D3 Buffer memory expansion

[gooseberry]

D3 users, Nikon is offering a buffer memory expansion service for your cameras

See this link

[methd]

i wouldn't mind that upgrade... but Nikon should know 2 weeks waiting is a bit much to go without a camera.

[Oneputt]

They also will not do it for that price on a grey import. Mind you for the sort of work I do, I really do not need it.

[Jeko70]

They also will not do it for that price on a grey import...

i wouldn't mind that upgrade... but Nikon should know 2 weeks waiting is a bit much to go without a camera

Thanks, received an email from NPS.


That's why I keep saying "Local" is better than "Global".
And NPS will offer you a great service and a large loan pool for few bucks more!

Cheers

Fab

[gstark]

That's why I keep saying "Local" is better than "Global".
And NPS will offer you a great service and a large loan pool for few bucks more!

And you're welcome to believe that if you so desire.

I happen to think it's obscene though for them to charge an arm and a leg for the level of service that every one of their customers should be entitled to, by virtue of the fact that they are already a customer.

Why should they create two classes of customer? It's disrespectful. It's obscene.

And apart from the fact that it's bloody ridiculous that this upgrade should take two weeks to complete, your post is basically OT in this thread.

[sirhc55]

IMHO this is only really applicable to photographers that use their D3 for sports or action photography. The other factor is cost, $500US is a lot of money plus time factor.

The question is, will Nikon do the upgrade for free to those belonging to their elitist group the answer is a big fat NO

[gstark]

IMHO this is only really applicable to photographers that use their D3 for sports or action photography. The other factor is cost, $500US is a lot of money plus time factor.

Chris,

Absolutely.

And what's the cost of the time factor?

Curious timing for this, really: One might think that with the Olympics about to start, this would have been an ideal pre-requisite for those 'togs in attendance. If one is look at the timing of this announcement from Nikon, and the timing of the NPS email to Fab, and the length of time needed for the upgrade to be performed, anyone wanting this done in preparation for their Olympic professional duties will be SOL.

NPS? More like NOPES.

[Jeko70]

IMHO this is only really applicable to photographers that use their D3 for sports or action photography. The other factor is cost, $500US is a lot of money plus time factor.

The question is, will Nikon do the upgrade for free to those belonging to their elitist group the answer is a big fat NO

Leica M8 upgrade option say anything?
It's not free.

NPS (CPS) + loan pool = no pain.

Two classes of customer?
If people want pics on their magazine/newspaper or for their wedding (that can't be missed) it's not a professional fault and so NPS or CPS are giving all us (Pro and Pro custmers) their support.

It's happening with all brands not just with Nikon, two classes, Professional and non professional.
Saving few bucks = spending more time and for a Pro time is money.

I know, a lot of people wont agree with me but as I said it's not just a Nikon issue, It's happening all around the world, BTW NPS is an international service.(IE I/you can have a service loan equipment in London) PS:
Personal experience,
I was covering WYD and had an issue with my camera, drop it at Nikon service and came out with one from them time 5 mins.
So back to work with no trouble at all, meanwhile I was shooting my camera has been fixed.

If that camera was from grey.....no camera, no job, no money and just trouble from my manager, my camera dealer.....

[Greg B]

They also will not do it for that price on a grey import. Mind you for the sort of work I do, I really do not need it.

This is puzzling. The price doesn't look like any sort of concession, it looks like a commercial price - cost of parts + cost of labour + profit. Why would
the source of the camera make any difference, unless it is punitive. I would have thought that the Dept of Fair Trading would take exception to
that sort of practice.

[Jeko70]

anyway,
D3 buffer Upgrade, D3 cash back......


It Might be a ringing bell for a new D3H.
If I think about buffer upgrade I got in mind D2H -> D2Hs or D2X ->D2Xs


I know everyone will say: Noooo, we are waiting a D3X.
But that one will be for a different market and different kind of photography.
D3H - Sport/PJs etc etc (A machine-gun, 200 ISO, Bigger Buffer, small files.... )
D3X - Studio-Landscape etc etc (100 ISO, High resolution....)

