NIKON® Unveils the New D200™ Digital SLR Camera
10.2 Megapixel D200 Digital SLR Delivers Outstanding
Image Quality with Blazing Speed, Rugged Construction and Intelligent Features
MELVILLE, NY (November 1, 2005) – Nikon (www.nikondigital.com)
today introduced the highly anticipated new D200 – a precision-engineered,
high performance digital SLR camera designed to satisfy the requirements of
passionate and demanding photographers. Combining brand new technologies
with advanced features inherited from Nikon’s venerable D2X professional
digital SLR camera, the D200 incorporates more must-have features than any
other camera in its class, enabling photographers to capture images in a way
once reserved only for professionals.
The D200 promises an extremely satisfying shooting experience, with a winning
combination of quality, performance, construction and advanced system features. Employing
a newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor,
the D200 captures images with remarkable resolution and clarity. Its
sophisticated 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II system ensures ideal exposures
while an advanced Nikon image processing engine renders images with superb
clarity and smooth color gradations. The D200 reacts with lighting speed,
powering-up in a mere 0.15 seconds, and firing in an imperceptible 50 millisecond
shutter release lag time. It can shoot five frames per second with a
drastically shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds between
shots. Its large, bright viewfinder offers 0.94x magnification for comfortable
and precise composition while a new 2.5 inch LCD screen provides ultra-wide
170 degrees viewing angle from all directions. With an all new 11-area
Autofocus system, robust control of Nikon’s i-TTL Creative Lighting
System and advanced Wi-Fi image-transmission options*, the D200 is a perfect
fit for discriminating photographers and a natural choice for wedding, event
and action photographers.
“Nikon has spent considerable time and effort to truly understand the
qualities and features photographers desire in an advanced digital SLR camera. The
D200 embodies this research and delivers a camera that’s built to the
requirements of passionate photographers, and meets demands for resolution,
speed, precision, and ultimate image quality. The D200 represents an
unmatched combination of quality, performance and value that’s hard to
resist,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems
Products, at Nikon Inc. “The D200 is hands-down the most capable
digital SLR camera in its category.”
SMARTER…
The D200 embodies a host of intelligent technologies that deliver remarkably
precise control and accurate automatic features. Equipped with Nikon’s
exclusive 1,005 pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, the D200 seamlessly determines
ideal exposures even in complex lighting conditions. Capturing scene
elements including brightness, contrast and color content with a unique 1,005-pixel
RGB-enabled sensor, this advanced system employs further improved algorithms
for even better evaluation of large area highlight and shadow detail. The
3D Color Matrix Metering II light metering system also uses an onboard database
of detailed exposure information from over 30,000 actual images against which
instantaneous real-time comparisons are made as part of determining exposures. Rather
than merely looking at light levels, a complex, yet transparent evaluation
of overall scene content takes place, ensuring highly accurate exposures, even
in challenging lighting conditions.
The 10.2 effective megapixel image sensor on the D200 incorporates a high-speed
4-channel data output and a new Optical Low Pass Filter that significantly
reduces any incidence of moiré as well as color fringing and shifting. Furthermore,
4-channel output allows the D200 to inherit the advanced image-processing engine
of the Nikon D2x professional digital SLR that combines color-independent preconditioning
prior to A/D conversion with advanced digital image processing algorithms to
deliver fine color gradations with smooth, consistent transitions. Photographers
can take advantage of the D200’s advanced image optimizing functionality
that allows them to fine tune image characteristics such as sharpness, tone,
color, saturation, and hue. Photographers can also select from preset
options like Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait and Black-and-White.
One of the most notable new features of the D200 is its all new 11-area AF
system, convertible to a 7-wide area AF system, both based on Nikon’s
advanced Multi-Cam 1000 AF Sensor Module. Not only does this AF system
support the photographer with fast and precise auto focus under a variety of
shooting conditions, but it also offers a pleasing array of functions for greater
flexibility – allowing an individual area to be selected from either
the 11-area AF or 7-wide area AF sensors for Single AF or making use of multiple
sensors to enable Dynamic AF, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF and Group
Dynamic AF.
