been difficult.

I think I'm going to get a grip for the D90 to help balance it out. . .especially when I have the 70-200 VR2 mounted, the D90 feels even more retarded. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 2,803
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shivaswrath said:
the 24-70 is retarded on anything less than a D200.

I just got the 24-70 and 70-200. . . .with a D90 as an equal swap to my old D200. . .it's retarded. . .dammit. . .oh well, busted my budget like you on lenses, figured it would be smarter to get the D700s this fall or next spring depending on how wedding season goes (if at all). . .

I would shoot that same lens with my D40 if I had the means to buy it. Sure it'll rip off the mount the first chance I give it, but hey, why not? :D

Hint- get a grip. Literally. :D

Posted 3 years ago #
Orval

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 10
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Hi Kanuk,
"I was in the same situation and I thought the D700 replacement was going to come in the spring so I didn't know if I should have bought my D700 at Christmas or not. I am glad I did it has been a wonderful camera. It has been said on here millions of times before, but there is nothing like shooting with whats available and waiting around will kill you. Nobody can predict when the D700? will ever come out. I even hear now that it will offer lower MP, and only offer video mode, which I don't care about and dual card slots! Thats it!"
--> yeah it kills me to wait but no pain no gain they say. Nevertheless, If I don't hear anything substantial by May/June, I'll probably have to rethink what I want to do as summer is the best season for great pics. As for rumors on the new functionalities, I have to say that the D300s didn't have major improvement over D300 so will see if D700s is really valuable over d700. If not, I'll get a second hand D700 which will hopefully be more affordable than at that time.
Thanks all for your input!

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 1,405
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Yes good points because I have a sneaky suspision that the D700 upgrade will not be a huge improvement over the current model. I couldn't believe people were actually upgrading their D300 to the D300s, I sure didn't. I used my D300 and cash to get a D700 so you can actually see a noticeable difference in your work. The noise reduction alone is frightening! I couldn't believe it and still can't. The D700 is an amazing camera and I can only imagine what the D3s and it's ISO performance is like. The D3X and its sensor has kept me up at nights also^^

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
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I'm still not convinced there will be a D700S. I think it'll be a completely new model and number.

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 841
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I'm with Niko.

I think D900 will be out April.

D90 replacement out in August.

D700 refresh in November.

The big deal this year will be the D3x sensor in a $4000 body IMO. . .great for studio junkies. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
Rockness

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Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 13
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I got 14-24/2.8 and 24-70/2.8 on my D90 with batterygrip, it´s awesome...

But in the end of the summer 2010 i´m going FX. Then i dont have to buy new lenses for my FX. :)

Posted 3 years ago #
Orval

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 10
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Hi all,
my 24-70 has arrived today by post (thanks Amzn)...and what an incredible lens it is!
It's bigger already than my camera, it feels solid like a tank and is fast and really silent! The pictures are so sharp it feels like I real. Already, when I took it out of it's case, just by looking at it, I knew I made a good investment....

The only thing, and this is not a major concern, the lens is a monster and I need to grip my D70 far more solidly than I did before. While I'm fine to do this and it works OK for now, I can't wait to get a new FX body it order to have the proper grip and use this lens to it's full potential...

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 1,701
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:-) congrats ! you got to support the lens/camera with the left hand.. and grip the camera with the right hand. 8-)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
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You know you'd be surprised at how often I see people holding their cameras wrong. Not that that's what Orval is doing.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/Photography-Techniques/g699vchg/1/Getting-Started-How-to-Hold-Your-Camera.html

Posted 3 years ago #
Orval

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 10
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Thanks for the reminder but I'm clean with that...it was the first thing I learned when I started photography lessons and I make sure never to look like a novice with my camera... well, that's what I hope ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
nfiorito

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Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 35
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I'm a bit late getting into this, but I was definitely in the same situation, waiting with a D90 in hand for Nikon to bring out the D700 upgrade.
Finally I realized that I enjoy taking pictures more than waiting to take pictures, and just bought the D700 last week.
I love it, and even if the D700 replacement came out today, it would likely have only a few upgrades (albeit great ones, I'm sure) and would cost at least $1000 more than I spent.
I also went about getting my camera a bit differently than many, I'm assuming. I live in Canada, and Future Shop (Canadian Best Buy, basically, owned by the same company) had the D700 on their website, but it never went on sale or was in stores. So I used my VISA points to get Future Shop gift cards, then went to Future Shop, ordered the camera, asked them to price match the lowest online Canadian price I could find (they did!), used my gift cards, and ended up "making my own sale price" about $500 cheaper than it was originally selling for. Just have to think outside the box!

Now it's in hand and I'm glad I took the plunge. Although in your situation a new lens is really never a bad idea either!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
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A camera is just a tool. A good photographer can get great images out of any camera regardless of the specs.

Posted 3 years ago #

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Advice for upgrading to FX

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