I'm Back and Ready for Action! (D200)

[deckcadet]

Hi Everybody.
I don't know if any of you remember me, but I used to hang out here a lot. Lately other forums and a ton of school and extracurricular work has kept me from here.
I've made a few major advancements in my photography since I was last here.

First of all, I think I started taking half decent photos!

Photography wouldn't be the same of course without at least doubling my past expenditures on photography within a period of two weeks. Well prior to this of course, I did a long awaited upgrade from the 18-70 DX to the 17-35mm f/2.8D AF-S. What a lens.
On Nov. 1st, despite being without power from hurricane Wilma for the week and a half before, I knew full well of all the leaks of the new D200 and had two preorders in by the end of the announcement day.
When the camera shipped to dealers on 12/15 I got the call from the local store saying I was #5 and guaranteed a camera, just come in tomorrow after I get the call the truck has arrived. So when I got the call on December 16th I was there within the hour.
Since then i've been very very VERY pleased with my latest camera. Talk about a step up. A great leap forward, so to speak.
Strangely I've had the camera for just under a month and i'm around 3,000 images with it. My keeper rate is already much higher than it was with the D70, not counting the shots used to show off the 5fps continuous shooting.
3,000 images is nothing though...only 36,000 shots per year! Must improve on that...
A week later I ordered the MB-D200 grip, the DK-21M magnifying eyepiece, and a short time later I bought 2 of the first EN-EL3E batteries to make it into NYC dealers. I now carry around enough power for several thousand shots.
Not content to stay with just that though, I added a Bogen/Manfrotto 055MF3 Magfiber tripod and manfrotto 468MG Hydrostatic locking ballhead. Very solid and light combination.
But what would this all be without something fun to use with it...like my latest acquisition, the 85mm f/2.8D PC Micro Nikkor.
This lens is sharp. Sharp means that under almost any circumstances through most of the aperture range, 100% crops are typically lethal or debilitating.
Time consuming to use at times, but the results are unrivaled. It sees way better than I can from a LOT further away.

Well, just wanted to say hi again and let you all know what's going on with me. It sure isGood to be back.
Thanks for reading... please check out my New Personal Gallery!
Harrison
Nikon Samurai #9 (Nobody expects the Canon inquisition!)

On a quick P.S., I will be working on a review of the D200...

[Photo-John]

Hey, buddy! When I was putting this new forum together I thought about you. I was actually thinking about sending you an e-mail. I'm glad you're back! And I'm happy you have a D200. Please post a review for it. We need more reviews for that camera. And I know you're testing every little teeny, tiny detail of it

I'll take a look at your photos later. You can post some here, too, you know...

[deckcadet]

Hey, buddy! When I was putting this new forum together I thought about you. I was actually thinking about sending you an e-mail. I'm glad you're back! And I'm happy you have a D200. Please post a review for it. We need more reviews for that camera. And I know you're testing every little teeny, tiny detail of it

I'll take a look at your photos later. You can post some here, too, you know...

You can count on a review, a quick mini one in the review section and a longer version we'll be working on in class.
So far though, don't expect anything short of a positively glowing one. My only gripe was the neckstrap was less comfortable than the strap I used on the D70. I've since corrected that by buying an even better one for the D200 of a similar style

I'll be posting some photos in critique soon. Long weekend....i'm excited.

[christos]

Deckcadet,
Congratulations on your purchase I hear that the D200 is an awesome camera. I’m looking to make the purchase myself once they the camera becomes more readily available.
I do have a couple of questions, are you experiencing the banding problem some users are reporting?
How does the D200 focus in low light levels? I used to have a N80 (CAM 900) and I found it inadequate for wedding work in dark reception halls. That is why I opted for the F100 and F5 back then and presently the D2H.
Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Christos

[deckcadet]

