Can the 16-Year-Old Nikon D200 Keep Up With the Modern Z 7?

No doubt, cameras have made remarkable progress in the last few decades, and modern bodies can do some incredible things. How far have we come? This interesting video compares the Nikon D200 to the Z 7 and shows us that while we have made huge progress in some ways, in other ways, things have not changed all that much.

Coming to you from Nigel Danson, this great video compares the Nikon D200 to the modern Z 7. Released in 2005, the D200 was a perfectly fine camera for the time, but of course, a modern body like the Z 7 runs circles around it. Beyond the increases in resolution, the most impressive improvement for me is the dynamic range. The D200 was a bit under eight stops, but on the other hand, the Z 7 comes in at over 14 stops, nearly double the amount. This not only allows you to capture more extreme scenes, but also makes your workflow easier by reducing the number of images that require exposure bracketing. On the other hand, Danson's ability to create compelling photos with both cameras shows us that at end of the day, it comes down to creativity and technique. Check out the video above for Danson's full thoughts on both cameras. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Log in or register to post comments
13 Comments

i bought a D200 like new last year for only 100 bucks! It only had about 140 shutter actuation's on it! The D200 is one of my favorite cameras!

Steve Horne got upset that this is one of your favourite cameras.

Lmao he sure is. He must have pulled a double shift in the salt mines or something. There's always at least one person out there wanting to put some one down lol.

You are by far one of the more likeable and enjoyable content providers for photography. Enjoyed the whole video, dog and woodpeckers included. Plus the coffee break. All, not to mention the interesting comparison. Thanks.

Is it really 16 years old ?? It still takes a nice photo and it's a solid build and reliable. I tried to sell mine sometime ago but I was just offered $100 CND...What's the point, just keep it and use it for web shots.

Umm, doesn't a single stop of extra dynamic range in essence double the dynamic range? In that case, going from 8 stops to 14 stops is a huge increase.

I comes down to the person behind the camera. A tool is a tool, a bad mechanic will strip bolts with a 20 year old wrench or a brand new state of the art Snap-On vs a great mechanic who won’t. I shoot with a D850 and a Z7 and have been impressed with the results as well as F5 equally impressive results. The best camera is the one you own

If a camera is 'just a tool', then why did you buy a D850? Surely any old camera would do.

I had a first generation EOS-1 Ds that I bought heavily used, and although it died a painful death, it was a hell of a camera. In spite of the fact that it was old when I was using it, I have been looking through old images and in more than a few cases, I've been really impressed with what I have from my time with it.

I still can't part with my old D700.. maybe because it is such a beast. Still does nice work and you don't need IBIS because it's so freaking heavy.

I use a very old DSLR for much of my professional work. I fully agree with the sentiment that it comes down to the person using the tools they have, not about whether those tools are the newest or the "best".

I was born and grew up with films, and D200 was my first digital camera. At various times I used two of them, two D300, two D700, or D3/D700 camera combinations to photograph weddings. After retiring I sold the cameras I had and, in the next couple of years, I found and cheaply bought three mint "unloved" D200s. Three cameras for three GOOD lenses. Ready to use at "any time". What an idea!? What matters the most (most of the time) are LENSES. Don’t use a "strange" Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5/5.6G with your Nikon D200 cameras...
In "my time" (and I wasted a lot of it) I learned that the D3 camera, for example, 99% of the time doesn’t do any better job than the D200. It could do better in "bad light", it could also "do" bigger files and prints than D200, and I am sure that Z7 can do them too. But, D200 will also give to you beautiful images (and A3 prints) if you know how to use it. And, it will do it for tens of times less $$$ which you could then spend on, for example, lenses similar to the one which was mounted on the Z7 in the above "test", pretending to be objective, and even sympathetic, to the poor old D200...