Camera Labs

In the week before Christmas, I handled a Canon 5D and a Nikon D2x at a local camera dealer, both pre-owned. After reviewing some images from each that I shot inside the building, I may well visit again, bringing along a familiar Nikkor lens or two. (I had a couple of my EF lenses to test on the 5D, but used one of the dealer's demo Nikkor zooms on the D2x.) The images did not impress me, but the next visit will occur after I have learned a bit about changing the settings, plus using familiar lenses.

The D2x handled very well for me, compared to the 5D. This makes sense, as I have a Nikon F6. I also have Canons, but the 5D is sufficiently different from a 7D that it felt like a totally strange camera. A brick comes to mind, except less dense, a plastic brick.

I know the D2x is DX, not FX, of course, and the 5D is not a "pro" camera, so these two cameras are the proverbial apple/orange. I know that newer DX cameras will perform better
at higher ISO than the D2x. The more I read about the D2x, however, the
more intriguing it appears. One factor is its ability to use the Nikon CLS as
well as some film-era flashguns; I have ten of those. One of my mentors is my wife, a quite experienced crime/death scene forensic photographer, who uses low ISO virtually all of the time, even at night. Christopher Duncan, a colleague and my primary local instructor, is an advocate of painting with light, at 100 ISO.

For shooting at low ISO, primarily JPEG, (at least until I upgrade computers) with plenty of available light and/or flashguns, and having handling qualities and many controls very much like my F6, plus a degree of weather sealing, I think I may have caught a new fever.

Any thoughts on the D2x are appreciated.

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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

The Nikon D2x is a superb camera and sold for a lot, lot more than the Canon 5D did when both of them were new. You can't beat the feel of the pro bodied Nikon's or even Canons for that matter. They exude quality and their extra weight and solid construction give a feeling of confidence that most of the flimsy, plastic fantastic prosumer cameras don't.

I visited the dealer again this week, with a familiar 50mm 1.8 AF, and found that it front-focused a bit on this particular D2x. This was not really apparent until viewing the images on a monitor at home. Today, I visited the dealer again, with a familiar, much-favored Canon EF 35mmL lens, and tried it on the Canon 5D. Wow! What a difference good glass makes!

I think I may be back at the dealer in the morning, to further evaluate the 5D! The D2x will have to wait for another buyer.

To be clear, this is not a Canon-versus-Nikon thing! If $5200 US had been in my Christmas stocking, I would have likely bought a D3s this week. I am also considering a D70s, for its 1/500th flash sync speed, if I can find a particularly clean one.

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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

While I respect your decision, I do recommend you drop both cameras from a great height. suddenly, the D2x will be a lot more appealing!

If I may ask, what was the price offered for the D2x? I've been thinking of getting one.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

Oh, I am certain the D2x is a more sturdy camera, being of true pro-quality construction. The 5D is not even weather-sealed.

This particular D2x was listed as $999.99 US, in bargain condition, due to quite a bit of wear on the bottom, and the total lack of accessories. I had to bring a battery with me to test this camera. Compared to some D2x cameras on EBay, it seemed to be priced a bit high. Moreover, with the walk-out price being over $1000, due to taxes, I reminded myself that this was one-fifth the price of a new D3s, and nearly half the price of a 5D2.

Had the really clean, near-pristine 5D not been available at the same dealer, for $100 US less money, and had the D2x not front-focused with the 50mm 1.8 lens I had brought with me, I might well have purchased it, especially if the dealer would have accepted an offer of somewhat less $$$.

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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

At that price I'd say that a secondhand D300 would be a better choice imho. Can't speak for Canon of course.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

Yes, that was what local people also recommended, a pre-owned D300. The thing is, my F6 has me spoiled. I like the idea of a DSLR that duplicates the feel of an F6 in my hands. Moreover, a D300 is a semi-pro/"pro-sumer" camera, a category which is well-covered by my Canons.

Anyway, researching the D2-series was an interesting project. I now know much more about early 21st-Century Nikon DSLRs, lenses, and flashguns than before, and learned some things about digital photography in general, too.

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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