Nikon DSLR - what's next?

My D70S drowned last week in Little Cayman - (along with my new Tokina 10 - 17 lens and all the guts inside my Aquatica housing) - I am not sure where the leak came from yet (I suspect the dome port was not in quite as secure as I thought it was). Fortunately I have the camera and housing and lens insured through DAN. I will have to replace the camera and housing and lens. Since the D70S is not being made I will have to upgrade to some other Nikon and Aquatica combo. I have no big dive trips planned until late October. If Nikon has something in the works above the D200 or D80 I would hold off and get that. Has anybody heard of any upgrades in the works - and then of course there is the housing manufacture and development lag.

In the meantime - I am looking for a good small point and shoot suggestion for a few dives in Hawaii in conjunction with a meeting. Any good thoughts?

Thanks.

Andy

Hi Andy,

sorry to hear about your misfortune, but at least you got the insurance $$ to upgrade now. I think your best bet is a D200 or D80. We're (I am at least) still eagerly awaiting the anouncement of the D3X which is long overdue. That technology will subsequently filter down into the D300 followed by the D90 (names are purely speculation).

Don't expect the D300 till at least 6 months after the D3X (and 3+ months for housing) - and few people beyond full time pros want to lug around a heavy pro body and housing like the D3X will be. So assuming they released the D3X tomorrow, you wouldn't have a housed D300 for 9 months to a year or more. I have a D200 & Aquatica and love it - so i'd suggest that unless you want to play the waiting game. It's tough though cause the D200 will soon be obsolete.

Also, people are speculating on a possible full frame sensor on the D3X so perhaps then on the D300 too. In that case you'd have to replace your DX lenses with old school ones (though I've heard an odd rumor that nikon has 15 'special' new lenses to release with the D3X... hehe, we'll see about that).

As for a P&S, check the compact cameras forum and you should get some good suggestions. Cheers,

Chris

You might want to consider getting another d70s from ebay. I just picked up one as a spare. Would be considerable less expensive since you have a housing that could be repaired. Just a thought that worked for me.