Selling D70, "was" considering a d200, should I do it? or not?

So I was happy with the enhancements and features of the D200, happy enough to want to purchase one and sell my D70... However with all the fuss on here over banding and bad customer service I'm somewhat stuck.

How many people are really experiencing banding, how bad is it, when does it happen? Anyone have any great photos to share, and what is your experience with the cam, over all happy?

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Know Thyself http://www.chlywly.com

Buy It!

It's a great camera, and the banding issue is overblown. I've not experienced any banding and I've even tried to make it happen. The resolution is outstanding, and I like the colors (YMMV).

If you can, try to handle one in a store. That may be difficult right now, depending where you live.

Sorry, but I can't post photos from work.

Cheers.

Ed

I would look at it this way:

If you bought a D200, and it showed no signs of banding, what would you be doing?

Out taking photographs. At least, I hope that's what you'd be doing with such a wonderful camera!

If you bought a D200, and it showed signs of banding, what would you be doing?

Sitting in front of your computer, probably at a message board, either complaining, or addressing the fact (and getting it repaired...)

From this message board alone, it would appear that EVERY single D200 sold has banding issues. But, think about all the people who own D200s, who are not complaining about banding. Or, think about all the D200s sold so far by Nikon, and compare it to the amount of people with banding issues....

I would go with the D200. I would buy it, and if you see signs of banding, send it to Nikon to repair it. From all the posts where people actually got it repaired, instead of complaining, the results are pretty spot on, with either no signs of banding, or greatly diminished.

Plus, getting a photograph to show signs of banding typically require taking a horribly overexposed shot. If you're going to be shooting into the sun, overexposing the photo, or jacking up curves to bring out bands, you shouldn't be shooting with a D200 anyway.

:-D

Buy it.

It is an awesome piece of equipment. I received mine two weeks ago and I'm having a blast with it.

My experience with Nikon service, on other cams, has always been good.

Banding? Not on mine. If it shows up, it'll go in for service under warranty. Probably come back better than new.

And I knew about banding when I bought mine. I'm not looking for it, I'm too busy climbing the learning curve and taking pictures to worry about it.
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Mark
pbase supporter
PAS #29
Coolpix Five seven zero zero & Delta Two Zero Zero

This D200 issues are far less likely to occur than the inherent D70 issues (blooming, moire and underexposure banding) unless you are unlucky enough to receive a defective camera. If you believe the vocal minority here there is a significant risk of receiving a defective camera with a strong tendency to band under normal shooting circumstances. I am somewhat suspect of the infered substantial probability, statistically speaking. I had a D70 for almost 2 years and was never overly concerned with the sensor sensor limitations but nevertheless was mindful to avoid the shooting situations where the documented issues were likely to interfere with the image to be captured. I have not seen banding on my D200 but am conscious of the possibility under specific circumstances. It is a very limited risk in my opinion.

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http://imageevent.com/chadgladstone

I don't know what you should do. What I am going to do is relax and see how this so-called "banding defect" plays out. My problem is that I can't tell from the thousands of posts on this subject, whether the D200 I order tomorrow will have a discernable problem or not. Maybe it won't, but I'm not going to play the luck-of-the-draw game. Some will disagree with this, but I believe Nikon strives for excellence in their products and WILL resolve this issue, whatever it is.

Fortunately for me, my obsolete D100 still works fine just like it did before the D200 hit the street. I expect your D70 probably does too.

Ken Rockwell (this thread will now rocket to 200 entries in the next hour) has a perfect take on the banding issue posted on his site. Read it and you'll feel better, I promise.

All the bedsore-butted flamers can start now

Gary?

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Z-Man

I got one with banding of type 1 and 2, sent it to nikon and now banding is practically gone - at least in real live situations (very minor banding left at 200% when shooting light bulbs).

Overall I am very happy with my D200. It is far more what I wanted as a digital camera then the D70.
T.

here is a little pic
http://thomasinohio.zoto.com/user/lightbox/CAT.0/date_uploaded-desc/0-30

Mine has no banding. Everything works great.

