The Nikon D200 features a 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor, shoots at 5 frames per second and shoots up to 1800 images per battery charge. It has a nice large 2.5inch LCD display, 11 area Multi-CAM AF system, magnesium alloy body and 10.2 megapixel 3D matrix metering.
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[Nikon D200 Spec Sheet - 1/2/2006]
[24 Page Sales Brochure in PDF Format - 1/1/2006]
[Nikon's 2 Page Sales Brochure in PDF Format]
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[Sample Photos at Pocket Lint]
[Sample Pictures at Trusted Reviews]
[Sample Pictures at Trusted Reviews]
[Sample Pictures at Trusted Reviews]
[Sample Pictures At Steve's Digicams]
[Sample Pictures at DP Review]
[1/22/2006 - Sample Pictures at Natufotograf]
[1/21/2006 - Sample D200 Pictures at Imaging Resource]
[1/21/2006 - D200 Test Images at Imaging Resources]
[Sample Images at California Earthframes]
{Sample Nikon D200 Images at DC Resource]
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Pocket Lint - 07/18/2006 - has a new review of the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 and here’s the verdict -
“Overall, the D200 provides enough kit and control for the most demanding professional or enthusiast snapper. The image quality is superb with the advanced metering and AF system combining well (albeit with that odd slight underexposure) with nary a shot going astray. Colour balance and detail are superb and despite the Nikkor 18-70 F3.5-F4.5 DX kit lens being more a budget end lens, more serious optics start to pull even more from the camera’s high-resolution sensor.”
Trusted Reviews - 06/22/2006 - has posted their review of the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 and here’s the low down.
“The D200 plugs a wide gap in Nikon’s DSLR range, and provides a bridge between the consumer-oriented D50, D70 and venerable D100, and the giddy heights of the D2x and D2h. It is big, heavy and expensive, but it provides the kind of build quality and performance that the serious amateur or semi-professional will be looking for. The lack of in-camera processing control is surprising, but with the right RAW conversion software it can produce truly stunning results.”
Shutterbug - 4/26/2006 - The D200 will appeal to those who want one of the best and most usable digital SLRs today, but want to experience pro build and handling without paying the higher price tag of pro-level cameras. At 10+ megapixels it certainly delivers the imaging power for enlargements and even radical crops on 8×10 prints. With more built-in imaging options than one could ever use or imagine, there isn’t much the D200 can’t handle.
Nikon D200 Review At Shutterbug
Creative Pro - 4/3/2006 - For people who own Nikon’s and want to stay with what they know, the D200 is an exciting release. Great image quality and better overall specs make it a valuable addition to the Nikon product line. If you’re not already a Nikon shooter, then the D200 is a great offering — as long as you’re comfortable with the camera’s controls. Interface affinity is a very subjective thing, and you really must make that call yourself.
While you’re testing, ask yourself if you can easily get to the essential, everyday shooting functions: exposure compensation, ISO speed, bracketing, drive mode, and if you’re a JPEG shooter, white balance. Then consider secondary operations: changing to priority or manual mode, metering, and focus modes.
No matter where your camera loyalties may lie, the D200 will probably affect you thanks to Nikon’s merging of high-end features in a mid-range price. Hopefully, this means that such features as expanded auto-bracketing and intervalometers will become expected features in more cameras in this market.
[Nikon D200 Review At Creative Pro]
Steve’s Digicams - 3/29/2006 - With the release of the D200, Nikon have climbed to the top of the enthusiast dSLR market. With a host of features typically reserved for professional cameras, 10.2-megapixels of resolution and excellent image quality, Nikon has not only surpassed Canon in the enthusiast market, they have blurred the distinction with their own professional D2X.
If the D200 were an entry-level dSLR, I’d complain about the softness of its JPEG images. But this is an enthusiast dSLR, and the need to apply a bit of USM in post processing is preferable to having an over-sharpened JPEG out of the camera. High ISO image noise can be an issue, but it is most pronounced when images are under exposed; proper exposures complemented by Nikons in-camera High ISO NR feature or post-processing noise reduction result in quite useable images at the highest sensitivity settings.
