Hopefully I can get a lot of input on this... Both the D80 and D200 are very cheap now. The D200 costs more than the D80 by about $150 on Amazon. I'm not trying to keep up with the latest and greatest, I just want to improve my skills. So if you were to choose, which one would it be? Thanks!
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Nikon D80 or Nikon D200
- Thread starter eswank
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D80, the autofocus and build won't be there, but you aren't trying to keep up with the latest and greatest. And the size of the body is something I have grown to love in my weekly use of the D2xs.
Are you likely to want to use manual focus lenses? Those can meter on the D200 but not the D80. Otherwise it is probably personal preference. I don't find the D200 too big to carry around but I do feel a bit conspicuous. I'm not sure the D80 is any more discrete though.
Nobody can really answer this question for you as everyone has different needs and preferences.
Ken Rockwell (love or hate him) has a comparison up that involves those two cameras:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/d200-d80-d70-d50-d40-5d-xti.htm
BEWARE of the cutting of a newborn's umbilical cord pic!
So you have decent glass already? What body do you have and why are you looking to upgrade? Apologies if that was covered in another thread but there has been a lot of such questions lately so I may have missed it.
I've read KenRockwell's site too many times. Haha. But thanks for the link. I bought the D50 w/18-200mm lens from a friend of mine. Just looking for something different within the Nikon family.
I just found out that Amazon doesn't have the D200 anymore for $799. All they have are the third party sellers. Damn!
I just found out that Amazon doesn't have the D200 anymore for $799. All they have are the third party sellers. Damn!
Yes it's the Nikon 18-200mm VR. It's not that I don't like the D50 it's just that I'm wanting a DSLR with more mega pixels (I know I know... the MP doesn't matter) and the D80 and the D200 just fit right in my hands. The D50 seems small for some reason. I can always use the D50 as a back up.
I really hope the next post doesn't contain the phrase "better image quality"....
EDIT: close but was MP... Admittedly though 6MP is at the lower end of acceptable so that is a valid argument. I thought the physical size was a lot different between d80 and d200 though?
EDIT: close but was MP... Admittedly though 6MP is at the lower end of acceptable so that is a valid argument. I thought the physical size was a lot different between d80 and d200 though?
I would suggest you get the d90, if you are not worried about weather-sealed body. If that is a concern for you then get the D200. The weather sealing on the d200 should be better than both the d90 and d80.
The D90 is an improvement over the d80. No matter what people say, the D90 is an improvement over the D80.
Now if you just consider the price, the D80 may still have an advantage, but at that point, I would just stay with the d50 ( which is still a very good camera)
The D90 is an improvement over the d80. No matter what people say, the D90 is an improvement over the D80.
Now if you just consider the price, the D80 may still have an advantage, but at that point, I would just stay with the d50 ( which is still a very good camera)
D200
Approx. Dimensions
Width 5.8 in. (147mm)
Height 4.4 in. (113mm)
Depth 2.9 in. (74mm)
Weight
29.3 oz. (830g)
D80
Approx. Dimensions
Width 5.2 in. (132mm)
Height 4.1 in. (103mm)
Depth 3.0 in. (77mm)
Weight
20.48 oz. (585g)
D50
Size: 5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0" (133 x 102 x 76 mm)
Weight: 19 oz. (540 g)
I guess the D200 isn't that much bigger than the D80 but you should feel a big difference seeing how it is about 50% heavier. However the specs for the D80 aren't that much different than the D50, it is just .1inch higher (or a whopping 1mm). So is it the ergonomics of the controls you are referring to and not the size?
I would say though to hold on to your D50 at least for the time being, the big rumor at the moment is that the D300 will be superseded with the D400 during PMA (basically Macworld for photography) early next month, then reconsider your options.
Approx. Dimensions
Width 5.8 in. (147mm)
Height 4.4 in. (113mm)
Depth 2.9 in. (74mm)
Weight
29.3 oz. (830g)
D80
Approx. Dimensions
Width 5.2 in. (132mm)
Height 4.1 in. (103mm)
Depth 3.0 in. (77mm)
Weight
20.48 oz. (585g)
D50
Size: 5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0" (133 x 102 x 76 mm)
Weight: 19 oz. (540 g)
I guess the D200 isn't that much bigger than the D80 but you should feel a big difference seeing how it is about 50% heavier. However the specs for the D80 aren't that much different than the D50, it is just .1inch higher (or a whopping 1mm). So is it the ergonomics of the controls you are referring to and not the size?
I would say though to hold on to your D50 at least for the time being, the big rumor at the moment is that the D300 will be superseded with the D400 during PMA (basically Macworld for photography) early next month, then reconsider your options.
Correct, the D40, D60 & their variants are those that don't, the D80 can't meter with non-CPU lenses though, only Nikon's pro level bodies can do that.
A replacement for the D40 is more than likely coming out soon which is a bigger rumor than the update to the D300 (which I don't see happening until late this year if it comes out this year at all, but who knows). The replacement to the D40 is supposed to be lighter version of the D90 and cost a lot less. Rumor is it will be called the D5000. Like I said these are all rumors, but this one has a lot of teeth. The D40 from what I hear has already been discontinued in Canada and the D40 has seen huge cut in costs lately which is another indication.
Both, the D80 and the D200 have a much larger viewfinder than the D50. That alone (and perhaps that alone) is worth the upgrade.