Good friend of PetaPixel and Cameralabs founder Gordon Laing is again with one other entry in his glorious Retro Assessment sequence. Laing’s newest goal is Nikon’s 2005 APS-C digital camera, the Nikon D200. Slotting in between Nikon’s entry-level DSLR fashions and its skilled cameras, which had been additionally APS-C on the time (Nikon’s first full-frame digital camera, the D3, wouldn’t arrive till 2007), the Nikon D200 is a digital camera constructed for fanatics and semi-professionals. As Laing describes it, the D200 is a “step-up over the extra consumer-focused double-digit fashions just like the D70 or D80, and a style of the only digit professional our bodies just like the D1 or D2 with out their value or heft.” In typical Retro Assessment trend, Laing scored an unimaginable deal on a used D200, shopping for one in nice situation — with the unique field included — from MPB for round $100. What a steal. The D200, like many Nikon cameras from that period, holds some enchantment even right now because of its use of a CCD sensor. Whereas the CMOS picture sensors ubiquitous right now are nice, some photographers nonetheless want the look of CCD sensors. As Laing notes, the D200’s new-at-the-time 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor (23.6 by 15.8 millimeters) provides the digital camera lasting enchantment for collectors and digital digital camera fanatics.
“This sensor expertise coupled with its filter array and picture processing delivers enticing photos with a novel look in comparison with fashionable cameras that some discover very interesting,” writes Laing. The D200 could also be lengthy within the tooth, nearing its twentieth birthday, however Nikon’s normal design language didn’t change all that a lot through the DSLR period. Arguably, a lot of what makes the D200 really feel so strong and good within the hand carried via to the D300 and D500, and now even Nikon’s smaller, sleeker mirrorless cameras. The D200 is a chunky digital camera by fashionable requirements, however sturdy. Like lots of Laing’s retro digital camera critiques, he contextualizes the D200 by right now’s requirements given its approachable worth level. The D200 has quite a bit going for it. Though 10 megapixels isn’t quite a bit, it’s loads of many purposes, together with some fairly giant prints. The picture high quality is nice, and due to the CCD sensor, it’s distinct. Additional, the D200 makes use of Nikon’s F mount, giving the D200 entry to an enormous library of lenses, together with numerous older movie ones which can be straightforward to seek out for dirt-cheap, together with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S that Laing reviewed earlier this 12 months. Whereas it’s a handbook focus lens, it is going to work on the D200. “I liked capturing with the D200 again within the mid-2000’s, and nearly 20 years later it stays a pleasure to make use of,” Laing concludes. The entire “Nikon D200 Retro Assessment” has numerous vital perception, expansive hands-on reporting, and lots of extra nice real-world pictures. Further entries in Laing’s Retro Assessment sequence can be found on his YouTube channel, Dino Bytes by Gordon Laing.
Picture credit: All photos © Gordon Laing / Cameralabs