It has been a long time coming, but patient Nikon loyalists have been rewarded with a new benchmark enthusiast dSLR; their patience may be tested more while waiting for their orders to be filled as Nikon struggles to keep up with the demand for this very fine camera. At an MSRP of $1700 it’s not inexpensive, but the D200’s features and image quality justify its price early in the product cycle.
[Nikon D200 Review At Steve's Digicams]
Lets Go Digital - 3/13/2006 - Summing up all of the above, we can conclude that Nikon has caused an earthquake in the current D-SLR market with the arrival of the D200. A camera of this excellence with such a staggering amount of functions and outstanding image quality, in combination with its price-tag, is truly unheard of. The consumer is the one that will benefit most from this, a fact that we can only applaud. It was a bit of a wait, yet worth every single ounce of our patience! The Nikon D200 is a true shining star, a camera of which we are guaranteed to hear more in the near future. Credit to Nikon!
[Nikon D200 Review At Lets Go Digital]
Popular Photography - 3/9/2006 - If you’re willing to spend the extra $300 that the D200 costs over the Canon EOS 30D, and you don’t have a Canon lens stockpile, then choosing the D200 is a no-brainer. If you’re a pro, the choice is harder. Sure, Nikon’s D2x can take more abuse and has a longer-life shutter, but you could buy two D200s, a battery grip, a few lenses, and a flash for the price of one D2x body. And the only advantage an EOS 5D has over the D200 is its full-frame sensor, which gives you the same field of view on a lens as on a 35mm SLR.
[Nikon D200 Review At Popular Photography]
DP Review - 2/23/2006 - The D200 is one of those cameras which you look forward to picking up, I really got on with its design and ergonomics, it’s small enough not to break your back yet sturdy enough to feel absolutely purposeful, solid and reliable. It fills the photographer with an air of confidence that each time they need it the camera is going to perform. It also has an air of luxury, quality and thoughtful design which other cameras sometimes miss, manufacturers mustn’t forget that many professional photographers have to ‘live’ with their camera day in day out, thinking hard about how it should feel and operate can really make a big difference. Nikon didn’t and the D200 is a great camera to get along with.
[Nikon D200 Review At DP Review]
DC Resource - 2/22/2006 -
What I liked: - Excellent photo quality, red-eye not a problem (though see issue below) - Built like a tank - Large, bright, and sharp 2.5″ LCD - Full manual controls, and then some - Super fast performance, amazing continuous shooting mode - Tons of custom settings; camera can store four sets worth - Handy “recent menu” - In-camera help system - AF-assist lamp - Superb battery life - USB 2.0 High Speed supported - All the expandability you’d expect from a D-SLR
What I didn’t care for: - Images a bit noisy at higher ISO settings - Expensive - Included software doesn’t allow for RAW image manipulation; Nikon Capture should be included, and not $100 - Suffers a bit from button clutter; can be difficult to use - Zoom and scroll feature harder to use than it should be
[Nikon D200 Review At DC Resource]
CNET - 2/14/2006 - Aggressively priced and stuffed with pro-quality features, the rugged Nikon D200 digital SLR offers the best of the D2X at about one-third the price.
The good: Plentiful controls and accessories; strong performance; excellent image quality; rugged body.
The bad: JPEG artifacts crimp image quality; no TIFF mode.
Hardware Zone - 1/30/2006 - The image quality of the D200 is absolutely first class. We fitted a 28-70mm f/2.8 ED-IF AF-S Zoom-Nikkor lens on the D200 and took photos indoors and outdoors. The NEF (RAW) files showed an amazing amount of detail. Sharpness and the resolution were excellent too. In our outdoor shots, the metering was spot-on and the dynamic range was as good as expected.
