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D600 or D800 (Read 3211 times)

jwi

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D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 12:34:55 pm
One thing led to another. With mrs Jwi's sprained ankle we where forced to pitch tent close to the pier. I put up the tent above the strandline but the spring tide and wind direction made a mockery of my camp.


Adieu chère caméra by Jonas Wiklund, on Flickr

Nikon says that the camera (Nikon D700) and two of the lenses are not salvageable.

Thus I have to buy a new camera, and the choice is pretty much between Nikon D600 and D800. Thoughts?
« Last Edit: August 15, 2013, 01:03:14 pm by jwi »

Johnny Brown

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#1 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 01:08:22 pm
Oof! Bad scene, though quite amusing from here...

What's the budget? Which lenses have you got that still work? What do you mainly use the camera for? Did you find the D700 too big?

jwi

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#2 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 02:22:36 pm
Still have
Samyang 14mm f/2.8
Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D, 50mm f/1.4AI & 1.8D, 85 mm f/1.8D, 80-200 mm f/2.8ED (old push-pull model)

Will need to get either something btw 20-50, or a normal zoom (thinking of the old 28-70 f/2.8).

Quite happy with the size and feel of the D700, the interest in the D600 stems mostly from its lower price...

SA Chris

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#3 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 02:43:31 pm
Won't your household insurance pay out for flood damage?

Johnny Brown

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#4 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 03:06:27 pm
If the size and feel of the D600 didn't bother you, I'd go with the D800. Its (so far) the best sensor ever put in a dSLR, and in every other way is an upgrade of a D700. The D600 is a big sensor squeezed into a consumer body. I've used a couple of D800s and been very tempted. But ultimately the size - when coupled with the lenses - becomes too big an issue. If I can afford to carry a big camera I'd rather take my film gear as a rule.

With the lenses you've got mean it makes sense to stay FX, though you didn't really say what you use it for...


dave

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#5 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 03:32:46 pm
Just get an OMD, then next time this happens you've got a weathersealed camera.

jwi

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#6 Re: Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 06:12:07 pm
Won't your household insurance pay out for flood damage?

They will pay out half of current value

nic mullin

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#7 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 09:39:25 pm
Sorry to hear that. Sounds like the insurance company are breaking your balls too - do they mean they'll pay half the current price of the replacement kit, or half the resale value of what you've lost (before water damage)?

Unless frame rate really matters, I'd go for the 800. Like JB says, both the 600 and 800 are both "real" upgrades to the 700, except that some of the AF controls (the AF mode lever and the choice between AF-S and AF-C) no longer have dedicated buttons like they did on the 700. If AF controls and frame rate are an issue you might consider a second hand D3 (or a second hand D700 and blow the rest on lenses 8) ), but that feels like a bit of a wasted opportunity for an upgrade. The OMD suggestion is a good one if you're buying a camera specifically to throw into a river.

p.s. I went to Ogawayama recently, and found your blog post and article about it really useful, thanks!

jwi

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#8 Re: D600 or D800
August 15, 2013, 10:30:58 pm
thanks, I'm glad the stuff I wrote was helpful and I hope you had a good time!

Yeah, I'm thinking about trying to find a used D3X or used D800E... hmm....

Johnny Brown

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#9 Re: D600 or D800
August 16, 2013, 08:32:34 am
I wouldn't fuss about the D800E. I borrowed one briefly. Unless you use particular lenses, at particular apertures, and have exacting standards when shooting, you won't see a difference. And in most cases a round of unsharp masking will remove them. Otherwise the cameras are identical. I think the increased detail of 36 MP will be revelation enough without trying to squeeze a tiny bit more out.

Paul B

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#10 Re: D600 or D800
August 16, 2013, 04:38:46 pm
Ignoring the contentious... Have you considered the impact a D800 may have on the rest of your tech?

Increased detail > Large Files > Less per card > Less per hard drive > More work for your PC = Expensive Upgrade Path


nic mullin

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#11 Re: D600 or D800
August 16, 2013, 04:59:59 pm
Had a great time, thanks! Very hot and humid (start of July) and lots of biting insects but very nice climbing, friendly locals and a beautiful setting. Your blog, article and posts on here were the best english language info I found on the bouldering. Really useful and much appreciated.

For lenses, the 28 f/1.8 that came out recently looks very nice on paper, but I've not used one.

I have a 24mm f/2.8, and an 18-35 f/3.5 (both Nikon). They're both pretty small and light, focus close and quickly, very sharp (on the D700 at least, more pixels and they might start to show their weaknesses a bit), handle flare/ghosts well and can be found second hand for cheap. Might be a bit too much overlap with your 20mm f/2.8 though.

The 28-70 you mentioned is very good optically, and very nicely built, but it's about the size of a beer can, only fatter, and must weigh a kilo or so. I was keen to buy one until I put it on my camera and tried to lift it up to my eye...

Good luck making a decision, and enjoy your shiny new stuff when it arrives!   

jwi

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#12 Re: Re: D600 or D800
August 17, 2013, 08:40:37 am
Ignoring the contentious... Have you considered the impact a D800 may have on the rest of your tech?

Increased detail > Large Files > Less per card > Less per hard drive > More work for your PC = Expensive Upgrade Path

Yeah, I have considered the problem. It is an important consideration

 

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