Body advice needed

ChrisMClark

ChrisMClark

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Chris
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No, not my body; I'm fat and proud :lol:

I currently have a D40, as you can see to your left. I'm looking to relegate this to my backup, and have a decision to make regarding what to get. My choice are:
Second hand D200
Second hand D300
New D300s

Obviously, the D300s would be my weapon of choice, but prices are quite high. It's probably doable, but would rather go cheaper if I can get away with it; plus this leaves me with some spare cash for a lens or two.

My favourite shooting involves people, in studio and out and about, with low light photography being a possibility.

Just after some opinions really. You can pick up a second hand D200 for around the £400-£500 mark, a used D300 for between £800 and £900. A new D300s is between the 1100-1200 mark...so quite a difference. I had also been contemplating getting 2 used D200 bodies and doing away with the D40 altogether.

Any thoughts? :help:
 
I haven't used the D200 but the D300 was a fantastic camera. I do regret selling the one I had. AF and low light performance is by the reports I read a fair bit better than the D200.
 
I'd heard that too dod; was hoping that the D200 wasn't that bad though as they're cheap as anything with the release of the D300s...although I really want a D300s lmao.

Although saying you'd wish you never sold your D300 is a strong endorsement.
 
ChrisMClark said:
I'd heard that too dod; was hoping that the D200 wasn't that bad though as they're cheap as anything with the release of the D300s...although I really want a D300s lmao.

Although saying you'd wish you never sold your D300 is a strong endorsement.
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Here was my experience. Since then I've moved on to the D3's I wanted. The 300 though was the one that convinced me to make the shift :)
 
Cheers, that's interesting reading.

My full 'wishlist' goes like this:
D200/300/300s - looking like a D300 at this moment in time....
Battery grip and a couple of batteries
Nikkor 35mm 1.8
Nikkor 50mm 1.4
Sigma 50-150 f2.8 (possibly sell my existing 55-200 kit lens, I don't do much at 200mm anyway)
A couple of dedicated TTL flashes, was thinking Metz 48s
Tamrac Pro 12 bag
And of course some new cards for my chosen body.

It's quite a list, but I've tried to cover all eventualities I'm likely to encounter (will probably only pick one of the 2 primes). Until recently I've been OK with just my D40 and the 2 kit lenses, but it's time to commit now!
 
confirm with a nikon user but I think d300 bodies have almost identical performances to d300s bodies which would sway me toward the d300
 
I think you're right David. Looking at DP Review, the only significant differences seem to be that the S can shoot HD vids and has a stero input. It's also 1fps faster at 7 (D300 is 6fps), and can accept SD cards as well as CF (D300 is CF only). Other little bits like dedicated live view button don't matter to me anyway.

So it looks like I'm saving for a D300...my targer has a name! :woot:
 
Thanks to all for their input.

I'm actually glad nobody chimed in 'The D300s is the best camera ever made'. Getting a D300 should save me quite a bit!
 
I went from a D200 to a D300s. I loved my D200 and by the time I'll seriously be prepared to part with it, it probably won't be worth the hassle of trying to get rid. It'll probably just join my N90s and my last remaining D100 body as a display piece in my office. :)

I skipped the D300 as I didn't really think it was worth the expense to upgrade from the D200 given the subject of most of my shooting at the time. I was perfectly satisfied with my D200. It had a few nice features, but not enough to justify the expense at the time.

Then the D300s came along, and the HD video recording (and free SB-900) was a big selling point for me. I wanted something to compliment the Sony EX1 to get those tight DOF shots on corporate work. I haven't picked up the D200 since getting the D300s, although that's probably more due to the fact that I've not had a real reason to. The D300s does everything the D200 does and then some. So, along with the advantages the D300 already had, and HD video, dual card slots, liveview, etc. it finally seemed worth it.

The only time I'd really use the D200 now is if I'm shooting an event and need to run around switching between two lenses, or when I want ISO100. But, if I didn't have the D300s, and didn't need HD video, I'd be perfectly happy to stick with my D200, and would probably pick up a second D200 as a backup.

