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| To D4 or to D3s....that is the question... | Rate Topic |
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| Posted by iPlaid: Tue Jun 19th, 2012 10:46 | 1st Post |
| I'm looking to upgrade my current main camera from my d300 and d7000 pair to either a D4 or D3s. I'm not concerned with video as I don't use it. I shoot sports and those take place both outdoors and indoors. Currently, I use the d300 outdoors and the d7000 indoors as it's just too dark for the d300. I'm looking for a workhorse that I can use both in and out and where I won't have any significant drop in performance. The d7000 does well indoors, but I need something better and more robust (and I don't want to burn through its shutter life already). Is the D4 markedly better than the D3s for what I'll be using it for? I don't plan on shooting above 10,000 ISO and I generally live at 6400 indoors. I'd rather not start to invest in new memory cards either. 9-11 fps are all I need and probably more than I need as I'm already at 6fps with my current cameras. I have the money put aside for the D4, but obviously can't find them anywhere. D3s's are currently available used and I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find a new one. Is it really worth at least 2 grand more for the D4? What would I be losing out on considering what I use it for? Anything else that I'm forgetting or not considering? I appreciate all your help! Andy (formerly aj_photos on the old site)
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| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 19th, 2012 13:29 | 2nd Post |
iPlaid wrote:I'm looking to upgrade my current main camera from my d300 and d7000 pair to either a D4 or D3s. I'm not concerned with video as I don't use it. I shoot sports and those take place both outdoors and indoors. Currently, I use the d300 outdoors and the d7000 indoors as it's just too dark for the d300. I'm looking for a workhorse that I can use both in and out and where I won't have any significant drop in performance. The d7000 does well indoors, but I need something better and more robust (and I don't want to burn through its shutter life already). The obvious comment is ...going to either will lose you lens reach. So I would be asking how important is that for you photography? Secondly the dx lenses you may have wont work. All of which may mean more expenditure to retain the status quo. Personally, the D3s offers everything most photographers will ever need...and saves you money. The only other point I would add is ...what about a D800? Same feel as the D300... But lots of pixel power to crop to the DX field of view.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by iPlaid: Tue Jun 19th, 2012 13:42 | 3rd Post |
| The only issue I have with the d800 (ok, two issues) - First, the fps is not nearly what I need. ~4 is just too slow and I'd be missing a lot of action in that 1/2 second. And "B," the image size might just be TOO big for my workflow for my event business. The only dx lenses I use are my 10.5 and my 12-24. All my other lenses are FX already. I'm not getting rid of the 7000, so I can keep them on that one. I may look at getting a 300mm someday to account for the lost range, but that's not that big of a deal in my field right now.
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| Posted by jk: Tue Jun 19th, 2012 16:05 | 4th Post |
| D3S would be my choice as long as it is a low shutter count camera. D800 will cost you the same but images are as good as D3S but much larger file size.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by richw: Wed Jun 20th, 2012 02:36 | 5th Post |
| How many shots re you losing for poor focus? D3s is a bit better than the D7000 but the D4 is reputedly in a different league again. Noise on D3s at 6400 is acceptable, but is there beyond this you are probably pushing it a bit depending on your quality requirements, however with a bit of NR I have shot up at 12,800 and been OK under the circumstances, (it was virtually dark) but the auto focus couldn't acquire and it was too dark to focus manually so this was a bit hit and miss.
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| Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Wed Jun 20th, 2012 02:41 | 6th Post |
| Andy, Reading that you want to buy, I would consider this (just my 2 cents): If you can find a good D3/D3s body from a trusted source, think about the money you may spend elsewhere. (you may consider a nice 300 to augment the long reach you may lose by switching to FX ). D4 prices will remain high, for as long as demand is high (I believe they never fell for new D3's). One word of caution: do not expect to use/mix the D300 and D3/D4, the ergonomics are too different. If you buy D3/D4 bodies you will find that you use them, and not any other camera. Regards, Gilbert
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| Posted by iPlaid: Fri Aug 10th, 2012 14:20 | 7th Post |
| I know you are all wondering what I decided to do...I went with the D3s - I saved a couple grand and got something that will do all I need and more. The D4 would have been nice, but who needs that XQD nonsense...and I don't do video. From some studies that I read, the D3s performs better in low light than the D4 anyway...So it arrived today and I can't wait to get home to play around with it! Thanks for all the advice all!
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| Posted by richw: Fri Aug 10th, 2012 21:03 | 8th Post |
| It's a great camera, enjoy.
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| Posted by jk: Sat Aug 11th, 2012 03:49 | 9th Post |
| Yes I think that you have made a good choice. The D4 is the latest and greatest with a better AF unit but it is a lot more expensive.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
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