Some good points raised, but I know for the sort of low light bird photos I do now (we never have sun in my garden! *scowl*) that extra ISO handling would be excellent. I do find the D80 is a bit suspect after about ISO 500. In any case, it's still a fab camera! and I won't be selling it it's like a friend - and will have many years of use left in it I hope. Besides, Karl would like to use it for insect photography!

xx

Zoundz are you talking yourself into buying one

Good luck with whatever you decide xx

I sort of am... lol!

I will be getting one, but will be waiting a couple of months - would love to get one now before they hike the prices, but really can't afford it at the moment. I have a trip to Leeds for a champ rat show coming up, so will be probably getting some new glass for now, and getting the D700 in a few months. Doesn't matter about the wait - I already have a fantastic camera!

xx

Both

Yes and no. While the composition will be the same brilliant one (as Guy has a very good eye for a picture and no-one can deny his talents - give him a P&S and the photographs would still be excellent... but) the quality would be different. Specifically low light pictures and general clarity in all others.

I've always been able to notice the difference when I've seen pictures taken with FX, but the small details matter to me. Maybe they don't matter to others.

It's like watching a HD movie from skyHD at 720p, or watching a HD movie on Blu Ray at 1080p. To most people they will 'look similar' but there's no denying there is a difference in quality and that the Blu Ray movie is better.

When I was growing up I had to save for everything I wanted, and when I wanted my hi-fi, my choice was to get an 'average' all in one system (amp, cd, radio, tape, speakers) with my budget, or very good quality hi fi separates - but as the separates were more expensive I could only afford to get the amp, cd and speakers for the time being. Guess what I got?

I do agree with you that this is the first of many FX cameras mind - and the next one will be even better. The one thing I would like it to have is HD movie capture!

I found that 5D files had a smoother rendition and tonality than 30D and 40D ones, and I find the same with the FX and DX bodies. I ran a D300 for 4 months and there's no question that the FX sensors deliver finer colour, better DR, smoother tonality and gradation. As you'd expect bearing in mind the far bigger microlenses.

It's a sort of buttery smoothness that's there and DX sensors just can't deliver it in my experience. From ISO800 on the DX bodies don't see which way the FX ones went.

I'm useless with a P&S though can't compose for toffee on a screen.

I think 'buttery smoothness' sums it up quite well or maybe buttery-smoothness-tack-sharp-lush-colours

I'm useless with a P&S as well now, I keep going to look in the viewfinder (which they don't have )