The D3...

I'd like to introduce you to my Nikon D3. This thing is great. It fits my hand like a glove. Albeit a heavy glove, a glove none the less. In fact, that is my only possible problem with it, is the weight. The lens on it here is the smallest lens I own for it. My 70-200 2.8 (which it seems like I use the most) is four times that big, so you can imagine that it is huge. It's really quite a comforting feeling to have it hanging at my side with the 70-200 on it. I'm sure it sounds wierd, but I can't explain it any better. It's not so much the camera as it is what the camera allows me to do.

I sold my motorcycle to buy this and I have never looked back. I think the money I spent on it is quite possibly the best money I ever spent, except for maybe my old Toyota truck, which I bought brand new and has 345,000 miles on it so far.

Seriously, most people probably would never care, but a while back I sent my D3 in for cleaning, and while it was gone then I had to use my older D200 for an engagement photo session. I really missed the D3 and I was so excited when I got it back that I could hardly contain myself. So I went out and took this picture.

On another note, I sold an older D200 body and a 12-24 lens, and between the two I was able to get the newer Nikon 24-70 2.8 midrange zoom that I have wanted for some time. It arrived today. I really wanted to get it for the upcoming weddings that I am photographing next month. With this purchase, I will be retiring my Nikon 24-85, and it will be up for sale. Although I used to be really happy with the 24-85, the last couple of months it has failed to meet my expectations. I believe that I have started to push it more and that is why. I am demanding a lot more then I used to, and I can see the difference in the image quality. I have great hopes for this 24-70. Just like all the Pro Nikons, it feels...different. Very solid, and the response is very nice. I will be trying it out in the next few days and see what I think.