D50 died
 

So my D50 got the infamous 'err'. I spoke to Nikon and I need to send it in. From what I have read the cost to repair is around 400.

Now, it doesn't make sense to spend that much $ to fix an older camera. I am trying to decide between the D80, the D200, or even the D40x.

I am appealing to the knowledge base here for suggestions. I am not a pro. I take pics of the family, the dogs playing, the occasional car race.

I do like the pre determined programs that the 50 had and the 40/80 have. I guess the 200 does not.

Would a non pro see the difference in performance, since the cost is such a large jump?

thanks for all of the opinions.

PS I am sticking with Nikon b/c all of my lenses are Nikon.

That number is what I have seen others post. Apparently they replace everything but the plastic body, tweak and clean it. It may be lower than that, it is just what others on the web said they paid.

Apparently the motherboard and the motor are toasted or something.

I dropped my Canon and had to send it in. They came back with an estimate that was pretty high, $300 or $400. I called them up and told them that it was more than I had been prepared to spend and asked the chick on the phone what would happen if I couldn't pay. She said hang on and then came back and knocked 20% off which I thought was quite generous since I had dropped the camera. Hopefully the Nikon CS is as good.

If it comes down to getting the new body, I'd definitely skip the 200, from the sounds of it, the price difference would not be worth it to you. Even the D80 is probably more than you need.

If you only take happy snaps, get the D40x. Awesome camera for the price. Unless you have a bunch of non-AFS lenses, in which case get the D80. The D40x only works with Nikon's AFS lenses.

If you are more serious about photgraphy, get the D80 (which I have). It has most features of the D200, which is due for replacement soon anyway.

It is not brand loyalty at all, rather the investment in lenses that only fit one brand of camera. My investment in lenses (like most prosumer photog's) is probably 10x the investment in camera bodies.

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If you have AFS lenses (with the focusing motor built-in the lens), I'd go with the D40 or D40x. Don't be fooled into thinking 10mp is a big advantage over 6mp on the D40.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm
http://www.bythom.com/d40review.htm

Between a D80 and a D200, it sounds like you'd be better off with the D80. It's smaller and lighter, and has the program modes. The D200 has a metal frame vs plastic, weather-sealing, can meter more lenses, and shoot 5 fps vs 3 fps. It is a lot more camera. Those links above for Ken Rockwell and Thom Hogan have plenty of information on the D80/200 as well as dpreview.com.

Useful link:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp

Wow, thanks for all of the information so far! I went online and looked at Nikons site. They have a video tutor for the D200. After I realized that most of the features that were on the menu were above my head, I realized that it is way too much camera. The D80 and the D40x appear to be more my speed.

What I liked about the D200 was its speed, for when I try and take Porsche racing pics. Not knowing a lot about speed, I would imagine that the D80/40 family should be fast enough.

I am now going throw the above links....thanks again.

You could pick up a used D50 for about $350-$400. I recently traded my D50 for a laptop and got a D80. Great camera, lots of features like the D200, the camera will probably be obsolete before I could learn to use all the features.

The thing I like about the D80 over the D50 is the larger LCD, lighted top panel, brighter viewfinder, viewfinder grids, easier to use menu syste and more focus points. I do not like the extra weight though.