Am I crazy??

[PaulW128]

Hello All;

I need opinions/advice. About 4 months ago I sold off my Nikon D70000 and 4 lenses and bought an OMD with a 14x42, 20 1.7, 45 1.8 and 14 2.5.

Although I like the camera and all, I just haven't bonded with it, i'm missing an SLR. optical viewfinder. I'm seriously thinking og selling the OMD kit and going back to Nikon.

Here's the part that I think might be crazy....I'm thinking going D300 with a couple of lenses. I know the D300 is 5 years old and only 12MP but I can live with that, I think it's all the camera I need and the build quality is excellent. Assuming I can get approx 1500-1600 for the OMD kit, I don't want to put much more money into something else. I don't want to spend the money on FF or wait for a D400 or even a D8000 as they prob will be too costly.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

[yossarian123]

My vote is for crazy. A D300 is selling for 500-600 these days? I've seen used D7000s on fred miranda as low as $750 so the price difference isn't far off. Before selling off my Nikon digital gear I was using a D7000 and D700 and I thought the D7000 was an amazing piece of gear for the price. It's certainly a huge step forward from a D300.
Was there something about the D7000 that you didn't like?

[PaulW128]

Good point!! I liked the D7000, just thought the D300 was more "solid"..My close friend has a mint, hardly used D300, and this was making me leann towards it rather than the 7000.

But thank you, you have given me some food for thought

Paul

[James24]

I used to have a D300s and thought it was a great camera. Build quality, AF speed were excellent. If your friend is offering you a good deal on his D300 then I would consider it. That plus a 16-85 and 70-300 VR makes a good kit.

[kshapero]

I have the D7000 and I have had the D300. D7000 has much better Image IQ and I have dropped the D7000 too many times and it always works. The D300 is heavier so I guess it is sturdier. Also I like the 2 SD slots on the D7000. That being said, they are both fine rigs. My final word is that I'd rather be shooting my M3 then either, but I digress.

[PaulW128]

James;

Haven't actually asked my friend yet, i'm thinking he might just hold onto it once he hears my thoughts about it.

I also have my eyes on the 16x85 and maybe the 35 1.8

[ray*j*gun]

I have no problem still using my D90. Aside from the lack of metering with my old lenses, I have zero complaints with it...including the IQ.

[kshapero]

To be honest, I had no complaints when I owned a Nikon D70S.

[kdemas]

Build quality and auto-focus go to the D300, high ISO definitely goes to the D7000. It all depends on what you need.

[mfogiel]

Nikon D40 is enough (6mp), you can probably find these for 150 usd.

[PaulW128]

Thank you all for the responses so far. Don't really need high ISO capabilities.

I think i'll ask my friend to bring over his 300 one of these days to check it out

[PaulW128]

I guess i'm just feeling a bit lost and uninspired, recognizing that i've been chasing that elusive "magic" camera to help me turn it all around. So I guess there is a real tendency to stop chasing new technology and go back to an earlier, simpler time. Not quite film cameras but maybe D300 times....(if this makes any sense)

Thanks
Paul

[thegman]

If you miss the optical viewfinder, I think I'd try to get into a FF DSLR, the brand new Canon and Nikon FF cameras are reasonably affordable, so presumably the used ones are getting down to better prices too. I just sold a D7000 too, but if I was to return to DSLRs, then I think I'd stretch to full frame.

[PaulW128]

Yes, i'm very tempted by the D600 or Canon 6D. A bit of a stretch cost wise but reasonable for sure.

[PaulW128]

An update to this post. I DID sell the OMD and lenses, just didn't care for the EVF and missed using an SLR. I bought a new D7000 (nothing like going full circle) as there was a $300 instant rebate that expired yesterday, so the body cost me $900.00

They had a used, like new 16-85 that I also bought for $430.00, so all in all it was an expensive lesson I learned, but it was pretty much an even trade; $1300.00 for my Olympus gear and the 7000 body and lens cost me $1300.00

Paul

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by PaulW128

An update to this post. I DID sell the OMD and lenses, just didn't care for the EVF and missed using an SLR. I bought a new D7000 (nothing like going full circle) as there was a $300 instant rebate that expired yesterday, so the body cost me $900.00

They had a used, like new 16-85 that I also bought for $430.00, so all in all it was an expensive lesson I learned, but it was pretty much an even trade; $1300.00 for my Olympus gear and the 7000 body and lens cost me $1300.00

Paul

I think you did the right thing. I have used D300 and D300s for years and like the handling better than the D7000. However, I also bought a D7000 recently at the lower price and find myself using it as the primary camera because the image quality is noticeably better, even at the lower ISOs.

[PaulW128]

Thanks Pablito, it was pretty much a no brainer @ $900.00. I was tempted with a ff body, especially when Nikon dropped the price of the D600/24-85 to $2000.00 but I didn't want to spend another $700 and I really don't need a ff body

[Bille]

Originally Posted by PaulW128

Although I like the camera and all, I just haven't bonded with it, i'm missing an SLR. optical viewfinder.

Interesting. A year with the NEX-7 and whenever I pick up an old SLR I´m missing the EVF. May just be a matter of getting used to one thing or another.