The Best Of The "Prosumer" Class Of SLR Cameras
Picture a new generation of digital SLR camera, one that is uniquely enabled to tackle photographic challenges quickly and efficiently, while achieving beautiful results that faithfully reproduce the scene in remarkable detail. Crafted to combine the best of newly developed technologies with Nikon's decades of innovative engineering experience, this high-precision, high-performance digital SLR camera responds instantly to the will and needs of the photographer. It also delivers unrivalled handling efficiency, a large, bright optical viewfinder, 10.2 effective megapixels of extraordinarily sharp resolution, and wireless transmission capabilities. Tight integration with Nikon's Total Imaging System ensures compatibility with the lineup of renowned Nikkor lenses, while full support for Nikon's advanced Creative Lighting System adds further creative freedom. What's more, all these capabilities are underscored by additional Nikon advantages. In fact, with the Nikon Electronic Format (NEF) file format for raw image data and powerful Nikon Capture software (sold separately), image quality is enhanced and workflow made more efficient, from camera to NEF, to Capture, and on to display and output. This is a camera that works as hard, and as smart, as you do.
Improve Your Image
The D200 employs a newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor that captures images with sharp details and versatile color imaging at 3,872 x 2,592 pixels size, yielding extraordinarily high-resolution images that leave plenty of leeway for enlargements or creative cropping. This new image sensor incorporates high-speed 4-channel data output, and is fitted with a newly developed Optical Low Pass Filter that helps prevent moire, color fringing, and shifting, while also complementing the sensor's improved resolving power. An added benefit of the image sensor's 4-channel output is that it allows the D200 to adopt the advanced image-processing engine of the Nikon D2x. Combining color independent pre-conditioning prior to A/D conversion with advanced digital image processing algorithms, it raises the level of precision achieved by a high-performance system LSI processor. As a result, it provides fine color gradations with consistent and smooth transitions, all rendered exceptionally well throughout the selection of available color modes.
An LCD You Can Actually See, And Understand
The new 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD monitor for the D200 provides an ultra-wide 170° viewing angle covering all directions. Assisting accurate sharpness assessment, the LCD offers image previews at up to 400X magnification. Menu navigation is made easier with a new color-coded menu LCD display that features a carefully chosen color scheme that's remarkably easy to read, and with instantly intuitive keywords it's even easier to use. There's also a Recent Settings list that further smooths operation by displaying the last 14 settings selected from the shooting and Custom menus. Playback options include single frame, 4 or 9-image thumbnail display, zoom with scroll, histogram indication, and highlight point display. RGB histogram functions enable convenient exposure confirmation at a glance. Conventional RGB display represents all three color channels simultaneously, while Selectable RGB allows each color channel to be viewed independently - indicating saturated highlights for the chosen channel to assist adjustment decisions for exposure and white balance.
Large Viewfinder, Top LCD Info Panel -- What's Not To Like?
The new eye-level optical viewfinder developed for the D200 features large magnification (0.94x) that helps ensure a clear view for precise composition, and built-in diopter adjustment that allows it to be fine-tuned to your eyesight. Furthermore, grids can be displayed without the need to replace the actual screen, adding greater convenience while assisting composition. A new and larger top LCD panel is designed to convey maximum information at a glance, providing easy access to shooting data that ranges from shooting mode, battery condition, card information, gridline display, shutter speed, F stop and number of remaining shots.
Get The Response (And The Picture) You Were Looking For
The D200 is equipped with a newly developed advanced Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module offering 11-area AF that ensures consistently fast and precise focus lock under varying shooting conditions, all while adding diverse and effective new focus area options. Not only is this system able to use each of its 11 focus areas individually, aiding in pinpoint focus on still subjects, but it can also operate as a 7-wide area AF system, offering broad coverage that improves the camera's ability to acquire moving subjects and delivers greater compositional freedom. Lens focus action is controlled by the latest programming algorithms, which further improve system response, focus precision, as well as subject acquisition and tracking abilities.
Auto-Focus Like Never Before
Did that last paragraph cause your eyes to glaze over and your brain to turn to mush? A little more explanation may help. Single Area AF is great for picking a single subject out of a scene with multiple elements. Use any one of the 11-area AF or 7 wide-area AF spot sensors individually to achieve sharp results, even when your intended subject is located off center and surrounded by other objects. Assisting operation with easy confirmation, the selected area is indicated within the viewfinder and on the Top Control Panel if desired. Dynamic AF used with Continuous servo-AF mode operation helps maintain precise focus should the subject move from its original position -- instantly and automatically shifting the selected focus area to correspond to the subject's new location. Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF can be ideal for portraiture in characteristic settings that include action or complex elements. It automatically identifies the subject closest to the camera using the 11 sensors, and enables composition that captures the entire scene while keeping the focus emphasis on the closest subject. Group Dynamic AF recognizes patterns of action in the scene and allocates a group of AF sensors accordingly. Both Dynamic AF and Closest Subject options are also available, enabling the capture of specific moving subjects in a frame that may also contain peripheral activity. Such broad ranging focus capability is well suited to composition situations, such as sports, where the action can be expected to take place in a particular part of the frame but at a speed too fast for focus on a single spot.