Hi Christos.
It sure is awesome. Combined wth a D2H or HS there is no better combination.
I've been using this camera in every possible situation since day 1....literally. I've tried the various 'recipies' for banding (shooting a fluorescent light source and changing exposure massively in post, etc.).
Not ONE has had any banding or similar result.
My only real problem so far is with batteries. Despite much more conservative power usage than I bothered for with the D70, and adjusting for the fact it should draw a few times the power, I'm getting relatively poor battery life from 3 enel3Es. The problem appears to be in either the camera's chip sensor calibration or the battery chips. Since the batteries are from different lot codes and different places, I will assume it is the camera's issue. A trip to mellville (I need a sensor clean, too, and want to make sure it is all adjusted properly etc.) should sort that out. Using with the MB-D200 and 2500MAH NiMH AA's in the tray, I can get well over 600 shots, and that's with ALSO using those batteries in my Sb600 at 1/8-1/1 power for over 75 shots.
Bjorn Rorslett did his review already and his battery life tests (which I replicated as best I could indoors) gave far superior results to mine- I expect more like what he got. Basically I'd like over 500 NEFs per charge. I'm currently getting 200-250 depending on whether there was any continuous shooting or if I did long exposures, regardless of JPEG or NEF.
The battery will continue to work for a time roughly equivalent to 80% of its capacity in my D70 with power drain simulating the D200.
I'm going to hold off on reviewing battery life until my problem is corrected. Until then though, 3 enel3Es and the grip with AA's or two of the batts in it is fine so long as I charge relatively regularly. I top them off whenever they get down below 75%.

As for AF, the system is much better than CAM900. It does better in lowlight on the center sensor, and it locks on faster in general. AF tracking is far superior.
I'm personally happy with the low light performance and it does very well for my purposes. Any time it fails to lock with the center sensor it's dark enough to actually need the AF assist lamp.
It won't be as good all around (meaning around all those sensors) as CAM2000 in low light though. Those 9 cross sensors on the D2 series are amazing.
It really depends on your needs. Maybe you can try one out to see if it's good enough.
You can't expect all the good parts of the D2H/X with all the bad parts cut out for 1/3 the price. There will be compromises. One is the AF system just isn't the same.
But for me it's perfect.

Deckcadet,
Congratulations on your purchase I hear that the D200 is an awesome camera. I’m looking to make the purchase myself once they the camera becomes more readily available.
I do have a couple of questions, are you experiencing the banding problem some users are reporting?
How does the D200 focus in low light levels? I used to have a N80 (CAM 900) and I found it inadequate for wedding work in dark reception halls. That is why I opted for the F100 and F5 back then and presently the D2H.
Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Christos

[christos]

Deckadet, thank you for the detailed response to my question. I for one am also waiting for your review.
I’ve heard the same problem regarding the battery life thus I will be keeping an eye on articles / reviews regarding this. Either way as a wedding photographer I will have a spare set, but just being able to capture 500 images on two sets of batteries worries me a bit.
I never expected the CAM1000 to be equal to the D2 series, but it will be nice if it was equal to at least my F100. Either way I will be purchasing the D200 as a primary camera for my work, and at the same time moving my business model over to 100% digital.

Thanks
Christos

[ken1953]

Welcome back DC...I have not had the honor of seeing much of your works, but look forward to it. And as PJ said...I look forward to your review of the D200...As the Reviews Mod...I can say from your mini-review here that your final review will be well received. As a NOOB photographer and Nikon user, I also look forward to any tips of the trade that you may have. I currently use the CoolPix 8400, but look forward to the day when I feel comfortable moving up to the DSLR's.
Again, welcome back.
Ken

[deckcadet]

Deckadet, thank you for the detailed response to my question. I for one am also waiting for your review.
I’ve heard the same problem regarding the battery life thus I will be keeping an eye on articles / reviews regarding this. Either way as a wedding photographer I will have a spare set, but just being able to capture 500 images on two sets of batteries worries me a bit.
I never expected the CAM1000 to be equal to the D2 series, but it will be nice if it was equal to at least my F100. Either way I will be purchasing the D200 as a primary camera for my work, and at the same time moving my business model over to 100% digital.

Thanks
Christos

Just keep in mind that my battery results are NOT typical. Either the batteries or the camera sensor are faulty. I may have to send in to Nikon .
Have you seen Bjorn Rorslett's review? he has a great battery life test HERE.
In the meantime, I can still get >600 shots easy with NiMH AA's and an equal amount between my E's. So I've got all the bases covered. I rarely shoot over 200 shots in a day anyways, despite shooting around 3000 shots in the past month.

[christos]

Just keep in mind that my battery results are NOT typical. Either the batteries or the camera sensor are faulty. I may have to send in to Nikon .
Have you seen Bjorn Rorslett's review? he has a great battery life test HERE.
In the meantime, I can still get >600 shots easy with NiMH AA's and an equal amount between my E's. So I've got all the bases covered. I rarely shoot over 200 shots in a day anyways, despite shooting around 3000 shots in the past month.

That was a real good read, thank you for the info deckadet. It just reinforces my faith in this new camera.

Christos