Running out of power on the D200 is harder than ever, since in addition to
its remarkable capacity of up to 1800 shots per charge, the D200 also features
an intelligent power management Fuel Gauge feature that constantly monitors
the battery’s precise remaining power in 1% increments. It also
displays the total number of shots taken on each charge as well as overall
life of the battery, so photographers can easily tell when to replace a battery.
The D200 is a wireless whiz, and features Nikon’s advanced i-TTL wireless
Speedlight control built right into the camera, as well as wireless image transfer
over a 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network built into the optional WT-3 Wireless Transmitter
(available Spring 2006). The camera’s powerful built-in Speedlight,
capable of coverage for lenses as wide as 18mm, features a Commander Mode that
can wirelessly control up to two separate groups of an unlimited number of
i-TTL speedlights such as the SB-800, SB-600 or SB-R200. The Commander
Mode in the D200 can adjust flash compensation settings for each of the two
groups on the fly, making light output control from speedlights placed in hard
to reach locations simple and effortless.
FASTER…
The D200 is faster than any other camera in its class, making its handling
exceptionally responsive. The D200 can shoot continuously at up to five
frames per second, capturing up to an impressive 37 JPEG images** or up to
22 NEF (RAW) images, making it ideal for action, wedding and event photography.
Featuring an industry leading power-up time of 0.15 seconds, the D200 is ready
to shoot when the photographer is ready. Its reduced shutter release
time lag of 50 milliseconds is nearly undetectable and when shooting in its
continuous burst mode of five frames per second, its shortened viewfinder blackout
time (between each successive shot) of just 105 milliseconds proves especially
useful in keeping an eye on a moving subject.
STRONGER…
The D200 is designed with long term durability, ruggedness and precision in
mind. Built on a magnesium alloy chassis and body cover, the D200 combines
light weight with high-level durability and protects performance integrity. It
also features an enhanced environmental sealing system that helps protect exterior
seams from potentially damaging moisture and dust. The D200’s double-bladed
shutter unit is tested to well over 100,000 cycles, ensuring highly reliable
performance year after year. The shutter unit also employs a refined
mirror balance mechanism that allows the mirror to complete its motion cycle
and reach a complete stop with virtually no image degrading mirror bounce.
The Ultimate Shooting Experience
Nikon is renowned for the distinct usability and handling of its digital
SLRs, and the D200 continues this tradition. Photographers handling the
camera will immediately notice its large, bright viewfinder with 0.94x magnification
that ensures the clearest view possible for precise composition. Viewing
excellence is taken further with an expansive 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD
that provides an ultra-wide 170??q viewing angle from all directions. It also
offers the ability to magnify images by up to 400% to enable photographers
to closely inspect images for fine details while offering a selectable RGB
histogram display, which allows photographers to make better-informed exposure
decisions through the viewing of a composite RGB histogram, or a separate histogram
for each individual color channel. The D200 also features the largest top LCD
panel among cameras in its class to convey maximum information at a glance
with easy access to shooting data including shooting mode, battery condition,
card information, gridline display, shutter speed, F-stop and number of remaining
shots.
Refined menus on the D200 offer a streamlined and visually enhanced view of
camera setup and custom setting options. Photographers can access an
expanded on-board Help feature to view brief descriptions of every one of the
camera’s menu items. The D200 also features a ‘Recent Settings’ menu
that reflects the last 14 settings adjusted, offering a quick way to revisit
these settings.
Nikon’s Digital Imaging System
Like all Nikon SLR cameras, the D200 also offers the advantages of compatibility
with Nikon’s superior and comprehensive Digital Imaging System. High
image quality is assured through compatibility with over 50 outstanding AF
Nikkor lenses, including Nikon’s DX Nikkor lenses engineered exclusively
for use with Nikon digital SLRs and an extensive array of AF Nikkors designed
for use on digital and 35mm SLRs. The D200 also offers compatibility
with the Nikon Creative Lighting System, enabling high-precision flash photography
with SB-800, SB-600 and the Nikon Wireless Close-up Lighting Systems. Outlined
below are groundbreaking technologies and system features that enable photographers
to achieve results not possible with any other system:
New Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (Available Spring 2006)
Nikon is leading the imaging world with wireless image transfer technology
via Wi-Fi. The D200 marks the announcement of the Wireless
Transmitter WT-3, offering photographers creative new ways to set up their
workflow. The new IEEE802.11b/g compatible Wireless Transmitter WT-3
provides fast image transmission with improved security and compatibility with
the latest protocols. It also provides alternative buttons for shutter
release and AF-start as well as an extra command dial to facilitate more comfortable
shooting in vertical format.
