the d300 has been released.

granted...it's only available in europe, in true nikon fashion...it'll be here by christmas. which means it won't be available until probably spring :lol:

price point? $1800 body only.

currently the d200 (discontinued) is $1600 body only. i'm sure that will drop significantly as the US release of the d300 closes in...but how low will it go? i'd go for the d200 if it went to $1000...but i somehow doubt it'll go that low before they'll be out everywhere.

there is the issue of bugs...in new cameras or anything else, bugs are common in first releases...so...does one spend slightly less for the d200 before it goes obsolete and is only available on the used market (won't buy used cameras...glass maybe, if i know the person) or slightly more and deal with bugs? or...a third option (that requires patience)...wait a few months, let them work the bugs and save a couple hundred on the d300?

oh my. decisions. i know what i'm asking santa for this year :smirk: i've been a goooood girl. our budget is telling me i've been a very, very good girl...and have long since earned either of these two :D

features?
12.3mp
3" LCD
up to 8 fps (with battery pack...FAST!)
51 focusing points...yes, you read correctly...FIFTY-ONE! (the d200 has 11...my d50 has 5!) that makes my head spin in a nice way.

there's more...
self cleaning sensor and a whole lot of other things....it's still not full frame ala canon but dam.n it's a nice piece.



:eyes: what's a girl to do: :joker:

get it.

How many sessions will it take for you to pay for it?

I say you get it. It is a biz write off and it is your profession and when it comes right down to it in the grand scheme of business related costs, it isn't all that much.

51 focus points..that would make me a bit loopy....

good luck deciding

it would take me approximately 1.25 sessions to pay for it (not counting that i use my income for other things...like, living :lol: but if i didn't have to pay for inane things like my mortgage, then yes, 1.25 sessions...on average right now.)

that's a good way to look at it, rebecca. i think i'll use that when i discuss it with santa later tonight...

:hahaha:

it would take me approximately 1.25 sessions to pay for it (not counting that i use my income for other things...like, living :lol: but if i didn't have to pay for inane things like my mortgage, then yes, 1.25 sessions...on average right now.)

that's a good way to look at it, rebecca. i think i'll use that when i discuss it with santa later tonight...

:hahaha:

see, you've got it made. All you need to do is 1.25 extra sessions more this year than you've budgeted and you'll be fine!

And, remember, the Sunflower_Momma extended family will likely be coming to town and will need your and Julie's professional services in some capacity or another. I'm not saying it'll be the cost of the body, but maybe part way there.

I would wait for bugs to work out, myself.

I would wait for bugs to work out, myself.

this will mean i'm shooting the d50 for another 9+months...

i'm so torn! no, really...i am. i've outgrown the d50...i feel it's limitations nearly every time i use it. sure...it does a great job. it's a great camera (not knocking the d50...i've got plenty of d50 love here!) but i'm doing a volume that would be more manageable with a camera that can do better sooc if set appropriately (better wb options, stronger sensor, etc)...i'm doing pp all the time, which i know is going to happen...but i could realistically cut my pp in half or more with a stronger piece of equipment. if at any given time i have 6-10+ sessions in the works (in pp, proofing, ready to order, awaiting delivery)...that could be a significant time saver given my homeschool and doula obligations.

make sense? i'm just not sure i can happily shoot the d50 exclusively for that much longer...


but i also don't want to deal with bugs and downtimes for shipping back to get firmware upgrades. i'd then be relegated to the d50 again :lol:

gack. i'm not a good decision-maker. fortunately i have a couple months to save and decide, right? :D

But, you DO shoot really well with what you have. I mean, we're not talking about a Powershot right now versus the d200. :)

I agree with the bugs and downtimes. I think it would be way more frustrating to have it then lose it than to wait.

it's a constant cycle..how much longer until the d400 comes out..or blah blah blah...yk

i think you would be MORE than satisfied with the d200 honestly...but...well i'm a little partial.

it has SIGNIFICANTLY cut down my pp time...my last session i upped the contrast and voila...i was proud of the final product in most of what i showed....

What is resale on your d50 and what would resale on the d200 prospectively be when you'd be ready for the d300 to be bug-free? Just some more points to consider when you are looking at costs, wants and time lines.

Sarah

What is resale on your d50 and what would resale on the d200 prospectively be when you'd be ready for the d300 to be bug-free? Just some more points to consider when you are looking at costs, wants and time lines.

Sarah

that's a good point...except that i'm not selling my d50. i'll be keeping it as my backup body and for my dh to use (he shoots it on auto.)

I don't know JACK about cameras :lol: But what the heck are you doing up this early...:hahaha: You still coming today?

But, you DO shoot really well with what you have. I mean, we're not talking about a Powershot right now versus the d200. :)

I agree with the bugs and downtimes. I think it would be way more frustrating to have it then lose it than to wait.

thank you, sandi. i don't think i'll buy it right away when it is released...i'd probably be on a wait list anyways :lol: by the time i *could* get it in a store it should be de-bugged. one can hope, right?

it's a constant cycle..how much longer until the d400 comes out..or blah blah blah...yk

i think you would be MORE than satisfied with the d200 honestly...but...well i'm a little partial.

it has SIGNIFICANTLY cut down my pp time...my last session i upped the contrast and voila...i was proud of the final product in most of what i showed....

i get the cycle. you know i almost got the d200 when i got the d50...it was the weight that made me not get it. the chiro has done magic with my hands and i've not had carpal tunnel issues in months (:cuc: yeah! i can knit!) so that's not a problem.

i was going to get the d200 anyways by the holidays...i'm just torn knowing that i *could* afford a newer design that will be "current" longer. not that 10mp is going to be outdated any time soon or that the d200 has any risk of being something the average parent in the background would be holding and trying to shoot around me (or else they'd not hire me :joker: )...but more that it will remain compatible with software, etc for longer. the d200 has been out for 2 years...lots of change in that time...

yet, i've had 2 high-end wedding photographers locally tell me to get the d200 when the price drops. they use it (along with d2x) for their work and love it. i LOVE playing with it.

i've not talked much with dh yet. if the price drops significantly on the d200 (enough so i feel i'm getting a deal) i'll probably jump on that sooner rather than later...but if it remains a $200-300 difference, i'll probably feel i need to wait on the d300.

that's not much more money for a lot more camera...

(just wanted to say i realize this "decision" is so fluff compared to a lot i know is going on...it's not like i'm losing sleep on it or anything...and i'm very, very grateful to be in a place where i can be deciding between two lovely cameras instead of having to make harder, life-impactful choices yk? i realize the perspective there...just to clarify bc i felt kind of funny this morning :lol: )

clearly, you want the d300.