upgrade to d700 from d7000?

Charmdesign

Looking to get your advice on my personal situation. I have a d7000 I have owned for several years but have only been shooting raw/ manual mode since last June. I've really been getting into photography and I'm interested in the lower light capabilities, faster and more accurate auto focus, full frame and more focus points. I'm on a limited budget and I have found a local d700 for $1400, 30,000 clicks. For lenses, I have the DX lenses - 18-105 and 35mm 1.8. I have some MF primes, 28, 50 1.4, 24-70, etc. It's likely that I would also be ordering a 50mm when I move to FX.

I do have some concerns about the lower megapixels as compared to the d7000... I'm not sure its an 'upgrade' in that sense. On the same token from the reading I have done the d800 can be overkill megapixel wise. My real hesitancy is that I'm trying to 'save money'.

Right now I am an enthusiast but I have considered doing this for some extra money in the coming year.

Curious if you think it is too soon for me to get a 2nd body? Perhaps I need to put in a year minimum before I make a move like this.

henrik1963

My advice: Never try to save by buying the second best - you end up buying the best - thus ending up spending more in the end.

D700 is a very good camera - it will work for years and make excellent pictures - I have one - and I hardly ever use it because I have a D800 :-) You see it doesn't matter how good a D700 is - it matter that you want a D800. To be honest most of what I do could be done with a D90 - had one - gave it away to my oldest kid because I hardly ever used it after getting the D700 you see how it goes?

What you need and what you want are totally different things.

You really need to buy at least one good FX lens before you buy a FX camera - be it D700 or D800.

Sorry if I sound rude - I don't want to be. I am trying to save you a ton of money. BTW you will love a full frame camera :-)

I wish you all the best

Elvishefer

If I were you I'd have to really hate the ergonomics on the D7000 and really want an FX camera to upgrade to a D700.

Both are great cameras but the D700 is a bit long in the tooth relative to a D7000.

I would be happy with either but probably wouldn't trade for the other!

WestEndBoy

I would consider getting the most out of your D7000 until you can afford a D800 and a 50. Then after that budget for one decent FX lens per (x months).

NSXTypeR

I guess you could consider buying a refurbished D600. They go for about $1500 and you probably won't have problems with oil since they're refurbished.

mikep

I'm interested in the lower light capabilities, faster and more accurate auto focus, full frame and more focus points

if you are limited by the d7000 then its time to get something else

if you arent making huge prints, and you dont want video, then the d700 is a great choice

here is an old thread : http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=6780

i think its a tough call actually, and although i love my d700, i probably wouldnt switch from a d7000 myself. but you are not me! so if you feel that a d700 will fill some gaps left by a d7000 then switch. if its just gear lust, then wait and save your cash

dissent

Charmdesign mentions that she's on a budget. I'm a DX shooter, but I gather from the FX folk here that a switch to FX involves both body AND glass. Could be a great move, but would (could?) be expensive (Don't have to buy new, etc.) Depending on how big of an issue money is, perhaps consider the D7100. Gives you some of what you want, imho; better low light and more focus points.

Ironheart

You can rent the D700 and a 50mm lens for $87 for three days from borrowlenses.com. Add the nifty new 58mm for $60 more.

proudgeek

With a handful of exceptions, budget and FX lenses are mutually exclusive terms.

WestEndBoy

Charmdesign mentions that she's on a budget. I'm a DX shooter, but I gather from the FX folk here that a switch to FX involves both body AND glass. Could be a great move, but would (could?) be expensive (Don't have to buy new, etc.) Depending on how big of an issue money is, perhaps consider the D7100. Gives you some of what you want, imho; better low light and more focus points.

Some people on this forum are of the opinion that the low light is a big improvement and some think it is a marginal or even negligible improvement. I am not sure which one is right, so you will need to be careful.

Charmdesign

Thanks for the food for thought!

So, some additional things...

I rented a d800. Loved it, except the weight. Call me crazy but I think I felt the AF work much faster, ( and more accurately/ easily?) I had to try this since I have been thinking about FX a lot lately. I could get over the files being huge. I just got twin 3tb external drives. The price, is not going over so well though so I thought i would consider "working my way up".

