Using the Nikon D200 camera
I have used Nikons professional since the early 1960’s so when it came to buying a DSLR a couple of years ago I chose a Nikon D200. I won’t bore you with its technical specification which can be found in so many other places but simply tell you how I get on with it. I decided to partner the body with a Sigma lens (as described in an earlier piece). This combination works well for me.
The D200 even though not thought of as a professional camera shows all the signs of being one. Its body is as well made as my previous experiences with Nikons would suggest it should. Although heavy (around 830g without lens), this is something I prefer in a camera. Heavier cameras are easier to hold steady than lighter ones when taking pictures. Vital controls are well placed and the camera plus lens balances well in the hand. Unlike the more entry level cameras, the D200 is so full of features that that it takes a bit of understanding. Having said that, all the everyday features are quite accessible; it is possible to set the camera up in which ever way suites you.
The instruction manual is comprehensive and a bit daunting at first glance. When faced with a new camera, I tend to read the manual fairly carefully then concentrate on the features that I want to start using. Then I find out how to set the camera up for that. Whether to use the Jpeg or Raw, which file size, the best focusing mode, ISO value, shooting mode, these are the sorts of things. All this can be quite easily done from the wide ranging menu. Then I start picture taking and learn about other features when I need them. As the camera has an APS-C sized sensor, the viewfinder screen is smaller that a full frame camera. This means, for really critical focusing it is better to rely on the camera’s own automatic focusing system even though the screen is bright and clear. Even after using the dioptre adjustment, the magnification is not enough for really accurate manual focusing unless you take things very slowly. This does not matter as the built in focusing systems work really well. There is a combination of focus points and modes that can be set to your individual requirements. The camera handles exposure well provided you use the correct system for a given situation. The only time it has caught me out was when I did not.
I find the way I work does not drain the provided battery too fast. I can get through a day session shoot on one charge. Perhaps I do not shoot as many pictures as some. I find a spare battery and an extra CF card as an insurance is all I need.
The key to whether a camera works for you or not, is the image quality it produces. How well the sensor and internal processor copes with the information it receives. The D200 may only have 10.2 mega pixels but the final results are very satisfactory. Prints at A4 look good with smooth gradations and lots of detail which holds well even when interpolated up to quite large sizes in my computer. To get the most out of the camera; I usually shoot in Raw, so the images have to be processed. The Raw converter which came with the camera was very basic and better results are obtained with a more sophisticated programme. The camera comes with a default ISO equivalent to 100 ASA. This can be increased to at least 800 ASA with only a very small loss of quality. Like any other camera the higher you go increasing the ISO factor the more quality you loose, so it is up to you how far you wish to take it. However this one copes with higher values better than most.
As the D200 has now been superseded by the D300 it is possible to find one at a very good price. This is excellent news as it is still a great camera and suites the kind of things I use it for.