I have been toying with the idea of selling the D200 and getting a D2Xs instead, so that I can use the EN-EL4a battery in the MB-D10 grip on the D300s for a full 8fps, but the wife won't let me (she knows I wouldn't let her use the D2Xs if I got one, hehe). 7.7FPS using 2700mAh batteries in the MB-D10 grip is good enough for me for now I think.

Used D200 - £400-450 - worth it
Used D2Xs - £500-600 - definitely worth it, the D200's "Big Bro". 12MP just like the D300/D300s, and no need to purchase a separate grip.
Used D300 - £800-900 - not worth double the cost of the D200 imo, especially with no warranty.
New D300s - £1199 - was worth it for me as Nikon are sending me a free SB-900, effectively bringing the camera's cost down to under 900 quid. It just happened to be good timing on my part that Nikon had this offer on while I had the cash available, otherwise I'd have bought a Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8.

If I was looking to make the leap from something like a D40, I'd definitely go the D300s if funds allowed. If not, I'd go for the D200, or D2Xs and invest the rest towards decent glass.

The live view on the D300s may not seem that important, but there are definitely times when it's very useful. Tripod shooting low to the ground with the Sigma 10-20mm (especially in snow, mud, etc) is much easier than laying on the ground.

Also, it's extremely useful when you need to manual focus on something, much less hassle and eye strain than trying to do it through the viewfinder, especially if shooting in less than ideal lighting conditions. The Liveview can automatically adjust the gain to give a more adequately exposed display (which is a big boost on manual focusing), even if when you press the shutter you're in manual mode.

It's also handy if you need to hold the camera up over something away from your eye to try to get a shot (reaching over the top of other people, for example, or simply trying to get a different perspective on a subject and don't have anything handy to stand on).

The D300s is definitely not the best camera ever made. Best DX camera? maybe, but I'd still love a D3s or a D3x. ;)
 
Wow John, more food for thought. I hadn't even considered a D2Xs, but I may have to have a closer look now :lol:

Cheers :thumbs:

Edit: Is there much between the D2X and D2Xs?
 
I'm not sure of the differences specific differences of the D2x and D2xs off-hand, all I know is the MB-D10 manual for the D300s said EN-EL4a batteries, which is what the D2xs also uses. The D2x uses EN-EL4.
 
taz said:
Surely the D2XS will also take the EN-EL4 as will the MB-D10?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure. The D200 & D300s don't take the EN-EL3 (D100 batteries) or EN-EL3a (D70s batteries) but will work with EN-EL3e, even though they're all physically the same shape & size, so there may be difference between the EN-EL4 and EN-EL4a that cause one to not work,

After doing a little digging around, they will both work with the MB-D10, but the EN-EL4 is only 1900mAh where the EN-EL4a is 2500mAh, so it's a much longer life on the battery per charge. So, for the extra tenner (new price) it's worth getting the EN-EL4a. The EN-EL4a will also work in the D2x.
 
taz said:
Chris, don't forget there's going to be a significant weight difference in body weight and why haven't you considered the D90?
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Put simply, because I don't want a D90 :lol: For one, the HD movie function doesn't interest me in the slightest. Plus I like lots of buttons, which the D90 has...but not as many as my other options :lol: There is however a serious point to that. The one touch adjustment for things like ISO, quality etc is very desirable. I want to make the step to a pro body, rather than the D90, which is sort of the gap-bridger between consumer and pro. The other bonus that the D2X/S has is the shape. I'll never shoot without a grip again, so the all-in-one D2X seems just the ticket; it saves buying a seperate grip. For the extra 2-300 quid, I'd sooner go for it over a D90. By the time I'd bought a D90 then a grip, it wouldn't far off the price I'm looking at for a D2X, or indeed a D2Xs, as there doesn't seem to be much in it price wise.
 
I got rid of my Oly because I couldn't get a grip for it :lol:
 
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