Camera Labs

There are a couple of gently-used D200 camera bodies available locally. With a gently-used pre-owned D200 selling for about one-third the price of a new D300s, I am considering the D200 as the test bed for my newly-acquired Nikkor AI-s 50mm 1.2 lens.

I have a Canon 7D, largely equivalent to the D300s, so I do not need a second high-performance APS-C camera. Reviews I have read about the D200 indicate it may suit me. Of course, those reviews were generally written when the D200 was new on the market.

Most lesser Nikon digital cameras will not meter with AI-s lenses. D2 and up, D200 and up, and the D7000 will meter with AI-s lenses.

A Novoflex adapter to allow mounting a Nikkor onto a Canon will cost me almost $300 US, and my original intention was to use such an adapter, with the consideration of eventually adding a full-frame Nikon a few years years in the future. Yet, a pre-owned D200 can be had for about twice that price of the adapter. If the D200 is still a relevant camera body, it seems it may be a better value than purchasing an adapter, without seriously affecting my ability to buy a full-frame in the future.

I will probably mostly use this fast Nikkor for low-light shooting in the urban environment; indeed, the pleasing 18-point stars resulting from the nine-blade diaphragm are part of what drew me to this lens. I am not afraid to bring a tripod; with my bad right knee, a nice, lightweight carbon fiber tripod is actually an aid as I move about.

I understand that higher ISO performance is available with newer cameras, but one reason I bought the fast lens was to reduce the need for high ISO, anyway. A tripod further reduces the need for high ISO.

I would appreciate advice, particularly from those who use, or have used, the D200 in low light shooting with fast lenses. Thanks!

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

Think this ebay job might be cheap enough to be worth a try?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Well, searching the web for reviews of various adapters, plus asking at a local dealer, nobody seems to have anything bad to say about Novoflex. I have read about small pieces dislodging from some adapters, falling into the camera body, and causing big problems. The Novoflex seems simple, with no glued-on electronic contacts to dislodge.

I have also read of adapters obtained cheaply through Ebay that were not machined to the correct thickness.

Novoflex falls within my comfort zone, but its price makes me wonder whether a D200 might be a wiser purchase. For reference, I was able to handle a D300s, when my wife was able to bring her agency-issued camera home. (Now, the cameras must stay at the office, unless being used on an investigation.) The ergonomics and controls of the D200 are mostly like those of the D300s.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I currently own and use a D200 as my primary body. I love it and have absolutely no complaints apart from one - the ISO quality. It's about comparable to the ISO quality of a XTI rebel. With this level of camera I would expect better - but having said that, it is a few years old now. You personally might find the 5fps a bit slower compared to your 8fps as well... Apart from that, I think you'd be happy with it.

Thanks! The comparison to the XTi is especially relevant because we have two of them, too, and I still find them to be handy for some shooting. The frames-per-second is not so important, because the 7D can handle sports/action duty, and the manual-focus Nikkor is certainly not the first choice for moving subjects.

I really do appreciate the posts by popo and Trevor Harris.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro