| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Should I buy a Used D2X with new camera on the horizon?
Bill McGuire, Photographer, Assistant
 |
Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 9:16 AM on 09.20.07 |
| ->> Here is my dilemma. I currently have a D2H and D200 but my D2H is getting on in years (almost 2)and I don’t want to be handicapped if it goes down since its my main camera in the day time. I have the opportunity to buy a very slightly used D2X, the wireless transmitter, 16 gig card and the 18-200 lens for a decent price. Well I think its decent. So here is my question. Should I buy the D2X now or wait until the D3 or D300 come out and buy then? I am pretty set with glass but I could use the 18-200 as an everyday lens. |
|
Amir Gamzu, Photographer
|
Ann Arbor | MI | USA | Posted: 9:49 AM on 09.20.07 |
->> There are a few factors that need to go into making your decision;
1 - Is it really a good deal? That is for you to decide based on price, condition, how much you want the gear and how much they want to get rid of it.
2- Do you need full frame? If you are happy with the Nikon 1.5 crop factor then don't bother to get a D3. They will probably come out with some kind of camera to compete with the 5D if you only need full frame once in a while.
3- Can you wait for the next camera? How long before they start shipping? How long after they start shipping will you actually get your new D3?
My thoughts on the subject |
|
Bryan Hulse, Photographer
|
Highlands Ranch | Co | USA | Posted: 9:59 AM on 09.20.07 |
->> I have the D2x and D200 and have used the D2h quite a bit. You didn’t really mention what glass you currently own.
As much as I love my D2x, I would recommend investing in glass over jumping on board with a new body, especially a D3. Slapping a consumer lens (18-200) on the D3 would be missing the point on buying a high end pro body, in my opinion.
If you already own some pro glass, then that question does become a little more complicated. |
|
Bill McGuire, Photographer, Assistant
|
Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 10:11 AM on 09.20.07 |
->> Bryan,
I guess I should of mentioned that I do own pro level glass. Currently I have a range of 400 2.8 down to a 50 1.4. I thought about selling my 300 2.8 to pay for the new camera body which would be a whole new thread.. Does anyone really need a 300 and a 400? I started out with the 300 shooting baseball then moved into football and came across a really good deal on the 400 that I couldnt pass up.. the guy sold it to me for what he was going to trade it in for to B&H. but I think a 400 is a little too long for baseball and a 300 is a little to short for football.. I do also have a 1.7 converter which I still use on the 400. I shoot mostly youth sports so I usually get great access. Sorry to ramble on.. I tend to do that sometimes |
|
Marc Browning, Photographer
|
Wichita | KS | | Posted: 11:29 AM on 09.20.07 |
->> buy the D2X, I think it's Nikon's best camera under ISO 1600.
I shoot with two of them & still have 2 d2hs's & a d2h. I to shoot youth sports & use 80-200, 300, 400 all the time.
Just my 2 cents |
|
Walter Calahan, Photographer
|
Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 11:36 AM on 09.20.07 |
| ->> The D300 is a better D2X when reading the specs. Of course the D2X is a known quantity, and the D300 could have bugs. |
|
Robb Sepulveda, Photographer
|
Newport Beach | CA | | Posted: 11:46 AM on 09.20.07 |
->> I recently went through the same dilema, like you I have a d2h which is showing shutter prob's first dark frame and I was worried it would die during the season, my back up has been a d70 which is too slow for action mostly night football. But I used to do behind the sideline shooting. I could get a great deal on a refurbished d200 now or wait for the d300. I bought the d200 and it is a sweet little camera. If my d2h dies I have the d200 & d70. Post season I now have the option of selling the d200 and then buying the d300, but I think I will hold out and save my 2 cents and get the D3 later next year. Like you I also have lots of glass, 300 2.8, 70-200 2.8, I am buying the 17-55 2.8. And I think after the 1st of the year Nikon has a new lens 14-24 2.8 for about $1700, so I will pick that up as well.
So to sum up you could buy the D2x now sell it later and pick up the D3 which seems to be unreal. |
|
Eric Canha, Photographer
|
Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 12:33 PM on 09.20.07 |
->> Bill,
I'd wait it out. If the D2h does die the D200 is a capable replacement for all of the daily assignment work that you might face. It's not a D2h when it comes to shooting sports but even there it'll get the job done. I agree with Walter that on paper the D300 /w grip sounds like a great replacement for the D2x. As far as the extras, the lens is nothing to crave, the xmitter is fine if you are looking to setup a remote and want to be able to beam files back without having to retrieve cards at halftime but it's not something that will get much use daily, and as far a 16gb cards go..... the first time one fails or gets lost you'll jump back to 2 & $ gig cards. It's just too big a basket for my eggs ;)
One last thing to consider is that if the D3 and D300's are anywhere as good in the hand as on the page, the value of the D2x and D200 will drop quite a bit, and your purchase will depreciate all that much more. |
|
Lee Love, Photographer
|
Herndon | VA | US | Posted: 1:42 PM on 09.20.07 |
->> Bill the D2x is a natural progression from a D2h which is the same move I made. The D2x is a great camera and and even though I have D3 on order I am very hesitant to let go of my D2x's.
