D80 or D200

I did a search on this topic,and it still isnt clear to me which one is a better choice, if the D80 would pefrom exactly like a D200 underwater, why wouldnt i choose that one, just need a little help on this one guys, also I have a d70 already with about 6 1 GB compact flash cards, I know that the D80 takes SD cards, so I would have to buy all new cards, and also which is better compact flash or the SD. I will be putting the camera in a Ikelite housing.

Thanks for your help

Larry

As far as I know, there isn't a significant difference in underwater performance, so why not base your decision on which one you want to use on dry land? I have a D80 and am quite happy with it. I'm not sure that I would want or need a D200 for land photography. I also like the size and weight of the D80.

Those 1 GB CF cards are worthless on a 10megapixel camera. You'll want at least 2gb, preferably 4gb, unless you like opening your housing in the middle of a day of diving. Either way, you'll need new memory cards.

David

I did a search on this topic,and it still isnt clear to me which one is a better choice, if the D80 would pefrom exactly like a D200 underwater, why wouldnt i choose that one, just need a little help on this one guys, also I have a d70 already with about 6 1 GB compact flash cards, I know that the D80 takes SD cards, so I would have to buy all new cards, and also which is better compact flash or the SD. I will be putting the camera in a Ikelite housing.

Thanks for your help

 

Larry

Check out the battery life on the D80. If its like what I hear about the D200 you'll have to open the housing in the middle of the day to change batteries (assuming you're doing 3-4 dives/day & shooting alot). I like getting about 750 pics on my D70 battery - 2 days worth. I'd go with a minimum card size that will last all day or equal to battery life, whichever is less.

Just investigate both and evaluate the differences. Then scout out the housings you want and see if the d200 is significantly different than the d80 in features you want and need.

I don't know that much about the d80 but what I would want to look into is I change ISO a lot on a shallow water spring diving here in Florida. It is easy to change the ISO on my d200/Subal housing. I believe the d80 has a different button arrangement for changing ISO, so find out if that is or is not important to you and if it is easy to change u/w. Little differences like that can mean a lot to your shooting. There are a few other "small" differences like that, also lots of u/w photographers switch between AF-S and AF-C a lot and again it is easy on the d200 but I'd want to check out how easy it is on the d80 as it is a different arrangement.

Yes the d80 is 9oz lighter and I wish for that!!! And I think the d80 has better battery life, this is huge for u/w photographers (if you have a huge CF card too that is)!!!

But even as a first time DSLR buyer I am glad now I got the d200 instead of the d80 for little reasons and the fact that I'll most likely get a Fuji S5 for a back up DSLR and may even like that better for u/w, it will fit in the d200 housings.

I think both the d200 and d80 cameras will take some buoyancy tweaking depending on what housing you get, even though the d80 is 9oz lighter it will probably still be quite negative depending on the housing you get of course.

Good Luck! Carol

I don't think that you will find a whole lot of difference underwater unless you are particularly interested in a certain type of housing, then the difference in D80 vs D200 housing might make a difference. For example, the Sea & Sea D200 housing is all aluminum, but the Sea & Sea D80 housing is half polycarbonate and half Aluminum. This may make a difference to you or may not.

For topside use, the D200 is a magnesium alloy body that is well sealed against the enviroment. I took mine on a 3 day grand canyon rafting trip and was happy to have the more durable construction. The D80 is much more similar to the D70 in body construction (plastic) but still well made according to reviews. Your call if that is worth the extra cost.

Just a few items for consideration, either way, you will end up with a great camera.

take care,

John

If cost is not a major consideration, I'd definitely go with the D200. The D200 has a more rugged build than the D80. The weather sealing is another important cosideration for me as well. We're using our equipment in an evironment that's exposed to all kind of moisture - high humidity, splashing, water droplets. Reliability is just as important if not more so than specs.

If you already have an D70, I'd buy the D80. (that's what I did)

The D80 fits in a D70 housing without severe modifications, so you can keep your D70 as a backup.

Right now I am modifiing my Ike D70-housing for a D80. Yesterday I did a first test dive and I have to do some minor changes.

When I am finished, I will write a review about the modifications.

I got the D80 as I prefer the smaller lighter body for top side. It's always nice to pay a bit less for essentially the same quality images. The battery may last better on the D80 as its processing speed is slower but then someone else might know for sure - it has not been a problem at all so far.

However a few things did catch me out on the D80 in a Sea & Sea housing that were not at all apparent initially. The following cannot be altered underwater whereas on a D200 I expect they can.

1. Switching between AF-C and AF-S. For some reason you have to do this through a dedicated button on the camera top plate as there is no housing button. This feature is removed as a choice from the menu.

