Nikon D80 or D200

whitey

whitey

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been thinking about this for a while

are there any stand out differences? i will explain below

I currently have a D40X but had been thinking for a while bout a D200, but lookinga bout over the weekend i have found a D80 to be just as useless for my needs.

thinking i want to get rid of the AF-S lenses for the normal AF as there alot cheaper, i currently have 7 SD cards, 4x4gig ones and 3x2gig which i would have to replace with CF ones in a D200

the main things i would want in the camera (SD memory and AF lenses as appose to AF-S) but is there a massive difference in the D200 compared to D80 to make me warrant the extra few hundred quid?

i understand the Nikon range goes D40, D40X (D60 to D80 D200 and so on up but is there huge difference between the two?
 
The D80 and D200 are very similar performance wise. The D200 is physically bigger but the D80 is not small by any means. From what you are saying I would get the D80, its a great camera.
 
thats what i been thinking, seems a lot to change to a D200 with memory etc so the D80 seems the best of both worlds
 
From what you're saying, I'd go D80. However, don't what ever you do upgrade so as to put cheap lenses on a camera. Lenses are an investment and will age alot better than camera bodies. That aside, with your SD cards in mind, D80 is the way forward really. Though you can get CF-SD converters...
 
its not so much "cheap" lenses, so to speak, phrased it wrong, its the AF lenses as appose to the AF-S ones without motor in, the auto focus lenses that are avaialbe currently, some of the ones avaialbe wont work on a D40X with Auto Focus.
 
I don't think the D80 is different enough from the D40X for it to be a substantial upgrade.
Just sell the SD cards and buy some compact flash.
 
get the D80 and spend the rest on a nice lens ;), like a sigma 17-70mm
 
Magnum said:
I don't think the D80 is different enough from the D40X for it to be a substantial upgrade.
Just sell the SD cards and buy some compact flash.
Click to expand...

but is the D200 a big upgrade from the D40x

its something i have thought about most of the weekend

visualisetheworld said:
get the D80 and spend the rest on a nice lens ;), like a sigma 17-70mm
Click to expand...

already have a nice 100-300 F4 Sgima to go on :)
 
whitey said:
but is the D200 a big upgrade from the D40x

its something i have thought about most of the weekend



already have a nice 100-300 F4 Sgima to go on :)
Click to expand...

What about a nice wide angle and standard lens you need a bargin ;), i will :coat: before i get kicked out
 
Whilst the D80 is a greta camera, you have to remeber the D200 was at the next level come spec and price when it was new (although compared to the D70 at that time). It will be a better buitl camera internally, and despite similar pixel counts and older software will probably still produce better pictures.

D100 was and still is a great camera IQ wise, D200 was better again.

Only you can decide on the hassle factor compared to build and image quality.
 
D200: better and faster AF, better ergonomics, sealed. D80: cheaper. With the current prices of D200 I would never go for D80.

Keep in mind that if I'd be into just "holiday/travel" photography I wouldn't buy any of these. Too heavy and bulky to carry around. :) Like most of dslr cameras, anyway. But I am weird.
 
The D80 and the D200 both have the Multi CAM1000 focusing controller, so you wont notice a peformance difference in AF between the two. However, it is better built and does feel better.
 
I'll write down a spec comparason for you.
(i dont know what else the D40x has that the D40 doesn't apart from 10mp)

D40
Plastic
Not weather proof
3 AF points
200-1600 ISO
3FPS

Bad points - Basic AF system (3 isn't really enough)
Good points - Compact

D80
Plastic
Not weather proof
11 AF points
100-3200 ISO
3FPS

Bad points - Not much better than the D40 but better build quality, not very good value for money
Good points - Large viewfinder, good AF system

D200
Magnesium alloy
Weather proof
11 AF points
100-1600 ISO
5FPS

Bad points - none... apart from no RAW processing software included, which you may have already anyway.
Good points - It's now a lot cheaper with the arrival of the D300. Much better build quality than the D40 and D80.


Overall the D200 has best value for money, it feels solid, weather proof and has 5FPS rather than 3. It will last you longer than the cheaper models, which won't even be that much cheaper.

The D200 was the only camera given 5 stars in this months 'DSLR camera buyer'
The D40 and D80 were both given 4 stars.


Hope this helps.
 
i have the 18-135 which is a kit lens for the D80 anyway

i would be looking into the nikon/sigma 12-24mm in the long run, just sold the sigma 10-20
there is alot to think about with those camera's

i did think the D80 as it seemed to be the best of both worlds as the D200 seemed to be the more expensive to change over with lenses, cards etc

ah the confusion now lol
 
Camera is only as good as your lens is (except the rule that camera is only as good as your brain is :) - these cameras need really good lenses.

Stay with D40X and get yourself some good glass.
 
i already feel as though (doing alot of motorsport events) that i have go the right set now in the sigma 100-300 F4 and the nikkor 18-135 (which would most prob change to possibly a 17-70 sigma or similar
 
whitey said:
and what would you class as good?
without spending thousands
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Impossible. :) Good glass is expensive.

