D200 or D300?

GFWilliams

GFWilliams

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Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my D50 to either a D200 or a D300.

There is quite a large price difference between the two, but is the extra really justified on the D300?

I said to my dad that a D200 would suit perfectly, but he just came back and said that I would just be wanting the D300 in a few months if we got the D200.

Also, what lens' would you recommend on a tightish budget?

thanks,

George
 
Handling-wise, they are identical. The main area the D300 excels in, especially over the D200 is high-ISO performance. You need to decide if that's worth the extra cash or not.

I used to have a D200;)
 
If you can afford the D300, get it! There is a big difference between the two cameras, in digital terms, the D200, although still a superb camera, is old technology.
To get an accurate picture of the D300 and how different it is to the D200, read this review from DPreview.com here

Allan
 
Get the D300 on 12 months interest free from Jessops, works out at roughy a packet of sandwiches a day, there, doesn't sound so expensive now does it:D Tried it on my wife, worked for me , except I'm starving at lunchtime now :suspect:
 
GFWilliams said:
Hi,

I am looking to upgrade my D50 to either a D200 or a D300.

There is quite a large price difference between the two, but is the extra really justified on the D300?

I said to my dad that a D200 would suit perfectly, but he just came back and said that I would just be wanting the D300 in a few months if we got the D200.

Also, what lens' would you recommend on a tightish budget?

thanks,

George
Click to expand...

I was in the same boat 7 months ago i had a D50 and a very good camera it is. But i went for the D300 worth every penny! I would'nt look back now to even thinking of getting the d200. But if the money is a thing then you need to look at your options closely. Well good luck.:thumbs:
 
wack61 said:
Get the D300 on 12 months interest free from Jessops, works out at roughy a packet of sandwiches a day, there, doesn't sound so expensive now does it:D Tried it on my wife, worked for me , except I'm starving at lunchtime now :suspect:
Click to expand...


:lol::lol::lol:
 
The D200 is a brilliant camera and I've always liked the way it handles as well as the way it shoots. There are some situations where the D300 will bag a noticeably better shot but whether it's worth the money depends on how often you're in those situations.

It would make almost naff all difference to me as I mostly use low ISO's, focus myself and choose my own exposure settings. Your needs could be the total opposite and then it would be money very well spent. :)
 
wack61 said:
Get the D300 on 12 months interest free from Jessops, works out at roughy a packet of sandwiches a day, there, doesn't sound so expensive now does it:D Tried it on my wife, worked for me , except I'm starving at lunchtime now :suspect:
Click to expand...

Where is this interest free for 12 months from jessops? I checked out the web and could not find it on the site, says apr of 20 odd percent? I may have missed something!:thinking:
 
Dad's always know best ... ;) ... therefore you gotta go for the D300 ... :D


As for lens ... :suspect: ... it very much depends on what you are going to use the camera for but as everyone always says you should go for the very best quality glass you can whatever one/s you choose ... :shrug:





:p
 
devitt said:
Where is this interest free for 12 months from jessops? I checked out the web and could not find it on the site, says apr of 20 odd percent? I may have missed something!:thinking:
Click to expand...

It's on the front page, buy now pay later, nothing to pay until june 2009 though there is a £29 settlement fee


Payplan 12

12 months Buy Now Pay Later

Term 36 months
Promotional period 12 months

Nothing to pay for 12 months on purchases over £800

* Nothing to pay for 12 months
* No deposit required
* Available on purchases over £800 (on a single order basis)

Typical example:

Cash price: £1369.00 No deposit required
You pay: £1369.00 If you settle the balance within the first 12 months, just pay the £29 settlement fee
Total cost: £1398.00
 
Thanks wack61. I did see that settlement fee which is why I was puzzled when you said interest free, thought it may have been another promotion. Thanks for clearing that up:thumbs:
 
I have a 200 and a 300, like them both, but the 300 beats the 200 in pretty much every department,IMHO.
 