2. The same applies to Single and Continuous shooting.

3. The same applies to metering pattern - matrix, spot, center weighted

4. The same applies to front and rear curtain sync (may be the same as D200)

None of these are a headache for me but may be to others. It does mean I have to put the camera together very carefully with these settings pre chosen. a different make housing may have more buttons to get to these features.

After a D50 the image review features are superb on the D80 and I'm not sure if the D200 is as good. ISO setting and white balance is also very easy. I would probably get the same again and like SD cards.

It really pays to look in very close detail the finer aspects of contol.

is the weight that much difference between the D80 and the D200 and would it cause a weight problem underwater in strong currents, and would it be noticeable underwater using a Ikelite housing , is there a disadvantage going with a SD card versus compact flash, and is the 5 fps that much of an advantage underwater then the 3 fps on the D80. i will making my purchase this week, again price is not an issue, but I dont want to pay for stuff I wont be using or if the quality is a lot less, and I will be using it on land just not sure to what degree.

Sorry for all the questions

Larry

I got the D80 as I prefer the smaller lighter body for top side. It's always nice to pay a bit less for essentially the same quality images. The battery may last better on the D80 as its processing speed is slower but then someone else might know for sure - it has not been a problem at all so far.

 

However a few things did catch me out on the D80 in a Sea & Sea housing that were not at all apparent initially. The following cannot be altered underwater whereas on a D200 I expect they can.

 

1. Switching between AF-C and AF-S. For some reason you have to do this through a dedicated button on the camera top plate as there is no housing button. This feature is removed as a choice from the menu.

2. The same applies to Single and Continuous shooting.

3. The same applies to metering pattern - matrix, spot, center weighted

4. The same applies to front and rear curtain sync (may be the same as D200)

 

None of these are a headache for me but may be to others. It does mean I have to put the camera together very carefully with these settings pre chosen. a different make housing may have more buttons to get to these features.

 

After a D50 the image review features are superb on the D80 and I'm not sure if the D200 is as good. ISO setting and white balance is also very easy. I would probably get the same again and like SD cards.

 

It really pays to look in very close detail the finer aspects of contol.

I think is you might be doing macro, with the older 105 and maybe a teleconverter then the faster AF in the D200 will be of benefit.

I THINK i am correct in the statement that the D200 has faster AF, can anyone confirm?

I think is you might be doing macro, with the older 105 and maybe a teleconverter then the faster AF in the D200 will be of benefit.

 

I THINK i am correct in the statement that the D200 has faster AF, can anyone confirm?

No, they have the exact same AF module, the CAM 1000.

I must admit, I thought they were different. Although - unlike Luiz I don't have any CAM numbers to back me up!

Alex

Yep, Luiz is right - just checked the Nikon site. Wow I didn't realise that the D200 had such inferior AF to the D2x.

I have both the D80 and D2X and the difference between them in terms of AF is very big.

Alex

The weather seals on the D200 saved the camera twice during minor floods (about a teaspoon). If price is not a consideration go with a D2X for the reason Alex said.

Yeah, i had thought the D80 had the same as D70 in terms of AF, if i had realised that it was the same as the D200 i may well have gone for the D80 instead of the D200.

Go for the D80.

Here is a nice side by side comparison of the D80 and D200 for those still wondering. The only thing I couldn't find out for sure was if they had the same viewfinder. I thought the viewfinder on the D80 was smaller and slightly darker than my D2x, but I've never seen a D200, so don't know if it is any bigger than the D80.

Luiz

The weight and size differense is not an issue when it comes to handling under water. It might be on land, depending on your preferences.

The D200 is slightly larger and heavier, and a lot more sturdy built+weather sealed. The D80 has a more plastic feel to it, similar to a Canon 20D. This might be important to you, or not. I imagine more so if you use it extensively on land.

If I was about to do the investment now, I'd probably go for the D80 since I don't use my D200 a lot topside, considering I could find a quality UW-housing with the same ability to reach functions as the good D200 housings have. (when I got the D200 there were no UW-housings readily available for the D80).

Can't really say if there are any pros or cons considering CF vs SD, in speed or anything else that could matter. I believe nowadays there are cards of both types capable of 8GB.

/christian

The weather seals on the D200 saved the camera twice during minor floods (about a teaspoon). If price is not a consideration go with a D2X for the reason Alex said.

I agree with TomR1 about the side benefit of the extra sealing on the D200. In most instances, floods are not massive. A few drops may cause a problem which will be less troublesome with a sealed camera. Mind you, most lenses do not have seals but...

If price is not a consideration why not go for the Canon 1Ds MK II

Michel