Hi group,

I had the good fortune to use the Nikon D200 for 3 weeks at a newspaper job.
Coming from using a Canon 10D, it seemed light years faster on the draw than
my old Canon in terms of focusing speed, focusing accuracy, shutter
response, viewfinder blackout duration (while the shutter opens).  It was as
if I was able to capture the moment of impact much more precisely in, say,
tennis than with my 10D.

Now, I'm not about to give up all my Canon stuff for one Nikon camera.
Canon's controls and image quality are still better.  What I'd like to know
is if anyone has used, say, a 30D side by side with a D200, or a 5D with a
D200, or a 1D mark2 with a D200 and was able to notice a difference in those
things I mentioned above (The 1Ds mark2 is light years beyond my price
range, so don't bother with that).  I think the thing that most got me was
the shutter response and blackout time, that gave me a much better idea of
what I was going to get in the frame, as opposed to the 10D where you have
to press the button a split second before the anticipated moment and the
viewfinder is black for a noticably longer time and you wonder which part of
the action you actually got.

It's interesting to see Nikon with a very quick camera like that for
$2000US.  That's why I'd like to know if the $1500 30D can match its speed.
If only viewfinder size matched; I love the large area in the D200 and the
5D.  I've read that the 5D has great shutter response, but how about
blackout time?  I'm sure the 1D mark2 can blow the D200 away, but I am still
curious to see by how much.

Thanks,
Jeremy