[Nikon D200 Review At Hardware Zone]
Nikonians - 1/25/2006 - The Nikon D200 seems to be a Nikon D2x in miniature. As I considered each of its advanced features, I was looking for weaknesses or slowness in comparison to my D2x. I found very little difference in meaningful features. Now, clearly, the D200 is not a top-of-the-line flagship camera like the D2x, or it would cost thousands more. And, I am sure that the features of the D200 should be considered subsets of the much higher cost proline D2X/H series. But, let me tell you…this D200 is much closer to the big dog than the small puppy.
[Nikon D200 Review At Nikonians]
Nikon D200 Vs 4 x5 Film At Ken Rockwell - 1/22/2006 - The D200 has nowhere near as many pixels as the film scan. When enlarged similar amounts the D200, or any digital camera or back, can’t keep up. You won’t see this difference at small magnifications. Other websites, which just happen to be sponsored by digital camera companies, only show these comparisons at small sizes where you can’t see the results, like 13 x 19.” How do you know they’re sponsored? Easy: how do you think they get pre-production cameras? I get nothing from no one and I bought my D200 myself.
[Nikon D200 Vs 4 x5 Film At Ken Rockwell]
Naturfotograf - 1/22/2006 - The sample camera I got for my review was a very fine performer indeed, and if each and every one of the D200 bodies delivered behaved like that, I could wholeheartedly recommend the D200 to all parties lusting for this camera. Probably most D200 customers share this experience. However, as witnessed by a friend’s camera and vociferous reports elsewhere, there has been a glitch in Quality Control on Nikon’s behalf. Some cameras demonstrably show the infamous “striping” issue, and this is a stern warning that no chain is stronger than its weakest link. We need to rely on the gear, not be forever scrutinising it for flaws. The real issue is about trust and restoration of faith in the equipment. From the standpoint of a customer entrenched in the Western way of thinking, admitting a flaw isn’t seen as a weakness by most customers as long as we are assured the issue will be resolved. Rather, it tends to strengthen mutual relationships and will be taken as a sign of real customer care. Being an Oriental company, Nikon probably see the matter differently. In whatever light the issue is seen, Public Relations Management of Nikon has a long way to go and could do well to learn a lesson from this D200 incident.”
[Nikon D200 Review At Naturfotograf]
Imaging Resource - 1/21/2006 - The relatively minor (in my view) issue of the “corduroy” streaking aside, the Nikon D200 is simply a fantastic camera to shoot with, and its other image-quality parameters are absolutely first-rate. We’ll have our usual in-depth review with detailed image analysis posted eventually, but the early results show that Nikon has come up with another real winner. There’s a lot of sophistication in the D200’s operation and available controls that just aren’t available in the market at less than twice its price. We see professionals flocking to the D200 as a much more affordable alternative to the D2x that gives up very little in the way of image quality or capability. For the really serious amateurs, this is simply the camera to buy, at least at this particular moment in the market. To our eyes, it’s another clear home run for Nikon.
[Nikon D200 User Report At Imaging Resource]
Nikon D200 High ISO Noise Reduction By Ken Rockwell - 1/20/2006 - The D200 can be set to different levels of noise reduction to let you choose your trade off between noise and detail. Set this one way or the other and you can make the noise measure any way you want it. The D70 and most cameras allow no control. This is cool, but I leave mine on normal.
[Nikon D200 High ISO Noise Reduction By Ken Rockwell]
Nikon D200 Long Exposure Noise And Noise Reduction By Ken Rockwell - 1/18/2006 - Ken Rockwell writes, “My D200 is spectacular for ridiculously long night exposures.
Long exposure noise reduction (NR) lets the camera make a second identical exposure with the shutter closed. This lets the camera know exactly which pixels are hot and exactly how much fog (leakage) there is. The camera then subtracts the dark frame image from the shot you just made and saves the result. Engineers call this Dark Frame Subtraction.
[Nikon D200 Long Exposure Noise And Noise Reduction By Ken Rockwell]
Nikon’s D200 Noise Performance Examined By Ken Rockwell - 1/18/2006 - In Ken’s recent article he examines the noise performance of the Nikon D200. As a performance comparison Ken pits the D200 against the D70 under varying lighting situations.