So my recommendation is if you get what you feel is a good deal on a D2x I would go for it. A D300 looks to be a good camera but if you like the feel of the D2h I do not think you will be happy with a D300. |
|
David Seelig, Photographer
|
Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 2:04 PM on 09.20.07 |
->> Bill
I would hold off till the new stuff arrives. Yo are in a big city you can always rent if you have to. David |
|
Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
|
New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:20 PM on 09.20.07 |
->> I would get the D2X. I LOVE my D2X. I have used every Nikon there is (and currently own a D2X, D2Xs, D200, D100) and the "x" is my favorite. I have over 200k actuations and it's starting to act weird but whatever happens tho this camera, I will do whatever it takes to bring it back to life.
I have bought "too" many first generation cameras and ALL of them had issues. Never again
Debbie |
|
George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 9:27 AM on 09.21.07 |
->> Since the D3 is supposed to ship in only 6 weeks, it's worth waiting.
The D3 has a good feel, has some great features not found on other Nikon digital bodies and you can't beat the speed. I hated the D2h, liked the D2X and loved the D200. The biggest complaint on the D2x and D200 is the fps was too slow for some sports stuff.
If your camera dies in the next 6 weeks you can borrow a body from NPS for a couple of weeks and maybe fill in the time with another borrowed or rented camera.
Frankly, the D2x and D200 are good cameras, but now they are "old" technology. It's like when you buy a computer, it may hurt a bit to shell out the money, but you really need to get the latest, greatest, fastest thing you can to keep it viable for as long as possible. Right now you wouldn't buy a Mac G5 when the quad, dual-core Macs blow them away. Buying a used D2x now is putting on hold your moving ahead and will be out-dated a lot faster than a D3 or D300 will.
If you do a lot of night, high school football and basketball inside poorly-lit gyms, then the D3 and it's ultra-high ISO sensitivity will be a great solution. I haven't done extensive testing by far, but in a room with not-so-good flourescent lighting the 25,600 ISO frames were very usable. Heck, with the lights turned off and all the light coming from the hallway, back-lighting the subject, the file would work for newsprint.
Because I was so disappointed in the D2h I began the moves to switch to Canon -- after sticking with Nikon for nearly 25 years. The D2x was nice but not enough to stop me from switching, the D200 almost did and if I had known at the first of the year that the D3 would have the specs and look as good as it did in a short time playing with it this week I may have stayed Nikon.
It's not the camera to make people switch back from Canon, but it should really strengthen the hold of market-share Nikon already has in the pro market and should be worth the wait for those who held out this long. |
|
Jonathan Castner, Photographer
|
Longmont | CO | USA | Posted: 10:44 AM on 09.21.07 |
| ->> I'll put in this: figure that you need to get the money back on your investment in 18 months or you are losing money on the purchase. A used D2x, call it $2500?, is still a very good camera it's just not the latest. If you keep the D200 then you will have two nearly up to date bodies for your work. If you can deal with what those bodies do and give then considering that you are a student the D2x might be a better value than the D3 right now. Take the remaining $2000 and put that into your business some other way like a nice project to further your career. |
|
Jock Fistick, Photographer
|
Brussels | Belgium | | Posted: 5:53 PM on 09.23.07 |
| ->> I think the D2X rocks under iso 800 and especially when shooting RAW. But if you work in jpg most of the time AND at iso speeds higher than 800 - then I would wait for the D3 as the high iso noise issues don't exist. Another factor is how important is having a full frame camera to you? If that is a feature you have been longing for like me - then definitely wait - but if not - then as others have suggested - using the money you will save on a D2X to invest in some other aspect of your business might be a good idea. |
|
Bill McGuire, Photographer, Assistant
|
Atlanta | GA | USA | Posted: 10:12 PM on 09.24.07 |
| ->> thanks for everyone's opinion.. well I shot a night football game with my D2H and D200 and actually found that images at 1600 ISO from the D2H werent even useable and the shots from my D200 (which I posted on my member page) were better but could be better.. so I guess I have the answer to my question.. if the D2X is just as good as the D200 in the higher ISO, I will wait for the D3 or D300.. |
|
Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:15 PM on 09.24.07 |
->> I would wait!!
I just sent NPS my Order with the Roberts Imaging PO Numbers!!
That way I will get NPS Priority on my Order!!
Roberts is a site sponsor and they are great guys, call Christy!!
Y |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|