Should I Buy A D7000, D400 Or A D4, Or Wait For The D800?

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Should I Buy A D7000, D400 Or A D4, Or Wait For The D800?

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TaoTeJared

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adamz said:
@Tao - maybe I hear what I want to hear, personally I don't care about video mode (I don't shoot videos) nor high iso (have d3s for that),...

Please don't take any offence - I was not implying anything towards you except that this camera is up your ally. I was referring to the where the leak came from probably has a shooting needs like you.

Leica/Hassy maybe Phase one, I'm not so sure it will take anything from them. Color depth is probably more important than resolution for many shops who own those and have the money for them.

They are 16bit color where Nikon/Canon/etc. is still 12-14bits depending on body/settings. That is a difference of 16,000 colors to 65,000 colors. Video bla, MP bla, color depth? That is where next game changer will be with sharpness, dynamic range, contrast, etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
SquamishPhoto

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PB PM said:
I find the D7000 to have a decent AF system, but I find it hunts for focus more often than the D700 does in low light.

That is very true. Out in the open for wildlife I've been pretty happy with the 7000, but in the forest it was a bit of pain.

Posted 1 year ago #
NSXType-R

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But with 36 mp, what lenses are going to be able to stand up to that sort of resolution?

Maybe just the exotics?

I'm not even sure if the 35mm 1.8 is optically good enough for 36 mp.

Posted 1 year ago #
jonnyapple

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NSXType-R said:
But with 36 mp, what lenses are going to be able to stand up to that sort of resolution?

Maybe just the exotics?

I'm not even sure if the 35mm 1.8 is optically good enough for 36 mp.

If true, the photosites work out to 4.9 micron square. That's practically the same as the D7000.

You have to remember that the area of an FX sensor is actually 2.25 times bigger than the area of a DX sensor.
2.25*16.3MP = 36.7MP, so these photosites will be ever so slightly bigger than the D7000's.

If you believe in MTF data, we're still not outresolving lenses.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

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jonnyapple said:
If true, the photosites work out to 4.9 micron square. That's practically the same as the D7000.
You have to remember that the area of an FX sensor is actually 2.25 times bigger than the area of a DX sensor.
2.25*16.3MP = 36.7MP, so these photosites will be ever so slightly bigger than the D7000's.

If you believe in MTF data, we're still not outresolving lenses.

I agree. We are going have to get into the 150+ to get to that point. If you believe the simplistic "Max resolution lenses can create" equations - we crossed that point at 6mp, then 10mp, then 12mp, then again at 24mp... All of them assume "plain" glass and no engineered optical exotics, materials, coatings, etc. The equation is an oversimplified version of what lens companies do not release. I have never seen one that even has variables for aspherical lenses. Every surface Light hits is a variable and all of these have to be included for an equation to begin to give a valid answer. A simple equation from 8th grade science class does not cut it.

Hell Canon and Sony each have created sensors that are over 60mp that are prototypes. These companies wouldn't create them if there is no way to capture an image with them.

---------------

So... a 36mp with an expected Noise of a D7000. Humm - not bad.

Posted 1 year ago #
Dave_Robo

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The post reads should I buy one of these? The question has no answer. Most of the cameras aren't out yet so you're stuck. The price range will be from $1300 to $8000. This wipes out a majority of us so you can't even consider them. If you can afford a D4 are you going to use a D7000 unless it's a backup. Too many variables that change with each persons needs. We shouldn't be discussing this. It could go on forever.

Posted 1 year ago #
studio460

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Haven't read more than a couple posts in this thread. But, I thought it apt, since I just saw a Nikon-refurbished D3x available for sale at a local dealer. I didn't even ask the price, since I expect NR's reporting to be 99.9999999% accurate on this one. And, if I were in the market for a high-MP, albeit, low-FPS, body (I'm not), a 36MP 'D800' would be the obvious choice. I haven't audited the bulk of this discussion here, but in my view, the short version is . . . if you've always wanted a D3x, but thought it was waaaay too expensive, then your day has come (I know, $4,000 USD is still pretty steep).

I think it's interesting, if true, how Nikon has differentiated the product. It gains them parity with Canon on the video front, and brings a D3x-ish body to more affordable price point. Yet, it preserves the demand for the current-production D700. This sounds like good business sense from Nikon. Similarly, I wouldn't be surprised if Nikon extends the release of a 'D4' until they can complete substantial engineering improvements over the current D3s, all the while, still maintaining demand for D3s bodies.

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

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So, at last we might get a D800

the spec looks like

lowest ISO down to 100
lots of mega whatnots
100% view finder
Video
dual cards
cheaper and lighter than D3

But what else are you hoping for

for Me

Built in pocket wizard or radio triggered CLS
an ability to lock the focus CMS switch
an ability to lock the metering selector

Posted 1 year ago #
NikoDoby

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How about the ability to play Pac-Man on that huge rear LCD screen?

Posted 1 year ago #
lauzobe

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NikoDoby said:
How about the ability to play Pac-Man on that huge rear LCD screen?

Anybody remembers the arcade game BAGMAN? I wasted many coins in that box.

Posted 1 year ago #
Drab

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Thanks to third-party firmware one could play Doom on their Kodak DC260 (with a glorious ~2" screen).

Posted 1 year ago #
Rx4Photo

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How about a rear screen that's Wi-Fi capable and functions as a touch screen web browser?

