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| Factory Tour - Nikon Digital SLR assembly
line in
Thailand |
The absolute best Digital SLR camera and lens combination of the year -
the Nikon D200 DSLR combined with the 18-200mm DX Nikkor Super-Zoom
 In the last week I have written a number of short
articles on the Nikon D40, D80 and D200 Digital SLR cameras. By far the
most popular article has been the one on the
Nikon D200 DSLR. No real surprise here because it is in my opinion
the best Digital SLR for your money available at this time.
The second most popular article was on the Nikon D40 DSLR, which maybe a
little bit of a surprise but I also consider it the second choice at
the moment because a lot of the time the Nikon D200 DSLR is just too
big and heavy (like on trips to the super market or to drop your kids
off at school). I like to always have a camera with me and the new
Nikon D40 DSLR seems to be the best choice at the moment.
There is of course also a lot of interest in the Nikon D80 DSLR but the real
surprise for me came in the interest in an article I wrote about using
the Nikon D40 DSLR in
combination with the 18-200mm DX Nikkor zoom lens, as an all in one
solution. The much cheaper D40
DSLR system with two Nikkor lenses and a Nikon flash article got
far less attention.
So I did a little research and found that a lot of photographers really
liked the super-zoom Electronic View Finder cameras but they were now
interested in buying a better Digital SLR version of those cameras.
Changing lenses is a hassle for many photographers because it means
that you have to carry extra lenses (more weight) and there is always
the danger of getting dirt inside the camera and finding those annoying
dust spots on all your pictures.
It is also obviously really nice to be able to zoom from wide angle to
long telephoto with a relatively small lens. As you can see from the
picture accompanying this article, the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED (11.1x) does
not look like it could zoom to the equivalent of a 300mm lens on a 35mm
film camera. The full zoom range in 35mm film terms, is from 27mm to
300mm.
I know that some photographers need to carry a lot of equipment (for
many different reasons), so I am not suggesting that you stop buying
all other lenses or always go out into the field with only this camera
and lens. What I am suggesting is that it is possible to go out of your
house with one camera and one lens, and still be ready for almost
anything, if you choose your equipment wisely.
Related Articles:
The
Nikon D200 DSLR is
still my choice for the best Pro-Am Digital SLR
camera.
Turning the new low cost
Nikon D40 Digital
SLR into a powerful one lens, wide angle to telephoto, 11x super-zoom
camera.
Nikkor DX zoom lenses
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| dpmac digital lifestyle store • digital cameras - computers - software - video games |
Main Features of the Nikon D200 Digital SLR
- 10.2 effective
megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor
- Image sensor features
high-speed 4-channel data output and a newly developed Optical Low Pass
Filter
- Advanced imaging
processing engine with
color-independent pre-conditioning and digital image processing
algorithms that achieve fine color gradations with exceptionally
smooth, consistent transitions
- Newly developed
11-area AF system with selectable 7 wide-area AF mode and effective new
focus area options
- 3D Color Matrix
Metering II with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor ensures accurate exposure
control and white balance
- New image
optimization modes help produce results more closely matching the
intended results
- Near-instant response
with 0.15 sec. power-up, 50-millisecond shutter time lag and
105-millisecond viewfinder blackout
- Fast 5 frames per
second in bursts of up to 22 consecutive NEF (RAW) or 37 JPEG
(Fine-Large) images
- Shutter speeds
ranging from 30 to 1/8,000 sec. for full creative control
- Creative in-camera
Image Overlay and Multiple Exposure effects
- GPS support for
recording location-specific information along with shooting data
- Large 2.5" LCD
monitor with ultra-wide 170° viewing
angle for clear image preview and easy access to settings and
information, including new RGB Histograms and the new Recent Settings
list
- Large new top LCD
panel displays a wealth of information on settings and shooting status
- Lightweight, durable
magnesium alloy body protected by enhanced sealing system
- Large, bright
viewfinder offering 0.94x magnification
- New high-energy
EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion
battery delivers the power to shoot up to 1,800 pictures on a single
charge, and provides detailed battery status information (Battery life
figure determined by in-house test parameters)
- Optional MB-D200
battery pack extends shooting
capability, enhances stability, and provides the further shooting
potential of added controls
- Built-in Speedlight
with i-TTL flash control and full support for Nikon's Creative Lighting
System
- Support for the
Wireless Transmitter WT-3 enables direct cable-free image transfer to a
compatible computer
- Includes Nikon’s
PictureProject software for easy control over image adjustment and
management
- Supported by Nikon
Capture 4 (version 4.4)
software, which fully unlocks the extensive potential of NEF (Nikon
Electronic Format)
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| dpmac digital lifestyle store • digital cameras - computers - software - video games |
Specifications
of the Nikon D200 Digital SLR
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Effective pixels
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10.2 million |
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Image sensor
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RGB CCD, 23.6 x 15.8
mm, 10.92 million total pixels |
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Image size
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L (3,872 x 2,592) /
M (2,896 x 1,944) / S (1,936 x 1,296) |
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Sensitivity
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ISO equivalency 100
to 1600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV |
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Storage media
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CompactFlash™ (CF)
Card (Type I/II) and Microdrive™ |
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LCD monitor
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2.5-in.,
230,000-dot, low-temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment |
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Exposure
metering
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3D Color Matrix
Metering II, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering |
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Exposure modes
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Programmed Auto with
flexible program [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto
[A], and Manual [M] |
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Interface
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USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed):
mass storage and PTP connectable |
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Power sources
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Rechargeable Li-ion
Battery EN-EL3e, MB-D200 battery pack (optional), AC Adapter EH-6
(optional) |
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Dimensions (W x
H x D)
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Approx. 147 x 113 x
74mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in.) |
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Weight
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Approx. 830g (1lb
13oz) without battery, memory card, or body cap |
Specifications are subject to change
without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
November 2005
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