Nikon D200 Review
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Nikon D200 Review
I have been into photography since I was a boy. I remember my first camera - it came as a kit. It was literally a box of bits and pieces I had to put together myself to build my own camera - not a box camera but a "professional" one! It was the beginning to my understanding of how cameras worked and as years have gone by and I have used them both privately and professionally, I know what I like! The Nikon D200 camera is a camera I like and I hope you find this review useful.
Presenting the Nikon D200
I have been handling cameras for many years as I have something of a love affair with photography - predominantly land/seascapes, nature and weddings (well more shots of the bride than anything else as they always go the extra mile). I have used a range of makes and models from low end budget makes and models to those in the upper range including names like Lumix, Canon and Nikon.
I have been a film-based camera fan for many years and in some ways still am, but I did venture into the digital age some years ago and now have my feet well entrenched whilst still harbouring something of a yearning for the old film-based SLR's of which I still have a collection (amongst others). I cannot truthfully say that I am a "Nikon man" as I tend to assess whatever is before me and I like it and it is within my means, go for it. In considering the Nikon D200, I would certainly suggest you "go for it"!
What you will find in the Nikon D200 is that although it's "typical" owner will sit somewhere between being an amateur and a professional. Photographers use it from both ends of the spectrum. Some professionals have even given up existing equipment because it really is that good! It is a mainstay that has look and feel of the good old days of film-based cameras but with the power of digital access and although built for strength (a magnesium casing), does not have the weight of old Nikon cameras. Up to now, existing lenses have worked with the D200 too.
Working with film, the concern has often been about grain, but working digitally, the issue changes its name to pixels or more accurately, megapixels. The Nikon D200 has just over 10 Megapixels of clarity. This amount means that any cropping that takes place does not mean loss of detail and clarity in standard sized prints. Whether you prefer to shoot in colour or in the black and white mode, the output is brilliant.
Perhaps one of the most appreciated aspects of the camera from it's owners has been the burst mode i.e. producing a rapid sequence of shots at the touch of a button. The result is a capture rate of five perfect frames per second. Every shot is focused and there is no lag sometimes found in other cameras as shots are transferred to the CF memory card. Instead, the camera incorporates a data buffer with a twenty-five frame capacity. It works in a similar way to a printer buffer on your PC. Data is held and automatically forwarded whilst you get on with something else.
I don't know about you, but I have lost count of the number of times I have missed a good shot simply because I have had to fiddle with the camera controls to access or change a setting. This is not an issue with the Nikon D200. They are quickly accessed and easy to change. What's more, I don't even have to stop and directly look at the dials - they are seen quite easily within the viewfinder. There are a number of autofocus modes that help to make this easy too. If your preference is for an LCD screen, the D200 sports a 2.5 inch one that is usable even in bright lighting.
Like most digital cameras, there are a number of things you need to understand and apply before you start firing off the shutter. For example, there are four "auto" settings you can make good use of, but the good news is that particularly if you are familiar with Nikon cameras, then the settings will quickly become natural to you and sit comfortably with former film-based camera users.
It is common for digital photographers to make use of software such as Photoshop to do some post-processing. With this particular camera, you can carry out a number of such functions within the camera itself. Having said that, I still prefer to do such things on my PC.
What I would say is that the built in flash is okay for basic work, fill-in lighting etc. and the auto mode is very good, but otherwise you may want to consider a flash add-on. Interestingly though, the built in flash can be used to command slave flash units.
One thing I miss when I am using digital cameras, is the independence from power sources. You could keep on shooting for as long as you had film and enough strength left in your finger to press the button. The need for a power supply could be considered the Achilles Heel of the otherwise excellent machine. In the case of the Nikon D200 it does provide a reliable readout of battery charge left, but you need to be aware that having an extra charged battery on hand would be a good idea as this particular model does like to drink the juice.
I have been a film-based camera fan for many years and in some ways still am, but I did venture into the digital age some years ago and now have my feet well entrenched whilst still harbouring something of a yearning for the old film-based SLR's of which I still have a collection (amongst others). I cannot truthfully say that I am a "Nikon man" as I tend to assess whatever is before me and I like it and it is within my means, go for it. In considering the Nikon D200, I would certainly suggest you "go for it"!
What you will find in the Nikon D200 is that although it's "typical" owner will sit somewhere between being an amateur and a professional. Photographers use it from both ends of the spectrum. Some professionals have even given up existing equipment because it really is that good! It is a mainstay that has look and feel of the good old days of film-based cameras but with the power of digital access and although built for strength (a magnesium casing), does not have the weight of old Nikon cameras. Up to now, existing lenses have worked with the D200 too.
Working with film, the concern has often been about grain, but working digitally, the issue changes its name to pixels or more accurately, megapixels. The Nikon D200 has just over 10 Megapixels of clarity. This amount means that any cropping that takes place does not mean loss of detail and clarity in standard sized prints. Whether you prefer to shoot in colour or in the black and white mode, the output is brilliant.
Perhaps one of the most appreciated aspects of the camera from it's owners has been the burst mode i.e. producing a rapid sequence of shots at the touch of a button. The result is a capture rate of five perfect frames per second. Every shot is focused and there is no lag sometimes found in other cameras as shots are transferred to the CF memory card. Instead, the camera incorporates a data buffer with a twenty-five frame capacity. It works in a similar way to a printer buffer on your PC. Data is held and automatically forwarded whilst you get on with something else.
I don't know about you, but I have lost count of the number of times I have missed a good shot simply because I have had to fiddle with the camera controls to access or change a setting. This is not an issue with the Nikon D200. They are quickly accessed and easy to change. What's more, I don't even have to stop and directly look at the dials - they are seen quite easily within the viewfinder. There are a number of autofocus modes that help to make this easy too. If your preference is for an LCD screen, the D200 sports a 2.5 inch one that is usable even in bright lighting.
Like most digital cameras, there are a number of things you need to understand and apply before you start firing off the shutter. For example, there are four "auto" settings you can make good use of, but the good news is that particularly if you are familiar with Nikon cameras, then the settings will quickly become natural to you and sit comfortably with former film-based camera users.
It is common for digital photographers to make use of software such as Photoshop to do some post-processing. With this particular camera, you can carry out a number of such functions within the camera itself. Having said that, I still prefer to do such things on my PC.
What I would say is that the built in flash is okay for basic work, fill-in lighting etc. and the auto mode is very good, but otherwise you may want to consider a flash add-on. Interestingly though, the built in flash can be used to command slave flash units.
One thing I miss when I am using digital cameras, is the independence from power sources. You could keep on shooting for as long as you had film and enough strength left in your finger to press the button. The need for a power supply could be considered the Achilles Heel of the otherwise excellent machine. In the case of the Nikon D200 it does provide a reliable readout of battery charge left, but you need to be aware that having an extra charged battery on hand would be a good idea as this particular model does like to drink the juice.
In Summary
In brief, the Nikon D200 is an excellent camera that would suit a wide selection of photographers and their respective needs. I have yet to find an ideal digital camera that meets every single need and have no niggle points, but this one is well on the way!
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