D80 vs D200 - The Photo Forum

BuZzZeRkEr · 03-26-2008, 11:46 AM

Why would Nikon make the D200 and up models with compact flash instead of SD cards?! AAHHHH!!!!

I was going to purchase a D200 with my D40x as a backup body, but I can't believe Nikon doesn't have a standard for compact flash or SD cards.

So I was thinking of just going with the D80 since it uses SD cards as does the D40x.

Unless of corse the D200 is leaps and bounds over the D80....what do you think?

kundalini · 03-26-2008, 11:57 AM

Why would the memory card format make that much of a difference when purchasing a camera body? The cost of a CF card is about 0.025% of the cost of the D200.

Mav · 03-26-2008, 12:03 PM

Yeah CF cards are cheap...

If you're truly being serious about photography and especially if you're doing a wedding or other event with once in a lifetime shots that you can't miss, you really do need the D200. It's a serious tool whereas the D80 (I have one) is more an expensive toy. I find my D80 only marginally more useful than my D40 is, and most of that extra usefulness comes from the added lens compatibility. From the D40 to the D80 are all amateur level cameras in terms of capability - the D80 just has more bells and whistles is all. Some are marginally helpful, but others can actually get in your way.

If you're "truly" being serious just get the D200 and buy a CF card at Costco. 4GB for like $30, geez.

If you just want a secondary camera for more versability, I'd actually get a cheap ol D40. In a lot of ways it's arguably better than the D80 is for a lot less money.

Easy_Target · 03-26-2008, 02:20 PM

If I remember correctly, CF cards had a higher data throughput, so you could read/write from the card onto the camera faster, but SD cards have caught up so it's not that much of an issue anymore.

Socrates · 03-26-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BuZzZeRkEr

Why would Nikon make the D200 and up models with compact flash instead of SD cards?! AAHHHH!!!!

I was going to purchase a D200 with my D40x as a backup body, but I can't believe Nikon doesn't have a standard for compact flash or SD cards.

So I was thinking of just going with the D80 since it uses SD cards as does the D40x.

Unless of corse the D200 is leaps and bounds over the D80....what do you think?

The cards are inter-changeable but you need to carry a hammer in your camera bag.

Garbz · 03-26-2008, 10:01 PM

CF used to have an advantage in speed. It is the de facto standard for DSLRs. SD cards have a big size advantage. The Nikon D40x is a tiny camera. I think you can see where I am going with this...

SpeedTrap · 03-26-2008, 11:19 PM

As well CF Cards can take way more abuse than SD Cards can.
Go into any camera store and ask them how many broken SD cards they see vs. CF

JerryPH · 03-27-2008, 03:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by kundalini

Why would the memory card format make that much of a difference when purchasing a camera body?

Thats the very first question that popped into my head as well. While both are good cameras, the D200 is less automated and to get good pictures out of it you'd had better know what you are doing.

I went through this very dilemma last June, and bought the D200. Best move in my life. It forced me to learn more about photography in a shorter time than any other camera before that.

BYoung · 03-27-2008, 05:37 AM

All brands really do this though. The Canon XTi uses CF, the new XSi uses SD. I'm with you in thinking them changing formats is silly, but hey I'm a noob.

Mav · 03-27-2008, 05:43 AM

A lot of upgrading point and shooters will all have SD cards. If the entry level DSLR cameras have SD also, that's one additional way to get people to upgrade. No need to re-purchase a different type of memory card. That's really all it is I think.

Mike_E · 03-27-2008, 05:48 AM

At this point Speedtrap is right. CF cards have metal cases and SD cards are plastic.

JerryPH · 03-27-2008, 06:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by BuZzZeRkEr

Unless of corse the D200 is leaps and bounds over the D80....what do you think?

I think the D200 is leaps and bounds better than a D80... but anyone that buys a new D200 over a D300 is really not on the ball. Thats just something that I thought I would toss in.

If you have a D200 already, its not enough to justify an upgrade to a D300 (speaking for myself, only, of course)... but if you have a D40, the D300 is huge jump and there should be no reason to take the D200 over the D300, unless you are just a pro looking for a second body or can't afford the couple hundred dollars more for the latest and greatest (at this point, if you can afford a new D200, you SHOULD be looking at a new D300!). It all depends on how seriously you want to take your photography.

Stranger · 03-27-2008, 06:38 AM

between the i went with the D200..

Noise levels will be dfferent but that is a con that i outweighed with all the pluses

JerryPH · 03-27-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Stranger

between the i went with the D200..

Noise levels will be dfferent but that is a con that i outweighed with all the pluses

Noise levels on the D200 are acceptable up to ISO 800, and if pushed above that can be addressed down to the excellent levels with appropriate software like noise ninja, neatimage, noiseimage, etc...