I might be wrong but for me it sounds.....

[gstark]

anyway,
D3 buffer Upgrade, D3 cash back......

Sorry, but, as I've said before, cash back is bullshit. They should just reduce the bloody price in the first place. It's cheaper for them. it's easier for you.

That is not rocket science, is it?

It's just plain marketing bullshit, and like bullshit, it stinks the whole place out.

The buffer upgrade ... nice, if you need it. Do you?

Perhaps it too is a marketing exercise? Why does the camera not come with the increased buffer in the first place?

It Might be a ringing bell for a new D3H.
If I think about buffer upgrade I got in mind D2H -> D2Hs or D2X ->D2Xs


I know everyone will say: Noooo, we are waiting a D3X.

Correct.

And way off topic. Again.

[Reschsmooth]

Sorry, but, as I've said before, cash back is bullshit. They should just reduce the bloody price in the first place. It's cheaper for them. it's easier for you.

If they drop the price instead of offering the cash back, then every customer gets the reduction. The cash back is typically only available to those that send in the paperwork (not sure if Nikon is different). Nikon/any producer would rather have a bunch of unsecured creditors on their books for a defined timeframe than reduce their revenue across the board.

But I know you know this.

We were too slack when we bought the R1800 and missed out on the $200 CB - only because of laziness.

[gooseberry]

Curious timing for this, really: One might think that with the Olympics about to start, this would have been an ideal pre-requisite for those 'togs in attendance.

Yes, curious timing indeed. Think this update might have to do with the "continuous improvement" that goes on with Japanese product development or a standardisation of parts with the new high res pro body (which I hear won't be called a D3X). Whatever the case, with the price drops of the D3 recently, think there might be a "supplementary" update to the D3 that may be announced - ie a D3s.

[sirhc55]

 PS:
Personal experience,
I was covering WYD and had an issue with my camera, drop it at Nikon service and came out with one from them time 5 mins.
So back to work with no trouble at all, meanwhile I was shooting my camera has been fixed.

If that camera was from grey.....no camera, no job, no money and just trouble from my manager, my camera dealer.....

Very interesting Fab but I have to ask the question, why did you need to get another camera body after dropping your unit.

According to the NPS requirements, and I quote

To qualify:

* NPS Sponsor (existing member to verify that you are a full-time photographer)
* Current Tear Sheets (published within the last 12 months)
* Ownership of a minimum of 2 Nikon Professional Bodies and 3 Nikkor or DX Nikkor lenses

The third point mentions that you need to have 2 Nikon Professional Bodies - so why did you need to get a body from them when you should have had a second body anyway

[gstark]

Very interesting Fab but I have to ask the question, why did you need to get another camera body after dropping your unit.

Quite.

According to the NPS requirements, and I quote

To qualify:

* NPS Sponsor (existing member to verify that you are a full-time photographer)
* Current Tear Sheets (published within the last 12 months)
* Ownership of a minimum of 2 Nikon Professional Bodies and 3 Nikkor or DX Nikkor lenses

The third point mentions that you need to have 2 Nikon Professional Bodies - so why did you need to get a body from them when you should have had a second body anyway

And let's do the math:

2 Pro bodies. That would be a D2x at the minimum, let's say one D2x, one D3: $10K give or take.
3 lenses: would you have kit lenses? Not bloody likely. Using Nikon Oz prices, we can safely assume about $3K per; that's $9K.

Now add in the cost of NPS tomfoolery ... NFI, but we're at about a PP20K cost of doing business before we even start to make any images.

Let's do the math the Poon way: Do you really need the pro bodies? Clearly the D3 broke to a point where it needed repairs, so the extra HD construction (and its associated cost) were not of any real value: 1 x D300 plus 1 x D700 : about PP5K. Glass - in the range of PP1700 - 2000 each: let's say PP6K in total. There's 11K.

Hell, let's throw in a second D700 just for the fun of it, and I'll stuff the extra 6K that's left over into my bank account. That would nicely fund my next trip to EU, in fact.

