The 2007 Nikon D300 sold for $1,800 but can now be purchased for a bit over $100.00. Its 12 mp DX sensor produces higher image quality and higher native ISO than the Nikon D2x so any of the images I posted from the Nikon D2x could have been produced by the Nikon D300. It is the better value today. Here is one example of a 40+ mp file from the D300 processed in Nikon NX Studio.
For about $100 you can try what I am talking about.