D200 users: Upgrade to a D200x/D300 if . . .

[CM PHoto]

Assuming the same initial price point ($1600-$1800) what would you need to upgrade to a D200x or D300?

1. Higher frame rate?
2. 12mp?
3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop
4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops
5. Something else?

For me: 1 and 2 have no bearing. 3 would cause me pause. 4 would definitely get my attention.

chad

--
Equipment Brokerage for the Working Pro http://www.chadmarekphoto.com/ta/
My Latest Show - http://www.chadmarekphoto.com/gallery/shows/atcw2007/index.htm

 

[John Gruffydd]

12 MP - not bothered.

Improved noise performance - useful

Auto dust cleaning as good as Olympus - definitely !
--
John Gruffydd
Mold, Wales, UK
D200, E-10 + OM1,2n, Bronica ETRSi

 

[Greg Terzian]

I use my D200 on pro shoots all the time. I have never wanted for anything better yet. It performs its job perfectly. I find its noise levels to be fantastic. AF is superb too. I guess I just don't feel the need to upgrade.

Oh, and I also have a D2Xs, and I use my D200 more.
--
http://www.screamandfly.com/home

 

[FrithjofA]

Assuming the same initial price point ($1600-$1800) what would you
need to upgrade to a D200x or D300?

1. Higher frame rate?

for what? if I do not get it right with 5fps....

2. 12mp?

who cares... marginal

If Nikon build in a true 30MP Foreon DX sensor, that we get three colors for each pixel, that would be interesting.

3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop
4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops

I come from a ASLR. I am happy with the ISO performance. I never saw any limit for my type of photography. If its to dark, I just use a tripod. If I shoot landscape, I use a tripod even at daylight, since I always get visibly sharper images.

5. Something else?

I would like the riduclous C/S/M autofocus switch redesigned.

Frithjof

 

[Gary0001]

Some people whine about Nikon's ISO and fps and slow lens, BUT they don't care about better ISO or fps or any other new features. strange.
--

 

[LynC]

The ability to restore memory bank settings without having to go back to Camera Control is what I'd like the most.

 

[FrithjofA]

The ability to restore memory bank settings without having to go back
to Camera Control is what I'd like the most.

good point, but easy to fix by a firmware upgrade.

 

[Roland Wooster]

Here's what I want as an upgrade to my D200, I have to admit, I don't honestly expect the D300 to be a sufficient upgrade to meet my criteria for spending more money. Right now I'd be more likely to spend similar amounts of money on an 85mm F1.4 AFS (VR?). These requests for a body are probably more of a D3 style system.

First the easy/cheap one: reimplement the infrared remote - I want BOTH the IR ML-L3 remote of the D70, and the 10 pin remote of the D200.

Lower noise by at least 1 stop, ideally 2 (perhaps via full frame sensor size)

Extend the longest shutter speed from 30 seconds to something in the range of 10 minutes - not necesarily on the regular S or M mode, but enable automated multi-minute long exposures through the interval timer - like the F801/N8008 had.

Cam 2000 AF (or better if they come out with something new). Faster frames per second on the current D200's AF system would be a waste of time, it can't really keep up with 5 FPS on a moving target anyway.

Bracketing: the limit of 1EV max bracket step size is annoying, this is just software not hardware and should be increased to 2 or 3 EV per bracket step as a maximum.

Bracketing: I also want to be able to bracket based on ISO, leaving aperture and shutter speed locked. And want this to be controllable from the interval timer too.

Roland.
--
Gallery at http://www.rolandwooster.com

 

[msolea]

In a D200 upgrade, I would like to see:

1) CAM2000*
2) Improved ISO noise 2-stops*
3) Improved Dynamic Range*

4) Improved jpeg engine for casual use

5) If Megapixel increase, 14 MP and/or a better sensor (but for now 10 MP is fine) -- perhaps with Fuji S-CCDwith Nikon image characteristics

6) Removable AA filter

Of these things, I think 1 and 3 would be the most important; otherwise, I would be happy with a D80 (the only feature the D80 is lacking thta I would want and utilize is the AI/AIS metering ability). 6 would also be a desireable feature, but it is unlikely to happen for quite some time.

 

[dbvand]

Assuming the same initial price point ($1600-$1800) what would you
need to upgrade to a D200x or D300?

1. Higher frame rate?

No, 5 is enough for me.

2. 12mp?

That would be a negative to me. D200 raw files are already very large compared to those from my D70.

3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop
4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops
5. Something else?

CAM-2000 focusing but I think this is unlikely since Nikon has to have something to differentiate the higher end pro cameras.

A 10MP LBCast or Foveon type sensor would be great.

-
Bryan V.
P.S. I've had amnesia for as long as I can remember.

 

[Shaun432x]

I will skip the next model and wait a couple of years and then maybe upgrade to the next generation camera.

The D200 is a superb piece of kit!

 

[Martin Joergensen]

Chad,

1. Higher frame rate?

Not interesting. My guess is that about 1% of all photographers really need 8 not to say 10 fps for other purposes than pressing the shutter for a few seconds to impress the bystanders.
http://500th.net/the-fps-craze

2. 12mp?

Well, I have 10 (D200) and before that 6 (Minolta D7). The raise in quality was significant (and file size). I dont think a similar increase will be apperarant from 10 to 12. A real increase would probably demand twice the pixel count or a change to a completely different technology. Slight increases can be obtained within the current form factor as can be seen from the D40x, but probably not enough to argue for a camera change.