You’ll often see a couple of hot pixels in the D200 at ISO 1600 or ISO 3200. These are easy to fix in Photoshop. The Long Exposure NR function also fixes them, but takes a lot more time waiting to complete for each shot.
[Nikon's D200 Noise Performance Examined By Ken Rockwell]
Nikon’s D200 High Speed Performance Examined By Ken Rockwell- 1/10/2006 - Ken Rockwell’s Nikon D200 is fast, smooth, and quiet. Ken points out that the D200 uses two very different kinds of memory for storing images.
We’re all familiar with the CF cards used to store hundreds of images. These aren’t that fast and card makers rate them for write speed. The D200 uses these for recording your images.
The D200, like all professional digital cameras, has a second very high speed internal cache memory called a buffer. You never touch this. This buffer memory stores 25 frames of JPGs, 21 frames of raw or 19 frames of raw + JPG.
The buffer memory is fast enough to store all these frames at the full 5FPS rate, or faster.
[Nikon's D200 High Speed Performance Examined By Ken Rockwell]
Ken Rockwell Dispels Nikon D200 Image Issues- 1/9/2006 - Ken Rockwell dispels the vertical stripe and banding issue of the Nikon D200. With over 3,000 shots with the D200 Rockwell indicates, “My D200 gives me better images than any digital camera I’ve ever owned.”
Some have raised the issue that the D200 exhibits a technical flaw and creates a hue shift and banding under certain situations.
Rockwell point out this non-issue does not happen when you have:
- Decent images
- Correctly exposed images
- ISO 100
- ISO 1,600 because it’s literally lost in the noise
[Ken Rockwell Dispels Nikon D200 Image Issues]
Camera Labs - 1/4/2005 - There’s very little to fault about the Nikon D200. It’s very robust, has great ergonomics and a wide array of features, while handling superbly and delivering excellent image quality. In use it performed very well and we struggled to find any downsides indeed we felt almost churlish criticising Nikon for the way it zooms-in on images during playback, although it has to be said, simple zoom in and out buttons really are much more intuitive.”
Good points - Very good image quality, close to D2X - Superb build quality, close to D2X - Responsive handling, fast burst shooting - Excellent feature-set and accessories - Great value for money
Bad points - Supplied RAW software is basic - Playback zoom overly complicated (to us) - No voice recording function
[Nikon D200 Review At Camera Labs]
Ephotozine - 1/1/2005 - After a long wait the replacement for the D100 is a good step forward in all the areas that its predecessor was looking rather long in the tooth. It’s a giant step up from the D50/D70s in all areas and it has all the attributes that a tool of this nature needs, with all of the technology being bang up to date. Nikon’s metering system, autofocus system and flash system, each in their latest guises have all been brought together to place an image on a sensor that is able to perform more than adequately enough for nearly all purposes. Noise levels are at a level that has been virtually unseen on a CCD sensor in the past and even at the launch price, this camera is well worth the money as it covers many of the shortcomings of other models without a price tag that is in fantasyland for most.
[Nikon D200 Review At Ephotozine]
Camera Labs (Preview) - 12/30/2005 - Nikon’s D200 looks set to be one of the most important digital SLRs of 2006 and we’ve been hard at work preparing our full review. Our technical tests are now complete, so while we finish the review pages we thought you might be interested in a preview revealing how the D200 compares with the D2X, along with Canon’s EOS-5D and EOS 1Ds Mark II.
[Nikon D200 Preview At Camera Labs]
Digital Camera Info - The D200 combines advances and refinements that Nikon fans had every reason to expect: higher resolution, lower noise, faster autofocus, and a more polished interface. If there is anything shocking about the D200, it’s the fact that nothing is shocking about it. With the D200, Nikon delivers a solid performer. Canon, in contrast, keeps on delivering surprising cameras - the 5D has a full-frame sensor for less money than people expected. The 1D Mark II n cranks out 8.5 frames per second (and does it at 8 megapixels for a faster burst rate at twice the file size of the Nikon D2Hs), and the 1Ds Mark II brought photographers 16.7 megapixels at under $8,000.
