Why wouldn't I buy a D2x?

[ladukebob]

I'm not a pro by any means and I'm on a tight budget. I really want to start shooting outdoor sports such as motorcycle racing, skiing, and cycling events. Right now I'm shopping for a 80-200mm that I was going to use on my D90 until I started reading these threads. Now I can't stop thinking about using that lens with a D2x. Price wise it would seem like a no brainer.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[JTP11]

If you going to shoot in good light all the time the D2x with be fine, but on dark days or night racing etc. The D2 Series of cameras will struggle big time. The ISO Performance of them isn't great at all.

 

[Jonathan F/2]

The D2X is a 100 to 400 ISO camera. Anything past that and it gets really noisy. Saying that, the base 100 ISO on the D2X is beautiful!

 

[ladukebob]

I rarely shoot over ISO 400 with my D90. I just don't find the D90 does that great above ISO 1000 and I find that my style has adapted. Just seems like there is something I'm missing, great camera for what I need at such an awesome price. There really isn't a down side to buying one at this point. If it doesn't work out it will be worth what I paid or close to it.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Rob Bye]

You're absolutely correct Dan, using a D2x is a total no-brainer. The D2x is excellent at capturing outdoor sports. The autofocus system still keeps up with the best, and image quality is still fine. As Jonathan notes, going above ISO 400 delivers rapidly decreasing image quality. I bought my pre-owned D2x a few years ago to replace a D80. Between those two bodies, the difference was night and day. I'm thinking now about replacements for both my D2x back-up body and my D300 main body; unless Nikon releases a better replacement body (like the fabled D400), I may go with the D7100. Given a choice between the D7100 and a D2x today, I would probably go with the D7100.

 

[Randy]

lcd size and iso perf would drive me nuts
I just got a used D300, at least it has a great lcd

 

[bett]

Dan, Absolutely no reason not to grab one for what they're going for these days. I love mine, and I get the feeling you will too. But I'll tell ya, I have a beater D2H (Probably Nikons most underrated, misunderstood DSLR) that I paid $150 for, and with an 80-200 2.8 it does a fine job shooting motorsports/racing. It lacks the fine detail the X produces, but for that kind of shooting I'm happy with the images I get. You might be too, and they can be had for about 1/3 the money the Xs are bringing. Just a thought. These were shot with my D2h/80-200:

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[trenchmonkey]

Nice ^^ I use my D2Xs just about every week during migrations. HSC 680mm handheld SOOC 8fps, score!!

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[ladukebob]

Bett, those are great shots! Really blows me away the quality of 4.1 megapixels will produce. Problem is finding one of those cameras in any kind of shape worth buying. Thanks for posting those photos.

Will, thanks for posting as well. Really like what the D2Xs is capable of. It's going to come down to the D300 or the D2Xs.

 

[CAJames]

I agree, don't overlook the D2H(s). I think ISO 1600 is usable if you are careful with post processing, the 4 MP files are a joy to process and it will run forever on a single battery. Note also the AF motor in the D2 bodies really torques a screwdriver AF lens in a way the lesser bodies can't approach, if that matters to you.

 

[sergeantcigar]

The biggest problem I had when I bought an old beater pro body a few years ago (D1x w/ buffer upgrade), is that I got hooked on pro bodies. That $200 camera cost me a whole bunch of money! I have a D3 now that does everything I want it to, but I still grab my D2x for everyday walk-around shooting. I know the lab numbers are much better on the newer small body cameras, but the handling of the camera means much more to me than picture quality I can barely see in real life prints.

 

[ladukebob]

I ran across this D2X with an 80-200 push/pull lens for sale the other day and the camera's description is-

"Camera appears in great shape but the shutter isn't firing. The lens glass is super clear with only a little scuff on the end of the barrel. The camera powers up fine except can't seem to get the menu. Could be a setting issue, lens, body, I don't know" The asking price is $600 for the combo.

The price is super cheap for the combo and I'm very very very reluctant to even go look at it..............but I thought I would ask if this sounds like it's something simple to fix. I realize it's not enough of a description to trouble shoot the problem but I'll ask anyway. I certainly don't want to through a lot of money at it to fix it, which is probably the case with this camera. For all anyone knows it was dropped.

Thanks

 

[bett]

There is a setting ( f8 in the Custom Settings Menu is: no CF card? ON/OFF) that wont let the shutter release if there's no CF card in the slot. For that money I'd go look at it.

And the last thing I'd worry about is dropping one of those. I dropped my first D2h more than I care to admit. It fell off the tail gate of my friends truck and pulled the mounting ring out of the lens, but the camera was fine. It rolled off the trunk lid of my car, onto the driveway and busted off the SB600, and the camera was fine. I knocked it off the kitchen table onto the tiled floor and watched it roll into the living room, again no problem. It fell off the passenger seat and onto the floor of my Jeep while on rough roads/trails so many times I just started putting it on the floor. All that and it just kept working. I believe those D2 bodies are bullet proof. When it developed the "ERR" problem I sold it, and replaced it with the X. But I got another H last summer off Ebay for $150 when I started shooting race cars at Lime Rock Park again. It's got 260,ooo on the shutter! I swear the things just don't give up!

Go have a look at it, and If you can get into the menus check f8 in custom settings. If it doesn't pan out, offer him a couple hundred for the 80-200. You were looking for one of those too right? It could be the one...

Good luck. I hope things fall together soon.

 

[anabasis]

My biggest issue with my D2x is the CA that it brings out in the glass. If you don't have the best of modern optics, you will be spending time in PS dealing with it.

 

[kodiak]

…on a tight budget… shooting outdoor sports such as motorcycle racing, skiing, and cycling events…

Go for it! …with what you ambition to do, a single digit body is a must!

 

[Cleanimage]

Dan - I've got a friend with a D2x and he loves it, however, I think that you got good advice on the ISO limitations. I've got an 80-200 that I bought new years ago. It's a nice lens particularly when it is stopped down to f4 or 5.6. If I were going to buy a used one, I think that I would look for the AFS version to get a little quicker focus speed.

 

[Palouse]

I have only a D2X, bought new 6-7b years ago, and we're still speaking to each other. It is perfect for landscapes, where I typically shot at ISO 100. With my recent foray into flash and people higher ISO would be nice. But no, I'm not giving it up. Very easily produces 13 x 19 prints. I've shot up to 800, but typically stay below 400 as noted above.
Sure a better LCD would be nice, and perhaps live view, and I'm sure the fine adjustment on lens focus would be great.
And it's all paid for

 

[ShaunK]

MY D2X was the best feeling, best handling Nikon body I've ever owned (until I picked up an F4!!!). I know that doesn't equate to good pics. but it shown there, too, as others have pointed out, in the ISO 100-640 range. The LCD size wouldn't bother me, as I don't use it for detailed viewing... just a quickie check of the histogram. Colors are phenominal with the X as well...

 

[Naptown]

Still have my D2xs. Agree on ISO limitations.