Thank you,member of this group. Indeed, many of you know my concerns and indicate a full frame sensor is the ultimate solution. I will just have to do tests. I have a technical concern from reports that the FF sensor does not render light well at the edges. Supposedly light coming in from oblique angles of traditional lenses do not produce cleanest photos. Nikon's digitally optimized lenses arrange the light to hit the sensor perpendicular to the image plane. But that does not help me if that image plane, by being smaller, can not give me my wide "look".
I am unable to answer several of the direct questions some of you have raised, but do understand, my concerns with my wide angle "look" in the small sensor debate is not about depth of field. I understand optics reasonably well and know the 16mm lens which fills my d2x frame similarly to the FF 24mm can not have the same look. Image putting that 16mm lens on a full frame camera: objects are not rendered the same.
I have talked with several pros on the phone the last couple days, have used the lens distortion tool in CS2, have tried other wide lenses - and just ordered a bunch of Velvia 50 from New York. I am starting a new book project next week and can not risk using the "new" digital format. Some say "get used to it" and maybe I will.
More likely, I will sell the newly acquired d2x system and D lenses while they still have value and switch next year to a full frame system. Several of you suggest Nikon will come out with one? While I do own a bunch of F3 cameras and some fine old Nikon lenses, I also shoot with Leica R8 and those wonderful lenses. The Leica digital back adapted to the R8 is even more expensive than Canon. Even though all the gear is a cost of doing business, I wonder where it all stops. Maybe stick to film forever and buy a drum scanner is not too crazy.
In this business, I must have the best quality images or the competion will eat me up. I know the pro digital camera files are now superior technically to film and want to switch in order to upgrade my work. But I can not (yet) sacrifice my "look", as subtle a difference it may be.
If I have the chance I may upload the side-by-side tests I did. My film test has returned from the lab but I may not have a chance to before I hit the road. For those who want to know "where I have been" while all the digital debate has been in converation, my new website:
www.photobotanic.com may show I was stuck in a text mode during a film age. Trying to stay fresh, old timers die hard.
Thanks again for the dialogue - Saxon Holt