Built To Last, And Last, And Last
With Nikon advanced technologies and mechanisms housed within a rugged, but lightweight magnesium body, the D200 is durable, dependable, and ready for the most rigorous of assignments. And, with an enhanced sealing system protecting each and every seam, the D200 body offers reassuring resistance to moisture and dust. The double-bladed shutter unit has been thoroughly tested to well over 100,000 cycles, ensuring the highest level of durability and reliability. The newly developed high-energy EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery lets you take approximately 1,800 shots per charge. Furthermore, it can be recharged at any time and it even features an accurate real-time Fuel Gauge system that displays the percentage of remaining charge, number of shots since last charge, and overall status of battery service life.
A Miracle In Metering Technology
Variations of light are infinite, so Nikon provides you with a selection of meters that enable you to creatively address virtually any lighting condition. Nikon's exclusive 3D-Color Matrix Metering II achieves optimum exposure that is able to more precisely determine the position and size of shadow or highlight areas through new technology developed for the Nikon 1,005-pixel RGB Exposure/Color Matrix Metering Sensor. This innovative system evaluates brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area, and camera-to-subject distance information, references the results against the expanded onboard database created from over 30,000 actual photographic scenes, and then calculates the final value instantly to deliver consistently dependable exposure, for both automatic and manual operation. This meter is ideally suited for general photography and particularly effective when precious time will not allow you to make manual selections. Nikon's exclusive 3D-Color Matrix Metering II is unequaled in speed, accuracy and efficiency. Variable Center-Weighted Metering concentrates 75% of sensitivity within the center-weighted circle and the remaining 25% in the surrounding area, enabling more precise results in conditions where lighting differs greatly at the periphery of the shot. This meter is ideally suited for capturing portraits and for high-contrast conditions. Spot Metering is an excellent solution when the lighting on your subject is markedly different from that in the rest of the frame. Supporting both the 7 wide-area AF and 11-area AF groups of the new AF system, it provides precise metering by reading a 3mm-diameter area that corresponds to the active AF area, even when using the Dynamic AF modes. This meter is ideally suited for those times when you want more personal control.
You've Got Pictures, You Need PictureProject
PictureProject's intuitive user interface provides fast and easy access to powerful image organizing, creative and effective image editing, designing of album pages and image sharing tools. Connect the camera to a compatible computer to automatically import pictures. Access Mail, Slideshow, CD/DVD burning, Auto Enhance and other creative functions via handy buttons. Organize pictures into collections with simple drag-and-drop operation, and quickly locate any file by name, keyword, or date. Handy design templates make it easy to produce prints, tailor images to e-mail and layout several images on one page to produce creative album layouts. And with support for JPEG, TIFF and NEF file formats, PictureProject serves as an ideal companion to the powerful Nikon Capture 4 feature set. PictureProject is provided complimentary with your purchase of the Nikon D200.
Fully-Supported (Optional) Goodies
The ergonomically-designed Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D200 blends extended stability and shooting potential. Running on either six AA-size batteries or two EN-EL3e batteries, the battery pack provides an extra command dial and alternative buttons for shutter release and AF start to facilitate more comfortable shooting in vertical format. Taking added convenience a step further, the Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (available Spring 2006) provides the freedom of wireless functionality. Delivering the convenience of IEEE 802.11b/g capability, it enables cable-free image transfer to a compatible computer, with the added safety and versatility of wide-ranging network and security protocols. The on-board 10-pin connection terminal offers flexible remote shooting possibilities by enabling use of optional accessories such as the Remote Cord MC-30/MC-36 and Modulite Remote Control Set ML-3. Accepting all PC-type plug-in flash sync cords, the D200's sync terminal enables computer-based flash control to handle complex lighting with high-level accuracy. In addition, the D200 can be quickly and conveniently connected to any PictBridge-compatible printer for swift, direct printing.
Included With Purchase
Camera Body (No Lenses Included), Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, Video Cable, USB Cable UC-E4, Strap, Body Cap, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-21, LCD Monitor Cover BM-6, PictureProject CD-ROM.