Pro bodies too large?

I generally prefer larger bodies - F5 over F100 for example. All my film cameras always had a motor drive attached - simply because I could hold them more stably and comfortably. With a small and light lens like the 35/1.8 or the 18-70, the D70 handles fine. A 12-24 is still OK on a D200/D300 - but for a 17-55 and certainly for anything long and heavy, I very much prefer to have the battery grip attached. The size of the D300 with MB-D10 is fine for me - the weight is about at the upper limit what I am happy with though. I certainly wouldn't mind if Nikon would have put the D300 in a pro-body with integrated battery grip; I have only removed the battery grip from my D200 once for a trip to Paris - I just needed to save space.

A Leica M6 is fine with a small lens like the 35/2 or 28/2.8 attached and painful to hold with a 90/2 or worse a 135/2.8 connected.

I have mixed feelings about this. I used to use F3 bodies with motors, then FM2 bodies with motors, but gravitated more to the integral bodies like The N2000, D90 and now D200. I don't feel the desire to have large bodies right now, I think I much prefer the smaller ones. That being said, I would use the bigger ones no problem and probably wouldn't think much about it, but my real instinct at this stage of shooting life, about 30 years into it, is I don't want them.

Weight is a serious drag until the moment you're making an exposure. Then it works for you. So it is a mixed blessing. My advice is to do what's comfortable for you. If you're overloaded (for you), the weight will dilute your concentration and your pictures will suffer. All of this shifts if one is working close to the car, or standing/hiking for 10 hrs/day. It's a broad and complex subject for which we must find our own answers.

For some of us the "consumer" cameras are too small for our hands and we make them larger and heavier by adding a battery grip to them.

For others, especially those with small hands, the large size of the "pro" models makes them awkward. There's nothing to be done for that except to suck it up.

This is not only a problem in the Nikon world, I would add.

Like you, Ray, I have often thought about this. My current camera is a D700 which, as I'm sure you know, is rather large and heavy. Couple that with my normal on-the-camera most of the time lens (Nikkor 24-70 2.8 zoom) and it really is a heavy combo. I am so satisfied, however, with the pictures I get from this combination that the combined weight becomes meaningless for me. Yes, I could pick up a smaller lens, but I choose not to and enjoy the quality I can get with the D700 and its companion heavy lens.

For me It depends on the situation.

I feel pro bodies demand a lot of unwanted attention when shooting on the street, because of their big size. They seem to be more intimidating. I love the way their feel and balance though. I have big hands and have no problems with the weight or the size but I also like the discretion small SLRs or RFs bring to some situations.

I think that if you get some big lenses, camera size will not be much of a factor.

In general - Big Camera + name of camera on strap = Target for thief in tourist area.
Big Camera + generic strap = lessor Target, but still a target
Small Camera + any strap = Smallest Target - why steal a D3000 when they can grab a D2h?

I shoot D300's when it matters most. When I'm walking around as a tourist or doing street - It's a D40. Much smaller, easier to schlep around and calls less attention to me, especially in areas when I don't want it.

For the record - I have average sized hands - so the D40 is a little small, D300 is just right and the D300 with a grip is a little (not a lot) big.

Dave

There is one major advantage with a battery pack attached to your camera, in such as when traveling! when i have been to H/K for the past couple of years i found that the large inconvenience in camera size outways the would be additional items that i would need to pack i.e battery charger and leads!
On my last trip i managed to find a small bag that attached to my belt that was designed to take the extra dimensions of an additional battery pack, this proved to be a godsend especially in the heat of that country as i did not have to suffer with a strap going over my shoulder.
However H/K being generally safe i did not have any concerns over theft!
Also ( as Luis says) the additional weight can keep the camera more stable during 'slower exposures'.
gary