Seriously though; if you _really_ want to follow the motosports route and if you think that can be your main stuff to do - buy yourself D200 (or above) and get some fast Nikkor lenses. If you want to do it just for fun - don't bother and buy whatever you like.
 
see thats my problem, i consider the 100-300 to be fantastic and cant see it improving pics i take by 1000 times to warrant another 1000 on a lens if you understand me

i do photography for fun/hobby. but i have now taken it as a serious hobby, hence the topic and the fortunes i have spent (not alot compared to some i know but to me loads) on camera stuff as it is
 
I went from a D40X straight to the D200. Why? Functionality. I shot mostly in manual with the D40X, and found it a pain when i needed to change white balance, iso, etc as you could only assign one of them to the one function button at any time.

I find the d200 so much easier to use with all the functions available through numerous buttons rather than going into menu's, but that's just my preference.

Lenses is another consideration...I use mainly older manual focus lenses at the moment and the big factor that pushed me to the D200 is that it can meter with virtually any lens you put on it (you tell the camera the focal length and max aperture and it automatically works out the metering), whereas the D40/X can only meter when it has a lens attached with a built-in CPU. Then there is the whole AF-S debate....

To me, it really depends on how you use your camera. The added functionality was the clincher for me along with build quality. In my opinion, either keep the D40 and get some lenses, or go for the D200. Yes, the D80 may have a few more bells and whistles, but to me its more of a sideways step than a forward one.
 
i shoot in manual and when away the only lens i mainly use is the sigma 100-300

i would get a couple of lenses later this year early next for going away on hols (wide angle for starters).

i dont really go into menu's etc when shooting or checking pics.

hmmmm
 
The D200 is a great camera. If build quality and feel are important to you, you will love it, and there are some good deals on it now the D300 is out.

My only real gripe with the D200 is its ISO performance though. It's not great and ISO 1600 is pretty much unusable to be honest. When it comes to ISO I'm totally spoilt by having a D3 now though, so it's perhaps not a fair judgement.

I don't know a lot about the D80, but it looks like it may have better ISO performance than the D200 from the specs Magnum listed :shrug:
 
If you get the D200, you will get more back than the D80 when you come to sell it and upgrade to the D300 ( or whatever comes next, if thats the route you take))
Upgrading from a D40x to D80= quite a big step.
Upgrading from D40x to D200= giant leap
D200 to D300, another giant leap.
I found the D80 and D200 quite similar, the D200 menu seemed a step back in some respects ( its an older camera) but the layout of the camera buttons was brilliant. I preferred the D200, it just felt right.
Good luck with your choice.
Allan
 
the time i have had the D40x i havent gone above 800 iso i dont think so thats not a problem yet anyway lol

swaying back to a D200 now though lol, decisions decisions
 
A low-click D200 is the same price as a new D80. Go for the D200 every time...

Build quality, feel, all your controls at your fingertips, it's just simply a better camera! (and I've owned both!!)
 
its swaying back that way now, i need to go and try both of these camera's this week
 
If you're thinking of the D200 now, sod it and get the D300 :D

Sorry, had to do it :)

The thing about all your SD mem cards would be putting me off a bit as that's a lot to lose (even though memory is dirt cheap at the moment). I didn't know you could get SD > CF converters though?
 
no chance at all of a D300

other halfs dad has one (from a D200 and D2X) and after chatting at croft in the rain he doesnt see that much of a difference in them both (its only new mind so he is still playing with it so to speak) and no he wont sell the 200 lol, its a backup camera to his two already :(
 
didnt realise memory was so cheap nowadays, 4gig Compact flash cards for 15 quid, cant ask for better to be honest

now i need to ind a couple of hundred quid

anyone? lol
 
I have a D200 that I upgraded to from a D70s, it is a great camera in almost every respect,high ISO noise being its one and only downfall,IMO.

The D300 is a huge upgrade from the D200.
 
think the D200 is the way to go

will pop to Jessops this weekend and try one out

then save alittle longer and get one

keep an eye out anyone after a D40x with lots of bits and pieces, there shall be one going soon lol
 
I had this same problem: D80 or D200. So I went and bought a 2Gb SanDisk CF card to partially eliminate 'the memory factor'. D200 wins for me, simply because they're a good buy now, and not a whole lot more than the D80. I still haven't made the purchase, simply because other things are in the way. A mate of mine was in the same situation, bought the D200 and is entirely happy with it.

Say no to 'scene' modes!! D200 rocks the pro layout!
 
thats what my main focus is heaing towards now

just lookinga bout for grips and so on
 
whitey said:
thats what my main focus is heaing towards now

just lookinga bout for grips and so on
Click to expand...

Watch yourself where grips for the D200 are concerned. Mine was an official Nikon one but I had a spot o' bother

I think the key is not to over tighten, but they're not very well made at all for the price they go for, in my opinion anyway.
 
i remember seeing this post

i will bear that in mind, would people say the grip is a must for it or not?
 
Depends how the camera fits your hand, the vertical release etc are certainly useful in portrait layout though
 
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