Nikon D200 SLR Digital Camera Body Only

Nikon D200

Posted Nov 24, 2007 - I purchased my D200 about 9 months ago, along with a Nikkor 18-200 VR lens. Once you've read the 222 page manual and have some idea how to work this tecnological wonder, the quality of the photographs rival those I used to get with a high end film SLR. The menus and their many submenus have built in guidance if you need help while you're setting the camera up. Customizing these menus really brings out the best in the D200.I chose an Extreme IV 2 gig Compact Flash card which is so fast the D200, shooting at 5 frames per second, cannot overrun its internal buffer. Battery life has been fine but I carry an extra just in case. The popup flash unit works well for short indoor shots. For outdoor work or for shooting in large halls like a church, I'd recommend a quality external flash unit. If you're going to get a polarizer, be sure it's a CIRCULAR polarizer. Linear polarizers don't work correctly with DSLR light metering hardware. This is a really superb piece of equipment with almost all the best features of the professional D2X which costs 3 times as much. It will satisfy even the most critical photographer with its outstanding photos.

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Nikon has done it again!

Posted Jan 6, 2006 - I love the way this cameras feels in my hands especially the build quality and weight. Add a MB-D200 grip to the camera and not only do you have an extra battery and vertical shutter, but the balance just got that much better. The Nikon D200 has lived up to and exceeded all my expectations!

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Nikon D200

Posted Apr 7, 2006 - I have received this camera and have been loving it, even though it's only been a short time. The extra resolution compared to my d70 is not important in most repects, but in my case I anticipate a lot of cropping, and the extra resolution will come in handy. It's a highly recommendable camera for any pro-sumer. Update after 1 month of use (1000 frames later): This camera truly is great. focusing is much improved vs. D70, where a lot of searching and inability to auto-focus occurred. The feel is very professional, with a solid grip and weight to it. Noise level is much reduced compared to before as well. The custom functions are very handy. I have set them such that I can use one custom function for each of Portrait, landscape, normal, and B&W shooting to optimize images differently. Flash photography is as accurate as ever, with exposure as accuarate as I have experienced with Nikon's film cameras. Banding has not been an issue for this camera with serial 3032xxx. I managed to reduce the cost of the camera by close to $100 with a combination of rebates from Pricegrabber, Fatwallet, and AmericanExpress. It's a great deal, and I think I have finally found what I have always wanted in a DSLR, or very close to it anyway.

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If you know what you're doing, you'll love it

Posted Dec 21, 2005 - I had been seeking a good solid DSLR for a few months when the D200 was announced in early November. A quick download of the brochure showed that this camera was far superior than the D70s for not much more in price ($1,699 for the D200 vs. $999 for the D70s). The camera. You have to hold it to believe it. It feels solid, well constructed and just amazing. Nikon has pulled out all the stops on making this beast. Sure, it's no D2x/D2Hs, but it's about as close as you can get without skipping a mortgage payment. The camera's features are just amazing all around. The AF system is all-new and has 7 or 11 AF areas (you choose). The super short blackout time (just 15ms more than the D2Hs) allows you to do high-speed photography without risking losing the subject. The viewfinder is BRIGHT and BIG! The on-demand grid is super convenient and is a great help when shooting landscapes etc. The 2.5" LCD is HUGE and the viewing angles (170° up/down/left/right) and the richness in the image makes it a pure pleasure to see. Ergonomically, the camera is perfect. Everything just fits into the right spot- controls are where they should be, using buttons feels natural, and the camera is very well balanced. All said, this is one amazing piece of engineering, and if you know what you're doing, this will really allow you to push your skills as a photographer. Ok, now go get it!

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About time Nikon users have a competetor to the 20D

Posted Dec 25, 2005 - For over a year Nikon users like me have been wondering if we bought into the right camera system when Canon seems to be ahead of them with every introduction. Well Nikon not only hit a home run with this camera, but they hit the ball completely out of the park with this introduction! When Nikon announced this camera I sold my D70 and pre-ordered the D200. This camera is going to quickly become a working pros workhorse as it is built like a pro camera, has most of the features of the $5000 D2X for less than 1/2 the price. I have been using the D2x for 6 months, and while I have only had my D200 for a week, I can already tell that it is a better value for the money. I love the new focusing grid layout. Hey Nikon, how about an upgrade to the D2x to give it the same focus layout, perhaps as a firmware upgrade? A couple of the focus points in the D2X are too close to the edge of the frame, but they have them in the perfect place for the D200. Focusing is quick, and the 2.5 inch LCD is sharp, clear, and bright. It seems to be slightly larger than what is on my D2X. It took Nikon a while, but when they came out with this camera, they easily beat the 20D hands down! I wonder what Canon is going to do next to top this? Summary: The D70 & D70s are great cameras, but are not built rugged enough to take the abuse and demands of a professional photographer. The D50 seems to be great for a low priced D-SLR with great image quality for your beginning shooter, but it won't take compact flash cards. The D2X is built like a tank, and can take the battles of everyday use with superior image quality, but it is pricy at $5000. You give up only 2 megapixels of the D2x and you get a camera that has 90% of the features, built almost as sturdy & strong for a fraction of the price. This camera is truly a baby D2x, and the best value for the money today. Nikon has a real winner here. Look for a lot of pros to be using it.

