Nikon® D200 Digital Field Guide

Introduction

Never has a Nikon digital camera been as eagerly anticipated as the Nikon D200! Speculation was rife in the months preceding the announcement of this camera, among those who wanted something with more resolution and more features than what was available with the Nikon D70s, but at a lower price tag than the top-of-the-line, $5000 Nikon D2X. This camera was long overdue, too: it was seen as a replacement for the aging Nikon D100, which was effectively made obsolete when the original D70 was introduced in 2004 with the same resolution and improved performance.

Nikon didn't disappoint those of us who were awaiting its arrival. The D200 offers serious amateur photographers and value-minded professionals a sub-$2000 dSLR alternative with much of the specifications, features, and build quality of Nikon's high-end pro cameras (like the freshened D2Hs and top-of-the-line D2X) in an aggressively-priced compact body.

Although not quite the junior version of the D2X that some had hoped for, the D200's 10.2 megapixel resolution, rugged moisture- and dust-sealed magnesium-alloy body, large viewfinder, 5fps drive mode, and bountiful fine-tuning and customization options are a significant step upward from Nikon's low-end models. Compatibility accessories including an expanded lineup of Nikon iTTL external flash units, a Wi-Fi transmitter, a burgeoning line of digital optics (such as a new 18mm to 200mm zoom with Vibration Reduction), and third-party GPS units give the D200 enough versatility ...