26 replies to this topic

[Advmoto18]

Thanks gents!

Thx for the info Charlie;  I'd looked at teh 4/3 format but just didn't seem right for me.

 

I'm looking for a Excellent used D700.  Prices seem all over the spectrum.

[Bigfoot]

Thanks gents!

Thx for the info Charlie;  I'd looked at teh 4/3 format but just didn't seem right for me.

 

I'm looking for a Excellent used D700.  Prices seem all over the spectrum.

 

You said you wanted a rangefinder style body but now you are wanting a huge, 7-year-old DSLR? The D700 was a good camera in its day but times have changed. Good luck. 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

You said you wanted a rangefinder style body but now you are wanting a huge, 7-year-old DSLR? The D700 was a good camera in its day but times have changed. Good luck.

The D700 is still a great camera. There certainly are better, but probably none that have a more loyal following.

Advmoto, if you can find a very clean, low shutter count copy, with a MB 10 grip, I'd pay perhaps up to $1,200. Two years ago I sold my last D700 for $1,500. It had about 10,000 clicks. The camera is rated for 150,000, but often goes much higher. You can pick up excellent manual focus AI S lenses for very little $$$. Flickr has a great D700 group for info on the camera.

[Advmoto18]

Yep, I'd like a range finder style body.  But, sometimes we have to compromise.  I've been shooting rangefinders for the better part of 40 years.

 

My 1968 Leica M4 captures outstanding images.  While I'd like to shrink the D700, sometimes we can't fit our wants into allocated dollars.

 

Bigfoot, if you have other ideas, I'm certainly open to suggestions. 

 

In a perfect world, I'd have a Leica M Typ 246 yesterday.  But at  ~$7000 for the body, I would not eat for 12 months!   Even a Ex++ Typ 240 is ~$4900 at Tamarkin!

Edited by Advmoto18, 20 October 2015 - 04:58 PM.

[Advmoto18]

Seems difficult finding a used D700 with a shutter count less than 50,000

 

Checking some of the databases, 70,000-100,000 seems to be about the normal shutter life for the D700.  Of course mileage varies depending on how well it was taken care of...the big unknown in buying used.

 

B&H sells refurb D700s for ~$1400 but currently out of stock.

[Stalking Light]

You might find a used D750 around. I have not used this body but it gets good reviews.

 

I suggested the D700 based on personal experience, I didn't mean to steer you away from rangefinders.

[Bigfoot]

Yep, I'd like a range finder style body.  But, sometimes we have to compromise.  I've been shooting rangefinders for the better part of 40 years.

 

My 1968 Leica M4 captures outstanding images.  While I'd like to shrink the D700, sometimes we can't fit our wants into allocated dollars.

 

Bigfoot, if you have other ideas, I'm certainly open to suggestions. 

 

In a perfect world, I'd have a Leica M Typ 246 yesterday.  But at  ~$7000 for the body, I would not eat for 12 months!   Even a Ex++ Typ 240 is ~$4900 at Tamarkin!

 

There are several excellent rangefinder style cameras in your price range. I mentioned one, the Lumix GX8. The Sony a6000 is another. If using your existing Leica lenses is not a factor, the Fuji X100 series is a marvelous fixed focal length camera. I've rented the X100S and X100T and really liked them. Some photographers say the Fuji rivals the Leica at a fraction of the cost. 

[Advmoto18]

Thanks Bigfoot!  I'm just not sold on Four Thirds format due to sensor size (17.3mm x 13mm) and reduced light transmission.

 

If I live in Baja for a year, camping on beaches and eating tacos de pescadoes, I can afford the Leica M Typ 240.  At least that's the logic I'm floating by the wife.

Edited by Advmoto18, 21 October 2015 - 10:00 PM.

[Bigfoot]

Thanks Bigfoot!  I'm just not sold on Four Thirds format due to sensor size (17.3mm x 13mm) and reduced light transmission.

 

If I live in Baja for a year, camping on beaches and eating tacos de pescadoes, I can afford the Leica M Typ 240.  At least that's the logic I'm floating by the wife.

 

Unless I shoot above ISO 3200 the micro four-thirds cameras do fine. Yes, full-frame sensors have a technical advantage but that rarely makes a difference (I do use a Sony full-frame for extreme low-light situations such as poorly lit events where ISO 6400 and above is required). In the last decade sensor, in-camera processing and lens technology have improved to the point that there is limited need for a larger sensor. If there was a great advantage to larger sensors then we would all be shooting medium format. 

 

Note that the Fuji uses an APS-C sensor which is between micro four-thirds and full-frame. In the end it boils down to finding the sweet spot for the kind of images we shoot and which camera makes photography fun. Four times out of five I grab my Olympus E-M1 but I have to say that the Fuji X100 has a certain magic for general street and travel photography. The Fuji's film simulations for JPEG images are amazing. 

 

You could try renting or borrowing different cameras to get a feel for what suits you. I have used BorrowLenses and CameraLens Rentals but there are many others. Watch for rental discounts which appear regularly. 

[Lighthawk]

I've just returned from a trip to DC where I only used a Fuji X100s for a week. I bought it used with only 1200 clicks for under $600. The low light performance of the APS-C sensor was fantastic, as is the 23mm f2 lens. I wasn't sure if I would be okay with a fixed focal length, but it was fine. For a semi serious travel camera, it's a lot of fun and the images are excellent. The only downside is poor battery life.