Nikon D80 vs D200

[secretanchitman]

so my dad pretty much has it down to a D80 or a D200. we went to dpreview.com, and all those sites that compare the cameras and review them. they basically say the same thing...lighter, cheaper, SD card, more automatic, have to go into the menus to change manual features - go with the D80. heavier (by almost a pound!), bulkier, faster shooting, CF card format, easier to use for manual options, etc - go with the D200.

any of you guys own those cameras and how are they? good, bad, meh?

 

[ProviaFan]

I bought a D200 before the D80 was announced, but today I'd still choose the D200 because of the build quality and D2-inspired control layout and operation. However, if you've never used a "professional" camera and don't intend to get one in the future, then the D80 is probably a better choice, simply because the pluses of the D200 likely won't matter.

 

[virtuamike]

I have a D200. It's good. It meters with my manual lenses which is a huge plus. And the build quality is pretty solid (even with the rubber grip peeling off, but at least Nikon has been nice enough to send me replacements).

 

[Bowfinger]

I've been shooting Nikon for years. I am very happy with my D200 but I bought it pre-D80 so I didn't compare the two. The D200 is an exceptional DSLR, fast, well-designed, versatile, great feature set. As I understand it, the D80 is too, but is designed to be friendlier for more casual photographers.

 

[secretanchitman]

nice, thank you guys for those responses...

another question...what kind of lens do you guys use?

 

[virtuamike]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
nice, thank you guys for those responses...

another question...what kind of lens do you guys use?

17-55/2.8 AF-S, 50/1.4 AF, 85/1.4 AF-D, 105/2 DC AF-D, 180/2.8 AF-D, 20/2.8 AIS, 35/1.4 AIS, 55/3.5 AI macro.

I like fast glass

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: virtuamike

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
nice, thank you guys for those responses...

another question...what kind of lens do you guys use?

17-55/2.8 AF-S, 50/1.4 AF, 85/1.4 AF-D, 105/2 DC AF-D, 180/2.8 AF-D, 20/2.8 AIS, 35/1.4 AIS, 55/3.5 AI macro.

I like fast glass

haha nice. my dad wants the nikon (nikkor?) 18-200mm lens. apparently it seems to be really popular, so popular in fact that its sold out/out of stock everywhere we go, including online.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman
haha nice. my dad wants the nikon (nikkor?) 18-200mm lens. apparently it seems to be really popular, so popular in fact that its sold out/out of stock everywhere we go, including online.

It is a very popular lens for an all-purpose zoom, partly due to its quality relative to other all around zooms (which in general tend to suck). The 200mm end of the 18-200 leaves a bit to be desired, from what I'm told, and it is a fairly slow lens (VR doesn't stop subject movement), so I tote a 17-35 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 VR instead.

 

[IeraseU]

The 18-200VR is good for walking around taking touristy type pictures without carrying big heavy lenses. The quality is good enough for most people, especially hobbyists.

 

[dug777]

The reviews seem to pan it pretty badly, unless you need that range, from what i've read?

The 18-135mm seems to be a better performer, obviously without the range...

 

[IeraseU]

According to the following review, all the Nikon kit lenses perform pretty similarly, but add more features and range with the increase in price

http://www.cameralabs.com/revi...r_kit_lens_group_test/


Edit: To add even more confusion to the picture, my favorite kit lens would be the Zeiss 16-80 for the Sony Alpha.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
According to the following review, all the Nikon kit lenses perform pretty similarly, but add more features and range with the increase in price

http://www.cameralabs.com/revi...r_kit_lens_group_test/

Try photozone.de and slrgear.com

 

[IeraseU]

I'm familiar with those also, but they don't do side by side comparisons. I also own the 18-200VR and it performs pretty well, even against the 17-55 f/2.8 DX........it just has a few shortcomings that won't really matter unless you are very serious about photography and need every last little bit out of your images. I doubt someone's mom or dad taking casual photos needs a 17-55DX and 70-200VR combo.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
I'm familiar with those also, but they don't do side by side comparisons. I also own the 18-200VR and it performs pretty well, even against the 17-55 f/2.8 DX........it just has a few shortcomings that won't really matter unless you are very serious about photography and need every last little bit out of your images. I doubt someone's mom or dad taking casual photos needs a 17-55DX and 70-200VR combo.

I'm just in the process of buying my first DSLR, and i'm getting far too worked up about it all

I'll be happy with whatever i get

Your advice on my D80+18-135mm or K10D with the 18-125mm Sigma, or 16-45mm Pentax?

I can't decide

EDIT: the review you linked to seems to be far too keen on the 18-200mm. Their extreme enthusiasm certainly isn't replicated in the majority of later reviews i have found...

Here is another site that doesn't exactly give it a shining review, although it doesn't dislike it, just points out it is a complex beast to review given its size and many roles :

http://www.naturfotograf.com/l...om_02.html#AFS18-200VR

 

[dug777]

However, after reading the K10D review at the camera labs site, i think i will be buying the D80

 

[IeraseU]

Personally I think the Pentax K10D body is ahead of the D80 (spec wise definitely).......probably somewhere in between the D80 and D200. One problem with the Pentax K10D for me is the lack of available telephoto lenses. Even 3rd party telephoto lenses for the Pentax are hard to find. With Pentax I also would not be able to rent lenses online like you could with Nikon or Canon (and I occasionally do this). I do like the fact that Pentax has really small and lightweight 'pancake' lenses, that seems pretty cool, and something I'd like to try.

I think for a hobbyist Pentax (or Sony) for that matter are fine, and will produce as good results as any other camera out there. Canon and Nikon I think offer a bit more to more serious photographers with their lens line-ups if you really want to one day do stuff like go on safari or shoot professional sports or things of that nature.

Really it's not about the equipment though, any dslr can deliver great results in the right hands, and that's the bottom line.


Edit: Yeah, the review did not like the K10D with jpgs, although I always shoot RAW personally. The metering issue is interesting, some D80 users tend to think it overexposes compared to the D70 and D200 bodies. Nikon is known for having good metering on their cameras overall, however.