As I wrote in another post a few days ago, I now own a Nikon D200
after using a Canon D60 a few years ago. While I have no shooting
experience with the current Canon DSLR´s, I certainly looked over the
20D and 5D thoroughly (and handled them in a couple of shops) before
finally settling on the D200.
The main reasons for me to go with Nikon were the superior build and
sealing of the D200, and the layout of the different camera controls
(the D200 has a simple, well working mirror lockup; Canon has it
deeply buried in the menus. The D200 shows the ISO setting in the
viewfinder all the time; the Canons have to be "asked" what ISO is
currently set. The Canons have a focus point selector button right
under your right thumb that you forever keep pressing by mistake; no
such problems with D200).
Also, the viewfinder image (apparent size and brightness) of the D200
is markedly better than on the 20D (the 5D does beat the Nikon, being
full frame).
The Nikon lens mount accepts lots of older, manual-focussing lenses,
and these can easily be focussed using the focusing screen, with the
aid of a focus indicator in the finder; also the exposure metering
works with most of them. I´ve yet to use any old Nikon lenses on
mine, but it´s nice to know that I can if I want to.
The camera is extremely fast and responsive, fully up to film based
cameras. It doesn´t even go into a sleep mode like all other
digitals I´ve used so far. Still, I often leave it with power on in
my bag for days without having the battery go flat; I don´t know how
they do it, but it´s always and instantly ready, like my old Leicas.
And that´s just GREAT!
Image quality is very good. Most tests indicate that it shows more
noise than the Canons at high ISO´s. That´s possibly so; all I know
is that the noise is nothing compared to the grain in 35 mm films
with similar speed, and it can be further reduced with software after
the fact. The images have none of the excessive red that often
marred my Canon D60 images.
I always shoot raw, so I cannot comment on the jpeg quality. The
images do look a little soft without sharpening, but the detail is
there, and even a slight sharpening shows it.
One small thing, if you do plan to use both Nikon and Canon: Both
lens mount and focus on all Nikons are "left turn", the opposite
direction from Canons (and Leicas, and most other cameras except
Pentax), and that might be a source of confusion if you will use
both. It certainly took several days of "unlearning and relearning"
for me....
To sum it up, I would unhesitatingly recommend the D200 to anyone
looking for a state-of-art DSLR, but not wanting to suffer the bulk
and cost of a "full pro" model. That said, I do not think owners of
either the 20D (now 30D) or the 5D are dissatisfied either....
Still, I personally feel the D200 comes far closer to my needs and
preferences.
Good luck!
Per
Per Öfverbeck
http://ofverbeck.se
"In a world without walls or fences, who needs Windows or Gates?"
