Disaster or Opportunity: Need Opinions

[carney2]

I just discovered that my beloved F100 and a Nikon 28-105 lens are missing - probably stolen by one of the tradesmen/workmen stomping thru our house over the past few weeks. I am, of course, very upset and wondering what to do to replace it. Could it be that this is an opportunity? My choices are:

1. Get a replacement F100. The price is dropping AND there is a $200 rebate currently in effect (That's in the neighborhood of 20% - usually a sign that sales are slow and the end is near).

2. Now that Nikon has introduced the F6, the former state of the art F5 is also dropping in price. No rebates, but perhaps a chance to "move up" to that dream from 3 or 4 years ago.

3. I have not yet taken the digital plunge? Is now the time? Nikon is also offering a rebate on the D70. I am still not real thrilled with the state of digital, but it's the wave of the future and cannot be denied.

I value the opinions of people who frequent this site and would really like to hear what you have to say.

[another view]

Bad news on the camera , hopefully insurance will help out with this. You're right - a new F100 after rebate would be ~$750 and a decent (not mint but works fine) F5 would be about the same price. They're very different cameras though. The F5 is heavier and doesn't have the LED's in the finder to show you the AF point. But I've got both now (mainly because of the price drop on F5's) and would probably sell the F100 if I only needed one.

If you're not excited about a DSLR then there's no reason for one. With a DSLR, you'll also need CF cards and the list goes on... I do shoot mainly with a DSLR these days but maybe a Coolpix is the best place to start with digital.

[opus]

This might be a dumb question, but in my house it would be a very valid question.

Are you sure you didn't somehow move the camera to a new location along with something else, to get it out of the workmen's way? That's exactly the kind of thing I would do.

In fact, I had a housecleaner for a few months, several years ago. Then I discovered a somewhat valuable childhood doll collection was missing from my house, and figured she MUST have taken it, although I couldn't prove it. I even watched eBay for about 4 months, sure that it would show up there one day.

Then I went to my mother's house, and realized I had taken it there awhile back. I completely forgot that she had never returned it.

[carney2]

This might be a dumb question, but in my house it would be a very valid question.

Are you sure you didn't somehow move the camera to a new location along with something else, to get it out of the workmen's way? That's exactly the kind of thing I would do.

In fact, I had a housecleaner for a few months, several years ago. Then I discovered a somewhat valuable childhood doll collection was missing from my house, and figured she MUST have taken it, although I couldn't prove it. I even watched eBay for about 4 months, sure that it would show up there one day.

Then I went to my mother's house, and realized I had taken it there awhile back. I completely forgot that she had never returned it.

99 and 44 one-hundredths percent certain that it is gone. Looked in ALL the places that it could be. Looked again. And again.

[paulnj]

see if you can report the serial #'s to nikon as STOLEN. I think they offer such a service?

That way if they get it for repair/cleaning.....

[Clemmie]

OUCH! I had a Seiko watch collection walk off with a cleaning crew a few years ago, so I know the feeling.

I'd carefully re-examine the old F5 dream - see if the flame of desire still burns as brightly. If not, then a nice new F100, while supplies last.

I don't think Digital is quite 'there' yet. Still a developing technology, regularly outdated - while a good film camera is never outdated.

[carney2]

Thanks to all who responded. Very helpful. I am currently leaning toward purchasing a used F5, but none of this is in the budget, so it will be a month or so. Logic:

F100: Been there; done that. Loved it, but let's spread the love around. What else is out there?

D70: I don't think that digital is where I want it to be and, with Nikon supposedly adding yet another "advancement" to its line in February, I would be starting out behind the curve. Besides, the "collateral damage" would be extensive, what with new (compatible) flash unit, flash cord, etc., etc. Summary: I'll know when digital has turned the corner by the fact that the "pixels war" has subsided. Not yet. The ads still say "more megapixels than the other guy."

F5: Eight year old technology and uses enough batteries to light a small midwestern city. Still, it gets great reviews and was a one time dream of mine. The winner! (At least until I change my mind again.)

In the meantime I am under a suicide watch because without my "prime" camera and no usable "normal range" lens (I have nothing currently between 20mm and 80mm), I am very depressed.

Tom

[Franglais]

Thanks to all who responded. Very helpful. I am currently leaning toward purchasing a used F5, but none of this is in the budget, so it will be a month or so. Logic:

F100: Been there; done that. Loved it, but let's spread the love around. What else is out there?

D70: I don't think that digital is where I want it to be and, with Nikon supposedly adding yet another "advancement" to its line in February, I would be starting out behind the curve. Besides, the "collateral damage" would be extensive, what with new (compatible) flash unit, flash cord, etc., etc. Summary: I'll know when digital has turned the corner by the fact that the "pixels war" has subsided. Not yet. The ads still say "more megapixels than the other guy."

F5: Eight year old technology and uses enough batteries to light a small midwestern city. Still, it gets great reviews and was a one time dream of mine. The winner! (At least until I change my mind again.)

In the meantime I am under a suicide watch because without my "prime" camera and no usable "normal range" lens (I have nothing currently between 20mm and 80mm), I am very depressed.

Tom

Look at it another way : we're end of November, days are short and dull, my calendar is almost empty between now and Christmas. You couldn't really wish for a better time to take a break from taking pictures because there's not that much to do right now. My D70 is not going to get much use before the Christmas break.

Charles

[Franglais]

I just discovered that my beloved F100 and a Nikon 28-105 lens are missing - probably stolen by one of the tradesmen/workmen stomping thru our house over the past few weeks. I am, of course, very upset and wondering what to do to replace it. Could it be that this is an opportunity? My choices are:

1. Get a replacement F100. The price is dropping AND there is a $200 rebate currently in effect (That's in the neighborhood of 20% - usually a sign that sales are slow and the end is near).

2. Now that Nikon has introduced the F6, the former state of the art F5 is also dropping in price. No rebates, but perhaps a chance to "move up" to that dream from 3 or 4 years ago.

3. I have not yet taken the digital plunge? Is now the time? Nikon is also offering a rebate on the D70. I am still not real thrilled with the state of digital, but it's the wave of the future and cannot be denied.

I value the opinions of people who frequent this site and would really like to hear what you have to say.

I have my F100, Leica, Hexar, Hasselblad etc. securely locked up in a large steel box, hidden in my apartment. The D70 is in a backpack placed ON TOP of the secure steel box. A decoy, if you like. The D70 is a nice little camera and it will be a useful tool for the next 4 years or so - but I don't think I'll get attached to it. The F100 - and the others - have a real quality feel about them.

In your situation - I would buy a D70 kit. Use it for a while so you get to know exactly what it can do. Then after 6 months or so if you still miss the F100 - look around for a used example. I think second-hand prices are going to continue falling, and at least you will have tried digital.

Charles
p.s. Nikon are going to announce a new camera in February, in response to the Canon 20D. I expect it will feel better than the D70, but of course it will be more expensive.