[Nikon D200 Review At DigitalCameraInfo]
Digital Photography Review - It’s fair to say the D200 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.
[Nikon D200 Hands On Preview At Digital Photography Review]
Lets Go Digital - Well what can I say.? I am enthusiastic… maybe this is not the right word,; I am excited is putting it more clearly and it expresses better the way I feel. Excited because I believe the Nikon D200 is just the right product for all Nikon fans waiting out there.
“I have had the Nikon D200 only for a short period of time, but within no-time I was very enthusiastic about the new D-SLR. For the Nikon D100 user it is the ideal camera to upgrade to a higher platform, a new class of digital SLR. For the semi-pro or pro photographer the D200 D-SLR could be the perfect solution and they can have it functioning as a second camera, an all-round backup. The built-in features and technique, inherited from the professional D2x, are just great. The technique is high-level and for its price you will get just about everything you could wish for. I have used the D200 for testing in a studio environment, and after shooting some product shots, examining the RAW data and editing the file to my personal desired end-result; I am convinced. This is the camera I was waiting for. For all those Nikon fans out there, you have had to wait a long time, too long maybe. But today you will be pleased to learn that there is a new D-SLR available. Expect the first shipment around December 2005 with plenty of D200’s in the first months of 2006! ‘Bridging the gap’ is just what the Nikon D200 did, impressive!..”
[Nikon D200 Preview At Lets Go Digital]
Digital Kamera (German) - Nikon’s new D200 was reviewed at Digital Kamera (German) and it does not include any images as the camera they had was pre-production model and they thought that it would be unfair to show images from a pre-production D200. They indicate that Nikon is making upgrades to the firmware and a few other mechanical adjustments so image analysis will be added when they get their hands on a full production model.
[Nikon D200 Review At Digital Kamera (German) - Babel Fish Translated)]
Ron Galbraith - Nikon’s new D200 was reviewed at Ron Galbraith and here his their verdict. “If the image quality is solid (managing noise at ISO 400 and above has been a challenge for Nikon in recent times) and the new autofocus system is reasonably capable, then the D200 may well be one of the most interesting digital SLR models the company will release in some time. At first glance, it looks to be an effective response to Canon’s slightly less expensive entry-level pro camera the EOS 20D, because the D200 will almost certainly have a more-capable flash system, it produces a higher-resolution photo and most of its other main specifications meet or exceed those of the Canon model too. We’ll wait to view the pictures produced by the D200 before declaring it the superior of the two, however, since the image quality from the 20D is really good, and it’s especially impressive at the higher ISO settings where Nikon’s other double-digital megapixel camera, the D2X, falters.
[Nikon D200 Review At Ron Galbraith]
Quesabesde (Spanish) - The characteristics of the D200 leave little margin as to what position it will occupy within the Nikon line: between the D70s and the D2. Luckily, the design and the construction of the body reflect this, and the new SLR eminently shines professional lines that are like those of the F100. The distribution of the controls is similar to the Nikon D70 and D50.
[Nikon D200 Review At Quesabesde - Google Translated]
Ken Rockwell - The D200 is Nikon’s latest DSLR. It’s a semi-pro camera positioned between the hugely popular D70s and the full-time professional D2X. It has absolutely nothing to do with the 3-1/2 year old D100. The D200 is similar in size to the D70s and a little heavier. It’s very similar in size and weight to the F100 and similar in feel and features to the D2X and adds a built-in flash. I ordered a D200 the instant I heard about it.
