Nikon D200 review

Nikon D200 great camera, which was released back in 2005, but can still please you with a wonderful picture. The camera has a nice clone: Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro, which differs from the Nikon D200 only in software and better matrix.

It is very funny that now on the official website of Nikon there are only two sections for modern SLR cameras - this is a professional section and amateur. So, on the same site, the camera is positioned as semi-professional. Just after dividing only into two classes, D200 was not transferred to the “professional” section. Why am I? And to the fact that Nikon D200 is really a professional camera with which it’s not a shame to shoot any type of picture. Can here see the evolution of all Nikon cameras.

Nikon D200, view of the camera Nikon D200

Nikon D200, view of the camera Nikon D200

In general, I am delighted with the Nikon D200, and after a day of working with it, I don’t feel like shooting anything else. The camera is quite weighty, sits perfectly in my hand, behaves perfectly with heavy lenses.

Sample photo on Nikon D200 without processing

Sample photo on Nikon D200 without processing

When working with a Nikon D200 camera, I highly recommend paying attention to such important parameters as:

  1. Great ergonomics. This is expressed in everything from a rubberized handle and discs to a shooting mode lock. Using well-thought-out ergonomics, the camera is very convenient to control; all the most necessary settings are always available and always at hand. By the way, even the bottom of the camera (where the tripod socket is) is also rubberized.
  2. Optional monochrome display. Just an indispensable thing for a professional. The display shows all the most important settings - ISO, aperture values, excerptsamendments exposure, the amount of free space on the card, white balance, picture quality, flash mode, battery charge, focus point and all that is possible. When the camera is turned off, the number of frames that can be taken to the remaining space on the memory card remains on the display. The monochrome display is larger than in younger models Nikon D90, D80, D70(s) D50, D7000.

    An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. Poplar fluff

    An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. Poplar fluff

  3. Dust and moisture protection. Of course, it is worth mentioning that the protection will be complete only if there are dust and moisture protective lenses, but in nature I have not seen such, because I will say that the camera perfectly tolerates light rain, dust, dirt and slight frosts.
  4. Using the card CF. Big card CF can reach enormous read/write speeds, which is very important for continuous shooting, and indeed for copying files to a computer. Although, my CF 32GB 400x during operation showed itself to be only 5MB/sec better than SD 32 GB class 10. As you understand, the Nikon D200 can handle even 32 GB normally.
  5. Huge continuous shooting buffer. Buffer can store 21 RAW files. Given that the maximum shooting speed 5 frames per second, the camera can click as long as 4 seconds in quick mode. 4 seconds is already a normal indicator. For example, my Nikon D90 starts to slow down after three seconds of filming at a speed of 4.5 frames per second. Also, keep in mind that when shooting in JPEG, the buffer becomes almost dimensionless.
  6. Whole 10.2 megapixels. Chasing megapixels is not worth it at all, but still 10.2 MP is enough for shooting in almost any genre. Of course, more is better, but I do not see any difference between the 10.2 megapixels of my Nikon D200, D80 and 12.3 megapixels of mine Nikon D90. Anyway, baby Nikon D40 with its 6.1 MP it can sometimes do with sharpness Nikon D90 with the same lens - look at the section Battle of Megapixels.

    An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. High ISO 1600

    An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. High ISO 1600

  7. The matrix on ISO 100 allows you to get just a very good picture, everything above ISO 400 is already a very bad result. About it a little lower. Having experience working with processing images from different cameras, I can say that at low ISOs, at some points, a CCD image is simpler and easier to “bring to mind”. The matrix of the Nikon D200, although in some respects similar to the sensors used in the models Nikon D80, D40x, D60, D3000but still different. Details here.
  8. The camera has focus motor, this will allow you to use any optics that can focus on Nikon, for example, the camera works great with non-motorized lenses Nikon 50mm F1.8D, Nikon 70-210 F4, etc. The motor buzzes when focusing, but nothing can be done, in order to save money on non-motorized lenses, you can be patient.

