jeffrey_kempster

Your saying that a P&S camera is better looking file than the D40. I would like to see those pictures for sure.

I'm with Larry. The D80 and D200 probably did not have batteries in them. I just bought a D40 and was shocked that the viewfinder was not dark. The D40 does NOT need a battery like the other two do.

This may start something, but the D50 and D40 are the same price range as your d70s. In fact the D40 with the lens is only 599. The newer 18-55 II lens is said to be better than the past. The D70s is a nice camera but it is older and has a smaller lcd screen. It has a few features that the other two don't but I doubt you would miss them much.

 

I would really take a look at the D40 or D50.

You move the focus point by using the 4 way controller. Put in in P mode, unlock the 4-way and then use the arrows to move the focus point around. It is pretty easy to bump.

Nikon Vibration Reduction (VR) Lenses

 

105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor

200mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor

300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor - REBATE!

24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor - REBATE!

18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor

70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor - REBATE!

80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR Zoom-Nikkor

200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor

 

And they are not any more expensive than any other brand.

Can you post some pictures???

It's my guess that you got a returned unit that someone upgraded the firmware on. It is easy to not follow the directions for upgrading the firmware. I really doubt this happened at nikon.

Well a D200 with no lens is useless, so the D80 with the 18-200VR. I have this lens and it is awesome. Now I also have some great other lenses 17-55 2.8, 70-200 2.8, 35 f2, 85 f1.8.

 

Now if you made me choose between a D80 and D200 then the D200 every time even though it costs more.

 

What lenses to you have.

For this to work on a D50.

 

- Put camera in Manual Mode.

- Choose a f-stop.

- Set this f-stop on the camera and the lens.

- Guess at the shutter speed :)

- Take a picture.

- Make sure you use the histogram on the D50

- Adjust the shutter speed until you get a correct exposure.

 

It is a total PITA, but it does work. The D200 and above can actually use older lens because it has the correct couplings.

I have a 35 AF f2 and a 85 AF f1.8. Great lenses. I only need a wide prime to complete my outfit. I find these two cover a lot except wide. I want the 20 AF 2.8 for wide unless nikon comes out with a digital prime (doubtful). It's just a little to expensive for me right now.

LENS LENS LENS

 

You will get much better results with a 28-70 than a new D80. Build up your lens collection first and then worry about the camera. One year from the now the D80 will have lost $400-$500 in value, but hte 28-70 will be worth almost the same amount.

 

Now with that said I have the 17-55 f2.8 and prefer it to a 28-70. It is really important if you have large wedding parties and not much space.

I was going to say the 17-55 but that is out of the price range. Some primes would be good if you could do without the zoom. You could get a 85 1.8, 35f2, 20 f2.8/24 f2.8 for $800 new.

 

I really like my 18-200 but really miss the low light when I am zoomed in.

I have the CB Junior and the D50/SB600 combo. I use the SC-28 cable. I am not sure what advantage the IR thing on the cord is but for me it was never an issue. I like the CB Junior over the press t because it put the bracket handle on the right side. The press-t puts it on the left. It impossible for me to get used to that. Plus the Custom Bracket is rock solid.

Hi,

 

I too think the D200 is not that sharp compared to my D50. But if you change the optimize image sharpness to +1 it looks much better. +2 is good also, but a bit too much for my taste. Just the change form 0 to +1 is quite dramatic difference.

I love my 35mm f2 AF lens. I also have a 50mm, but never felt good about the focal length. There is just something about the 35. I go out all the time with just this lens. I would never do this with my 50 at all.

Leonard,

 

The D70's onboard flash can not contribute to the lighting of the scene. It can only trigger the sb-800. This is one thing I think is so great about the d80 and d200. They can both trigger two seperate groups of flashes.

 

Jeff

From everything I read and tried with my D50, you don't get a lot of benefit from using a high end fast write card. Take a look at the tests at robgalbraith.com. A faster card will help when using with a card reader on the computer. I just bought two 4Gb SD cards form newegg.com and they work fine. I got them for $62. The brand is ridata.

Or shadow the lens with your hand. Or even better quit shooting into the sun.

Well your probably not going to like my answer, but I still feel like the camera takes second place to good lenses when taking pictures. I do not think it is ridiculous at all to compare the D50 to the D2X. Try a real good comparison taken with the same lens between your camera and your buddies D2X. The D2X will be slightly more detailed image but it is NOT going to be the difference between night and day. Try it and you will see.

 

I bought a new D200 back in December. I took it back, because I didn't consider the Image Quality to be much better. I had better things to spend my money on than $1800 on the camera. Don't get me wrong the D200 and D2x are awesome cameras and if you need 5-8 frames per second, weather sealed, lots of buttons, etc then get one. I would love to have a couple D200s, but I make do with my D50.

 

So what would I do. I would get better lenses first. The lens is a biggest part of image quality. I have a 70-200 2.8 VR, 17-55 2.8, 50mm 1.8, 35mm f2, 85mm f1.8 and an 18-200 VR. All of these lenses are awesome and work just fine on the D50. I am not one of those that think just because I have a expensive lens I should have an expensive camera. Again the lens is almost everything to me.

 

For the longest time I only had the 17-55 and 70-200. If you sell your other two lenses and add the money you would spend on a D200 I bet you can get both. Once you see the quality you will never look back.

 

And I know I already said this but really go compare the same lens with your D50 and D2X. Look at them at 100% in photoshop. They won't look that different. My D50 prints look awesome. I have printed up to 16x20. I'd bet the D2X would be a little better but nothing to write home about.

Also, The flash was an SB-600 on a Custom Brackets CB Junior frame. The 70-200 with VR is awesome. It was the first nikon lens I bought. It is very expensive, but there is really nothing like it. If you don't think you'll need VR then the Sigma 70-200 is real nice, so is the Nikon 80-200. VR is a life saver when you need it. You can't always take a monopod or tripod with you. I also have the 1.4x TC and use it with the 70-200 constantly. So much so that I probably need a 300mm lens instead.

Opps sorry for the late response. I used both the 17-55 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8 VR with a D50 and a D70. They both work fine. I actually like how the 17-55 looks and feels on the D50. Very nice lens.

Come on how much money are you going to spend if you did have to switch to SD memory. Newegg.com has 4Gb cards for around $65. So add that to the D80's price. Then give your old CF cards aways as gifts. :)

All these answers and not one person mentioned the fact that a new D80 will be announced in 10 days or so. I would at least wait unitl then to buy anything. It may lower the D50 price. You may be able to get a good deal on a discontinued D70s.

I had a 17-55 before I bought the D50. It was my main lens. I usually paired it with my 70-200. I got an 18-200 in December. Since then I have to admit my 18-200 has been on the camera more than the 17-55, but when shooting weddings I don't even hesitate to grab the 17-55. My real only problem I ever had with the 17-55 was its size. It really is no bad to carry around. But from about 24-26mm and down the lens blocks the onboard flash.

 

I know, I know use an external flash which I do have. But now this setup is much too large. I just like a small to carry kit sometimes. Get the 17-55 you will not regret it one bit. But honestly my 18-200 is very close to this lens. Oviously my 18-200 isn't real great at f2.8, but my 17-55 isn't real great at 200mm. :)

 

For the longest time I only had this lens and the 70-200. This setup would cover everything I need to do. But it is just too big sometimes. I have a 35mm and an 85mm when I want to be very light.

 

Almost all the wedding shot on my web site www.jeffkempster.com are done with the 17-55. Take a look.

I use a Custom Brackets CB Junior with a D50. Its awesome and very well built.

 

http://www.custombrackets.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=36