Last weekend on vacation, I had my D200 and my primary zoom lens along with all my CF cards, batteries, etc. stolen. So I have no choice but to by a new camera in the next two days. I have three sessions this weekend that can't be rescheduled as they are families in town for only the weekend. I am horrible at decisions and I keep going back and forth between the D300 and the D3 - PLEASE HELP!!! I currently shoot 4 to 5 general sessions a week and 6 weddings a year at an average of $2500 a wedding and there are always enlargements of 16x20 or higher so I need to deliver a quality print. For 2008 I want the percentage of weddings vs other stuff to flip. My goal is to do 12-18 weddings minimum in 08. I do shoot a lot in low lighting and I am HORRIBLE with my flash... I think that I was the last person to make it into DJ's freedom and slumber and there is a flash section so hopefully that will help, but I like to rely on my flash as little as possible - which makes me lean toward the D3 but it will suck up all my budget nearly, but hopefully make for a tax return this year.Now for the questions...I can by the D3 and an inexpensive 70-300VR nikon lens and a 15mm fisheye to go with 50mm I have that survived the theft... or I can buy a D300 and a couple smokin lenses and a SB800 to replace my SB600 - WWYD? Also I keep reading that the D3 is a sports and news camera and that it is soft for portraits in weddings - is this true? Would it be softer than a D300 or just compared to what the reviewers expect for a 5000 camera?Is it overkill? Will its results return the extra $3500 in time and orders or am I just as well off with D300 and better glass? Thanks!I might add, my local camera store has a D300 in stock... they can get me a D3 in two weeks but will loan me a D200 until it comes in if I buy the D3. If they sale the D300 before I get there and I decide to go with the D300 I think I am out of luck on a loaner but I do have a D70s backup.

I just ordered 2 D300's w/ grips to replace my D200's. I have D200's for sale if you're interested. I went with the D300 strictly because I don't think I can justify the cost of the D3. I don't think it's $3200 better than the D300.

I think your head is spinning a little right now and you need more time to figure it out.

Would you consider renting a D200 or D300 for a week or so until you can come up with a plan without feeling so much pressure to buy SOMETHING? I realize it's money out the window, but it may help if you just have a little more time to think about it.

I always feel one should buy as much as they can afford, so if you truly can get a D3 and a lens comfortably, you should do that and then add to it incrementally throughout the year.

Do you have backup gear though? Just make sure you're covered with something!

Mark - I did see your cameras for sale, but since I have to buy a new camera anyway I would like to atleast upgrade to the D300, can you tell me any noticeable differences you have seen so far from the D200?

Matt- Unfortunately noone in my area rents cameras and I waited 2 or 3 too many days to rent online.
I do have a D70 for backup and I have a 50mm lens I didn't have with me that weren't stolen (knowing how much better the images I shot with myD200 and 28-70 were though I don't think I am doing my clients justice shooting with these, this weekend). My had is spinning!!! I usually wait to by new equipment until it has been out a year and I can get them to budge some on the price... I am definitely not liking this shopping during a no haggle, out of stock, we won't throw anything in time of year.

Full frame is a whole different world than cropped sensors. I think it's unfair to even compare the two. If you want that "look" and feel than there's no other option than the D3. The appearance of shallower DOF, getting wider with your wide angles. If not than the D300 would be a great camera.

It sounds like you think the D3 will make up for your lack of knowledge regarding light, especially flash. I don't think that's the case.

Then it's easy... buy the D300 and whatever lenses and sell everything in a year when you finally are ready to get a D3. You'll take a bit of a hit but not too bad, and maybe you'll find the D300 is enough camera for you and your style of shooting. People (like Shane) have been saying great things about the D300.

We're canon shooters, but got to play with a D3 at our local PUG party. Wow. It made us consider switching over to the dark side...

I just ordered the D300's from Dury's so I don't have them yet. But they may be here tomorrow, or Monday. I'll certainly do some tests.

Get the D3 if you'll be shooting a lot of low light situations. You'll regret getting the 300 once you see the difference.

But that's just me.

+1

In my opinion, the only 2 things that you get of significant value on the D3 that you don't in the D300 is lower noise at high ISOs and the real 1:1 magnification on your lenses. To me the former is a real advantage although from what I have read the D300 yields usable images at ISO 3200, the latter not much.

I think much more important are focusing, WB accuracy, color rendition, and ability to make quick changes while shooting, and all of those are either identical in both cameras or so close that it's not worth it to pay the extra $3200 for the D3. I think a D300, a 17-55 f2.8, a 50 f1.8 (or f1.4) the 85 f1.8 (or f1.4), and the 70-200 f2.8VR is more than sufficient to cover a wedding. You want full frame wide angle? Take 2-3 steps back and shoot away. DOF is already thin enough with my 50f1.8 on my D200 that I don't really care for the full frame. Want even more razor thing DOF, a-la macro lens, take your 50 off the camera, set it at f3.2 or f4, flip it backwards on the camera, and you have awesome macro capabilities. Remember that DOF is reduced the closer you are to the subject. I can get within a few inches of the rings with my Tamron 17-50f2.8 and get a very thin DOF already.

I think you will be perfectly happy with a D300, a grip, a D3 battery for that grip so you can get the 8fps, the lenses I mention above and a couple of SB800s, a couple of PWs, and an AlienBee strobe. Actually, let me price them for you.