    An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. High ISO 1600

    An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. High ISO 1600

  9. The camera can measure exposure with any lens (and without a lens at all). This means that it will be possible to work in semi-automatic aperture priority mode with any manual lens. Even if you wear instead of a lens tin can, the camera will still measure exposure meter correctly. Also, for older lenses, a menu for setting the focal length and maximum aperture is provided. It is very, very convenient. Personally, I put on the programmable button the choice of focal length and aperture for manual optics. When I use my Helios-81N AI-s type, the Nikon D200 camera correctly displays 50mm focal length and maximum aperture F / 2.0, and if I twist the aperture ring on the lens, the camera also understands this and shows the following values ​​F / 2.8, F / 4.0, etc. Important set manual lens parametersfor matrix metering to work, otherwise only spot and center-weighted will work.
  10. At the camera 11 focus points and just one cross-shaped sensor. Now 11 focus points put on the simplest Nikon D3000You won’t be surprised. But the camera has 4 focus modes and a special switch for them.

    Sample photo on Nikon D200 without processing

    Sample photo on Nikon D200 without processing

  11. Nikon D200 has a minimum 1/8000 short shutter speed, sometimes a very useful thing, especially when you need to shoot at aperture of 1.4 (or higher) on a sunny day. And still, Nikon D200 can fulfill non-standard excerpts type 1 \ 750, 1 \ 3000, 1 \ 90s, etc., which cannot be selected in priority mode excerpts or in manual mode. Intermediate values shutter speed allow adjust exposure more precisely. For example, with such shutter speeds, younger cameras, like Nikon D80, D90.
  12. The camera can control flashes in command mode. That is, if you have a Nikon D200 and any flash like Nikon SB-600, SB-700, SB-800, SB-900, SB-910 or third-party manufacturers, you can put it in a radius of 10 meters and shoot using Nikon's creative lighting system NIKON-CLS.

    Sample photo on Nikon D200

    Sample photo on Nikon D200

  13. And of course, fast flash sync. You can shoot with an external flash that supports FP mode, with any shutter speedup to 1/8000. Very important and necessary parameter.
  14. A bunch of all sorts of connectors that you rarely use, it's just too lazy to write about them, who cares, download the instructions and read for yourself.

    Example photo on Nikon D200

    Example photo on Nikon D200

  15. Limit ISO 100-1600 (100-3200). At the moment, this is not the best indicator, but I would say very low.
  16. The camera has  1.005-pixel RGB matrix metering sensor exposureinherited from the flagship camera D2X. Measurement works very accurately.

    Example photo on Nikon D200. Portert

    Example photo on Nikon D200. Portert

  17. Those who have read up to this seventeenth paragraph have probably already grown tired. There are many more important points that should be written about, but this is already necessary for a very narrow circle of people, therefore we will limit ourselves to this list of important aspects of the camera.
Nikon D200 and Nikon D40 Camera Size Comparison

Nikon D200 and Nikon D40 Camera Size Comparison

Disadvantages. Since I took the camera to a professional type, you can demand a lot from it. because I consider serious shortcomings:

  1. The delay when you turn on the menu or view pictures. Delay does not always occur, depending on whether you watched or took a picture on the camera. Usually, after turning on the camera and pressing the menu button or viewing the image, the camera “thinks” for 3-5 seconds, which is a disastrously long period of time. The card activity indicator is on. Actually the “communication" of the camera with the card takes this time. On my two cards, 2GB and 32GB 400x, the delay time is the same. This is not a very important point, but sometimes waiting for 3-5 seconds is still not a hunt. But the camera turns on instantly.

    Example photo on Nikon D200. The light meter easily copes with non-standard tasks

    Example photo on Nikon D200. The light meter easily copes with non-standard tasks

  2. The battery runs out very quickly. Really I have enough battery for 400 shots. You can still take a small photo shoot on one charge. But, for example, at a wedding without 2-3 batteries just can not do (checked more than once). This disease is treated by buying a special booster. The booster adds convenience when shooting, but it takes extra space in the case and adds extra weight.

    Example photo on Nikon D200

    Example photo on Nikon D200

  3. The viewfinder does not give 100% frame coverage, but only the usual 95%. It's really annoying when after the picture you find an extra piece in the photo that fits in these 5%, which were not visible behind the scenes.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

  4. 2.5 inch display. Yes after Nikon D90, D300 look at 230.000 points after 900.000 points at D90 not that anymore. Of course, offending the old D200 is bad, but the display is not the same as before. Many say that the D200 gives a bad picture, from personal experience I will say that professionals will not distinguish a picture from Nikon D200 and Nikon D7000 with the same lens and the same settings at low ISO when printing and / or on a computer monitor (I personally conducted an experiment that confirmed this). But almost everyone will say that the picture looks much worse on the Nikon D200 display than anywhere else. Why is not known.

