Should I add the Nikon D700 to my bag? (be nice) :)

Howdy all!

I am primarily a wedding shooter (but shoot sports and news outside of wedding season) but I am always trying to be more progressive when it comes to my wedding work. Truth it allows me to charge more for what I do.

Anyway I have lots of canon bodies and L's but am thinking about adding a Nikon D700 to my bag--- I like the results that I have viewed from friends and such who shoot wedding with the D700 and 35 1.4 -- and 85 1.4 --- I would get both of those lenses-- and use it for limited things during a wedding.

I have the 85L now and in my opinion it is only good for portraits-- and not good for general use at a wedding. The nikon 85 1.4 is a bit more versatile and less expensive than the canon 85L-- this is my opinion.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this. (not that it really matters)

Only three words will do when considering adding a Nikon to your "bag"...

Hefty! Hefty! Hefty!

:p

The D700 is a truly wonderful tool and I have zero regrets going that route, but to be honest I don't see the added value it would bring given what you have. Not sure how the 85mm 1.4 is more versatile than the 85mm 1.2 L. What 35mm 1.4 will you use - Nikon don't do one.

I did that...bought the D700 and the 14-24. It was my plan to shoot both canon and nikon since I already had a large lineup of canon bodies/lenses.

The first thing I noticed was that everything was exactly the opposite on nikon bodies...from putting the lens on, to the exposure comp etc. Looking in menus for changing functions on canon to having nearly everything on the body in nikon.

It made me crazy to switch back and forth. I eventually moved completely over to nikon.

As for the lenses...the nikon 85 1.4 is nowhere near the lens that the canon 85 1.2 is. I was going to purchase it...the nikonians seem to love it...but I was spoiled by the lovely bokeh of the canon 85 1.2. I eventually bought the zeiss manual focus 85 1.4 instead. If you want a 35mm 1.4 you'd have to buy a manual focus lens as well. The nikon is very nice though and if you don't mind using mf, I recommend it.

The thing is, I shoot weddings too and as I mentioned at the beginning it was extremely frustrating to remember each system on the fly. You don't have time at weddings to really do that (unless you have an amazing memory). You'd also need a flash for the new system (I would expect) and possible a remote.

So, not that it matters but I wouldn't recommend running both systems.

As for the D700 on it's own, it's a wonderful camera. I couldn't be happier.

Sure, if you want. Go right ahead, I'd never do it but it's completely up to you

Reasons why I wouldn't;
more lenses more weight.
it's a Nikon
I'd require more nikon specific accessories
It's not as good as the 5D mark II and has no video to boot (if I had 3 grand laying around I'd buy a 2nd 5D mark II or just save it for something practical)
It'd be difficult handling two different systems, changing systems for a shot in the heat of the moment, could lose precious seconds if you lose track of which system you're holding.

I'd be better off spending 3 grand on printing supplies than a new body, if I were you, or some serious elinchrom lights
When you say 35 1.4 I assume you mean the sigma?