Learn about the incredible Nikon D200 digital SLR!

Whether you’re a veteran of my previous books or a new convert, I think you’ll find my introduction to the D200 quite different from the other books and DVDs on the market. When Nikon unveiled the long-awaited D200 as a replacement for the venerable, and much more expensive Nikon D100, I fell in love. After a few months using this camera, I put together the best and easiest-to-understand guidebook for the Nikon D200. Filled with full-color photos, it provides a great introduction to this sophisticated camera, but still is written at a level that someone new to digital SLRs can readily understand..

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Just click the cover picture at right!

Why the Nikon D200 is great:

Although the D200 will eventually be supplanted by the new Nikon D300, today it is a bargain, with new copies going for a little more than $1000, and mint used bodies available for much, much less. It shares much of the ergonomics with the D300, and has virtually the same image quality at ISO settings of ISO 1000 or less.

First and foremost, it's very affordable, if you’re an avid photographer and don't want to spend $1800 for a new D300. Serious photographers, and professionals looking for a rock-sold backup for their D300, D2xs, or even D3, the D200 is a super bargain.

The Nikon D200 is also expandable, even though not quite up to the level of the D300. Add the MB-D200 Multi-Power Battery pack. That gives you a longer-lasting power-source, a convenient vertical grip/shutter release for portrait-orientation shots, and the potential to fire off 5 frames per second with 10.2 megapixels of resolution.You can add viewfinder magnifiers, radio-controlled remote releases, and, of course, a ton of Nikon lenses -- including older lenses that can use Aperture Priority metering that is not possible with Nikon's entry-level cameras.

The Nikon D200 also includes tons of very cool features, such as four shooting banks that can store preferences for a quartet of different photographic situations, dozens of Custom Settings that tailor your D200 to work exactly the way you want it to, interval shooting, flexible bracketing (great for creating HDR (high dynamic range) images in Photoshop. Its built-in flash has a useful modeling light feature, and multiple/repeating strobe effects that experimenters will love to play with.

My recommendations for Nikon D200 must-have essentials:

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You gotta get this!

Wow! After I tried this out, I told everyone I knew about it, and then I ordered three more; one for each of my camera bags. Don't pay $50 or more for a scope to check out your sensor for dust. This $8.95 gadget does the job for a fraction of the price. It's a Carson slide-out 3X magnifier (although the packaging says it's a 2X unit) with an LED light. Lock up your mirror, open the shutter, and focus in on your sensor by holding the Carson magnifier just above the lens mount. Any dust, scratches, or other artifacts just pop out. You can even use a sensor brush or other tool to clean the sensor while you're looking at it with the magnifier. I'm rarely blown away by inexpensive gadgets, but this one belongs in every digital photographer's camera bag.


My guidebook, natch!	The Nikon SB-800 Speedlight	MB-D200 battery pack/vertical grip	Nikon D200 camera and lens -- New!

MC-30 remote release Never leave home without your MC-30 release!	Manfrotto Monopod I own this, and the Manfrotto carbon fiber monopod. Super for sports, landscapes, wildlife.	Tokina 12-24mm zoom. I love my Nikkor 12-24 DX lens, but here's a chance to save some money on a lens that is virtually as good (or better) at a lower price.	Nikon DK-21M Magnifier Helps you focus your macro shots manually for better control over depth-of-field.

Stuff I can't live without:

The New "Magic Three" Unless you're shooting close-ups or distant sports, you really don't need any other lenses. Sharp, fast, and expensive, these lenses do everything! They are full-frame lenses for both DX and FX formats, too.
	Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor	Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor	Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor

This 70-300 VR lens is a bit slower than the legendary 70-200 VR, but it has a longer range, is more compact, and costs less. Great for traveling light	The 80-400 VR gives you a bit more range for sports, and many photographers prefer it to the 70-200 VR for wildlife photography.	105mm VR Micro-Nikkor Vibration Reduction may be overkill for a macro lens, but folks said the same thing about autofocus. This one is great indoors or out.	Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Serious photographers usually replace their kit lens with this one after they've worked with their cameras for awhile. Sharp!

	Nikon 85mm f/1.4 "Cream Machine" Beautiful bokeh; this is the #1 portrait lens for Nikon dSLRs. Get one now before Nikon replaces it with something less. You can own a legend!	AF-S DX Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR This versatile lens is the new king of the kit lens crowd for DX format dSLRs. It handles everything from architecture and landsapes to portraiture.