Glass v. D2X

Aside from the usual "it depends on what you're shooting" response, which would you prefer and why:

A. adding a 200-400mm VR to your current D100

B. adding a D2X (with its 6MP crop mode and 2x crop factor) to a 70-200mm VR

Decisions, decisions.....

I shot this combo for a while and it's a wonderful duo.
--
Jim

...never used a D100, but using D2x and 70-200VR

• so, for what it's worth: No clue of what motives your are after. But at any rate, there should be no doubt that D2x rules ...

Cheers
Laos

I would choose B. You can use crop mode on your 70-200 and you get a pro body with all the other perks (faster focus, larger prints, love..etc)
Chiba

I would have to go with the D2X. Your 70-200 VR is a very nice piece of glass and you can always add a 1.7X multiplier to it down the road for a resonable price.....just my two cents.

On the other hand, you have to ask yourself, what do I really need 12MP for?

I am not too sure....I find myself changing my own mind as I type this...LOL

Good luck!

Well, that is an awesome combo but I can't do both at the same time. I could but my wife would kill me. Being dead with the combo doesn't help I'm wondering what might be the difference in reach AND resolution with the D2X/70-200VR in HSC mode v. D100/200-400VR....

my motive is purely hobby at present (wildlife, macros, big game, etc.). At some point I'd like to venture in to small jobs for profit here and there and advance my hobby. I have some good glass at present that I would think would compliment the D2X handsomely (17-35AFS, 28-70AFS, 200 f4 micro, 80-200 ED non-AFS).

I'm like you, constantly changing my mind back and forth. The glass will retain its value longer, the SLR technology is sure to evolve more rapidly than the glass will. But it appears the D2X has hit the sweet spot of rivaling film....I believe it's overpriced but then it's worth what people are willing to pay for it and that happens to be 5G's at present...

The D2X and the 70-200mm VR will win hands down. The D2X is an awesome camera, a must have in my opinion.

you sound pretty enthusiastic about the D2X. Do you own one of these puppies? If so, how do your images compare to film?

I own its older brother the d2h. The prints I've been getting have been fabulous. Haven’t printed larger than 8x11 but I hear its perfect for anything up to 20x30. As for the D2x, I haven’t seen anything printed but a friend has one on order so I'll know soon enough.
Go for it!!
Chiba

Hi,

I don't have the D2x yet but I started saving for it. I would definitly go for the D2x because it will bring you much more advantages then the 200-400VR. Especially since you have the D100 which is pretty old now and does not support I-TTL and many other functions.

Especially the CAM2000 and Larger Viewfinder are an enormous advantage. And don't forget the 12MP. Imagine a 1:1 Macro picture with 12mp. You could crop it and may even crop it to 2:1.

I am so excited about the D2x and can't wait to get it. Just have to save the money

Tim
--
Visit http://www.voider.net
(Still in production)

Usually people recommend glass v. a new body. I'm intrigued.

At some point you will be able to by both (one now, one later).

The D2x will be updated long before the 200-400.

Buy the 200-400 now, and when you are in a position buy the body you may just have a D2xs option or the D2x will be cheaper. The 200-400 is unlikely to change in price for some time.

That is unless you are no longer happy with your D100 itself or for those shots you need > 200mm, carrying the 200-400 is going to be a problem. Do you feel you need something more than the D100 for

I'd really like more reach than 200mm. I'm just wondering if I'd get substantially more keepers with the D2X to justify the cost at this point.

I know it sounds strange but personally I am not even remotely interested in birds photography. As I am not professional sports shooter either 200-400 is very far from the head of my lens lust list. So for me there was no choice...D2x (even without 70-200). Just kidding, I already have this little zoom

--
Sergey
http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?include=all&user_id=1471237

I guess I went thru a similar decision process. I didn't hesitate to choose the D2X over the 200-400VR because there were a number of compelling reasons (to me) for making the move: among them - the small buffer, 3 fps max, slow focus performance, small/dim viewfinder, lack of true mirror lockup of the D100 was really bothering me. I knew I wouldn't be happy adding more great glass to use with the D100 - under those circumstances. Lastly, everything I print is 8.5x11 or larger, so I was really happy that the native resolution of the D2X would give me slightly more than that at 300dpi. Meanwhile my long focal length needs were being met by the 70-200VR and 300 AFS coupled with the 1.7TC. I've often daydreamed that two D2X's with 70-200VR on one and 200-400VR on the other would be the ideal outfit for shooting an airshow (will never happen )! The move hasn't been without penalties: heavier/bigger (no option of removing the battery grip section); forced to upgrade to NC4.2 and stuck with a PS CS2 that currently can't decode raw "as is" WB in NEFs, huge files eating up my hard drive storage, and a 2GB CF card that suddenly only holds 99 images. Do I regret my decision - absolutely not.

Thanks for your very thoughtful and informative post. Does the D100 absolutely pale in comparison to the image quality/resolution you're getting out of the D2X?

I'm purely a hobbyist (at present) but my interests mainly lie in landscapes, wildlife, occasional people shots. Doesn't leave much else I guess. About the fastest subject I'd ever shoot would be an occasional airshow. So I'm mostly looking for high quality resolution and reach. My D100 leaves a bit to be desired with landscapes for sure.

Well, I am hobbyist myself (but you can always find consolation in fact that Newton was hobbyist in mathematics and from my experience you don't need - consistently - 400mm kind of reach and isolation in people photography and landscapes. Wildlife is different probably - I don't have real experience.
From the other hand D2x is superlative camera.
--
Sergey
http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?include=all&user_id=1471237