The D200 is more challenging to get under control than a D80 for a novice, as well.

An example would be this pic I took in a poorly lit indoor ice rink at ISO 2500.

Eastw77 · 03-28-2008, 05:28 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JerryPH

If you have a D200 already, its not enough to justify an upgrade to a D300 (speaking for myself, only, of course)... but if you have a D40, the D300 is huge jump and there should be no reason to take the D200 over the D300, unless you are just a pro looking for a second body or can't afford the couple hundred dollars more for the latest and greatest (at this point, if you can afford a new D200, you SHOULD be looking at a new D300!). It all depends on how seriously you want to take your photography.

Not sure about the states but over here a new D80 would set you back £500($1000) and a new D200 is about £650 That's only £150 more. However the D300 is about £1000, thats' £500 more than a D80!! A big difference, seems to me that the D200 would be more of a option to alot of people who want more than the D80 can offer.

JerryPH · 03-28-2008, 07:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Eastw77

However the D300 is about £1000, thats' £500 more than a D80!! A big difference, seems to me that the D200 would be more of a option to alot of people who want more than the D80 can offer.

It is easily worth that upgrade cost over a D80. It is that much better of a camera... if you can take advantage of the things that the D300 offers.

Another recent little tidbit I learned about the D300... did you know that the write speed of the D200 is about 9mb/second and that the D300's is a little over 25mb/sec? am not talking the transfer speed of the USB interface to dump files, but the actual write speed of the camera from it's internal processor to the internal buffer and to the CF card.

It makes a major difference when you want to take more pics in a shorter time. That is not the main point, though. It means that the entire camera internals have to be able to move that much faster to support that speed increase effectively.

Mav · 03-28-2008, 10:53 AM

Current US prices from B&H

D80: $730
D200: $1300
D300: $1800

Dunno. If you're not partial to needing the high ISO performance of the D300 which actually has more noise at mid-ISOs than the D200 does and just need a solid tool to work with that's more serious than the D80, I'd say the D200 is still a pretty smart choice. You still get the more rugged build. You still get the weather sealing. You still get the ability to meter with older AI and AI-S lenses. You still get the shooting banks, direct access buttons, bigger finder, and superior fast control abilities than the D200 gives you. At $1300 new or $1000 or less used (US) they're as cheap and as new as they're going to get.

JerryPH · 03-28-2008, 11:12 AM

When the D300 came out, suddenly every D200 on the planet started taking crappy pictures. Strange. There is a conspiracy out there, I say!

For that $500 more, you do get a better camera, thats true. Speaking for me only, if I was in that market today, I would get the D300 over the D200, if purchasing new. If I needed a D200, I would definately not purchase a new D200, but a relatively low shutter D200 instead and save at least $400-$900 putting some of those savings into some high quality glass and use that for a year until the D400 comes out in about that time.

By the time The D400 comes out, I will be ready for an upgrade... it could be to a D3 or a D3X or a D4, whatever... or it could be to a D400. If I don't think that the D400 is improved enough to challenge me by then, I go full frame.

Fate · 03-28-2008, 11:12 AM

Im going to buy a second hand D200 soon i think... there are hundreds going up on ebay as people upgrade to the D300 and you can pick up a nice bargain!

Mav · 03-28-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JerryPH

When the D300 came out, suddenly every D200 on the planet started taking crappy pictures. Strange. There is a conspiracy out there, I say!

Yeah, funny how that works.

03-26-2008, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
BuZzZeRkEr I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Va Posts: 282 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	D80 vs D200 Why would Nikon make the D200 and up models with compact flash instead of SD cards?! AAHHHH!!!! I was going to purchase a D200 with my D40x as a backup body, but I can't believe Nikon doesn't have a standard for compact flash or SD cards. So I was thinking of just going with the D80 since it uses SD cards as does the D40x. Unless of corse the D200 is leaps and bounds over the D80....what do you think? __________________ Pissing oFf the. SpeLing, and; gRammor Poleese/ since - 2007~! Gallery Coming soon...

