[jyhf]

I'm planning to upgrade to FF bodies. All my lenses are FX lenses.
I must say that I'm not a very good photographer. I take picture while on vacation overseas.
Budget is ok but weight matters.
I often shoot in lowish light conditions and video is optional.
Which one should I get?
Thx ching

[marisalwy]

D700 if weight matters

[pierokwong]

I am using able of these cameras.

My feeling is if you classify yourself as "not a very good photographer", I see no point for you to get a D3s.

Do you need absolute weather and dust seal?
Yes - D3s, I shot with D3s with 24-70 f/2.8 without coming across any problem.
No - D700

I assume you gonna use wireless flash if you are considering these two top end models. How many SB have you got?
More than One - D3s
Only One - D700 (D700's internal flash can use as master to trigger wireless SB)

Battery Life, D3s is doing 4 times what D700 can do.

I am using these two cameras on daily basis and seriously the weight difference is not huge for me.

Hope this is a better idea for you mate.

Cheers,
Piero

[jyhf]

Pierokwong ching,
If I'm willing to pay $40k, do you think it's a good idea to get good lenses with D700 or use them all for D3s? It seems the specification difference between the two cameras do not worth the extra $20k Do you agree?

[pierokwong]

no no no

The price differnce between D3s & D700 is well worth it! I am serious.

Lots of people out there just simply looking at the spec between D700 & D3s and then say something like the two spec are really similar, and then concluded both it doesn't worth the price difference.

But this is SO WRONG.

If you try to compare the performance head to head between two cameras, they make a huge difference for my working purpose.

D3s has all the control in button, it save me lots of time from going back into menu to change setting. image if we are talking about save 1 to 2 sec per image and I easily have 2000 photos in a section. We are talking about save hours in time.

WB & Dynamic Range appears much better in D3s as well if it is what you are after.

btw, what sort of lenses have you got at the moment? If you are moving from DX to FX, FX camera gonna show all the good and bad on your lens in the photo.

14-24 mm f/2.8
24-70 mm f/2.8
70-200mm f/2.8
should be the best combo that you can get for the whole range.

I can confidently saying D700 is a very good professional camera. But when D3s comes along, D3s is a real camera all working pro after.

It comes with MUCH BIGGER buffer memory, if you need to shoot sport, or low light and leave Noise Reduction on, you will see the difference on the saving speed.

I guess it comes down to your need now. D3s will definitely provide what you are after for a real professional camera with the best tonal and best dynamic range in all the Nikon lines up. D700 will comes in 2nd without a doubt.

btw, D3s win the TIPA Best Professional DSLR 2010 award
http://www.tipa.com/english/award-details.php?iId=1771&sAward=Best+D-SLR+Professional

My link to show you some photos I shoot with D3s and D700
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wagga-Wagga-Australia/Piero-Photography/108224575864599

Hope I have given you more light in the tunnel.

Cheers,
Piero

[jyhf]

I only have the following at this moment:
ZF 100
ZF 28
N 50.4
N 16-35 f4

Planning to get N 135 DC, N 70-300 VR +/- N 24-70 (if I get D700)

[pierokwong]

umm ...

looking at what you've got at the moment, let say if you are not using D3s for any job, I guess D700 suit you better.

As you can use the $$ difference to get a good lens like N24-70 2.8. This is a very good lens and you can stick with it for a very long time.

Lens tends to keep it's value but bodies do depreciate a lot through time.

Cheers,
Piero

[jyhf]

Is N24-70 easily get dust inside?
Any suggestion what should I get to cover the tele range up to 300mm? N384 sounds good but big for travel with kids.

[pierokwong]

I never have a problem with N24-70 about dust getting in.

I did located shooting for my living, including somewhere close to beaches. So I guess you don't have to worry about that.

about covering up to 300mm, is a bit pricy on FX. coz you don't have the 1.5x advantage on a DX body. I guess this is the cheapest (not that cheap actually) lens but giving you pretty good quality on a FX body

http://www.nikon.com.au/productitem.php?pid=92-014ecae279

AF VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

it's actually taking you up to the 400mm for telephoto purpose.

Cheers,
PIero