Any D200 Users in this Forum?

[robsb]

Are there any D200 users here? I have had mine for about a year. Previous to that, I owned an F3HP witha motor drive.

[Scik]

I also have a D200... I love it although I need some help with getting the focus working right. It seems that sometimes, I cannot get the camera to focus on what I want ... I just was looking at some pictures and took a picture of a friend of mine standing by a frozen river, and for some reason, his shoes are in focus perfectly, but his face is not. I don't know what im doing wrong.

[granite canyon]

getting a d200 for Christmas!
what lenses do you have? I am thinking the 70-200 as I have heard nothing but good things except for the price. What lens would you get to cover the wide angle side if I did get the 70-200?
Sorry I can't help much on the experienced side as I am just getting started! Thanks for any help you may give!
GC

[Griffin2020]

Another D200 user here. I have only had it a short time, but asolutely love it so far.

Scik- check the focus settings. Make sure that the focus selector is highlighting the point of the subject that you want to be in forcus. You can also adjust the dynamic autofocus (the four position switch under the mulit-selector on the back-right of the camera) Set it to the bottom setting (a bracket with a single small box in it), then, with the shutter release pressed half-way use the multi-selector to highlight the box that you want in forcus.

[banbro]

D200 owner here as well.... I have only had this camera for about 2 months but have run about 3,000 actuations through it. Prior to this I shot a Nikon 5700 coolpix and although I was very happy with the quality of pictures it took it just didn't have the versatility I was looking for.

There were 3 primary reasons I decided now was the time to go DSLR:
1. My son just got on the gymnastics team and meets began this fall... I wanted a camera with a choice of lenses that I could rely on for sports photography with no flash and fast movement.
2. My daughter is in ballet and recitals are always a challenge to get decent photos with out a flash and she is dancing in a Nutcracker performance this month so I wanted to be able to capture those shots.
3. My brother in law is getting married Dec. 30th and had seen the shots I had taken with my 5700 and begged me to shoot his wedding so I agreed knowing that I would need to upgrade cameras for the versatility wedding portraits would demand.

Scik - I agree with Griffin2020, check those areas of your focus and I would bet you will see an improvement in your shots. I have noticed that when I am doing a lot of fast action shots and changing between portrait and landscape I will occassionaly change the focus selection unintentionaly... it can really destroy a shot.

granite canyon - I have the 70-200 and I have no complaints as of yet. I got it for the 2.8 aperature because of the low light shots I wanted to take and for the speed when using it for sports photography. It is not a cheap lens by any means but I doubt you would be disapointed in it. I have been shooting it mostly in S mode unless I am outside in the sunshine. Don't forget to at lease get a good 77mm UV filter for it. For the wide angle side of things I got the 18-200 3.5-5.6 and as with the 70-200 I cannot say a negative thing about the quality and speed of this lens. My only complaint is that the focus and zoom rings on these lenses are reversed to eachother... once you get used to the feel of one lens and then switch you have to remember that focus and zoom have changed positions.

Glad to see there are other D200 users here, I am looking forward to swapping information and getting to know this camera better and improve shot quality.

Thanks...

Brock

[Selected Pixels]

Hi Nikon Users!

I got my D200 about a month ago. I also have a D70. I love them both. I am a "serious" amateur. I am reading contrantly, learning so much everyday. I just wish I had time to get out and shoot more.

My lenses are:

Nikkor 50mm/1.8
Nikkor 18-70mm
Nikkor 70-300mm
Tamron 90mm/2.8 Macro

I also have an SB800 speedlight.

Nice to meet you all.

[robsb]

I also have a D200... I love it although I need some help with getting the focus working right. It seems that sometimes, I cannot get the camera to focus on what I want ... I just was looking at some pictures and took a picture of a friend of mine standing by a frozen river, and for some reason, his shoes are in focus perfectly, but his face is not. I don't know what im doing wrong.

What lens are you using and what aperture? Is your subject very small compared to the overall picture?

[robsb]

getting a d200 for Christmas!
what lenses do you have? I am thinking the 70-200 as I have heard nothing but good things except for the price. What lens would you get to cover the wide angle side if I did get the 70-200?
Sorry I can't help much on the experienced side as I am just getting started! Thanks for any help you may give!
GC

It really depends on what type of pictures you are taking and your budget. For almost a year I shot with manual focus glass that was early '70's to '80's vintage, and when I finally purchased new lenses I first looked to replace my zooms not primes. I replaced an 80-200 f/4 manual zoom with the 70-200 f/2.8 VR. It is largr and heavier than the 80 -200, but is an outstanding lens - but it costs an arm and leg. I also bought a 12-24 MM f/4 DX lens because with the D200, my only wide lenses were not wide enough - both manual an f.28 24 mm and a 35-105 manual zoom f/3.5 to 5.6 , so I covered the range that was missing. I love both lenses especially since they are both AF-s lenses.

[SueB]

I just upgraded from a D70 about month and a half ago and I am enjoying learning the new ins and outs. I just got a 70-300VR and I'm playing with that at the moment. New lense, new camera...it's constant practice and reading!lol...
I am a serious amateur photographer and have been for quite some time. I've been using digital for about 6-7 years and started with a Toshiba PDR-M4 which seems like decades ago.

[AZ4Runner]

I've been a D200 user since late April. I was on the wait list for almost 6 months before my ship finally came landed. Funny thing was I had all the accessories (extra battery, vertical grip) and even the 18-200 mm lens before the camera. This is my first digital SLR after getting bit by the bug last fall. I rarely go anywhere without my D200 in tow.