Yep, buying Oz stock and joining NoPeS sure seems to make a lot of sense to me.

I think I still have a couple of parcels of oceanfront land in Broken Hill, if anyone's interested.

And I'll even throw in a couple of close dated Velvia CF cards.

[Jeko70]

.....
* Ownership of a minimum of 2 Nikon Professional Bodies and 3 Nikkor or DX Nikkor lenses

The third point mentions that you need to have 2 Nikon Professional Bodies - so why did you need to get a body from them when you should have had a second body anyway

Sorry, I'm definitely going OT now:
I do have two pro bodies...... even three.
And usually I do need two bodies.
I don't like swap lenses so one is with wide angle 17-35 (i'm going for a 14-24) or 24-70, one with mid range 70-200 and eventually a third one with long lens 400. (FF with wide and mid and DX long lens)
So that's why I asked for a body replacement!

[Jeko70]

Very interesting Fab but I have to ask the question, why did you need to get another camera body after dropping your unit.

.....
And let's do the math:

.....
Now add in the cost of NPS tomfoolery ... NFI, but we're at about a PP20K cost of doing business before we even start to make any images.
.......
Let's do the math the Poon way: Do you really need the pro bodies? Clearly the D3 broke to a point where it needed repairs, so the extra HD construction (and its associated cost) were not of any real value: 1 x D300 plus 1 x D700 : about PP5K. Glass - in the range of PP1700 - 2000 each: let's say PP6K in total. There's 11K.

Let's do math again.

Does people really neeed a Mercedes/Porsche/Ferrari for $90-150-200.000 or even more to go to work?
Does really need people to buy a diamond to his fiancé to show that his really love her?
Does people really need get a Picasso painting when they know nothing about arts?


Try to drop a D300 with a long lens.
Battery autonomy. (battery grip is good but not under some circumstances.
Try to shoot with a D300 in a Jungle when it's raining and it looks like is raining for ever ..... or just few hours outside your place when it's raining.

[radar]

FWIW,

for NPS, they rate D200, D300, D2 series, D3 , D700 as qualifying for pro bodies wrt NPS membership.


cheers,

André
(not an NPS member)

[sirhc55]

Let's do math again.

Does people really neeed a Mercedes/Porsche/Ferrari for $90-150-200.000 or even more to go to work?

These people normally do not work

Does really need people to buy a diamond to his fiancé to show that his really love her?

No, but try telling the young lady that

Does people really need get a Picasso painting when they know nothing about arts?

?

Try to drop a D300 with a long lens.

Why?

Battery autonomy. (battery grip is good but not under some circumstances.

And what would they be?

Try to shoot with a D300 in a Jungle when it's raining and it looks like is raining for ever ..... or just few hours outside your place when it's raining.

Surely this would apply to any camera

[gstark]

Very interesting Fab but I have to ask the question, why did you need to get another camera body after dropping your unit.

.....
And let's do the math:

.....
Now add in the cost of NPS tomfoolery ... NFI, but we're at about a PP20K cost of doing business before we even start to make any images.
.......
Let's do the math the Poon way: Do you really need the pro bodies? Clearly the D3 broke to a point where it needed repairs, so the extra HD construction (and its associated cost) were not of any real value: 1 x D300 plus 1 x D700 : about PP5K. Glass - in the range of PP1700 - 2000 each: let's say PP6K in total. There's 11K.

Let's do math again.

Oh yes. Let's do that. This will be fun!

Does people really neeed a Mercedes/Porsche/Ferrari for $90-150-200.000 or even more to go to work?

Abso-bloody-lutely.

I will take the superior safety of my Benz over that of a Hyundai any day. FYI, there are a number of Mercedes and Porsche owners here, so I doubt that you'll get very much concurrence with this line of thinking.

And the resale value of a Benz is second to none.

Does really need people to buy a diamond to his fiancé to show that his really love her?

