D200 vs D2X

[sk163]

Nikon D200 vx D2X,

dear D200/D2X users, I have some enquiry here. I juz hand on the D200 for a couple of times and found that there is a sharpness problem which its not really work well unless u put ur F-stop untill f4 n above and need to set the highest sharpening (especially u r shooting for a stage event like catwalk n performance). Even the D70 work better than the D200. some said its due to the resolution issue, the higher the resolution the lesser sharper image u will get but this is quite illogical to me... therefore, D2X comes into my mind since its a 12mp of cam. is there any similiar issue here??

of coz the overall performance of D2X is better than the D200 but, i am only concern about the sharpness result generate by both cam. Anyone can enlighten me?

Thanks & Regards,
sk163

[Ian]

SK163,

Both cameras will cane anyone who does not use first rate handling techniques, any errors are multiplied by the increased resolution of the sensor.

Secondly you don't specify which lens(s) you have tried, more information is required.

Cheers,
Ian

The sharpness of the D2X is outstanding, provided you use the right lenses and shoot correctly. I am not talking about spending thousands on glass - in fact my sharpest lens seems to be my 28-105 AF-D which costs about $600. Email me if you'd like me to send you 100% crops to see sharpness.

As for the D200, sure it is almost as sharp as the D2X

[nightwolf75]

Originally Posted by Ian SK163, Both cameras will cane anyone who does not use first rate handling techniques, any errors are multiplied by the increased resolution of the sensor. Secondly you don't specify which lens(s) you have tried, more information is required. Cheers, Ian

same old love song, ian. i do believe this is yet another variation of the annual xXx vs yYy threads....

see here for last yr's edition. and to the TS, have a go reading it to find out wat ian meant.
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthrea...=140096&page=3

[longkangman]

Originally Posted by sk163 Nikon D200 vx D2X, dear D200/D2X users, I have some enquiry here. I juz hand on the D200 for a couple of times and found that there is a sharpness problem which its not really work well unless u put ur F-stop untill f4 n above and need to set the highest sharpening (especially u r shooting for a stage event like catwalk n performance). Even the D70 work better than the D200. some said its due to the resolution issue, the higher the resolution the lesser sharper image u will get but this is quite illogical to me... therefore, D2X comes into my mind since its a 12mp of cam. is there any similiar issue here?? of coz the overall performance of D2X is better than the D200 but, i am only concern about the sharpness result generate by both cam. Anyone can enlighten me? Thanks & Regards, sk163

care to share what lens your are using so the ppls here can do verification for you.

also like to hear from your friend mention "due to resolution issue" but what exactly ?
based on what ground "the higher the resolution the lesser sharper image" ?

[shooter]

Wah!

Those who are using Phase1 digital back quickly sell cheap!!!

Buy a 1MP cam! Sure Sharp Sharp one!!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by nightwolf75 same old love song, ian. i do believe this is yet another variation of the annual xXx vs yYy threads.... see here for last yr's edition. and to the TS, have a go reading it to find out wat ian meant. http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthrea...=140096&page=3

This little circle will never stop spinning, sadly alot of people will never quite get to the crux of the matter as they never use the equipment they like to obsess over.

[Ramius]

I'm not familar with the D2x but I have the D200.

According to some reviews, the D200 is overly conservative in its sharpening. One review even mentioned +2 (the highest) should have been the "standard". Of course, this is relative. Based on my limited experience, comparing side-by-side as best as we can with a Canon 20D w/o sharpening, it seems quite true. A friend of mine has pointed to Canon's powerful Digic processor which allows Canon to be more "agressive" in its electronics.

As for the "higher res, softer feel" issue, it has to do with the dot pitch I guess. If you have a denser sensor within the same size, its going to capture finer details and emphasize further any blur (cam shake, mirror slap etc). Lower res sensors have the sensor pits seperated futher apart. The "middle-ground" is when you shake just that little bit, the pits won't be able to capture that shake as well as a higher res one.

So, higher resolution will give you a finer picture output provided you shoot "properly", otherwise, it will work against you.

Well, that just my crappy explaination of the theory

[espn]

D200 larger viewfinder
D200 lesser MP (smaller files)
D200 23 RAW NEF (d2x 17 NEF)
D200 POP up flash (d2x don't have)


Of course go for the D200, D200 obseleted D2X liao, read KRW's website and you'll know.

[theRBK]

Originally Posted by Phildate The sharpness of the D2X is outstanding, provided you use the right lenses and shoot correctly. I am not talking about spending thousands on glass - in fact my sharpest lens seems to be my 28-105 AF-D which costs about $600. Email me if you'd like me to send you 100% crops to see sharpness. As for the D200, sure it is almost as sharp as the D2X

yeah, 28-105's a great lens and can shoot down to 1:2...almost macro

[Jimbotan]

Originally Posted by theRBK yeah, 28-105's a great lens and can shoot down to 1:2...almost macro

Output from 28-105 is excellent.....

D200 is a great cam too... get the settings right and it really performs....

