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Upgrading D200 to D300s

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Balton

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Joined: Feb '10
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After an absence for a few years I have a renewed interest in photography again, now that I have a little more spare time. I am a civil engineer by profession but my interest in photography goes way back to the Nikon FM2n times :-)

I had an D70 and when D200 came out I bought it instantly in 2005 (if my memory serves me right). Recently thought I have taken an interest again, especially in HDR.

The 1st question is whether to upgrade my current camera to D300s. I know that D200 is now considered "old" technology in a sense but I do enjoy shooting with my D200 (+battery grip MB-D100). The lenses I have are as follows: Nikon AF-D 85mm 1.4F, Nikon AF-D 35-70 mm F2.8, Nikon AF-D 20 mm F2.8, Sigma HSM 70-200 F2.8, and a Nikon 500mm F8 Mirror. I still keep my old Nikon Bodies (F100, F90X and an FM2n plus a Nikon AIS 50mm F1.2 on the FM2).

I shoot landscape and portraits and also powerboat racing in the summer (lots of panning shot and the crop factor of DX does help). Hence from your experience is it worthwhile for me to get the D300s? or perhaps wait for a bit more (maybe for D400) and spend the money on a wide-angle lens. As you will have notice above I do lack a wide angle lens.

which subsequently leads to the 2nd question: What would you recommend for a wide angle lens in DX format? I have short-listed the Nikon 12-24mm G F4 and the 10-2mm 4G F3.5-4.5. Unfortunately Tokina and Tamron is not available in Turkey and Sigma lenses are hard to come by with very few places keeping stock.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to your comments & recommendations...

Cheers,

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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I've not used either of the nikon options, but I hear the 10-24mm is better than the 12-24. I do, however own the Tokina 11–16mm, which I chose over the 12–24mm (the 10–24mm wasn't available at the time). The tokina is good, cheap, and will work on FX at 15–16mm if you switch or want to use it on a film body.

http://taishimizu.com/218/Tokina-11-ndash-16mm-f-2-8-Nikon-F-Mount-Review

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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I guess I'll be the first to suggest a D90 instead of the D300s. If you don't mind the smaller body compared with the DXXX series, the image quality is fantastic and you can put the difference in price toward a new lens and even sell your D200 to save for a possible D300s replacement. The one situation where you might miss the D300s is for powerboat pictures, where the D300s has better autofocus tracking. But the D90's is actually quite good, as well. I'm not a sports photographer but do take the occasional shot of my hyperactive sons, and I can't tell a difference between the AF tracking speed of the D300 (which I had for 2 years) and the D90 (which I've used since October).

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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keep the D200, invest in glass; hell, I bought my D200 last year new and still think it's performing well "enough". . .the next gen of DX bodies will give you the real advantage; honestly, in low light, you're losing a stop to the D90/D300 bodies, and frankly, unless you are DEDICATED sports shooting, the AF on the D200 is fine.

The D400 or whatever it'll be called will be out soon enough, the NR Admin has already mentioned D4 bodies being tested in Vancouver. . .ie, the same AF CAM module will be explored in a DX body too (90% sure). . .2011 will be the year of the bodies, 2010 the year of the lenses. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
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Yeah keep the D200 and wait for the D400 which is coming late this year or early 2011. Don't buy a D90 as it will soon be replaced this year. At the latest by the end of summer, but hopefully sooner. The D90 is a great camera but it seems like you want to invest in the latest greatest camera.

Posted 3 years ago #
tai

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I didn't touch on that part of the question in my first response, but I agree with everyone else, the D200 is a great camera, and you stand to gain significantly by holding onto it for a few more months at least.

Posted 3 years ago #
Gentoo

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These threads crack me up, people flip flop so much lol

I'd be inclined in this case to say that the D300s would be better as an extra body, not so much of an upgrade body. For what you're doing, I'd say your D200 will likely be good enough until the real upgrade DXXX body comes out which isn't too far away. As Niko said, the D90 is due for replacement soon (although I don't think as soon as he says). If you want the latest camera, this is a photokina year and that takes place in August I believe and that's most likely when we'll hear what Nikon releases.

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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Flip flop? My word's like a rock!!

In all truth though, unless you're profession REQUIRES better AF, a lot of the "older" Nikon bodies (D200/D300/D80/D90) can really cut it for daily use. . .I also think we're going on to the "EVEN NOMENCLATURE" upgrade cycle (D4/D400), so buying a new SOLE body (not as backup but replacement) is fruitless. . . .most of us barely use our bodies to 100%. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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keep the d200, it's still a great camera and when You don't require high iso and can keep Your shooting below 800. as for wide angle lenses, I would say try to get the sigma 10-20, even if it's hard to find in turkey

Posted 3 years ago #
kyoshinikon

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Half of the pros I know who are making the money still shoot with their D200 as the primary camera... The D300s is just a bunch of hype for the majority of us as the cheaper D90 does 90% of what the D300s can do

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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true true kyoshinikon - d90 is a great piece of hardware

Posted 3 years ago #
Balton

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Thanks for all the feedback. I am now convinced about waiting for the next upgrade time.

In the mean time I shall direct my funds to a nice wide angle lens. Any preferences on the Nikon 12-24 or the 10-24?

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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yeah at $774 from abesofmaine.com, D90 is very tempting right now!!

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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Balton said:
Thanks for all the feedback. I am now convinced about waiting for the next upgrade time.

In the mean time I shall direct my funds to a nice wide angle lens. Any preferences on the Nikon 12-24 or the 10-24?

how wide do you want to go?

IMO, the 12-24 is the better of the two. . .has a more solid build, doesn't soften up wide open like 10-24, but I shoot with the Tokina 11-16 2.8, which is really the sharpest WA lens available for the DX bodies right now. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
Graphicnatured

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I agree with tai. It's too bad the Tokina 11-16 isn't available for you. I absolutely love this lens and the price is right.

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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why isn't it available?

The Tokina 11-16, and I hate supporting Ken Rockwell, is hands down one of the sharpest DX WA lens out there WITH the curious ability to give you some sick bokeh at 2.8. . . .it's the only non-Nikon lens I own, and it's usually on my D200 90% of the time. . .it even managed to debunk the more expensive and in certain situations sharper nikon 17-55 2.8 I have. . .

I dunno, I would either try to buy it on ebay or used from someone if it wasn't available to me. . .or just ship it to a friend where it is available and pick it up from them while on vaca or something. . .(just tossing ideas out there, rofl!)

Posted 3 years ago #