Camera Labs

As of right now I am using a Nikon D40 with a kit lense and some other gear, but I am past that camera and need something more advance. So I was thinking of picking up the D80 but also considering going for the D200...problem is I am only 15 so money is hard to get and if I go for the D80 than I could have it within 2-3 months.

My question is does anybody know of any price drops in the near future?

Hi Nathan, new cameras will keep coming out and older ones will always fall in price. But the more important question to ask is in what way have you outgrown the D40? I understand if you'd want higher resolution, but is it holding you back in other ways?

And by the way, before you assume 10 mpixels is so much better than 6, have a look at this test we did...

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/NikonD40/page4.shtml

Gordon

yes, I have been shooting for about 2 months with it and I am don't like that it doesn't have a secondary screen for exposure info, terrible AF system, and doesn't have any direct access to stuff like ISO and WB.

I don't use presets I use PASM modes, mainly Manual mode, so I am read for an upgrade.

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Canon EOS 5D + 50mm f/1.8

http://flickr.com/photos/nathan_ward

Yeah I have watched the videos a lot so I know what you mean.haha. I can't even coun tth enumber of times I watched videos on Nikon cameras...and for that matter all the cameras you reviewed. I did some serious research before buying a camera, the thing is I didn't take into consideration that I would learn as fast as I did.haha.

Also it would be cool if you sometime got around to doing a video review on the D200. That could be helpful seeing as how I already read the full review on here.

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Canon EOS 5D + 50mm f/1.8

http://flickr.com/photos/nathan_ward

Terrible AF? What do you mean? Slow? Only three focus points?

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Nikon D90 + MB-D80 + SB-600 + AF-S VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 + AF-S 35mm f/1.8 + AF 85mm f/1.8 | My photos on Flickr.

Only 3 points... I just don't like it.

It is a good camera for families and begginers trying to learn, exactly what I did I learned, but a little fast so I know how to use a camera manually so I think I am ready for a more advanced camera. It was very simple to learn wih the D40.

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Canon EOS 5D + 50mm f/1.8

http://flickr.com/photos/nathan_ward

Do you have other lenses than the kit lens? My experince is that lenses do much more of the "work" than the body in the sense that going for a lens upgrade could benefit more to your learning curve than body upgrade. Lenses could easely add up more money than what you have spent on the body but they will probably outlast the next 3-4 body upgrades (the lenses I use are more than 20 years old and outperforms the kit lens in all aspects except AF speed).

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Minolta primes: 2.8/20 2.8/24 1.7/50 2.8/135
Minolta zooms: 28-135 35-70 70-210(beercan) kit
Minolta cameras: Dynax 5D 7000
M42: Pentax Asahi S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 and 2.8/105 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35 Industar-61L/Z Kiron 2.8/105 Macro

I know what you are saying but I have already consider that and one of my friends told me that aswell and I have used many different lense, I only own like 3, but I have used more than that and I am pretty confident that the body upgrade is what I need. Thanks though.

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Canon EOS 5D + 50mm f/1.8

http://flickr.com/photos/nathan_ward

Rumor has it that Nikon will release a new D200 in the end of this month so I guess that the D200 will fall in price at that point. And if you are not tied up in lens investment or are brand loyalist then a couple of other brands will also release something at that time that could be in the class you want to upgrade to.

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Minolta primes: 2.8/20 2.8/24 1.7/50 2.8/135
Minolta zooms: 28-135 35-70 70-210(beercan) kit
Minolta cameras: Dynax 5D 7000
M42: Pentax Asahi S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 and 2.8/105 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35 Industar-61L/Z Kiron 2.8/105 Macro

If you can afford a D200 then buy it.

Zorro

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

My thoughts excatly...I think I saw you post on one of my friends flickr accounts.

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Canon EOS 5D + 50mm f/1.8

http://flickr.com/photos/nathan_ward

You are going to need to buy new memory cards. The D200 is Compact flash while the d40(x) and d80 are SD. I recommend a fast 133 to 300x CF card from Lexar. Sandisk I recommend Extreme 3 or 4. They come in larger sizes than SD but SD has SDHC that isn't as fast as CF. Also I recommend an Op/Tech Neck strap since it's a heavy camera and you want it to be very comfortable on your neck. So there are some things you will have to rebuy.

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rv65
C-5050Z | SD700IS (IXUS800 IS) | JamCam | Quantaray RZ 800 w/ 50mm prime lens (just found but broken) (aka Cosina CT-7, Various other brands) | EOS 50D

Actually I have two of those neck straps.haha. My dad had them with his old camera.

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Canon EOS 5D + 50mm f/1.8

http://flickr.com/photos/nathan_ward

That's the reason why I went for the D80 straight away, as it can grow with me as I learn more

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Nikon D80 | 18-135mm Kit Lens | 50mm f/1.8 | 4GB 150x Card | SB-600
http://flickr.com/photos/antmanisfubar

If you're on a budget, concentrate on the D80. It's a big step-up vs your current D40 and you can even keep your SD-cards. And as the D80 is not rumored to get a successor soon, prices should remain stable...
You should invest the money you save in lenses, not the additional features that the D200 has over the D80, believe me!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses