Home >> Hobbies >> Photography

How to Use the Nikon D200

The Nikon D200 is a digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera introduced by Nikon in 2005. As a followup to their successful D100 model, the D200 features several improvements such as increased resolution, the ability to shoot in TIFF format, higher flash sync speeds, and improved autofocus. Using a Nikon D200 is very similar to using the D100 or any other Nikon model digital SLR, and as the unit has both automatic, semi-manual, and fully manual modes, this camera is ideal for both beginners and professionals.

Things You'll Need

Nikon D200 camera body with battery
SLR lens with bayonet style F mount
Compact Flash memory card
Flash unit (optional)

Instructions

The Steps
- 1
  Fully charge the lithium-ion battery. If you are using a Nikon battery charger, plug in the charger and slide the battery into the holster until it locks. The orange indicator light will pulse. When the light glows steadily, the battery is ready for use.
- 2
  Insert the battery into the camera body. Turn the camera body upside down and press the release lever on the battery compartment. The battery compartment shape will only accommodate a correctly placed battery. Close the battery compartment lid and press until it clicks to lock.
- 3
  Remove the plastic protector from the lens area of the camera to expose the lens mount. Locate the white dot on the side of the camera lens and line it up with the white dot on the camera body. Press the lens into the mounting mechanism and turn counter clockwise to lock the lens in place. Remove the lens cap.
- 4
  Open the memory card slot on the right side of the camera and insert the compact flash card. Press the card into the card slot until it clicks and the release button pops up. Close the memory card door.
- 5
  Attach your flash head, if necessary, and power the unit on.
- 6
  Power the camera unit by rotating the switch on the upper right side of the camera body to the "ON" position.
- 7
  Select your mode. The D200 offers automatic, semi-manual, or manual modes. Pressing and holding the mode button located on the right side of the camera unit, turn the dial located on the right side of the camera body to switch between modes.
- 8
  Select your image quality by pressing and holding the QUAL button and turning the dial located below the buttons. This rotates between the D200's level of image quality, from basic JPEG to RAW + JPEG formats.
- 9
  If using a manual mode, select your ISO by pressing the ISO button located on the left side of the camera body and turning the dial beneath the button. Use the rear command dial located on the right, rear side of the camera to select the shutter speed and the sub command dial located on the front of the camera to select the aperture.
- 10
  Compose and shoot your photograph by depressing the shutter release located by the power switch on the top right side of the camera body. After the image is recorded, you may continue shooting or download the image to a computer via a USB cable or external card reader.

Photography