Nikon D700 or Keep My D300

kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
edited November 25, 2008 in Cameras
I need some help here... I currently own a Nikon D300 although it seems I purchased it a bit prematurely. I wanted an up to date SLR by Nikon with a good bit of ISO to choose from. I do a lot of sports shots indoors and wanted to get away from the flash. At the time the D300 was the hottest SLR from Nikon.... then bam.. here's the D700 with very heavy ISO's and then some!! I'm planning on selling the D300 and get the D700. One thing I came across in a review was that the D700 has two sensor formats the DX and FX. If you only have DX lens and use with the D700 the MP's drop for 12.1 to 5.1. If this is the case I think this would produce photo images to size 8x10. If this is the case this would hamper me a bit because I shoot a lot of Motocross and folks like the 16x20's and larger. I currenlty use the Nikkor AF-S VR 70-200mm f/2.8 G IF-ED lens with the D300 and get great photos. I've also heard the the sensor's size helps determines the photo size obtainable also... and that some pixel sizing charts are not that accurate.... help me out someone !! Is what I read correct !!!:scratch
K P Steib Photography
Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono

Comments

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited November 21, 2008
    It is very possible that the jump to a full-frame imager will have you looking at different lenses, potentially much more expensive lenses, to accomplish the same task. A teleconverter might help with the longer focal length FX lenses in keeping a similar FOV to what you are accustomed, but at the expense of effective aperture and focus speed.

    There is no simple solution I'm afraid.

    If you could keep the D300 and allow it to do what it does best, under the conditions that allow, and use the D700 for those situations where it will shine, I think that would five you a pretty great combination of options and capabilities.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    ziggy53 wrote:
    It is very possible that the jump to a full-frame imager will have you looking at different lenses, potentially much more expensive lenses, to accomplish the same task. A teleconverter might help with the longer focal length FX lenses in keeping a similar FOV to what you are accustomed, but at the expense of effective aperture and focus speed.

    The is no simple solution I'm afraid.

    If you could keep the D300 and allow it to do what it does best, under the conditions that allow, and use the D700 for those situations where it will shine, I think that would five you a pretty great combination of options and capabilities.

    Thanks for your reply Ziggy,

    Yes that combinaton of SLR's would give me a real good combination of options but maybe just a tad bit out of my budget. I may attempt to rid myself of my D50 for what it's worth and see how the $'s fall then. May just have to settle with 8'10's until I'm able to aquire an FX lens !!v Still debating..... headscratch.gif Thanks !!
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    I have seen iso3200 images off the D300 that are quite good out of camera....have you thought of purchasing a noise reduction software?
    I currently shoot a 6mp camera and an 8mp camera...with a little help from Genuine Fractals I can easily get enlargements up to and probably beyond 30 x 40 inches....I am talking tight almost grainless (no pixelating) images.
    This would be a choice to save money for more great glass.
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    Art Scott wrote:
    I have seen iso3200 images off the D300 that are quite good out of camera....have you thought of purchasing a noise reduction software?
    I currently shoot a 6mp camera and an 8mp camera...with a little help from Genuine Fractals I can easily get enlargements up to and probably beyond 30 x 40 inches....I am talking tight almost grainless (no pixelating) images.
    This would be a choice to save money for more great glass.

    Now that's an option I did not consider... noise reduction software. I guess I got caught up in the reviews I been reading and have seen that folks are jumping right into the D700. I wanted to upgrade.... hoping I would be up with the new technology for a while !! I still like what I'm reading about it though.... still debatingheadscratch.gif Thanks
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    kennuts wrote:
    Now that's an option I did not consider... noise reduction software. I guess I got caught up in the reviews I been reading and have seen that folks are jumping right into the D700. I wanted to upgrade.... hoping I would be up with the new technology for a while !! I still like what I'm reading about it though.... still debatingheadscratch.gif Thanks

    At the ISO's you shoot at......What type of image do you get at 8 X 10 inches? The reason I ask is if you get almost noiseless images then by downsizing the file in photoshop (simply change the dpi of the image while having the constrain proportions checked and not the resampling) and then running the file thru GF to the needed size the final image will have the exact same look as the 8x10......this is how I was taking my files to 30 x 40 inches....lets face it a bit of grain never hurt anyone and there was a time when you truly lived with graininess especially in sports photos.
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • kini62kini62 Registered Users Posts: 441 Major grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    Hmmmmmm 8x10 only for 5.1mps???

    I have a 20x30 image made of a 5mp crop from an ISO320 shot from my now sold 30D that looks quite good from normal viewing distance. It would look very good at 16x20.

    I see no issue in printing big from the DX mode crop if the shot is exposed well.

