Comparable NIKON model. Advice please.

marcdsgn · 09-01-2008, 12:09 AM

No, I'm not converting. I've promised my wife a new DSLR body for Christmas, but as she already has tonnes of Nikon gear, we've decided to stick to Nikon for her. We can't be bothered buying up new lenses, filters, etc.

She uses my K10D and loves it, so now we're wanting to find a NIKON model that could be said to be a comparative model (in functionality, not price).

Any advice from people with hands-on experience between brands would be greatly appreciated. (Please, no NIKON-bashing for the heck of it. Be objective, thanks).

deejjjaaaa · 09-01-2008, 12:46 AM

D300 will beat it (AF, metering, auto WB)

ftpaddict · 09-01-2008, 01:36 AM

You can get a good deal on a D80 body now. The ergo. isn't quite as good as the Pentax K10D's, but it's close enough.

axl · 09-01-2008, 01:48 AM

I'd stick with D80 or D200 if you can get one...

bymy141 · 09-01-2008, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by marcdsgn

No, I'm not converting. I've promised my wife a new DSLR body for Christmas, but as she already has tonnes of Nikon gear, we've decided to stick to Nikon for her. We can't be bothered buying up new lenses, filters, etc.

She uses my K10D and loves it, so now we're wanting to find a NIKON model that could be said to be a comparative model (in functionality, not price).

Any advice from people with hands-on experience between brands would be greatly appreciated. (Please, no NIKON-bashing for the heck of it. Be objective, thanks).

The D80 uses the same Sony sensor as your K10D I believe.

- Bert

pentkon52 · 09-01-2008, 05:26 AM

What Nikon bodies does she have.??

I would look at the D200/300 or the D80.

If she wants a big body, lots of used D2H's out there. I'm still partial to the earlier models, D1 and D1H as well as the D2H.

Dave

HGMonaro · 09-01-2008, 05:54 AM

more importantly... what lenses does she have?

*Clicker* · 09-01-2008, 06:29 AM

D80 but i think it would be better to get the D90 or D200 if there isn't a budget?

RBellavance · 09-01-2008, 06:57 AM

The K10D sits between the Nikon D80 and D200.

The D80 is roughly the same size, and features the same sensor as the K10D. It is, however, not weather-sealed and can't use older, manual-focus lenses.

The D200 is larger and heavier, and features a high-performance version of the 10mp Sony sensor. It can do 5 fps in continuous shooting, and is supposed to be weather-resistant (altough I remember reading it is not as thoroughly sealed as the K10D).

Neither model is available new, as far as I know. They've been replaced by the D90 and D300.

deejjjaaaa · 09-01-2008, 09:11 AM

this looks like a family with both (that is important) husband & wife interested (at least - "...has tonnes of Nikon gear...") in photo and 2 systems already in place = so I think they can afford better than D80/D90... so D200/D300, but you want to buy something really nice for your wife, so D300 it is.

*davef* · 09-01-2008, 11:04 AM

If I still had a bunch of Nikkor glass, I'd be looking at a D300 or D700. I haven't looked all that closely but my impression is that some of the low to midrange Nikons are not all that compatible with older MF glass. Someone feel free to correct me if I'm off the mark here. Dave

pentkon52 · 09-01-2008, 02:29 PM

D200's can still be found in my neck of the woods.

Dave

marcdsgn · 09-01-2008, 04:39 PM

Thanks so far, everyone. Just got into work again, so I've only just read all the posts.

I've made a note of all the models you've mentioned so far. Will check out any reviews I can find.

Keep the advice coming... The more knowledge I'm exposed to, the better the decision I make in the end.

PS: (deejjjaaaa, it would be nice to think we have an unlimited budget. Not quite the case though. My wife has held off going digital for a long time while I've been buying gadgets left right and centre on top of buying a K10D last years. So I just think it would be mean to make her NIKON purchase an inferior one for the sake of saving a couple of hundred bucks. Ofcourse, if it turns out we have to spend a couple of thousand bucks to get a K10D equivalent, we might just end up selling off the NIKON gear and going PENTAX all the way. But let's just see....)

blwnhr · 09-01-2008, 05:02 PM

If the budget has enough scope D300, failing that a D200, failing that D80 or D90.

*GaryML* · 09-01-2008, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by marcdsgn

Thanks so far, everyone. Just got into work again, so I've only just read all the posts.

I've made a note of all the models you've mentioned so far. Will check out any reviews I can find.

Keep the advice coming... The more knowledge I'm exposed to, the better the decision I make in the end.

The D80 is very comparable to the K10D in image quality and overall features. (I know as I replaced my K10D with a D80.) The D80 does have "scene modes" and other features intended to attract point and shoot cross-overs, but it is a quite a good camera with very good image quality, excellent AF speed and accuracy (with fast AF-S lenses), good penta-prism viewfinder, etc.

If you are comfortable with the price of the D300 at about $1625 (body only), then go for that as it offers better construction, slightly better resolution, better AF, better high ISO performance, and other extra features. It is definitely the sweet spot in the current Nikon semi-pro to pro line-up, in terms of price versus performance.

If you want to use manual focus lenses, you need the D200 or D300 (or better models) as manual focus lenses will not meter with the D80 or D90 (or lesser models). The D100/200/300/700 semi-pro series as well as the D1/2/3 pro series will meter (even matrix meter) with any "AI" or later lens and support any exposure mode that the lens supports. However, you cannot mount any pre-AI lens on any Nikon digital SLR and may damage the camera if you try to do so. So if your wife has any *really* old lenses check them out before trying to mount them.