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I have been very happy with my D700 but am ready to take the plunge into the D3 successor that (rumors have it) will be announced within the next few days (tonight?) and available in December. I have had a few occasions where the higher frame rate of a D3 and video capability of the D300s would have been awesome and it looks like the D3s addresses those needs (more likely, wants).
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPag...age=870000
One client, coincidentally, said to me last week that
when (he knows that I am a chronic upgrader) I am ready for the next camera, to let him know (I am figuring that it would be worth $2100 with L-bracket, Katz prism focusing screen and extra LCD cover - it is in as-new shape). If the camera comes in as I am hoping (under $4500), my out of pocket is not terrible for that camera. Next month will be pretty lucrative, as at least 5 clients want to get computers for their kids/selves for the holidays and one client is moving to a larger building and needs a server closet built.
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There's no way I would spend that kind of money on a camera unless it were absolutely essential for my livelihood.
Or I had Steve Jobs/Bill Gates kind of dough to blow
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It would be a smarter play to get a 1080p camcorder and a closed out D3. I saw the leaked specs and nothing really makes me think the extra $1500 of a refurb D3 is worth it. Even less so when you consider the D700 does almost everything the D3 does for $2500. In that case I would get a nice Sony camcorder for $2500 and a D700 for $2500 and be able to do professional work.
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It is official, only thing I see is the ISO is higher but probably looks like garbage at the max and a dust buster. About time for the dust buster Nikon, geeze.
Nikon D3S
New 12.1 Megapixel, FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor
Supports all Nikkor F-mount lenses with no focal length conversion ratio to deal with; if you're using a DX-format lens, the resolution will drop to 5MP and there will be a 1.5X crop factor
Very rugged, weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body; shutter rated to 300,000 cycles
3-inch LCD display with 921,000 pixels
Live view (now activated by one button) with two AF modes and frame enlargement in manual focus mode
Optical viewfinder has 100% coverage (97% with DX-format lenses) and 0.70X magnification
Same 51-point autofocus system as the D3
Full manual controls (obviously)
ISO range of 200 - 12,800, expandable to an incredible 100 - 102,400
Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
Six different RAW options to choose from: 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed
User can bracket for exposure, white balance, and Active D-Lighting
Can take up to 36 RAW or 82 JPEGs at a whopping 9 frames/second with FX lenses and 11 fps with DX lenses
New 1.2X crop mode gives you a small telephoto boost with a modest decrease in resolution (drops to 8.4MP)
Dust reduction system (which the D3 did not have)
Hot shoe + flash sync port
Same virtual horizon feature as D3
Records HD movies at 1280 x 720 (24 fps) with monaural sound
5 minute recording limit
New algorithm "severely reduces the phenomenon of rolling shutter ... while panning"
Stereo microphone input allows for better sound quality
High sensitivity movie mode allows video recording in near-darkness
Dual CompactFlash card slots with overflow, backup, and file format separation options
HDMI output
Compatible with Nikon GP-1 GPS unit and WT-4A wireless transmitter
Uses EN-EL4a li-ion battery; 4200 shots per charge (!)
Ships in November for $5200, body only
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$2400 out-of-pocket... not including the pocket that your D700 is in.
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I'm more interested in whatever hypothetical successor to the D700 might come along in the future.
I don't need a super-fast frame rate when I shoot, and like the idea of swapping a vertical grip on and off a body when needed or not needed.