i-TTL Speedlight Technology
Nikon’s i-TTL speedlight technology is arguably the most robust and
advanced speedlight system in the world, and holds limitless possibilities
for all kinds of photographers using creative lighting. i-TTL technology
built-in to the D200 allows photographers to wirelessly control in full TTL,
up to 2 groups of Speedlights, with any number of individual speedlights in
each group. Photographers can shed all cords and cables or the need to
ever calculate flash and distance ratios, because the i-TTL systems is capable
of making all exposure calculations in real time, wirelessly, during the exposure
to deliver a perfect flash exposure in any situation. Photographers can
even maintain full output control of each group of speedlights from the D200’s
built-in speedlight. This technology can potentially distill an entire
portrait lighting system into a small set of multiple SB800, SB600 or SB-R200
Speedlights.
Nikkor® Lenses
As a company that built its reputation with the superb quality of its lenses,
Nikon’s renowned Nikkor® brand of optics offer D200 users a tremendous
choice of over 50 high quality lenses ranging from highly specialized exotic
ones such as the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED to broad zoom range
lenses for everyday photography, such as the newly announced AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens. The D200 is compatible with DX Nikkor
lenses that are optimized for Nikon’s digital SLR camera sensors as well
as legendary AF Nikkor lenses, delivering outstanding system digital SLR flexibility. This
ensures that D200 users will always find a high quality Nikkor lens that’s
just perfect for their photography.
Nikon PictureProject and Capture 4.4 Software
The D200 will include a complimentary copy of Nikon’s PictureProject
software, a $49.95 value, and an easy-to-use yet powerful software application
that provides image transfer, organization, editing, and design functions for
JPEG and NEF (RAW) images produced with the camera. PictureProject can
also convert NEF (RAW) files to JPEG or TIFF format finished files, as well
as save in the original NEF file format. PictureProject is an essential
accessory and is compatible with the new D200 and all prior Nikon digital SLR
models and Coolpix Models. The D200 is also compatible with Nikon Capture
4.4 software (sold separately), a new version of Capture that has the specifications
to open NEF files from the D200 and all other Nikon digital SLR models. This
newest version features greatly enhanced NEF (RAW) processing capabilities
as well as Nikon Capture Camera Control that allows remote camera operation
when connected to a computer via the included USB cable or wirelessly using
the new Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (sold separately). This versatility
is especially useful when photographers may need to continue shooting with
their D200 while simultaneously having someone else edit incoming images.
The NEF (RAW) files from the D200 comprise not only the RAW image data captured
by the 10.2 effective megapixel image sensor but also a thumbnail image and
a Nikon “Instruction Set” of the cameras settings at the time of
shooting. NEF allows the Instruction Set data – such as white balance,
color balance and tone curves and more – to be adjusted for each recorded
image at any time after shooting through the use of Nikon Capture software. Use
of Nikon Capture also allows a NEF file to be saved as a NEF, ensuring a record
of the original Instruction Set is always preserved, even if several newer
Instruction Sets are saved to the file. This ensures that photographers
never loose the original settings and image data of a NEF (RAW) file, and reverting
back to the original image requires just a few clicks in Capture software.
Version 4.4 of Nikon Capture software offers a flexible, stable and creative
workflow approach for any photographer in both professional and personal use
through Nikon’s unique approach referred to as the “Camera to NEF
to Capture Dynamic Link” performance. Newly added features for
Capture include automatic highlight recovery when using Exposure Compensation
at values lower than 0 EV and Black and White conversion support in Tone Compensation.
The D200 will be available in late December 2005 for an estimated selling
price of $1699.95***. For more information, please visit www.nikondigital.com.
