D60 Upgrade... D2x???

[snappysi]

Hi all,
I currently shoot with a D60 and have been looking at upgrading my body for a while. Full frame would be too expensive so have been looking at a D300. however today i came across the D2X. Whilst i know it is older and no doubt short of a few features, would you still consider this a worthwhile acquisition ??? it would no doubt be a step from from my current body.
I mainly shoot landscape and portraiture and am looking into lights etc to further head down the portraiture route if that helps.

Would certainly be interested in hearing from other users of the D2X as to there experiences.

Thanks in advance...

Simon.

[kiwi]

What's wrong with the d60?

Anyhow, d2x was/is a pro grade body but the d300 is better

[snappysi]

Wow that was quick Kiwi ! When you say that the d300 is better, is that in terms of picture quality or features ?

Simon.

[kiwi]

Yes, I think the d300 has a better overall sensor and more features in general and better iso handling, adl, fps etc. There are 1000s of comparisons on the web no doubt

I will add though that I also think d2x is maybe better if you're at iso200 all day or perhaps in a studio, but the d300 way better overall

I'm sure sar will pop in here shortly to defend the d2 series though, lol

[snappysi]

Would be nice to hear from someone that uses one often. My dad has the d300 and agrees with what you have said also. I am not jumping into a decision tomorrow so will investigate more.....

Thanks for your advice...

Simon.

[Sar NOP]

In my humble opinion, the D2X is still the best DX camera in term of IQ at its native sensitivity. As you said you would be using it for landscape and portraiture, the D2X will be your best choice.
I have tried in the past a D300, a D300s, a D90 and curently use a D7000 : none of these cameras can beat the D2X at 100-200 ISO in terme of IQ. The finess and sharpness of the files from the D2X are really outstanding.
But be aware of this : unlike the modern cameras, the D2X doesn't have the image processor EXPEED. So you need to master Capture NX2 to get the maximum of the potential of the D2X NEF files.

[kiwi]

See, told you, but he does make sense :)

[kiwi]

The other things is the d2x is a lot bigger and heavier than even a gripped d300, no pop up flash, stuff like that

[JM Tran]

reminds me of how I rather recommend a D5000 over the D200, same as I would recommend a D300 or D300s over a D2X too.

I find the native ISO point by SarNop to be a bit closed, as how often will you be staying at ISO100!? Not unless you are serious about landscapes, but if you were serious about landscapes you wouldnt be using the D2X anymore.

WAS a great camera, I still like it, but its past its prime, and anything above ISO 400 and 800 from the D2X can be considered prehistoric in the evolution of the DSLR.

[Sar NOP]

Three good reasons to use the native ISO of the D2X (or other modern cameras, like D7000) :
1- Get the maximum of the dynamic range of the camera (extremely useful in landscape for example),
2- Get the finest detail the sensor can record (extremely useful in landscape and portraiture),
3- Get the maximum of the sharpness the camera can give (extremely useful in lanscape).

Just remember that a camera sensor has only one sensitivity : its native ISO. The highest IQ you can get is from that native sensitivity.

[snappysi]

Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated.
from what i can tell from reading both here and other reviews on the net is that if i was to stick mostly with landscape and portraiture it would be a good choice, however if i wanted to venture out and capture say my fiancée playing hockey i would certainly find its limits. Would that be a fair assumption ???

Sar i am interested in your comment re the Capture NX2, are you saying that i would not be able to edit raw files from a D2x as i do now through Lightroom and photoshop ????

thanks once again for all your replies

Simon.

[Sar NOP]

Sar i am interested in your comment re the Capture NX2, are you saying that i would not be able to edit raw files from a D2x as i do now through Lightroom and photoshop ????


Of course, you can edit the NEF files from a D2X with any RAW converter software. But only NX2 allows you to edit settings of your Nikon camera in NEF files like D-Lighting, Noise reduction or Sharpness.

[snappysi]

Oh OK i get it now..

One other thing, i have been looking at some of the images you have posted in threads and the IQ is outstanding, do you know if there is much difference between the "h" models that you have and the "x" that i have been looking at....

Sorry for all the questions but you seem to be the best one to ask of these !!!

Simon.

[Sar NOP]

from what i can tell from reading both here and other reviews on the net is that if i was to stick mostly with landscape and portraiture it would be a good choice, however if i wanted to venture out and capture say my fiancée playing hockey i would certainly find its limits. Would that be a fair assumption ???


That's why I have different cameras for different subjects and styles :
D2Hs : for sport, action or subjects that require fast frame rate and high buffer capacity,
D2X : for landscape and portraiture (with 100 or 200 ISO only),
D7000 : for the rest...


But if you want only one camera that can do most subjects, the D700 will be your best choice (it depends on your current lenses too).

[Sar NOP]

One other thing, i have been looking at some of the images you have posted in threads and the IQ is outstanding, do you know if there is much difference between the "h" models that you have and the "x" that i have been looking at....



The D2H and D2Hs have 4Mpix sensor,
The D2X and D2Xs have 12Mpix sensor.

[snappysi]

Once again thanks Sar

Simon.

[Sar NOP]

You're welcome, Simon.

Sometimes with my D2X when shooting candid portrait, I can push it to its highest ISO (with the right settings and right lens) which is H-2 (3200 ISO) :

D2X, 85/1.4 G, 1/200", f/1.4, @3200 ISO.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7818/2xb1253lr3resize2.jpg

[snappysi]

Thanks Sar, obviously at those settings and that lens this was taken with little available light. Certainly a keeper at any rate... the bottom of her hair is showing some noise but as you pointed out this is at its extreme which would no doubt rarely be used....

I very much appreciate all your info and especially images....

Simon.

[kiwi]

Simon, I think sar;'s examp;le is good, obviiously well exposed to start with. Ive owned a D2h twice and a d2hs and I can tell you the d300 is a much more versatile all around body and has very different handling. I do think the D7000 and the D700 are better again also.

To go back to question 1, what's wrong with the D60 ?

[Sar NOP]

Another image where you can see the level of sharpness of the D2X sensor, with a 30 years old MF lens :

D2X, 28/2.8 AI, 1/60", f/2.8, @100 ISO.
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/1747/2xa6569resize2.jpg


Crop 100%
http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/2494/2xa6569crop100.jpg

[Sar NOP]

I've taken so far more than 10,000 photos with my D7000 (which is better than the D300, IQ wise) and I can tell that in landscape and portraiture my D2X is still unbeatable at 100-200 ISO.

[kiwi]

ill support you there Sar, in fact Id say its better at 400 also (D300's weakest spot)

[snappysi]

Wow Sar that is impressive, great detail at 100 % crop. thanks again for providing examples, its nice to see real world shots.

Kiwi, to be honest there really is nothing wrong with the D60, it takes great shots and has been a fantastic companion. I've had it a few years now as it was greatlfully given to me by my dad when he upgraded to the D300. Before that i had a Mamiya film camera. ( and still do ). I find small things annoying such as only having 3 auto focus areas, especially with portraiture, and it would be nice to have a few more buttons to make it a little easier to navigate around the camera. In real world terms it is/was an entry level camera and would like to step up to a body more along the lines of "professional amateur", that comes with it some more features that i dont have at the moment.

Simon.

[Big Pix]

both these links were shot using a D2Xs....... at 320 ISO. I have had this camera since new and it still amazes me...... great and very hard to beat @ 100=200 ISO

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?80714-walk-on-the-wild-side......

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?80715-Surf-fest-take-2