D80 v D200 - help

[Hair Bear]

Apologies 1st thread is such a large question but...

I went in today to see if Jessops had a D80 in stock, they do and at good money.

I was going to get John Lewis to price match them (it has to be in stock to do this) £542 inc vat body only

Whilst in there I noticed the D200 and asked if I could hold it.

Bugger, its a lot nicer in the hand but £860 inc vat

It feels like a proper camera and a lot like my current SLR nikons.

I always thought the D80 to be a little small for my liking but thats the first time I have held the 200.

Bottom line I can't afford either but should I push the boat out and get the 200? They say its better and more robust and I do tend to use em and throw them around a bit so maybe the magnisium body will be better?

help? suggestions?

[AZ4Runner]

I think you've answered your own question there . . . wait till you can afford the D200.

The D200 has several features that you won't find on the D80: magnesium body, weather seals, dynamic metering, CF cards (instead of the SD in the D80).

Personally, I'm a D200 guy. The camera fit in my hands better. And I didn't feel like I was going to break it. Does the D200 have features I'll probably never use? Yeah, probably does, but who knows. The experts used to think that the world would only need 5 computers too.

[photobyfelix]

Hi Hair Bear:

I am a D200 owner (only 3 months) and I am still excited when I pick it up. the controls seem to be in the right place and the versatility initially made my head swim, but as I work with it more and more (I try to take photos every day now) I am getting use to it. And it is rugged - although I haven't had the guts to treat mine with anything less than total respect. But in a week I will be wandering around southern China for two weeks and the D200 will be my travel companion.

My current inventory of lens include the 50mm f1.4 Nikon, the 28mm f2.8 and the 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 zoom. I am particularly pleased with the 18-200 lens for its versatility. It just "fits" nice with the camera body - good balance I think.

You will not regret buying this beauty. Good luck.

[Hueber]

i think you should always get the best you can afford (or not afford!). Saying that "best" is a subjective term, I just bought a Nikon 18-200 VR & tomorrow I am taking it back & getting an 18-135 at less than half the cost, I don't know if I just got a bad sample but I think the lens is crap,the images were extremely soft, worse then some cheap after market brand. You also need to be honest with yourself & ask if you need the features you are paying for, that is why I bought a D50 instead of a D70s. I couldn't see the value in the extra $400 (australian). I figured it was better to put the money into extra lenses. ( I think I just contradicted myself!)