[sharger]

Hi all

After much research I'm going to plump for a Nikon D200 with Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX lens. I've got some questions for all you experts out there.....

Can anyone give me some advice on where to buy(personal recommendations).

Do you think I would be able to get this setup from a shop as well as it being competitive with Internet prices?(being able to speak face to face if any problems after sale)

I'm not adverse to buying online or even online abroad as long as it would not compromise any warranties after sales service.

What accessories would you recommend for this set up.. bags, filters, tripods, books etc....

And finally can you recommend any educational courses worth taking, I'm thinking distant learning or adult education.

many thanks

Steve

[tontoshorse]

Your 1st port of call should be here.

Like others here, I can recommend onestop digital.

[sharger]

Hi

I see these are a Hong Kong based company, which is ok but the prices are not that much cheaper to outway having to send goods back if they go wrong. Is it a lot of aggro(anyone with any experience)?

Anyone else able to answer my questions.... few views but only 1 reply, now I know you experts are lurking out there

[tontoshorse]

One Stop Digital any good

[PaulBoy]

Hi - Irrespective of where you decide to buy from (& my advice would be to buy a body the UK in case of problems as from what I've read if you buy a body from HK you will have to send it back there if it goes wrong - lenses dont go wrong as much so I would not hesitate to buy them from HK & like many here have bought from OneStop & others like DigitalRev) my question would be have you experience in photography and/or digital photography? The D200 is a hell of a camera (I have owned one) but I would not dream of giving it to a "beginner" - I started with a D50 & upgraded to the D200 - I found the D50 complicated with maybe a 100 settings to get my head round but when I switched to the D200 WOW! multiple that by another 100 - Sorry if that sounds a bit preachy & maybe you have the experience but if you haven't I'd be more inclined towards a D40x or D80 to start with ... Paul

[sharger]

Thanks for your thoughts Paul..... I used to be into photography about 10 years ago but with one thing or another I stopped. I am by no means an expert but have decided to get back into it properly.

I've been looking at some courses like this:

http://www.lsptraining.com/id30.html

which hopefully will bring me up to scratch(although you can't account for experience).

The reason I've decided on the D200 is because I'm one of those people who once they get into something tends to speed through the upgraditus path at much expence normally

That coupled with a couple of reports I've read about the additional expense over the D80 is worth its weight in gold like this one:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/d200...d40-5d-xti.htm

I found Ken's site to be really useful and his complete evaluation and walkthrough of the D200 to be a great read:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d200.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm#index

So there are some of my reasons for this choice

[Yandros]

D200+18-200VR owner here

A few questions...

Is this your first DSLR?
Have you played with a D200 in a shop yet?
Are you easily intimidated by lots of controls?
Do you intend to post-process?

To expand on these comments...

The D200 is a complex beast. If you need to be able to rapidly change ISO, shooting mode,focus mode, metering, white balance etc, and be able to check the setting by glancing at a switch rather then digging through menus, the D200 is for you. You DON'T get AUTO, or scene modes. The camera is built like a tank, and weighs a ton (well a kilogram actually!) It's also the biggest DSLR on the market until you get up to the Canon/Nikon pro models.
The D200 also has very conservative metering, and very bland jpg conversion. In other words, it cries out for RAW shooting, and taking them into Capture NX (free with the D200 now I believe).

As Paul says, if this is your first DSLR, you might be better off with D80 or even a D40. The D40 has a shallower learning curve if you're scared by lots of buttons and jargon. The D80 has 90% of the D200 features, but at a very keen price. The main things the D200 has over the D80 are weather sealing, 5 frames/second (and bigger buffer), ISO displayed in the viewfinder, and mirror lockup. If you'll use these features rarely or never - save yourself some cash!

If you shoot sports, or do a lot of tripod work, the speed and lockup mode will be very useful though.

Getting back to your original questions though:

You're unlikely to find an 18-200VR at a keen price in a shop. I'd suggest getting the body from a bricks & mortar store, and shopping around for the lens. I got mine from Photooptix, and the 18-200VR mail order from a store in Cheshire after MUCH hunting.