I'm shooting with the 18-200 mm 3.5-5.6, and the 50mm 1.8. I'm drooling for the 70-200 mm 2.8 since I prefer shooting volleyball and the gym we usually play in has some pretty henious lighting. The 50mm looks great, the 18-200 looks like I'm shooting in a cave.

[robsb]

I just upgraded from a D70 about month and a half ago and I am enjoying learning the new ins and outs. I just got a 70-300VR and I'm playing with that at the moment. New lense, new camera...it's constant practice and reading!lol...
I am a serious amateur photographer and have been for quite some time. I've been using digital for about 6-7 years and started with a Toshiba PDR-M4 which seems like decades ago.

I guess I have shot digital since early 2001 starting with a Nikon Coolpix 950. Prior to that, it was all film mostly with Nikon SLR's starting in the early '60's to the '90's, my final film camera was an F3 HP, I still have most of the lenses I used with it. Before that it was rangefinders, and box cameras.

I think your photos's are excellent! You have a wonderful eye.

A small selection of my pictures taken with the following cameras Coolpix 950 [2 mp], Olympus SP 500 UZ [6 mp], D200 [11 mp] can be seen here. I have pictures on Flickr, but they are not visible.


http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/gallery/785892

[robsb]

I've been a D200 user since late April. I was on the wait list for almost 6 months before my ship finally came landed. Funny thing was I had all the accessories (extra battery, vertical grip) and even the 18-200 mm lens before the camera. This is my first digital SLR after getting bit by the bug last fall. I rarely go anywhere without my D200 in tow.

I'm shooting with the 18-200 mm 3.5-5.6, and the 50mm 1.8. I'm drooling for the 70-200 mm 2.8 since I prefer shooting volleyball and the gym we usually play in has some pretty henious lighting. The 50mm looks great, the 18-200 looks like I'm shooting in a cave.

Remember, you only gain about 2 stops on the 200 mm end. You should shoot with a higher ISO and also put a more powerful flash on top like an SB800 to reach further. I am sure your pictures will be better.:cool:

[robsb]

Hi Nikon Users!

I got my D200 about a month ago. I also have a D70. I love them both. I am a "serious" amateur. I am reading contrantly, learning so much everyday. I just wish I had time to get out and shoot more.

My lenses are:

Nikkor 50mm/1.8
Nikkor 18-70mm
Nikkor 70-300mm
Tamron 90mm/2.8 Macro

I also have an SB800 speedlight.

Nice to meet you all.

You have a nice range of lenses:o

[photobyfelix]

Hi everyone, I am about to own a D-200 as well, and can't wait to get started although I've never had such an array of controls before on one camera. Can you, or someone comment furether on -

"the 18-200 looks like I'm shooting in a cave" comment? mentioned by AZ4Runner

I am about to buy this nikon lens. The reviews I have read have been great so far.


Thanks

[AZ4Runner]

"the 18-200 looks like I'm shooting in a cave" comment? mentioned by AZ4Runner

I am about to buy this nikon lens. The reviews I have read have been great so far.


Felix,

The lens is great. The gym we play in is pretty dark (I never realized how dark it was till I shot in there). The reason it looks like I'm shooting in a cave is due to the high shutter speeds I need to stop the action combined with smaller apertures. At the 200mm focal length the biggest aperture I can use is 5.6. When I bump the ISO up, its marginally better but is so grainy its not hardly worth it.

[photobyfelix]

I'm shooting with the 18-200 mm 3.5-5.6, and the 50mm 1.8. I'm drooling for the 70-200 mm 2.8 since I prefer shooting volleyball and the gym we usually play in has some pretty henious lighting. The 50mm looks great, the 18-200 looks like I'm shooting in a cave.


Please explain more about "shooting in a cave" as I am shopping for the same lens at the moment. Thanks

[AZ4Runner]

Remember, you only gain about 2 stops on the 200 mm end. You should shoot with a higher ISO and also put a more powerful flash on top like an SB800 to reach further. I am sure your pictures will be better.:cool:


2 stops is still 4x the light though and it makes a big difference. For the images I've captured in this gym, they're all set to 1600 ISO. I don't shoot with a flash due to the performance of the D200 flash (haven't gotten a SB800 yet) and the fact that I don't want to interfere with play. Ideally, I'd be able to put some strobes on the ceiling, but that's out of my budget and not necessary for league play as it is.

[robsb]

You make very valid points - I guess that is why I sprung for the 70-200 f/2.8 VR. I already had a consttant f/4 with my manual 80 - 200 MM and wanted that extra stop with no variances in the range. The SB800 puts out a lot more light and is very easy to use with the D200.:)

[JimP]

Hi everyone. Just joined your ranks today.

I am a D200 owner with the battery pack. Excellent choice. I too, when I first started using this camera had problems with focus. Getting the hang - I hope - now. I recently went out and purchased the Nikon Speedlight SB 600. Needed that for some of the shots I was taking.

I have had the camera for a few months, saved for it for a couple of years. I have to say, I am enjoying this new camera.

Happy New Year to everyone.

[robsb]

Hi everyone. Just joined your ranks today.

I am a D200 owner with the battery pack. Excellent choice. I too, when I first started using this camera had problems with focus. Getting the hang - I hope - now. I recently went out and purchased the Nikon Speedlight SB 600. Needed that for some of the shots I was taking.

I have had the camera for a few months, saved for it for a couple of years. I have to say, I am enjoying this new camera.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Welcome and Happy New Year! What lenses are you using with your D200? What was your problem with focusing?

[jnorth]

I have a D200 as well. :)

[HAL]

I waited 6 months for my D200 & it was worth the wait. I previously had a D 100. The D200 has more menu options & I too had some focus problems. My suggestion is get a D200 book-Magic Lantern guides is a good one & it can walk you through some of the steps.