Nikon D200 Users Guide

INTRODUCTION
(Added by Paul Deakin) I made this printable version of Ken Rockwell’s
Guide as a handy reference I could carry round with my D200 – I suggest
spiral-binding it with … … clear plastic front and back covers. I did
mine at A4 (letter to you in the USA), but the .PDF should print just as
well smaller. To save space I left out a few pictures and trimmed some
words. The links should work on a computer, but of course they won’t if
you print it. If you want the all-singing, all-dancing version with all
the photos and …ISO: I use 100 and
Auto ISO. Auto ISO increases the ISO automatically as it gets dark so I
don’t have to. It shoots at ISO 100 in good light, and at 1/15 of a
second it starts ramping up the ISO to a maximum of 1,600 as it gets
darker. Only if it gets still darker will it let the shutter speed go
below 1/15 at ISO 1,600, exactly as I’d do manually. I explain how to
select the shutter speed at which the ISO starts to increase and the
maximum ISO to which it will increase in the Custom Setting Menu . I set
Auto ISO to 1,600 max because the noise from the D200 at ISO 1,600
looks much better than blur. I set 1/15 because my 18 – 200mm gives
great results down to 1/15. I adjust the lowest shutter speed setting in
the AUTO ISO menu if I change conditions or lenses. Unlike film, the
D200 looks great at high ISOs, so I use them anytime I need them. White
Balance: I use AUTO and a clear UV filter to protect my lens. The D200
has a much warmer color balance than earlier cameras like the D70 so I
don’t need the 81A filter or the -3 trim. White balance is how you set
the color balance, and color is critical. Luckily AUTO works great most
of the time. I look at my LCD, and if it’s not right, I’ll set it to
whatever looks good. Usually that’s the Direct Sun or Cloudy positions.
These settings give much warmer results than earlier cameras. I rarely
use the warmer Shade setting on my D200 while I used Shade often on my
D1H and D70. OPTIMIZE IMAGE: This is set in the menus. I crave vivid
color! I tweak my D200 to give color as vivid as I can get. If it went
to 11 I’d use that, too. I go to MENU > Shooting Menu (green camera
icon) > Optimize Image > Custom. Image Sharpening: Auto (default).
Tone Compensation (contrast): Auto (default). The D200 automatically
adjusts its contrast and dynamic range to each and every shot. It works
great. Color Mode: III (three). This is critical: this gives brighter
colors than the default of I. No, color mode II is pronounced “two” and
not to be confused with 11 (eleven). I had Nikon lock mode II out of
production cameras. You don’t want Mode II even if you could use it.

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