3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop
4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops

Less noise is interesting, but personally I rarely use anything but 100 ISO, and when I go to 400 or even 800, I just remember back to my Tri-X days or the few rolls of 400 ISO print negative films I have shot. I just need to go back and scan one of these old negatives, and all issues pertaining to noise (not to say dust!) vanish into thin air. I know the comparison in the digital community goes to other digital cameras and that people compare Nikon and Canon when it comes to noise, but honestly folks: we have never had less noise in our images! And try printing one of those images that look so über-noisy on your monitor at 200%. Surpise!

5. Something else?

I don't miss much on my D200. I could suggest a slight design change here and there, and the software could also be tuned in a few places, but altogether it does the job and produces some ecellent images.

I am not amongst those who lay sleepless waiting for a D300 or a D200x.

Martin

--
Martin Joergensen, Copenhagen, Denmark
http://500th.net

 

[Craig Martell]

I agree completely here. I want dust-busting as good as Olympus's!

12 MP - not bothered.

Improved noise performance - useful

Auto dust cleaning as good as Olympus - definitely !
--
John Gruffydd
Mold, Wales, UK
D200, E-10 + OM1,2n, Bronica ETRSi

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craig_martell/

 

[BRJR]

Assuming the same initial price point ($1600-$1800) what would you
need to upgrade to a D200x or D300?

1. Higher frame rate?
2. 12mp?
3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop
4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops
5. Something else?

For me: 1 and 2 have no bearing. 3 would cause me pause. 4 would
definitely get my attention.

chad

--
Equipment Brokerage for the Working Pro
http://www.chadmarekphoto.com/ta/
My Latest Show -
http://www.chadmarekphoto.com/gallery/shows/atcw2007/index.htm

CM PHoto:

"5. Something else"

1. My current Nikkor DSLRs are good enough for all I am interested in doing with them ---- and, that's why I purchased them in the first place.

2. Now, if Nikon releases a FF, and I like what I see of it, I would purchase it, and neither 3rd Party Reviews/Tests/Bickering/Opinions or Nikon's Suggested Sales Price of the Camera would really matter that much to me.

--
BRJR....(My cameras & lenses are listed in my profile)

 

[dasams]

First the easy/cheap one: reimplement the infrared remote - I want
BOTH the IR ML-L3 remote of the D70, and the 10 pin remote of the
D200.

I use my ML-3 all the time and would love to see the receiver built into the body.

Extend the longest shutter speed from 30 seconds to something in the
range of 10 minutes - not necesarily on the regular S or M mode, but
enable automated multi-minute long exposures through the interval
timer - like the F801/N8008 had.

I'd be happy with a useful bulb mode in which one click opens the shutter and the second click closes it.

dave
--

 

[Greg Terzian]

Buy a 5D.

In a D200 upgrade, I would like to see:

1) CAM2000*
2) Improved ISO noise 2-stops*
3) Improved Dynamic Range*

4) Improved jpeg engine for casual use
5) If Megapixel increase, 14 MP and/or a better sensor (but for now
10 MP is fine) -- perhaps with Fuji S-CCDwith Nikon image
characteristics

6) Removable AA filter

Of these things, I think 1 and 3 would be the most important;
otherwise, I would be happy with a D80 (the only feature the D80 is
lacking thta I would want and utilize is the AI/AIS metering
ability). 6 would also be a desireable feature, but it is unlikely to
happen for quite some time.

--
http://www.screamandfly.com/home

 

[Devendra]

it has D2x AF responsiveness (i still remember how responsive my N90s was..)

Assuming the same initial price point ($1600-$1800) what would you
need to upgrade to a D200x or D300?

1. Higher frame rate?

5fps is good enough

2. 12mp?

12mp, but much sharper.

3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop

fine if not sacrificed for sharpness/moire, but definitely not the other way around (losing 1stop).

4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops
5. Something else?

AF like D2x - its about time I get the feel of older Nikon film bodies. While D200 AF works good on all AF points (unlike D70), its the zippyness that I miss.

For me: 1 and 2 have no bearing. 3 would cause me pause. 4 would
definitely get my attention.

I can easily wait for another 2yrs for the upgrade to arrive. D200 is still so brand new to me, despite using it for almost 19+ months and having taken tons of shots. I ran out of D70's capabilities with-in 18 months of its usage.

chad

--
Equipment Brokerage for the Working Pro
http://www.chadmarekphoto.com/ta/
My Latest Show -
http://www.chadmarekphoto.com/gallery/shows/atcw2007/index.htm

 

[Snappy one]

I will skip the next model and wait a couple of years and then maybe
upgrade to the next generation camera.

The D200 is a superb piece of kit!

I agree with you shaun having just got the NIKON D200 and winner of the 1) european imaging and sound association - European camera of year 2006-2007. 2)digital imaging websites assocation - Gold and Platinum awards 2006. 3) technical image press association - Best D-SLR export in europe 2006 and 4) the camera grand pix award for 2006.

ANDREW HODGKINSON.

 

[BruceEvans]

Only if someone steals my present D200. I have no complaints although I'd like the focusing mode dial improved--but not enough to buy a new camera.

Bruce

 

[BrentR]

1. Higher frame rate?

• Not a motivator, 5 fps is enough.

2. 12mp?

• Not a motivator, 10 versus 12 is no practical difference. I don't want more because I don't need bigger files.

3. Better ISO performance by 1 stop

• Maybe although I've never felt the D200 has noise issues.

4. Better ISO performance by 1.5-2 stops

• Probably, assuming detail is maintained.

5. Something else?

• Better dynamic range.
• Better low light focusing.
• A move from DX format would be a disincentive given that I have 12-24 DX and a 17-55 DX lenses. Having said that, if something much better comes along I'm always happy to buy new lenses ;>

Regards,
Brent