Wondering: D7000 vs D800 vs D700

[mjhoward]

I'm an amateur photographer at best right now ... I am just learning all the technicalities of camera operation ... the D7000 camera is great for my needs.

...do I bite the bullet, sell the D7000 and buy the pro camera? Or do I hang on to the mid-grade one for a bit while I keep up with my learning and practicing?

Thoughts welcome!

Wow...the OP is sooooooo lucky this isn't the ancient, biblical times...or the village elders here might well have stoned her to death for her headstrong behavior and her rejection of wiser, male-centered authority...man...this thread was an eye-opener...and not in a good way...

Well, she did proclaim to be an amateur at best and asked for opinions. When everyone responded with their thoughts (as welcomed) she basically told everyone, quite belligerently, that she didn't care about any reasoning in keeping her current body and spending that money in other areas. She went on further to say she WILL buy a 'pro' level camera and that basically anyone that responded wasted their time. This, keep in mind, is coming from someone that has already said that her current body is great for her needs and is still learning how to use the camera and how it operates.

 

[SCraig]

Hell, I hope she buys a D4 and a D800 both. Within a week she'll be upset because her photos look like crap and want to sell them AND that D7000 for a dime on the dollar and go back to the P&S that makes her look good!

Seriously, it always amazes me that people feel that if they can throw enough monely at something it will make them an instant professional without actually having to learn anything. Still hanging around out there kiddo? Prove me wrong and show us some of what you have shot that you feel has professional qualities. If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

OMG....you guys are just green with envy that someone other than you has the cashish to just go and do what they want....ANYONE can grow into a new body. ANYONE...but no one has to either....You make up a set of 'rules' like they are gospel or something...you still can't support her and help her enjoy her potential purchase. Its not that you won't..its that you can't....you don't have that generousity in you to be able to.

You are Doom and Gloom....

Thankfully...I own a Canon and don't need your toxic input.

 

[Trever1t]

 

[djacobox372]

I'm not really worried about having the best lenses right off the bat, or even "using the camera effectively" right away. I can buy new glass in time. I'm more interested in knowing if diving right in to having a pro DSLR is a better idea than hanging on to a mid-grade one.

I think you have things backwards, lenses are better long-term value, so you're better off investing the bulk of your budget into lenses, you can always "buy new camera bodies in time."

A pro lens 10 years old is still fantastic, and can still be used in a professional setting; often indistinguishably from the newest version--the same isn't true for a pro DSLR from 10 years ago.

This is strongly indicated in price/depreciation:

2001 nikon d1h original MSRP = $5000; 2012 used value = $185
1999 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S original MSRP = $1500; 2012 used value $950

So basically over 11 years the camera body depreciated 2700%! whereas over 13 years the lens has only depreciated 30%.

 

[graecyn]

I'm an amateur photographer at best right now ... I am just learning all the technicalities of camera operation ... the D7000 camera is great for my needs.

...do I bite the bullet, sell the D7000 and buy the pro camera? Or do I hang on to the mid-grade one for a bit while I keep up with my learning and practicing?

Thoughts welcome!

Wow...the OP is sooooooo lucky this isn't the ancient, biblical times...or the village elders here might well have stoned her to death for her headstrong behavior and her rejection of wiser, male-centered authority...man...this thread was an eye-opener...and not in a good way...

Well, she did proclaim to be an amateur at best and asked for opinions. When everyone responded with their thoughts (as welcomed) she basically told everyone, quite belligerently, that she didn't care about any reasoning in keeping her current body and spending that money in other areas. She went on further to say she WILL buy a 'pro' level camera and that basically anyone that responded wasted their time. This, keep in mind, is coming from someone that has already said that her current body is great for her needs and is still learning how to use the camera and how it operates.

Actually -

If you'd re-read my original post, I believe I stated as well, that "I DO plan on buying a pro level camera asap" right in it and therefore, by your logic - anyone that responded wasted their time right from the get-go. Which, to be quite honest, is not my fault. Next time, perhaps some should read original postings more clearly, and then would realize they are not trying to make a decision FOR me, because (obviously) - I had already made the decision. It was just a matter of when it would be carried out.

 

[graecyn]

I'm not really worried about having the best lenses right off the bat, or even "using the camera effectively" right away. I can buy new glass in time. I'm more interested in knowing if diving right in to having a pro DSLR is a better idea than hanging on to a mid-grade one.

I think you have things backwards, lenses are better long-term value, so you're better off investing the bulk of your budget into lenses, you can always "buy new camera bodies in time."

A pro lens 10 years old is still fantastic, and can still be used in a professional setting; often indistinguishably from the newest version--the same isn't true for a pro DSLR from 10 years ago.

This is strongly indicated in price/depreciation:

2001 nikon d1h original MSRP = $5000; 2012 used value = $185
1999 80-200mm f2.8 AF-S original MSRP = $1500; 2012 used value $950

So basically over 11 years the camera body depreciated 2700%! whereas over 13 years the lens has only depreciated 30%.

Yes, thank you! My reasoning for going with glass over body now is based on this exact reason, pointed about by Dao a few pages back. Thank you for restating it! It's a good reason.

