D200 - can anyone reassure me?

Hi,

 

Well, I've been having a few issue swith a D70 recently that basicly

means it's time for it to go in for reapir before the warranty is up.

I have 1 month left. It's a camera that has done me well and helped me

build up work in the last 11 months that I've had it to a point where

I now have a solid month of bookings ahead of me [the busiest I've

ever been]. So I definatley need a camera this coming month and I've

been putting off switching the film backup camera I've been using to

the D70 and getting a newer main camera until I hear that reports of

problems with the new d200 are solved. The crunch is though if I don't

get the D70 in during the next month then the repairs [in built flash

not functioning / regular error messages and locking up / focus issues

with 1 lens when used with SB-800] will be out of my pocket.

 

So, if I can actually get hold of one it looks like I'll have to get a

D200 now in order to keep the work I have lined up and get the D70

back to Nikon for fixing. This is actually a couple of months earlier

than I'd planned, both in terms of cash flow and feeling comfortable

that there's no issues with the initial releases but I can't see any

other option.

 

Now.. to my dismay there are endless posts all over the net about

banding. I do realise though that people are always more vocal when

they have a problem and tend to be quieter when satisfied.

 

This post is getting long winded.. so to cut to the quick... can

anybody out there reassure me that there are D200s around that don't

suffer from this issue?

 

You might have guessed I'm slightly flustered and concerned at needing

to make this decision, so any reassurance would be really appreciated

and may help to calm my nerves and doubts.

 

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

////

Ps. I am currently financially unable to spring for a D2x and as a lot

of my work is low light it would also be unsuitable. Buying in to

another brand [not that I'd want to], is also out of the question due

to investment in lenses etc and Nikon always scored top in terms of

ergonomics for me, so it would seem the D200 is the obvious choice.

[Just in case people had suggestions otherwise]

////

Have you looked over a D50 body? The ISO 1600 seems very good; the D200 has but ISO 800 (unless I am mis-reading the info on it.)

 

 

 

If you are doing low-light work, ISO 1600 will little noise is OK to have available.

 

 

 

Your purchase and your decision.

If the D70's done right by you the past year, why not get another one?

 

KL

The D200 goes from ISO 100 to ISO 1600 to ISO 3200 with boost.

 

My D200 exhibits no banding, though I have seen it to an objectionable degree in other cameras.

Gerald, The Nikon spec sheet says that the ISO Sensitivity is:

<p>

100 to 1600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV with additional settings up to 1 EV over 1600

I'd say go for another D70 unless for some reason you need the extra megapixels. Let the bugs get worked out. I hear the battery is an issue. You can get the D70 for around $650 refurb/demo from Cameta if you call direct. Or at least that was the case a week before Christmas.

Thanks for the replies.

 

"Have you looked over a D50 body? The ISO 1600 seems very good"

 

It actually was something I was been considering. First problem though.. doesn't take CF cards. Also the viewfinder... [see below]

 

"If the D70's done right by you the past year, why not get another one?"

 

The D70 has been great and I'm a firm believer in not investing higher than I need to without good reason and need of higher spec features etc. I can now honestly say that there are some things that I find a hinderance on the D70... the main one being the viewfinder. I've never liked it. On some occaisions [large groups of people spring to mind] it's taken a fair amount of guess work as to what is going on on the frame. Unless I'm mistaken the D50 has the same viewfinder? Also I really miss getting the use out of my manual AI / AIS glass. There are other aspects too.. I won't bore you with the list.

 

Also.. low light. Reports are that the D200 is slightly better at higher ISO? Any improvement I can get in this respect will be a time saver in post.

 

I'm feeling slightly calmer getting one response of good news about a lack of banding in at least one D200.

 

Any more reassurance / positive reports greatly appreciated.

Bugs? What bugs? The batter "issue" is a non issue. I've had a D200 since the day it came out

and it performs like a champ. No problems whatsoever. It makes the D70(S) feel like a toy.

can you afford the D200?

get it.

"can you afford the D200? get it."

 

Yes I can... digital capture fees I've charged for shoots with the D70 during the past 11 months have paid for it plus more towards the next body and software / Computer costs etc. I can't afford a D2x, but D200 is within budget. I also believe in the "buy the best you can afford" adage. Another part of my reasoning for not getting another D70... as longs as the IQ and improvements are there on the D200.

 

I'm also going to try one hands on before if I consider it. No way I'm buying blind. My chances of finding stock anywhere though.. hmm.. slim I'm guessing. [uK based]

The D70 is a consumer camera, not really designed for daily use a professional would give it.

Buy the D2X or D200 and justify your fee.

[reassuring tone]Everything will be just fine.[/reassuring tone].

Come on, you know you want - but don't need - the D200. You just want permission from your fellow photographers to spend the big bucks on the latest and greatest. ;-)

 

I had a nice tour of the Nikon facilities in California this morning from the tech rep, and I had a hands-on look at the D200. It is a terrific camera - that big viewfinder, the big LCD, the external controls, etc (and it had the 18-200mm lens on it - sweet). So if you can afford to purchase it, go for it. It's clearly a "better" camera than the D70.

