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Should I move to a D3s

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span222

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Joined: May '10
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Hi all, I'm a newbie round here so be gentle! :)

I currently have 2 cameras and I have pretty convinced myself to change but wanted to check some of your views out - especially if there are D3s owners reading!

I have a Canon 7d and 5D MKII. I am going to the 'dark side' as Canon people say but both of these cameras have issues. I like the speed of the 7D but not the image quality, it's disappointing. The 5D is a great camera but the AF is ancient and I have 2 sets of lenses because of the crop. Of course, I could get a 1D IV but I am not convinced by it, nor the 'H' crop. And I have to be honest, I don't see a lot of people saying they are going to Canon these days, nor do I read a lot of people complaining about the performance or usability of their Nikons. The D3s seems to be everything I need with one worry - resolution. I have read a lot, and no, I don't print greater than A3. However, I take many different photos and my commissioned work is pets (pedigree cats) and WW2 airshows (how did I get those 2!). But it's also a hobby and I like landscape just for me. Dilemma then - everyone says D3s for sports/low ISO, D3x for landscapes and portraits. For me, the high fps and ISO just cinch it, but that's why I got the 5D for landscapes - but would I really notice the MP count?

Thanks for reading. Hope you are still awake! :)

Posted 2 years ago #
adamz

The Predator
Joined: Mar '09
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welcome here span222 - if You get the top lenses than You will notice the differences, apart from that no. as for high speed, even d3x will be fast enough for shooting animals and should work for airshows. So unless You need high iso (above 1600) and video go for d3s, if not go for d3x - but remember it's a light hogger.
You can also take into consideration: d300s - is fast enough and has same pixel density as d3x and also adds video, however it's DX - so 1.5 crop will apply

Posted 2 years ago #
PavelR

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Joined: May '10
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I switched from D2x & D200 to 1D4 and I only need to get used to new body with less comfort in changing settings (and less information in vf & on LCD), but the shooting in the correct mode is the same joy as with the Nikons ;-)
Canon is more responsive and do not cheat in spec - fps, mm on 70-200/2.8 II.
The main reason of the switch was lack of moderately priced teles - 300/4 IS, 400/5.6, ... and fast focusing primes.

Posted 2 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 1,701
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There are a lot of good reasons to stay with your current system. The major reason is the investment in lenses. I have many friends who use canon and some have wanted to switch. After weighing up the pro/cons some switched and some didn't. Its really a very specific and individual decision. In most cases I recommend that they stay with their current system.

What lenses do you have? What lenses are you intending to get on the nikon cameras.

Reasons to switch.. (lol sorry)
* The D3S is a wonder ! In High ISO. Both for stills and for Video.
* The focusing system is very good. Excels for sports.
* The nikon CLS is really extrodinary! You really don't know what you are missing until you see it and try it.

Reasons to stay with Canon
* 12 MP D3S - 12MP is really not that bad -- Unless you have gotten very used to higher MP.
* Video
* Lenses - Some really unique Canon Glass that if you have got attached to you may not find an equivalent on the nikon side. (same thing can be said in the other direction)
* Cost of switching.

Like you say the D3X is landscape and portraits. Its got the best DR (except for the S5Pro) of any FX/DX dslr. The details you can get from that 24MP is awesome. But the price is high.

The D3S/D3X combo is a dream team. I don't have either but I have friends who have both and I have played with them. I bit heavy and large for my tastes.. I will stick with the DX format myself. but for you ... Its really up to you. I am waiting for the next version of the DX cameras. I bet they will debut in the top 5 DXO best sensor rankings!

Posted 2 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Joined: May '09
Posts: 3,400
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I think the D3x would be a little slow for an air show. Just my 2 cents.

I agree with what hearty and Adam said.

Oh, and welcome, Pavel. Do you still shoot Nikon as well or just Canon now? When did Nikon cheat on fps spec? I'm not a Nikon fanboy, I'm just curious. The 70-200 issue was discussed at length here and I don't think most people would notice for what they use that lens for. I'm saving up to buy one someday.

Posted 2 years ago #
adamz

The Predator
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 3,461
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jonnyapple said:
I think the D3x would be a little slow for an air show. Just my 2 cents.

5pfs is enough for airshows IMHO :)

Posted 2 years ago #
PavelR

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Joined: May '10
Posts: 4
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Thank you jonnyapple ;-)
I still use Nikon, because my widest Canon lens is 35/1.4L and I do not have 5d3 :-) Thus I use also d2x with 17-55 (I'm waiting for 24-70 IS ;-) & fish eye 10.5mm.
D300 fps in 12bit mode = 6/8 and 14bit mode = 2.5.
BTW: Today I was shooting with 70-200 focusing about 2 meters and I wanted the biggest magnification I can get, which is on Nikon pretty poor... (I saw comparison and the difference between 70-200/2.8 VR I and II is huge, I do not have link - sorry)
BTW2: I do not think that d3x is slow, but you need 200-400/4 to get good reach ;-)

jonnyapple said:
I think the D3x would be a little slow for an air show. Just my 2 cents.

I agree with what hearty and Adam said.

Oh, and welcome, Pavel. Do you still shoot Nikon as well or just Canon now? When did Nikon cheat on fps spec? I'm not a Nikon fanboy, I'm just curious. The 70-200 issue was discussed at length here and I don't think most people would notice for what they use that lens for. I'm saving up to buy one someday.

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
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If you have to ask this question then No a D3S and/or D3X is NOT for you. Sorry if that sounds cruel but it's an honest answer.

Posted 2 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Joined: May '09
Posts: 3,400
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adamz said:
5pfs is enough for airshows IMHO :)

For some reason I thought it was more like 3. I should have kept my mouth shut.

The trouble with the case of the D300 is that I think people would rather have a single number when they read the specs, Pavel. I do agree they should have said that 14-bit mode slows it to 2.7 fps in the specs.

Posted 2 years ago #

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Should I move to a D3s

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