[liljj323]

i have a friend who is selling his d80, in mint condish for $600USD, which i will be able to afford around april. but i kinda had my heart set on a d200. then i started to think about it and most of the features on the d200 i don't need.

what im getting at is if i do buy the d80 im afraid that ill be unhappy and want an upgrade... im so confused as to what to get . i want an upgrade from my d40, mostly because of the af limitations


please, help

[Charlotte]

liljj323 I sympathise with your dilemma here, I'm in the same boat, although I have already made my decision NOT to go the stepping stone route, as you only end up paying more, i.e. in your case a D80 and later a D200 as well.

I think you have to decide whether you are definitely not going to be happy 'til you have a D200, and if that's the case, don't bother with the D80. And remember to think to the future, you may not be ready for all the controls of the D200 right now, but you might well be ready for them in a year's time. If so, I'd go straight to the D200 + start familiarising yourself with the controls at your own pace.

On the other hand though, if you really rely on the D40's presets, then you may find getting to know the D200 tough going - I'm not sure if the D200 has any presets at all. Best thing is to start using manual settings on your D40 as much as possible before you jump in at the deep end

Have you handled both a D80 and a D200? That's the best way to make this very personal decision

[Dabhand16]

Good advice from Charlotte there

[Dave]

D200 is built to take more abuse & has more functions that can be customised etc. If you look after your camera & don't want to change every setting to the nth degree, then the D80 is more than adequate & you will get just as good a shots from it, as D200. Only jumping up to the D300 would you see any noticeable difference in your images from a D80 in my honest opinion.

[WOODY]

IF YOU BUY THE D80, BUT REALLY YOU WANT THE D200, THEN YOU WILL WISH YOU
HAD BOUGHT THE D200 IN THE FIRST PLACE. AS CHARLOTTE HAS POINTED OUT, YOU
MAY NOT NEED ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF THE D2OO AT THE MOMENT, BUT AS YOU GET
MORE CONFIDENT IN USING IT YOU WILL BE VERY PLEASED YOU BOUGHT IT.

I HAVE HAD A D200 FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS, STILL FINDING MY WAY ROUND IT,BUT
I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT IS A FANTASTIC CAMERA.

[VinnyP]

Lenses aside (which behind the photographer make the biggest difference) the big three factors which will affect your finished image are the sensor the metering and the focus system. Both cameras share all three of these so on that basis they are the same.
However of course they are not the same, in some areas, how important that is to you is something only you can answer. The D200 has pro build quality, weather sealing and is made of stronger materials (It's also a qualifying body for NPS/NPU membership). It also has a higher frame rate so would be better for fast moving stuff and has more options to "tweak" the settings. Finally the 2 cameras will handle differently, the D80 weighs less but has less of a "pro" control layout so you will need to delve into the menus more often to adjust things again it's very much personal taste.
On most criteria if your budget stretches to either camera then the D200 would be the one to go for BUT I'll take you back to my first line. If you can get a D80 and a better lens or just the D200 9 times out of 10 the lens will make far more difference than any difference between bodies.