Ok Guys and Gals... What would you do?

[YesDear]

I have a dear friend who has all the toys I want. He shoots with a D3 and has about every lens, flash, etc you could want. His wife about 6 months ago got a D700 as her first camera to learn on. Of course she does not use it.

As many of you know DW and I are leaving for a 9 day trip to China in less than 2 weeks. A true chance of a life time to go somewhere I never thought I would ever get to go.

Well my friend has offered to let me take the D700 on the trip.

What would you do? Thoughts pro and con would be appreciated!

 

[RBennett]

I have a dear friend who has all the toys I want. He shoots with a D3 and has about every lens, flash, etc you could want. His wife about 6 months ago got a D700 as her first camera to learn on. Of course she does not use it.

As many of you know DW and I are leaving for a 9 day trip to China in less than 2 weeks. A true chance of a life time to go somewhere I never thought I would ever get to go.

Well my friend has offered to let me take the D700 on the trip.

What would you do? Thoughts pro and con would be appreciated!

While I'll start off by saying this... I personally think Pentaxes are better (sorry, had to get that out of the way) I would say GRAB IT!!! I mean, if for no other reason it never hurts to have an extra body! It sounds like a great opportunity to go to another part of the world, and why not take him up on it! Sorry, can't think of a whole lot of cons at this point.

 

[Evad]

Take the camera with the thought that it's not the camera it's the person behind it getting the results..... We all know you will do great regardless of what you use. Good luck and have fun!!

 

[RBennett]

Take the camera with the thought that it's not the camera it's the person behind it getting the results..... We all know you will do great regardless of what you use. Good luck and have fun!!

Sorry! I meant that as well; I didn't mean to insinuate that any great shots are going to be the result of anything other than that. But it will be nice to have a back-up body and it will be fun sometimes to play with a new camera. The one con I guess I could think of is that it might feel awkward since it's not your usual camera and therefore you may or may not use it.

 

[Suburbanmom]

I'd take the camera too. The only con I can think of is the "what if" ...what if something happens to it and I have to replace it? ...what if I fall in love with it and have to buy one of my own?

Maybe he will let you borrow it a week or 2 before the trip and you can familiarize yourself with the features. You shoot with a D300, don't you? There will be similarities.

 

[GrillMouster]

Grab it; don't give it a second thought.

 

[annnewjerz]

I think you should just buy your own D700.

Pros: You get to use the D700 in China, get some great pics and maybe decide if you want to upgrade or not.

Cons: Do you have much FX glass? I know the 70-200 would work, and the 50mm f/1.2, but what about any others? Would you be renting, borrowing, just bringing those two lenses? The other con, of course, would be worries about something bad happening to it. I had the same fear about borrowing Karyl's (spinetnglr) 10.5 fisheye. Needless to say, I got over it.

Good luck!!

 

[boBQuincy]

You know I like to travel light and that has a lot to do with my answer. D700 ~ 35 ounces, D5000 ~ 20 ounces. Almost a pound heavier, yet are the images better?
I would borrow the D700 for a trip that involves less walking around with the camera and get a lighter model for this trip.

Unless you can get DW to carry it!

 

[Chikabowa]

This is my first thought...

Grab it; don't give it a second thought.

Then my second thought is...
Make sure you are fully aware of what you can and cannot bring in and out of China. Just make sure they don't think you are a pro and that you don't need any additional paperwork for pro-level gear.

Canada always give me fits when I bring equipment in. They just want to make sure that I'm paying taxes on any jobs I'm doing up there (which I don't do jobs... but they just want to make sure they get their fair share if I do.).

 

[Evad]

This is my first thought...




Canada always give me fits when I bring equipment in. They just want to make sure that I'm paying taxes on any jobs I'm doing up there (which I don't do jobs... but they just want to make sure they get their fair share if I do.

You know us Canadians, we will do anything for a buck or up here it's a loonie..... lol

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'd hold out for the D3.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

This is my first thought...


Then my second thought is...
Make sure you are fully aware of what you can and cannot bring in and out of China. Just make sure they don't think you are a pro and that you don't need any additional paperwork for pro-level gear.

Canada always give me fits when I bring equipment in. They just want to make sure that I'm paying taxes on any jobs I'm doing up there (which I don't do jobs... but they just want to make sure they get their fair share if I do.).

I was in Canada a couple of years ago and they didn't hassle me at all. I had two bodies (one pro-style), a bag full of lenses, and bunch of other photo junk. Maybe the fact that I had two kids, a wife, and a bunch of camping gear with me made it obvious that I was just an over-equipped tourist.

 

[Quicklabs]

I'd take it, too, but I'd want to be sure that I could familiarize myself with it before I leave if at all possible. I am sooooooooo looking forward to your pictures, no matter what camera you take.

 

[Gdad]

Take it-

Plan on buying one when you get back-

 

[Frantasmic]

I'm more of a pessimist/realist.

Would the friendship weather your losing/breaking the equipment, even if you purchase a new one on return? You would think that that wouldn't matter, but you don't want to live with snide comments about your abuse of a gift for several years to come, even if it is replaced should worst case happen (of course they may not be that way but some people are).

That was nice of them to offer. However, for me, I'd be worried all during the trip and that bag would be my carry-on and wouldn't get out of my sight.

 

[wenrob]

Take it-

Plan on buying one when you get back-

My thoughts exactly.

 

[YesDear]

I have no concerns about using it photographically. Not worried about even if I have to use in crop mode. The extended ISO is biggest reason for wanting to use.

My main concern is the "What if". I have a camera schedule but coverage is not worldwide. My stuff would be covered under my homeowners because personal property covered worldwide. My homeowners is the broadest available in the market.

He has lent me stuff in the past and I have felt very comfortable using it. I take very good care of my camera equipment.

I guess I am also concerned about the itch to get one, since that itch started to itch about 3 months ago.

Thanks for everyone's input. I will let you know what I decide!