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Wow! Great Camera

Posted Feb 16, 2006 - I've been shooting with the D200 for a month, including some intense sun up to sun down days with a 70-200 f2.8vr lens. After shooting with a D100 for several years moving to the D200 was fairly simple. Learning my around the D200 was fast because many of the buttons and menu navigation items are similar. The D200 has a more solid feel to it and the shutter release is faster. Shooting action shots I could easily fill the D100 buffer in JPEG fine - I've yet to fill the buffer with the D200! Battery - the battery power indicator has more sections that the D100, and while it is probably a better gauge of remaining juice, I found it disconcerting when the first segment of the meter disappeared. It made me worry about having enough battery power to get through a day. That said, I did shoot sunup to sundown with the 70-200VR lens without loss of power (and yes with VR on all the time). By the end of the day there was 1 "bar" left on the battery gauge. So - a full day and about 400 shots. I did very little checking the image preview or going to the menus. I've played with the multiple exposure some and have to admit that it's definitely a fun feature to work with. While something similar can be done in Photoshop with 100% control of the end result I rather like the camera better. You can get up to 10 exposures in one frame and the camera takes care of the exposure. Love it. The only drawback or something that I would like to change is - as the camera is now shots for multiple exposure have to be taken within 30 seconds of each other. So much for changing your position a lot (guess that is left to Photoshop). Ideally, I would like to be the one to choose the timeout value for that feature. Another feature that I tested out was the Auto-ISO. Pretty interesting feature where the camera with adjust the ISO in low light conditions up to a max that is set by the user. When this feature is ON though - the user must either turn it off or readjust the max ISO if you want to shoot something above the max that is set in the Auto. The user cannot use the ISO button and set the ISO above the max allowed in the Auto-ISO mode. So, if you've got the Auto-ISO set to say 400 and you are shooting with your ISO at 200, then want to switch to ISO 800 you have to either turn off the Auto, or readjust the max to 800 - all time consuming steps and in dwindling light conditions a loss of time can equal losing a shot. Perhaps there's a way around it but I couldn't find it quickly in the field. I like the design and feel of the D200. The locations of the buttons and switches are perfect. The button size is plenty big enough although I don't have big fingers - but I think they would work well for anyone. Everything about this camera says quality, and I look forward to many years of shooting with it.

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Great Camera, if you can get your hands on it!

Posted Jan 30, 2006 - I upgraded from D70, it's really worth it, especially the commander mode of the built-in flash, I own 3 nikon speedlights, SB-800, SB-600, SB-30. In commander mode, I can get all flashes (4) to synch wirelessly at the same time, an instant portrait studio. I took some nice portraits of friends only possible previously in a professional studio. The 3 primary setting: White Balance, ISO, and Quality of Picture, are all very easy to set than the D70. I am still exploring the other advanced functions of this powerful camera, up to this point, i couldn't be happier.

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Fantastic Camera

Posted May 18, 2007 - I've been using Nikons since the '60s, starting with 2 original Nikon Fs, to 2 8008s, an F90s, and when the Fuji S2 Pro came out (built on Nikon body) I bought one over the D100 -- based on strong reviews by pros and because it had Firewire for my Mac and a pc jack for studio monolights). Fuji was a fine camera. But I now have 2 D200s, and love them. (They don't have Firewire, but do have USB 2 and pc connector for strobes. The D200 is almost as solid as the original F (much better protection against dust and moisture than most other DSLRs). The menu interface is far more intuitive than other DSLRs I've handled. I've been using one of these for about 19 months, with everything from a 10.5mm fisheye to a 300mm f/2.8 with 2X TC20 teleconverter (for a 35mm equivalent to 900mm), and it has performed flawlessly in a wide-range of settings (fast-moving sports to studio work). This is a GREAT camera.

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Nikon D200 DSLR

Posted Feb 16, 2006 - Took shots at the tidepools using a polarizer and got fantastic shots through the water. While shooting landscapes and plants I used the vivid setting and was blown away by the color density. I'm using the Nikon 18-200 lens with great results. Focus is very sharp and fairly quick. This is the best lens I've ever used. No other lens with 11X zoom has the vibration reduction built in. Don't even think of looking at after market lenses in this range. It's definitely worth the extra cost. You just can't believe how good this camera feels in your hand. I feel this camera gives you more capabilities and quality than any film camera could offer.

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Awesome camera

Posted Apr 6, 2006 - Been using the Nikon D70 and loving it and then I got my hands on a D200. Didn't really want to touch it, but when I did, I had to have it. It feels like luxury. Has the speed and power of something regal. I can't stop shooting. If you can, get the vertical grip.

