D200 Problem

[FDCPR]

This morning my D200 started changing the shutter speed after taking any photo, in manual mode. I set the shutter, take a shot and the next shot may be 1000x faster or even on the bulb setting slower. Just FYI this happens with any lens attached to the camera, I tried six different lenses and had the same results. I am sure this is a failure that needs to be addressed by Nikon, so I will send it back if it is repairable.

I had planned to hold out purchasing a new camera until after the introduction of the next series, possibly the D400. Having this failure means I need to purchase now, I think I want to stay with a DX body, but should this be the D300 or the D300s? They appear to me to be the same except for video, which I will never use. They also seem to be the same price at this time. Am I missing something comparing these two cameras? I have considered the D700, but 95% of the photos I take are wildlife so having the crop body gives me an advantage.

What should I purchase and is it worth sending the D200 in for service?

Thanks for the help!

[OsmosisStudios]

You can always get a quote from Nikon, see how much it'd be to repair. Remember, if you get the D200 repaired you can always use it as a second/backup body.

[FDCPR]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You can always get a quote from Nikon, see how much it'd be to repair. Remember, if you get the D200 repaired you can always use it as a second/backup body.

Good to know, I didn't realize they would quote me the repair prior to working on it. I am still stuck without a Nikon camera and don't know which to purchase. Normally I would send this in for repair and continue to wait for the next version from Nikon. But, dang it, I have been trying to shoot Ospreys for over a year and I am finally seeing eleven just about every day and now the camera breaks. I could order long glass for the Sigma SD14, but I would rather have a new Nikon body. The SD14 is more of a pain to use and only good for certain subjects, the only reason I have it is it was a gift.

300, 300s, or 700?

[Shokinen]

Good morning,

I would personnaly go for the D300 category over the D700. As you said, your doing mostly wildlife therefore a crop sensor is a plus for you. D700 will get you less noise with high ISO but can your glasses fit on a FF body without Vignetting ? I know you can set the D700 to simulate the crop sensor but defeats the purpose IMO. I think it's an expensive alternative solution.

As for the D300s...

- Video
- Support both CF and SDHC memory card simultaneously (You can actually do Raw + JPEG with a format on each card)
- 7fps instead of 6 / still 8 with the MB-D10 pack
- Built-in flash support 16mm lens instead of 18mm.

Only you can tell if it's worth the extra money.

Hope this help

[FDCPR]

Originally Posted by Shokinen

Good morning,

I would personnaly go for the D300 category over the D700. As you said, your doing mostly wildlife therefore a crop sensor is a plus for you. D700 will get you less noise with high ISO but can your glasses fit on a FF body without Vignetting ? I know you can set the D700 to simulate the crop sensor but defeats the purpose IMO. I think it's an expensive alternative solution.

As for the D300s...

- Video
- Support both CF and SDHC memory card simultaneously (You can actually do Raw + JPEG with a format on each card)
- 7fps instead of 6 / still 8 with the MB-D10 pack
- Built-in flash support 16mm lens instead of 18mm.

Only you can tell if it's worth the extra money.

Hope this help

Thanks for the help, the only reason I am considering the D700 is that I have some friends that keep telling me I need to go full frame. These guys are all professional wildlife photographers, I keep telling them I can't get close enough here to get the shots I want. Of course they keep telling me to stop being afraid of the leeches and get in the water more often. I think I will stay with FX, although I have got the D200 back in operation again.
I just spent an hour with Nikon Technical support and at the end they wanted me to send the camera in for service. I kept asking them to allow me to reset the camera to see what would happen as I thought it was doing bracketing. They had me change a lot of settings, that supposedly put everything in manual and it didn't help. Then I did a reset based upon their instructions that honestly did nothing, nothing as in did not perform a reset. After hanging up from them I did a reset on the camera using a different set of instructions and now it is not longer doing some kind of crazy bracketing. I think that I must have hit the wrong buttons in the dark this morning and really screwed it up. Either way it's back, but now I am leaning to buy a second body anyway.
You mentioned the price of the 300 vs the 300s, everywhere I look they are the same price so I guess it's a toss up on which to buy.

[weshoot]

I purchased two D300 cameras from BuyDig about a year and a half ago for around $1,500each. Call them or another outfit and haggle with them on the phone. You might be able to knock something off the earlier camera.

Gary Silverstein
Architectural Photography and Product Photography Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia Photographers, We Shoot

Automotive Images

[kirbinster]

I had the same weird thing happen with my D300. I had been bracketing and something went crazzy. A full reset fixed it and it has never done it again. The D300 has a CMOS sensor while your D200 has a CCD. The CMOS gives you much better higg ISO capabilities. I agree with your logic in staying with DX, and also agree that the 300s adds very little. If you really want the second body why not try to find a lightly used D300, I have seen some for just over $1,000 on the various photo forums.

[tailora]

id have to agree with the said above! go full frame. im still saving up the cash to buy my first full frame. i also use the d200, i hope it doenst start showing these symptoms.....

[FDCPR]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

I had the same weird thing happen with my D300. I had been bracketing and something went crazzy. A full reset fixed it and it has never done it again. The D300 has a CMOS sensor while your D200 has a CCD. The CMOS gives you much better higg ISO capabilities. I agree with your logic in staying with DX, and also agree that the 300s adds very little. If you really want the second body why not try to find a lightly used D300, I have seen some for just over $1,000 on the various photo forums.

Sorry you had the same experience, but then again I'm glad to hear the reset solved the problem. It was very strange as I was not bracketing, when I bracket I manually make the changes. I am hoping I did something to the camera in the darkness, but I don't think that is really the case. I can't believe that Nikon technical support couldn't get the reset procedure correct. Anyway it worked fine this afternoon.
I think you have the right idea and I'm going to look around for a used D300. I know they are better than the D200 but I was wanting to wait for the next version before upgrading.

Thanks everyone for the help and input.