No content

This is simply a splendid camera. I have owned Nikon F's F3 and F4s, so I was very happy to finally get back into the Nikon family when I decided to go digital. This camera is actually very very simple to use and one does not be afraid of having to read some extremely complicated manual. It is very self-explanatory and it is fortunately compatible with at least a great part of my previous Nikon lenses. One my need to buy the extra battery grip in order to get an improved balance of the camaer. The flash that is in the camera is great for most pruposes excpet when using some of the wide-angles or longer leses since there tends to be a shadow of the lens. The colors and resolution are arellz superb however and not much can be said against it except that probably it is already surpassed now by other Nikons such as the D-300.

Before D300 was on the market - this was the best available for this money.

Good for beginners if photography is you serious interest and you are ready for big budget. This camera - is a well refined technical instrument. No 'green' auto modes, only classic camera controls.

It wants good lens. By good I mean f 2.8-4. Otherwise the camera body becomes too heavy and not at all value for money. If you decide to pay over $1000 for a camera and then save on lens - it's like a big expensive car with small thin tyres that don't really hold the road. So if you condider D200 with e.g. 18-70, or even 18-200 VR, go for D80/D40 instead.

Photography is my hobby, I don't make money with it. I'm with Nikon since more than 10 years and my perfect combination now is:

D200
Nikon Zoom-Nikkor - Wide-angle zoom lens - 12 mm - 24 mm - f/4.0 G ED-IF AF-S DX - Nikon F
Nikkor 35-70/2.8
Nikkor 50/1.8 (almost no use since I got 35-70)
Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
spare battery

I purchased this Nikon D200 with the 18- 135 lens, and thought it was a fantastic camera, that is, until the auto focus decided to no longer work at 11 months old.

It appears that the D200 has an inherent fault in the auto focus, and Nikon are not doing a recall, and in my case refuse to fix it under warranty.

So I am very disappointed with this camera, very disappointed with Nikon, and would never buy another Nikon product due to their lack of product support

If you are a full-frame lens kind of guy, then you have your D3. However, that aside, having played with the D300, D200 and D3, I will have the D200 at my side regardless. As for why, it's just made better and it's cheaper. The added features to the D300 don't make it worth the money you pay and the D3 is simply out of most peoples price range. And, again, if you're a full-frame kind of person, just take a few steps back or forward and problem solved (Most of the time). The D200 rocks.

The Nikon D200 is an amazing camera. I consider myself an enthusiastic amateur, and the D200 fits my needs more than I could ever imagine. I recommend this to anybody considering a new Nikon, especially since the price is dropping as the D300 is released.

It's fabulous!!!!