Nikon launch new DSLR camera

1 November 2005 15:29 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Nikon has launched a new genre of camera that it hopes will fill the gap between the entry-level and professional digital SLRs that it offers.
The new product, called the Nikon D200 will combines the solid look and feel and advanced camera operation of Nikon's D2 professional series, while still having a user-friendly focus for those looking for a little bit more beyond its D70 model.

A newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor with the power to capture exceptional sharpness and faithful colour at 3,872 x 2,592 pixels size.

The D200's camera operation is inherited from the Nikon D2x, and boasts more than 40 custom settings. The camera features a 2.5 inch high resolution LCD screen provides an ultra-wide 170° viewing angle from all directions. Images on the D200 can be magnified by up to 400% so users can check for fine detail, adding to the rich and varied experience.

The newly-developed high-energy EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivers enough power to the D200 to support the shooting of up to 1,800 images on a single charge, which takes no longer than 2.5 hours.

The D200 as a 0.15 second power-up, a speedy shutter lag time of just 50 milliseconds and a shortened viewfinder blackout time of 105 milliseconds.
The camera also features a newly developed 11-area AF system packs the same number of focus areas available for the professional D2 series into a space-efficient system, with the photographer able to select individual focus areas from 11-area wide and 7 wide-area AF for Single Area AF, Dynamic AF that delivers precise continuous servo AF mode operation for moving subjects, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF and also Group Dynamic AF.

Nikon Digital SLR Camera D200
Specifications
Type of Camera Single-lens reflex digital camera

Effective Pixels
10.2 million

Image Sensor
RGB CCD, 23.6 x 15.8mm; total pixels: 10.92 million

Image Size (pixels)
3,872 x 2,592 [L], 2,896 x 1,944 [M], 1,936 x 1,296 [S]

ISO Sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)
100 to 1600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV with additional settings up to 1 EV over 1600

Storage Media
CompactFlash™ (CF) Card (Type I and II) and Microdrive™

Storage System
Compressed NEF (RAW): 12-bit compression, JPEG: JPEG baseline-compliant

File System
Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF

White Balance
Auto (TTL white balance with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor), six manual modes with fine-tuning, colour temperature setting, preset white balance, white balance bracketing possible (2 to 9 frames in increments of 1, 2 or 3)

LCD Monitor
2.5-in., 230,000-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment

Playback Function
1) Full frame 2) Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments) 3) Zoom 4) Slideshow 5) RGB histogram indication 6) Shooting data 7) Highlight point display 8) Auto image rotation

Delete Function
Card format, All photographs delete, Selected photographs delete

Video Output
Can be selected from NTSC and PAL

Interface
USB 2.0(Hi-speed) (mini-B connector); mass storage and PTP connectable; FTP file transfer and PTP/IP camera control/file transfer is also available with optional WT-3 (IEEE 802.11b/g); CF card slot Type II: supports firmware updates via CF cards

Text Input
Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input available with LCD monitor and multi-selector; stored in Exif header

Compatible Lenses
Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
Picture Angle
Equivalent in 35mm [135] format is approx. 1.5 times lens focal length
Viewfinder
Fixed eye-level pentaprism; built-in diopter adjustment (-2.0 to +1.0m-1)
Eyepoint
19.5mm (-1.0m-1)

Focusing Screen
Type-B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with superimposed focus brackets and On-Demand grid lines

Viewfinder Frame Coverage
Approx. 95% (vertical & horizontal)

Viewfinder Magnification
Approx. 0.94x with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0m-1

Viewfinder Information
Focus indications, Metering system, AE/FV lock indicator, Flash sync indicator, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure/Exposure compensation indicator, ISO sensitivity, Exposure mode, Flash output level compensation, Exposure compensation, Number of remaining exposures

Autofocus
TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with AF-assist illuminator (approx. 0.5m to 3.0m) Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature: 20°C/68°F)