    Gene
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    Art Scott wrote:
    At the ISO's you shoot at......What type of image do you get at 8 X 10 inches? The reason I ask is if you get almost noiseless images then by downsizing the file in photoshop (simply change the dpi of the image while having the constrain proportions checked and not the resampling) and then running the file thru GF to the needed size the final image will have the exact same look as the 8x10......this is how I was taking my files to 30 x 40 inches....lets face it a bit of grain never hurt anyone and there was a time when you truly lived with graininess especially in sports photos.

    Well... all of my larger images are produced at a photolab. I've seen a few of them at ISO200 ... 8 x 10's and the quality is excellent..... virtually no noise at all. But after reading your thread the software option seems to simple enough.
    Still debating.... headscratch.gif Thanks !!
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    kini62 wrote:
    Hmmmmmm 8x10 only for 5.1mps???

    I have a 20x30 image made of a 5mp crop from an ISO320 shot from my now sold 30D that looks quite good from normal viewing distance. It would look very good at 16x20.

    I see no issue in printing big from the DX mode crop if the shot is exposed well.

    Gene

    I've read a couple of other reviews and folks are getting their old DX's out of the closets and using them with the D700 !! After reading your thread, what some of them were saying seems to be possible and legit. I'm on the fence right now..... still debating headscratch.gif on whether to fall on over to the other side.... the D700 mwink.gif !!
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • EkajEkaj Registered Users Posts: 245 Major grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    Your 70-200 will work just fine on a fx body. But one thing to consider is that you may now fnd it shorter than you are accustomed to because of the crop sensor on the d300. I was about to get a d700 until I realized I need to spend money on glass before I think about purchasing another body. So I'm sticking with my d300 and concentrating on glass right now.
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 21, 2008
    Ekaj wrote:
    Your 70-200 will work just fine on a fx body. But one thing to consider is that you may now fnd it shorter than you are accustomed to because of the crop sensor on the d300. I was about to get a d700 until I realized I need to spend money on glass before I think about purchasing another body. So I'm sticking with my d300 and concentrating on glass right now.

    Great.... my 70-200 is a good chunk of glass and I love it. It's about the only lens I use on a pretty consistant basis. I use it everywhere and on eveything... good performer. Since you mentioned that is would work fine with the D700... I leaning that way. I can then work towards the FX's a bit later...... thanks Ekaj.... still debating headscratch.gif !!
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2008
    The D300 is an excellent camera but I'm not comfortable taking it over ISO 800. Since I added the D3 to my kit the D300 does not get that much use anymore. The D700 will give you much greater latitude in low light situations.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 22, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    The D300 is an excellent camera but I'm not comfortable taking it over ISO 800. Since I added the D3 to my kit the D300 does not get that much use anymore. The D700 will give you much greater latitude in low light situations.

    Thanks Harryb

    I'm leaning towards purchasing the D700 since I plan on taking a lot more shots of indoor sports activities. With the larger ISO range it may help out alot and I'll be a bit more comfortable shooting with it. Thanks for your input !!thumb.gif
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • kygardenkygarden Registered Users Posts: 1,060 Major grins
    edited November 23, 2008
    Nikon should start paying me for this never-ending praise I have for the D700...I love mine!!! I came from a D200 and the difference in quality (images & overall performance like focusing) is stunning to me. I'm absolutely thrilled with it. I shoot more wide than telephoto so the crop factor on the APS-C bodies is not an issue for me...I love the full frame sensor. If the crop factor (more telephoto on D300) is not an issue for you and you have the $$$ for a D700, I'd be all over that D700 like white on rice.....or stink on poop....or...well, you get the idea! rolleyes1.gif
    https://www.thephotographyhobbyist.com/
  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited November 23, 2008
    I sat this every time this comes up. I would take the noise performance of the D700 over the crop of the D300. If long range is needed, there's nothing a TC can't solve. The D700 also survives aggressive cropping.
    www.jonimages.com
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 23, 2008
    kygarden wrote:
    Nikon should start paying me for this never-ending praise I have for the D700...I love mine!!! I came from a D200 and the difference in quality (images & overall performance like focusing) is stunning to me. I'm absolutely thrilled with it. I shoot more wide than telephoto so the crop factor on the APS-C bodies is not an issue for me...I love the full frame sensor. If the crop factor (more telephoto on D300) is not an issue for you and you have the $$$ for a D700, I'd be all over that D700 like white on rice.....or stink on poop....or...well, you get the idea! rolleyes1.gif

    Yep... I got it... I got it:D . Sooooooooo .... if I'm going to loose some telephoto with the D700.... my 2X Tele C should help. :ivar Not debating any longerheadscratch.gif :ivar
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 23, 2008
    jonh68 wrote:
    I sat this every time this comes up. I would take the noise performance of the D700 over the crop of the D300. If long range is needed, there's nothing a TC can't solve. The D700 also survives aggressive cropping.

