What's the best camera to get - $500ish Budget

[PapaMatt]

He is not a nervous hamster, but a happy loving little fellow, I wish you all the best and some happiness in your life.

 

[Destin]

What other cameras have you used to compare it against? The D90 BLOWS the 200 away at high iso shots, and at metering, and it has live view, and some other stuff that the 200 doesn't. Have you ever used a D90? A D7000? D700? D3? Or are you just blowing smoke because you don't have any experience above a D200, so you think it's the best thing since sliced bread?

Not to mention, if the OP buys a D200, that leaves $100 for a lens. The 50mm isn't versatile enough to have as your only lens, and kit lenses are cheap and not the best quality. And at under $100, the 50 1.8, or the 18-55 are about your only options for lenses with AF.

The op may well be better off getting something like a D40 ~$150 online, and pairing it with something like a Tamron 17-50 2.8 ($350ish), since glass is more important than the camera body. The D40 is what I started with and it's a great camera to learn on. It's the same IQ as the D200 (same sensor), just in a much smaller body that is easier for a new photographer to figure out, and it would leave room in the budget for a good lens.

I've used every camera you've listed and then some and while the d90 is awesome, I would have a very hard time choosing between them ... And in the end would likely go d200. The simple fact is that the sub bodies all lack certain important things... On-body physical controls, durability, ability to use all common accessories, etc.

The one thing you missed, btw, is that the d200 doesn't do as well with battery life as the newer models. Not a huge deal but a good thing to know.

I still think the hamsters method of argument is ridiculous, but overall I agree on his choice.

The D200 is a good camera. It would serve the OP well. I'm not arguing that.

But it would also leave him without a sufficient budget for a good lens.