Which would you borrow?

[annnewjerz]

I'm taking a 4-day trip to WDW in February. A wonderful friend of mine who owns a D700, a new D7000 and Nikon 70-200/2.8 (in addition to other things I'm not interested in) told me that for Christmas, he'd loan me one of the items for my trip. He knows I'm trying to keep my NAS under control and thought he'd help me out.

Now, decision time! I have a D90, Nikon 10.5 fisheye, Sigma 30/1.4, Nikon 50/1.2, Nikon 85/1.8, Nikon 105/2.8 and a Lensbaby.

The D700 is out because I don't have a stash of CF cards and some of my lenses are DX format. The D7000 would be great because I could try out a camera I'd consider purchasing, it has more focus points and higher ISO capabilities for those dark ride shots AND I could carry two cameras with a lens mounted to each rather than a bag with lenses to swap.

I had a Nikon 70-200/2.8 and sold it before I had the chance to bring it to The World. The benefit of borrowing the lens would be the fact that I'll be going with a group of people, one being my 4 year old neighbor who will be visiting for her first time. I think this would be great for people shots and really getting some great memories of her for her parents.

I can probably convince him to lend me both because I recently gave him some referrals and he "owes" me, but for now...let's just present it's one item.

Which would you borrow?

 

[Experiment_626]

I'd go for the D7000. The lens sounds great, but I find that I seldom want a long lens at WDW. Plus, you already have a couple of great fast primes that would be equally nice for impromptu portraits.

 

[WDWFigment]

For your purposes, I'm not really sure the 70-200 would bring much new to the table. I'd go D7000.

If it were me, though, I'd go D700 and figure out a way to make it work.

 

[Suburbanmom]

I can't see you lugging a 70-200 around WDW. It's my favortiest lens in my bag, and I don't lug it around WDW.
You already have the reach of the 85mm and it's close enough. WDW is designed to experience w-i-d-e (my opnion) anyway.

I would pick the D700 because I do have a stash of CF cards...
...so I'm telling you to pick the D7000. Two bodies minimizes switching lenses. Keep the 85mm on the D90 for portraits. Put the 30mm on the D7000 for rides.
Have fun. Show us lots of cool pictures when you get back.

 

[annnewjerz]

I find that I seldom want a long lens at WDW. Plus, you already have a couple of great fast primes that would be equally nice for impromptu portraits.

I completely agree with your thoughts, my worry is just that one photo will pop up where I want more reach than 85mm and won't have it. Last trip I went with a 80-200/2.8 and although there were only a handful, there were some shots I used around 120mm+. Hmmmm.

If it were me, though, I'd go D700 and figure out a way to make it work.

So you're the bargain King...how would you make it work? I just looked up prices on CF cards and considering my D90 takes SD cards, I find it hard to justify spending $100 on two cards that I'll only use for a 4-day trip. I would think I'd want a bare minimum of an 8GB card and that's only if I plan to unload it onto the laptop a few times during the trip.

I can't see you lugging a 70-200 around WDW. It's my favortiest lens in my bag, and I don't lug it around WDW.
I would pick the D700 because I do have a stash of CF cards...
...so I'm telling you to pick the D7000. Two bodies minimizes switching lenses. Keep the 85mm on the D90 for portraits. Put the 30mm on the D7000 for rides.

I lugged around the 80-200/2.8 all 6 days in December and it was a nightmare, but I really loved some of the shots I got with it. I would really prefer to take the D700, but without any memory cards I'm at a loss for how I'd be able to justify the expenditure for just a 4-day trip. Maybe I'll keep an eye on sales for memory cards and see what I can do...

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

As far as the comments I'm in the minority, because I couldn't go to WDW without a zoom lens. Although I used my 28-70 most of the time, I needed the extra reach of the 70-200 for the shows and AK. There were times that I couldn't use the old feet zoom to get close to the subject. I would go with the lens.

 

[Gdad]

He's loaning you a D700 but no CF cards????

I would take the D700 anyway- I can mail you a handful of CF cards for the week if need be- the 50/1.2 is soooo much better on FX.

 

[ssanders79]

I would take the glass over the body for the simple fact I would not want to return the D7000. I would be really sad when I got home and had to give the body back. Which would lead to a greater desire to purchase.