Accessories:

Sandisk Extreme III (at least 4Gb if you shoot RAW+jpg- I have a 2Gb and an 8Gb)
Spare battery
STURDY tripod. The D200 will cause cheap tripods to shake all over the place. I have a Uniloc 1600 Major System+Manfrotto 410 geared head (superb for macro work, but not so hot for rapid adjustment)
A D200+18-200VR will just fit into a one of the Lowepro topload zoom 1. It'll also go in a Lowepro Slingshot 200. My usual 2 lens bag is a Tamrac Explorer 2, which will take the D200+18-200VR with hood reversed, and another large lens with hood. For protection, I use the Hoya HMC Pro1 UV filter.
Rocket blower

The other thing I'd recommend is a fast prime lens if you intend to shoot moving subjects in low natural light. The super cheap and tiny Nikon 50mm f1.8 is almost a no brainer, though the Sigma 30 f1.4 or Nikon 35 f2 are more versatile.

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by sharger

Thanks for your thoughts Paul..... I used to be into photography about 10 years ago but with one thing or another I stopped. I am by no means an expert but have decided to get back into it properly.

I've been looking at some courses like this:

http://www.lsptraining.com/id30.html

which hopefully will bring me up to scratch(although you can't account for experience).

The reason I've decided on the D200 is because I'm one of those people who once they get into something tends to speed through the upgraditus path at much expence normally

That coupled with a couple of reports I've read about the additional expense over the D80 is worth its weight in gold like this one:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/d200...d40-5d-xti.htm

I found Ken's site to be really useful and his complete evaluation and walkthrough of the D200 to be a great read:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d200.htm

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm#index

So there are some of my reasons for this choice

Our posts crossed

Ahh the thoughts of the dreaded Mr Rockwell. I'd take his comments about the D200 vs D80 metering with a pinch of salt - I saw a thread comparing shot for shot metering comparisons in the field, and they're pretty much identical.

Based on your comments, I'd probably skip the D40. As for D80 vs D200, I use mirror lockup a lot for macro, felt VERY smug firing off at 5fps for action shots, and love the body. If you try the two in the shop, if money isn't tight, the difference in feel alone will have you spending the extra £325
Just make sure you're happy with the size and weight though

[sharger]

Many thanks for your detailed reply Yandros.... certainly food for thought, and there was me thinking my mind was made up

Would the course I linked to give me a good grounding?

[sharger]

Is Ken's info a bit dodgy then? I came across him Googling and spent all afternoon reading lol!!!

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by sharger

Many thanks for your detailed reply Yandros.... certainly food for thought, and there was me thinking my mind was made up

Would the course I linked to give me a good grounding?

Personally I tend to go for self taught/read books etc rather than courses, so I'm probably not the best person to ask.

I'm finding that I'm learning more from the internet (forums like these etc) than glossy coffee table photography books, and the same may be true for courses (anyone have any experience of them?). A copy of Understanding Exposure and Thom Hogans Complete guide to the D200 eBook are worthwhile though.

Oh, and don't let me put you off the D200 if you've set your heart on one. My rational choice would've been a D80, as I tend to treat my kit with care, and don't need fast frame rates very often, but I bought the D200 anyway. ABSOLUTELY ZERO BUYER REMORSE! It's a beast of a machine that puts a smile on my face every time I use it

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by sharger

Is Ken's info a bit dodgy then? I came across him Googling and spent all afternoon reading lol!!!

He's a legend

Actually a lot of Kens stuff makes sense. His comments on the 18-200VR vs 'fast' primes are spot on for example.

My problem with Ken is that he rarely qualifies his pronouncements. No half measures, no 'on the other hand'. He has a pet list of kit he loves, and he generally rubbishes anything else. For example, although he adores his 18-200VR, he rubbishes the 70-300VR to an extent that if you only read his reviews, you'd never consider it. Take a trip to the www.dpreview.com Nikon lens forums, and you'll find a different story, namely a lot of owners of the £1000+ 70-200VR clutching at straws as to why their lens was worth all that extra cash over its cheaper 'plastic' sibling. Notice in the D200/D80/D40 comparison how rapidly he skips over the 'AFS lenses only' problem with the D40. This is because Mr Rockwell is already the proud owner of probably every AFS lens Nikon ever made! For poor Joe Public, it'll be a nasty shock the discover that half the good value 3rd party stuff on the shelf in Jessops is next to useless to them!

My advice is ALWAYS find a second opinion after reading his stuff!!!