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December 22, 2005
[ NIKON D200 arrives in Oz ]
The eagerly awaited NIKON D200 has arrived in the shops in Australia. dpexpert has just received a test and review unit, fitted with the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18~200mm zoom. [The VR in the name referring to the image stabilisation built into the lens.]
First impressions are very favourable. The D200 seems to keep detail in shadows and highlights better than just about any other camera we have tested. The 10.2mp sensor does deliver better detail than the 6.2mp sensor in the D70. Picture noise, even at 1600ISO, is not a problem.
The D200 is a big advance on the D100, but of course it also costs a lot more. $3000 for a body only is going to be a big deterrent for most people.
As soon as we have some sample photos from the D200 we will post them in the Gallery.
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Posted by terry at December 22, 2005 10:42 AM
Comments
how would this compare to the new canon5D?
Posted by: liwa at December 22, 2005 03:58 PM
Many people will be asking this question and it is not easy to answer.
There is a big difference in price and it is hard to see a quality difference that justifies the price differential.
The Canon has a better "feel" -- meaning that the controls all feel smoother and better damped than the Nikon. The Nikon shutter makes a loud slap. The Nikon feels bulkier and not as well integrated as the Canon. The Canon is, shall we say, smoother. It feels much nicer in the hand.
But when it comes to operation and output there is not a lot of difference. The Canon has the full-frame sensor which means that it should control noise better than the Nikon. My initial impression is that this is so.
On the other hand -- and this is on the basis of a very short test time -- the Nikon seems to have the edge in resolution. And I am really impressed with the way the Nikon handles shadows and highlights, preserving detail in both that seem to be less well preserved in the Canon.
Let's assume that the customer is rich enough not to be deterred by the Canon's price... Hmmm.
I still think that you would get more for your money with the Nikon. You'd get a body and some excellent additional lenses for less than the price of the Canon body. I loved the Canon and was sad to have to send it back but the Nikon is impressive.
Perhaps it is more realistic to compare the Nikon with the Canon 12D. The Nikon wins that comparison.
However, all of this opinion is based on a very short acquaintance with the camera. Watch for updates!
Posted by: Terry at December 22, 2005 05:06 PM