Second Body...What to do?!?

Phyxius

Okay, so I keep putting it off, but I really want a second body to take with me to Glacier. I shoot Nikon and that's not changing. I don't have the time or money for a switch and I'm happy enough with Nikon if they can keep their gear in stock.

So anyway I've been leaning towards the D200. BUT, I keep hearing there are rumors about it being upgraded soon. Pfft, with my luck it'll be while I'm IN Glacier. I've also had people tell me to look at the D2H or the D2Hs, but there I'm worried about the fact that I quite often have to crop since I shoot mainly equine sports (dressage, jumping, cross country) and I mainly use the 70-200.

Oh, what to do...what to do...

Help! Please.

Art Scott

Phyxius wrote:

Okay, so I keep putting it off, but I really want a second body to take with me to Glacier. I shoot Nikon and that's not changing. I don't have the time or money for a switch and I'm happy enough with Nikon if they can keep their gear in stock.

So anyway I've been leaning towards the D200. BUT, I keep hearing there are rumors about it being upgraded soon. Pfft, with my luck it'll be while I'm IN Glacier. I've also had people tell me to look at the D2H or the D2Hs, but there I'm worried about the fact that I quite often have to crop since I shoot mainly equine sports (dressage, jumping, cross country) and I mainly use the 70-200.

Oh, what to do...what to do...

Help! Please.

As I was told by Nikon USA.....Nikon Japan has not stop production of the D200 nor have they said they would and until Japan makes a statement....then the rumors are just rumors......

If it were me I would get either a another D50 (if you're happy with the one tou currently own) or I would upgrade as high as I could addord and make the D50 my other camera or sell the 50 and get 2 new matching bodies (which has always been my way of life.....that way all bodies have the same controls in the same place etc etc etc.)


Good luck.

ziggy53

Phyxius wrote:

Okay, so I keep putting it off, but I really want a second body to take with me to Glacier. I shoot Nikon and that's not changing. I don't have the time or money for a switch and I'm happy enough with Nikon if they can keep their gear in stock.

So anyway I've been leaning towards the D200. BUT, I keep hearing there are rumors about it being upgraded soon. Pfft, with my luck it'll be while I'm IN Glacier. I've also had people tell me to look at the D2H or the D2Hs, but there I'm worried about the fact that I quite often have to crop since I shoot mainly equine sports (dressage, jumping, cross country) and I mainly use the 70-200.

Oh, what to do...what to do...

Help! Please.

You have several real choices:

1) You can still find a brand new Nikon D200. They are getting a little hard to find, and you may have to pay a bit more, but they are out there. If you did your homework and your mind is set, then do it and do it now.

2) There is a used market for the Nikon D200. Granted, there is a bit more risk buying used, but you still have your other camera for backup. If you really need the camera and can justify the cost in real benefits, it may be worth the risk.

3) The Nikon D80 has a very similar imager and is a very similar camera. Except for shooting speeds the D80 can match the image quality of the D200. Either is probably an upgrade to the D50.

4) The D2H/D2Hs are a different class of camera altogether. You might find that the camera is soo much more responsive, you might not have to stay so "loose" in the frame to capture the shot. You might progress to the point that the pixel count matters less.

5) The D2Xs is still available and would give you the best Nikon currently offers, which is to say a lot. It is still a great performer and built like a tank. If you "want it all" in the Nikon world, there is no better.

What would I recommend?

If you want new, and you want it now, the Nikon D80 is still a very nice camera for the money.

If you really, really have to have the D200, get one now before they are all gone. Don't worry about what "might be" as far as the future of photography in the Nikon world (future cameras). If you wait long enough, something better will emerge if Nikon is to survive, but you will not benefit in the here and now.

greenpea

Phyxius wrote:

Okay, so I keep putting it off, but I really want a second body to take with me to Glacier. I shoot Nikon and that's not changing. I don't have the time or money for a switch and I'm happy enough with Nikon if they can keep their gear in stock.

I'm with you here; I really want a second body for the Glacier trip. I've been waiting for the D200x or D300 to come out, then I would buy a D200 when the prices drop. Right now a D200 is just too expensive, so I'm considering a D80. The way I figure that with a D80 I'm getting 80% of a D200 at 50% the cost.

Phyxius

Thanks for the replies!

Art,
I do like my little D50, it's fun and easy and it does a pretty good job with most of the stuff I want. But, I prefer to buy new and finding a new D50 isn't so simple.

I mean, this price is a joke...right?! I didn't pay that much from RITZ when I got it a year and a half ago.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B0009GZANC


Ziggy,
You just had to bring up the D2Xs. But, seriously thank you for the post it was very well thought out, as all of your posts are and it hit on a lot of the stuff I was thinking about. And this-

If you wait long enough, something better will emerge if Nikon is to survive, but you will not benefit in the here and now.

is a true and very valuable piece of advise, but it's so hard to do. What if I wait just one more week. (I went through the same thing when I was buying my second car, to take some of the load off my truck and get better gas mileage. Well, I did it and I'm happy. So suck it up, Christina. Right?)

Greenpea,
Let me know what you decide! Do you have a wide angle? I just got the Nikon 12-24. It's insane! I've never had a lens like that before. I can be RIGHT on top of something and the lens can get the whole thing. It's amazing. I wish I had this lens when I was down in Nevada. Hmmm...maybe I should plan a trip back to Nevada.

greenpea

Phyxius wrote:

Greenpea,
Let me know what you decide! Do you have a wide angle? I just got the Nikon 12-24. It's insane! I've never had a lens like that before. I can be RIGHT on top of something and the lens can get the whole thing. It's amazing. I wish I had this lens when I was down in Nevada. Hmmm...maybe I should plan a trip back to Nevada.

I have a friend who has a Tokina 12-24 that I often borrow (and will bring with me to Glacier). It might not be Nikkor glass, but its still an amazing lens.

In all reality the D80 or D200 will probably be a purchase for '08. This year the big purchase was a MacBook Pro (that I justified by saying I needed it for my photography ).