Pre-Order remorse?

Trever1t · Mar 29, 2012

I was all amped up on the D800 but am having second thoughts...I'm beginning to think a D3s is more inline with what I need, realistically. A D4 would be even better but that's a bit of a stretch finacially. Unfortunately even when the D800 has proliferated the shelves the D3s price isn't going to come down too much, the D4 isn't enough of a leap from the D3s to make most users want to move up.

I stil have my B&H pre-order, expect it to be some time in May for delivery.

Netskimmer · Mar 29, 2012

I have been watching the D3S myself. The price is going to have to come down or no one is going to buy them. The D4 is 6,000 and the D3s is 5,200. I would imagine the most people that have enough money/need for this kind of purchase will drop the extra 800 and get the D4.

Trever1t · Mar 29, 2012

Yeah, think I'm gonna wait it out....I don't want to give up my place in (the D800) line quite yet but think it might be wiser to let it go or sell it on ebay

bscenefilms · Mar 30, 2012

Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800 - Hands-on

DxOMark - Sensor performance

Trever1t · Mar 30, 2012

uhm...? No sound at work.

molested_cow · Mar 30, 2012

Hmmm... The D800 and the D3s sound like two very different cameras.

bscenefilms · Mar 30, 2012

A Nikon user’s review of the Canon 5D Mark III » Ryan Brenizer — NYC Wedding Photographer. Problem solver, storyteller.

Trever1t · Mar 30, 2012

molested_cow said:
Hmmm... The D800 and the D3s sound like two very different cameras.

They are. The D4 is truly the sucessor of the D3s which when released was the pinnacle of sensor technology.

Derrel · Mar 30, 2012

I walked into a big professional photo store on the day the Canon 5D-III and Nikon D4 became available and took a few minutes to examine both bodies, and to shoot a few gigbytes' worth of raw image files. A week later, I examined the D800 at the same store. Honestly, I did NOT like the hand feel of the D800. I have big hands, and the grip on the D800 is far too small for my hand...my pinky finger is basically forced underneath the baseplate...the camera felt like it was going to fall out of my hand. The exposure mode buttopn has been positioned, badly, on the back,top-right of the body, and pressing the button required the right thumb to be moved wayyyyy to the right, and then moving the control wheel is awkward and slow with one's thumb jacked all the way almost out of gripping position. Stupid move. The D700 by comparison, has a much better feel and fit in the grip,and the controls are more "traditionally-pro-body-Nikon-like". For me, the D800 would be a huge pain in the ass with heavier or bigger lenses or longer shooting sessions--unless it has the accessory grip added. Honestly...for my huge hands, the D800 fits VERY poorly. With the index finger on the shutter button, my middle finger and ring finger are the only two fingers that can hold the grip. Maybe it's a matter of a bunch of Japanese designers with tiny little hands, but to me, the D800 feels like crap as a "half-height body".

The Canon 5D-III on the other hand, has a perfect grip, and a MUCH "grippier" body covering than any other Canon I have ever held. The four, dual-function buttons and controls on it are whacked and always mean one is never 100% POSITIVE which button and which control will change which of its two settings(Canon''s dumbest mistake carried forward from 1986 until the present day...), but they FINALLY figured out, as Nikon did 60 years ago, that the Depth of Field preview button needs to be moved to the RIGHT-HAND side of the body, so it can be pressed in while the lens is manually focused, using the middle finger of the right hand...the left-side DOF button Canon has used for the last 5 decades was always simply idiotic, and ignored the way stopped-down focusing is done...and using bigger lenses, the need to remove one's hand from the lens to actuate the DOF button always was a glaring,idiotic Canon design flaw. I'm glad to see them imitating Nikon in the DOF control placement, and ALSO the way Canon has imitated Nikon and FINALLY created a "custom function" type button on the front of the body!!! Way to go Canon--you made the 5D-III much more like a Nikon!!!

The Nikon D3s/D3x series has, IMHO, the best ergonomics for ME, and the controls that I want, in locations I am familiar with. Used D3x's are priced around $4,500...not too bad a price,really,considering the original sticker of $7,999. The D3s STILL has fantastic high-ISO capabilities.

I liked the fit and feel of the D4, but am not too thrilled about the major change in the AF area assignment control--which is now GONE from the back of the body, and the "new" AF switch on the left side of the lens mount is not a welcome addition.

The thing about the D800 that I have seen is that its file resolution, from actual samples I have downloaded, is almost as good as that from the Pentax 645D digital medium format system...the sheer SIZE of the images, and the amount of detail they can show, is staggering from the D800 files. The screen on the camera is huge, and seemed excellent. TO be fair, with a battery grip added to the D800, it would probably be a nice fit for my hands, but honestly, as a half-height body, I felt that the D700 has a better grip and fit, and I really did NOT like the feel of the D800 in-hand...just did...not...like...it. The D4 OTOH, felt wonderful. But I'm not keen on the body control changes they've made on either body. These two cameras represent a BIG departure from the traditional NIkon body ergonomics and control features on a few key controls.

I really think it helps to genuinely LIKE the camera I shoot with...I honestly did not like the D800 without a grip on it. Just a bad-fitting grip. For a woman, or a man with small hands, it'd probably be fine. YMMV.

jaomul · Mar 30, 2012

I an surprised at the amount of people who seem to be jumping for the D800. The D700 seems to be such a well liked camera by anyone who owns it. A local guy I know has one and he is the best photographer that I personally know and he swears by it. I can understand people going from a 5d II to Mark 3 just because of the negative stick it autofocus gets. I am fairly nerdy when it comes to tech myself and like upgrading etc but from the specs I read the D800 is a totally different more specialised camera than the D700 and would not think of them being similar at all. I also would not think that it would be a hard decision to decide between the d4 and d800, being they are worlds apart on specs. A choice that seems more logical would be deciding between the d700 and d4, but your wallet will decide that for you anyway

Natalie · Mar 30, 2012

All these complaints I'm reading about the D800 being too small for the user's hands has me tempted, admittedly. I have extremely small hands (held flat, from the tip of my middle finger to the bottom of my palm is 6" - compare yours), and even my Rebel took some getting used to when I first started out. A camera that feels too small for most people would probably be just right for me. Not that I'm really considering switching brands, but I really hope the 5D Mark III isn't a behemoth compared to the D800.

bscenefilms · Mar 30, 2012

MkIII basically the same size as the MkII.

2WheelPhoto · Mar 30, 2012

bscenefilms said:
MkIII basically the same size as the MkII.

Not true at all. The crappy auto-focus has been improved.

Natalie · Mar 30, 2012

2WheelPhoto said:
bscenefilms said:

MkIII basically the same size as the MkII.

Click to expand...

Not true at all. The crappy auto-focus has been improved.

I didn't know autofocus had a weight, lol.

Patrice · Mar 30, 2012

Wow Trever1t,

That is quite an about face! You were really hyped about your undelivered D800 until just a few days ago. I know what you mean about pre-order buyer's remorse. It's not applicable only to cameras, almost any large purchase, and many small ones too, will cause second guessing when we can't take it home when we decide to buy it. I ordered a new optical tube a week ago knowing delivery would be a while. I've had to stop looking at the other available choices because I was starting to second guess my choice. I finally realized that I had made a choice based on a set of parameters important to me and therefore I should just stop shopping and wait for my new toy to arrive. I'm sleeping better for it.

Good luck with your internal deliberations. BTW, I don't think coming to the internet for purchase decision help for any item is very productive, not for me anyway, too many differing opinions, all valid as well. I use the internet to research the product down to the minutest detail then I make up my own mind based on my criteria.

You still have your D700? It's a good'un!