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Need Help for a big Decision

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Jonmphotography

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Joined: Apr '12
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I posted earlier this week about upgrading to a D800 or D4. I have a D700, D300s, and D7000. I was going to sell the D300s and D7000 plus my 70-200mm 2.8 lens to get the new camera.

A guy offered me his D700 with 3k actuations plus a 18-35mm lens. (D700 $2700 new, and 18-35mm lens $600 new)

I am a real estate and wedding photographer and would be able to use the 18-35mm lens plus be able to attach my 50mm 1.8 for weddings.

This isn't my dream setup of the D4 and D700 2nd camera for a wedding. But it just might be the best choice. I then can get rid of my 2 small cameras and put the money towards the d4 at a later date or just spend it elsewhere.

I really wanted the new gear for its higher dynamic range and better low light capability. But I dont know if i can turn this deal down.

HELP

Jon

Posted 1 year ago #
aetas

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Joined: Dec '09
Posts: 273
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Hello Jon,
First off selling your 70-200 seems like a mistake. That lens is a workhorse for the wedding shooter as you know. If you don't find yourself wanting the crop of the 300s or the video of the 7000 then could you sell those two and keep the 70-200. Then you would be looking at 2 d700's and still keep the glass. Plus you should be able to keep the glass then. I would shy away from the 18-35 myself.
Looking at your site you have some great work. Once you get to a certain level the only person that can truly tell you what you need for your business is yourself. You should know what you need and head that way.
~Best of luck to you.

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

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Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 2,736
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These decisions are based on what you want to shoot. Many people ask for other's opinions, and we all have several to offer. Maybe a better solution for you would be to decide what photos you want to shoot. Do you want interior wide angle? If so, what angle of coverage? Do you have a good tripod? How large do you want to make the final product? Do you like long shots (telephoto)? What light levels? Prefer prime lenses or zoom?

It would be good to just sit down with paper and pen and write down some of the answers to the questions. Then rank what is important. If you do nothing larger than an 8" 10"print, maybe DX is all you ever need. If you like slideshows and want to impress folks, FX might fill the bill. But, what everyone here will say is based on their answers to the questions, not yours. So, look at these issues, then come back and ask some questions regarding specifics and I will bet a lot of advice will be offered.

Or, just go buy the D4 or D800......... and about five new FX lenses.....

Posted 1 year ago #
Mike Gunter

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Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 946
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Hi all,

To the OP - spending other people's money is too easy and yet a great burden. I just won't do it.

What you could do is use your software - Lightroom, Bridge, or similar - to see what the EXIF data show your favorite pictures to be shot with in terms of focal length and f-stop, and furthermore, what ones you want to keep taking.

That should be one prong in your guide.

The next is what you're currently missing. My guess is very, very little. While in the digital realm, things change, the reality is, pictures taken from it don't change that much.

Great pictures don't come from great cameras; they come from great photographers. You can't make a camera, but you can make a photograph.

In which ever route you take, my very best,

Mike

Posted 1 year ago #
shawnino

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Joined: Jan '12
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@ Jon: how much does he want for the gear?

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

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Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
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shawnino said:
@ Jon: how much does he want for the gear?

+1 - New prices doesn't mean anything. It does sound like (from your previous thread) closer to what you were looking at and allow you time to build up to buy what you want in a couple of years.

Good prices on a D700 is currently about $1,700 and is dropping fast. When people get their D800s, and if the D400 is released and does better in low light, It will be down to $1,500 easily. Shutter counts don't mean diddly as they reset with firmware upgrades.

On an 18-35mm a price for a really good condition one is about $350 and with noticeable ware $275. That price is fairly steady at the $275 so you could expect to sell it for that if you didn't like it.

If you got the two for $1,900, that would be a good deal. Anything over $2,100 is a terrible rip-off.

Either way, I would not sell the 70-200 to finance it or any other body.

Posted 1 year ago #
PB PM

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Joined: Jan '10
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TaoTeJared said:
Shutter counts don't mean diddly as they reset with firmware upgrades.

I've updated the firmware on several Nikon cameras and it never reset the shutter count. In any case, the D700's last firmware update came out around two years ago. So many of the cameras out there have never even had a firmware update, since they were up to date right from the factory. I would would grab a second D700 in a heart beat if they were going for $1700. The ones I've seen are still going for over $2000. Maybe it is different in the US...

Posted 1 year ago #

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Need Help for a big Decision

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