Shall I buy D700 now or just wait until Feb 2011 when D800 comes out?

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Shall I buy D700 now or just wait until Feb 2011 when D800 comes out?

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goghitza

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Hello everyone,

I am a new registered user on this forum but I am a long reader of it.
Would you please be so kind and help me with any comments to my dilemmas?

I have a D200 and 17-55 f/2.8 lens and sometimes I photograph some wedding events of friends (no money earned).
I am thinking to try to enter in this market (wedding photography) but first I would like to know how much money do I have to spend on equipment and what is the good one.

My thoughts are:

Body:
=====
Buy a new/used FX body, D700 - or just wait until D800 will be released?
As per what I've seen in the NR blog, D800 will have same ISO performance as D700.
I am very interesting to have High performance ISO (6400) to be able to photograph in dim light at churches, reception and night.
No need to have video capabilities on digital photo camera.

Lenses:
Buy the followings:
16-35 f/4 VRII or 24mm f/1.4 ??
50mm f/1.4 G
135mm f/2 DC
70-200 f/2.8 VRII - I am not sure that this is quite useful...I would prefer to have something which more focal length...about 300mm.
Flashes:
SB800 + SB 900

There would not be a problem with the budget since the equipment will offer me the best quality.

Many thanks for your any feedback on this.
BR/Gogs

Posted 2 years ago #
warprints

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goghitza - you're gonna get a lot of grief about your post. Only you really know if you should wait for D800, etc. If you don't think you need the camera now ... wait. Of course, by the time you wait for the D800, there will be rumors of the D900. My philosophy is to buy what I need when I need it, or when I just want it so bad I can't stand it. There will always be better equipment coming out in the not too distant future.

Lenses - a 300 for weddings? Kinda long. I'd think the 70-200 would be much more useful than a 300.

Flashes - why buy an SB800? Get the SB900 and a new SB700.

Posted 2 years ago #
poster

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24-70, 50mm, 85mm and perhaps 70-200.

Agh I don't shoot wedding so what do I know. That's what I would use anyway.

Posted 2 years ago #
smarterchild

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The24-70 is a must in my opinion. I usually use a 24-70 + 70-200 combo along with a 50 on the side. Now with my 85 on it's way I'd go with a 24-70 with a 85.

The 70-200 is a great lens and I feel it's a must along with 24-70 before a 85.

Also you might look into renting a backup body for weddings

Posted 2 years ago #
comm96

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I've just recently upgraded to the D700 from a D200 myself, and do not regret it one bit knowing that the next Gen is on the way. The D700 has been and still is a great camera even if the new one comes along. And if you feel you really need the new one when it eventually does arrive on the market get it then or wait for the Prices to settle down a bit before deciding.

For Weddings and for most general People photography I would not go pass the 14-24mmf2.8, 24-70mmf2.8, and the 70-200mmf2.8 trio first, then the 50mmf1.4 and 85mmf1.4.
Also consider a 105mmf2.8micro lense for the Detailed close-ups of the jewellery, etc..

For flash, Why get the SB800? Get two SB900. Its a much better flash, goes farther, and preety much has a brain of its own. TTL takes care of everything. It really is that good. This way if you need accessories they will fit both your flashes, and you will only need one set of accessories.

And a Backup or 2nd Body is a MUST...! You could always use the D200, I still do.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!!

Posted 2 years ago #
goghitza

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Thanks a lot for your comments. I appreciate that.

I will try to respond to all questions that you asked.

@warprints - I agree with your philosophy,right now I do not need entirely to get D700.A good decision would be to wait until Feb 2011 and then either I can get D700 with a lower price or if it is worth take D800.
Lenses - a 300 for weddings? - When you want to take shots only for head (portrait) the best focal length is about 300 mm. (source:Ken Rockwell's blog).
70-200 f/2.8 seems to be very good in a lot of reviews but it does not reach at 300mm. Now, another solution would be to use TC17(119-340mm) but and then I am I not sure if the imagine quality remains the same.
Flash SB800 - sorry, I already own one, no need to buy a new one and if it is the case, for sure I will take SB900.
@poster - 85mm I don't find it at all useful. 135mm f/2 DC, is the best lens portrait.
BTW - have anyone of you used this 135mm f/2 DC lens? I've read a lot of good reviews about it.
So, 85 can be replaced by 50 and 135. What's your opinion about this? Or how useful can be a 80?
@smarterchild - 24-70 f/2.8 in my opinion can replaced with 16-35 f/4 VRII where the wide angle is 16 and using VR the aperture becomes about f2 and it the best sharp zoom from Nikon (based of reviews what I've read)
@comm96: I will keep D200 as a backup as well.
14-24mmf2.8 - does allow to have a filter and can be replaced by 16-35 F/4 and its aperture becomes larger f2 using VRII.
105mmf2.8micro lens for the Detailed close-ups of the jewellery - here I did not know that I need this.