    Example photo on Nikon D200. Landscape

    Example photo on Nikon D200. Landscape

  5. The standard lack of gum in all Nikon cameras is that they swell and fall off. Let me explain - the rubber, which is so nice to the touch, swells over time and comes off.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

  6. Very poor results at high ISO. Given the age of the camera, you can come to terms with this.

    Example photo on Nikon D200. Portrait. Color rendition.

    Example photo on Nikon D200. Portrait. Color rendition.

  7. It’s bad that when switching the compression level, the RAW buffer still shows 21 frames. For example: compressed RAW weighs about 10 MB, and not compressed about 16 MB, it would not be bad if the camera placed more frames in the buffer with the compressed format.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

  8. No focus adjustment. Honestly, when I bought a Nikon D200, I was just saddened by this, since for some of my lenses adjustment would not hurt.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

    Example photo on Nikon D200.

  9. Nikon D200 is one of the few cameras that does not have a menu for post-processing photos. In general, no processing of the filmed material with the camera is provided. I was very surprised when I discovered this. You can't even convert from RAW to JPEG.
An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. Poplar fluff

An example of a photograph on a Nikon D200 without processing. Poplar fluff

A couple more moments:

Nikon D200 bribes with its ability to enlarge the image is actually 1 to 1 with one button. This is real, very much accelerates the choice of a sharp picture. Moreover, the camera enlarges the picture at the focus point. The camera is not such a familiar (for all users of the line below) the method of zooming the picture. To enlarge the picture you need to press as many as two buttons and the main control dial. But the multi selector has 8 directions. Impressions are positive.

Sample photo on Nikon D200 without processing

Sample photo on Nikon D200 without processing

Choose and don’t know what to take?

It is unlikely that someone will say with certainty whether the camera is suitable for you or not. At the moment Nikon D200 is outdatedher descendant Nikon D300 Has matrix cleaning, Live View and less noise at high ISO. Nikon D300s in addition, it also shoots video and clicks the shutter much faster, and even on 2 cards. Well and Nikon D7000 in general can still better. Well, if it’s at all hot to take a camera of a similar level, you can look at Nikon D80, which has similar image quality with the Nikon D200 and the only significant difference is not the ability to work with manual optics. More photos in gallery of autumn photos.


Prices for modern Nikon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.


Hack and predictor Aviator:

Nikon D200 - professional digital SLR camera, which is now not available and which can be taken at a ridiculous price. Able to do almost everything you need. Not suitable for beginners in photography - there is not a single automatic shooting mode, for everything you need to think for yourself. It is also hardly suitable for the pros, since it quickly eats up the battery and has strong noises at high ISO. But in fact, the only drawback of the camera is that now there are much more advanced Nikon D300(s) D7000that make things even better. So who will suit Nikon D200 - I can’t say for sure, but in skillful hands you can squeeze a lot from her.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 560, on the topic: Review of Nikon D200

  • taburedka

    Nice young lady in the photographs, but the nails are somewhat unkempt (I'm talking about the photo with a twig in my hands at my face) ... or is the fashion for manicure changed :) And don't consider me a photoonanist, but the picture is kind of soapy. Maybe it's a high ISO?

    PS. You have excellent articles, I read with pleasure. Thank you and do not take it as criticism.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Please note that the review is aimed not to show photo masterpieces, but the realities of a particular camera. In this case, the review clearly indicates that the Nikon D200 camera has (by my standards) quite strong noise artifacts that affect the final image result. Regarding the photographs from the review, I ask you to familiarize yourself with the shooting parameters in more detail and draw more objective conclusions https://radojuva.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/sg/nikon-70-210-f4-p2/nikon-70-210mm-f-4-af-photo-27.jpg. Thanks for the good criticism.

  • Vadim

    An interesting review about an old woman who, as they say, “still gives a light” (=

    thanks, read it in one go

  • Sergiy

    Often I lose superfoods about the D300s and D7000. To me, there is image.
    Bulo b cіkavo respect your little thought.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      My opinion has not changed yet - the quality of the picture depends more on the person and other factors than on the camera. Well, if about Nikon D300s vs Nikon D7000, then by virtue of personal experience 300s gives a more predictable picture, many of my colleagues do not particularly like the picture from D7000. Please note that there are objective measurements, for example http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D300S-vs-Nikon_D7000, but there are subjective ones. Seriously with the D7000 has not yet encountered.