[Nikon D200 Review At Ken Rockwell]
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[Nikon D200 User Comments at Photography Review]
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Nikon D200 News Release
10.2 Megapixel D200 Digital SLR Delivers Outstanding Image Quality with Blazing Speed, Rugged Construction and Intelligent Features
Nikon today introduced the highly anticipated new D200 - a precision-engineered, high performance digital SLR camera designed to satisfy the requirements of passionate and demanding photographers. Combining brand new technologies with advanced features inherited from Nikon’s venerable D2X professional digital SLR camera, the D200 incorporates more must-have features than any other camera in its class, enabling photographers to capture images in a way once reserved only for professionals.
The D200 promises an extremely satisfying shooting experience, with a winning combination of quality, performance, construction and advanced system features. Employing a newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor, the D200 captures images with remarkable resolution and clarity. Its sophisticated 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II system ensures ideal exposures while an advanced Nikon image processing engine renders images with superb clarity and smooth color gradations. The D200 reacts with lighting speed, powering-up in a mere 0.15 seconds, and firing in an imperceptible 50 millisecond shutter release lag time. It can shoot five frames per second with a drastically shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds between shots. Its large, bright viewfinder offers 0.94x magnification for comfortable and precise composition while a new 2.5 inch LCD screen provides ultra-wide 170 degrees viewing angle from all directions. With an all new 11-area Autofocus system, robust control of Nikon’s i-TTL Creative Lighting System and advanced Wi-Fi image-transmission options*, the D200 is a perfect fit for discriminating photographers and a natural choice for wedding, event and action photographers.
“Nikon has spent considerable time and effort to truly understand the qualities and features photographers desire in an advanced digital SLR camera. The D200 embodies this research and delivers a camera that’s built to the requirements of passionate photographers, and meets demands for resolution, speed, precision, and ultimate image quality. The D200 represents an unmatched combination of quality, performance and value that’s hard to resist,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “The D200 is hands-down the most capable digital SLR camera in its category.”
SMARTER…
The D200 embodies a host of intelligent technologies that deliver remarkably precise control and accurate automatic features. Equipped with Nikon’s exclusive 1,005 pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, the D200 seamlessly determines ideal exposures even in complex lighting conditions. Capturing scene elements including brightness, contrast and color content with a unique 1,005-pixel RGB-enabled sensor, this advanced system employs further improved algorithms for even better evaluation of large area highlight and shadow detail. The 3D Color Matrix Metering II light metering system also uses an onboard database of detailed exposure information from over 30,000 actual images against which instantaneous real-time comparisons are made as part of determining exposures. Rather than merely looking at light levels, a complex, yet transparent evaluation of overall scene content takes place, ensuring highly accurate exposures, even in challenging lighting conditions.
The 10.2 effective megapixel image sensor on the D200 incorporates a high-speed 4-channel data output and a new Optical Low Pass Filter that significantly reduces any incidence of moiré as well as color fringing and shifting. Furthermore, 4-channel output allows the D200 to inherit the advanced image-processing engine of the Nikon D2x professional digital SLR that combines color-independent preconditioning prior to A/D conversion with advanced digital image processing algorithms to deliver fine color gradations with smooth, consistent transitions. Photographers can take advantage of the D200’s advanced image optimizing functionality that allows them to fine tune image characteristics such as sharpness, tone, color, saturation, and hue. Photographers can also select from preset options like Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait and Black-and-White.
One of the most notable new features of the D200 is its all new 11-area AF system, convertible to a 7-wide area AF system, both based on Nikon’s advanced Multi-Cam 1000 AF Sensor Module. Not only does this AF system support the photographer with fast and precise auto focus under a variety of shooting conditions, but it also offers a pleasing array of functions for greater flexibility – allowing an individual area to be selected from either the 11-area AF or 7-wide area AF sensors for Single AF or making use of multiple sensors to enable Dynamic AF, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF and Group Dynamic AF.
Running out of power on the D200 is harder than ever, since in addition to its remarkable capacity of up to 1800 shots per charge, the D200 also features an intelligent power management Fuel Gauge feature that constantly monitors the battery’s precise remaining power in 1% increments. It also displays the total number of shots taken on each charge as well as overall life of the battery, so photographers can easily tell when to replace a battery.
