rick_helmke

Can't agree with Shun on this one. The D1-x works with all the AF lenses and the D40 doesn't. The D1-x also meters with anything back to AI and again, the D40 doesn't. Better build quality too. The D40 is the one I actually would NOT purchase. If you can't find a D1-x in your price range my next suggestion would be a D100. A five or six year old camera with low mileage would be a good purchase.

Rick H.

I doubt you will get anything out of an F6 you won't get from a 10mp digital. MF film is still going to beat out 35mm. You can pick up an Rb-67 with backs, viewfinders, a couple or three lenses for the cost of an F6. I love film, B&W and Kodachrome expecially. I have a bunch of film gear and more film than food in the freezer but the D200 sees the most use these days. Results have been good. The F2's and the 4x5 get used and I'm happy with what I get as well. Best of both worlds and I didn't mortgage the house to get there.

Rick H.

Sure it is a viable choice. It works with all of my lenses, the MF as well as AF and G, DX and whatever other letters come with Nikon lenses nowadays. Battery life is so-so and spares are a bit pricey. It's heavy. The screen on back is not nearly as good as the D2 series and D200. Build quality is superb and image quality beats the D2h hands down. Bottom line is that it's my backup to a D200 and ain't for sale.

Rick H.

I ordered the battery grip the day I picked up my D200 and waited impatiently every time I used it. I haven't taken it off since it came in. I have big hands and it makes the camera fit them. I've preferred this style configuration ever since I put an MD-2 on my F2. The extra battery, the vertical shutter release, I wouldn't want to use it any other way. BTW, I don't know about the D2X but the D200/grip definitely weighs less than the D2H.

Rick H.

Computrekker AW. I don't put a laptop in it but I could. Holds a D200, D1-X, flash and four lenses (one of them an 80-200/2.8), pads, pens, magazines and chewing gum just fine. Makes an outstanding beer cooler as well. My pack mule says it is quite comfortable.

Rick H.

F100 it is.

Rick H.

It's been asked but I haven't paid attention. I've got a bunch of film bodies

and hardly need another one. Still, now I'm finding a bunch of G lenses in my

bag and would like a film body to go with them. F100?

Rick H.

Sun you're right, it is a battery question. How did we end up arguing about lenses?

Rick H.

Peter the 18-200 may be well remarkable for its price but is it a truly great lens regardless of cost? Past experience tells me probably not for a single lens with such a wide range. If I'm wrong then I'm glad there is such a good zoom out there. But since I was asked, I carry a 17-55/2.8 and either an 80-200/2.8D or a 70-200/2.8 G. I like the 70-200 less, very soft wide open. Then find a 300 you can justify the price of. That will likely cover 95% of everything you need and will do it well. I haul around those three lenses, an SB 800 and two digital bodies. Quite a load but I almost never miss a shot because I didn't have the right gear.

Rick H.

Old school like I am, I don't think a lens that goes from 18mm wide to 200mm long is going to be all that good, just too many design compromises. I'd rather carry two or else three. Costs more and that was a deciding factor for many years but now I have a great bag of lenses. As for battery life, the D200 just runs and runs. I have the MB-200 and one aftermarket battery and no problems. I shot all day yesterday at Talladega, lots of reviewing, lots of AF and VR was on though don't know why I bothered with it. Probably shot 4 gigs of highest quality jpeg and no problems at all. Personally I think the MB-200 is of good quality and makes the camera fit my hand better. The D80 is a good camera and you'll be happy with it. The D200 is better and you'll be happier.

Rick H.

I pulled the trigger this afternoon. I was able to test it in the shop on my D200 and everything works well. Out the door for $109 and I'm off to talladega in the morning. Got the good passes too. As long as this is a decent lens and not like the old 43-86 I'll be happy. A bit slow but a good addition to the 17-55/2.8 Worse to worse I can put it on the 'bay and probably double my money.

Rick H.

While perusing my favorite pawn shop earlier today I found a 24-120 Nikkor with

all the letters ie. it's VR, G and so on. While it won't work on my old stuff

it will be fine on the new digital bodies. Anyone have any thoughts on this

lens? Good, bad, it sucks, greatest glass ever? It's in perfect shape and they

are asking $100 for it. While that's a super price I don't know well thought of

this lens is. I'll probably pick it up tomorrow unless everyone hates it.

Thanks.

Rick H.

