Should I take my D200 ??

I Just bought a brand new D200 which I will pair with my 17-55 DX lens. I am

going to the Carribean in less than a month and can't decide if I should take

my D200 with me.....It just freaks me out to think of subjecting my new

digital camera to fine sand! It just costs so much to send cameras away (I am

in Alberta Canada) to get the sensors cleaned and even then its never the

same. I don't plan on chaning the lens so technically it will never be open

but that stuff just seems to get in there anyways. If I had the money Id get a

second body and use one for bad weather conditions and keep the other for

good.....unfortunately I don't have that luxury and was seriously thinking of

cracking out my F100 film camera instead and going that route.

 

I am really torn by this decision. Can anyone be a sounding board for me with

this issue? Will I regret taking my F100 if I choose that option or my D200 if

go that way? Thanks

 

Sonya

Do you have a film scanner, if you went the 'not taking it' route?

To be honest, I don't know why you'd spend almost $3K on a D200 and a top-notch lens, then leave it at home on a nice trip.

 

Unless you're REALLY worried about theft (which would be the only valid reason to leave your expensive stuff at home), you should bring your best equipment.

 

Also, unless you're planning to use your D200 as a foundation to a sandcastle, there's no need to worry about getting sand inside -- the D200 is well-sealed. Even a little saltwater spray can be wiped off easily.

 

As to dust getting in the sensor -- just accept it as a fact of life of DSLR ownership. Learn how to clean the sensor yourself.

 

KL

"It just costs so much to send cameras away (I am in Alberta Canada) to get the sensors cleaned and even then its never the same."

 

You should think about cleaning the sensor yourself. It's not difficult and there are many products to help you do it safely. Even without changing lenses, dust can get into the camera and on the sensor. All DSLR cameras are going to need to have their sensors cleaned, perhaps frequently. Cleaning will leave the sensor as good as new, maybe better, as sometimes a new camera will have some dust.

 

https://www.micro-tools.com/store/SearchByCategory.aspx?CategoryCode=6#CT6

I have to agree with KL.

 

What's the point of owning a camera like the D200 if you don't use it.

 

My suggestion: sell the D200 to someone who's going to use it, then buy a D50 and leave it home instead.

Load up your F100 with Kodachrome and take that instead. Pretend like you're Steve McCurry.

C. Andrew - Yes I would have the ability to scan.

 

KL - I just knew someone was going to come along and say "why would you pay all that money for a set up and not use it". That is the biggest part of why I am asking my question because I too feel this way. However, I do a lot of traveling and have the opprotunity to shoot in many places. In the winter I generally take "tropical" location vacations that include me doing many activities that do not allow me to always have my camera with me such as snorkeling, parasailing etc. This means that I have to leave my camera under a towel on the beach sometimes......Im not sure how long a D200 would sit unoticed if you know what I mean.....these trips are more for relaxation and casual shooting rather than focusing on hard core shoting I mean I want to get a few nice pics, but at what expense. In the summer however, I take trips that are more conducive to serious shooting. This summer I will spend a month in the Meditteranean and will have my camera on me at all times.....I will definately have it with me then and have the time to use it properly. Part of the focus of that trip is to get some spectacular images. So you see, while it is easy to say don't buy it if your not going to use it, it doesn't always work out to fit my needs. Hope that helps others in helping me decide. Thanks for any respenses.

 

Sonya

It sounds like you need to get yourself a little point and shoot and play like a tourist this time.

I would probably take both. I take my D200 lots of places, but I would shy away from taking it to the beach on a windy day. If you take K-64 with your F-100 you will have to photos with a distinctive look that will last for 200 years or so. We wont have this (K-64) option forever.

I just came back from a trip. It was my intention to shoot for fun, and I had planned on taking a couple F2AS bodies and three or so lenses in a smallish bag. At the last moment, my wife (who 'works' on these trips while I play) decided we needed to haul a laptop.

 

I really only wanted one carry-on, so the 'heavy metal' got set aside. I took a digi P&S (Coolpix 8400) instead. The 8400 was relatively 'new' to me, so that turned into a time to explore what it could do. In the end, I enjoyed the challenge of using the completely different type of camera. I made images with it I would not have made with the older bodies. I also (perhaps obviously) did *not* make the kinds of images I'm capable of making with my 'old friends'.

 

Sounds like you have valid reasons for wanting to use something smaller and cheaper on this trip. Do so if it makes you happy. Though I'd still take the camera up para-sailing......

KL IX says it very well.

 

Back in 2005, I bought my D2X a couple of months before a major trip to Madagascar. I timed it so that prices started to drop after the initial demand was fulfilled while I still had plenty of time to learn and test the new camera. I used the D2X in the rain foreses there and, of course, it rained on it a few times. I also used it in the deserts with heat and sand, etc. The main reason to get a high-end DSLR is that it can survive those conditions.

