Gonna get a D200, maybe I hope....

Mattel Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera

10/10/2006 12:30:05 AM · #1

So I have decided to upgrade my camera from my D50 to the D200!!I am still convincing myself but I am pretty sure its going to happen sometime in the not so distant future. :).
I had a couple questions about where to buy it online. Buydig.com has it on sale for 1499.00 with the MACK three year warranty for another $90. I am not sure what the mack warranty covers if someone can explain it that would be great. Buydig.com has a rating of 9.16 for the last six months and overall of around 8.36 or so on resellerratings.com. Does anyone have any experience with them they wish to share or other sites to look at for a good reliable deal.
B&H has it onsale for for 1699 and is very reliable I know and have used them before. but it is another 200 dollars... Any advice would be very appreciated.
I also am going to be looking to get a SB-600 or sb-800. I thought about the sb-800 since it can control future flash purchases but this was before I went bat-crazy and decided to upgrade cameras, and the d200 has the commander function. From what I have read on Kenrockwell's reviews it is not worth it to get the 800 and since I will still be starting without any real working knowledge of flashes I thought it would be better to start out with the 600. Any thoughts especially on Buydig and where to purchase would be greatly appreciated.
Joe

digitalknight

10/10/2006 12:40:39 AM · #2

the D200 has the same control functions for flashes that the SB800 does. One of my students needed help setting up his wireless flashes, and my jaw almost hit the ground when I saw the control it had.

I didn't get to play with it all, but it looked to me like everything you could do with the SB800 was built in.

I'm sure other D200 owners will chime in here.

10/10/2006 12:44:15 AM · #3

Yeah, I think I am going to go with the sb-600 for now if I get the D200. I think the sb-800 has another 2/3 stop of power or so but I don't see another reason to get it. Thanks.

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/10/2006 12:47:18 AM · #4

I have a 600 and I want the 800. If I were you I would get the 800 right off the bat. And why you are at it get a 600 as well to slave in commander mode, very cool!

ETA: The other reason is the strobe feature. The 600 does not have that ability.

Bugzeye

10/10/2006 12:49:41 AM · #5

I know the slogan belongs to Nike but thats close enough to Nikon,

Just Do It!!! you will not regret it. I made the same upgrade from the 50 to the 200.

Sorry can't help you with the online purchase help but I can assure you that you will love the 200 if you get one. One thing I can suggest is a battery grip.

ursula

Fujifilm X-T2

Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

10/10/2006 12:58:15 AM · #6

I am envious :(

I have been coveting a D200 now for months. One of these days .... And maybe a good 200mm lens some day .... (a person can dream, right?)

10/10/2006 01:00:39 AM · #7

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

If I buy the camera through buydig I could get the 800 for the same price as going through B&H.
Is the battery grip better for longer battery power? I have and extra battery already.
EDIT: Or is it the battery grip better for taking vertical shots?

Message edited by author 2006-10-10 01:01:48.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

10/10/2006 01:05:36 AM · #8

Yes the battery grip is the only way to go. You get the vertical shooting function and the increased battery life with the extra EN-EL3E. The D200 battery is the is not the same as I believe the D50 uses the 3A. The D200 can't use the 3A, as far as I know. You also get the option of using AA batteries with the grip.

Tim

Nikon D300

10/10/2006 01:09:13 AM · #9

the d200 flash might be able to do the commander thing but can it be used as a bounce flash??!! No, of course not. Quite handy to have a commander flash that isn't pointing straight at the subject.

10/10/2006 01:09:34 AM · #10

There is the D80. But the Magnesium body of the D200 plus the faster FPS rate are something to consider.

10/10/2006 01:25:53 AM · #11

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

Is the D200 battery able to work with the D50, but not the other way, meaning the the D50 battery won't work with the D200. The D50 battery is a EN-EL3 7.4V 1400Ah which I believe the same power output as the EN-EL3E. Does the battery grip come with an extra battery?

