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12/10/2007 05:11:59 AM · #1 |
Has anyone had a chance to actually try both and get a good idea of the pros and cons of both? Due to circumstances with my D80 I may have the opportunity to upgrade. Just wondering if upgrading to a D200 is better, since all the kinks have been worked out while the D300 is still newish. Opinions?
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12/10/2007 05:14:13 AM · #2 |
| I have a D200 and can't wait to get my hands on the D300. Either way, each camera is a great move forward from the D80 |
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12/10/2007 05:29:57 AM · #3 |
| While I don't have both. I ran into this guy who had a D300 in the San Francisco. He said he had got it a few days earlier and had upgraded from a D200. He had planned on using his D200 as his back up camera. But said after using the D300 for a couple days the ISO was so much cleaner and the WB modification was so much more precise that he said he didn't think he would use his D200 anymore. He then told me how you can change the individual color white balance, for example, just the greens. Then flashed me the back of his LCD and showed something that looks like a huge color palette that you can use to precisely set your white balance. He said he would probably sell his D200. Only person I have seen so far with one. |
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12/10/2007 07:12:39 AM · #4 |
I don't have a D200, but I do have a D300 and can attest to the superior quality concerning ISO/WB and overall color management in general.
I was upgrading from a D70s so I am seeing some enormous benefits.
eg, here's a shot at ISO1600 I did as a test the other evening.
I've noticed I seem to get the exposure a lot better in camera with the D300 than previously. Often with the D70 I found that adjustments were needed when converting from Raw, even though the histogram looked OK in the camera. I have made hardly any exposure adjustments on images from the D300. I normally shoot aperture priority, so D300 seems to handle this stuff better.
One additional thing, the file sizes are HUGE on the D300. Shooting Raw + basic JPEG yields only about 180 images on a 4gb card!
Sorry, this didn't actually answer your original post (as I don't have and haven't used a D200), but I hope was someway helpful.
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12/10/2007 07:25:57 AM · #5 |
I own both of these cameras and have accepted delivery too. They are both remarkable technology, but in different ways. The light meter and display systems on the D300 seem to be superior while the images on the D3 are definitely better, as one might suspect.
Here are results from an example that I posted elsewhere yesterday regarding a comparison shoot with the Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 ultra wide angle lens.
D3
D300
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12/10/2007 08:18:28 AM · #6 |
Can anyone do a shot from a D200 and a D300 with the same lens and composition? If possible that is...
I'm leaning more towards the D200 because of price (My wife controls our cash flow...and it doesn't flow well when I have my mind set on new stuff)
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12/10/2007 12:21:29 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by jdannels:
He then told me how you can change the individual color white balance, for example, just the greens. Then flashed me the back of his LCD and showed something that looks like a huge color palette that you can use to precisely set your white balance. He said he would probably sell his D200. Only person I have seen so far with one. |
Meh, I have that feature on my K10D and never use it... how can you make such precision adjustments off a small LCD? Sure the D300s screen is huge, but how accurate is it? |
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12/10/2007 12:57:28 PM · #8 |
I purchased the D300 and have a D200.
My main reason was better low light images as I shoot a lot of theatre. I did just calibrate all my lenses though and I thought that was a pretty cool feature. I have not played with the AF system in terms of focus tracking yet so can't report on that. Live view? I don't think I'll be using it much.
One think I noticed though, and it's a negative for theatre - the mirror slap is louder.
From what I'm seeing right now, and I've really only shot in studio so far, the D100 to D200 was a bigger upgrade than the D200 to D300. |
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12/10/2007 01:23:12 PM · #9 |
Just considering you would be coming from a D80, the D200 has basically the same imaging, so expect the same IQ. You would get a sturdier, water-resistant, metal body (which is bigger and heavier), easier access to settings, MLU, 10-pin remote rather than IR, and ability to meter with older AI/AIS lenses. It also has more accurate metering. What of that is worth it to you?
Going to the D300 instead and you would get much better AF and high ISO operation (but I've seen it said that at low ISOs, the D200 might be better!). Bigger viewfinder (100%). LCD with VGA resolution and Liveview. Longer battery life. 20% more pixels (might be good or might be bad). Lack of RAW support because it is a new camera, but a free copy of Capture NX.
I've got a D200 already and for me (mainly landscape shooter) the D300 isn't an attractive option for the roughly $800 net additional cost. But if I shot indoor sports or other low-light and/or action subjects I'd certainly go for the D300.
Message edited by author 2007-12-10 13:25:01. |
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12/10/2007 01:27:28 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by talmy:
Lack of RAW support because it is a new camera, but a free copy of Capture NX.
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Actually, that statement is not 100% true. Adobe products(Elements, Bridge, Lightroom and CS3) and Nikon Capture (I would hope so!) all support the new Raw format. Apple products (Aperture, Leopard, iPhoto etc) do not yet. I'm sure this is right around the corner!! (Somewhat annoying though)
ETA. Know idea about non-Mac/non-Adobe products.
Message edited by author 2007-12-10 13:28:33. |
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12/10/2007 01:37:01 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by salmiakki:
I don't have a D200, but I do have a D300 and can attest to the superior quality concerning ISO/WB and overall color management in general.
I was upgrading from a D70s so I am seeing some enormous benefits.
eg, here's a shot at ISO1600 I did as a test the other evening.
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Any chance you can upload a 100% crop to get a better iea of noise in this shot? It would be helpful. Thanks. |
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12/15/2007 02:52:16 AM · #12 |
I got a D3 tonight and played with the high ISO's in my dark house.     |
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12/15/2007 03:16:48 AM · #13 |
| holy crap, the quality at ISO 5000!!! I guess it's time to refinance my house? :) |
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