The D200 is a wireless whiz, and features Nikon’s advanced i-TTL wireless Speedlight control built right into the camera, as well as wireless image transfer over a 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network built into the optional WT-3 Wireless Transmitter (available Spring 2006). The camera’s powerful built-in Speedlight, capable of coverage for lenses as wide as 18mm, features a Commander Mode that can wirelessly control up to two separate groups of an unlimited number of i-TTL speedlights such as the SB-800, SB-600 or SB-R200. The Commander Mode in the D200 can adjust flash compensation settings for each of the two groups on the fly, making light output control from speedlights placed in hard to reach locations simple and effortless.
FASTER…
The D200 is faster than any other camera in its class, making its handling exceptionally responsive. The D200 can shoot continuously at up to five frames per second, capturing up to an impressive 37 JPEG images** or up to 22 NEF (RAW) images, making it ideal for action, wedding and event photography. Featuring an industry leading power-up time of 0.15 seconds, the D200 is ready to shoot when the photographer is ready. Its reduced shutter release time lag of 50 milliseconds is nearly undetectable and when shooting in its continuous burst mode of five frames per second, its shortened viewfinder blackout time (between each successive shot) of just 105 milliseconds proves especially useful in keeping an eye on a moving subject.
STRONGER…
The D200 is designed with long term durability, ruggedness and precision in mind. Built on a magnesium alloy chassis and body cover, the D200 combines light weight with high-level durability and protects performance integrity. It also features an enhanced environmental sealing system that helps protect exterior seams from potentially damaging moisture and dust. The D200’s double-bladed shutter unit is tested to well over 100,000 cycles, ensuring highly reliable performance year after year. The shutter unit also employs a refined mirror balance mechanism that allows the mirror to complete its motion cycle and reach a complete stop with virtually no image degrading mirror bounce.
The Ultimate Shooting Experience
Nikon is renowned for the distinct usability and handling of its digital SLRs, and the D200 continues this tradition. Photographers handling the camera will immediately notice its large, bright viewfinder with 0.94x magnification that ensures the clearest view possible for precise composition. Viewing excellence is taken further with an expansive 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD that provides an ultra-wide 170 degree viewing angle from all directions. It also offers the ability to magnify images by up to 400% to enable photographers to closely inspect images for fine details while offering a selectable RGB histogram display, which allows photographers to make better-informed exposure decisions through the viewing of a composite RGB histogram, or a separate histogram for each individual color channel. The D200 also features the largest top LCD panel among cameras in its class to convey maximum information at a glance with easy access to shooting data including shooting mode, battery condition, card information, gridline display, shutter speed, F-stop and number of remaining shots.
Refined menus on the D200 offer a streamlined and visually enhanced view of camera setup and custom setting options. Photographers can access an expanded on-board Help feature to view brief descriptions of every one of the camera’s menu items. The D200 also features a ‘Recent Settings’ menu that reflects the last 14 settings adjusted, offering a quick way to revisit these settings.
Nikon’s Digital Imaging System
Like all Nikon SLR cameras, the D200 also offers the advantages of compatibility with Nikon’s superior and comprehensive Digital Imaging System. High image quality is assured through compatibility with over 50 outstanding AF Nikkor lenses, including Nikon’s DX Nikkor lenses engineered exclusively for use with Nikon digital SLRs and an extensive array of AF Nikkors designed for use on digital and 35mm SLRs. The D200 also offers compatibility with the Nikon Creative Lighting System, enabling high-precision flash photography with SB-800, SB-600 and the Nikon Wireless Close-up Lighting Systems. Outlined below are groundbreaking technologies and system features that enable photographers to achieve results not possible with any other system:
New Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (Available Spring 2006)
Nikon is leading the imaging world with wireless image transfer technology via Wi-Fi. The D200 marks the announcement of the Wireless Transmitter WT-3, offering photographers creative new ways to set up their workflow. The new IEEE802.11b/g compatible Wireless Transmitter WT-3 provides fast image transmission with improved security and compatibility with the latest protocols. It also provides alternative buttons for shutter release and AF-start as well as an extra command dial to facilitate more comfortable shooting in vertical format.
