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You don't need the extra frames per seconds for a wedding. Neither do you need the extra weight of the "pro" body shape. But you do need the high ISO.
So save by getting a D700 and get a back-up or good glass with the extra cash.
Posted 40 months ago.
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Not too bad a plan.
But if you wanted the most detail for large prints, esp. of formal posed shots, wouldn't you want the D3x? For shooting a lot of shots, the D3 has big batteries and having two card slots doesn't hurt either.
/..
Posted 40 months ago.
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Get the D3. You need the high ISO AND the fps. The 9fps isn't needed for the ceremony, but it is helpful at the reception. 9fps+flash does a good job during action. 9fp+bracketing does a good job when bracketing is necessary. Bursts are great for group shots because you will most likely get one of the shots with everyone's eyes open.
What will you use for a backup? Do you need to get 2 bodies?
Posted 40 months ago.
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photofarmer. right now I have a D300. It works great for me, but I am looking to make photography more of my profession instead of just a freelance/side job. So I know I will need to eventually invest and get another body to handle the shots.
I have the D50 as well, but know that to have a D3 and a D300 would be a lot better for the shoots.
Posted 40 months ago.
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How freakin big are your clients wanting you to print? the D3 will get you fantastic 16x20s, and how often do you print larger?
Basically, look at the drawbacks of each.
Buy the D3 - you'll be kicking yourself every time a client wants a razor-sharp 40"x50" print.
Buy the D3X - you'll be kicking yourself every time the light drops down low enough that you really wish you could shoot spankin-clean 6400 files.
Which situation will occur more often?
Posted 40 months ago.
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I have printed as large as twice the size of A0 from D3. Beautiful results with freaking amount of detail. The D3 in 35mm is all you need. You want better result, get a Hasselblad.
Posted 40 months ago.
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Extra frames per second are never bad, but what you do need for weddings is a long lasting battery and dual CD card slots.
Posted 40 months ago.
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I'd go with the D3 for weddings ( I own a d3 ) The High ISO capability makes it possible to take shots that would other wise be un shootable and in dark churches you need that more than the extra pixels.
Posted 40 months ago.
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I still use an s5 for portaits and weddings and even the slowest camera mentioned kills the s5 in FPS. A faster camera wouldn't even keep up with my off camera flashes.
If I had the money, I'd go d700. remember you have to lug the thing around for 8 ot 10 hours:)
Posted 40 months ago.
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d3 hands down..or a d700.
right file size..files are even too big for books.
high iso performance (most important consideration)
big savings over the d3x....
Posted 40 months ago.
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do you shoot wide open, as most wedding photographers do?
then the D3x sensor will outresolve all of your lenses, and you'll probably have the same resolution as if you'd gotten a D3 in the first place. the D3x's resolution needs an excellent lens shot stopped down to really shine, i'd wager.
Posted 40 months ago.
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The D3 i think is King! more than enough resolution even for a fair amount of cropping, but not to much as to slow down post production on my humble p.c.
The high iso perfomance is as good as everyone says, i shot a wedding on Friday and a fair amount of indoor shots at iso 4000 and i would go even higher if i needed to.
I would love to be able to add the D3x to my arsenal but i am more than happy with my D3, and the D2x as my backup.
Posted 40 months ago.
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I'd vote for the D3 for its low light performance. I've been using the D3 with a D2X - D2Xs backup now for a year and for my kind of wide open often low light shooting I haven't seen better.
Twenty-four megapixels sounds pretty nice and I'd like to hear from D3X shooters to know what their experience has been, but right now I'd opt for the D3 for its low light performance without a second thought.
Posted 40 months ago.
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This year for weddings instead of investing in the D3X (which was a definitely possibility), I will be using my D3 (with D3 backup) and an F6.
For what I shoot, it seems the D3X becomes a worse idea every day.
Posted 40 months ago.
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I'm still curious what % of lenses in the Nikon lineup can resolve 21MP at f2.8 and below. My guess is 0%. In fact I'd bet that there's only a small minority that can resolve 12MP at f2.8 and below. My 24-70 comes close, but it definitely shows improvement stopped down a little, which makes me think that the D3x is totally unnecessary for any wedding photographer who shoots at f2.8 and below all day (which many/most do).
Posted 40 months ago.
