Jump to content

Second body - D300 or D2x?


mark_wagner7

Recommended Posts

<p>Looking for some input as to what second body to buy to replace my venerable D2Hs. Here is some background:</p>

<p>1) Mostly shoot youth and high school sports: baseball, football, basketball<br>

2) Have a D3 (primary body) for low light indoor (basketball) and outdoor night work<br>

3) This second body would mount my 70-200mm. The D3 usually has a 400mm f/2.8 if I am shooting baseball or football, or an 85mm f/1.4 if I am shooting basketball.<br>

4) 8fps would be ideal, although as a second body I can get by with 5fps</p>

<p>Both cameras are DX format and 12MP but I am not clear if both use the same sensor. I would be adding the MB-D10 to the D300. At this point I rarely use a flash, so flash sync speed is not an issue. Eventhough I will be buying used, the D300 + grip will cost more than the D2x so will I be gaining enough additional functionality to justify the cost increase (subjective question I know). Obviously the controls on the D2x will fall to hand easier than the D300 so ease of use would probably favor the D2x.</p>

<p>Appreciate hearing from those of you who have had experience with both the D300 and the D2x. I love my D3 and would get a second one in a heart beat, but economic practicality must be given some consideration in these times.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your time and feedback.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>This has been discussed many, many times. Do a search on Photo.net for "D300 Vs D2X" and you will see numerous threads.</p>

<p>FWIW, the D300's autofocus system is far advanced over the D2X's and the same as in your D3. </p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>Mark, for what you shoot, you can definitely benefit from the D300's superior high ISO noise performance (compare to the older D2X). I doubt that the D300's controls are by any means difficult to use for a D3 user. </p>

<p>Also, if you have the money for a D700, that would probably be the most ideal 2nd body for you: a D3 shooter. (unless you often rely on the DX crop for the higher pixel density/reach)</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>I recommend handling both and see which one matches best with your D3 for ease of use. I too use a full frame body and crop body for sports to get the best of both worlds. However the two cameras I use are completely different and although I know each well enough not to be hindered by those differences, I'd still prefer two identical bodies in some situations. I am actually thinking of getting a second D2X just for this reason. It is still an extremely capable camera and at the right price can still be quite a bargain over the D300 and MB10.</p>

<p>The real big advantage the D300 has over the D2X is high ISO performance but I suspect that your D3 trumps both by so much that you would rely on the D3 exclusively for those low light situations. Something to test and consider for your purposes. </p>

<p>A crop body is a very nice match for your 70-200, giving a tighter view for sports, and with the 400/2.8 for more distant action will likely outperform the D3 if you had to crop or use a 1.4x with it.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>A very good backup for the D3 is the D700; it has exactly the same internal electronics and therefore the same high ISO results but in a smaller, less expensive body with the grip option. Both cameras are FX which makes it convenient. However, it costs considerably more than the D300.</p>

<p>If the choices are restricted to the D2X and D300, IMO it is a complete no brainer and I would suggest not to waste your time considering. The D300 is a far superior camera for sports because you can get 8 frame/sec with the MB-D10 and has much better high ISO results. Since the OP has the D2Hs, he should already been familiar with the Multi-CAM 2000 AF module in all D2 family cameras. I would say the D3/D300/D700's Multi-CAM 3500 a modest improvement for sport photography.</p>

<p>As far as controls go, Nikon has been very consistent among its DSLRs. When I first picked up the D3X a few months ago, I used it for 3 weeks without ever opening the manual. A somewhat annoying difference is that when you review images on the back LCD, on the D2/D3/D200, you hold down a button and then rotate the main command dial to enlarge/shrink the image. On the D300 and D700, you press on different buttons to enlarge and shrink.</p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<p>I'd probably go with the D300 because of improved low-light sensor performance and improved autofocus.</p>

<p>For a guy who lists a D2Hs, D3, 70-200, and 400/2.8 in the space of a paragraph or two, economic practicality seems like the last factor that you would consider!</p>

<p>I'm just pulling your leg. In fact, I'm drooling over your kit. I've been trying to formulate a logical explanation for purchasing a 400/2.8 myself. It's not that easy! </p>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...