Considering how well the 12MP Full Frame sensor performed in the D700, would anybody consider buying a "D400" if it had a Full Frame 16MP sensor in it (essentially using the same sensor in the D7000 in full frame size?

Posted 1 year ago #
kyoshinikon

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And runs some sort of Photoshop (opensource would be awesome), And flash games...

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveyJ

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I think the D800 as it is "forecast" will sell very well and that is ultimately what Nikon is after. I myself would like a somewhat lower file size and as usual I will shoot in JPEG Fine Large and try to get as close as possible to the right exposure. The Expeed 3 processor
I can only assume will be on the camera. What the $4,000 gets is another question. I am assuming that is a body only price? I have noted that the places I tend to get my cameras push camera body PLUS a kit lens. That is probably NOT how I will get my next Nikon DSLR as I have a very large inventory of lens I can use.

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveyJ

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The two things I probably long for most on a DSLR camera is low light capability and HD video. The D300, D90, D700 I have leaves me without a decent video mode and I DO not bring along my video cameras almost ever. The still images on the Nikon DSLRs I have are OK in all other departments by my standards now.

Posted 1 year ago #
casperwb

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DaveyJ said:
The two things I probably long for most on a DSLR camera is low light capability and HD video. The D300, D90, D700 I have leaves me without a decent video mode and I DO not bring along my video cameras almost ever. The still images on the Nikon DSLRs I have are OK in all other departments by my standards now.

check out the D7000

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveyJ

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@casperwb: I have photographed stills and taken video video with the D7000. I thought it was a GREAT buy. I have decided to buy one as soon as my finances get back to normal as I feel any "upgrade" like the D800 may be a very long wait, be quite pricey, and just possibly be too heavy for some field use. I guess that casperwb is commenting on low light performance too and I sure did NOT get to test that at all. Today in the field with a D300 (well I did think it was the best rig to take......) and really missed some video of impressive field work in our forestry business. The D90 would have been my best choice. So I am taking casperwb's advice and getting the D7000. Why did I wait so long?? Cash flow problems were my reason for stalling. If I did not believe 100% in our business I would have just bought one earlier. But we also need the documentation and favorable exposure good imagery yields.

Posted 1 year ago #
casperwb

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Davey

good call on the camera

don't we all suffer from cash flow problems, there are some lens that I am just saving up for, you just dream about getting them and how it will allow you to do what is dificult now.

I am wishing for a longer Macro/Micro. sometimes the 100mm Tokina is just a litle bit too short for those living creatures, a Tammy 180mm, or [Santa I am a good ghost, have'nt scared anyone for the last week] the NIKON 200MM Micro.

I think you will love the D7000

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

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Rx4Photo said:
Considering how well the 12MP Full Frame sensor performed in the D700, would anybody consider buying a "D400" if it had a Full Frame 16MP sensor in it (essentially using the same sensor in the D7000 in full frame size?

That is what I'm wishing for. Hell I would take the 12mp D3s sensor. That I could use for 3-4 more years.

In 4 years I have never thought I needed more MP but a handful of times. My Fuji x100 has taught me that having almost 2 extra CLEAN stops (640 on D300 to 2800 on x100) is a huge difference on so many levels.

Posted 1 year ago #
Drab

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Rx4Photo said:
Considering how well the 12MP Full Frame sensor performed in the D700, would anybody consider buying a "D400" if it had a Full Frame 16MP sensor in it (essentially using the same sensor in the D7000 in full frame size?

Check your math.
The D800 as announced is the D7000 sensor scaled up to FX size.

Posted 1 year ago #
Rx4Photo

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Drab said:
Check your math.
The D800 as announced is the D7000 sensor scaled up to FX size.

Oh, I didn't figure up that detail. I'm just trying to think outside the box. Since the D90 replacement wasn't called a D100, does have some magnesium alloy in its build, better high ISO ability, etc. (all beyond what many people initially speculated), I'm trying to figure how Nikon could pull off a full frame D400 - which would be beyond the established convention - with a lower price tag than the proposed D800 price.

Posted 1 year ago #
oldNik

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Hmmm Maybe it's time I moved from my F3 to an F4

Posted 1 year ago #
casperwb

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Rx4Photo said:
Oh, I didn't figure up that detail. I'm just trying to think outside the box. Since the D90 replacement wasn't called a D100, does have some magnesium alloy in its build, better high ISO ability, etc. (all beyond what many people initially speculated), I'm trying to figure how Nikon could pull off a full frame D400 - which would be beyond the established convention - with a lower price tag than the proposed D800 price.

.
remember, Nikon said that the D7000 was not a D90 replacment

Posted 1 year ago #
DaveyJ

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@ oldNik: Long time ago I used the F3, F4, and finally the F5 Nikon. Of all of them the F5 is a big step up from the former models. I still own my F5 as it is an awesome camera. I mostly use my D300, then my D90, and lastly my D700. I do think the F5 was one of the best film cameras ever made. What the D800 will be compared to the former Nikons is still to be determined. I still have a great personal interest in what the D400 will be.

Posted 1 year ago #
tcole1983

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I would like to offer when everyone buys their new D800, please send me your old camera bodies so that you don't have to worry about a recycling fee to properly dispose of it ;)

Posted 1 year ago #