NIKON® ADDS VERSATILE NEW 18-200MM F/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S DX VR
ZOOM-NIKKOR LENS TO ITS DX NIKKOR LINE OF LENSES
New Lens Offers Enhanced VR Vibration Reduction System in a Compact and
Lightweight 11.1x High Power Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLRs
MELVILLE, NY, NOVEMBER 1, 2005 – Nikon Inc. (www.nikonusa.com)
today introduced the new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens,
a compact, lightweight 11.1x zoom lens that is ideal for high performance everyday
photography and incorporates advanced features such as Nikon’s Extra
Low Dispersion (ED) glass, Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM) and Enhanced
Vibration Reduction (VR II), in a DX-Nikkor design engineered exclusively for
use with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. With a remarkable 18-200mm
focal length range (picture angle equivalent to a 27-300mm lens in 35mm format),
the lens conveniently covers everything from wide landscapes to tight portraits
and action photography. Advanced Nikon engineering has lent the lens
a compact lightweight design that offers excellent handling characteristics
and superb optical quality.
“Nikon’s range of DX Nikkor lenses, designed specifically for
Nikon digital SLR cameras, has grown substantially since the introduction of
the category, and the new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor
lens is an excellent addition offering Nikon digital SLR photographers an advanced
all-purpose lens with superb optical performance and Enhanced Vibration Reduction
capabilities,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR
Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “Nikkor lenses are famous for their
breathtaking sharpness, optimal contrast and consistent color rendition across
its range of lenses with varying focal lengths. Now with the 18-200mm
f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor, Nikon photographers will be able to
take advantage of remarkable versatility in one lens with assurance of the
outstanding Nikkor image performance that has made Nikkor lenses renowned worldwide.”
Beyond the lens' incredible optical versatility is the benefit of Enhanced
VR II Vibration Reduction an innovation that makes it possible to take substantially
sharper handheld pictures at slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be
possible. This provides the distinct advantage of being able to shoot
more effectively in a much broader variety of challenging conditions. With
the new Nikon VR II advantage, users can take pictures at shutter speeds as
many as 4 stops slower* than they ordinarily could shoot without the image
degrading blur associated with camera shake at slow shutter speeds. Nikon’s
VR technology further enhances picture taking potential with a choice of two
modes to match most shooting conditions. VR Normal Mode primarily compensates
for camera shake, and includes automatic panning detection, as well as automatic
tripod detection. VR Active Mode effectively compensates for vibration
in situations where it is more pronounced and more frequent, such as when shooting
from a moving vehicle.
To further ensure outstanding optical performance, the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G
IF-EDAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor features two Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements
and three complex aspherical lens elements that provide for higher resolution,
high-contrast images while minimizing chromatic aberration, astigmatism and
other forms of distortion. The lens also features Nikon’s compact
Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM), which combines fast and precise autofocusing
with super-quiet operation, as well as Internal Focusing (IF) construction
that allows the lens to focus without changing its external size, improving
balance and handling chrematistics.
All of Nikon’s DX Nikkor lenses are engineered exclusively for use with
Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras, making the lens smaller and lighter while
providing exceptional center-to-edge-to-corner image quality and overall optical
performance. With the addition of the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S
DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens, Nikon photographers can choose from over 50 Nikkor
lenses, ranging from the amazing 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fisheye to the astounding
600mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II super Telephoto.
The 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor lens will be available
beginning in December 2005 for an estimated selling price of $699.95**. For
more information about Nikon and the Nikkor brand of optics, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor: Major
Features
- Offers the broad 18-200mm focal range (11.1x zoom) for use in a variety
of situations (equivalent to a 27-300 mm lens in 35mm format)
- VR II Vibration Reduction system offers the practical equivalent of using
a shutter speed 4 stops faster
- Two ED glass and three complex aspherical lens elements minimize chromatic
aberration, astigmatism and other forms of distortion, while ensuring high
resolution and contrast
- Incorporates a compact SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for quiet focusing
- Delivers high-level optical performance that is specially designed for
use with the Nikon digital SLRs
- Employs a seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening that achieves a natural
blur for out-of-focus elements
- Enables focusing from as close as 50cm (20 in.) from the subject through
its entire focal range
- M/A mode for rapid switching between autofocus and manual focus operation
- Internal Focusing (IF) design simplifies the use of circular polarizing
filters
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color reproduction while
minimizing ghosting and flare
- Flower-shaped Lens Hood HB-35 (included) greatly reduces stray light, enhancing
image quality