  • 1 I do not consider 400 shots a small value for the battery for the release time of the camera - in my opinion then all the cameras ate a lot, - you can buy a battery grip;
    2 Coverage in 95% corresponds to the price category of the camera - it was generally considered almost amateur, well, semi-professional;
    3 Adjustments did not seem to be done then, then, it seems, the Pentax K20 appeared, then the Canon 50D;
    4 In my opinion, the beautiful girl in the photo, nails are like nails, it is not in them; the depth of field was nearly enough to catch a couple of leaves, something would not blur into spots :-)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For example, the Nikon D100 squeezed much more photos on a single battery charge, therefore, even at that time, this is a small indicator.

  • I am the proud owner of the 300th. I also suffered for a long time with the choice of D300s or D7000. In the end, I was convinced in favor of the 300s by several factors - the shutter sound (for me it's akin to a song and the voice of the 300 is in the lead here), + positioning by the manufacturer: 300 - professional, 7000 - amateur. Also the fact that the 300s is a time-tested camera that lacks the flower / butterfly / portrait modes (which I did not use with the D3000), and instead opted for useful settings and add-ons!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks for the good advice.

  • Thank you for the excellent reviews and the work you do for writing them!

  • Something I can’t go to the article about D3000, so I’ll write here. At 3000m, although it is written (and even in the menu it is configured) the presence of cleaning the matrix, in fact I did not notice it. And it seems to write beautifully on the monitor, “they say the matrix is ​​being cleaned”, but I did not notice ANY effect. Dust, where it was, remained there. (but here options are possible, if there are questions, I will describe them). In 300x, when this function is triggered, the sound of a motor is clearly audible and the effect was on the face (more precisely, on the matrix), although nothing was written about this on the screen. My personal conclusion - Matrix cleaning in D3000 is not implemented, but they take money for it! Overall, though, I was very pleased with it.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      repaired, you can go. (There are many users, but the site is not rubber)

  • I came across friends on VKontakte. There is manual optics. Maybe we will agree and I will give a review

    • Arkady Shapoval

      super, vkontakte will be in the evening, you will unsubscribe.

  • I have D50. a couple of days ago, unscheduled, I got to a children's matinee, asked to shoot. on the carcass there was a screwdriver Tamron 70-300 .. Perversion, of course, but what to do, parents / children to be quiet ..)) hid in the opposite corner from the stage, raised the flash and snapped 250 frames per hour. The battery was removed from the charge only in the morning. Even the first, small division, on the battery indicator, did not show a hint of discharge ... Therefore, I am upset by the review about the battery, because I look closely at this camera, as I love manual optics, and with D50, I have grown up for a long time and I don’t pull more expensive and not justified to me ..))

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Okay, the battery costs 200 UAH, you can take two and forget about this inconvenience.

  • Ljubomir

    Good day!!
    I thought to take the D90, but the opportunity appeared for 450 cu buy D200, 42 tys. run, slightly peeled off the back of the elastic under the thumb, there is one white dot (bit pixel) which is clearly visible when shooting a black background ..
    Please tell me what else to look for? how to check so as not to miss something? ..
    Thank you very much

    can be here http://vk.com/id34003212
    if something is wrong sorry

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Just take a good look at everything. The device has a lot of functions and you won't have time to drive all of them even in an hour. For example, a loose shoe, or a sticking mirror after a series of shots. In any case, this is a risk. In the best case, you need to take on moneyback terms for 2-3 days to run the camera.

  • Vadim

    I think about changing d3100 to d200. the 200-ke captivates the presence of a screwdriver, agronomics, shutter speed 1/8000, fast synchronization, etc.

    I actually wanted to ask you for advice. Is the game worth the candle? as I understand it, you have been using the d200 for a long time to know all its charms)

    thanks in advance for your reply

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For what purposes will you use it? D200 is a heavy, voracious and large apparatus. The D3100 ISO has much better workers. My opinion is that the game is not worth the candle. Look here.

  • Vadim

    thanks for such a prompt response)
    and the link is very interesting)

  • Dmitriy

    Arkady, good afternoon!
    I want to buy nikon d200 for shooting at the club! I have Tamron 17-50 f2 / 8 glass (non-motor version)
    Before that I shot on nikon d5000!
    Do you think it is suitable for shooting in clubs? I also have an external flash and I want to buy a bat block in addition to Nikon!
    Thank you in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      D200 has a noisier matrix in comparison with the D5000, in clubs often need high ISOs, because the D200 is suitable for this role worse. If you shoot with a flash at low ISO, then the D200 will be more practical, and the motor for your Tamron is in it.