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by sk163 Nikon D200 vx D2X, dear D200/D2X users, I have some enquiry here. I juz hand on the D200 for a couple of times and found that there is a sharpness problem which its not really work well unless u put ur F-stop untill f4 n above and need to set the highest sharpening (especially u r shooting for a stage event like catwalk n performance). Even the D70 work better than the D200. some said its due to the resolution issue, the higher the resolution the lesser sharper image u will get but this is quite illogical to me... therefore, D2X comes into my mind since its a 12mp of cam. is there any similiar issue here?? of coz the overall performance of D2X is better than the D200 but, i am only concern about the sharpness result generate by both cam. Anyone can enlighten me? Thanks & Regards, sk163

It's not a resolution problem. It's just that the increased resolution will show you how bad your lens really is. So in fact, if your lens was able to resolve details down to 2 pixels on a 6mp sensor, does not mean that it is still able to do so for a 10mp sensor because that same line/detail might spread over 3 pixels because you get more pixels over the same dimension with a higher pixel sensor. So if your lens can resolve much finer details than what the sensor is capable of, then there isn't a problem. It will be sharp. If not, then you will find that the lens appears sharper with less pixel count because the actual magnification at 100% is less for a sensor with less resolution.

[sk163]

Originally Posted by Ian SK163, Both cameras will cane anyone who does not use first rate handling techniques, any errors are multiplied by the increased resolution of the sensor. Secondly you don't specify which lens(s) you have tried, more information is required. Cheers, Ian

handling techniques is almost the same, but i tend to handle D200 even more carefully coz I know its not a pro cam.

The lens I use is 70-200VR & 17-55... thats why it create the doubt to me. or will it be my fren D200 cam got sme issue?? but i use the same method on d70 the result juz come out good. so.....

cheers

[espn]

Originally Posted by sk163 handling techniques is almost the same, but i tend to handle D200 even more carefully coz I know its not a pro cam. The lens I use is 70-200VR & 17-55... thats why it create the doubt to me. or will it be my fren D200 cam got sme issue?? but i use the same method on d70 the result juz come out good. so..... cheers

You don't understand what Ian is trying to say.

[Zerstorer]

Originally Posted by sk163 handling techniques is almost the same, but i tend to handle D200 even more carefully coz I know its not a pro cam. The lens I use is 70-200VR & 17-55... thats why it create the doubt to me. or will it be my fren D200 cam got sme issue?? but i use the same method on d70 the result juz come out good. so..... cheers

If you want a similar degree of pixel sharpness from a D200, you would need both a more stable shooting platform and a higher shutter speed to freeze motion, assuming all other factors are equal and the lens is not a limiting factor.

Ramius has already stated it quite clearly in his post above.

In any case the D200 has a stronger AA filter than the D70(which is too weak) and hence has less per-pixel sharpness to begin with.

When properly handled, there isn't any issue with sharpness at all.

[cool_sahara]

Originally Posted by sk163 Nikon D200 vx D2X, dear D200/D2X users, I have some enquiry here. I juz hand on the D200 for a couple of times and found that there is a sharpness problem which its not really work well unless u put ur F-stop untill f4 n above and need to set the highest sharpening (especially u r shooting for a stage event like catwalk n performance).

This is the same observation I had too. My D200 is on a f/1.4 50 mm lens, and when I use big apertures (ie < f/4), I have to hold the camera real steady, shoot with flash in a location with lots of ambient light to improve my chances of having sharp images. However if I use f/4 and smaller apertures, I find it far easier to get sharp images even with unsteady hands.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by cool_sahara This is the same observation I had too. My D200 is on a f/1.4 50 mm lens, and when I use big apertures (ie < f/4), I have to hold the camera real steady, shoot with flash in a location with lots of ambient light to improve my chances of having sharp images. However if I use f/4 and smaller apertures, I find it far easier to get sharp images even with unsteady hands.

It's the handshake.. try it with a tripod and see if you get the same problem... with a large aperture, you get a very narrow DOF and it's very easy to get OOF pics.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by sk163 handling techniques is almost the same, but i tend to handle D200 even more carefully coz I know its not a pro cam. The lens I use is 70-200VR & 17-55... thats why it create the doubt to me. or will it be my fren D200 cam got sme issue?? but i use the same method on d70 the result juz come out good. so..... cheers

With those two lenses you should be getting first rate output. More likely your friend has poor techniques OR he/she has not correctly set up the post imaging sharpening in camera.

Don't get fooled either and think that a tripod will solve all the issues of sharpness because all tripods are not created equally. Several of the more popular tripods amongst CS'ers are marginal performers with 10mp and above cameras.

Ian

[agape01]

Originally Posted by Ian Don't get fooled either and think that a tripod will solve all the issues of sharpness because all tripods are not created equally. Several of the more popular tripods amongst CS'ers are marginal performers with 10mp and above cameras. Ian

I would deeply appreciate if you could let us know which tripods are only marginal performers as they are more popular tripods among CSers..

[espn]

Originally Posted by agape01 I would deeply appreciate if you could let us know which tripods are only marginal performers as they are more popular tripods among CSers..

A tripod is only as good as what they're designed for, if you're pushing the performance and limit of the tripod beyond it's limit and design, naturally, they are marginal performers.