 

[graecyn]

Hell, I hope she buys a D4 and a D800 both. Within a week she'll be upset because her photos look like crap and want to sell them AND that D7000 for a dime on the dollar and go back to the P&S that makes her look good!

Seriously, it always amazes me that people feel that if they can throw enough monely at something it will make them an instant professional without actually having to learn anything. Still hanging around out there kiddo? Prove me wrong and show us some of what you have shot that you feel has professional qualities. If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it.

Considering you proclaim yourself to be an amateur yourself, I feel no need to prove anything to you.

 

[SCraig]

Considering you proclaim yourself to be an amateur yourself, I feel no need to prove anything to you.

A highly experienced amateur, please!

 

[Bossy]

OMG....you guys are just green with envy that someone other than you has the cashish to just go and do what they want....ANYONE can grow into a new body. ANYONE...but no one has to either....You make up a set of 'rules' like they are gospel or something...you still can't support her and help her enjoy her potential purchase. Its not that you won't..its that you can't....you don't have that generousity in you to be able to.

You are Doom and Gloom....

Thankfully...I own a Canon and don't need your toxic input.

Sorry to ask Georgie, is this serious or sarcasm?

 

[Nikon_Josh]

Hell, I hope she buys a D4 and a D800 both. Within a week she'll be upset because her photos look like crap and want to sell them AND that D7000 for a dime on the dollar and go back to the P&S that makes her look good!

Seriously, it always amazes me that people feel that if they can throw enough monely at something it will make them an instant professional without actually having to learn anything. Still hanging around out there kiddo? Prove me wrong and show us some of what you have shot that you feel has professional qualities. If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it.

Considering you proclaim yourself to be an amateur yourself, I feel no need to prove anything to you.

Please please post some photos??

 

[bentcountershaft]

Just be sure you invest in FX lenses so when you do make the switch you won't have to replace any of them.

 

[graecyn]

I think the whining going on here with some of you is preposterous. So, I intend to purchase a D800 at some point. I'm fairly certain I said that in my original post.
What I asked for were thoughts. You don't think I should buy the D800 right away? Great! Tell me WHY. Don't assume that I "don't know how to take the camera off auto mode". I assure you, that is not the case.
Yes - I already knew lenses are important, but I did not value them higher than the D800. That was obviously an incorrect decision and has been corrected by Dao and djacobox372 with their factual statements on lens depreciation versus body depreciation. THAT is an acceptable reason on WHY it should not be done. Opinions are great and all, but I could sit here and listen to all of you tell me why you personally FEEL I shouldn't do something all day long. Giving me factual evidence as to WHY though - that is the advice I am more likely to take.
I am sorry that some of you feel I acted out of line. However - I will not apologize for feeling personally offended at the assumptions that I know nothing about what I'm doing, am an idiot, "have no idea how to take the camera off auto mode", am belligerent and so on. If that's the way you'd like to feel - so be it. It really doesn't matter. But in the end, I'll spend the money I want to spend on what I want to spend it on, and the only two that gave me an acceptable, undeniable, factual reason for buying gear over a body are the two men mentioned above. The others that contributed, thank you (assuming you are not one of the few that have felt the need to insult me).

 

[GeorgieGirl]

OMG....you guys are just green with envy that someone other than you has the cashish to just go and do what they want....ANYONE can grow into a new body. ANYONE...but no one has to either....You make up a set of 'rules' like they are gospel or something...you still can't support her and help her enjoy her potential purchase. Its not that you won't..its that you can't....you don't have that generousity in you to be able to.

You are Doom and Gloom....

Thankfully...I own a Canon and don't need your toxic input.

Sorry to ask Georgie, is this serious or sarcasm?

I'm serious...I own a Canon....I don't need help from you guys.....

 

[Nikon_Josh]

I think the whining going on here with some of you is preposterous. So, I intend to purchase a D800 at some point. I'm fairly certain I said that in my original post.
What I asked for were thoughts. You don't think I should buy the D800 right away? Great! Tell me WHY. Don't assume that I "don't know how to take the camera off auto mode". I assure you, that is not the case.
Yes - I already knew lenses are important, but I did not value them higher than the D800. That was obviously an incorrect decision and has been corrected by Dao and djacobox372 with their factual statements on lens depreciation versus body depreciation. THAT is an acceptable reason on WHY it should not be done. Opinions are great and all, but I could sit here and listen to all of you tell me why you personally FEEL I shouldn't do something all day long. Giving me factual reason as to WHY though - that is the advice I am more likely to take.
I am sorry that some of you feel I acted out of line. However - I will not apologize for feeling personally offended at the assumptions that I know nothing about what I'm doing, am an idiot, "have no idea how to take the camera off auto mode", am belligerent and so on. If that's the way you'd like to feel - so be it. It really doesn't matter. But in the end, I'll spend the money I want to spend on what I want to spend it on, and the only two that gave me an acceptable, undeniable, factual reason for buying gear over a body are the two men mentioned above. The others that contributed, thank you (assuming you are not one of the few that have felt the need to insult me).

GOOD ONE.. now you have gone from being the aggressor to being a Victim? Nice try! Dosen't work..