What choice would you have made if you were to buy

"I mean nobody have test the d200 in UW."

As of yet I don't believe anyone has tested a production D200 above water and posted a subsequent review either. So far only previews have been completed and posted with pre-production D200 models. To the best of my knowledge there's been no actual reviews of production models yet posted. A thorough D200 flogging by someone like Phil from http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond200 has yet to be seen. <_<

I just bought a Canon 5D and would do it again. The quality of the pictures is amazing. 13mp allows one to crop the crap out of a photo and still get a good looking pic.

That being said, housings were/are an issue.

I just placed an order for 2 UK-Germany housings that should be delivered by mid-Feb so I haven't had it UW yet.

The plan is for one to be set up with the Canon 100mm macro and the ring flash that UK makes. This wil yield a basic point & shoot macro rig with TTL.

The second will use the Canon 14mm WA. Santa brought a f1.2 85mm that might fit in the dome so I might monkey with that. No TTL on this as my plan is to use my old dual Ike 200 setup (and potentially Alex's Magic Filter).

I'd like to promise a review to y'all but it is really cold in the California waters this time of year so I cannot promise anything before early May.

No Camera, no review - Phil Askey

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp...essage=16368893

Apparently Nikon has decided early reviews by Phil are not important or counter productive. They've not sent him a camera to review.

"I mean nobody have test the d200 in UW."

 

As of yet I don't believe anyone has tested a production D200 above water and posted a subsequent review either.  So far only previews have been completed and posted with pre-production D200 models.  To the best of my knowledge there's been no actual  reviews of production models yet posted.  A thorough D200 flogging by someone like Phil from  http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond200 has yet to be seen.  <_<

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No Camera, no review - Phil Askey

 

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp...essage=16368893

 

Apparently Nikon has decided early reviews by Phil are not important or counter productive. They've not sent him a camera to review.

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I don't think this is the reason. Apparently Nikon never sent him cameras for early review, his D2x review was posted on June/01 2005 (ship date was Feb/25). It takes him a long time to review even Canon cameras (if you are implying that Canon sends him cameras for early reviews). The Canon 1Ds MK II started shipping on Nov/15 2004, Phil's review was published on Oct/11 2005.

The D200 started shipping on Dec/15, that's only two weeks ago, and the demand is enormous. He will review it in due time.

That could be the reason. However, Phil wrote:

"I'm getting a gentle flood of emails asking when I'm posting my review of the D200. It's a seriously difficult thing to do without a camera, which I still don't have (despite other sites having one)."

which seem to imply that he knows others have received the camera for review. In fact there are reviews with production cameras from other places. Here's one example:

http://www.caborian.com/index.php?option=c...=1&limitstart=1

Herb,

Something's wrong with my computer. I can't read the writing on the review you linked to. None the less, looks like it could be actual review and an interesting read... It's dated December 28.

That could be the reason. However, Phil wrote:

 

"I'm getting a gentle flood of emails asking when I'm posting my review of the D200. It's a seriously difficult thing to do without a camera, which I still don't have (despite other sites having one)."

 

which seem to imply that he knows others have received the camera for review. In fact there are reviews with production cameras from other places. Here's one example:

 

http://www.caborian.com/index.php?option=c...=1&limitstart=1

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I think he just couldn't find one in a shop to buy or rent and the other sites could. He didn't say that Nikon provided cameras to the other sites. Also, he never published any review of any brand camera less than a month after the shipping date. I seriously doubt that either Nikon or Canon (or any other brand) provides all their camera models for free for him to review.

  The Nikkor system has the 12-24DX and the 10.5DX  The latter is a very good combination, but the 12-24DX is only a mediocre wideangle lens.  The perfect system, IMO would be a FF nikon system with the 17-35 AFS

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James - you loved that lens when you owned Nikon. Look at your old posts! Personally, the only fault I can find with this lens (for uw purposes) is its build quality - it doesn't inspire me like the 17-35 to hold it. Image quality wise, it is one of the sharpest nikkor zooms around! The mild distortion at 12mm is irrelevant underwater, and its resistance to flare is legendary.

I have minimal experience with the canon system, and despite my protest I've been handed a 1Ds II to get familiar with - I'll give a report soon. So far it is a lovely camera to hold, but like my brief experiences with the Rebel and 20D - the UI is like another language to me. No housing yet, hopefully I won't have to go down that road. I can't comment on the Canon wides yet but the complaints I've heard have been corner sharpness and falloff - you'll find neither of this in the 12-24 DX.

In response to the original post - Like other D2x owners I have no regrets, but if I were buying today I'd seriously consider a D200. I could own the camera and housing for the cost of a D2x alone! Now that I've owned a D2x, though, you couldn't pry it from my cold dead hands.

Hi Kasey,

I loved the 12-24DX because at the time - before DX lenses - it was miles above the only other alternative - the Sigma or Nikon 14mm. Now, after using the 17-35, and the Canon lenses, I've changed my opinion of the 12-24DX. It's a lot like shooting the 18-35 f3.5 on a ff camera - just average, a bit plasticy, and way overpriced (IMO).

Cheers

James

If $$$$ was no option Canon 5D and a few EF lenses.

Or 2-4 Canon A620 and or Fuji E900 cameras, Ikelite housings for both with the new DS80 strobes, adpater lenses for macro and wide angle,and to top it off maybe a dual processor Mac G5 with 23" or 30" cinema display

Just kidding

(Maybe not?)

dhaas

Herb,

Something's wrong with my computer.  I can't read the writing on the review you linked to.    None the less, looks like it could be actual review and an interesting read...  It's dated December 28.

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Works for me. Just tried it again. Perhaps you can start at

http://www.caborian.com

and work your way down.

I think he just couldn't find one in a shop to buy or rent and the other sites could. He didn't say that Nikon provided cameras to the other sites. Also, he never published any review of any brand camera less than a month after the shipping date. I seriously doubt that either Nikon or Canon (or any other brand) provides all their camera models for free for him to review.

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In his second post on that thread Phil wrote:

"Yeah and we're wondering why if they can get them into stores they can't get one to us for review..."

which seem to imply that he does get cameras from the factory for review and does not have to shop for one, and the present situation with the D200 is unusual.