I went with the D200 but only because the D300 was stretching my budget a little too far at the minute. And you can pick up bodies at a bargain price now the D300 is out, means more money to spend on expensive glass ;) Put it that way.
 
I had the same worry, my main conern was, i woudl take pictures and go "could i have done better with the d300" I went with the d200 in the end, and haven't said it yet. Althought if i'd got a D300, i probably would have said, i wonder if a d200 would ahve done this for half the price? lol
 
Unless you're shooting in low light all the time, then the D200's price has the drop on the D300.

Personally I'm saving for a reconditioned or second hand D200, and planning on spending the remainder on a decent film camera. Though I just found out that if I worked night shifts all holiday I could get a D3 :D
 
Lenses last far longer than the body so if you are currently condsidering £900 for a D300body and £150 for a lens I would consider changing this and spending £700 for lens and £450 for a body (S/H D200) In 18 months time the D300 will be selling for about £450. and the £700 lens should be about the same.

Given your recent success at the wedding you definately want to invest in decent f2.8 lens rather than a fancy body IMO. But the choice is yours.
 
If dad is paying listen to him-because he is trying to save time and hassle when you wanna upgrade-at least this way might be a few yers time.

Lenses go for a cheaper alternative to nikon say sigma and decide what you shoot most of-unless you intend to do loads more weddings at the mo-just get say a lens which fitsin with all your focal lengths you wanna shoot-maybe 18-200 maybe 70-200.
 
Although I agree to a certain extent about getting the best glass you can, you need to figure out what lenses you need first. there`s no point spending loads of money on an expensive lens if its too heavy or inconvenient to carry around all day on a body that you really wished you`d left in the shop!
I`ve had a Nikkor 18-200 VR lens for a while now and its been on about 4 bodies. It definately performs better on the D300 and I would recommend one of these. Its a great walkabout lens.
For a bit more length, I have a 70-300 VR, another good lens, and less than £300.
I fancied being able to do a bit of macro, so got a Sigma 105mm EX macro lens. Really sharp, and good for portraits too.
I also had a brief affair with a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 that I thought would replace my 18-200VR. For me, it was just too heavy. I would have needed a new bag to carry it in too and to be honest, it wasnt as good as i thought it would be, so I took it back to the shop.
The next lens I will get will be a Sigma 10-20 and that will complete my lens list.
Untill I get in the situation where I really need a really fast ( big) lens, i will stick with what I have.

I suppose what I am really saying is, unless you really need or can afford expensive lenses, get the best body you can first, youll be surprised how good the D300 is and how it performs with lower end glass.
Allan
 
If you are going to make money from it, you will want to invest in Lenses as well as a camera body. Can you afford the fast F2.8 lenses as well as a body? The D200 will do a good job for you as long as you don't want to shoot in low light too much..
 
Well, the way I see it is, go for the D300 then get better glass in the future, as I feel that it is my body limiting me at present, not the lens'.

I do think that I will find that I need to upgrade my lens' soon after the body, but I will be paying for any lens' myself. I don't think that I will be doing any more weddings soon and I take more pictures of cars. More specifically stationary cars at home or at shows. I would really like a 10-20 or around that point, but funds don't allow until after the body has been bought.


George
 
I think you will find the D300 has a radical new 3d AF system which wasn't on the D200.

Certainly from what I have seen of two friends of mine, the focus system on the D300 is simply staggering for motorsport, with it hardly dropping a shot. The D200 is ok, but a generation behind this and more akin to the Canon 30D. But that could be the person behind the lens...
 
Both cameras are more than capable of capturing great photos - which, at the end, are your creation; camera does not help here much ;)

As about AF in D200 and D300 - it's a different construction but believe me, with AF-S lenses autofocus system of D200 is more than great!

You will find many opinions in the Internet, but to me it is kind of funny that whenever a new camera is being released, the old model stops making good photos... ;)

I wouldn't buy D300, personally. I'd stick to cheaper D200 and buy a better lens.
 