03-26-2008, 11:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
kundalini Fits of Uncontrollable Laughter TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 4,996 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Why would the memory card format make that much of a difference when purchasing a camera body? The cost of a CF card is about 0.025% of the cost of the D200. __________________ You drag it around like a ball and chain You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown Got your mind in the gutter, bringin’ everybody down Bitch about the present and blame it on the past I’d like to find your inner child and kick it’s little ass Eagles / Get Over It / Hell Freezes Over (1994)

03-26-2008, 12:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mav TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,453 My Photos Are OK to Edit	Yeah CF cards are cheap... If you're truly being serious about photography and especially if you're doing a wedding or other event with once in a lifetime shots that you can't miss, you really do need the D200. It's a serious tool whereas the D80 (I have one) is more an expensive toy. I find my D80 only marginally more useful than my D40 is, and most of that extra usefulness comes from the added lens compatibility. From the D40 to the D80 are all amateur level cameras in terms of capability - the D80 just has more bells and whistles is all. Some are marginally helpful, but others can actually get in your way. If you're "truly" being serious just get the D200 and buy a CF card at Costco. 4GB for like $30, geez. If you just want a secondary camera for more versability, I'd actually get a cheap ol D40. In a lot of ways it's arguably better than the D80 is for a lot less money. __________________ *Mav* Nikon DSLRs & Lenses

03-26-2008, 10:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Garbz TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 5,218 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	CF used to have an advantage in speed. It is the de facto standard for DSLRs. SD cards have a big size advantage. The Nikon D40x is a tiny camera. I think you can see where I am going with this... __________________ "I am always satisfied with the best." -Oscar Wilde Larger versions always on flickr Best photos in my gallery

03-26-2008, 11:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
SpeedTrap Have G.A.S. TPF Subscriber Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonton Posts: 705 My Photos Are OK to Edit	As well CF Cards can take way more abuse than SD Cards can. Go into any camera store and ask them how many broken SD cards they see vs. CF __________________ Fast Nikon Bodies and Glass www.lightart.ca Come check out the new site!!

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03-26-2008, 02:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Easy_Target I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 310 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	If I remember correctly, CF cards had a higher data throughput, so you could read/write from the card onto the camera faster, but SD cards have caught up so it's not that much of an issue anymore.

03-26-2008, 02:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Socrates Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Exit #5 Posts: 1,182 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by BuZzZeRkEr Why would Nikon make the D200 and up models with compact flash instead of SD cards?! AAHHHH!!!! I was going to purchase a D200 with my D40x as a backup body, but I can't believe Nikon doesn't have a standard for compact flash or SD cards. So I was thinking of just going with the D80 since it uses SD cards as does the D40x. Unless of corse the D200 is leaps and bounds over the D80....what do you think? The cards are inter-changeable but you need to carry a hammer in your camera bag.

03-27-2008, 03:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 3,921 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by kundalini Why would the memory card format make that much of a difference when purchasing a camera body? Thats the very first question that popped into my head as well. While both are good cameras, the D200 is less automated and to get good pictures out of it you'd had better know what you are doing. I went through this very dilemma last June, and bought the D200. Best move in my life. It forced me to learn more about photography in a shorter time than any other camera before that. __________________ * Just a very enthusiastic "kinda-sorta" amateur with a Nikon * Photography 101: - a picture you place in an album - a photograph you frame and place on your wall

03-27-2008, 05:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
BYoung Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northwest Territories, Canada Posts: 154 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	All brands really do this though. The Canon XTi uses CF, the new XSi uses SD. I'm with you in thinking them changing formats is silly, but hey I'm a noob. __________________ My Flickr Canon Rebel XTi (400D) Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Opteka Battery Grip

03-27-2008, 05:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mav TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,453 My Photos Are OK to Edit	A lot of upgrading point and shooters will all have SD cards. If the entry level DSLR cameras have SD also, that's one additional way to get people to upgrade. No need to re-purchase a different type of memory card. That's really all it is I think. __________________ *Mav* Nikon DSLRs & Lenses

03-27-2008, 05:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mike_E TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Upper West Side of Mississippi (you have no idea just how funny that is) Posts: 2,553 My Photos Are OK to Edit	At this point Speedtrap is right. CF cards have metal cases and SD cards are plastic. __________________ The only real problem with time travel is that you have to walk home.

03-27-2008, 06:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 3,921 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by BuZzZeRkEr Unless of corse the D200 is leaps and bounds over the D80....what do you think? I think the D200 is leaps and bounds better than a D80... but anyone that buys a new D200 over a D300 is really not on the ball. Thats just something that I thought I would toss in. If you have a D200 already, its not enough to justify an upgrade to a D300 (speaking for myself, only, of course)... but if you have a D40, the D300 is huge jump and there should be no reason to take the D200 over the D300, unless you are just a pro looking for a second body or can't afford the couple hundred dollars more for the latest and greatest (at this point, if you can afford a new D200, you SHOULD be looking at a new D300!). It all depends on how seriously you want to take your photography. __________________ * Just a very enthusiastic "kinda-sorta" amateur with a Nikon * Photography 101: - a picture you place in an album - a photograph you frame and place on your wall Last edited by JerryPH; 03-27-2008 at 11:21 AM.

