Nikon D3 good dealt?
Posted 3 months ago
Do you think that the following is a good deal? 

Nikon D3 10000 shutter count
Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR I 

Both in great condition

For 3388 USD
 
 
Posted 3 months ago
Christian Rindom wrote
Do you think that the following is a good deal? 

Nikon D3 10000 shutter count
Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR I 

Both in great condition

For 3388 USD
 
Depends on what you want to do with it.  While I think a D3 might make a good boat anchor, $3,388 is too much if that's all you need.
 
Posted 3 months ago
Just kidding, of course, as I'd love to own a D3 (for taking photographs).  I can't help with the price, though.
 
Posted 3 months ago
I want to use it for Sport, landscape, event and portrait and macro photography. 
I need a camera that have great high ISO for indoor events, decent Fps, 5-6 is enough but 9fps would be nice, decent AF, weather sealing. I take sailing pictures, so weather sealing is important. 

I got all my pervious equipment stolen, so i'm open to any system. 
My last combination was a Canon 5Dc and 7D.  

The 5D Mk II would be great for portraits, event and landscape but I think that I will be limited of the AF and Fps. 

So I'm looking for a great all-round camera, so my question is if the Nikon D3 would be a good buy? or there is another i should be looking at. Canon or Nikon or another brand. I know there are new ones on the way, but i think it will be many months before we se them i Denmark.  


 
John Painter  Senior critic
Posted 3 months ago
The D3 is obviously a great camera as far as quality, but one thing gives me pause.  If you are using this for sailing pictures, landscapes and other outdoorsy photography you may find that the weight becomes an issue.  Lugging around a heavy camera can be limiting depending on what you are doing and what your fitness/strength level may be.  You might consider a lighter camera instead, such as the D700 (5 FPS) the D7000 (6 FPS) or even the older D300 (6FPS).  In daylight, all of these cameras will give you similar quality, honestly.  The D3 will dominate in low light situations, followed by the D700, D7000 and D300, but is that your deciding factor?  I use ISO 3200 on my D7000 regularly and of course the use of flash indoors makes that unnecessary.  Choosing one of these less expensive bodies would allow you to spend more on lenses, and that could make more difference as far as your images.  It all depends on what kind of use you have in mind for the camera.
 
Posted 3 months ago
I bought my D3 2 years ago with 65 000 clicks on the clock. Paid £1699 for the body. Serves me well, especially in low light for people photography. Ergonomics great. Heavy, and carrying it around becomes a drag, especially with those FF Nikon lenses. I miss the Sensor cleaning facility, but have lately started to clean it myself. A real work-horse, and indestructible. However, given the size etc, I wonder if a D700 won't be more suitable for the work that you do? I don't that there will be much difference in the image quality, even when pushed, or in low light.
 
Posted 3 months ago
Thank you all for your replies. 

Im 23 years old, so I like to think my strength is good, haha. 
ISO is important for indoor events which i get paid a little for, so i would like to deliver the best IQ within my budget. My clients have been happy with my image from the 5Dc and 7D. 
I use both flash or ambient light indoor. I have never carried a Dslr with the size of the D3 for more than 2min, so it is hard to decide if it will be to big. 
I think the D700 would fit my needs great, so I will probably go for that. 
Although there is not much difference is the price for a use Nikon D700 + 70-200 f2.8 (3112 USD) and 
Nikon D3 + 70-200mm f2.8 (3388 USD), so I'm quite tempted to go for the D3. 
 
Robert  Forum moderator
Posted 3 months ago

Christian Rindom wrote
I think the D700 would fit my needs great, so I will probably go for that. Although there is not much difference is the price for a use Nikon D700 + 70-200 f2.8 (3112 USD) and
Wise decision!
 
Posted 3 months ago
Hi Christian,
I was wondering... You're living in Denmark, right, and you're quoting the prices in USD. Are you planning on buying the camera in the USA? Just beware that having it send will most likely result in you having to pay VAT upon arrival. Taking it with you in you hand luggage entails some risk of being stopped.
Just to make sure you're aware of that.
Best regards,
Frédéric
 
Christoph Hessel  Head moderator
Posted 3 months ago
We bougth our D3 used at eBay with 2000 and 8000 clicks, mint condition. In Germany.
As we bought packages, with lenses, and we sold this lenses at once, the end prices of the bodys have been around 1400,- and 1500 ?.
This is 1 and 1/2 year ago. 
The 70-200 VRI is between 1400 and 1500 ? unused.

What I cannot evaluate is the US $ price. 

 
Posted 3 months ago
I have borrowed and used the D3 (and D3s) a bit, and like it a lot!
I'm currently using the D700, and after I got the battery pack it has been mounted, with the D3 battery option. This gives 7-8 frames/s, so pretty fast.
For image quality there is no difference between the D3 and the D700. The sensor is the same, and the processing is the same as far as I can see.
The D3 is actually smaller and lighter than the D700 with battery pack. So, do you take lots of photos in portrait format? Then I would go for the D3.
For the 70-200 VR I, well, I use it. But it is probably not the right choice if your corner sharpness is your highest priority. For most kind of shots you will never see any problems.
Price depends on where you are, so quite difficult to comment. 10 000 frames on a D3 you can consider as a new camera.
 