The d600, I am too nervous about. The d610, I hear the focus points are bunched. The d700, is older now but possibly a good mid step. I guess part of me feels like until I wear my d7000 out more I don't deserve an upgrade.

One thing I really liked was the dedicated AF-on button since I use that technique to focus. I'm not sure how much this plays in as a reason to upgrade.

A safe bet would be for me to hold out until summer and maybe get a 50mm in anticipation of the weather warming up. I use my 35mm indoors but this summer I think I am going to use a 50 1.4g

Charmdesign

Maybe if I sold my d7000 I would feel better about spending. But you know what... I think I will keep it around as a backup.

With computers they say to always but the latest technology since it changes so rapidly. If this is true for camera I shoulder hold tight and stick it out DX a little longer then reward myself with a spanking new d800 come fall.

Charmdesign

PS I should know when I come here I am going to get d800 recs lol. Any votes on the frugal d700 path or am I going to just be peeved about it being older, having less megapixels.

jshickele- I think you are right.

As for gear lust, I don't think it is quite lust. Sort of obsession. I AM hung up the desire to shoot FX. I DO think my d7000 is a great camera though so I could probably stay strong with it. I can advance with it still I think.

WestEndBoy

It is actually quite amazing how little you need to spend to get great gear if you take a long term approach and buy quality equipment that you will be proud to own in 10 years. In 10 years, you will have nice kit. Your daughter will have your D800 and you will have a two year old D820.

Charmdesign

Que the tears! Lol I just envisioned my baby as a child for the first time! Running around with a camera. Oh, you sold me.

PB_PM

As a D700 and D800 owner I'll throw my vote in. While the D700 is a great camera, unless you can get it for $1200 with less than 20k click, I'd say no do not buy it. As @jshickele says, think long term and buy the camera that will fit you for 3-4 years, not what seems just good enough for today.

WestEndBoy

My plan is to get 8 years out of my D800. Not sure if I will succeed or not.........

Wesley

12 and 16 megapixels is negligible. I doubt you need 36.

I went from a D3100 to D700. Bought it used for $1550 with 800 shutter count, Nikon grip and batteries. Got it for the bigger viewfinder, AF module, and longer grip. Solid pro like body with the dedicated AF switches unlike the D600 series.

Using the 50/85mm 1.8G with the D700 now and kit lens with D3100 for wide shots. The upcoming 35mm 1.8G could be my next purchase

Msmoto

From D7000 to D700 seems like a step backward. The D7000 has a much higher pixel density, about the same low light capabilities, and shoots more FPS. I would doubt you would see an improvement in images.

henrik1963

Assuming you use good glass and assuming you don't do anything crazy like cropping the hell out of the picture - I wonder if anyone could tell the difference between a D700 shot and a D800 shot if you print 19 inch wide pictures - max size for most home printers. Has anyone inhere done that experiment?

Everyone knows that the D800 has a better sensor - but can you see it in a 19 inch print?

Msmoto

Just FYI…No ads for goods for sale are allowed on the forum…..and that is where the posts went…..

ljgent

Sorry I did not know!

scoobysmak

I have not used a D800 but lust for one, at this moment my current D700 is more than enough. I also have a D7000 but don't like it as much due to the cramped hands I get using it for long periods of time. Usually though when I pull out my DX camera, I am using a land cannon (long lens) with a gimble head to support the weight so it doesn't bother me as much this way. I know its lighter than the D700 but just doesn't feel as good to me.

In your case I would have a hard time justifying a D700 unless it was a steal with a low shutter count and in great condition. I like the pro layout though, just remember you get some of the pro weight as well. If you only had to wait until the end of next summer then I would probably wait for the D800 but if longer than that I might jump on an excellent deal for a D700 if you can find one. Some of this is assuming you don't crop more than 30% and don't print bigger than a 13X19.

I will say I think my D700 has better low light abilities than my D7000, I think it focuses faster in low light and I can run up the ISO 1-1/2 stops better on average, sometimes more sometimes less. That could be more related to user preference though. I am sure the D800 would dominate the D700 for focusing ability, f8 would be a dream for me.