Nikon D200 Review: 1.

Introduction: Digital Photography Review

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1. Introduction

Nikon D200 Review, February 2006, Phil Askey

Review based on a production Nikon D200 The Nikon D200 was announced on 1st November 2005, some three and a half years since Nikon revealed their first prosumer digital SLR, the D100. It's fair to say however that the D200 is a completely different beast altogether, it shares far more with its 'bigger brother' the the D2X than its earlier namesake. The D200 has the robust build quality of the D2X, a 10.2 million pixel CCD sensor and a compact design more like the D100. Just as the D100 the D200 has a CCD sensor, unlike the D2X which utilized a CMOS sensor. It's clear that this camera is aimed at the same kind of market as the recently announced Canon EOS 5D. From a features, control and performance point of view the D200 is closer to the D2X than any other model.
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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Compared to the Nikon D100, major feature and specification differences

Three years is a long time in the digital photography industry, a lot has changed since the D100, so treat the table below as a summary of the major changes. The most immediately noticeable however is the build quality, the D200 feels like a professional tool.

Nikon D200 Body Sensor Image sizes Magnesium alloy Body seams sealed 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX format) 10.2 million effective pixels 3872 x 2592 [L] 2896 x 1944 [M] 1936 x 1296 [S] RAW (compressed / uncompressed) JPEG (3 levels) 11/7 area TTL Multi-CAM 1000 Single Area AF Continuous Servo AF Group Dynamic AF Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF

Nikon D100 High-impact plastic 23.7 x 15.6 mm CCD (DX format) 6.1 million effective pixels 3008 x 2000 [L] 2240 x 1488 [M] 1504 x 1000 [S] RAW (compressed / uncompressed) TIFF JPEG (3 levels) 5 area TTL Multi-CAM 900 Single Area AF Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF

File formats

Auto focus AF area mode

Metering Sensitivity Shutter speed AI aperture ring Continuous

3D Color Matrix Metering II 1005 pixel CCD ISO 100 - 1600 Up to ISO 3200 with boost 30 - 1/8000 sec 1/250 sec X-Sync speed Yes 5 fps 37 / 22 frames (JPEG / RAW)

3D Matrix Metering 10 segment sensor ISO 200 - 1600 ISO 3200 & 6400 with boost 30 - 1/4000 sec 1/180 sec X-Sync speed No 3 fps 6 / 4 frames (JPEG / RAW)

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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

White balance

Auto Six presets Manual preset (four) Kelvin temperature Fine tunable Six preset looks Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels Tone: Auto, 3 levels, Custom Color: 3 modes Saturation: Auto, 3 levels Hue: -9 to +9 Eyepoint 19.5 mm Frame coverage 95% Magnification approx. 0.94x B-type Bright View Clear Matte II

Auto Six presets Manual preset (one) Fine tunable Sharpening: Auto, 4 levels Tone: Auto, 3 levels, Custom Color: 3 modes Hue: -9 to +9

Image params

Viewfinder

Eyepoint 24 mm Frame coverage 95% Magnification approx 0.8x B-type Bright View Clear Matte II

LCD monitor

2.5 " TFT LCD 230,000 pixels Removable protective cover 4 x Shooting 4 x Custom functions Yes 10-pin remote terminal Yes, NMEA 0183 with optional cable Yes, optional WT-3 transmitter USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh) Remaining charge (%) No. of shots taken since last charge Battery life (5 stage) MB-D200 147 x 113 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)

1.8" TFT LCD 120,000 pixels Removable protective cover 2 x Shooting 2 x Custom functions No With battery pack (optional) No No USB 1.1 Lithium-Ion EN-EL3 (7.4 V, 1400 mAh) 3 level on LCD panel

Memory banks Timelapse Remote GPS Wireless USB Battery Battery status

Vertical grip Dimensions

MB-D100 144 x 116 x 81 mm (5.7 x 4.6 x 3.2 in) 700 g (1.5 lb)

Weight (no batt) 830 g (1.8 lb)

Compared to the Nikon D2X

It would be fair to describe the D200 as a 'compact D2X', while some features have been removed to preserve the D2X's uniqueness you would be hard pressed to find a situation (other than high-speed crop continuous shooting) where the D200 couldn't stand up to its bigger brother.

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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Compared to the Nikon D2X, major feature and specification differences

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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Nikon D200 Sensor Image sizes 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX format) 10.2 million effective pixels 3872 x 2592 [L] 2896 x 1944 [M] 1936 x 1296 [S] No RAW (compressed / uncompressed) JPEG (3 levels) 11/7 area TTL Multi-CAM 1000 AF Area Shooting mode (continuous)

Nikon D2X 23.7 x 15.7 mm CMOS (DX format) 12.4 million effective pixels 4288 x 2848 [L] 3216 x 2136 [M] 2144 x 1424 [S] Yes (2.0x FOV crop, 6.9 MP, 8 fps) RAW (compressed / uncompressed) TIFF JPEG (3 levels) 11/9 area TTL (9 in High speed crop) Multi-CAM 2000 AF Area Shutter speed Aperture Shooting mode (continuous)