  • Dmitriy

    Ie you can take ?!
    Naturally, I shoot with a flash!

  • Dmitriy

    and another question ... d90 will be better than d200?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes, with the D90 the matrix and noise is much better than with the D200. The D200 is a very old camera, I only use it because it supports old optics and has a huge frame buffer. For all the advanced hobbyists, I recommend either the D90 or the D7000.

  • Dmitriy

    Thank you very much!)

  • Alexey

    Hello!
    I bought myself a d200, the camera suits everything, BUT ISO is not displayed on the auxiliary display! And you have written what is displayed. Can I turn it on somehow? Please tell me if you know ... Thank you in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Very strange, I have displays. I went through the help - I could not find the cause of the problem.

    • Fedor

      I confirm as the owner of D200 - the sensitivity is not displayed on the upper LCD, only in the viewfinder. And even in some review of this camera they wrote about it.

  • Alexander

    on the secondary display, ISO is displayed when you press the ISO button on the control tower. at the same time, the selected ISO is displayed in the viewfinder, at the bottom right, before the number of remaining frames.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      When you press the ISO button, the value itself is displayed. Be careful.

  • Alis

    Please advise which camera is better to take d200 or d80.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For what purpose? D80 is much easier, because for beginners I recommend D80.

  • Alis

    amateur photo, photo shoots, art photography training.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Then Nikon D80

  • Jury

    I started with the d3100, then I sold and bought the d200, the d3100 for personal impressions makes the d200 a noise stop iso, but when the iso is raised the d200 does nothing terrible with colors (unlike the d3100), and therefore often despite the noise the picture looks better . I think this is a great camera for photo enthusiasts, because satisfies any creative needs and working with manual optics is a very important plus for me, because I have a kaleinar 5n and helios 44 which I really like, if helios is an amateur thing, kaleinar 5 is a real rescue stick for modern AF technology with close parameters is very expensive

  • anonym

    I'm a newbie! I've had a d50 for a month now, I'm selling it now. I bought a d200 to work with manual optics, but when I picked it up I realized that it just won't be there ... I need to learn everything by September 1. Why look for everything on it ?? there is: nikor 35-70.2.8, nikor 50mm 1.8 ai, that's all .... thank you all for your help ... ..

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In the sense you prompt a link to the instructions? Or what to learn?

  • Alexander

    Good evening Arkady, after reading your article (very useful), I was sad. I agreed with the seller (there was an announcement on "Avito") about buying a Nikon D200, but now I'm thinking about it. Of course, if I had a little more finance, I would take 300 or 300s. But, however, you “shot” a portrait at high sensitivity and it looks very good (Nikon 70-210mm f / 4 AF Nikon d200, ISO-800, 165mm, F4. 1 / 30sec.) I am already happy about that. So you can still buy it and you can work, I think not only at weddings, but also reportage. Thanks .

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Why be sad? I’m still shooting it, although I have a D700, but the D200 is just great.

  • Alexander

    Thanks for the support . Good luck .Alexander

  • Andrei

    All the best!
    Until yesterday I was the owner of the Nikon D50 camera, I bought it in 2008. I bought some lenses ... Then I gradually changed all the autofocus lenses for manuals (since I don't have the funds for autofocus of the same quality). It was difficult to photograph without metering, I missed many times. Yesterday I became the owner of a brand new (3500 frames) Nikon D200, I really liked how it lies in my hand, these are the convenience !!! The first "tasty" differences from the 50 are - Exposure metering, a backlit screen (suffered from the 50th in the evening and at night), there is more information on the additional screen. The rest of the goodies have not yet had time to see, but in the first rows there is a programmable button for selecting lens parameters !!!
    Thank you for the article!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Happy for you. I sold my D200 yesterday, it ran almost 156.000, there was a very good camera, the buffer is larger than D2x

      • Redblade

        Hello.
        And tell me, if it doesn't make it difficult, why did you sell the 200th? Because of the high mileage? - You're not going to buy it again, like the D40? This is my first DSLR - yes, I stepped, missed that it lacks presets, being strongly impressed by
        Your airy green = 3.
        I just wanted to know if he suddenly has any operational features?

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