 

If you're shooting professionally, then you should have at least two digital camera bodies, anyway. If you'd purchased a second body, you wouldn't be in the pickle of not having a camera while your D70 is in for repair. So get the second camera and have the repairs done to your D70.

 

Personally, as a recent D70s owner, I wouldn't trade up to a D200 anytime soon, because I don't want two types of chargers, two sets of camera controls, two types of remote releases, etc. For me, the D70s is as much of a camera as I need for my own personal and professional needs - family, travel and nature - and I get to play with two of them for the price of one D200.<div></div>

Get the D200. You need the bigger, brighter viewfinder (among other features). It will make a difference in your work, and you will thank yourself for getting it.

 

As to the banding, if you want reassurance, have a look at Ken Rockwell's comments.

 

www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d200-banding.htm

 

One should always take what Ken says with a grain -- no, handful -- of salt. But I'd guess he's probably right that the banding will affect only a small percentage of shots, taken under certain conditions (backlit, high ISO).

 

One thing I'm curious to know is whether the banding problem can eventually be solved by a firmware update or not. If it can, then it may turn out to be really a very minor issue.

The junkie in me says go for it.

 

One thing to consider is that it appears you will have to schlepp around 2 sets of batteries. The D70 takes the EN-EL3a while the D200 takes the EN-EL3e. I assume they are not compatible, but could be wrong. I do mostly outdoor photography and I have this issue (D2x and D100). Those batteries get heavy and buying a duplicate set can get expensive. But then again, what in photography isn't expensive?

Wow. Thanks for the continuing replies and advice. All good and useful.

<br><br>

I will state though that this purchase / desision is not being swayed by equipment lust. If I was truly giving in to that then I'd be allowing myself to blow my budget on Hasselblad lenses for my own personal work [all film based]. The digital kit is the stuff I buy to meet the clients needs and to enable to me to work in ways that are required of me. Dave Wyman, I know where you're coming from with your advice :]

<br><br>

As to what constitutes a "pro" or "consumer" camera, I won't get into that debate. Spending more on a camera isn't justification to charge different types of fees. It's all a means to an end, and that end is photographs that fit clients needs. Names like <a href="http://www.davidburnett.com">David Burnett</a> [sometimes plastic Holga user] and <a href="http://www.terryrichardson.com">Terry Richardson</a> [WARNING - CONTAINS NUDITY AND GRAPHIC IMAGES - often uses disposable cameras] spring to mind.

<br><br>

The main concern here is that this camera will be my camera body budget for the next year, and yes, I do need a backup and having the D70 to hand rather than carrying a load of film and film body would be preferable.

<br><br>

As I've stated before, it looks like my options aren't that varied. Just wish I could feel more confident that the D200 wasn't going to put me in the same "send back to Nikon for repair" situation as I'm in with the D70 right from the get go.

<br><br>

Thanks again for all the replies and food for thought in my decision process.

Also... just to keep the record straight for the archives...

 

"The D70 takes the EN-EL3a while the D200 takes the EN-EL3e. I assume they are not compatible, but could be wrong."

 

Yep, this info is wrong.

 

I already have two EN-EL3e D200 compatible batteries due to the recent recall on D70 batteries, so, yes the D200 will work with same batteries and charger as the D70.

I went through the same troubles (I actually lost my d70-firmware upgraded). I was almost going for Canon 20D only for noise/wiewfinder problems. luckly enough, the D200 came out.

 

If you shoot professionally, and get another d70, you'll be stuck with the same problems: eyes tireness/wear and unnecessary extended workflow. I went D200. I'll put my hands on it on the 25th of january. time will tell.

Ken Rockwell seems to be apologising (ranting?) a bit too much for

something that should not occur in this level of camera. What he fails to say is

that when you start to work the image in Photoshop, these banding issues will

show up much more readily. I have seen it with an image from my D70S.

Yes, it was a high ISO shot with a bit of manipulation but the only way I could

get the print to be remotely acceptable was to add substantial noise to kill the

banding.

 

I want a D200 but to me this effect is clearly unacceptable. And further more,

the only way to get the problem fixed is for more people to shout it out to force

Nikon to fix it. As in this forum and elsewhere.

<p><i>...something that should not occur in this level of camera...</i></p>

 

<p>You are certainly right about that. Let's hope they fix it soon. </p>

I guess all reassurances are off for the time being. Read this later thread:

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00EqaA&tag=

 

Also, it seems that the banding/striping problem is considerably worse in some individual samples than in others.

"Also... just to keep the record straight for the archives...

"The D70 takes the EN-EL3a while the D200 takes the EN-EL3e. I assume they are not compatible, but could be wrong."

 

Yep, this info is wrong.

 

I already have two EN-EL3e D200 compatible batteries due to the recent recall on D70 batteries, so, yes the D200 will work with same batteries and charger as the D70."

 

 

You only made things more confusing. No, the batteries are not compatible. You cannot take an original D70 battery and use it in the D200. Grooves on the battery prevent you from inserting it into the D200.

 

The D200 batteries can be used in the D70, as evidenced by the fact that the D70 batteries being recalled are sometimes being replaced by D200 batteries. But you cannot use D70 batteries in the D200.

 

The D200 batteries will charge on a D70 charger though.