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Nikon D200

Digital Camera Review

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Image Parameters

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Overall Impressions
December 30, 2005 By Patrick Singleton & Alex Burack
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Connectivity
Software (7.0)
The Nikon D200 ships with PictureProject 1.6, a downloading, sorting, and printing program with limited editing tools. A slow and limited RAW converter is included, along with P2InTouch, an Internet photo sharing program. The software seems stable on our machine, but it's more or less what Nikon ships with its point-and-shoots. It does not offer the controls that a serious D200 user needs – particularly, good options for RAW conversion. Those controls are available in Nikon Capture 4 – and Nikon charges extra for that.
 
Jacks, Ports, Plugs (8.75)
The Nikon D200 has USB 2.0 connectivity, as well as analog video out and a 4-pin hot shoe for Nikon's dedicated flashes – or for non-dedicated flashes, a PC flash sync post, a 10-pin jack for remote control, and the capacity to connect to compatible GPS units. There is also a jack for an external power supply.
 
WiFi connectivity is available through optional accessories.

Direct Print Options (8.0)
The Nikon D200 supports DPOF and PictBridge printing. The user can select the print size, the number of copies, whether to print a date stamp, and whether on not the image will print with a border. The user can also set the camera to use the printer's default settings. The D200 can also be set to create index prints. Note however that RAW images cannot be printed directly from the camera.
 
Battery (7.0)
The Nikon D200 uses the EN-EL3e – a lithium-ion battery similar to, but not the same as, the batteries manufactured for the D100, D50, D70, and D70s. The new battery weighs 2.8 ounces and functions in older cameras, but the older batteries do not fit in the D200. Apparently, the difference between the EN-EL3e and its predecessors is the new battery's ability to send precise data about its charge status to the camera. It has a third contact that the previous batteries lack.
 
The D200 body we tested gave us a scare with its battery. After charging the camera the morning we got it, and shooting into the evening, we charged the battery overnight. The next morning, the D200 said the battery wasn't charged. We popped it back in the charger, but the charger said the battery was ready to go. We put the battery in a D70, and the D70 said it was charged. A few more swaps of the EN-EL3e from charger to D200 to D70 and back, and then, for no reason we could discern, it started working. Maybe the battery – or camera – just needed to be broken in, or maybe there is a more serious problem. Time will tell.
 
The optional MB-D200 forms a vertical grip for the D200, and can hold two of the EN-EL3e batteries or six AA batteries.

Memory (3.0)
The Nikon D200 accepts CompactFlash cards, but does not have permanent internal memory for image storage. CompactFlash is the most popular storage medium for DSLRs. It's available in large capacities, it's relatively durable, and all of the other Nikon DSLRs, except the lonely D50, accept it.

Other Features (6.5)
Combine Two RAW images – Through the playback mode, the user can overlay two RAW files into a new single image.
 
Multiple exposures in-camera – The D200 can shoot up to 10 exposures onto a single frame, and it includes a feature to automatically compensate for the exposure shift.
 
Dust-Off reference photo – The D200 can save an image of dust on the sensor, for use in Nikon Capture 4 software, to digitally remove dust spots from images. Nikon Capture 4 software does not come with the camera.
 
Mirror lockup for sensor cleaning – Bowing to reality, Nikon made a provision on the D200 for users who clean their imaging chips.
 
Shutter delay – A custom menu allows a 0.4-second delay between the mirror movement and the exposure. The feature should reduce vibration problems in some long exposure shots. For those who typically use compact point-and-shoot cameras, the delay creates the kind of responsiveness and speed they're used to.

MB-D200 battery pack – The D200 accepts the optional MB-D200 external battery pack, which can accept two li-ion batteries for longer shooting sessions. The pack also forms a vertical grip with shooting controls, and gives the camera a form factor very similar to the D2X and D2H, which will be appealing to users who like the weight and shape of those cameras.

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Nikon D200
Digital Camera Review
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Previous: Page 7

Image Parameters

Previous: Page 9

Overall Impressions