NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Camera Talk => Topic started by: Marco Lanciani on July 10, 2020, 10:57:37
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I'm considering this camera, mainly for portraits, in studio and on location, and some event photography.
Even though the D3s might have a better Iso performance, I still prefer the D3 because it doesn't have video... so my sensation is of a less stressed sensor... what do you think about this?
Apart from this, two more concerns:
1- 12MP... are still enough?
2- Is it still reliable?... I mean, very old technology
There are some, apparently, good offers on eBay I'm observing...
Why this change... I'm missing many shots with my D7000, more than half are out of focus and blurred under 1/100", sometime even at 1/125", mostly in portrait orientation and I'm not happy with the results of the 50mm @1.8...
I already sent both the camera and the lens at the local authorised Nikon Service for check and AF calibration...
So I borrowed a friend's D700: no AF problems or blurred shots, even at 1/60", and my AFS 50mm 1.8 performs at its best starting wide open.
I'm not considering the D3x, just because of the price. €500 is my budget...
Please, let me know your considerations, and what to ask/look at, when buying used cameras on eBay. Hopefully your experience might save me some headaches...
Any other thoughts are welcome.
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Look for one with the buffer upgrade :)
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I've shot events and portraits with the D700 (same generation and tech/sensor as the D3). Very nice camera, autofocus is up to the task. I've printed up to A1 from 12mp.
Example D700 + 180mm f2.8
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8753/16184255104_318808981f_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qE9xc7)700_6810 (https://flic.kr/p/qE9xc7) by Luc de Schepper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lucdeschepper/), on Flickr
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Interesting, Fons
Thank you, Luc
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I’ve owned both the D700 and the D3s, both are really fine cameras, even today.
Don’t care much about pixels nowadays but but higher pixel sensors generally do provide a few more stops of dynamic range, switching to a D800E many moons ago made multi exposure HDR photos a thing of the past because there was plenty detail which could be pulled from the shades and highlights from a single RAW file.
Main differences between the D3 and the D700 was that the former came standard with the high voltage batteries to go full throttle. Talking about batteries, there were some regulation changes in Japan which forced Nikon to use smaller batteries in the D4 and am not sure for how long the D3 batteries will be available.
I might btw still have an RRS L-Plate lying around somewhere in case you are interested :)
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I had 2 D3's for 4,5 years. I still miss them. The D3 was the only highly-computerized device I've ever owned that never froze, failed, or did anything annoying. A real battle-wagon.
IMO: 12MP is fine if you are shooting for web or not printing above A3, but shows softness on big prints. You cannot pretend it to be medium/large format the same way you can with a 36MP or 50MP camera.
Also IMO: The presence of video should not be a concern, since if you don't shoot video it can't "stress" the sensor.
One caution: Nikon can declare the D3's unrepairable at any time now, as soon as they decide that there are no parts available.
I sold mine in 2013 with less than 50,000 cycles on the shutters. They'd still be working today.
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My 2 cents: The D3s had improved High ISO performance compared to the D3 and sensor cleaning. There is no need to use the video feature at all
I shot and occasionally am still shooting the D700 (still very usable). With the MB-D10 and BL3? Adapter you can use the EN-EL4a batteries (they might run into availability problems as well as the EN-EL3e the D700 is using). The D700 would probably be the cheapest option.
Tested the D7000 together with my D700/D300 combo i was using then, had good impressions while shooting but it failed when it came to the results, blurred shots etc., so similar experiences.
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Thank you, Jan and Keith, a couple of interesting points on which to think.
And, I don't need video, yes... I'm thinking to who used the camera before me... in this sense a "stressed" sensor... but maybe not many people were using a D3s to shoot video.
Thank you, Wolfgang, for your tips. As for the batteries, I have three EN-EL3e from the D7000 and at least 2 are perfectly working looking at the in-camera battery meter.
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My 2 cents: The D3s had improved High ISO performance compared to the D3 and sensor cleaning.
Yes...the sensor cleaning is not a small consideration. The D3 sensor had none, and was the dust generator par excellence. My first D3 needed a wet cleaning of the sensor after about an hour of use. If you only shoot at f/4, of course, there is no problem with dust.
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dont even think about this old junk ..12 MP not enough to crop for events. Go get a D810 as a minimum for events or even a D800E though its noisy.
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And, I don't need video, yes... I'm thinking to who used the camera before me... in this sense a "stressed" sensor... but maybe not many people were using a D3s to shoot video.
understand your point Marco, did not get that at first
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Yes...the sensor cleaning is not a small consideration. The D3 sensor had none, and was the dust generator par excellence.
