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Nikon D200

Nikon's first camera that truly bridges the gap between professional and entry level SLRs.

Nikon’s prestigious D200 is ideal for those looking for a camera to bridge the gap between the professional and the entry level Digital SLRs. The D200 delivers the incomparable quality of professional pictures whilst offering exceptional versatility, creative responsiveness, accuracy and full manual control. The D200 is the perfect camera for the semi-professional and freelancer who want an affordable SLR that combines the diversity, quality and reliability of Nikon’s professional high-end models.

The advanced 10.2 megapixel DX format CCD sensor produces exceptionally detailed, high resolution images with pure, vivid colours, suitable for printing in large formats.
Adopts the industry-leading advanced imaging processing engine of the D2X.
Newly developed 11-area AF system (same as the professional D2-series), which enables the photographer to select individual focus areas from 11-area wide and 7 wide-area AF.
3D Color Matrix Metering II (AE) with Nikon's 1,005-pixel RGB exposure/Color Matrix Metering Sensor, used in the D2X.
Near instant power-up of 0.15 seconds. A mere 50-millisecond shutter time lag, and 105-millisecond viewfinder blackout time.
Connection possible to a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit via the optional available GPS Adapter Cord MC-35.
The camera comes with the newly developed high-energy EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery (1,800 images on a single charge).
The optional available MB-D200 Battery Pack adds extended shooting capability. Able to run on either six AA-size batteries or two EN-EL3e batteries, it also features additional main- and sub command dials and alternative buttons for shutter release and AF start. (Compatible AA-size batteries comprise alkaline, NiMH, lithium and nickel-manganese batteries.)
The optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 adds all the convenience of IEEE802.11b/g capability. (Available only in countries that approve the use of thirteen frequency channels.)
The D200 is compatible with Nikon's Total Imaging System, including Nikkor lenses, i-TTL Speedlights, remote control, close-up photography and powerful software for practically all creative needs.
Durable magnesium body.
i-TTL Flash Control and 1/250 sec. Flash Sync. speed.
2.5-in., 230,000-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD Monitor with brightness adjustment.
The viewfinder has a fixed eye-level pentaprism; built-in diopter adjustment (-2.0 to +1.0m-1), an eyepoint of 19.5mm (-1.0m-1), a Viewfinder Frame Coverage of approx. 95% (vertical & horizontal) and a Viewfinder Magnification of approx. 0.94x (with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0m-1).

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Reviews
	Photo Answers Rating - Although now replaced by the D300, the Nikon D200 has developed a large following in the time that it’s been on the market. It offers a great handling experience that is favourably comparable to the D2Xs, although you can tell that the D200’s build is less expensive and doesn’t quite feel as solid. The main shooting controls are all located on the camera’s body so you don’t need to delve into the menu system to change anything. One of the very smart features is the Recent Settings menu that stores the last few menu settings you’ve used. One of the great features that the D200 has that the D2Xs lacks is the built-in pop-up flash. While most serious photographers will opt for a flashgun to light scenes, this functions as a commander for Nikon’s wireless flash system. You can use it to trigger your SB-800 or a few other flashguns remotely, allowing you set the flash up off-camera to produce more creative lighting. The eleven-point autofocus system is fast and accurate, with the points being easy to select using the multi-directional pad on the rear of the camera. Considering the high quality of the build, the card slot does seem rather flimsy in comparison but not enough to really warrant much concern – it’s more of a slight annoyance that it feels cheaper than the rest of the camera. All in all, the build quality and features of the D200 really set the standard for what a camera in this price range should offer to the advanced enthusiast photographer. With a 10.2MP sensor, the D200 is capable of producing A3 size images and thankfully the quality is good enough to give you a very pleasing print. The metering does have a tendency to err on the side of caution and your images will often come out on your PC screen a little on the dark side, so you may want to dial in around +1/3 stop to save you having to boost your shadow detail later. Throughout the ISO range the levels of noise are better than average, with the images appearing smooth but with plenty of detail. Images straight from the camera appear slightly dull, so you’ll always need to increase the saturation and contrast to get the best results. The D200 represents excellent value for money with its great feel and build quality, solid performance and superb results. It’s a dependable camera that can take some hard knocks and will serve the advanced enthusiast well in the field.

What do we think?

We think this is a very significant camera. In many ways, it's every bit as good as a Nikon D2X. It is built extremely solidly and impresses with the attention to detail in the build quality. You would be hard pressed to detect any difference between this camera and the D2X in terms of materials used - it's that good!

The picture quality is excellent. Our only recommendation would be adjusting the sharpening if shooting JPEGs as by default it can appear a bit soft.