[geekette]

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I have been thinking about trying out Nikon because of the affordable & high quality lenses: Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 DX, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D and the Tamron 70-300 VC USD.

[I am really disgusted with Ricoh and their Pentax 50mm f/1.8 DA solution having a plastic mount--let alone no quick shift--at a ridicuously high price of $200... Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-D is metal mount screw drive for only $120. For $200 you can get a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 with metal mount AND quick shift.]

I was about to order a Nikon D7000 because they are $699 now, NEW at B&H but I've been reading tons of complaints about this camera's back focusing issue. So I decided I don't want it.

I think I now want to wait a few years until the D610 comes down in price (under $800) then get it, but for now I need a DSLR body I can grow a Nikon lens collection with, and I've been thinking about the D200 because it's so affordable used (under $250).

It's a quality made camera from what I hear and takes all the Nikon Lenses AI, AI-S, AF-D, AF-S, etc..

What do you think? Should I go for it? I don't need video recording and I can deal with less megapixels and lesser image quality than my k-x.

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Last edited by geekette; 12-15-2013 at 10:22 PM.

[Shamwow]

I would not get the D200. Way too old. Though the old CCD sensors were great at base ISO, the CCD sensors are miles ahead in low light performance.
I would choose the D7000 over the D200 any day.

Beware though, if you are planning to upgrade to FF (D610) at some point, make sure your lenses are compatible. I don't believe the 35mm f/1.8 you mentioned will work on FF.
Also, are you sure the 50mm AF-D has full time manual (quick shift)? I thought that was the internal motor lenses like the 50mm AF-S G, but I am not sure.

By the way, I love nice build quality, but I have never heard of a plastic mount failing. I have a plastic mount Canon 50mm f/1.8, and it has lasted through rough use for years.

[Oldhand]

There is a much better camera for the same price here on the forums.
Pentax K-20D
It will also take almost every M42 lens ever made and almost all of these are metal mounts.
I own a Nikon D300 but bought a Pentax K-10D so that I could use my M42 mount lenses as well as all the Pentax A,M and K mounts - all metal BTW
My Nikon is a good camera 12Mp but the D200 is only 10Mp. The Pentax K20D is 14.6Mp.
Look, I know megapixels aren't everything, but this is a no contest between the D200 and the weather sealed K-20D
The K-20D also has image stabilisation built into the camera and not the lenses - so you get it with whatever lens you use.
Have a look at the K-20D
OH

[geekette]

There is a much better camera for the same price here on the forums.
Pentax K-20D
It will also take almost every M42 lens ever made and almost all of these are metal mounts.
I own a Nikon D300 but bought a Pentax K-10D so that I could use my M42 mount lenses as well as all the Pentax A,M and K mounts - all metal BTW
My Nikon is a good camera 12Mp but the D200 is only 10Mp. The Pentax K20D is 14.6Mp.
Look, I know megapixels aren't everything, but this is a no contest between the D200 and the weather sealed K-20D
The K-20D also has image stabilisation built into the camera and not the lenses - so you get it with whatever lens you use.
Have a look at the K-20D
OH

I already have a K-X, and I don't think I am going to get rid of it. I'll use it for my pentax glass and m42's. But I want to be able to use Nikon glass as well so I need a Nikon body. D7000 have back focusing issues so I don't know of another affordable Nikon camera to get that takes AF-D lenses and AI and AI-S etc..

[Oldhand]

I already have a K-X, and I don't think I am going to get rid of it. I'll use it for my pentax glass and m42's. But I want to be able to use Nikon glass as well so I need a Nikon body. D7000 have back focusing issues so I don't know of another affordable Nikon camera to get that takes AF-D lenses and AI and AI-S etc..

OK, I understand I do have both, after all
Be aware that pre-AI Nikon lenses are problematic and can cause damage to D200 D300 D7000 etc.
You will need AI or AI-s minimum if you want to avoid those problems.
OH

[cali92rs]

I already have a K-X, and I don't think I am going to get rid of it. I'll use it for my pentax glass and m42's. But I want to be able to use Nikon glass as well so I need a Nikon body. D7000 have back focusing issues so I don't know of another affordable Nikon camera to get that takes AF-D lenses and AI and AI-S etc..

I would take a used D7000 any day of the week before the D200. That camera shares the same stellar sensor as the K-5, will take screw drive lenses, and that back focusing issue was overblown like 95% of camera "problems" on the internet.

[lguckert79]

If I was you I would save up and get a D700 FF

[RyanW]

Pick up a Canon 5D, the original, not the mkii or iii. $500 - $600 used and the $99 50f/1.8. IQ will beat the crop bodies up to around 3200 iso and you don't have the funky Nikon skin tones to fix.

[KungPOW]

Pick up a Canon 5D, the original, not the mkii or iii. $500 - $600 used and the $99 50f/1.8. IQ will beat the crop bodies up to around 3200 iso and you don't have the funky Nikon skin tones to fix.

If you only have 200-250 to spend on a Nikon body, then the n D200 is a fine camera.

It has beter Auto focus, better metering, and better on camera flash than a K10D. I have owned both.

When using any Nikon with Lightroom, you get better skin tones and colours if you use a camera preset when you import the files. Otherwise the colours will look flat.

Above ISO 800 the K10D has better noise control.

[jogiba]

You could get the new 20mp Sony A3000 for $299 w/free shipping from B&H with the 18-55mm OSS lens that is light years better than the D200 and works with any DSLR lens made using low cost adapters .
Sony A3000 vs Nikon D4 @ 1600 iso

[geekette]

Well I got my Nikon D200 in the mail the other day. I paid $200 for it. The seller said it had a 24k shutter count but it turned out to be 64k--seller gave me a partial refund of $65 (which was very generous); so I got this once $1695 camera for $135 Plus $20 shipping.

Bought an AF-S 35mm 1.8 lens from Best Buy that evening and took some portraits of my nieces.

When using any Nikon with Lightroom, you get better skin tones and colours if you use a camera preset when you import the files. Otherwise the colours will look flat.

I did notice this. I had the color set to normal and there wasn't enough saturation in iPhoto--I had to add some in. I will try the "vivid" color preset on the D200 for next time.

Here is a slightly cropped portrait I took with this camera & lens. I did no processing except for adding a tiny amount of saturation.



I also picked up a $109 AF-D 50mm 1.8 from B&H, which I can't wait to try out

[reeftool]

I think you got a good deal. I bought my daughter a used D200 a couple of years ago. She still loves it. You can't go wrong at that price. I personally prefer my K10D and K5 to the Nikon but some of that is that I'm just so familiar with them. I have used the Nikon with good results and if you use flash a lot, the Nikon has much better options.