robsb
02-09-2007, 02:47 AM
Nikon D200 DSLR Review
Rating: 9
I have owned a Nikon D200 DSLR since December 2005. Prior to the D200, I have owned 2 digital cameras, a Nikon CoolPix E950 and an Olympus SP-500 UZ. I used these digital cameras mostly while I traveled, as they were compact and convenient. But my real mainstay was my old trusty Nikon F3HP with a collection of manual focus zoom and prime lenses.
The F3 was a true professional camera with motor drive and exchangeable finders and finder screens, but it was totally manual with a match needle metering system. In looking at the situation, I realized that my photography hobby which had been all consuming at one time, including a large investment in darkroom equipment, was not as enjoyable as it once was – one reason being I no longer had a darkroom.
The CoolPix E950 was only a 2 MP camera and had a real shutter lag that drove me crazy, but it still took wonderful pictures. The Olympus was a lot better, but I still missed the large viewfinder of my F3. So I took the plunge and started to look for a DSLR.
I had a number of criteria. One I had to be able to use most if not all of my existing Nikon lenses and accessories. Since they were all AIS, AI, or AI modified manual focus lenses, that eliminated many DSLR cameras as most of them would not allow metering of a manual lens. Since I was not a professional photographer, I could not justify spending $5000 + for a DSLR body. So when the D200 came out, I knew this is what I wanted.
First it would allow me to use all of my existing lenses except one, a non AI 35 mm f/2.8 lens. So that meant I could buy the D200 body and still use my 24 mm f/2.8 AI modified prime lens, my 50 mm f/1.4 AI modified prime lens, my 55 mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor AIS prime lens, my 35- 105 mm f/3.5-4.5 AIS zoom, my 80-200 MM f/4 AIS zoom and my 300 mm f/4.5 AI modified prime. This would let me get started while I figured out what new lenses I would need.
The downside was the viewfinder on the D200 only shows 95% of the image taken where my F3 showed 100%. The viewfinder was not interchangeable like on the F3 (I really miss my waist level viewfinder that I had on the F3) and there were not any interchangeable finder screens either, although there are some after market ones aimed at manual focus lens users. My Model II Nikon Bellows would not work on the D200, nor my SB-16 flash as it had an F3 shoe. Finally my E2 rings and my BR2 rings would not work.
All of the above being considered, I purchased the D200 body, and sold my F3, but kept my lenses. Late last year I add two new lenses to my arsenal and sold my 80-200 mm zoom. My guidelines for buying lenses are only buy lenses that either covers a range I do not have, or offers better performance in a range I already cover. So I purchased a 12-24 mm AFS f/4 DX Zoom (although I have a 24 mm AI) as it covered the range down to 12 mm and was an AFS lens. I also purchased a 70-200 f/2.8 VR zoom as it offered a lower f stop, AFS and VR where my 80-200 mm did not. I have kept the rest of the lenses.
So what do I like about the D200? Pretty much everything! So aside from my 95 % viewfinder and no interchangeable viewfinders, which I rate as negatives, here is my list of positives:
• This is a 10.2 MP camera! I really can’t tell the difference between film and the digital images this camera produces.
• It has a magnesium body which is sealed against the weather. This is a pro feature, no plastic, and will take a lot of abuse like my old F3.
• It takes all my lenses, manual focus or auto focus and provides full metering! The manual lenses get color matrix metering, and the G lenses I have get 3D color matrix metering. You also have a choice of center weighted or spot metering. This is simply amazing and is the primary reason I purchased this camera. It is so easy to use with manual lenses and also provides electronic focus assist. The AF lenses work flawlessly as well and work in an integrated way with the camera.
• The shutter goes up to 1/8000 of a second. This is way better than my F3.
• The ISO rating is from 100-1600
• It has a built in flash and supports iTTL balance fill flash. You can use the built in flash to command an external flash like the SB800 wirelessly. This capability is very cool and it is done pretty much automatically.
• It has 4 auto focus modes to allow you to adjust the auto focus operation to the type of subject you are tracking.
• Of course you have multiple programmable menus that allow you to store your shooting and custom settings so that you can call them up instantly. This gives you 16 combinations of setting that you can store and call up in an instant.
• There are so many more cool features, but they are too numerous to mention.
So in summary, if you want a near professional camera that will take full advantage of all Nikon has to offer, without breaking the bank, the D200 is the camera to get.