What else, should I have to take into considerations?

Please, do let me know your advice. Much appreciated.
BR/Goghitza

Posted 2 years ago #
warprints

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beware of what KR says on his site. He is one part entertainer, one part rabblerouser, and one part photographer. He has admitted that he sometimes says things to stir up shit.

Posted 2 years ago #
JJump

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Anyone who says they need a 300mm for head shots doesn't know squat about portrait shooting. If KR said it, then there you go.

An 85mm is the ideal portrait lens. You can argue til your death about a 135, but an 85 is still better. Try backing up and getting a group shot with a 135. You can easily do it with an 85. Also, an f1.4 beats an f2 all day long for interior, lower light shots. I've shot entire weddings before with only an 85mm and a 35mm lens. Only reason you would need a longer lens than an 85 is if the church/reception area you are shooting the couple in has restrictions on how close you can get. If there's no restrictions and you feel you have to use longer, well, to put it bluntly, you're not a good photographer. I would never, ever use a 70-200 f2.8 at a wedding simply because it just isn't fast enough and it's too heavy. Outdoors, maybe, but why lug around that much weight when you don't have to?

As far as the D700 vs. D800, the D700 resale value is so good that you can buy it, then sell it as soon as the D800 is announced and not lose much cash. It would be like a several month rental fee.

Posted 2 years ago #
goghitza

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@JJump - many thanks for your reply...I think you are right in regards with 70-200 and the others zooms, which I think they are too big and only f2.8 instead of 1.4 and the imagine quality is not as good as prime lenses.
As for 135mm DC (great bokeh) I do not argue, I am just trying to find out how useful it is for weddings. If someone used both it will very interesting to find out his/her opinions.
From my point of view it is the best to use only prime lenses at weedings. And my question as I never photograph any wedding using prime lenses, is how hard can be without any zooms?
Is anyone who photograph in such way? If so, what are the proper lenses?
JJump - From your experience can you tell me what are the lenses that you used for a wedding?

Thanks a lot for everyone and sorry if I still insist with my questions/concerns.

Posted 2 years ago #
JJump

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An 85mm f1.4 is an essential lens for weddings (on full frame that is). For group shots, a 35mm if fine, or even a 50mm if the shots are not going to be 12-20 people in them at once. I am a mover in that I move my feet with primes rather than zoom. I can be quicker taking steps in and out without even thinking, instead of wasting time zooming in and out. Besides, zooms can't get around people's heads. They are not essentials for weddings. You can always get a 28-200 and carry only one lens, but then you'll lose image quality.

Can a 135mm be used at a wedding? Sure, but it's not essential. It just lets you keep your distance in churches, but you also lose light both in the aperture and in the reach of your flash. Outdoors they can be fine, but why not be closer to the people and be able to arrange shots easier, rather than walking in, speaking to them, and then having to walk further back out. The closer the better, and you'll find that taking full body shots of a couple with an 85mm is already far enough away from them (again, talking about FF here).

I've got close-ups of a couple putting on the ring with just an 85mm, but of course, it depends on the location and where you are allowed to stand near the alter and such.

Posted 2 years ago #
SquamishPhoto

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yawn

Posted 2 years ago #
goghitza

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@JJump - Thanks a lot again, your valuable advice above means a lot for me. It all make sens what you said and I like that stile too using prime lenses and also I found it in a book where they said that this will force also the creativity.

So, is this a minimum set-up for a wedding on FF?
35mm f1.4
85mm f1.4
?
Shall I have to add another one?

BR/Vali

Posted 2 years ago #
JJump

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No problem. Again, scout the church and reception area prior to the wedding, to see if you will need longer than 85mm. Otherwise, there is no reason you can't shoot a whole wedding with 2 prime lenses on your FF body.

Also, depending on your flash, it may not even cover up to 135mm.

The SB 600's range is 24mm - 85mm.

The SB 700 is 24mm - 120mm.

Only the SB 900 has extended zoom range from 17mm through 200mm with FF lenses.

You could always just rent the 70-200 from camera rental companies if you ever need it.

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Guys I've gotten complaints to close this thread. We don't want the forum to constantly fill with "what should I buy" threads. Please do some reasearch and make your own informed decision. Everyones experiences are different and what works for one person might be totally useless for someone else. Besides the topic was "should I buy a D700 or wait" and now you guys are discussion lenses for weddings.

Please do a forum search for help shooting weddings.

Posted 2 years ago #

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Shall I buy D700 now or just wait until Feb 2011 when D800 comes out?

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