Love my new D200, some questions

[pointa-b-c]

Just received my MB D200 today, playing with my D200 and my 70-200mm VR. Gosh, all I know is I need more workout, the whole thing is heavy!

I love to shoot motorsports and most of the shots I preferred to shoot handheld without a monopod. For some reasons, I can't get e.g. a car in focus when panning. Now that the camera is quite a bit heavier than my D70, I am worried my photos will not be focused... Any suggestions?

Here is a sample of my D70 with 70-200 VR.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Gale]

Looks good to me

 

[pointa-b-c]

Looks good to me

I am worried about my D200 not able to capture as good of a picture as my D70 due to extra weight. :tongue:

 

[Gale]

oh don't be silly
The D200 is a far better camera. Get Thom Hogans e-book and get the camera set up right for you
I never had the first prob.
I set it just like I did the D100 and went out shooting
I shoot raw compressed
All the color setting and sharpen to normal.
WB on auto wrks good. You can play around with that
.
I shoot manual mode (most of the time)
group dynamic... continous. 5 fps

I am 65 and have the 80-400 VR on the D200 and hand hold. I don't find the weight all that bad and my hands, arms and shoulders are in awful shape

 

[pointa-b-c]

Thanks for your input, Gale. Will try shooting as much as I can now.

Another thing I observed, is battery life on D200 is rather low, it's like 2 batteries on D200 vs 1 on my D70. Oh well, not the biggest deal.

 

[Gale]

Well yeah
Something gotta drive that great machine:>))))))
I got 5 gigs raw compressed one day at the air show on one battery. (no flash)
Just did not chimp alot:>))) heehee Did check the histo though
Gotta do that ya know

 

[wbeem]

I am worried about my D200 not able to capture as good of a picture as my D70 due to extra weight. :tongue:

Work out. Eat a protein bar. Shoot pictures.

 

[Chris C]

Pointa-b-c,

I think you'll find a big improvement in your sharpness with the D200. Inertia makes a big difference in stability. With a heavier camera, or lens, your body movements affect the camera less. That's why a serious target rifle is heavier than a sporting rifle. You'll love the extra weight.

 

[ProDiver]

Thanks for your input, Gale. Will try shooting as much as I can now.

Another thing I observed, is battery life on D200 is rather low, it's like 2 batteries on D200 vs 1 on my D70. Oh well, not the biggest deal.

The batteries on a D200, need to be cycled several times before they start giving you a longer shooting life. I purchased another battery when I first got my D200, as the life was terrible usually would not last through a 2Gig RAW shoot. As the battery was recharged, the longevity of the battery increased. Now I rarely carry the extra battery, but do keep it in the rotation.

My D200, usually has an 70-200mm 2.8VR, or the 80-400mm 4.5/5.6 VR and an SB800 hanging off it.

Hope this helps

 

[pointa-b-c]

Thanks for all the tips. First thing on my to-do list is work out. :biggrin:

I have the MB-D200, it's a nice addition for better grip and to hold an extra battery.

So far most of my handheld shots are "ok," will see how it goes when I hit the racetrack in 2 weeks.

 

[Michael Mohrmann]

The batteries on a D200, need to be cycled several times before they start giving you a longer shooting life.

Is there any way to speed up this process? I recall reading that add-on battery actually charges an internal battery in the D200. Is this the case? Or is it a matter of "teaching" the D200 battery to hold a charge? Maybe both are correct?

 

[bwilder10h]

The D200 with grip is what half a pound heavier than the D70 at most...

 

[pointa-b-c]

The D200 with grip is what half a pound heavier than the D70 at most...

Alright, it's just about a little less than a pound heavier. :tongue:

 

[gadgetguy11]

Is there any way to speed up this process? I recall reading that add-on battery actually charges an internal battery in the D200. Is this the case? Or is it a matter of "teaching" the D200 battery to hold a charge? Maybe both are correct?

The D200 battery actually charges an internal battery. It would not seem to be a big current draw, but the difference in battery life when my D200 was new vs a year later is substantial, as previously mentioned. Like fine wine, the D200 gets better with time!

 

[ProDiver]

Is there any way to speed up this process? I recall reading that add-on battery actually charges an internal battery in the D200. Is this the case? Or is it a matter of "teaching" the D200 battery to hold a charge? Maybe both are correct?

Hi Michael:

The way that I prepare my batteries is that I do not charge them until they have ~25% charge left. I have taken them lower but in general around 25%. I have two other batteries, that I rotate through the D200, battery 1,2 & 3.. So when battery #1 hits the magic charge point, I pull it out and put in battery #2, then battery #3. When I 1st got my D200, I had heard all of the stories on the lack of battery power, and decided to get a couple of spares so I would be sure to have enough.

When I get back from a shoot, I drop the depleated batteries in the charger and let them fully charge and cool down. I have heard and read that pulling the battery when the light quits blinking and is warm to the touch and installing it directly in the camera is not a good idea.

As far as speeding the process, with a single battery it will be difficult to speed up the conditioning process. But I expect there will be a noticable increase in the life of the battery with each subsequent full charge.

I shoot with VR lenses so the power draw is a little more, I do very little chimping (looking at the LCD).

I am sure that this is not what you wanted to hear, but as a previous Cafe member indicated, you just cannot rush fine wine.

 

[pointa-b-c]

Great info. I will start charging batteries when they have about 25% left.

 

[pointa-b-c]

100% satisfied with my D200. Extra weight isn't an issue anymore, battery life isn't getting better but I can live with it. :Whistle:

Samples at the track.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[senna]

Looks like you are getting the hang of it.

 

[blessedLens]

pointa..those shots are goooood

 

[Tosh]

Is there any way to speed up this process? I recall reading that add-on battery actually charges an internal battery in the D200. Is this the case? Or is it a matter of "teaching" the D200 battery to hold a charge? Maybe both are correct?

Michael,

To condition the battery through discharge-charge cycles, you can drain the battery faster if you set your D200 so that the meter remains on. Go to the Pencil icon, C3, and then choose "No Limit."

Be careful though, as I believe it is Thom Hogan who says that you should never let your battery completely drain. It would be best to keep tabs on the battery indicator icon.