DSLRs: new Nikon D80 vs. used D200

[thetimanator]

I have gotten tired of the noise of my D50 and I think it's about time to upgrade. On top of that, I have someone that wants to buy my D50. I know a lot of you are Canon guys but maybe someone can shed some light.

I have read reviews on both and as far as I can tell the D80 is just a D200 in a plastic body minus some features and a slower processor. The price is virtually the same as I will be buying the body only and the D200 would be used.

Has anybody used either of these cameras? or maybe both? I would be kind of nervous purchasing a used camera, especially over ebay.

[Mike]

Depends. All thngs equal, i would go for the d200.

What kind of mileage does it have on it?

[thetimanator]

one of them had 1810 actuations and is less than 1 year old and the other one had 5000 actuations and I'm unsure of the age. Both of them are in near mint condition.

[Bob-E]

one of them had 1810 actuations and is less than 1 year old and the other one had 5000 actuations and I'm unsure of the age. Both of them are in near mint condition.


I would never buy a camera from ebay. If I buy used, I buy from B&H or Adorama or from my camera forum from veteran posters. Want less noise? Get a Canon:-p

[bowlcut]

yea id never buy from ebay. if you want used cameras, look at fred miranda forums, thats bout the best place for them.

as for between the two, you have to answer that for yourself on what options you want. one is a little more of a pro body than the other. and things come with that. heft is one of them that makes it easier to shoot off hand. so consider that into the equation

[thetimanator]

thanks for the suggestions guys..other than the canon one :-p ha. Anyway, after much reading I'd like to get the D200 although but I think I will be fine with the D80. A used d200 from a reputable place is a little more than I want to spend so maybe I'll just go with a new d80.

[Moody]

thanks for the suggestions guys..other than the canon one :-p ha. Anyway, after much reading I'd like to get the D200 although but I think I will be fine with the D80. A used d200 from a reputable place is a little more than I want to spend so maybe I'll just go with a new d80.

Trust me - NEVER settle - it'll cost you money in the end. I'm not saying to go out and buy the biggest/baddest thing, but settling for a New D80 vs. a good-condition D200 is like saying, "I can get a new Civic, or a nice 1-year-old Infiniti/Lexus". The D80 is a great camera, but you'll outgrow it.

[josh99ta]

From a D80 owner, go with the D200 if its only a little extra. I love my D80 but wish I had a little more camera at times. If you save on the D80 you'll spend more in glass making up for it (which isn't a bad idea, but you end up spending the same now with less room to grow in the end).

[JohnC]

:nerd:

The D200 has a little faster AF, 2fps more, and it is a sealed pro-body. It'll be a better camera for the long term and for sports, but it won't make images better than a D80. They're basically equal in that respect.

They both give the same image quality. You pay extra for minute convenience features a few people find helpful, and the durability and speed in the D200.

The D80 has the D200's 10 MP image sensor, the look, quality and color of the D200's images, the D200's huge viewfinder and the D200's almost three-dimensional 2.5" LCD.

(OK, it's the Sony ICX493AQA sensor, which is a two-channel version of the four-channel Sony ICX483AQA used in the D200. The difference is one has more pins so it can read out data quickly enough for the D200's 5FPS, otherwise it's the same data and image quality.)

The difference is mechanics: the D200 is solid, heavy and mostly metal while the D80 is plastic. The D200 is a solid tool while the D80 is a very high quality toy.

They have the same color rendition. They also have the same resolution and noise performance.

Get the D80 if you have any concerns about cost, size or weight. Spend your limited funds on a great lens and don't waste it on a fancy body. Lenses last for years while digital SLRs go obsolete every 12 - 18 months. Lenses stay current for 5 - 10 years and Nikon warrants them for 5 years in the USA, while bodies only have a year warranty.

D80 3fps and D200 is 5fps....

Quoting Ken Rockwell

If you don't need a sealed body and 2fps more, and the few extra features, get the D80 and take the money you saved and buy pro-glass.

You do know the D300 (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25432) is out now, right?

And if you hit the lotto, just get a D3 (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25434) with some new full frame pro-glass like the 14-24 F/2.8 (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2163) and the 24-70 F/2.8 (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2164). :lol:

[Bob-E]

The D300 is baller get that or....get Canon

[josh99ta]

I really took some time and played with a friend of mine's 30D the other day and I just dont like how it felt in my hands nor the backwards controls. I think I'm just a Nikon guy even though I love the high ISO noise (or lack thereof) performance of the Canon stuff. :( I'll probably be getting a D300 in another year or so.

[JohnC]

I really took some time and played with a friend of mine's 30D the other day and I just dont like how it felt in my hands nor the backwards controls. I think I'm just a Nikon guy even though I love the high ISO noise (or lack thereof) performance of the Canon stuff. :( I'll probably be getting a D300 in another year or so.

That’s the same reason I passed on Canon. It just wasn't as comfy and the functions seem hidden and cluttered to me. Their image quality and noise performance rocks, though.

The D300 and D3 perform awesome in the noise department. But having the choice to dump my D80 for a D300 or buying some new pro-glass - I'll take the glass. I don't need low light high ISO performance, faster better AF, etc., at this time, but I lack good lenses.

I've seen amazing images from D40's, D50's, D70's, and the only difference from crappy pictures I’ve seen from these cameras was pro-glass and a photographer who knows how to use his camera.

Check this photo out (see the full size) taken with a Nikon D50 and Sigma 10-20mm. It doesn’t have EXIF (the specs are listed to the lower right), but the other pictures he has do and most read D50 and sigma 10-20mm and D80.

http://flickr.com/photos/philaitman/1809406051/in/set-72157603235873882/

So yeah, no point in me stepping up my camera until I fill my bag with more lenses. ;)

[thetimanator]

I think I made up my mind. I'm going to go with the D200. The D300 would be nice but that won't leave me with any money left and I still have some christmas shopping to do. I wished I never would have read the reviews of the D300 :stare2: WOW

Unforunately I do need low light high iso performance but the d200 will be a big step up in that department vs. the d50 I had.

Thanks for everyones advice.