Nikon D200

[Mark Griffin]

Picked up a Nikon D200 yesterday off trade me quite cheep, wandered off to Ardmore today for a play but not a lot flying for such a nice day.
A few test shots attached.

[Kereru]

Feb 2, 2014 18:44:01 GMT 12 Mark Griffin said:

Picked up a Nikon D200 yesterday off trade me quite cheep, wandered off to Ardmore today for a play but not a lot flying for such a nice day.
A few test shots attached.

Nice pics!
Nice camera but heavy on batteries is the only fault I had with mine. It still works and I use it now and again as my back up.

Cheers,

Colin

[Dave Homewood]

Lovely vivid shots Mark!

[planecrazy]

Great pictures, you can't take a bad pic of are Harvard can you?

Sorry for the mini hi-jack and perhaps there is a thread on this already?
What would be the best SLR style camera to get without going to the over
the top cost of a pro camera.

I am in the market for a new camera and find myself very confused, too
many choices, it seems even some of the point and shoot cameras are
very good these days!?

Thank you.....

[erik]

While I am using several pro SLR bodies, I always keep an eye out for the latest point & shoot or compact cameras - for the simple reason that I do not enjoy the bulk, weight and size of neither my bodies nor lenses. While some of the new range finder cameras are very good, with fantastic image quality, I have not found a single range finder or compact camera that can rival a good SLR in terms of:

- autofocus performance (accuracy, speed of acquisition and tracking consistency)
- shutter lag (lack thereof and general responsiveness)
- ISO noise (although the new generation of non-SLR cameras are much better, SLRs still have the edge, especially at 1600 and up)
- availability of lenses (in terms of choice and variety and market availability)

In terms of SLRs - you really don't need the top of the line stuff but I usually recommend at least one step up from the bottom-line consumer range, taking the first 3 items listed in consideration.

Thankfully, most SLR manufacturers also fit the cheaper line cameras with the same or similar sensors as the ranges above them (as it is prohibitively expensive to develop different sensors for each range), so usually the lower range cameras also have great image quality and low ISO noise. However, the entry level cameras are usually equipped with sub-par autofocus systems that can make aviation photography a rather frustrating experience at times.

So when looking at SLRs, do keep the AF specifications in mind. Of course, you could consider buying your camera second hand. An older higher-range SLR can often still offer a lot more value and quality than the latest consumer/entry model. Keep in mind that Canon, and in a lesser extend Sony, often seems to be releasing new camera's just for the sake of it whereas Nikon seems to put more thought into product development. ( I shoot exclusively with Canon gear but I'm not a fan of the brand/company).

[Ian Warren]

:)I do like those Harvard photo's, They are quite impressive when you get a few of them together, one particular time with me was six of them chugging around in front me readying themselves for the 1987 Christchurch airshow pylon air-race