 

[spinetnglr]

Jeff beat me to it ... I was going to say I think if I loaned you my fisheye 10.5 for however long it was I could certainly do the same with some CF cards

 

[annnewjerz]

As far as the comments I'm in the minority, because I couldn't go to WDW without a zoom lens.

I get what you're saying and that's my worry, but on the other hand I go everywhere without a zoom lens, so I can't imagine one being a necessity for me just because we're going to WDW. I went in December 09 with one zoom and I mostly used it like a prime at the 80mm end with the exception of a few shots anyway.

He's loaning you a D700 but no CF cards????

I would take the D700 anyway- I can mail you a handful of CF cards for the week if need be- the 50/1.2 is soooo much better on FX.

Honestly Jeff, I'm an idiot. I just realized that the D700 takes CF cards, but the D7000 takes SD cards...so whichever one I take, I wouldn't be taking his memory. I was thinking if I took his CF cards, he'd have nothing to shoot with. I didn't even think to ask.

AND---thank you very much for the offer of your memory cards! If for some reason it turns out that I go for the D700 and only have 16gb of memory from him and I want more, I'll definitely let ya know.

 

[annnewjerz]

I would take the glass over the body for the simple fact I would not want to return the D7000. I would be really sad when I got home and had to give the body back. Which would lead to a greater desire to purchase.

THAT, sir, is an excellent point. BUT it may be a risk I'm willing to take and using the lens could make me regret my decision to sell, causing me to re-buy it.

Jeff beat me to it ... I was going to say I think if I loaned you my fisheye 10.5 for however long it was I could certainly do the same with some CF cards

Oh Karyl, you're too kind! What could I ever loan you in return? I didn't even think you'd be a candidate because I know how much you shoot your sports now and thought your memory would be essential. Then again, how much sports are going on in February?

 

[spinetnglr]

Oh Karyl, you're too kind! What could I ever loan you in return? I didn't even think you'd be a candidate because I know how much you shoot your sports now and thought your memory would be essential. Then again, how much sports are going on in February?

Actually that time of year I am sure I could give you all but one of my cards and I'd be fine for a few days without them. When I am shooting sports its with company owned <cough cough> Canon gear with everything provided. BTW I'm so excited I was put on the schedule for this weekend, both days, to shoot a local "Superbowl". Seven games in two days shooting action shots.

 

[WDWFigment]

My suggestion was going to be to borrow the CF cards from the camera's owner, but looks like Jeff beat me to the punch there.

I'd definitely borrow the D700.

For like 5 minutes, I contemplated renting the D700 if my D7000 doesn't arrive in time for our December trip. Then I snapped back to reality. For free, though?! Go for it!

 

[Marlton Mom]

Don't forget about the upgrade in video quality for the D7000. You might want to air that feature out with the little one on the trip so that when you have your own flock you'll have another reason to 'upgrade' to the D7000.

If I were you I'd be sure to read the manual before you get the D7000 in hand so you'll be ready to work all the features. When I went from the D60 to the D90 I was (and still am sort of...) a total spaz with the differences in the control arrangements.

Shooting kids leaves you with no time for rearranging the camera controls. Unless I am able to see it coming in advance and manipulate the camera controls ahead of time I usually have to default to full automatic and deal with the limitations of that in post processing. With kids it's there and gone in a flash!

Good luck!

Marlton Mom

 

[WDWFigment]

^I think that must vary from person to person. I was told the same thing when upgrading from D40 to D90, but it took my almost no time to commit the controls to memory. Heck, even after not using the D90 for several months, when we went to Disneyland, I could still instantaneously adjust every setting without moving my eye from the viewfinder.

So what I guess I'm saying is, YMMV on that. Some people might be able to pick up a D7000 after using a D90 and not skip a beat.

 

[Experiment_626]

even after not using the D90 for several months, when we went to Disneyland, I could still instantaneously adjust every setting without moving my eye from the viewfinder.

It always blows my mind when people do that. Even after using my D300 quite a bit for two years -- and making of extensive use of about six other SLRs since about 1993 -- I don't adjust much of anything without removing my eye from the viewfinder. I don't know why. But then, I look at the keyboard when I type,too, so maybe it isn't all that surprising!

 

[AlbertZeroK]

As a former d90 owner I can say it is a nice camera. I would borrow the 70-200 although I agree it is not a lens I would pack into the park everyday. In fact, I take my Sony nex most days.