Originally posted by dr_timbo:

the d200 flash might be able to do the commander thing but can it be used as a bounce flash??!! No, of course not. Quite handy to have a commander flash that isn't pointing straight at the subject.

I think you can put the d200 in commander mode without firing the onboard flash and I want to be able to bounce flash. Its just amtter of deciding between the 600 or 800. Starting to thinkif I am going to spend all this money I might as well get the 800.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/10/2006 01:45:07 AM · #12

No the grip is just the grip battery extra. And I thought the 3A is obsolete in favor of the 3E that fits the D80 and D200. But I am not absolutely sure on that.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

10/10/2006 01:45:34 AM · #13

I've bought a couple of cameras from Buydig. Very reliable and good prices too.

10/10/2006 02:10:06 AM · #14

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

No the grip is just the grip battery extra. And I thought the 3A is obsolete in favor of the 3E that fits the D80 and D200. But I am not absolutely sure on that.

Your right

From a site seliing d200 battery
"The EN-EL3e is backwards compatible with the EN-EL3: you can put it in your D70 or D50. The reverse is not true."

Good to here that someone is happy with buydig. It has a really good rating from resellerratings.com too, but just wanted to here from some others before I spend all the cash.

Another random question, why no infrared transmitter for the D200? the d50 to D80 have one available for like $17. It was great for bulb shots SP's and macros.
So current order is looking something like this...
D200
sb-800 EDIT:Think I am going to go with the 600 for now...
3 yr mack warranty
batery grip
extra battery
Not convinced on a battery grip though, does it just help balance the weight for vertical shots?
Can't I just keep the extra battery charged and change it when it needs it?

Message edited by author 2006-10-10 06:50:23.

10/10/2006 02:17:10 AM · #15

Originally posted by jdannels:

Not convinced on a battery grip though, does it just help balance the weight for vertical shots?
Can't I just keep the extra battery charged and change it when it needs it?

Well I have big hands and the grip gives me more real estate. The vertical controls and the extra life, without having to stop and change the battery, to me makes it worth it. Not to mention the coolness factor ... LOL

10/10/2006 02:48:20 AM · #16

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

Left it tilted to bug Eug ... LOL!

ROFL.
Thanks for the advice on the grip, I'll go down to a store tommorrow and hold one to see if I want it. I found it on amazon for $157 and that is the cheapest price I have found, so I could order that seperately.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/10/2006 06:59:05 AM · #17

One more question before I am off to bed. With the commander mode does the on-camera flash have to fire to signal the speedlite flash? meaning if I want to have sb 600 be the sole light source is this possible? Thanks everyone for your help, I think I will be buying my D200 some time tommorrow! And flash stuff on B&H sometime later this week which doesn't matter too much since they are closed for shipping until friday or monday...

wsteyn

Nikon D7000

10/10/2006 07:43:55 AM · #18

Originally posted by ursula:

I am envious :(

I have been coveting a D200 now for months. One of these days .... And maybe a good 200mm lens some day .... (a person can dream, right?)

It seems we have our eyes on the same thing, Ursula. I really want the D200 and I've been looking at the 180mm f2.8 - yummy!

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

10/10/2006 08:43:44 AM · #19

personally I am not sure if that works with the 600 but I am pretty sure it does with the 800 and will work with the 600 as a secondary unit as long as you have a 800 as the master. This is going by something I read about a year ago so I could be a little or very wrong.

Originally posted by jdannels:

atupdate

Pentax K-R

Promaster 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR IF

10/10/2006 09:00:40 AM · #20

Bought my camera at Buydig and had no problems. Package arrived in 3 business days without any special shipping.

ShaneBlake

Nikon D7100

10/10/2006 09:26:16 AM · #21

Originally posted by jdannels:

this is actually the way it works. the on board flash will fire a strobe to signal the 600 when to flash, but won't actually fire when the shutter's open.

i have heard that the preflashes can effect the light in the shot, but i've not seen it.

as to which to get, if you have no flash now, get the 600... when you know how to use the 600, get an 800... it's the way i did it, and i'm glad i did...

TonyT

Fujifilm X-T5