Perhaps. Diamonds need not be expensive, btw; it's not what you know, nor is it who you know. It's what you know about who you know. Bottom line here though is what does the fiance want? I think it's very arrogant and presumptive to suggest that every woman wants a diamond. I know a few who would prefer that Ferrari.

Does people really need get a Picasso painting when they know nothing about arts?

Again, not necessarily. I have two original paintings on the wall .... because I like the paintings. Rembrandt? Picasso? Massuto? Who cares: They're what I like, and that is why I have them. Nothing at all to do with anything that you're talking about.

Try to drop a D300 with a long lens.

No need to: we see that your D3 needed a trip to the doctor as a result of being dropped. Seems like an appropriate penance for going to WYD.

Battery autonomy. (battery grip is good but not under some circumstances.

Correct, and thus I can, on the D300 and D700, remove the grip. Seems like you're in agreement with me here.

Try to shoot with a D300 in a Jungle when it's raining and it looks like is raining for ever ..... or just few hours outside your place when it's raining.

Melbourne F1GP is good enough for me. It certainly rains there. You just need to be appropriately equipped; this is not an issue.


Now, I am accepting that you believe that NoPeS is good value. For you. That is simply marvelous. Please now accept that many of us see it as an unnecessary evil, that you are paying a premium for something that should be included, as standard, with the product. That Nikon Marketing has created two disinct classes of customers.

My Mercedes costs a lot more than my camera, but Mercedes does not have the audacity to do this.

I'll be willing to bet that you use the new self-serve checkout lanes at Woollies too.

[gstark]

FWIW,

for NPS, they rate D200, D300, D2 series, D3 , D700 as qualifying for pro bodies wrt NPS membership.


cheers,

André
(not an NPS member)

Spoilsport.

[Raskill]

Buffer upgrade seems to make a significant increase in FX format, more than 100% increase. Thats impressive.

On the NPS front, in my humble (and it is really humble) opinion, if I had spend some $30000+ on gear, which is not impossible for a sports shooter, I would want specialised treatment, as opposed to some guy who bought D60 and two kit lenses for $1000 from Harvey Norman.

If you think they deserve to be treated the same by the Nikon (or Canon), you must be kidding yourself.

Of course there are different classes of customer, thats business.

[Jeko70]

Buffer upgrade seems to make a significant increase in FX format, more than 100% increase. Thats impressive.

On the NPS front, in my humble (and it is really humble) opinion, if I had spend some $30000+ on gear, which is not impossible for a sports shooter, I would want specialised treatment, as opposed to some guy who bought D60 and two kit lenses for $1000 from Harvey Norman.

If you think they deserve to be treated the same by the Nikon (or Canon), you must be kidding yourself.

Of course there are different classes of customer, thats business.

.....(omissis)

I'll be willing to bet that you use the new self-serve checkout lanes at Woollies too.

[/quote][/quote]

So, from your answer you are with me that needs are subjective and not objective....
and money is not the answer! And when I use equipment to work I want the best for me but for my client too.
For me WYD was just a job like any other events and like I did reporting from a battle field in east Europe.

Anyone can decide to spend their own money in their own way...no matter what you buy, but what makes you happy and satisfied.
In a non developed country one dollar means a lot, somewhere out there means just a stupid coin, so value is subjective too.


About last quote. I'll be willing to bet that you use the new self-serve checkout lanes at Woollies too.
I'll be not happy to do that...because I'll send at home one worker, so better have a safe job than quicker lanes!
The fastest doesn't mean the best.

But talking about buffer Upgrade is better have a faster one than not have any when you need.

[gstark]

Buffer upgrade seems to make a significant increase in FX format, more than 100% increase. Thats impressive.

On the NPS front, in my humble (and it is really humble) opinion, if I had spend some $30000+ on gear, which is not impossible for a sports shooter

And Alan, having already pissed in Nikon's pocket to the extent of PP30K, Nikon still expect you to pay more to get some semblance of service. Don't you believe that they already have their pound of flesh?

Don't you find that just a teensy bit offensive?

[gstark]

.....(omissis)

I'll be willing to bet that you use the new self-serve checkout lanes at Woollies too.

