This is a summary of the main differences I see between the D200 and the newly released D80. This should help people who are hesitating between those two bodies or in other words: why should I still buy a D200 over a D80 ?
- first of all, the build quality. Both
the D70 and the D80 feel
like "toys" compared to the D200. Don't misunderstand me, the D70 and
D80 are excellent camera's and I am still using the D70 a lot but there
is a
clear difference.
- much bigger and heavier, also with the grip (personally, I find the
D200+grip
combo much better balanced, certainly with heavy or long lenses).
- compatibility with the old AI and AIS lenses (the camera still meters
and
allows to take incredible pictures with those old "gems" you can find
used at no cost (super fast 1.4 manual lenses for instance))
- better user interface (easier to zoom pictures, to select AF mode,
ISO, WB
etc...) but that's a personal choice.
- Compact flash cards (also personal taste)
- AF system a bit more sophisticated on the D200 but difference is
marginal in
practice
- better exposure metering (1005 pixels sensor instead of 420 on the
D80, which
inherited the D50 system) - this means that more pictures are wrongly
exposed
with a D80. On a D200, 95% of the pictures are perfectly exposed.
- the D80 has a number of "gadget" modes to increase picture quality
without needing external picture processing.
The fundamental question is: are those differences worth the 600EUR premium in Europe (or 600USD in the US)... that is your personal decision. The D80 delivers much more than most professional camera's a few years ago (except build quality and AF system)... so not so many advanced amateurs will really ever NEED more. The decision is yours.