Should I Buy A D300???

Cuties02q · October 19, 2007

Right now I have a D50 & D200 and I really am not a fan of the softness on my D200 so should I sell it and buy the D300. Does anyone know if it will be sharper than the D200???

ziggy53 · October 19, 2007

Cuties02q wrote:

Right now I have a D50 & D200 and I really am not a fan of the softness on my D200 so should I sell it and buy the D300. Does anyone know if it will be sharper than the D200???

Your Nikon D200 should not be soft in comparison to the D50, for instance. Do you have any side-by-side comparisons with those two cameras?

The primary appeal of the D300, for my way of thinking anyway, is the high-ISO capability of the D300. Compared to the D200 it would seem to be considerably better.

Other than that, the improved auto-focus and larger buffer should yield much improved performance over the already pretty good D200. The larger and higher resolution LCD display on the D300 should be a pleasure to use. It's all pretty much good stuff.

Cuties02q · October 19, 2007

My d50 seems to be a lot sharper than the d200

Off to look for 2 photos.

Cuties02q · October 19, 2007

Ok I know this lighting was a bit different but the D200 just seems to give a slight softness to the photos.

D200

D50

ziggy53 · October 19, 2007

Here is the pertinant EXIF from the two shots:

http://cuties02q.smugmug.com/photos/179989847-O.jpg

Exif IFD0

* Camera Make = NIKON CORPORATION
* Camera Model = NIKON D200
* Picture Orientation = normal (1)
* X-Resolution = 300/1 = 300.00
* Y-Resolution = 300/1 = 300.00
* X/Y-Resolution Unit = inch (2)
* Software/Firmware Version = Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
* Last Modified Date/Time = 2007:07:07 21:27:38
* Y/Cb/Cr Positioning (Subsampling) = co-sited / datum point (2)

Exif Sub IFD

* Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 10/1250 second = 0.00800 second
* Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 18/10 = F1.80
* Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
* ISO Speed Ratings = 250
* Exif Version = 0221
* Original Date/Time = 2007:07:07 03:44:45
* Digitization Date/Time = 2007:07:07 03:44:45
* Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
* Compressed Bits per Pixel = 2/1 = 2.00
* Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/6 = 0.00
* Max Aperture Value (APEX) = 16/10 = 1.60
Max Aperture = F1.74
* Metering Mode = center weighted average (2)
* Light Source / White Balance = unknown (0)
* Flash = Flash did not fire
* Focal Length = 500/10 mm = 50.00 mm
* User Comment (Hex) = 0x41,0x53,0x43,0x49,0x49,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20
User Comment Character Code = ASCII
User Comment =
* Last Modified Subsecond Time = 79
* Original Subsecond Time = 79
* Digitized Subsecond Time = 79
* FlashPix Version = 0100
* Colour Space = 65535
* Image Width = 600 pixels
* Image Height = 864 pixels
* Image Sensing Method = one-chip color area sensor (2)
* Image Source = digital still camera (DSC)
* Scene Type = directly photographed image
* Colour Filter Array (CFA) Geometric Pattern = 0x00,0x02,0x00,0x02,0x01,0x00,0x02,0x01
* Custom Rendered = normal process (0)
* Exposure Mode = auto exposure (0)
* White Balance = manual (1)
* Digital Zoom Ratio = 1/1 = 1.00
* Focal Length in 35mm Film = 75
* Scene Capture Type = standard (0)
* Gain Control = n/a (0)
* Contrast = normal (0)
* Saturation = normal (0)
* Sharpness = normal (0)
* Subject Distance Range = unknown (0)

==============================================

http://cuties02q.smugmug.com/photos/191199331-O.jpg

Exif IFD0

* Camera Make = NIKON CORPORATION
* Camera Model = NIKON D50
* Picture Orientation = normal (1)
* X-Resolution = 300/1 = 300.00
* Y-Resolution = 300/1 = 300.00
* X/Y-Resolution Unit = inch (2)
* Software/Firmware Version = Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
* Last Modified Date/Time = 2007:09:03 16:10:10
* Y/Cb/Cr Positioning (Subsampling) = co-sited / datum point (2)