Here is a price list (approximate #'s for simplicity)

Nikon D3 - $5000
Nikon 24-70f2.8 - $1700
Total = $6700

Nikon D300 - $1800
Nikon 17-55f2.8 - $1200
Nikon 70-200f2.8VR - $1650
Nikon MB-D10 Grip - $250
Nikon 50f1.8 - $115
Nikon 85f1.8 - $400
Nikon SB800 X2 - $630
Pocket Wizard Plus II X2 - $380
AlienBee 800 - $280
Total = $6705

There you go, you can either get a camera a 1 lens, or get a complete system for the same amount of $$. Hope this helps.

to be completely honest, since it seems you have the cash for either one, get what you really want.
It seems to me that deep inside, you really want the D3. Just get it.
If you dont, you'll be regretting it.
Im not saying that its the camera to get, but you know what you really want.
I dont think you will hear from anyone that the D300 will give you sharper images, or that the D3 is only good for sports. even if it was, isnt a wedding a sport? j/k
Just get the D3, smile and make a bunch of money.

But even if you dont, your still shooting Nikon, so no worries!

Thank you all so much for your advice! I just got back from the camera store and I ended up with the D300 and the 24-70mm 2.8 and the 14-24mm 2.8.

Ramiro - Thank You for all the suggestions on equipment and the pricing! If I had seen your post before I purchased I would have bought everything that you mentioned with the exception of the 50mm and AlienBee I already own - great suggestions. Do you think the above lenses are good choices? Or should I return for the 17-55 and 70-200 recommended?

Thanks!

Yes bad lens choices, well not really bad they are phenominal lenses but maybe not optimal. Salesman is a little suspect. Those are D3 lenses, the crop factor of the d300 will kill the 24-70. and you wont get the most out of the 14-24. You are loosing a lot and spending to much I think. If you think you might get a D3 those are great lenses and you can get through wedding with them on the D300 but yes the 17-55DX will save you money and be a better choice. The 70-200VR is uttlerly fantastic on any Nikon.

Hi Melanie,

Personally I don't think those 2 lenses are good choices on a D300, unless of course your plan is to buy the D3 eventually, then by all means keep them. If you don't plan to get the D3 in the future, then I would suggest the 17-55 and 70-200. I was actually just discussing this with Johnny on this thread about how the lenses work on cameras with a crop sensor. So technically your 24-70 on the D300 has an equivalent range of 36-105 on a full frame and your 14-24 has an equivalent range of 21-36. In my opinion, the 14-24 would make more sense to keep than the 24-70, but I would still prefer the 17-55 and just take a couple of steps back to be at the same magnification as the 14-24.

Up to you, for example Johnny is using the 17-35 instead of the 17-55 precisely because he intends to upgrade to the D3 this year. The 17-35 is a full frame lens, the 17-55 is a DX lens. So it depends, if you plan to upgrade to the D3, then keep the lenses, if not, the 17-55 and the others will serve you better on your new D300. Just my opinion. I hope that helps.

Nikon D3 - $5000
Nikon 24-70f2.8 - $1700
Total = $6700

Nikon D300 - $1800
Nikon 17-55f2.8 - $1200
Nikon 70-200f2.8VR - $1650
Nikon MB-D10 Grip - $250
Nikon 50f1.8 - $115
Nikon 85f1.8 - $400
Nikon SB800 X2 - $630
Pocket Wizard Plus II X2 - $380
AlienBee 800 - $280
Total = $6705

Ramjpc - ya beat me to the price list! ha! I was going to do the same thing, so thanks for the work on your part!
Everyone has some good comments on here.
Melanie - go switch those lens and get what Ramjpc already beat me to, again. For the D300 those lenes will be wonderful.
That said, I did test shoot my friends D3 the other night and the 6400 ISO is incredible! I never knew you could get such nice files shooting in low light at the range. Anyways, there is a much bigger issue here than about what camera/lens to get............. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE FLASH!!!!!!! It is your friend and does wonderful things when used correctly. (see the Strobist blog Lighting 101 for more info) I thought I knew some good things about off camera flash, then I went to the great, all knowing Zack Aris' One Light workshop and got totally rocked! Some very cheap and inexpensive ideas and gear to totally shoot bad/low light situations. Off camera flash is the only way to go! Esp. during those dim lit reception halls that we all just looooveee! ha ha! With the set up you now have, have just a couple of flashes and some RF remotes, you will be rocking some serious lighting skills at your weddings. I'm not talking about a lot of money either. If you can't afford the SB-800's just pick up some cheap Vivitar 285's, some light stands, and some remotes and you're good to go! Heck, when I switched over from film to digital a few years back, all I had was a couple of D70's and with off camera lighting, I had some great stuff to show clients.

Thank you again for all your help and your suggestions on what my husband likes to call
"Indecision Mel '07"

I do plan to get the D3, hopefully this summer. So with that in mind...
what should I keep/ exchange? I also got a 10.5mm fisheye, which I am having a blast playing
with but don't know how much I will really use this - for those that have one what do you use it for, are you glad you have it?

I promise just a few more questions and I will be decisive!

Hi Melanie,

In that case, then by all means keep those lenses and don't sell them. If you can get the D3 by this summer you should be able to get pretty close to the $1800 for D300 and then you can just take that $$ and buy some of the other glass in the list, or you can just use it as a back up. I hope this helps. If you have further questions, by all means just ask away.

I have purchased a D300 and I am on a waiting list for the D3. Keep the D300 as a second camera/back-up.. after shooting with the D3 or D300 your going to dred using the D70. also the D300 with the 70-200 with give you extra range than the D3 with the 70-200. th 70-200 f2.8 VR is a sweet lens and i would recommend over anything.