 

I suggest you use the time between now and your trip to get familiar with your new camera. In particular, you should learn how to clean the sensor once in a while yourself. It isn't all that much harder than cleaning the front element of your lens.

Worrying about sand would be a nice change of pace compared to what I normally have to worry about; mud, snow, ice, rain, dropping it in the water or off a high place (while still attached to me), 1000 year old muck, glacier silt, and a myriad other potential hazards.

 

But, if its safety (theft in this case) that you're worried about, have it locked up in the hotel safe while your not using it (if you're in a hotel that is). I don't stay at fancy resorts often, but have utilized the safe when not using my gear was not going to be at my side. I wouldn't leave it my room unattended, too big a temptation for someone making maybe a couple of bucks an hour changing sheets. I mean no disrespect to room maids and hotel workers in general. It's just a fact of life.

 

Instead of spending money on a new body for bad weather, get a camera rain coat, a lot less expensive and their pretty effective.

 

And like others said, learn to clean your own camera, its not hard and a lot less expensive than sending out.

Thanks Kevin - I have a great little 6MP Canon A700 Powershot......its coming along regardless. Thats what the hubby uses cause he was tired of feeling left out of the picture taking process and scared to touch my equipment! Ha Ha.

 

Shun - You are right. Good quality equipment is built to be used (if that's what the focus of your trip is.

 

I think I will mesh the two ideas and take the D200 on days I can do some serious shooting and won't have to leave it alone and then snatch the point and shoot for fun photos at the beach.

 

Thanks for all your help.

 

Sonya

Can anyone recommend a site that tells you how to properly clean digital sensors?

 

I attempted it on my own way back when I had my Fuji S2 but I didn't really care if it didn't work or ultimately ruined the camera because the camera was on its last legs anyways. I didn't see any improvements so I think I did it wrong.

Sorry John De Cristofaro, a D50 just wouldn't do it for me. Although I'm confident enough in my skills as a photographer to use any camera and get a decent image.....I am becoming increasingly demanding for better equipment for better results. You can't just say that I should sell my equipment to someone who will use it if you don't know for what purpose I am needing it for. I have a collection of equipment and choose what I want to use by the purposes for which I need it.......this is the only time Ive had second thoughts. Thanks for your opinion though.

Hi Sonya,

 

Try: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-10,GGGL:en&q=cleaning+sensor

 

or what I really like is:

http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm

btw, what KL IX says. Take it :-). I am going to Caribbean in April and would not think of leaving my D200. It will do great.

<p>My standard flying travel kit has the following cameras:</p>

<ul>

<li>Nikon F5</li>

<li>Nikon D70</li>

<li>Bronica ETRSi (a 6cm x 4.5cm medium format film camera)</li>

</ul>

<p>If I'm driving, I may well take my Wista DX II 4x5 field camera.</p>

<p>For the two Nikons, I take the following accessories:</p>

<ul>

<li>24-120mm VR lens</li>

<li>70-300mm lens (usually, but not always)</li>

<li>SB-600</li>

<li>Lumiquest 80/20 flash diffuser</li>

</ul>

<p>For the Bronica, I take the following </p>

<ul>

<li>40mm lens</li>

<li>75mm lens</li>

<li>150mm lens</li>

<li>250mm lens (sometimes, but not always)</li>

<li>three film backs, sometimes four</li>

<li>at least one film back waist pouch</li>

</ul>

<p>It all goes into a LowePro Commercial AW bag and my tripod, a Bogen 3021,

goes into my suitcase.  I may also throw a smaller camera bag, like a

LowePro TL-1 or TL-2, into a suitcase for use at my destination.  I carry

the big bag onto the aeroplane, along with all of my film.</p>

<p>When I get where I'm going, I'll leave the big bag at "home" and just take

the camera or cameras I want, my film backs, and an extra lens or two and stick

them into my photo vest or cargo pants pockets.  Then I go out and take

photos!  Lots of photos!</p>

<p>When I get home, the 35mm and 120 gets processed.  Index prints are

scanned with either my Konica-Minolta 5400II scanner (35mm) or my Epson 2450

flatbed (MF and LF).  If I want snapshots, I'll scan at the appropriate

resolution.  If I want mounted prints, I'll send my film out for

professional scanning and printing.</p>

<p>If I were you, I'd take whatever film camera I have as well as the new D200. 

Keep the D200 in a one or two gallon zip lock bag when not in use if you are

near sand.  Naturally, keep it out of the sun, too.  If you're like

me, you've already got a Nikon 35mm, hence the D200 purchase.</p>

<p>And enjoy yourself!</p>

<p> </p>

Sonya,

 

I've had a simiilar question for an upcoming trip. I'm going sailing for ten days in the lower

carribean. I'm not planning to take a lap top on this trip and will look into buying a

portable drive to download images. So I could also take a point and shoot and just keep it

light and simple. But then why do I have this amazing camera?