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i have both rigs- shot my first wedding for the year last week with the d3x.. so far so good.. the details.. omg, sweetness.. all glass works fine with it so far, nikkor 60mm 2.8d, tamron 90mm, 14-24 24-70 and the 70-200 no sweat.
just that the 14bit mode is too bloody slow, but i don't machine gun and have the d3 on my other shoulder when its needed.. ( anything over 1600iso that is ) will post a couple of samples now for ya.
Posted 40 months ago.
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Ken -
I've read a few pieces on lens resolution and the D2X series when Nikon went to 12 megapixels. Do you have a reference or a link that goes to a discussion of this in more detail? I'd be interested.
Posted 40 months ago.
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i'd rather choose a D3 over the D3x purely because it has more realistic resolution, you half the time you wouldnt even be printing a 12mp file at full res, why would you need 24?
plus you get higher ISO performance,
and this would be greatly complimented with the D700
the D3x isn't for weddings/sports and fast paced stuff
it was designed for products, fashion, and other areas of photography demanding very high quality
Posted 40 months ago.
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Excellent post and discussion on this very topic on DPReview:
forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&messag...
Posted 40 months ago.
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Part 2 of that discussion here
Posted 40 months ago.
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I have just moved from Canon 1D M111 and IDs MK11 to Nikon set up, I agree with the majority of guys, unless you carry portable studio lighting with a team of helpers use either the D700 or D3 for amazing ISO.....I have the D3 and D700, however I mostly use the D700 with battery pack and adapter for the larger D3 batteries, so problem solved. In fact I favour the D700 for weddings and if I was buying again I would buy two D700s. If I was in a studio all day then i would have the D3X but I am not.....FPs with battery pack on the D700 is comparable with D3 and 1/3 cheaper....
Posted 38 months ago.
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i'm still wondering if the d3x has more resolving power than the d3 for most lenses at f2.8 and below...
Posted 38 months ago.
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Buy the D3X - you'll be kicking yourself every time the light drops down low enough that you really wish you could shoot spankin-clean 6400 files.
Are you saying the D3X doesn't work at higher ISO's as well as the D3? Not arguing, just curious. I'm a D700 shooter, so I just would find that interesting.
Posted 38 months ago.
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Higher pixel density equates to more noise at higher ISO's.
It's a maxim of digital photography and gear.
/..
Posted 38 months ago.
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I've been loaned a D3X from nikon UK, i currently use D3/1ds3/5d2.
I have to say the d3x is a fantastic machine and the detail is astounding - there is certainly no downside for the formal photos and the bride/groom portraits.
Although the top ISO is *only* ISO6400 it's pretty darn usable at that iso....
the main downside it the need for larger / more CF cards - and the high resolution can start to show up some problems even with the much vaunted 24-70/2.8 AF-S at f/8-f/10.
on the D3 side it's in a sweet spot of resolution is sufficient for any prints clients are likely to ask for and the smaller file size is a bonus for backup/processing.
no doubting the detail and resolution on the d3x though - still - depending on your usage not sure it's worth the extra premium over the d3.....
i have some iso6400 samples on my flickr stream and also some low iso comparisons of 1ds3 and d3x with both manufacturers 24-70/2.8 lenses.
Posted 37 months ago.
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Only reason to get a D3x for weddings would be if you absolutely, positively need the very largest prints money can buy, AND you expect to shoot everything below say ISO 800. Above that, the D3 files will probably upsize better than those of the D3x.
I say get a D3. Save some money for glass or a backup body. The ISO performance is worth the camera's weight in gold for weddings, unless you are a compulsive flash shooter.
D3 images can be printed WAY larger than anyone should want to see their wedding photos. I know I have shot advertising campaigns A0 and bigger with just a D700.
Posted 37 months ago.
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I own neither... But I think D3 is gonna be the best bet... Better than getting a D3X or saving with a D700.
With a D3X, you won't really need that super high resolution. How often are you going to print REALLY BIG??
D700 packs almost everything what D3 does with a lesser price, but you add a grip to that, it becomes a pig.
What D3 gives you a perfectly balanced out body that you wont mind the weight. I've had an opportunity to use all three, and I simply love the D3.
The best thing is D3 is the dual card slots. That really is the greatest thing for weddings I suppose. You don't want to imagine a situation of loosing out the data of you CF, right after the ceremony is over. Do you?? After all marriages don't happen twice, at least to the same partner.
And add to that the superior high iso performance over a D3X.
Had I been in your position, I would go for D3 for sure.
Posted 37 months ago.
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