I'd appreciate if people who had D200 and bought D700 could share their initial experience about the D200 to D700 move.

I am especially interested about:

- what have you done with your DX-lenses?
- Do you still use them? Crop mode or Full mode?
- Do you sold them?
- Do you keep them for D200 as a second body?

- what are the biggest positive and negative surprises you have noticed?

- what such should I know what I don't know to ask?

My personal plan is to:
- buy D700 body and leave D200 as a second body
- see what can I do with D700 and with my existing lenses
- buy 24-70 for general purpose lens that hangs allways on the D700
- buy 14-24 or Sigma 12-24 for wides

Best regards

Sport Squirrel

Camera: Nikon D200, D70, SB-800, SB-600, 50 1.8, 18-70, 70-300G, Sigma 70-200, Sigma 30 1.4, Tokina 12-24..

>- what have you done with your DX-lenses?
> - Do you still use them? Crop mode or Full mode?
I had the 17-55 but didn't try it in crop mode.

> - Do you sold them?
Yes i sold the 17-55 so that i could buy a couple of full frame lenses.

> - Do you keep them for D200 as a second body?
No, D200 has full frame lens on now.

>- what are the biggest positive and negative surprises you
>have noticed?
Obiviously the high ISO improvement, and the viewfinder are positives. The only negative, i could see is the AA filter seems stronger, so import sharpening is required. I never bothered about this with the D200.

>- what such should I know what I don't know to ask?
>
>My personal plan is to:
>- buy D700 body and leave D200 as a second body
>- see what can I do with D700 and with my existing lenses
>- buy 24-70 for general purpose lens that hangs allways on the
>D700
>- buy 14-24 or Sigma 12-24 for wides


I'm really using the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 primes, but i have bought the 17-35(on D700) Tamron and 28-75(on D200) Tamron for when i want to use 2 bodies.

All the Best
Andy

Hi,

- what have you done with your DX-lenses?
I am planning to sell them as I acquire the equivalent FX lenses, replace the 10.5 fisheye with the 16mm fisheye, replace the 12-24mm with the 14-24mm

- Do you still use them? Crop mode or Full mode?
I am still using my DX lenses on my D200 until I can afford to replace them. I've tried the 10.5mm in both crop and full modes and have decided to continue to use it on the D200.

- Do (Have) you sold them?
No, but I will. Edited to add: Except for my 16-85mm VR which I will use for social events.

- Do you keep them for D200 as a second body?
The lenses I plan to use on the D200 are my longer lenses for shooting wildlife. Everything else be done with the D700.

- what are the biggest positive and negative surprises you have noticed?
The biggest positive surprise is how often I use higher ISO values.
I don't have anything negative to say about the D700. I'm very happy with it.

Edited to add: Actually there is one thing that is a disappointment. I find the rear LCD very difficult to see in bright light (in this respect it doesn't seem to be any better than my D200).

Enjoy!

Randy

- what have you done with your DX-lenses?

I sold my 12-24mm and 18-200mm the moment the D700 was in my hands.

- Do you still use them? Crop mode or Full mode?

I tried to use the 12-24mm on full frame, but I went for the 14-24mm full frame instead. Unbelievable how sharp this lens is, even in the corners. Using DX lenses on a FX body is just silly.

- Do you keep them for D200 as a second body?

No, I didn't keep the D200. I would keep the D300 if I had one. The LCD screen on the D200 is something that I can no longer live with after seeing the D300/D700 screen. Also, the D200 has a really limited ISO working range compared to D300/D700. I never want to go back.

- what are the biggest positive and negative surprises you have noticed?

Negative, price of all new lenses (14-24mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8) and the weight of the equipment bag.
Positive: quality of the images is simply a world apart from D200 with my old DX lenses.
Surprise: my 70-200mm f/2.8 still shines, even on the D700. The vignetting and loss of sharpness are not present / not bad enough to really bother me. I was worried I would have to sell that one as well. I'm keeping and using it.

- what such should I know what I don't know to ask?

If you get good lenses for the D700 you will never touch the D200 again.

Sold my D200 and two Tokina DX lenses. The reality is I don't like carrying two cameras and I know that I will never use the D200 again.
I have full frame lenses that were bought during my FM2, F100 days and they are getting full use again. My 70-200 AFS is back to what it was designed for and that was worth the purchase of the D700 alone.
The sale of the D200 & DX lenses has part financed the new body. When the rest is paid I'll think about the 24-70.
I want one full kit, not two half kits.
Looking at your list of lenses etc., would you want to carry all that?

I currently own a D200 and am in a litle connundrum now between the D3 and D700, but the D700 is slowly taking the lead in my eyes for various advantages (price, smaller size, pop-up flash/CLS control).

I hope you do not mind if I share my opinions.

>- what have you done with your DX-lenses?

I will be keeping them as I will use the D200 as a backup camera.

> - Do you still use them? Crop mode or Full mode?

DX lenses will 99% of the time be used on the D200, though I may try the DX lenses on the D700 just for fun and see how they do. I am not really in favor of the 5MP pictures, though, for web use, who would care, right?

>- what are the biggest positive and negative surprises you
>have noticed?

Obvious advantages are the FX format, high ISO - low noise, faster focus and obviously better in camera processing thanks to the D700's EXIF processor (I will get the battery grip and batteries/charger that will permit it's highest FPS).

