S5 Pro or D200?

Hooky

Hooky

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Alan
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Hi guys and gals,

I am in the market for a second camera body, to complement my current D200. I have shot a few weddings and portraits and am getting more enquiries regarding work. I currently use my Nikon 28-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 for the majority of my work and would like to have each of these lenses fitted to a body - this will reduce the faffing around changing lenses and will provide me with an essential backup should either a body or lens fail ;)

So do you think I should go for a secondhand D200 or a new S5 Pro? Also if the S5 Pro is suggested, which of my lenses, do you think would be better on this body?

TIA Alan
 
PsiFox said:
The chassis of the S5 Pro is a D200:)
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But the software in camera and menu system is different... I would say stick with what you know, that was you will be conversant with with menus and know where everything is.

Might be handy when under pressure...

Nigel
 
Shutterman said:
But the software in camera and menu system is different... I would say stick with what you know, that was you will be conversant with with menus and know where everything is.

Might be handy when under pressure...

Nigel
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I know, I have one to go with my D300 but was just answering re the ergonomics which physically are the same:)
 
Inside it's different with regard to the sensor.

Outside the same except for badges and no red triangle.
 
I've sent my D200 on it's way and will be replacing it with an S5 Pro in the very near future.

After a quick look at the review at Steve's Digicams, there doesn't seem to be a huge difference externally - a couple of buttons, but that's about it. When I had the D80 + D50 combo the delete button on one was (iirc) in the same place as the review button on the other, which is a far more dangerous than any of the D200/S5 differences!

Menuwise it looks like standard Fuji-fare, in that it appears to be laid out in much the same was as the Fuji bridge cameras, so I can't see any real problems there, although I suppose it might be an issue if you're in a hurry and under pressure..

I should probably have held onto the D200 long enough to do a side-by-side comparison :bonk:
 
The sensor is different and interpolates to get to the 12meg, also the frame rate is slower than the D200.

I think the button configuration on the rear is different, (One button only I think...) Buffer is not as robust as the D200.

But all these details can be seen in the full review of the camera at www.dpreview.com where it was compared with the D200 and there are sample images as well.

Regards

Nigel
 
Dont alot of wedding togs rave on about the S5pro?
 
Dynamic range is meant to be better....

Do not know about ISO/Noise handling could not comment on that .... I think the D300 could be contender as well with its good noise handling and in Camera active D-lighting.

Might be an idea to ask the question of the D300 users...

Nigel
 
I would imagine the D300 will beat the S5 on the iso/noise front, but then it's twice the price and the op specified it was being considered as a backup to a D200, so it's not really a valid comparison.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
I would imagine the D300 will beat the S5 on the iso/noise front, but then it's twice the price and the op specified it was being considered as a backup to a D200, so it's not really a valid comparison.
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My bad... just thought I would mention it....:coat:
 
I came across another review yesterday that backed up puddleduck's findings, it all looks very impressive
 
Cake and a game of Happy Families anyone?:)
 
JonClarke said:
from what i have heared the s5 beats it
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Not quite that simple - at lower ISOs (ISO100 / 200) the S5 Pro is cleaner, at about ISO1600+ the D300 is a bit better, and its retaining more fine detail (due to the higher resolution)

My personal limit on the S5 Pro is about ISO1250, I'd go up to ISO2000 in a pinch.

The S5 Pro is about 1 stop better than the D200 for high ISO, although colour fidelity is much better as well (you don't lose saturation as ISO increases)
 
puddleduck said:
Not quite that simple - at lower ISOs (ISO100 / 200) the S5 Pro is cleaner, at about ISO1600+ the D300 is a bit better, and its retaining more fine detail (due to the higher resolution)

My personal limit on the S5 Pro is about ISO1250, I'd go up to ISO2000 in a pinch.

The S5 Pro is about 1 stop better than the D200 for high ISO, although colour fidelity is much better as well (you don't lose saturation as ISO increases)
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oh i remember reading somewhere it is one of the best high iso cameras there is and performs well past 1600
 
JonClarke said:
oh i remember reading somewhere it is one of the best high iso cameras there is and performs well past 1600
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Well certainly when it came out 2 years ago, it was about the best you could get in F mount. Anyone coming from a D80 or D200 will be very pleased.

Its still quite good, and still unbeatable for DR, but for high ISO its not the leader it was.
 
Reading all of this about the S5 pro and its excellent DR makes it so tempting for me (shooting landscapes) especially when I am skeptical about the cameras above my D80 with the iso200 base.
 
puddleduck said:
Well certainly when it came out 2 years ago, it was about the best you could get in F mount. Anyone coming from a D80 or D200 will be very pleased.

Its still quite good, and still unbeatable for DR, but for high ISO its not the leader it was.
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Thanks for the info :)

i'm pretty much set on getting the s5 soon (upgrading from a D40)
 
When buying S5's be sure to check for back focus and "pink" white balance issues when it arrives. A lot of folks in the UK have complained about these problems on te DPR forums.
 
Thanks for all the advice, it seems as though the S5 is the preferred choice for many. I have read (can't remember where) that the S5 will not accept the EN-EL3e and you have to buy proprietary Fuji batteries - is this the case?

Also I would be probably be mainly using the 70-200 f2.8 if I were to get the S5, has anyone used this combo? Any examples would be much appreciated!!

TIA,

Alan
 
Any views?
 
Hooky said:
I have read (can't remember where) that the S5 will not accept the EN-EL3e and you have to buy proprietary Fuji batteries - is this the case?
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Yep, you can't use the Nikon batteries. Currently Fuji shop is selling refurb batteries for fifteen quid, just ordered a couple today to see what they are like.
 
Hooky said:
Thanks for all the advice, it seems as though the S5 is the preferred choice for many. I have read (can't remember where) that the S5 will not accept the EN-EL3e and you have to buy proprietary Fuji batteries - is this the case?

Also I would be probably be mainly using the 70-200 f2.8 if I were to get the S5, has anyone used this combo? Any examples would be much appreciated!!

TIA,

Alan
Click to expand...

You can put an Mb-D200 grip on the S5 and run it on AA batteries which is what I'll be doing. I would imagine that the S5/70-200 combo should be excellent, I hope so anyway as that's what I plan to use too :)
 
Flash In The Pan said:
You can put an Mb-D200 grip on the S5 and run it on AA batteries which is what I'll be doing. I would imagine that the S5/70-200 combo should be excellent, I hope so anyway as that's what I plan to use too :)
Click to expand...

Me as well:)and the MB-D200 will accept the Fuji batteries.
 
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