High speed crop File formats

Auto focus Settings lock

Color space

sRGB (2 modes) Adobe RGB ISO 100 - 1600 Up to ISO 3200 with boost 30 - 1/8000 sec 1/250 sec X-Sync speed Yes 5 fps 37 / 22 frames (JPEG / RAW) n/a

sRGB (2 modes) Adobe RGB (2 modes) sYCC ISO 100 - 800 ISO 1600 & 3200 with boost 30 - 1/8000 sec 1/250 sec X-Sync speed Yes 5.3 fps 22 / 17 frames (JPEG / RAW) 8.0 fps 35 / 29 frames (JPEG / RAW) Auto (hybrid external and CCD) Six presets Manual presets (four) Kelvin temperature Fine tunable

Sensitivity Shutter speed AI aperture ring Continuous Continuous (high speed crop) White balance

Auto (metering CCD) Six presets Manual presets (four) Kelvin temperature Fine tunable

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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Image params

Six preset looks Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels Tone: Auto, 3 levels, Custom Color: 3 modes Saturation: Auto, 3 levels Hue: -9 to +9

Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels Tone: Auto, 3 levels, Custom Color: 3 modes Saturation: Auto, 3 levels Hue: -9 to +9

Built-in flash Voice record Viewfinder

Yes No Eyepoint 19.5 mm Frame coverage 95% Magnification approx. 0.94x B-type Bright View Clear Matte II

No Yes, up to 60 sec per image Eyepoint 19.9 mm Frame coverage 100% Magnification approx 0.86x B-type Bright View Clear Matte III Built-in curtain Interchangeable finder screen 2.5 " TFT LCD 232,000 pixels Tempered glass coating Removable protective cover

LCD monitor

2.5 " TFT LCD 230,000 pixels Removable protective cover WT-3 (802.11 b/g) Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh) Remaining charge (%) No. of shots taken since last charge Battery life (5 stage) MB-D200 147 x 113 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)

Wi-Fi Battery Battery status

WT-1 (802.11b) or WT-2 (802.11b/g) Lithium-Ion EN-EL4 (11.1 V, 1900 mAh) Remaining charge (%) No. of shots taken since last charge Calibration status Battery life (5 stage)

Vertical grip Dimensions

Built-in 158 x 150 x 86 mm (6.2 x 5.9 x 3.4 in) 1070 g (2.4 lb)

Weight (no batt) 830 g (1.8 lb)

Lens compatibility
Thanks to its new AI aperture ring connector the D200 supports A / M modes and metering with AI manual focus lenses (essentially anything made since 1977). Click on the chart below for a bigger view. (Table reproduced from Nikon brochure with permission).

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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

IX Nikkor lenses can not be used. Vibration Reduction (VR) supported with VR lenses. Spot metering meters selected focus area. The cameras exposure metering and flash control systems do not work properly when shifting and/or tilting the lens, or when an aperture other than the maximum aperture is used. Electronic range finder can not be used with shifting or tilting. Manual exposure mode only. Compatible with AF-I Nikkor lenses and with all AF-S lenses except DX ED 12-24 mm f/4G and AF-S series ED 17-35 mm f/2.8D, DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G, ED 24-85 mm f/3.5-4.5G, VR ED 24-120 mm f/3.5-5.6G, and ED 28-70 mm f/2.8D. With maximum effective aperture of f/5.6 or faster. If AF 80-200 mm f/2.8S, AF 35-70 mm f/2.8S, new-model AF 28-85 mm f/3.5-4.5S, or AF 28-85 mm f/3.5-4.5S is zoomed in while focusing at minimum range, image on matte screen in viewfinder may not be in focus when in-focus indicator is displayed. Focus manually using image in viewfinder as guide. With maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. Some lenses can not be used (see following page). Range of rotation for Ai 80-200 mm f/2.8S ED tripod mount limited by camera body. Filters can not be exchanged while Ai 200-400 mm f/4S ED is mounted on camera. If maximum aperture is specified using Non-CPU Lens Data option in shooting menu, aperture value will be displayed in viewfinder and control panel. Can be used only if lens focal length and maximum aperture are specified using Non-CPU Lens Data option in shooting menu. Use spot or center-weighted metering if desired results are not achieved. For improved precision, specify lens focal length and maximum aperture using Non-CPU Lens Data option in shooting menu. Can be used at in manual exposure modes at shutter speeds slower than 1/125 s. If maximum aperture is specified using Non-CPU Lens Data option in shooting menu, aperture value will be displayed in viewfinder and control panel. Exposure determined by presetting lens aperture. In aperture- priority auto exposure mode, preset aperture

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Nikon D200 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

using lens aperture ring before performing AE lock or shifting lens. In manual exposure mode, preset aperture using lens aperturering and determine exposure before shifting lens. 18. Exposure compensation required when used with AI 28-85 mm f/3.5-4.5S, AI 35-105 mm f/3.5-4.5S, AI 35-135 mm f/3.5-4.5S, or AF-S 80-200 mm f/2.8D. See teleconverter manual for details. 19. Requires PK-12 or PK-13 auto extension ring. 20. Use preset aperture. In exposure mode A, set aperture using focusing attachment before determining exposure and taking photograph.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used). Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2006 Phil Askey and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey Bookmark: Actions: Digg < Previous del.icio.us Next > Reddit Print page Google

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