Nikon D200, Nikon D80 and Fujifilm S5pro: for Pro, for Amateur and for Artist

First of all I must say that D80, D200 and S5pro are different cameras for different photographers. We should not get confused among enormous pro cams for making money and consumer cams for entertainment and taking pictures of children, domestic animals and some exotic places. The former must not shoot slower than latter must take good pictures. That’s it! There is just one snag! It is a photo-artist which can say: it is small even to Nikon D2Xs! Off course they can wait for new super SLR ‘guns’ such Sony A1 or mystical Nikon D3H with 18-20 megapixel sensor (look at my ‘Battle of Giants’). But I think that it may be long waiting, especially for ‘secret’ D3H!
The Fujifilm S5 Pro as a digital SLR for photo-artists
I wrote so much about Fujifilm S5 Pro in my previous post and I really think that S5 pro is a great device especially for photo-artists, for curious experimenters who are not frightened of those complicated but so interesting DSLR camera. Here is the thing! Still they must pay abt. $1750 (200000 yen) for the doubtful pleasure. However… Have fun! I can only say that this camera seemed to me too bulky (and image quality did not gladden) in comparison with my Sony A100. But it’s only my opinion.
The Nikon D200 vs. D80
Let’s go back to Nikon. There are some differences between D80 and D200 but they are not so great. First of all they have the same with my Sony A100 10.2-megapixel 23.6 x 15.8mm Nikon DX format CCD image sensor, which can capture images up to 3,872 x 2,592 pixels in resolution (look at the summary table). They have 11-point autofocus system with the Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module: such as Fuji S5pro.
But a D200’s user can choose individual focus areas from 11-area wide and 7-area wide AF for Single Area AF, Dynamic AF for moving subjects, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF, and Group Dynamic AF. With the D80 each focus point may be used individually for precise focusing, while the center sensor can be switched to wide-frame for broader coverage. The camera has manual and autofocus modes.
As far as speed and performance it is concerns Nikon D200 is only slightly faster than the D80. It takes only 0.15 sec. to power up instead of 0.18 sec. D200 has shutter speed ranges from 30 to 1/8,000; D80 – from 30 to 1/4,000 sec. Shutter lag time is accordingly 50 and 80 mil.sec., continuous drive is 5 fps, 37 JPEG / 22 RAW frames instead 3 fps, up to 23 JPEG, 6 NEF images.
D200 has a similar 2.5-inch TFT LCD display with approximately 230,000 pixels and a maximum viewing angle of 170 (160 at D80) degrees but images can magnified up to 400%. There is also a large top LCD that displays important information, such as shooting mode, battery condition, card information, gridline display, shutter speed, f-stop, and shots remaining.
D200 contains new image optimization modes that allow the photographer to improve control sharpening, tone (contrast), color, saturation, and hue.
Multiple exposure enables up to 10 separate images to be used to create a single composite to produce imaginative and even surreal results. The SLR can be connected to a GPS unit via a MC-35 adapter cord. D200 has TTL white balance with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor instead of 420-pixel RGB sensor at D80.
In short, those DSLRs are closely related regarding their prices. Their bodies are a little different. There is D200’s 920 g (32.5 oz) body (also known as Fujifilm S5pro) for $1300 and D80’s 668 g (23.6 oz) for $950. Exactly! Nikon D200 is intended for pro photographers. They are cool Nikon’s SLR fans who are in need of a solid and strong construction where everything is in the right place and absolutely reliable. While D80 is intend for advanced photo-amateurs.
Apropos, some differences in prices can interest a lot of thrifty photographers. They benefit here and can buy some good lens for the bargain.