LENSA.CO.UK

I’m sure some of you may have dreamt about owning a fine piece of professional gear, Nikon D3 or Canon 1D Mark 3 anyone? Who doesn’t dream of owning them, they’re the absolute pinnacle in DSLR technology. But reality steps back in and those dreams comes crashing back to earth, you guys do know the price right for them right?

Well I had a dream, a dream to own a piece of professional gear, and the closest I got to owning them was the Nikon D2x, and pro lens Nikon 17-55mm f2.8. Yessiree I had them. Now before you guys get all jealous (I feel em coming), let me get  this straight. I’m not rich, I’m a student, an architecture student (papa kedana miskin) at that, I just try hard to collect that measly amount I have left after I deduct the bills and house rent and what not.

Like most of you guys I started of with a Nikon D40,(I love my dad because he bought me this camera before I came to London, without this camera I don’t think I could have made it this far, so thanks ba! (hope your reading this) ) an entry level DSLR. From the D40 I jumped to a Nikon D200 after months of contemplation and wanting a camera that had all its main function on its body, so it’ll minimize the time I’ll have for tweaking and focus more time on capturing the image. So here you have it, the difference between an entry level, amateur and PRO level DSLR.

Here are my thoughts on the cameras and from a functional point of view (none of the in-depth camera stuff), just the useful or un-usefull stuff I find in the field. Mind you these are my thoughts and should you disagree, feel free to leave a comment below.

Nikon D40 (Entry Level DSLR)

+ side

• It’s so small and thus less noticable by people. I like having a camera that people don’t notice that your pointing it at them. Unless you shoot celebrities that is.
• Entry level DSLR means more friendly menus, and once you get the hang of it, it’s really easy to control.
• Long battery life, believe it or not it lasts way longer than the D200, it would probably last a week on a moderate everyday usage.
• In-camera editing, crop, mono etc, I highly believe in getting the pictures perfect in-camera. I’d prefer spending more time outside getting the shot right than editing it later on. The logic behind that is, if you’ve got 200 chosen shots, there is no way your gonna edit 200 pictures in one night, (or maybe you can, but not me).

- side

• Because it’s so small, its so light. It’s alright with the normal kit lens, but once you get a 18-200 on there, it becomes rather imbalanced in terms of weight distribution on your hands. I like my DSLR to be a bit more solid.
• 2.5 frames per second, I shoot people skateboarding, so 2.5 fps isn’t going to do me justice.
• No secondry screen on camera body. Each time you open the back LCD to go into the menu you lose energy (battery power). Plus I hate the hassle of trying to change everything (settings) one by one.
• In order to change metering, AF modes, ISO, WB, the important things, you have to go into the menu. Which takes up time, time which could be used to shoot a fleeting moment. And that could happen in a matter of seconds and be lost forever. How frustrating is it to lose your dream shot just because you spent time diving in the menus? Efficiency is everything.
• No screw motor in the body so it can’t accept old AF-D lenses, important lenses such as a Nikon 50mm prime. Old lenses cost cheaper than the ones with AF-S.

And because of those points i decided to upgrade to an Amateur level DSLR, and because of the price and specs at that time, i chose the Nikon D200

Nikon D200 (Amateur Level DSLR)

+ side

• Feels very solid in your hands, robust and almost tank like. Hey guess what? Magnesium alloy body ya’ll and sealed at the right places against dust and moisture as well.
• 5 fps, thats double than the D40. Increasing the probability of nailing that special ‘moment’ in time. Especially for sports and nature/wildlife.
• Has a screw motor in the body, will accept all lenses made by Nikon in the last 30 years.
• Important buttons, WB, Metering, Auto-Focus modes, Flash Sync setting, etc on the body, I can change it without  leaving the eyepiece still on the subject. Thats gold homies.
• CREATIVE-LIGHTING-SYSTEM, Nikon CLS system compatible with all of Nikons new flash/strobes, Sb-600 and above. I love this function and one of the main reasons I upgraded. Wireless flash with a push of a button to raise the pop-up flash (well not just one button, but you get it).
• Superb metering and colour reproduction. Meaning the image that I see and want to capture, is exactly how the camera see’s and captures. I’m really particular about colour reproduction. Trust me it’s even better than the PRO Nikon D2X, and i’ve tried (or briefly owned) that as well.
• Has a secondary small LCD screen for all the important information.

- side

• The battery life SUCKS, big time. It eats battery power like a SUV guzzling diesel. I compensate by using a battery grip and 2 ENEL-3e batterys, and still i’m not satisfied with the output.
• No Active D-lighting or in-camera editing.
• Bad noise at ISO values above 800.

Surprising eh, only 3 negatives for the Nikon D200. So being the crazy guy that i am, i took the bungee jump and bought a Nikon D2x, Professional level DSLR. Why? The Nikon D200 was perfect you idiot!!! (me saying it to myelf)

Nikon D2X (Professional Level DSLR)

+ side (from the Nikon D200)

• VERY solid, definitely a tank, baling anjing mati. Still magnesium alloy body and built like how a proffesional gear was suppose to be made. This DSLR is used by guys in space, to capturing penguins in the artic and the Dhaka Rally over blistering hot deserts.
• 8 fps. ‘Nuff said.
• High speed crop mode. Meaning that when this baby is on, your lenses will extend because it crops your images tighter, thus getting that extra reach in focal length. Useful for wildlife, for me, my prime 50mm has a focal range of 100mm once i turn on High Speed Crop mode, ask me if you don’t get this part yea?
• Very long battery life with the ENEL-4a battery. Quick full charge in 1-2 hours.
• CHEAP, at only 700 quid second hand, it’s an affordable PRO level DSLR, then there’s also the Nikon D2H, wait, don’t rush off to ebay yet, keep on reading mate.
• Another small LCD screen beneath the main LCD. That’s three, THREE, LCD screens.

- side

• Not so accurate colour reproduction and metering. It’s an old camera, 5 years old, go figure.
• No in camera editing or active D-lighting.
• No pop-up flash, so to use Nikon CLS , you either need a SU-800 or another SB-800 flash unit as commander.
• BAD noise at high ISO values, im talking about above ISO 600, yes, that bad. Worse than the Nikon D200. (The worst reason for me)
• Heavy, like I said u could use it as a substitute for brick.

So there you go. My points on each of the camera ranging from a Nikon D40, Nikon D200 to a Nikon D2x.  Between Nikon D90 and D200 get the D90. Between a D90 and D80, get the D90 if you have the dough. Between a D200 and D300, get the D300. Between a D300 and Nikon D2x, GET the Nikon D300.

Technology exceeds the camera models/range wether it’s a new entry level, or old pro model. Go for the camera with the latest technology. So for you guys with a Nikon D90, don’t change unless you want to upgrade to a D300 or above. Be thankful.

As some of you would know, I lost my Nikon D2x (robbed) and my Nikon 17-55 f2.8 with it. So i’m back to square one. Am thinking of a Nikon D300 or D700, furthermore I’m thinking how on earth am I suppose to afford it. Help Lensa, including myself, get back on our feet with your kind donation of 2 dollars ; ) . You were going to spend it on chewing gum anyway. Hope this article was helpful for you guys. Enjoi_learning

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