Lens Servo
Instant single-servo AF (S); continuous-servo AF (C); manual (M); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status in continuous-servo AF

Focus Area
Normal: 11 areas; single area or group can be selected; Wide: focus area can be selected from 7 areas

AF Area Mode
1) Single Area AF 2) Dynamic Area AF 3) Group Dynamic AF 4) Dynamic area AF with closest subject priority

Focus Lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button

Exposure Metering System
Three-mode through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering.
1) 3D Colour Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); colour matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); colour matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed by 1,005-segment RGB sensor.
2) Centre-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, 10, or 13mm dia. circle in centre of frame.
3) Spot: Meters 3mm dia. circle (about 2.0% of frame) centred on active focus area (on centre focus area when non-CPU lens is used)
Exposure Metering Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)
1) EV 0 to 20 (3D Colour Matrix or centre-weighted metering)
2) EV 2 to 20 (spot metering)

Exposure Meter Coupling
Combined CPU and AI

Exposure Modes
Programmed Auto [P] with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto [S]; Aperture Priority Auto [A]; Manual [M]

Exposure Compensation
±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV

Auto Exposure Lock
Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button

Auto Exposure Bracketing
2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 1/2 or 1/3

Shooting Modes
1) Single frame shooting mode 2) Continuous low speed (CL) shooting mode: 1-4 frames per second 3) Continuous high-speed shooting mode: 5 frames per second 4) Self-timer shooting mode 5) Mirror-up mode

Shutter
Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter, 30 to 1/8000 sec. in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb

Sync Contact
X-contact only; flash synchronization at up to 1/250 sec.

Flash Control
1) TTL: TTL flash control by 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
Built-in Speedlight: i-TTL balanced fill-flash or standard i-TTL flash (spot metering or mode dial set to [M]). SB-800, SB-600 or SB-R200: i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR.
2) Auto aperture: Available with SB-800 with CPU lens.
3) Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27, and 22s.
4) Range-priority manual; available with SB-800.

Flash Sync Mode
1) Front-curtain Sync (normal sync), 2) Red-eye Reduction, 3) Red-eye Reduction with Slow Sync, 4) Slow Sync, 5) Rear-curtain Sync

Built-in Flash
Manual pop-up with button release; Guide number (ISO 100, m/ft and 20°C/68°F): approx. 12/39 (manual 13/42)

Flash Compensation
-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV

Accessory Shoe
Standard ISO hot-shoe contact with safety lock provided

Sync Terminal
ISO 519 standard terminal

Self-timer
Electronically controlled timer with 2 to 20 seconds duration

Depth of Field Preview
When CPU lens is attached, lens aperture can be stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or value selected by camera (P and S modes)

Remote Control
Via 10-pin Remote Cord MC-30/36 (optional) or Wireless Remote Control WT-3 (optional)

GPS
NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable (optional) and GPS Adapter Cord MC-35 (optional)

Power Source
One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, MB-D200 battery pack (optional) with one or two rechargeable Nikon EN-EL3e Li-ion batteries or six AA alkaline (LR6), NiMH (HR6), lithium (FR6) batteries, or ZR6 nickel-manganese AA batteries, AC Adapter EH-6 (optional)

Tripod Socket
1/4 in. (ISO 1222)

Dimensions (W x H x D)
Approx. 147 x 113 x 74mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in.)

Weight
Approx. 830g (1 lbs 13 oz) without battery, memory card, body cap, or monitor cover

Supplied Accessories*
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, Video Cable, USB Cable UC-E4, Strap, Body cap, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-21, LCD monitor cover BM-6, PictureProject CD-ROM

Optional Accessories
Multi-Power Battery pack MB-D200, Wireless Transmitter WT-3, Semi-soft case D200, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M, Remote cord MC-36/30, GPS Adapter Cord MC-35, AC Adapter EH-6, Speedlight SB-800/SB-600/SB-R200, Nikon Capture 4 (Ver. 4.4)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area.

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