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Nikon D200

Posted Mar 16, 2006 - Like others have said Nikon has really come up with a true equeal to Canons top of the line but a better price. The bigger LCD is a true plus over the D70 or D70s, the VR and DX lens work beautifully with the D200

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Nikon Shows us they listen

Posted Dec 21, 2005 - Well I have to say this, Nikon listened to their user base and delivered a product that will please most photographers that like SLR cameras. This is a perfect compliment to a D2 series body or a perfect replacement depending on your needs. I would have loved if they had used their LBCAST sensor in this mega pixel range and body style. Its going to be a fun 2006 for us Nikon users :)

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The Revolution has begun...

Posted Jan 5, 2006 - Nikon has come out swinging with the D200, giving it a feature set, a build, and an array of performance specs that are more than strong enough to go up against the current midrange heavyweight, Canon's EOS 5D. Photographers who aren't heavily invested in one company's lenses will have to ask themselves whether they're willing to pay nearly double the D200's $1,699 list price (body only) to have the 5D's 12.8-megapixel full-frame sensor. Whether the Nikon D200's smaller sensor can achieve smooth, low-noise images at high ISO settings will be one important factor in helping them decide.

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D200 handles the rigors of my daily use!

Posted Sep 12, 2006 - I have yet to discover weakness in this camera and I have used it daily since January. The D200 has delivered the best color and performance of any camera I have used before and done it in a variety of capture environments too. From fast sports action to static and macro images and on through landscape, night capture and flash supported subject matter my D200 has performed better than any camera I have used. There is a learning curve and where that ends I have yet to discover despite enthusiastic use of almost every feature. There has been a lot of comparisons by those loyal to both prominent camera and lens manufacturers that is not subjective. Well I have used both systems and will say that in my opinion it costs at least a thousand dollars more to equal image quality and several thousand to find equivelant performance and durability. Not only that but the true capability of this camera isn't revealed until you engage the Nikon system including Nikkor lenses, advanced Capture NX software and Creative lighting support. What this camera allows me to do now that I couldn't do last year is fully cover individual and team sports. Switch control preferences for up to four completely different situations quickly via four preset menu banks. Capture color that is true to what I witness independent of post capture processing. Explore opportunity confident that the camera can handle the heavy glass and rugged conditions that present themselves. The D200 is an excellent cornerstone allowing the photographer to meet a great many circumstances head on.

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Awesome Camera, I switch from Canon to Nikon (but Canon is still great)

Posted May 8, 2006 - The D200 is a phenomenal piece of equipment. I purchased this along with the 18-200 VR lens, they work superbly together, I practically never have to take off the lens (which means not introducing dust inside the camera). It is true that the D200 has banding problems, this occurs when an area is overexposed and there is a dark area right next to it. It has only occurred a few times and it does not bother me as I have never seen it in a normal situation. If it does, photoshop has the means to remove banding without really altering the image too much. If you get a camera that has banding throughout the camera, return it, some have this problem and they should be returned. The Ergonomics of this camera is great. The buttons are all convenient and give a reassuring feel when pressed. I really like the custom function button that is below the DOF preview button though I wish I could assign any function to that instead of their limited choices. Auto ISO is a joy, I moved from the Canon 20D to the D200 and I really am loving having the camera use ISO as a 3rd way of setting up a shot so I will always get the best quality for the settings I choose, that along with the 18-200 VR lens means that I can shoot handheld 1/8 or 1/16 of a second at 200mm and still get great shots in dark situations. Noise is apparent and I will not shoot over ISO 1600 with this camera. On the Canon 20D I could shoot at 3200 and wouldn't even think it was a problem (because it wasn't). With the D200, images do show a bit of grain at 1600, but the images are still useable and printable. The LCD is magnificent, It's very bright and the colors and histograms are a joy. The popup flash works though I seem to get red eye, even with the SB-800 attached and shooting through a diffuser I seem to get redeye. Thank god for photoshop but the less post processing the better I think. Battery life, so far I have not seen the stated 1800 shots per charge. My last shoot I got about 225 shots on a charge. That might not be all that common though, here's why. I have a total of 4 batteries, these batteries get better after a few charge/discharge cycles but I have yet to cycle though each battery thoroughly enough so over time I expect to get more shots with each battery. That being said, I was able to get over 1000 shots on my Canon 20D, that was nice. All and all, this camera is great. I am truly happy with my switch from the 20D to the D200. I grew up on the Nikon 8008 then to the Nikon N90s and when I went with an SLR, the Canon 20D was and still is a great camera. But I never got used to it, I felt like it wasn't an extension of my abilities but I had to work my abilities and expressions to the camera. The Nikon D200 just seems like it is an extension of my eye and the shutter button. (Update) I am close to 6000 shots on the camera and all is well. My battery life has improved and am getting about 400 shots per charge which is pretty good. No problems so far. :)

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