The Nikon D2H is 4.1 MP DX format professional DSLR, which was introduced in July 2003. Nikon refined and replaced the D2H with the D2Hs in 2005, adding new features developed with the flagship D2X Digital SLR. See a comparison of features improvements and changes between the D2H and D2Hs at DP Review.
Reviews
Acuity is good, color is excellent, and noise performance is at least as good as previous Nikons, if not better. With the right settings and discipline, this camera performs more like a 5mp or higher camera.
The Nikon D2H is one of a very few cameras which feels almost perfectly ‘sorted’. By this I mean it’s very difficult to use the camera and find faults, almost any faults, which will affect the camera’s purpose in life, which is to be a very fast, flexible, robust and reliable photographic tool.
Underpowered? Not necessarily …. the 4.1 megapixel sensor actually could be considered to be a strong point because of its smaller, easier to manage image file sizes. Practically speaking, the smaller file sizes are faster & easier to work with.
In some ways the D2h is a huge improvement over the professional standard D1H camera. Advantages are much, much better battery performance and a much bigger LCD screen. A big disadvantage of the D2H is the lack of an electronic shutter which drops the flash sync speed.
Image quality generally matches or exceeds the D1X and D1H Saturation is up, detail is up, noise across the range of ISOs looks to be slightly worse while skin tones seem to be both up and down, depending on the subject and illumination.
The D2H was nearly transparent as I used it; it did not demand my attention or make me wait, and allowed me to concentrate my efforts on capturing images, not operating a camera.
Clocking my camera, it seems to be delivering about 8.61FPS shooting above 1/250. That’s pretty darn cool. Coupled with the ability to shoot RAW + JPEG, it’s a great system.
I’ve said before and will say again that the D2H is easily the most enjoyable camera to shoot with that I’ve yet handled, with a fluid, fast, and easy to use user interface that intrudes minimally on the shooting experience. Overall, a powerful photographic tool, not to mention a thoroughly enjoyable one.
Where to Buy
First off, consider going to your local camera store (and I don’t necessarily mean Wolf Camera at the mall). By going to your local camera store, you’re supporting your community and you just might build a lasting relationship with people you can rely on when you need some help or answers. If you’re buying online, I recommend sticking with Amazon, B&H Photo or Adorama. Frequently, you can find used or refurbished models on these sites. These three vendors are reliable, trustworthy and generally have the best (legitimate) prices. Additionally, purchasing your camera through these links helps support this site.
[tags]nikon, d2h, review, dslr, test, digital camera[/tags]