Jason Dunn
09-28-2007, 03:47 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://cliffmautner.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/09/ok-its-after-1a.html' target='_blank'>http://cliffmautner.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/09/ok-its-after-1a.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"OK, It's after 1am and I'm totally spent after a busy weekend test driving the Nikon D3 and editing some files. I'm proud to say that I'm the only wedding or portrait photographer in the country to have been given this camera to test. I'll definitely post a review of the camera in the next few days, but I've got clients to take care of before I take the time I need to write it. My first impressions, as expected, were mind blowing. To be brief, I'm stunned at how responsive this camera is and I didn't believe there was much room for improvement to the way the D2xs handled. I was clearly wrong. The Focus, feel of the shutter, focus point selection, enormous LCD, auto white balance, dynamic range, color rendition, and a few other things have all been written about and touted, but nothing prepared me for the incredible quality of the files out of camera. In addition, the high ISO performance, which was also talked about, is nothing short of revolutionary."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/mendoza6.jpg" /><br /><i>70-200mm 2.8 VR- 1/100th @ 2.8 shot @ ISO 4000</i><br /><br />The D3 looks like an amazing camera...based on what I've seen so far, Nikon has really hit a home run with the D3 and D300. What amazes me most is the high ISO performance - this is one of the areas that Canon has always had a slight advantage over Nikon in, but if these images are any indication, it would seem that the advantage is over. It's hard to say for sure of course without seeing 100% image sizes, but the <a href="http://cliffmautner.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/09/ok-its-after-1a.html">wedding photos on this blog</a> I've linked to look incredible - and not just because the guy is an excellent photographer! <br /><br />I've decided I'm going to pick up a D300 when they come out - the retail seems to be around $1799 USD, so I'm hoping it will be around the same in Canada (even though, technically, it should be a bit less). I'm also pondering getting some serious glass: the 24-70mm f/2.8. What's interesting (or perhaps scary) is that the lens is probably going to cost about the same, or slightly more, than the D300 itself. I'd be scared to take the lens out in public - my first 100 pictures will probably be in my backyard. ;-)