For examples of pictures I have taken with the D200 and various manual and AF lenses look here:
http://www.nikonians-images.com/galleries/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=105057&password=
Rating: 9
I have owned a Nikon D200 DSLR since December 2005. Prior to the D200, I have owned 2 digital cameras, a Nikon CoolPix E950 and an Olympus SP-500 UZ. I used these digital cameras mostly while I traveled, as they were compact and convenient. But my real mainstay was my old trusty Nikon F3HP with a collection of manual focus zoom and prime lenses.
The F3 was a true professional camera with motor drive and exchangeable finders and finder screens, but it was totally manual with a match needle metering system. In looking at the situation, I realized that my photography hobby which had been all consuming at one time, including a large investment in darkroom equipment, was not as enjoyable as it once was – one reason being I no longer had a darkroom.
The CoolPix E950 was only a 2 MP camera and had a real shutter lag that drove me crazy, but it still took wonderful pictures. The Olympus was a lot better, but I still missed the large viewfinder of my F3. So I took the plunge and started to look for a DSLR.
I had a number of criteria. One I had to be able to use most if not all of my existing Nikon lenses and accessories. Since they were all AIS, AI, or AI modified manual focus lenses, that eliminated many DSLR cameras as most of them would not allow metering of a manual lens. Since I was not a professional photographer, I could not justify spending $5000 + for a DSLR body. So when the D200 came out, I knew this is what I wanted.
First it would allow me to use all of my existing lenses except one, a non AI 35 mm f/2.8 lens. So that meant I could buy the D200 body and still use my 24 mm f/2.8 AI modified prime lens, my 50 mm f/1.4 AI modified prime lens, my 55 mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor AIS prime lens, my 35- 105 mm f/3.5-4.5 AIS zoom, my 80-200 MM f/4 AIS zoom and my 300 mm f/4.5 AI modified prime. This would let me get started while I figured out what new lenses I would need.
The downside was the viewfinder on the D200 only shows 95% of the image taken where my F3 showed 100%. The viewfinder was not interchangeable like on the F3 (I really miss my waist level viewfinder that I had on the F3) and there were not any interchangeable finder screens either, although there are some after market ones aimed at manual focus lens users. My Model II Nikon Bellows would not work on the D200, nor my SB-16 flash as it had an F3 shoe. Finally my E2 rings and my BR2 rings would not work.
All of the above being considered, I purchased the D200 body, and sold my F3, but kept my lenses. Late last year I add two new lenses to my arsenal and sold my 80-200 mm zoom. My guidelines for buying lenses are only buy lenses that either covers a range I do not have, or offers better performance in a range I already cover. So I purchased a 12-24 mm AFS f/4 DX Zoom (although I have a 24 mm AI) as it covered the range down to 12 mm and was an AFS lens. I also purchased a 70-200 f/2.8 VR zoom as it offered a lower f stop, AFS and VR where my 80-200 mm did not. I have kept the rest of the lenses.
So what do I like about the D200? Pretty much everything! So aside from my 95 % viewfinder and no interchangeable viewfinders, which I rate as negatives, here is my list of positives:
• This is a 10.2 MP camera! I really can’t tell the difference between film and the digital images this camera produces.
• It has a magnesium body which is sealed against the weather. This is a pro feature, no plastic, and will take a lot of abuse like my old F3.
• It takes all my lenses, manual focus or auto focus and provides full metering! The manual lenses get color matrix metering, and the G lenses I have get 3D color matrix metering. You also have a choice of center weighted or spot metering. This is simply amazing and is the primary reason I purchased this camera. It is so easy to use with manual lenses and also provides electronic focus assist. The AF lenses work flawlessly as well and work in an integrated way with the camera.
• The shutter goes up to 1/8000 of a second. This is way better than my F3.
• The ISO rating is from 100-1600
• It has a built in flash and supports iTTL balance fill flash. You can use the built in flash to command an external flash like the SB800 wirelessly. This capability is very cool and it is done pretty much automatically.
• It has 4 auto focus modes to allow you to adjust the auto focus operation to the type of subject you are tracking.
• Of course you have multiple programmable menus that allow you to store your shooting and custom settings so that you can call them up instantly. This gives you 16 combinations of setting that you can store and call up in an instant.
• There are so many more cool features, but they are too numerous to mention.
So in summary, if you want a near professional camera that will take full advantage of all Nikon has to offer, without breaking the bank, the D200 is the camera to get.
For examples of pictures I have taken with the D200 and various manual and AF lenses look here:
http://www.nikonians-images.com/galleries/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=105057&password=