D80 or D200 i need to choose

suggs

suggs

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Harry
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Happy new year all


OK i think i'm near sorting out what camera to buy, from the off ive felt comfortable with Nikon's and following advice i've seen here plus reviews etc i think the way to go is for a body with built in AF motor and a prime lens to start me off along the lines of a 50mm and maybe also a 18-70mm.

having a body with in built motor will save me money i think as AF-S lenses seem expensive compared to the same or similar non AF-S ones.

I haven't really got a set in stone budget but due to time of year etc i cant really afford to go buy a new current model such as a D90 and D3000 3100 and 5000 are all AF-S so don't see them as being a viable option, so will need to be a used body and i would like to get the body for max £300 or less depending on spec/condition if possible and i think this is do-able for a D80 and maybe a D200?

So im wondering if the D200 being a semi pro camera is going to be to complicated for a new user and if there's going to be any real benefit to me over the D80?

Happy to here any other suggestions though?


thanks
 
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There's so little between the pricewise nowadays that if I were in your shoes (having owned both the D80 and D200) I'd go for the D200, in fact I'm pretty sure there was one in the TP classifieds for around that figure...
 
I'd much rather have a D200 than a D80. They are pretty similar performance wise, but the controls on the D200 are far better laid out, and the build quality is so much better. Also you don't get those pointless "scene" modes (does anyone ever use them?).
 
Flash In The Pan said:
There's so little between the pricewise nowadays that if I were in your shoes (having owned both the D80 and D200) I'd go for the D200, in fact I'm pretty sure there was one in the TP classifieds for around that figure...
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yes think theres one in the sale section for £300 if its still available, im not in any hurry just want to make the right choice. would be nice to find one with a case or memory card in the deal or even a nifty fifty for a bit extra as i have to buy eveything;)
 
In reality, as far as I can tell, the only lens that you really miss out on by not having an in body motor is the 50mm f/1.8 and in all honesty, 50mm isn't that great a length for a crop body anyway.

Still, a D200 would make a fine buy :)
 
Had both!!! both excellent in their own right!!!! But have 2 D200s and have served me well from amateur to pro career
 
Nawty said:
In reality, as far as I can tell, the only lens that you really miss out on by not having an in body motor is the 50mm f/1.8 and in all honesty, 50mm isn't that great a length for a crop body anyway.....
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And the wonderful 85mm f/1.8 AF-D
And the brilliant 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D
And the awesome 180mm f/2.8 AF-D

(you get my drift) :thumbs:

To the OP, the D200 i had was a great camera (my introduction to Nikon DSLRs) and that body size is reassuringly sturdy without being a gripped beast that can be too cumbersome for many people.

Going from Canon 30D and 40D bodies i found the menu on the D200 to be much more intuitive and the control superior. I don't think you'd have a problem navigating it at all; TBH, that level of Nikon body puts the key buttons in prime position because there's no mode dial in the traditional sense so there's much less menu browsing to be done when changes need to be made.

At the price they're selling for these ays I think they're a brilliant way to get a body that's very well made and offer pro-spec handling. :)
 
I take your point BUT how many of those are of consideration for a newbie?

Chances are that if anyone were into those lenses then they would probably be upgrading their D60/3000/5000 before they bought those lenses and so they aren't necessarily a factor for people entering into the fray.

I'd be willing to bet it's only the sight of a 70 quid 50mm "nifty fifty" that has the "best optics" that puts most beginners off a lower end Nikon.

My view is that if there's any inclination you think you'll anjoy it as a hobby then get the D80/200, if all you want is a "proper camera" to take good quality snaps then get the cheapest latest generation.
 
D200 all the way. One of the best Nikon bodies Ive owned. Rock solid, great to hold and easy to use.

You can probably get a good deal on one, maybe even with the MB-200 grip. I sold mine for peanuts a few years back.
 
thanks for the tips

I had a look at a new 300s today, out of my budget but just wanted to get a feel for them as there similar size to the D200, was quite surprised how big they are in the flesh compared to the D90 and D3100 etc although it did feel very well balanced and comfortable in the hand, i did like the layout of the controls especially the dedicated WB ISO and QUAL..

what i was getting at with the lenses in my first post was that the cost of the AF-S ones being so much more than there (non in built motor) counterparts that even if i only bought a couple of them the price difference may as well be saved and go on a better (built in AF motor) body such as the D80 or D200.

That said how hard is it to manual focus a standard lens on a non AF-S body such as the D40 etc, is it all done by eye or is there a confirmation focus light or beep from the body?

One other thing i was wondering does the D200 still have a full auto mode? i do fully intend to learn and use the manual settings but i guess the auto would get used to get me going, if it even has that option being more of a semi pro camera..

its worth mentioning that i did have the use of a Canon 450D when they first came out for several months so im not a total newbie all together although it was a few years ago now so i will pretty much be starting from scratch...

Regards
Harry
 
suggs said:
yes think theres one in the sale section for £300 if its still available, im not in any hurry just want to make the right choice. would be nice to find one with a case or memory card in the deal or even a nifty fifty for a bit extra as i have to buy eveything;)
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You don't get cases with dslrs the way you did with film cameras back in the day and a memory card will only set you back between £10-20, so I wouldn't suggest basing a purchase decision on something like that.....
 
Flash In The Pan said:
You don't get cases with dslrs the way you did with film cameras back in the day and a memory card will only set you back between £10-20, so I wouldn't suggest basing a purchase decision on something like that.....
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Yes im aware that cards and cases dont come as standard but have seen some used cameras sell with cases and/or cards included in the deal although obviously not always. As you say i wont base a purchase on that but it would be a bonus...

thanks for reply..
 
Yes, the D200 does have a full auto mode (program it's called) that will do it all for you, although you can override it using exposure compensation. It doesn't however have scene modes like you find on say, the D60, where theres a sports, landscape mode etc....

As for manual focussing, i think there's a focus confimation LED in the viewfinder that lights up when you hit focus, plus arrows either side to indicate whether you are focussed too near or two far.
 
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lexie said:
............will all nikon lenses fit on it? i'm confused about the whole compatability thing
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chart from Ken Rockwell (c)...."here".................:thumbs:

39year old Nikon lens on my D5000...............
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suggs said:
love that :)
how do you find focusing it ?
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well young man, i grew up with manual focus SLRs - :lol::lol:

most of my work is landscapes, D5000 on a tripod, so focusing the 28mm is not a problem

I use my Sigma 17-70mm 2.8 HSM usually, but there is something satisfying about the older Nikkor lenses - manual metering of course

I have a Nikon F3 on which I actually use the Nikkor lenses, but this was just to show they do mount on a Year 2010 camera too

relatively cheap if you take your time bidding on eBay too.....:thumbs:
 
Whilst these older lenses will work on the newer DSLRs albeit in manual mode (on some model/lens combinations) they weren't designed with the highly reflective digital sensor in mind and thus are more prone to ghosting.
 
Yardbent said:
well young man, i grew up with manual focus SLRs - :lol::lol:

most of my work is landscapes, D5000 on a tripod, so focusing the 28mm is not a problem

I use my Sigma 17-70mm 2.8 HSM usually, but there is something satisfying about the older Nikkor lenses - manual metering of course

I have a Nikon F3 on which I actually use the Nikkor lenses, but this was just to show they do mount on a Year 2010 camera too

relatively cheap if you take your time bidding on eBay too.....:thumbs:
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im not that young myself, well 43 hehe. I too had a 35mm Oly SLR back in the day cant remember the model though, might have been a trip...
 
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