    Okay..... That's the same thing I was thinking about the TC's. Seems like the 2X I already have in my kit will be used a lot more when long range shots come into play..... with a D700,Thanks for your input !!thumb.gif
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • BrascoleBrascole Registered Users Posts: 58 Big grins
    edited November 24, 2008
    kennuts wrote:
    Okay..... That's the same thing I was thinking about the TC's. Seems like the 2X I already have in my kit will be used a lot more when long range shots come into play..... with a D700,Thanks for your input !!thumb.gif

    A wise choice. I use my TC's when I want reach. The picture quality of the D700 is just to hard to pass on.
  • Cygnus StudiosCygnus Studios Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited November 24, 2008
    One thing that you should should keep in mind. FX glass works just fine on cropped sensors and allow you to go full frame when the budget allows. I have seen many new users get so caught up in the DX glass that you just about keep yourself locked into the system.

    Luckily I came from film so making the transition from DX sensors back to full frame was easy. The only DX glass I have came with the D50.

    If you decide to make the leap to a full frame camera, you will understand just how fantastic nice glass can be. I had just about forgotten what my lenses could do during the 2 years I used the D50. Don't get me wrong, I loved that little camera, but once I purchased the D3's this year, it only took me a minute to remember why I loved full frame so much.
    Steve

    Website
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 24, 2008
    Brascole wrote:
    A wise choice. I use my TC's when I want reach. The picture quality of the D700 is just to hard to pass on.

    Ahh... thanks for your input. I think I'm going to go ahead a get the D700 wings.gif and work with the glass I have..... and go from there !! thumb.gif
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 24, 2008
    Cygnus Studios wrote:
    One thing that you should should keep in mind. FX glass works just fine on cropped sensors and allow you to go full frame when the budget allows. I have seen many new users get so caught up in the DX glass that you just about keep yourself locked into the system.

    Luckily I came from film so making the transition from DX sensors back to full frame was easy. The only DX glass I have came with the D50.

    If you decide to make the leap to a full frame camera, you will understand just how fantastic nice glass can be. I had just about forgotten what my lenses could do during the 2 years I used the D50. Don't get me wrong, I loved that little camera, but once I purchased the D3's this year, it only took me a minute to remember why I loved full frame so much.

    I'm going to take the leap to the D700 looks like !! I feel good about it after reading the replys on this forum. My main concern about the D700 was picture quality with the larger prints. I don't see that as an issue anymore.... going to leap :ivar over to full frame !! Thanks !!
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited November 25, 2008
    [quotejon68]
    <!-- / message --> <!-- sig --> I sat this every time this comes up. I would take the noise performance of the D700 over the crop of the D300. If long range is needed, there's nothing a TC can't solve. The D700 also survives aggressive cropping.[/quote]
    Prob with TC's is they (everyone I have used even in the film days) degraded my pictures greatly......softer across the board.....I have spent upwards of $300 for a TC to try and get quality long reach without buying huge primes......I just have not found a TC that is really worth it to me as a pro.



    kennuts wrote:
    Yep... I got it... I got it:D . Sooooooooo .... if I'm going to loose some telephoto with the D700.... my 2X Tele C should help. :ivar Not debating any longer<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/headscratch.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" > :ivar

    see above.......
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • kennutskennuts Registered Users Posts: 59 Big grins
    edited November 25, 2008
    Art Scott wrote:
    Prob with TC's is they (everyone I have used even in the film days) degraded my pictures greatly......softer across the board.....I have spent upwards of $300 for a TC to try and get quality long reach without buying huge primes......I just have not found a TC that is really worth it to me as a pro.






    see above.......

    Awe ooh !!eek7.gif Yeah I did have that thought in mind... loosing some quality in the image. I know you loose a couple of f/stops when using TC's but I'm still taking the leap to the D700. BTW, I'm keeping the D300, I'll use both, this will give me a wider range of options when shooting outdoor sports and flashless photography of indoor sports (won't need a whole lot of range, my 70-200 f2.8 should suffice) !! Thanks for your input Art thumb.gif !
    K P Steib Photography
    Nikon D50, D300, D700, D4, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, Nikor TC-20E II 2x, Nikkor TC-1.4, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 GII, Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G, Nikon MB-D10 BP, Nikon SB-600 AF SL, Slick MP, Manfrotto 468MGRC2 Ballhead w/680B Mono
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