 

Since we'll be on a boat for the bulk of the time, I worry less about sand, but more about

water. But one of the reasons I bought the D200 was for the weather sealant aspect, so for

me to leave it behind and take the d70s seems to fly in the face of that rationale. Still, I

know that if the d70s went overboard, I'm only out $x in an investment. If it were the

d200, I'd cry a lot harder.

 

then the next question, is which lens to bring. 18-200 or a prime? I just bought a 17-55

and imagine the images I might get with it, it would be a shame to leave it behind, even if

it is so darn heavy. (no chance of bringing a tripod on this trip) So I understand the

dilemma.

 

And sand can be deadly. I did a shoot on a beach (I live in sarasota where the sand is as

fine as talc) it was worse on my lenses than on my camera. Even with extra care I could

hear the sand as I adjusted the zoom.

 

On a recent trip to China I thought I'd only use the 18-200, which was part of the main

reason for buying it. But I found that my 24mm was on the camera more as it was easier to

handle. Some folks had suggested to just take a d70, and an 18-70, but looking back at

that trip through the images, I'm glad of the lenses I had in my bag and for the d200.

 

for this trip I'll probably just take the 18 - 200 and the D200 and a flash. I'm sure you are

excited about your new equipment and what a great opportunity to use it while you're on

vacation. I just wouldn't take it on the beach, especially on windy days.

 

(try to pack it in a bag that doesn't scream "i'm an expensive camera" if you're going some

place that is suspect--a diaper bags works)

 

hope that helps

 

L

Wow Kelly, that's an aweful lot of gear.......which I might consider taking with me if I was on a paid assignment but that's entirely too much equipment to carry for what is meant to be a relaxing vacation where I might get or only want to have SOME time to do some serious shooting. Plus, I travel alot and these days going throgh security at the airports with that kind of gear would just be my version of hell....unless again I was on assignment. I really just pick and choose which trips I want to focus on my personal photography. It's really wonderful that you have such a passion for your personal photography that you are willing to take so much. I thank you so much for your contribution. Reagrds

 

Sonya

Cleaning sensors:

 

I follow Thom Hogan's advice and use a hurricane blower everyday BEFORE I take the

camera out, and immediately after I get back at night. It seems to prevent the glued on

dust which requires major surgery as far as I'm concerned. I have not yet had to do "wet"

cleaning in 6 months.

 

Last summer I was headed to Guatemala and I was very concerned about theft (much

higher incidence of this kind of stuff in Central America than other places) and ended up

leaving both the D70s and F100 at home, taking the FE2 instead. Well, as it turns out, I

regretted the move because I missed some shots for a wide variety of reasons. I live near

the beach - it's one environment that is very hard on any camera - heat, humidity, salt,

sand, wind. Just don't leave the D200 sitting exposed to the hot sun. There's lots of

world-class images in the Caribbean - shorelines with coconut palms, turqoise water,

puffy cumulus clouds, verdant mountains, Afro-Caribe culture - take the D200.

Thanks Gene. You are right, there are many world class pictures taken in the Carribean and Id like to have the opportunity to take some of my own. I will take my D200.......and the canon point and shoot for the beach! Take care.

Louise, I also have a 18-200 and have the exact same dilemma for when I go to the mediteranean....do I use my D200 and 18-200 or lug around the 17-55 every day for a month??? If you haven't tried your 17-55 yet you will be blown away with the results. Its just an amazing lens.....if only it weren't so heavy. It's really just not a "friendly traveller".

Sonya

 

yep, the idea of lugging anything sounds hard on vacation.

 

for me the 17-55 will stay behind purely as a result of economics. It's almost twice the

cost of the 18-200, purchased for more work related shoots than personal pursuits, and

the 18-200 is a lot lighter. I've played around with the 17-55 and it's a beauty. A different

class of lens. For this trip I'll likely bring a 50 1.4 OR 24 2.8 for faster or low light

situations, but mostly use the 18 - 200 for fun. And lots of waterproof gear bags.

 

(oh, and I read your post on the other forum--you weren't beaten up badly on this thread

at all. you can get tossed around a lot worse at times. you just have to grow more duck

feathers at times and take what you can learn and the rest with a pinch of salt.) It's worth

it though, as there are quite a few kind folks who will always answer with good rational

measured responses. I've learned an awful lot.

Good Plan Louise. As for the comment on the other forum...it sounded worse when I read it....I didn't really mean beaten up in a serious way......mreso Just jokingly. I do think there is a lot to learn by sharing information. It sounds like we have a lot in common in terms of equipment and travels. I look forward to sharing information with you in the future.