Nikon D200 is official

The D200 has been announced in several web sites around the net. For full specs and a preview check:

http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1...productNr=25235

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond200/

Looks like it will be a great UW camera. Now, to the housings!

Alleluia B)

One thing that I am really pleased to see is that the AF sensor grouping options are the same as on the D2X (even though the AF is a different MultiCAM). Once you have learned to use them these different AF groupings all have their roles to play in getting different types of shots. Which ones you use for which types of subjects depends on how you shoot and how you compose. But I regularly switch between then during dives as I encounter different subjects.

The big LCD looks very handy too.

Alex

I saw a D200 price tag mentioned somewhere of $1700. I wonder if we will get a price war in this area of the market (5D country)? I can't see that building the higher MPixel chip is dramatically more expensive than current chips, so I'd guess that there is some room for the manufacturers to reduce prices which should be good for everyone!

I spoke to both Seacam and Subal at Antibes and this camera is obviously a major priority for both companies. In fact I think nearly all the manufacturers will have a go at the D200. I think the D100 had 13 different housing options? Maybe the D200 can beat this?

Alex

One thing I haven't seen anyone comment on is the fact it has a CCD and not a CMOS sensor. Anythoughts?

Alex

Alex, I noticed that too, and I was expecting it to have a high flash sync speed, maybe 1/500 like the D70. But the specs list it as 1/250.

Luiz

Well, now that we know the specs, here is a list of UW related improvements over the D70 and D100:

1. Larger and brighter viewfinder (almost the same size as the D2x). I want to elaborate on this, it is a huge improvement. The viewfinders on the D100 and D200 have the same coverage of 95%, but the magnification is 0.94x in the D200 as opposed to only 0.80x on the D100.

2. Larger LCD

3. Better AF (although we don't know how much better)

4. Larger buffer (edit: only compared to the D100)

5. MP count

6. ISO 100

Did I miss something? I think it is worth an upgrade, but again, only if those features are important to the kind of photos you take.

Will the CCD sensor perform as good as a CMOS sensor? Until the D200 is in someone hand could someone tell if the sensor could do sunburst like the D2X?

Luiz, I agree with you that the buffer is an improvement over the D100, but the D70 and all other more recent DSLRs aren't really buffer limited in normal UW shooting.

Alex

We got our pricing from Nikon this morning, retail MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is $1,699.95. The 18-200 AF-S DX VR lens will retail for $699.95.

Well, now that we know the specs, here is a list of UW related improvements over the D70 and D100:

 

1. Larger and brighter viewfinder (almost the same size as the D2x). I want to elaborate on this, it is a huge improvement. The viewfinders on the D100 and D200 have the same coverage of 95%, but the magnification is 0.94x in the D200 as opposed to only 0.80x on the D100.

2. Larger LCD

3. Better AF (although we don't know how much better)

4. Larger buffer (edit: only compared to the D100)

5. MP count

6. ISO 100

 

Did I miss something? I think it is worth an upgrade, but again, only if those features are important to the kind of photos you take.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Low light focusing ability is supposed to be very good. At least on Nikon paper that I saw, there was some kind of measurement that supposed to show that D200's low light focusing ability is better than Canon 5D. I did not see the data on how it compares to D2X and have absolutely no idea how that would apply to real world situation since I am not familiar with that measurement/spec but it was something that the Nikon distributor pointed out to me specifically.

I think Nikons generally have better low light focusing compared to their Canon competitors - that is why Nikon go on about it! Canon prefer to talk about high ISO noise reduction.

If I was a land photographer I wouldn't let it the AF bother me, as I would want to be shooting in good light anyway. Underwater it is important - especially for deeper or murkier waters.

Alex

Amazing, they are already taking pre-orders. I think this camera will sell a lot.

One thing I haven't seen anyone comment on is the fact it has a CCD and not a CMOS sensor. Anythoughts?

 

Alex

CCD or CMOS doesn't matter to me, but it was dissapointing to see that the flash sync was only at 1/250. I too was expecting higher thinking that the main reason for going to CCD was to get one stop higher flash sync. Non-TTL housings can still make use of the 1/2000-1/8000 speeds though with the electronic shutter.

On another note, I noticed the attachment size on the new 18-200 VR lens is 72mm Looks like I get to carry around a new step up ring. This is the only one I don't have yet. Why couldn't they just have added on a few mm and make it the 77mm standard?

Also noted that minimum focus is 20 in. So if anyone is interested in housing this one it would need a diopter (and a 72-77mm step up ring if you want to use the one for your 12-24mm ) My interest in this lens is for backpacking nature photography.

We got our pricing from Nikon this morning [snip]...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dave,

Did you also get pricing indications on the new SU-800 unit and the iTTL closeup flash kits?? Not that I'm thinking of housing them, but I am intrigued for topside use.

TIA

I like the price point! This camera will put significant pricing pressure on the Canon 5D.

The reviewers are comparing the new D200 to the Canon 5D and I think rightly so. Canon is going to have a hard time selling the 20D to folks that don't have a DSLR yet and don't want to spend >$3,000 on a camera.

At $1,700, the D200 is a helluva camera. Thom Hogan is calling it the "digital F100" complimentary to the D2x. I agree.

Cheers

James

While at $1,700.00 Nikon will surely sell every D200 they can produce, I don't think you'll see Canon 20D sales dip much. Especially wiht Canon recent rebates, plus the fact that so many pros and semi-pros have used this model to produce stunning images.

As far as comparing to the Canon 5D, maybe......At 12.8 MP plus fulll frame, same improved bigger viewfinder, etc. the Cano 5D will still sell like hotcakes...Maybe not in the UW world as much, bu in general Canon will sell mucho' 5Ds.....

I might expect many EOS 1D series shooters to consider the 5D camera as a lighter weight alternative, lower cost professional tool, too.

YMMV

David Haas

Lowly little Rebel XT shooter

Yeah!!!

The ports for my Light & Motion D100 housing might still have a bright future in front of them.