What do (would) you do with a D200?

[chanh_nguyen1]

<p>It was a fine camera for me when I bought it years and thousands of pictures ago, and it still works just as well now. But somewhat afflicted by NAS, I wasn't strong enough to resist being blown away by the recent crop of cameras. That raises the question what to do with the D200.<br />The practical side of me says put it up for sale, but even ignoring its sentimental value, I don't think I can get much for selling it. Do you still keep your older DSLRs and why?</p>

[SCL]

<p>Backup</p>

[richard_thomas9]

<p>Back up, give it as a gift, travel camera, IR conversion, etc.....</p>

[elliot1]

<p>Donate it to a young, aspiring photographer in your family.</p>

[dan_brown4]

<p>I traded mine to get a like-new F100. Glad I did that too.</p>

[keith reeder]

<p>Use it to knock nails in?</p>

<p>(Sorry and all, but I <em>hated</em> that camera - it's the Nikon that turned me into a Canon shooter).</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Richard + +1</p>

 

[craig_shearman1]

<p>I've had a D200 for several years and still use it for just about everything -- portraits, awards ceremonies, golf tournaments, figure skating, news events, to name just a few. I find its biggest challenge is indoor sports like the figure skating, where the AF could be faster and ISO doesn't go as high as I'd like before digital noise builds up. But it's still a good everyday camera. Just because it's a few years old doesn't mean it stops working.<br /><br />Unless you're shooting purely for fun, everybody needs a backup camera. So if it's your only camera I would keep it regardless of what new camera you buy. </p>

[Sanford]

<p>Everyone needs at least two backups.</p>

[joseph_wisniewski]

<blockquote>

<p>I traded mine to get a like-new F100. Glad I did that too.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Don't used D200s go for about 2-4x the price of like new F100s?</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>My Eos 300D has been my digital back-up to my D700 for the last few years. Now I have designs on a D800, the D700 is likely to become the backup (except when I need frame rate), and I'm no longer taking an interest in DCS-14ns. An IR (or other astronomy-friendly) conversion seems like my best bet for the 300D. But really, I'm holding on to the 300D because it's worth more to me even if I just need to try out something Canon-specific than it's worth as a used camera sale. I occasionally find a use for it, even though most of my EF lenses have now gone. I suspect a D200 is still worth something - whether it's worth as much to you as the utility it could give you is another matter.</p>

[dave_wilson1]

I have two that I still use all the time, ISO 100, manual lenses, just like the old days.

[john_narsuitus]

<p>Another vote for backup</p>

[georg_s1]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2113657">Elliot Bernstein</a><a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub7.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jul 12, 2012; 02:19 p.m.</p>

 

<p>Donate it to a young, aspiring photographer in your family.</p>

 

</blockquote>

 

<p>+1</p>

 

 

[Hector Javkin]

<p>We can all suggest you give the camera to someone you like, of course, but I don't know how anyone can give you some of the other advice you've received without knowing how and what you shoot. Are the four photos in your portfolio (nature/outdoors as of this writing) representative, or the result of an uncommon trip? Did you have to hike in to get those shots, and do you usually have to do that? Whether or not the D200 would be good for a backup camera (if you buy something newer) depends on your particular kind of photography.</p>

<p>I've kept my first DSLR, a D50, but I sometimes shoot events, and like to have it in case my primary and backup cameras both fail.</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Keep at it at your desk at work for a little lunchtime photo adventure or to record work events. It saves you from dragging a camera from home and folks often appreciate having a photo of old Joe from the retirement party or the work Halloween parade or if a VIP visits, etc.</p>

[Dieter Schaefer]

<p>I have two and use them almost daily - they are my favorites for everyday shooting.</p>

[rossb]

<p>I have one and I plan on keeping it. It's the only digital camera I have ever purchased actually and after using it for a while I just started grabbing the film camera again. I think I just found the digital thing as a boring hobby and so I finally put the camera back in the box it came in. I probably will use it for air travel mostly. I do not want another digital camera so the upgrade thing is not something I will do. </p>

[howard_owen]

<blockquote>

<p>(Sorry and all, but I hated that camera - it's the Nikon that turned me into a Canon shooter).</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Then you never were a Nikon shooter to begin with.</p>

<p>No way I'd let my D200 go. In addition to backup duties I use it almost exclusively for my macro and HDR work. Its great color pallet and native ISO 100 are hard to beat.</p>

[Mike D]

<p>Neither of my 20 something children will take my D200. They take a lot of photos but only with their I-Phones. Their images go directly to social media so their friends can see them immediately. I Photoshhopped one of their images recently and was quite surprised at the quality of an 8x10 that I printed. I will actually use the D200 in situations where it is really wet, dusty, or other situation that could be hazardous to a camera. </p>

[ant_nio_gomes]

<blockquote>

<p>I bought it years and thousands of pictures ago, and it still works just as well now</p>

</blockquote>

<p>You just answered the question - it is still a camera good enough for you to shoot and if you look at the cash you can get from it do you think it is worthwhile to give it away, even if NAS defeats you and you buy a new one?<br /> It can be a backup, a IR converted, a 1.5 teleconverter cheaper than TC--1.4E II,a camera to take to more problematic locations, a body to get smaller NEF files if you buy a D800, a way to take profit of certain advantages of CCD sensors (all new cameras use CMOS)...you name it, but it will continue to be a competent shooting device.</p>

<p> </p>

[bwbob]

<p>I had mine converted to infrared B&W by Life Pixel Co. I get beautiful dreamy images with a fraction of the effort required when I was using film and processing myself. Here is an example</p>

[chanh_nguyen1]

<p>Thank you for your thoughts. I was wondering if someone would respond that it's what's behind the camera... a la KR. But this is indeed a very nice group of photographers.<br />I first thought about giving it away as a gift. But everyone I know is either a very casual snapper or an aspiring one willing and able to spend at least $1K for their photography. The first type wouldn't want a DSLR. For the second, my D200 is of doubtful value given the choices available today. (I was impressed with the IQ of the D5100, not to mention the extras and the price). If I had a relative or a friend who is into photography and regularly uses a D80 or older DSLR but would not upgrade then making my beloved D200 a gift would be an easy and great choice.<br />As an amateur, keeping it as a backup probably means it will mostly sit on the shelf. I have never had more than one camera with me. I love backpacking and don't mind a little extra weight (lenses, tripod) for better pictures, but carry two DSLRs would be too much for me especially when the chances of the prosumer camera failing are very small.<br />Using it in hazardous-for-camera situations sounds great (thanks, Michael).</p>

[bwbob]

<p>I had mine converted to infrared B&W by Life Pixel Co. I get beautiful dreamy images with a fraction of the effort required when I was using film and processing myself. Here is an example</p>

[Uhooru]

<p>I use mine as a second camera for weddings. </p>