Next step from a D70?

Helium_Junkie said:
Extra £300 or so you mean, surely?
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Sorry I should have explained that better, I bought my D80 in the UK at the lowest web price I could find, then bought an 18-200VR from one of the big HK based ebay shops, because there was no availability in the UK.

After doing it I realised that for about £150 more I could have bought the 18-200VR+D200 bundled from the same supplier. At the time I wanted to get the body from a UK supplier.
 
Go for D200 as its metering is superior to D80. D80 metering isn't as good as D70s from what I have found out.

D80/D40 expose for the shadows while D70s (slightly bit underexposed) & D200 expose for the highlights so you will find it a lot easier to deal with the matrix metering if you go from D70s to D200.
 
I went and had a play with the D80 in my local shop, checking some of the pics on the in store PC. I noticed nothing wrong with the metering, in fact it felt a little more accurate than what I've become used to. Playing with the D200 I really didn't feel anything different :/
Seriously leaning toward the 80.
 
Helium_Junkie said:
I went and had a play with the D80 in my local shop, checking some of the pics on the in store PC. I noticed nothing wrong with the metering, in fact it felt a little more accurate than what I've become used to. Playing with the D200 I really didn't feel anything different :/
Seriously leaning toward the 80.
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You're hardly going to notice it in a shop. By all accounts the D200 meters better in tricky situations, like sunsets with bright skies and dark landscapes and things like that.

It's easy to compensate for the meter in the D40/D80, though. You can obviously tell when it's got the metering wrong, then just dial in some exposure comp and bob's your uncle.
 
robmiller said:
You're hardly going to notice it in a shop.
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I took it outside for a play as well, and also shot indoors from out and vice versa. I very rarely use auto settings when taking sunsets anyhow, I think I wouldnt have any issues with it... /fingers crossed.
 
If you go D80, I'm sure you will be very happy.

My Dad just got one, but I havent had a play yet.
 
I'm pretty set on the D80. The wife is having my D70 and my budget goes nowhere near the D200 when the D80 appears to be 95% of a D200's innards! Just waiting for payday now, thank you all for your comments and advice :)
 
The D80 is crappier built than the D70 and they are both a lot less well built than the D200. D80 + long telephoto = crap imo because it was bad enough with a D70.

I paid £850 for mine with 3 yrs cover. If I had a working D70 and I was in the same boat as you I would just save and get the better camera.
 
Sol said:
I've spoken with a heap of folk who say they prefer the D200 to the D2X because the D200 has quite a lot of features from it and it's a lot smaller.
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Are these people that owned a D2x then traded down, or just owned a D200 and read about the D2x? I can't imagine anyone trading down unless weight is a concern as the D2x is so much more of a camera.

Don't get me wrong I loved my D200 (and by the way, that would be my suggestion for the upgrade from a D70 too) and thought it was superb. I only upgraded to the D2x because I wanted better autofocus, battery life and construction - the D200 with grip felt a bit wobbly at times. Oh and the D200 with grip is actually bigger than the D2x as well! Plus there are loads of little things I didn't even think about that make the X in a different class, one of my favourite being a little arrow either side of the in focus circle in the viewfinder so you know if your focused behind or in front of your subject when doing manual focus, very handy for critical sharpness.

I do agree that the difference between a D200 and D2x NEW is not worth it but if your buying second hand I think the D2x makes much more sense to anyone toying between that and a D200.

And I would even suggest getting a D200 second hand if you can find a good deal. There bound to be plenty of bargains to be had if you look around, gives you more money towards better glass then! :)
 
last week, I went from a D70 -> D200 and I'm really happy with the decision. I guess I'm biased though, because I didn't even consider the D80 an option - I tried the D200 in a shop a while ago and wanted it then and there!
 
Helium_Junkie said:
Not worth £400 :p
Anything else? I'm genuinely ineterested in any real differences, so please be brutal :)
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Build quality, environmental sealing, better metering, 5 fps, that's about it off the top of my head.
 
5fps and greater burst depth will be useful for sports if you shoot those.

The magnesium body of the D200 is far nicer (and chunkier) to hold than the D80's plastic body. Environmental sealing can help too.

Looking at the specs there isnt much else, apart from a larger sensor for metering purposes.

Its more about the build and the feel of the camera. :)
 
dod said:
pfft, it's obvious, ANY Canon :p
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i think "next step" implies a step forwards
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