... and like I said last November, I'm gonna wait 'til April to let the dust settle on this new model... and also see what else is on the horizon that may change the pricing structure for the D2X and D2Hs whilst D200 capablities/faults under continued use by high-experience owners can be determined.

Maybe we'll avoid the son of BGLOD.

But maybe we'll get snookered by reintroduction of a slightly tweaked version at a +$500 higher price with a fixed sensor/PC card..... as rumoured by some posters on this forum. I'll take that chance.
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Marabou Muddler

Stick with the D70, it's a fine camera.
Jules

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Black holes do not destroy information.

Great camera.

D70 is a great camera, 4 MP is not enough to justify the change.

Save your money.

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. . . be the ball Danny

No doubt about it, the D70 is one fine machine! I purchased a D200 to be our primary camera for wedding photography; the D70 is now the back up camera. To my knowledge, there is no banding issue! If you're looking to upgrade from a 6 megapixel to a 10 megapixel camera, then the D200 is for you!

I'm very happy with mine!

Mike

http://www.michaelsphotography.smugmug.com

I shot a lightbulb and think I saw banding when I enlarged the view something like 400%. Since I never shoot lightbulbs and enlarge greatly in real life it doesn't really trouble me.

An earlier poster is correct -- the 4mp difference doesn't justify the purchase. Better AF and much easier usability does. I'm happy with the purchase, even though it took a lot of hard swallowing to get it down.

DC Steve

It's a great camera and i have nothing bad to say about it.

If your lucky enough to find a D200 - Buy it.

I LUV it. Wonderful skin tones, rich blues, great overall color. Personally, best camera I've ever handled.

Banding over blown, lots of people taking photos of light bulbs. Strange behavior to prove a point.. but whatever.

I have confidence Banding will be resolved in the coming months, but for now - get out and learn the camera, shoot and have fun.

David

I kept my D70S and now have the D200. Love them both.

I too upgraded from D70 to D200 and am very happy w/ it.

Yes, mine has a bit of vertical streaking in shadow areas bordering blown areas -- it looks like the result of sensor blooming leading to a bit of streaking into bordering shadow areas. But otherwise, it's a great camera for the price. Love the ergo and handling, the overall feel of it.

However, if you're still very happy w/ the D70 and don't really feel like the D200 offers much of what you really want in an upgrade, then you might be better off saving the $$$ for something else.

Man

chlywly said:

So I was happy with the enhancements and features of the D200,
happy enough to want to purchase one and sell my D70... However
with all the fuss on here over banding and bad customer service I'm
somewhat stuck.

How many people are really experiencing banding, how bad is it,
when does it happen? Anyone have any great photos to share, and
what is your experience with the cam, over all happy?

--

Know Thyself http://www.chlywly.com

Click to expand...

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Just another amateur learning to paint w/ 'the light of the world.' (John 8:12)
Motto for the season: 'Cameras are for making photos, not war...'
See my profile for more + some basic photog resources.
As usual, YMMV + caveat emptor.
Contact me at [email protected]
Indulge my fancies at http://www.pbase.com/mandnwong

It’s fair to have concerns like yours. I had the same concerns and did some posts about it also. To absorb all the negativity will make you unhappy. I needed however some feedback to make a decision.

My decision was simple and (for me) for the right reasons:

• Yes, I bought the D200 because of the specs and the confirmation of those specs on this forum. It’s really a fantastic peace of technology.
• No, I don’t get rid of my D70 because this camera served me very well and will be used as second body with “other” lens attached.
• No, I didn’t discover banding (yet). If I did and can’t live with it than I send it in and let it repair. Done! End of discussion!

In the store I took about 10 pics including the light-bulb-pic. No direct banding discovered so I pay the mighty dollar. The best dollars spend since the D70.

My advice summarized:

Stop reading the negative posts and buy the D200. If you encounter problems, let it repair and stay with your D70.

If you need some more motivation: go to the store and play with a D200 for a couple of minutes. I’m sure you fall in love in an instant.

****.

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