SimonTALM said:
Lenses last far longer than the body so if you are currently condsidering £900 for a D300body and £150 for a lens I would consider changing this and spending £700 for lens and £450 for a body (S/H D200) In 18 months time the D300 will be selling for about £450. and the £700 lens should be about the same.

Given your recent success at the wedding you definately want to invest in decent f2.8 lens rather than a fancy body IMO. But the choice is yours.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more with that statement :thumbs:
 
Not wanting to jump on the back of MikeeB and further press my point but I would suggest you read this

http://www.bythom.com/rationallenses.htm

It basically claims this:

In terms of image quality, the biggest investment you make is in lenses, the second biggest is in a support system, and the smallest is in the camera/film
Click to expand...

This is from a widely respected Pro tog who happens to also use Nikons.
 
In terms of image quality, the biggest investment you make is in lenses, the second biggest is in a support system, and the smallest is in the camera/film
Click to expand...

Possibly true if you are shooting static subjects, but there is no substitute for fast accurate AF in motorsport.

Can make the difference between a 10% hit rate and a 90% one - seriously, its that much better.
 
In 18 months the D300 will still be a current model the D200 will be an old,old camera. If you plan to do any sports shooting remember the D300 with the MB-D10 grip does 8 frames-per-second :thumbs::thumbs:
 
SimonTALM said:
In terms of image quality, the biggest investment you make is in lenses, the second biggest is in a support system, and the smallest is in the camera/film
Click to expand...

If you read a bit further, this quote is related to the fact that body prices have come down a lot and lenses, in relation, are still very expensive.

I dont think it means buy lenses to the detriment of a body but that a collection of lenses, no matter the price, will always be your most expensive purchase.

I can see the logic of buying the best lenses first, they will last longer than any camera body might, but your priority should be the type of photography you do.
Get the D300!

Allan
 
GFWilliams said:
Well, the way I see it is, go for the D300 then get better glass in the future, as I feel that it is my body limiting me at present, not the lens'.

I do think that I will find that I need to upgrade my lens' soon after the body, but I will be paying for any lens' myself. I don't think that I will be doing any more weddings soon and I take more pictures of cars. More specifically stationary cars at home or at shows. I would really like a 10-20 or around that point, but funds don't allow until after the body has been bought.


George
Click to expand...


The Tokina 11-16mm is a great lens and it works best on the D300. It beats the Nikkor 12-24mm and it is cheaper. You can get a 11-16mm for about £380, and its worth the extra price over the Sigma.
 
As about AF in D200 and D300 - it's a different construction but believe me, with AF-S lenses autofocus system of D200 is more than great!

You will find many opinions in the Internet, but to me it is kind of funny that whenever a new camera is being released, the old model stops making good photos... ;)

I wouldn't buy D300, personally. I'd stick to cheaper D200 and buy a better lens.[/QUOTE]

:clap: I couldn't agree more, the difference in price is huge!! You'd be much better off saving the money & getting a pro lens (f2.8). The difference you'd see in quality there would be massive!!

Good luck
 
D300 without a doubt!!!!

I had a D80 before, which is very similar to the D200, and they are absolutely worlds apart. The D200 is still around £700 brand new so for the extra £200ish it's definitely worth it.

Also, read my thread in the Bargain section for a tip on finding the cheapest D300. ;)
 
Having recently purchased a D200 I now wish I had spent the extra on the D300. The 200 is a great camera and a big improvement on my old D80. However the AF can be weak and low light performance is very average.

In terms of a new lens, a bit heavy but I can't recommend the Sigma 24-70 f2.8 highly enough. A great lens and not too expensive!

Finally, if you apply for finance via the telephone with jessops they waive the final repayment charge.

Hope that helps and enjoy what ever you end up with :D
 
radiantvision said:
What lenses do you have? I have Fuji S5 (D200 based) and believe me - with an AF-S lens it's definitely not average. It's simply very fast :)
Click to expand...

I think Lee D is referring to the noise at high iso settings, something you dont need to worry about so much with the D300.
Allan
 
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