D200 v's D300 ISO 100

[billsstills]

I've put the D2h on e-bay. I need only one camera and yes I need a spare or back-up camera.
I'm keeping the D200 due to its performance at ISO100. The D2h doesn't offer ISO100 native.
My D300 is a great camera but once again it doesn't offer ISO100 native.

So for now at least the D200 stays.

I wonder if anyone feels the same way?

Bill.

[Noel_Carboni]

Hi Bill,

I'm curious... Since one can usually halve the shutter open time or use a smaller aperture without much down side, what do you feel the practical limitations are with a minimum ISO of 200? Are D300 images at ISO 200 noisier than those done at ISO 100 are on other cameras?

-Noel

[billsstills]

Hi Noel,

I'm not very technical minded. I work better with moods and feelings than scientific styled research but a few weeks ago I was interstate once again for drag racing.
I'm in the process of developing my own magazine due to popular demand of my writing over and beyond anything I do with a camera.

I recently spent a lot of money on a few new Eizo flat screens. My pro printer has been suggesting that my colour correction was terrible for a few years now... I finally asked (they are a married couple in business together) them what they were using... I bought what they use for their own business.

I spent a lot of money (again) to get better results.

So recently, interstate I shot both the D300 and D200 side by side with the same crap 70-300 4-5.6 AF ED Nikon lens I'm so fond of on each camera.
I had them both set pretty much exactly the same except for the ISO.

I'm rather confident that the D200 gave me smoother looking files at ISO 100 than the D300 did at ISO 200.

I set the D300 to ISO100 through its "L" settings and I'm not a big fan of the resulting look of those files.


I think that one of the reasons I'm selling the D2h is a resolution issue. I can see the difference 6 million more pixels make in the D200 over the D2h.
But still for me, in my minds eye I like the texture/look of the D200's ISO100 jpegs over the results of the D300.

In full sun then shade as Australian weather changes four seasons in every hour (not really but it's a common saying here)... I've learned to change my WB settings with the skies behaviour much to better result.


I don't think the D300 images are "noisier", There's just something about the D200 images I like more on my new expensive screens


Bill.

[Noel_Carboni]

I'd say that's EXACTLY the right reason to choose one camera over another.

-Noel

[Richard_Coyle]

Bill
Depending on the venue, I agree with your evaluation of the two bodies. Particularly with portraits, I really like the CCD rendering of the D200 more than the CMOS of the D300. But the D300 has much more flexibility in more variable situations and conditions. Here's a link to an excellent comparison of the two units and other Nikon bodies by Bill Claff regarding dynamic range. Select the one under "Investigations" entitled "Photographic Dynamic Range- Nikon Only...". (Expand the image to read the index. The D300 is dark blue/12 bit with circles/14bit, and the D200 is bright green.):

Nikon D200/D300

Notice how the D300 has at least 1 full stop better dynamic range than the D200 at equivelant ISOs. But with the D200 at ISO 100 and the D300 at ISO 200, they aren't far apart. Then it's just a matter of which rendering you like best. The critical factor here of course is when it's feasible to use ISO 100. Either you have to have an abundance of natural or artificial light, or you need a very controlled environment, to be able to use it. Once you go over 200 ISO with the D200, from my exprience, it's lost any advantage and the D300 is much better. And even at 200 ISO, if set up properly, the D300 is superb. Bill Claff's website link also has other excellent articles for more Nikon related information like the above.

[AngelMorales]

Hey,
I just recently shot a job with the D300 and have shot other jobs with the D200, and it's apples and oranges to me. The D300, kicks the D200 in the keister, 20 fold. I love my D300 and will not go back to the dreaded look of the D200.
Angel

[billsstills]

Yes I'm specifically talking about ISO 100 and it seems by Richards chart offering that the D100---D200 bunch of CCD style sensors offer less dynamic range in their detail. At least that's how I read that chart.

I didn't even think about the type of sensor in my initial post but now that Richard has highlighted it for me... there's something much more pleasant about their output.

I loved the color look and feel of the D1x. I miss that look. I'd almost go and get another D1x from e-bay.