i-TTL Speedlight Technology
Nikon’s i-TTL speedlight technology is arguably the most robust and advanced speedlight system in the world, and holds limitless possibilities for all kinds of photographers using creative lighting. i-TTL technology built-in to the D200 allows photographers to wirelessly control in full TTL, up to 2 groups of Speedlights, with any number of individual speedlights in each group. Photographers can shed all cords and cables or the need to ever calculate flash and distance ratios, because the i-TTL systems is capable of making all exposure calculations in real time, wirelessly, during the exposure to deliver a perfect flash exposure in any situation. Photographers can even maintain full output control of each group of speedlights from the D200’s built-in speedlight. This technology can potentially distill an entire portrait lighting system into a small set of multiple SB800, SB600 or SB-R200 Speedlights.
Nikkor Lenses
As a company that built its reputation with the superb quality of its lenses, Nikon’s renowned Nikkor brand of optics offer D200 users a tremendous choice of over 50 high quality lenses ranging from highly specialized exotic ones such as the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED to broad zoom range lenses for everyday photography, such as the newly announced AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens. The D200 is compatible with DX Nikkor lenses that are optimized for Nikon’s digital SLR camera sensors as well as legendary AF Nikkor lenses, delivering outstanding system digital SLR flexibility. This ensures that D200 users will always find a high quality Nikkor lens that’s just perfect for their photography.
Nikon PictureProject and Capture 4.4 Software
The D200 will include a complimentary copy of Nikon’s PictureProject software, a $49.95 value, and an easy-to-use yet powerful software application that provides image transfer, organization, editing, and design functions for JPEG and NEF (RAW) images produced with the camera. PictureProject can also convert NEF (RAW) files to JPEG or TIFF format finished files, as well as save in the original NEF file format. PictureProject is an essential accessory and is compatible with the new D200 and all prior Nikon digital SLR models and Coolpix Models. The D200 is also compatible with Nikon Capture 4.4 software (sold separately), a new version of Capture that has the specifications to open NEF files from the D200 and all other Nikon digital SLR models. This newest version features greatly enhanced NEF (RAW) processing capabilities as well as Nikon Capture Camera Control that allows remote camera operation when connected to a computer via the included USB cable or wirelessly using the new Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (sold separately). This versatility is especially useful when photographers may need to continue shooting with their D200 while simultaneously having someone else edit incoming images.
The NEF (RAW) files from the D200 comprise not only the RAW image data captured by the 10.2 effective megapixel image sensor but also a thumbnail image and a Nikon “Instruction Set” of the cameras settings at the time of shooting. NEF allows the Instruction Set data - such as white balance, color balance and tone curves and more - to be adjusted for each recorded image at any time after shooting through the use of Nikon Capture software. Use of Nikon Capture also allows a NEF file to be saved as a NEF, ensuring a record of the original Instruction Set is always preserved, even if several newer Instruction Sets are saved to the file. This ensures that photographers never loose the original settings and image data of a NEF (RAW) file, and reverting back to the original image requires just a few clicks in Capture software.
Version 4.4 of Nikon Capture software offers a flexible, stable and creative workflow approach for any photographer in both professional and personal use through Nikon’s unique approach referred to as the “Camera to NEF to Capture Dynamic Link” performance. Newly added features for Capture include automatic highlight recovery when using Exposure Compensation at values lower than 0 EV and Black and White conversion support in Tone Compensation.
The D200 will be available in late December 2005 for an estimated selling price of $1699.95***. For more information, please visit www.nikondigital.com.
- Available Spring 2006
** When using select high performance CompactFlash cards capable of and certified for this performance specification. CompactFlash cards enabling this specification are subject to change. Contact Nikon Technical Support (800-NIKON-UX) for latest information.
***Estimated selling prices listed are only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
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