Exif Sub IFD

* Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 10/600 second = 0.01667 second
* Lens F-Number/F-Stop = 25/10 = F2.50
* Exposure Program = shutter priority (4)
* Exif Version = 0221
* Original Date/Time = 2007:09:03 22:29:49
* Digitization Date/Time = 2007:09:03 22:29:49
* Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
* Compressed Bits per Pixel = 2/1 = 2.00
* Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/6 = 0.00
* Max Aperture Value (APEX) = 16/10 = 1.60
Max Aperture = F1.74
* Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
* Light Source / White Balance = unknown (0)
* Flash = Flash did not fire
* Focal Length = 500/10 mm = 50.00 mm
* User Comment (Hex) = 0x41,0x53,0x43,0x49,0x49,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20,0x20
User Comment Character Code = ASCII
User Comment =
* Last Modified Subsecond Time = 80
* Original Subsecond Time = 80
* Digitized Subsecond Time = 80
* FlashPix Version = 0100
* Colour Space = 65535
* Image Width = 1928 pixels
* Image Height = 2944 pixels
* Image Sensing Method = one-chip color area sensor (2)
* Image Source = digital still camera (DSC)
* Scene Type = directly photographed image
* Colour Filter Array (CFA) Geometric Pattern = 0x00,0x02,0x00,0x02,0x02,0x01,0x01,0x00
* Custom Rendered = normal process (0)
* Exposure Mode = auto exposure (0)
* White Balance = auto (0)
* Digital Zoom Ratio = 1/1 = 1.00
* Focal Length in 35mm Film = 75
* Scene Capture Type = standard (0)
* Gain Control = n/a (0)
* Contrast = normal (0)
* Saturation = normal (0)
* Sharpness = normal (0)
* Subject Distance Range = unknown (0)

ziggy53 · October 19, 2007

Thanks sooo much for finding two similar images shot with the same (apparently) lens.

It does look like the D200 is focused more towards the background as the gentleman's hair is more sharply focused. Note that the D50 image is slightly smaller aperture, but not enough to explain the difference.

If you see this problem consistantly, it would appear that the D200 is not finding appropriate focus. Short term solution is to use manual focus on the D200 and some sort of focus aid to help determine prime focus.

Long term would involve more testing and possibly sending the camera and lens in for calibration.

A different body would probably produce different results. It's hard to say if they would be consistanly improved. If you are not happy with the D200, you should change something.

MikeMcA² · October 19, 2007

When did you buy your D200? I have read that many of the initial-release D200 required a firmware update to correct "backfocusing" issues, which seems to be what yours is doing. My D200 is quite sharp. I am contemplating the D300 for the high-ISO resolution allowing better low-light imagery and for the 51-point AF improvements, but your D200 should easily outperform your D50 at the ISOs indicated in your EXIF data.

Cuties02q · October 19, 2007

I just bought my D200 less than 6 months ago from B&H

jww · October 19, 2007

Cuties02q wrote:

I just bought my D200 less than 6 months ago from B&H

Hmmm.. just a thought. What focusing mode did you use on the D200?

Art Scott · October 19, 2007

still under warranty then.....get'er fixed, before warranty runs out.......I met a guy here (wichita that is) that just raved about how sharp his D200 is and was shown pics that proved it....that was about 6 mos. agao, he is now also a Dgrinner..........................

1pocket · October 19, 2007

Wouldn't an apple-to-apple test be appropriate before doing something rash? set up a tripod, try the same shot and settings, then swap the lens and repeat?

I don't see how a valid comparison can be made from two different stops, etc.

Of course, maybe the other posters are right about the d200 factory issue...

ziggy53 · October 19, 2007

1pocket wrote:

Wouldn't an apple-to-apple test be appropriate before doing something rash? set up a tripod, try the same shot and settings, then swap the lens and repeat?

I don't see how a valid comparison can be made from two different stops, etc.

Of course, maybe the other posters are right about the d200 factory issue...

ziggy53 wrote:

Long term would involve more testing and possibly sending the camera and lens in for calibration.

Yep, there needs to be more testing and your suggestion is a good start.

jww · October 19, 2007

ziggy53 wrote:

Yep, there needs to be more testing and your suggestion is a good start.

I think I would also try the autofocus several times on an autofocus friendly subject and varying distances and see if manually tweaking improves the focus. That should help confirm if the D200 had an autofocus issue.

The apples to apples comparison suggested would be a great way to prove the focus calibration if the autofocus seems to behave.

....the reason I was curious about focusing mode as I have had some funky things happen if you have it set in one of the group dynamic modes and less than desirable zone selected. Some of the results were similar to what is in the pic shown.

Another thought would be if the subject was a bit too close for the minimum focus of the lens. ..but if you have many examples of varying distances where the focus is off, that would be pretty unlikely...

Just hoping it is something easy and you don't have to send it back!

jwear · October 20, 2007

your best bet is to send it back ,if you have a nikon service center by you take your lens in with camera they will set it up so camera and lens will go together . d200 is a very good camera but 4 of us have taken them in and happy we all are

NOW ,good luck

Should I Buy A D300???

Comments