Nikon DSLR Cropped Bodies

Mahoneyd187

Mahoneyd187

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Danny
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My deal is I shoot with a D200, and want to remain on a cropped dslr body for now.

Why have Nikon stopped making cropped full size professional bodies dammit? A modern day D2X or D2XS would be my hero! I know Nikon list D300/s as a professional body, and I'm not arguing that it is, but where the big guns at??

It's go FF or go home if you want a big ass rugged Nikon body. Are they ever likely to bring one out or am I dreaming?
 
They may bring one out, but if the market isnt demading it, then they wont. Full frame seems to be the "in" this at the moment and they are concentrating on that. If demand for a D2X type thing appears,they might might something similar. Seems strange they ditched thre idea completely mind.
 
The full frame sensor has played a massive part in Nikons dominance in the high ISO department, crop body sensors just cant compete on the same level (yet) so i see no reason they would produce an "inferior" pro series body.
 
Yeah I guess FF seems to be everyone's aim these days, and it sure does have its advantages of course.

I shoot at low ISO 99% of the time, so the quality benefits arent so pronounced, and I appreciate the extra eq reach from the lenses. Wide angles for cropped sensors are becoming adequately catered for now so that's not an issue either.

I might just buy a D2X lol
 
Gary Coyle said:
The full frame sensor has played a massive part in Nikons dominance in the high ISO department, crop body sensors just cant compete on the same level (yet) so i see no reason they would produce an "inferior" pro series body.
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Well look at Canon and the sales of their 1D range....

If I was shooting dimly lit churches at wide angles all day full frame would benefit me I know that, but I'm not. Cropped sensor for me, at low ISO, means it's still great IQ, but I get the added benefit of longer reach, effectively saving money on the tele lenses...
 
I read somewhere (quite possibly on here) speculation that the D300S replacement may be more of a pro body. Certainly some of the features of the D7000 like twin card slots and the construction mean it's got more of a "prosumer" feel than the D90...that may indicate that the D300s replacement is moved further up market?
 
I cant see them making a new DX sized Professional body when they have now effectively evolved into full frame. I would guess their next pro bodies will include a medium format DSLR to compete with Hassleblad and Leica.
Allan
 
But will the existing glass have mf coverage or will they release "MX" lenses? Lol

There's some good DX glass,would be a shame if my 17-55 2.8 DX restricted me to amateur only bodies in the future
 
another vote here for a true Nikon pro DX body - I'd get one tomorrow. D2x/xs bodies are hard to find in good condition - and so far none new that I can find. I hated the D300 the brief time I used them. I don't want/need video either.
 
awp said:
another vote here for a true Nikon pro DX body - I'd get one tomorrow. D2x/xs bodies are hard to find in good condition - and so far none new that I can find. I hated the D300 the brief time I used them. I don't want/need video either.
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My thoughts exactly. No need for video. Is it too much to ask....seriously....sort it out Nikon!
 
I've been banging this drum for ages - a D2S based in the D2/D3 body but with a D300-type sensor (but a bit better) would be brilliant. Canon has it's 1Ds full-frame and the 1D crop (albeit a 1.3x crop) but it allows Canon shooters to have two identical bodies that serve specific purposes.

I love the DX crop format for king lens stuff, which is where the benefit would be most appreciated.

Think it's passed the point of no return though, especially when it cones to using the D2 name. Doubt they'll bring out a DX D3 because the D3 name is based on the benefits of FF and anyway, they have one for quality and one for speed, even if they are both FF.

Mahoney - have a look on eBay, always a few new ones in there..... If you don't mind paying £2,000+ that is!!!! :)
 
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D2 body, with D300 internals or better would suit me fine...who knows, maybe they'll integrate dual compatibility into their rumoured "interchangable sensor" bodies expected in the near future.

