My first D200 Image for critique

[Michael]

I recived my new toy last week (from hong kong) and well as a relitivly familiar user to the D70s I must say this camera certainly gave me quite the shock at just how manual it is and how if you don't know what you're doing it will eat you.

Great camera, I must say and tonight was the first real test for it, an extremely poorly lit gig with my 50 1.8 and my new toy. It focused well and performed very well I am extremely happy.

before anyone asks this D200 will only band when I overexpose the light in my room by 20 stops, and even then the bands are only a few pixels wide and visible only at 500%, ive not been able to reproduce the banding at any other light inc gig lights and police and fire truck strobes. signs that they arent all lemons.

now that all your possible questions are out of the way my image.



Large version
http://static.flickr.com/51/140870786_6603b10582_o.jpg

Im not showing off really... I would like criticism on this image just like any of my others before the mods decide to ping me for the bit mentioned on the front page.

The ISO performance in this camera is great well good enough for me, and I have noise filtering in camera turned off.

[gstark]

Im not showing off really... I would like criticism on this image just like any of my others before the mods decide to ping me for the bit mentioned on the front page.

Michael,

With just the one image, unless you really did something stupid, like post it full size, there's be no reason to ping for any reason mentioned on the first page. We're perfectly happy to see up to three or four images in the one post, even if they're seeming (to us) to be less critique oriented.

It's just that we've seen more than a few instances recently where some have seemed to be going way over the top, and that was not good.

Getting to your image, difficult to criticise. Great exposure and composition, with a good subject. Focus is spot on, and the lighting, as is usual for these sorts of venues, sucks, of course.

The D200 sensor seems to handle the reds much bettter than the D70 does, though, and that is a particular point of interest for me.

[birddog114]

Michael,
Glad to hear that you got and make it works in your hand finally.
But it took sooooooooo long for you mastered it
Post couple more photos and we will tell.

[Manta]

Hey Michael.

I agree with Gary on this one - you haven't given us much to complain about with this shot! Given the lighting situation, you've pulled off a ripper of an image. Sharp and detailed - what's not to like? (Okay - the guy's no Brad Pitt but, hey, neither am I!)
Congratulations on the rare acquisition too - there are a lot of members here who willl be very jealous of you now that you have your new toy...

[firsty]

Confrats on the new camera
your lucky you had a d70 first to learn the art of using a DSLR, my D200 is the first DSLR I've owned and it bites me all the time

great shot in the condititions... I would have like a bigger depth of field, but thats not really possible with the light you had

[nito]

Enjoy the new toy, you are so lucky.

Do you think the D200 has better colour replication than the D70?

[CraigVTR]

Michael
Very nice image. I noticed you metered as pattern(matrix) and the great exposure it has given you on the singer's face. Do you always set the camera for pattern metering for this type of shot? BTW very nice composition.
Craig

[Michael]

Thanks for the posotive feedback

Gstark, I was just abit worried that you might see it as a bit of a bragging post thats all (i'm a worry wart) Also the lights at the gig all 2 of them were red and purple when I used the D70 at a gig like this the subject would often look soft because of the over saturation in the red channel but the D200 while the red is very saturated the subject still retains its sharpness which im happy about.

I was also using the manual kelvin temperature settings to help desaturate the red and to keep it consistant.


nito, I found the D200 has wonderful colour replication as the first place I took it for a play was the local japanese gardens a wonderland of colours at this time of year coupled withlate afternoon light I found that the colours were real.


CraigVTR, I was using manual mode on pretty much everything except for focus so the metering wasn't really being used, but most the time in a properly lit gig I'll use circ weighted or spot, but most all the time I use manual and the meter only for reference.

[xerubus]

congrats on the new toy... and a great image... look forward to seeing some more.

cheers

[Alex]

Nice photo! Enjoy your new toy.

Alex

[Michael]

I just thought I'd wack up another image from last night.




larger version
http://static.flickr.com/45/141128345_f994b73f45_o.jpg

[the foto fanatic]

Sure seems to do a good job on the noise.

[Finch]

Congratulations on the rare acquisition too - there are a lot of members here who willl be very jealous of you now that you have your new toy...

PLEASE let this be a sign that the D200s are starting to come through!!!!!

I'm now into my 5th month of waiting and its been a loooong wait......

Congrats on a well-captured pic and look forward to seeing more soon

Cheers

Michael

[marcotrov]

Given the circumstances Michael the 2 images showcase your abilities and the excellent capabilities of the D200 in both handling colour (in particular red) and focussing ability This pleases me and I too like Finch wait longingly for my D200 to arrive. I'd be interested in a little more on your comment, to paraphrase, that the D200 punishes anyone the unwary or less astute. Can you expand on how? I suppose forewarned is forearmed
cheers
marco

[NikonUser]

Great pics that show off what the D200 can do.

before anyone asks this D200 will only band when I overexpose the light in my room by 20 stops, and even then the bands are only a few pixels wide and visible only at 500%

Now that's some serious pixel peeping for you!!! lol I"d say that is within specs

Did you get yours from HK because you were sick of waiting or was that your plan all along? Where did you get it from?

Paul

[Michael]

I got mine from HKSupplies with the help of birddog.

and I was just sick of waiting for one and who knows when nikon is going to send anything this way plus there are that many backorders its going to take aaaaages to get anything unless preordered.

marcotrov - What I meant buy that is there is ALOT more to this camera then say a D70 or D100 the extra features make aquiring image easier but it takes time to get used to these features.... its like driving a fast car, it can only go as fast as the driver and if the driver is inexperienced with the car it will spin out.

I hope that explains it for you.

[NikonUser]

I should be getting my D2X from Hong Kong early next week. ATM it's in the Phillipeens. Wish it would hurry up

Paul

[Michael]

D2x Id love one of those just couldnt afford one unfortunatly

I have one tiny niggle with this new camera, and it isn't even the cameras fault..... My sigma 70-200 is having focus issues with the D200 after a burst on continuous high fram rate continuous focus the camera will cease to auto focus until I turn it off and then on again.

doesn't happen with my other nikkon lenses only the 70-200 sigma.


anyone wanna sell me a 70-200vr for cheap?

[NikonUser]

Would re-chippimg the sigma help? i think its free to get done due ti the problem with sigmas and d200's

[Michael]

Yeh It more than likely would help but that means id be without for god knows how long, I'll be going to do a few tests with the lens tomorrow just to see how it performs under other conditions.

then I'll ring photocontinental in bris on monday to enquire about a replacement/rechipped lens.

[birddog114]

Michael,
Issue & problems of some Sigma lenses on D200 were raised on this board before.
It's better get the Sigma to be re-chipped to work properly on the D200.

[Michael]

I definatly think that will be the way to go re chipping that is im just a little worried about down time with the lens as I use my camera for work.

It'll be worth it in the end though hopefully.