Mine has the eerie ability to add dust spots to photographs that I took years ago. That's my excuse for finding ever more of them when I revisit the photographs.
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The D3 is a relative cheap way to a FX Pro body DSLR, the ergonomics and handling is better than having to deal with a battery grip, the big capacity batteries are an added bonus.AF speed and most other speed and performance issues are also very tightly connected to what lens you can afford.The 24-70 AFS f/2.8 and you have a very versatile fast set with great performance!
Highly recommended!
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I have a D3 which only saw a couple of years of use so doesn't have too many shutter actuations and is in very clean condition.
It has been "mothballed" in its original box since I got my D3S cameras because I had been meaning to sell the D3 but I have never got around to doing so.
If anyone wants it, just let me know.
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I have a D3 which only saw a couple of years of use so doesn't have too many shutter actuations and is in very clean condition.
It has been "mothballed" in its original box since I got my D3S cameras because I had been meaning to sell the D3 but I have never got around to doing so.
If anyone wants it, just let me know.
IIRC, you got the D3s bodies, which quite impressed you, just prior to your Safari with many in this gang. :)
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It was actually the D3 which went on that Safari.
After I bought the D3 (which was my entry to digital photography, I was cruising the Internet to see who else might have one and what they were using it for when I chanced upon NikonGear and found that they were planning a Safari but needed one more person to make it happen.
The adventure sounded so exciting and I signed-up immediately. A few months later both the D3 and I were in Africa together with some of the founder members of NG.
Some of those Safarians followed the African adventure up with a truly great trip to Norway the following Spring.
My D3 and finding NG turned out to be the catalysts for all of the adventures which have followed over the past ten years.
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It was actually the D3 which went on that Safari.
After I bought the D3 (which was my entry to digital photography, I was cruising the Internet to see who else might have one and what they were using it for when I chanced upon NikonGear and found that they were planning a Safari but needed one more person to make it happen.
The adventure sounded so exciting and I signed-up immediately. A few months later both the D3 and I were in Africa together with some of the founder members of NG.
Some of those Safarians followed the African adventure up with a truly great trip to Norway the following Spring.
My D3 and finding NG turned out to be the catalysts for all of the adventures which have followed over the past ten years.
Very similar story here ;) Bought a D3 and went on the NikonGear safari 2009 ;D
Side remark; Took the D2Xs along for long reach, was a perfect pair of cameras
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Erik, Thank you for you consideration on the D3... And, given that you mentioned the D2x D2xs, would you suggest one? What is the "s" advantage? Looking around on eBay, it's very low in price and, it seems also, in shutter counts, something harder to find on the D3 D3s but not impossible.
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The D2X and D2Xs are not suitable for High ISO shooting so difficult to shoot events for instance, not impossible just challenging ;)No real difference between the two D2X and D2Xs except buffer size.
The D3 is much better in High ISO ;)
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I've found this on a listing on eBay... from a D3s...
Better to avoid this camera?
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Strange Af boxes :o
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Never seen before. That's why I'm asking ???
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I saw this recently on ebay. Seller with 100% positive and payment through paypal.
https://www.ebay.de/itm/264640211869 It looks like a good deal to me.
I'll personally go for the d3s (around 700€) for the deeper biffer and better high iso, but that's just my personal use for the camera.
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Thank you golunvolo. I've already seen that listing... It looks like that D3 was in war, but very low shutter count.
The seller has also a D3s, https://www.ebay.de/itm/253691103919 ...here 357k is already beyond the certified shutter count limit... :-\
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It was actually the D3 which went on that Safari.
After I bought the D3 (which was my entry to digital photography, I was cruising the Internet to see who else might have one and what they were using it for when I chanced upon NikonGear and found that they were planning a Safari but needed one more person to make it happen.
The adventure sounded so exciting and I signed-up immediately. A few months later both the D3 and I were in Africa together with some of the founder members of NG.
Some of those Safarians followed the African adventure up with a truly great trip to Norway the following Spring.
My D3 and finding NG turned out to be the catalysts for all of the adventures which have followed over the past ten years.
Unfortunately, it turns out that I didn't exactly recall correctly, so please accept my apologies.
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Carl:
I don't think that you were wrong at all because you probably remembered my somewhat effusive and excited comments when I bought the first of my D3S cameras and took that on a later Safari?
Then it was the D5 which topped every camera which I had previously owned — until I heard about the D6.