£2000 is too much, I could have 2x D300s bodies for that and with change,lol,or a mildly used D3 (which I don't really want)

I may just find a nice lightly used D2X and go try it out. I've not had the pleasure of using one yet, even though they're 5 odd years old,lol
 
It's a fantastic body. I used Canon xxD for years and had a D200 and the D2 is by far and away miles better to use, even when those other bodies are gripped; the D2x is shorter than a gripped D200/300, which makes the handling easier and buttons easer to reach.

Probably my main gripes with the D2x (and with other Nikon's) is the focus selector near the lens mount, which can easily be knocked, and the right hand strap mount that makes the strap fall across the viewfinder eyepiece when in portrait format. Other than that, there's little I dont like. The AF spread in the viewfinder is perfect, especially for off-centre subjects (the woefully inadequate 5D isn't a patch on it) and the feel of the buttons and location if command dials is spot-on.

In terms if performance it's often noted that ISO 400 is as far as you want to push the sensor but that's rubbish IMO; i regularly shoot at ISO 800 with no issues and even hi1 (equivalent to 1600) is fine, provided you get exposure right. Chroma noise is well controlled at these high settings and compared to other tech from 2005/2006 its still miles ahead.
 
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I may well make the swap soon and see how I get on with it. I use a gripped D200 at the moment, I have relatively big hands so anything without a grip feels too small and fumbly.

Is the AF an improvement over the D200? I know it uses a slightly different system
 
Would a gripped D300S not fill the gap Danny, gives you the chunky size and feel of the pro bodies and better performance than the D2X
 
a gripped body just isn't the same - to me
 
AdeM said:
Would a gripped D300S not fill the gap Danny, gives you the chunky size and feel of the pro bodies and better performance than the D2X
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It's a dilemma for me this I tell you! The only thing in the D300/s favour for me is the AF system, I absolutely love the 3D tracking AF and can imaging in my line of work sometimes it could really help i.e. taking child portraits, who aren't known for their ability to keep still lol

At low ISO, the only advantage going to the D300 is the AF, otherwise the build, size, etc all go to the D2X, as far as I care the IQ is similar enough either way to not bring that into the equation.

In reality I'd rather not battle it out between a newer small body D300 and an older pro body D2X, I'd have an option open to me to have similar or better IQ to the D300/D7000 but in a Pro body. Similar I guess to Canons 7D and 1D MKVI.

Nikon equiavlent of a MKVI...I'd buy one today! Sell a kidney if I had to,lol :bonk:
 
Can't really remember the AF on the D200 - all I can say is on the D2x, with good lenses, it's flawless. 70-200mm, 50mm, 12-24mm..... All worked brilliantly. Sometimes it struggles in low light on the Tamron 17-50, which is why I bought a 17-55 Nikon, which I know is superb.
 
Same for Canon really as strictly speaking their 1D range are either FF or 1.3 crop - none of their 1.6 crop camera's are full sized.
 
dinners said:
Same for Canon really as strictly speaking their 1D range are either FF or 1.3 crop - none of their 1.6 crop camera's are full sized.
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Of course, and I'd rather have a 1.3 crop than FF for my needs. :cool:

Maybe I should just switch?!?!??!! (can of worms....open....sit back with coffee and watch the fun) :clap:
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Of course, and I'd rather have a 1.3 crop than FF for my needs. :cool:

Maybe I should just switch?!?!??!! (can of worms....open....sit back with coffee and watch the fun) :clap:
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It's the old chestnut....

1.3 crop = jack of all trades or master of none :thinking:
 
dinners said:
It's the old chestnut....

1.3 crop = jack of all trades or master of none :thinking:
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Depends what you shoot.

With Nikon, I shoot cropped, so if I own the pro zooms, and need 300mm 2.8 for something, you know what, I have it effectively, the 70-200mm 2.8 will cover it. My only option on FX is to use a 300mm 2.8 prime or something with similar wallet crippling implications. Who's the master in that situation?

The most expensive lenses typically are long ass teles, shooting with a cropped keeps the cost down in that respect.
 
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