>My personal plan is to:
>- buy D700 body and leave D200 as a second body
>- see what can I do with D700 and with my existing lenses
>- buy 24-70 for general purpose lens that hangs allways on the
>D700
>- buy 14-24 or Sigma 12-24 for wides

First off, I would not even dream of putting anything less than the best Nikkor lenes on the D700. This is the kind of camera that just demands the best out there. Sigmas are fine for the D200... but not in the same league that the D700 will get. It's Nikkor *only* for my D700.

In terms of current FX lenses, I already own the:
- 105mm F/2.8 Sigma w/macro
- 50mm F/1.8 Nikkor
- 70-200mm F/2.8 Nikkor VR
- 85mm F/1.4 Nikkor
- 35mm F/2.8 AIS Nikkor (manual)

Its not like the D200 will be without lenses. I have the:
- 18-200 Nikkor
- 30mm F/1.4 Sigma
- 18-50 F/2.8 Sigma
- 10-20mm ultra wide Sigma

However, I do plan to add the 14-24 and 24-70 FX lenses to round out the D700's ranges. Likely the 24-70 will come the same time as the D700 and the 12-24 sometime soon afterwards (I have no real desire to spend $10Gs in one shot for all that I want!).

_________________________________________________________________
Just your average enthusiastic Nikonian from Montreal, Quebec, Canada!

Hi Jarmo.

I kept all my DX lenses and the D200 as a backup camera. I also have a D2x which I use for wildlife and birds. See my profile for a list of lenses.

The biggest surprise was just how good the high ISO performance actually is and how terrific the color rendition is. My 70-200 f/2.8 lens does not exhibit objectionable vignetting or unsharpness in the corners. I finally acquired the 85 f/1.4 lens and am really impressed with how the pictures look with this body.

Each of my cameras has it place. I take the D200 backpacking and hiking with a monopod. I use the D2x for wildlife and birds when I can take a tripod. I use the D700 for portraits and landscape although I have been trying it out with my 200-400 + tc14e for birding. Having several bodies also allows me to mount different lenses and not have to change lenses to meet conditions.

You're going to love the D700. It is a quantum leap in camera technology. Here is a photo I shot at the NASCAR race a couple of weekends ago at ISO8000 with my 70-200 f/2.8 + tc-a4e
1/800sec
f/4.8
120mm


While there is some noise (I don't use Noise Ninja or anything else) it is not objectionable and the print looks great. This is straight out of the camera with no boost in saturation and no PP except a little USM.

JIM


JIM

I kept my 18-200 vr and Tokina 12-24. I continue using them with the D200, esp. for travel.

I like the better dynamic range and high iso performance of the D700. I am using it with the 24-70 and 70-200 lenses. I feel that reports re. poor performance of the 70-200 on FX are rather exaggerated.

The attached close-up picture was taken at 200mm, f/3.5, 1/650s, iso200, 50%crop with the 70-200vr/D700.

Tristan

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

>- what have you done with your DX-lenses?

I sold my 10.5, 12-24 and my D200. For me the decision was easy once I committed to the FX - I won't be going back to DX and I don't feel the need to have back-up DX body. If anything, my D700 is likely to be my "future back-up body".

>- what are the biggest positive and negative surprises you
>have noticed?

I wouldn't call it a surprise because that is why I sold the D200 for D700, but the ISO performance of the D700 amazes me. The larger/brighter viewfinder is another pleasant surprise. Overall, the D700 was the step up I was waiting for - an FX sensor in the most "F100-like" body yet. I felt the D200 was sufficiently better than my D100 to warrant an upgrade but I hesitated on the D200 to D300 jump in anticipation of a non-D3 FX. I'm glad I waited. I'm perfectly happy with a 12mp FX and have no interest in a ~24mp FX so I anticipate being happy with the D700 for a good long while. There is no negative, as far as I am concerned, in thinking of the jump from a D200 to a D700 (other than cash outlay I suppose)

>
>- what such should I know what I don't know to ask?
>

I also have a 28-70/2.8 (from my F100 days) and, therefore, I am not planning to get a 24-70. I have a 105/2.8 VR, a 50mm/1.8 and along with the D700, I went ahead and finally got an 85/1.4 - a lens I have had my eye on for quite some time. I also just sold my 70-200mm/2.8 VR because I don't really need the reach much and I am more concerned with remaining "intimate" for portraiture. Now that I've got the 85, I can get close enough without scaring anybody and I prefer being less conspicuous (the "beast" and the 70-200 especially, are quite noticeable - and I prefer to try and blend in more). A lot has to do with shooting style and subject of course - but I am falling in love again with primes.

As much as I am drawn to the 14-24 for the D700 (and to replace the 12-24), I do shoot with filters and I am worried about weight. I've thought about picking up a 17-35/2.8 (a nice traditional pairing with the 28-70) but I'm going to wait to see what the year brings in terms of new primes (if any) especially if wide angles were to debut (but I doubt it).

In any event, the D700 has me daydreaming about primes again. Man I love this camera and can't wait to actually get out there and shoot something serious instead of things and people around the house!!

Doug

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Thank you all for sharing your D200 switch to D700 experience. Sounds like you all are very happy with the upgrade and all negative factors are minor.

Sport Squirrel


PS. I fully agree with you Heus that once I will touch D700 & 24-70, the D200 will be useless. That's happened me when I moved from D70 to D200.

PS. Dave58. No, I really do not carry with me all the lenses I own. Most of the lenses are simply stored in cabinet and they stay there useless.

PS. Jim. Unbelievable ISO 8000 picture. The ISO performance is the most important reason for me to upgrade.


Camera: Nikon D200, D70, SB-800, SB-600, 50 1.8, 18-70, 70-300G, Sigma 70-200, Sigma 30 1.4, Tokina 12-24..