I am pretty sure that I want one of those too; but I also need Covid-19 to be conquered so that we can all travel freely again.
My planned Brazilian trip in May had to be postponed (although I still intend to go when I can!) and it would be great to be able to take a D6 along for the ride.
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https://www.ebay.it/itm/233646894359
This is the D3s with the strange AF box, and I have no idea if this might compromise anything.
The seller says, the "defect" is purely aesthetic... the camera has almost 140k shots.
Should I bid?
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Carl:
I don't think that you were wrong at all because you probably remembered my somewhat effusive and excited comments when I bought the first of my D3S cameras and took that on a later Safari?
Then it was the D5 which topped every camera which I had previously owned — until I heard about the D6.
I am pretty sure that I want one of those too; but I also need Covid-19 to be conquered so that we can all travel freely again.
My planned Brazilian trip in May had to be postponed (although I still intend to go when I can!) and it would be great to be able to take a D6 along for the ride.
Most likely that I have mixed up the Safaris and included gear. These days, I'm lucky yo recall at all! :-[
I understand about the COVID-19 interruptions, I've been sequestered for over 3 months now. But, as a member of the extremely high risk group, I have little choice in the matter. Crossing my fingers for some sort of vaccine to come to my rescue.
Good luck on your trip to Brazil plans, to be accompanied by the D6 of course! ;)
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https://www.ebay.it/itm/233646894359
This is the D3s with the strange AF box, and I have no idea if this might compromise anything.
The seller says, the "defect" is purely aesthetic... the camera has almost 140k shots.
Should I bid?
If the D3 is returnable with no hassle, it might be worth it.
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If the D3 is returnable with no hassle, it might be worth it.
It takes me to an italian vendor, not returnable and only delivers inside Italy?
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https://www.ebay.it/itm/233646894359 (https://www.ebay.it/itm/233646894359)
This is the D3s with the strange AF box, and I have no idea if this might compromise anything.
The seller says, the "defect" is purely aesthetic... the camera has almost 140k shots.
Should I bid?
IMHO No.There are so many used D3/D3s on the marked, just wait until you find the right one, don't buy a defective camera.
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Why not make Ann a good offer on her D3? I will wager that it has been well looked after. ;D
https://www.ebay.it/itm/233646894359
This is the D3s with the strange AF box, and I have no idea if this might compromise anything.
The seller says, the "defect" is purely aesthetic... the camera has almost 140k shots.
Should I bid?
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I've found this on a listing on eBay... from a D3s...
Better to avoid this camera?
I had a lot of wear on my D3 display. It did not display so well anymore. Customer came personally and paid cash. Was happy anyway
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Why not make Ann a good offer on her D3? I will wager that it has been well looked after. ;D
Actually, I thought about this solution...
But I'm not sure about import taxes from the US between privates, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to pay something...
I thought, better to invest that extra on an "s".
And shipping costs with UPS or DHL.
Also, If I'm not wrong, batteries can't travel on airplanes, due to recent regulations.
D3 batteries are not so cheap, in relation to the current value of the camera.
I Wouldn't use third parties batteries.
mhm... For the same reasons I can't (still don't want to) buy on eBay from the US and Japan... well, outside the EU.
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Actually, I thought about this solution...
But I'm not sure about import taxes from the US between privates, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to pay something...
I thought, better to invest that extra on an "s".
And shipping costs with UPS or DHL.
Also, If I'm not wrong, batteries can't travel on airplanes, due to recent regulations.
D3 batteries are not so cheap, in relation to the current value of the camera.
I Wouldn't use third parties batteries.
mhm... For the same reasons I can't (still don't want to) buy on eBay from the US and Japan... well, outside the EU.
Bear in mind that nobody likes paying tax, and/or shipping costs. But, those ancillary expenses are soon forgotten, while the condition and quality of the purchase will always be remembered. A "good deal" is less about what you paid than it is about your satisfaction with it. ;)
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Marco:
If you do decide that you want either a D3 or a D3S I happen to have both cameras.
I bought them New and have been the only User.
I can probably ship via Fedex and mark the package as "Recipient's Property" with the second-hand value so you should not have to pay Customs Duty.
I do have all of the original accessories for both of these cameras but, while my batteries are in working order you will probably need to buy new ones fairly soon anyway. I don't think that there is any problem with Fedex shipping batteries if they are properly capped because new cameras are always shipped from Nikon or from a camera shop with a battery included in the box.
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Ann, I'll PM you. I think it's better...