So, from your answer you are with me that needs are subjective and not objective....

From this quote, all I'm saying is that if you believe that Woollies' self serve checkout lanes are a good thing, then I will sell you some of that oceanfront land in Broken Hill.

Anyone can decide to spend their own money in their own way...no matter what you buy, but what makes you happy and satisfied.

Quite correct. And thus I cannot see why you refuse to accept that NoPeS is not something that most people need, and that it's really little more than a marketing exercise for Nikon. You have not yet listed the real benefits it provides. I do know why that is, btw. Yes, it provides a couple of things, but those are, IMHO, things that, when your spending BIG BICKIES on this stuff, they should just be a part of the deal.

Like the free loaner when my Benz goes in for a service, so too should Nikon provide a free loaner when your camera goes in for a service. And Alan, that free loaner is available for every customer, regardless of the car they might own. No class distinction at my car's service workshop!

But talking about buffer Upgrade is better have a faster one than not have any when you need.

Ahhh ... so here's the bottom line for Fab - he just wants a quickie!

[Jeko70]

From this quote, all I'm saying is that if you believe that Woollies' self serve checkout lanes are a good thing, then I will sell you some of that oceanfront land in Broken Hill.

But with a long...long...long...long "local" lens you can get a beautiful oceanfront view.

Quite correct. And thus I cannot see why you refuse to accept that NoPeS is not something that most people need, and that it's really little more than a marketing exercise for Nikon. You have not yet listed the real benefits it provides. I do know why that is, btw. Yes, it provides a couple of things, but those are, IMHO, things that, when your spending BIG BICKIES on this stuff, they should just be a part of the deal.

As I said NPS is internationally recognised, for example I can go to UK to cover an event and I can have from minimal service such us a sensor cleaned or bigger one such as a service loan equipment in London

Like the free loaner when my Benz goes in for a service, so too should Nikon provide a free loaner when your camera goes in for a service. And Alan, that free loaner is available for every customer, regardless of the car they might own. No class distinction at my car's service workshop!

I don't think you are getting the same service or attention that F1 cars get.
We are talking about professionals not just simple customers. (A non professional D3 owner I compared to a Mercedes owner, a Pro owner I compared to a Mercedes F1 Race owner)

Ahhh ... so here's the bottom line for Fab - he just wants a quickie!

But from locals! They do it better!

[DaveB]

The buffer upgrade ... nice, if you need it. Do you?

Perhaps it too is a marketing exercise? Why does the camera not come with the increased buffer in the first place?

Maybe the RAM density has increased recently and it's now feasible to install?
Maybe it allows the D3 to have another point of differentiation from the D700...


As for the NPS thing, I can only speak to Canon's CPS. As a professional photographer who happens to not spend 10s of thousands of dollars per year on new equipment (I'm an individual, not a studio) I did find CPS very useful when I was a member. Reduced turn-around time, discount on labour charges, loan equipment while gear was being serviced, etc. (One time my 17-40mm/4 was in for weeks after I dropped it and broke the front element (!) and I had to put up with a 16-35mm/2.8 in the meantime).
But when Canon tightened up the CPS requirements I couldn't renew: I don't have (or want) a 1-series body (the minimum is a 1-series plus a 5D) even though I use at least two 5D/40D/30D bodies, and although I have 3 L-series lenses they weren't all bought from Australian authorised "Pro" dealers and thus don't count!

Thus now CPS is an irrelevancy for me...

[gstark]

The buffer upgrade ... nice, if you need it. Do you?

Perhaps it too is a marketing exercise? Why does the camera not come with the increased buffer in the first place?

Maybe the RAM density has increased recently and it's now feasible to install?
Maybe it allows the D3 to have another point of differentiation from the D700...

Wouldn't that lattermost point be described as "marketing" ?

Thus now CPS is an irrelevancy for me...

I still have an issue whereby they are charging those who are, arguably, their best customers, something more, over and above the many thousands of dollars they have already paid, just so that they can get the level of service that they should be entitled to in the first place.