03-27-2008, 06:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
Stranger I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 474 My Photos Are OK to Edit	between the i went with the D200.. Noise levels will be dfferent but that is a con that i outweighed with all the pluses

03-27-2008, 11:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 3,921 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Stranger between the i went with the D200.. Noise levels will be dfferent but that is a con that i outweighed with all the pluses Noise levels on the D200 are acceptable up to ISO 800, and if pushed above that can be addressed down to the excellent levels with appropriate software like noise ninja, neatimage, noiseimage, etc... The D200 is more challenging to get under control than a D80 for a novice, as well. An example would be this pic I took in a poorly lit indoor ice rink at ISO 2500. __________________ * Just a very enthusiastic "kinda-sorta" amateur with a Nikon * Photography 101: - a picture you place in an album - a photograph you frame and place on your wall

03-28-2008, 05:28 AM	#15 (permalink)
Eastw77 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland Posts: 59 My Photos Are OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by JerryPH If you have a D200 already, its not enough to justify an upgrade to a D300 (speaking for myself, only, of course)... but if you have a D40, the D300 is huge jump and there should be no reason to take the D200 over the D300, unless you are just a pro looking for a second body or can't afford the couple hundred dollars more for the latest and greatest (at this point, if you can afford a new D200, you SHOULD be looking at a new D300!). It all depends on how seriously you want to take your photography. Not sure about the states but over here a new D80 would set you back £500($1000) and a new D200 is about £650 That's only £150 more. However the D300 is about £1000, thats' £500 more than a D80!! A big difference, seems to me that the D200 would be more of a option to alot of people who want more than the D80 can offer. __________________ "If everything is under control, you are going too slow......."

03-28-2008, 07:26 AM	#16 (permalink)
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 3,921 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Eastw77 However the D300 is about £1000, thats' £500 more than a D80!! A big difference, seems to me that the D200 would be more of a option to alot of people who want more than the D80 can offer. It is easily worth that upgrade cost over a D80. It is that much better of a camera... if you can take advantage of the things that the D300 offers. Another recent little tidbit I learned about the D300... did you know that the write speed of the D200 is about 9mb/second and that the D300's is a little over 25mb/sec? am not talking the transfer speed of the USB interface to dump files, but the actual write speed of the camera from it's internal processor to the internal buffer and to the CF card. It makes a major difference when you want to take more pics in a shorter time. That is not the main point, though. It means that the entire camera internals have to be able to move that much faster to support that speed increase effectively. __________________ * Just a very enthusiastic "kinda-sorta" amateur with a Nikon * Photography 101: - a picture you place in an album - a photograph you frame and place on your wall

03-28-2008, 10:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
Mav TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,453 My Photos Are OK to Edit	Current US prices from B&H D80: $730 D200: $1300 D300: $1800 Dunno. If you're not partial to needing the high ISO performance of the D300 which actually has more noise at mid-ISOs than the D200 does and just need a solid tool to work with that's more serious than the D80, I'd say the D200 is still a pretty smart choice. You still get the more rugged build. You still get the weather sealing. You still get the ability to meter with older AI and AI-S lenses. You still get the shooting banks, direct access buttons, bigger finder, and superior fast control abilities than the D200 gives you. At $1300 new or $1000 or less used (US) they're as cheap and as new as they're going to get. __________________ *Mav* Nikon DSLRs & Lenses

03-28-2008, 11:12 AM	#18 (permalink)
JerryPH TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 3,921 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	When the D300 came out, suddenly every D200 on the planet started taking crappy pictures. Strange. There is a conspiracy out there, I say! For that $500 more, you do get a better camera, thats true. Speaking for me only, if I was in that market today, I would get the D300 over the D200, if purchasing new. If I needed a D200, I would definately not purchase a new D200, but a relatively low shutter D200 instead and save at least $400-$900 putting some of those savings into some high quality glass and use that for a year until the D400 comes out in about that time. By the time The D400 comes out, I will be ready for an upgrade... it could be to a D3 or a D3X or a D4, whatever... or it could be to a D400. If I don't think that the D400 is improved enough to challenge me by then, I go full frame. __________________ * Just a very enthusiastic "kinda-sorta" amateur with a Nikon * Photography 101: - a picture you place in an album - a photograph you frame and place on your wall

03-28-2008, 11:12 AM	#19 (permalink)
Fate TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: England - Worcestershire Posts: 1,603 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Im going to buy a second hand D200 soon i think... there are hundreds going up on ebay as people upgrade to the D300 and you can pick up a nice bargain! __________________ Just blame me........ its all Fate. Shadow Photography Things just got darker

03-28-2008, 11:29 AM	#20 (permalink)
Mav TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,453 My Photos Are OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by JerryPH When the D300 came out, suddenly every D200 on the planet started taking crappy pictures. Strange. There is a conspiracy out there, I say! Yeah, funny how that works.