help me out, what would you do? Backup Camera...

[billydoo73]

i am in a pickle. i am shooting more "professionally." my primary body is a D700. my main lenses are as usual, 24-70, 70-200, and 50 prime. i have a D7000 for a backup. however, i did not use it at the last wedding i shot because of the feel. i used the 24-70 on the D700. the 70-200 felt awkward on the D7000. the weight/balance was so off. i ended up borrowing my buddy's D300. Much better.

now, I love the D7000 as a "walk-around" camera and my wife shoots it.

would you keep the D7000 and deal with it or sell it and buy a D300s? better body and i can play it like an instrument since it is pretty much the same layout as the D700.

on paper, the D7000 is a "better" camera, but is it really?

what would you choose as a backup for weddings and senior portraits? Thanks!

 

[Big Mike]

Whatever you're comfortable with, is probably best.

 

[tirediron]

The D300 is going to withstand the rigours of professional use a lot better than the the D7000 will, BUT the D7000 is going to give you better IQ, especially in low-light situations. Get one of each!

 

[gsgary]

Why not get anothe D700 ?

 

[Derrel]

Add some weight to the bottom of the D7000--that is what you're missing...a bigger grip area and more WEIGHT to counter-balance a 70-200. The 70-200 Nikkors are designed to counterbalance on a heavy camera; used on a pro-level body the 70-200 feels almost weightless and perfectly balanced between the hands...same with the 300/4 and the 80-400 and the other "heavy" 44-48 ounce class zooms...if you shoot a 70-200 on a D2 or D3 series body, you can carry and shoot it all day long, no problem....BUT, if you put it on a Baby Nikon body, the 70-200 will just KILL your wrists after about two hours...because the lens wants to nose-dive every single second...

 

[billydoo73]

Add some weight to the bottom of the D7000--that is what you're missing...a bigger grip area and more WEIGHT to counter-balance a 70-200. The 70-200 Nikkors are designed to counterbalance on a heavy camera; used on a pro-level body the 70-200 feels almost weightless and perfectly balanced between the hands...same with the 300/4 and the 80-400 and the other "heavy" 44-48 ounce class zooms...if you shoot a 70-200 on a D2 or D3 series body, you can carry and shoot it all day long, no problem....BUT, if you put it on a Baby Nikon body, the 70-200 will just KILL your wrists after about two hours...because the lens wants to nose-dive every single second...

EXACTLY!

...i was thinking of a grip for the D7000. I hate grips, i just do. no real reason except i had one on my D200 and i hated it. felt awkward and wrong.

i am torn because i love the D7000, but the D300s can be had used in good condition for the same price. Ahhh!

 

[dots]

what would you choose as a backup for weddings and senior portraits? Thanks!

S5. And I'd opt for the D300/s.

 

[billydoo73]

what would you choose as a backup for weddings and senior portraits? Thanks!

S5. And I'd opt for the D300/s.

yea. i already got bids on my D7000 and i am going to sell it in favor of D300s. i am in the camp that if i can get the job done NOW with TODAY'S equipment then there is no need to upgrade every generation. i used a D300 (non-s) as backup last wedding and i loved it. never really needed more than ISO 1000 and the photos were excellent. throw a 70-200 VR on there and make some pictures. to me, speed is more important than anything and the D300s and D700 are the same. i have to always fiddle with the D7000 to find my gear after using the D700 for awhile.