I've always had nearly complete control over my images which sometimes means I just couldn't get anyone else to do it for me. In the film days it was never an issue to dodge and burn, crop, select focus or any of the hundred other tricks of the trade. Even lens selection alters the presentation the way I want it to. Why did I use a 24mm instead of a 135? So it would look the way I wanted. That still goes on everyday in journalism. We may be doing it with microchips but we still dodge and burn and pick and choose lenses, decide to use fill flash or not. It all affects the outcome but makes it no less honest. It's wrong to add a physical element like smoke that wasn't there originally and then call it a news photos. It's wrong to add a baseball to a shot to make it better when there wasn't one to begin with. That's dishonest. I have to use levels and curves and contrast control everyday to make what goes in the paper look right. That's just practical. There is what we do to make a good shot and then there is what we do to get past the press operator. I guess my bottom line is that I need to be able to look at myself in the mirror every day and not get fired.

Rick H.

I've added an MB200 to my D200 because one battery isn't enough and I need the

bigger camera size for my big hands. Anyway, after a long afternoon shooting,

filling 3 gigs worth of cards at high JPEG, I expected my batteries to be down

even though I got no low power indications. Went home and put the batteries on

charge, one topped off quickly, just a few minutes. The other took the full

charging time. I've noticed this three or four times now. How does this camera

utilize its battery power? Does it draw one down and go to the other as it

appears or am I missing something? Both batteries are new and in good

condition, I can use either by itself. I'm quite pleased to be able to shoot

this much without battery troubles. It ought to get maxed this weekend at

Talladega.

Rick H.

The D1x is a good camera by most standards. Battery technology has given the D200 a leg up but I still need the battery grip and a spare battery to make it through the day. The D1x gives me good images but I can do more with the D200 and the D2h is a distant third. If it's a good price and low mileage you will enjoy the D1x but if you don't mind dropping the extra cash you'll be happier with the D200.

Rick H.

I think the idea of a beat up cooler with a little foam padding inside is a good one. You drive an SUV I think you said so pick up a second body and leave it in the car. I do that with a film body most of the time while the daily use gear goes in and out each day, usually because I need to charge batteries. As for environmental concerns, the cooler will take care of most of those.

Rick H.

I only used the D200 with a single battery for the first month or so that I had it and noticed pretty heavy battery drain. The 70-200 VR seems to draw a good bit of power and I review images a lot so it didn't suprise me. Putting the battery grip and second battery in it has meant I've not run out of battery power on a shoot since.

Rick H.

I use an SB-28 on a D1x, d1h, d2h and d200 and it does fine. I prefer the sb800 as it uses more of the designed-in capabilities but I get get good results with both units.

Rick H.

Both are in my bag right now. If it's a nice bright day and I don't need over ISO 400 the D2h is just fine. If it gets dark at all it's the D200 which is excellent in soccer, basketball and baseball. Haven't had a chance to try in football but fall is on the way. The D2h is a rocket ship but that is the only particularly good thing about it. If I had the cash I'd get a D2x but since I didn't I got the D200 and am very pleased with it.

Rick H.

Sounds you should look into some of the older MF glass. Back in the day pretty much everything Nikon made was pro quality even if it wasn't the fastest lens in the line. The 28/3.5 comes to mind and those lenses are still deliver super results. Now we have to pick and chosse between top of the line and consumer grade.

Rick H.

There are so many answers to this question.....Nikkormats all day long, Minolta SRT's, Pentax screw mount cameras, OM-1 or 2. Nikon FM or FE if it's in good shape. For a few more shekels you can pick up the best SLR ever made, the Nikon F2. It's a buyers market.

Rick H.

You answer is in your last paragraph. You can use any AI or better lens on a D200 and you can buy MF lenses for pennies. I just picked up a very clean 35/2.8 AIS Nikkor for $30 and have 20, 28, 50, 85, 200 and 80-200 all for $75 or less each. All of them work on any of my F2's and the D200 with no loss of function. I'd say you can pick up a D200, a nice F2 and a bagful of lenses for well under $2k. Not chump change but it will keep you shooting for a long itme without having to buy anything else.

Rick H.

I doubt you will see enough difference in AF speed between the two to matter. I suspect the D200 will be slightly better but beyond that you will probably like the D200 much better.

Rick H.

I also shoot for a paper on a daily basis and have a D1H and X, a D2H and a D200. Honestly, I don't know why Nikon bothered with the D2H. It's a rocket ship but so what. The D200's 5fps isn't too shabby and it does nearly everything else better. It meters better, WB works better, focus may be a shade slower but not much, build quality is about the same. The D2h is decent enough but limited. The D200 replaces it very nicely for my applications and is where I would spend my money.

Rick H.

My MD-2 has been in the shop since November. The repair guy is looking for some

gears, I don't remember which ones since I'm not very familiar with the inner

workings. Does anyone have a good source on parts for this thing so I can

forward it to the shop? I'm about ready to just buy another motor drive but

want to get this one up and running if possible. Thanks.

Rick H.