Nikon D70s versus D200

[alrmj]

Dear All,

Please help !

Looking to upgrade my trusty D70s and want advice.

Is it worth waiting for the D300 from you have seen, or go for the cheaper alternative and go for the D200 now.

As an upgrader from a D70s would I be able to tell the difference.

My lenses at the moment are the 50mm Nikon f1.8 and the 18-200mm VR Nikon.

Any comments on my pictures gratefully received also:

http://www.pbase.com/alrmj/galleries

Many Thanks

Ali

[djwixx]

This might be worth a read to decide whethe the D200 is worth the extra money versus the D80 which is essentailly the new version of the D70s.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/vs-d200.htm

Personally I think the D300 is probably worth waiting for rather than hoping the D200 drops in price.

[alrmj]

Brilliant Thanks !

That is a great site.

[e2thaa]

since you asked, the d80 is definitely an upgrade from the d70.
i'd probably get a d300 before i got a d200; the d80 and d200 share many features. d200 is heavier and has faster frame-per-second rate, as well as better build quality than the d80. other than that, same AF, same sensor. and while the d80 is still a lot of camera for advanced amateurs and semipros, the d200 has basically been obsoleted by the d300. if you have the loot to pop for a d200, spend a few bills more and get a d300. or just get a d80 and spend the $1k you save on better glass.

[tuckeruk]

I don't think the D80 is an upgrade from a D70/D70s, purely because it doesn't offer any of the things the D70 is so lacking for a serious amateur: a larger body with better build quality and weather-proofing, removed idiot modes, full Ai lens compatibility, etc. The D80 is an upgrade from the D50 is shares a similar body to.

Now, if Nikon were to bring out the D3000, 6MP body in D200 chassis...

[jestev]

This might be worth a read to decide whethe the D200 is worth the extra money versus the D80 which is essentailly the new version of the D70s.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/vs-d200.htm

Personally I think the D300 is probably worth waiting for rather than hoping the D200 drops in price.

Always be careful with Ken Rockwell, he often doesn't know what he's talking about.

[valeriecook]

Hello - I have both a D70s and a D200. I use the D70 in a pinch - but will always pick up my D200 as a first choice.
The D300 reportedly has less noise at higher ISO - which is definitely why it is on my "to get" list. My D200 is not bad about noise, but I am always looking to improve.
D70s flash sync is 1/500 where as the D200 is 1/250 - so if I need to flash faster moving subjects I will grab the 70 for that.
Good luck, there are so many great cameras to choose from.

http://www.pbase.com/valphotostudent

[bertone61]

I owe a D80 and had the possibility to test the D200 and D2X. Well, to talk about the D2X is for the birds. I am not Ken Rockwell and I think one should talk to users and pro's to get the required information. Sure Ken is a specialist but he is not the god of photography and many things with cameras are quite subjective....

The D200 shows a lot more noise above ISO 200 than the D80. This is astonishing as I thought both cameras are equipped with the same sensor. However, the shutter of the D200 is a lot smoother than the D80's. And it is not so loud. The first thing I realized when getting the D80 was this extreme loud shutter which creates a big bang every time. It is now better after approx. 8000 shots.
The D200 has a better built quality, better shutter and is a bit faster. The price differnce between D80 and D200 is considerable. I am not sure if the technical differences justify the price difference but it depends on what features one might need.
Overall I am happy with the D80 though it has some bad points, like the noisy and rough shutter. It will be my backup in the future as I go for the D300. Yes it is more expensive than a D200 but the technical previews of the D300 promise really a lot.

Regards
Steve
foto61.net

[djwixx]

Please note that when I quote Ken Rockwell, it's not because he knows everything, it's because it's a quick way to find some relevant Nikon information. As with anything on the internet, you should always discern what information is being presented and whether it answers your questions as thoroughly as you need.

[buckphotography]

I own both a d70 and a d200. I studied the d80 long and hard before buy the d200. I do a lot of sports and wild life photography. One of the major reasons i choose the d200 was the frames per second. If you do this type of photography i would strongly recommend waiting for the d300. If you was to buy a slightly used d200 i might let go of mine and upgrade to the 300...

[bertone61]

Please note that when I quote Ken Rockwell, it's not because he knows everything, it's because it's a quick way to find some relevant Nikon information. As with anything on the internet, you should always discern what information is being presented and whether it answers your questions as thoroughly as you need.

You're sure right and I did not want to bother you. of course not
I also read almost every test of Ken Rockwell, as it is indeed a quick possibilty to get an overview.
Some - not you and me - believe that he's the almighty god of photography and I just want to warn people to rely on everything this guy says or writes. The bad point is that noone will lend you a U$ 1000.- cam for tetsing, so sometimes it's indeed difficult to get good information. Noone who just bought a D80 would say it is crap.... that's just human.

Take care
Steve

[mikelong]

For me durability was principle so I went with the D200. It's held up quite well on multiple climbing and hiking trips, and long bike trips as well. Unfortunately it's heavier as well, but that's to be expected.

I've also spoken recently with a couple folks who were using the D80 in rugged conditions and were quite happy with it, although they hadn't had it for very long. Whether it can stand up to physical stress is, I think, questionable - when I held it in my hands it felt much too light, like a big piece of plastic similar to my old Nikon N80, which survived only eight months.
Mike
Mike Long Photography

[jdepould]

Nikon does plastic very well. It'll never be quite as rugged as having a metal body, but they do hold up well.

[djwixx]

I gather that the durability is also complimented by weather proofing, so if using your camera in the rain is high on your list then the D200/300 would be a far better consideration than the D80

[cbrown77]

I can comment on Nikon plastic....

Nikon D70 70km/hr off the roof of my car onto pavement. Lens obviously trashed however on the body the pop up flash, eye peice and memory card door broke. For $200 the camera was fixed two years ago and has worked properly ever since. No shutter problems whatsoever and no cracks on the body.

No then, do you think a magnesium camera would have faired better???

CB