D200 or wait for a D300?

It probably will have been discontinued - the D40 ceased production long before it stopped being listed by Nikon

Has Nikon stopped production of the D40?!
 
Well it's common sense isn't it? The D60 is the D40x replacement, and the D40x was the D40 replacement. Same as how the D80 replaced the D70s, which replaced the D70. Why make carry on manufacturing the BMW E46 M3 when the BMW E92 M3 started production? You can still buy them as brand new, but only from wherever there's unsold stock.
 
Sorry, I don't want to hijack this thread .. but I think you're confusing the D40 with the D40x! The D40x was discontinued about a year ago with the release of the D60; but the D40 lives on and is still going strong.

As a matter of fact, it is the cheapest DSLR money can buy ... as such why would Nikon drop it yet? The D60 is still over £320, while the D40 can be had - after rebate - for about £230! That's a huge price difference for an entry model.

With such a price advantage I don't see Nikon dropping this until they can release something in the same price bracket since they obviously have a monopoly on this price sector.
 
D300
I used the D200 until I had some work rejected from a major picture library for noise at ISO 400. I sold the D200 and bought the D300. The noise is controlled far better on the D300. In addition to which, the viewfinder is amazing - bright and clear to review shots. The 51 focussing points are often overlooked, I wouldn't be without them now. I photograph wildlife with this camera using continuous focussing exclusively, I want the focus 'dot' to be on the eye at all times, this is easily done on the D300 controlling the position with your thumb - also I want the composition done in-camera, again having so many focussing 'dots' makes this easy....you cannot lock the focus, recompose and expect a sharp image. Likewise for sports photography, you would not believe how useful 51 focussing points are until you've used them.
Don't get too hooked up on camera lenses, I use a 55-200 VR and the 70-200 f2.8 VR
The 55-200 (£180) is as sharp as the 70-200 f2.8 (don't forget they've had 40 years to perfect this focal length). I use the 70-200 f2.8 when I want faster autofocus and a brighter viewfinder, but it is a b.... to carry around all day. For general photography I take the 55-200 as it is so light, I barely know it is on my shoulder. (ps - the 70-200 f2.8 is soft at 2.8 - I tested both lenses on a tripod).
Be careful about buying the 18-200 Vr, I personally believe the 11x zoom factor to be too great producing a jack of all trades. The central definition seems ok but it does suffer from 'chroma' noise - not pleasant to get rid of - see review on 'Photozone.' A lens will last for a long long time, in a few years time you may not be happy with the results of this and then have to start again.
 
Sorry, I don't want to hijack this thread .. but I think you're confusing the D40 with the D40x! The D40x was discontinued about a year ago with the release of the D60; but the D40 lives on and is still going strong.

As a matter of fact, it is the cheapest DSLR money can buy ... as such why would Nikon drop it yet? The D60 is still over £320, while the D40 can be had - after rebate - for about £230! That's a huge price difference for an entry model.

With such a price advantage I don't see Nikon dropping this until they can release something in the same price bracket since they obviously have a monopoly on this price sector.


That's not what I heard and it seems a bit strange to introduce a new model then bin it after a year but keep it's predecessor in production :thinking:
 
Shak

Where did you see the Nikon D200 has finished production? According to the Nikon web site it isn't in the discontinued listings for 2006/2007, the 2008 list hasn't been put on their web page yet.

Realspeed

when I was looking to upgrade from my D50, I set out to look at both the D80and the D200. I soon discovered that the D80 didn't make enough of a step forwards to be worth having, and I couldn't get a D200 anywhere I tried due to it being discontinued - that was maybe 4 months ago now.

I ended up with a D300 and have generally been pretty happy with it, though I'll admit to being a little dissapointed at how its shown up the limits of the lenses I have
 
Neither Jessops or Calumet list the D200 any more on their websites, which suggests it may well finally be gone...
 
The D200 can still be had online for about £650 body only.

Im pretty sure the D40 is still being produced as a current model, with the D60 replacing the D40x.

It would make sense as D40x's are like rocking horse *****, but D40's are everywhere, surely if the D40x replaced the D40, there would be no D40's around now....
 
The D200 can still be had online for about £650 body only.

There's always someone that is left with stock, but when the big retailers aren't listing them it's more than likely they won't be getting any more

Im pretty sure the D40 is still being produced as a current model, with the D60 replacing the D40x.

It would make sense as D40x's are like rocking horse *****, but D40's are everywhere, surely if the D40x replaced the D40, there would be no D40's around now....

After looking at Clifton Cameras site last night I think you might be right - the D40x is being sold as "clearance" but the D40 isn't.

Seems an odd thing to do, but I suppose the D40x and D60 are too close in spec for comfort :shrug:
 
There's always someone that is left with stock, but when the big retailers aren't listing them it's more than likely they won't be getting any more

agreed, i wasn't suggesting they were still in production, was just pointing what a bargain they can be had for now as old stock..

They have to price them low, The D300 is too good to lose buyers to a slightly cheaper D200.

It is weird what they did with the D40x, but you never know the reasons behind these decisions, my guess is it was released as the D60 wasnt totally ready, and they worried they were losing sales to the canon 400D, so stuck a 10mp sensor in the D40.

Pure speculation or course, but not beyond comprehension.
 
I look at improving your lenses before blowing £900 on a body that is about to be upstaged by the D90 anyhow.

Looking at what you have... spend on glass, and don't body upgrade until you have the glass in place.

How on earth can anyone think the d90 is going to supercede the d300-please.
 
How on earth can anyone think the d90 is going to supercede the d300-please.


It won't supercede the D300, it'll be the same situation as the D80/D200. They shared sensors plus a few other bits, but handlingwise they were completely different beasts.
 
To be fair puddleduck didn't say supercede anyway, he said upstage whichit kind of is doing with its fancy pants video mode (I'm quite jealous as a D300 owner wanting the new fancy pants D90 stuff)...
 
To be fair puddleduck didn't say supercede anyway, he said upstage whichit kind of is doing with its fancy pants video mode (I'm quite jealous as a D300 owner wanting the new fancy pants D90 stuff)...

ill order one for you if you like and take your D300 in swap, lol
 
I might be in a minority with this but the D90 doesn't have anything on it that I would want ..... my new D300 has all I need. D90 has video .... mmm if I wanted video I would buy a HD video camera ...... :shrug:

Paul
 
I might be in a minority with this but the D90 doesn't have anything on it that I would want ..... my new D300 has all I need. D90 has video .... mmm if I wanted video I would buy a HD video camera ...... :shrug:

Paul

Its been done to death this one but the D90 nearly offers everything the D300 does while the video mode 'should' outperform an HD video camera in many respect due to the DOF control and lens support etc. Certainly good for the money anyway.

I know which is better though. I'll be keeping my D300 but is very close and I would certainly think twice about buying a D300 if I didn't have one already - aside from build quality and some other minor features there's not much between them.
 
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