Posted 3 months ago
Frédéric Verhelst (Papafrezzo) wrote
Taking it with you in you hand luggage entails some risk of being stopped. Just to make sure you're aware of that.
There is always a risk of being stopped. But if you show the customs it has shot thousands of frames, most of them would consider you an already heavy user of the camera, some kind of addict probably. Remember, most people used to at least two Christmas celebrations on a 36 frames film.. 

I have traveled a lot with Pelicases loaded with underwater gear, plus a 20 kilos bag. The value many times a D3. Sometimes I have declared it out of Norway, but never been asked a question when coming back, and never had any problems crossing borders. 
Actually, once I went on a job in Japan. Not much to do with photography, but I had promised the company to bring back some photos.
The other Norwegian was heavily interviewed about what he was doing there. We had no business visas that time.
I had to open a case packed with Hasselblad gear, and my normal camera bag. Nobody asked me what I was planning to do in Japan..
 
Posted 3 months ago
Lars Grepstad wrote
There is always a risk of being stopped.
Yes there is indeed. I have bought most of my gear in the EU while visiting family (prices are lower, and I can get the VAT back), and brought it into Norway. Most of the gear was below the exemption limit, so it was legal to import duty-free. Once the gear was in Norway, I've filled out an "identification form" (incl. model and serial numbers) and had it stamped by Norwegian customs. I take those documents with me when travelling.
I've been travelling extensively at times, and have been stopped three times by customs so far, but that was when I was younger and I was not yet into photography.
So, these documents are a very easy way to proof that I have owned the gear for some time. Here is a link to the Norwegian document, Lars: http://toll.no/upload/skjema_blanketter/RD-0031B_yrkesutstyr.pdf
Best regards,
Frédéric
 
Posted 3 months ago
Frédéric Verhelst (Papafrezzo) wrote
Lars: http://toll.no/upload/skjema_blanketter/RD-0031B_yrkesutstyr.pdf
Yes, I've used it when I've been traveling with lots of new looking gear. Otherwise I never care
 
Posted 3 months ago
I am using it, just in case. Very easy. Just fill it out, take your gear with you and you'll get a stamp. The two times I've done so, they even did not check the stuff and just signed and stamped.
 
kenp 
Posted 3 months ago

Frédéric Verhelst (Papafrezzo) wrote
Just beware that having it send will most likely result in you having to pay VAT upon arrival. Taking it with you in you hand luggage entails some risk of being stopped.
Is there VAT on second-hand goods bought from a private individual? I don't think so.
 
Posted 3 months ago
kenp wrote
Is there VAT on second-hand goods bought from a private individual?
Correct, there is no VAT for second-hand goods bought between two private individuals within the country. 
But, I have just checked on the site for the Norwegian customs, and there is says clearly that when importing they calculate VAT based on the "market value", regardless it being used or not. 
Here in Norway it means that anything coming into the country as a parcel or by mail and with a value above the exemption limit of 200 NOK (26 EUR / 35 USD) will be taxed.

So, you'd better check, to make sure you do not get any surprises. A phone call to the customs can safe you from surprises.
 
Posted 3 months ago
Frédéric Verhelst (Papafrezzo) wrote
I am using it, just in case. Very easy.
Yes, you live in Bergen..
 
Posted 3 months ago
Lars Grepstad wrote
Yes, you live in Bergen..
Sure. But you can have it done at the airport, just when you're travelling with the equipment abroad. The two times I have done it, it took less than 5 mins.
 
Posted 3 months ago
I've done that, then at later travels they told me I had to go to some office, which I never did. I have also made my own lists and getting them stamped at the airport.
Not a big problem for me really, I think. My gear looks used, normally after a very short time..
And if it should get really problematic all my newer gear can be documented.

Sorry if this makes it look like I think customs are making a lot of trouble. They don't.
 
Posted 3 months ago
Frédéric Verhelst (Papafrezzo) wrote
Hi Christian,
I was wondering... You're living in Denmark, right, and you're quoting the prices in USD. Are you planning on buying the camera in the USA? Just beware that having it send will most likely result in you having to pay VAT upon arrival. Taking it with you in you hand luggage entails some risk of being stopped.
Just to make sure you're aware of that.
Best regards,
Frédéric
The camera is located in Denmark close to where I live, so no problem with VAT. But thank you all for thinking about it and pointing it out:)

The price is in USD because I though then most people could relate to it. The Price in DKK is 19000. 

My biggest concern with this camera is image quality. 
AF, Weather sealing, Fps and ergonomics is great. If the choice is between the D700 and the D3, I would choose the D3. 

I have been looking  at the Canon 5D Mk II which I think has better IQ than the D3/D700, but everyone I know is complaining about the AF.

In the end I don't think I would find one camera that fits all my need perfectly, so I have to decide what is most important. 

What do you think about the D3 IQ compared to todays standard? With in a price range of 2400USD. 
 
 
Posted 3 months ago
Christian Rindom wrote
The price is in USD because I though then most people could relate to it. The Price in DKK is 19000. 
That is a very good price!

The image quality of the D3 is not far below the D3s
 
Posted 3 months ago
Great, I will go out and look at the D3 today. 
 
 
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