Let me start off with a little disclaimer. The Nikon D200 came out in 2005. This means that the camera is older than a lot of students now in high school.
I’m obviously not claiming that the Nikon D200 has incredible specs in the year 2021.
I’m also not claiming that the Nikon D200 is a camera that’s going to allow you to grow as a photographer as well as more modern cameras.
But, if you’re looking for a DSLR that will allow you to learn the absolute basics of digital photography, then I genuinely think that the Nikon D200 is a good option. It’s incredibly cheap, so you don’t have to feel guilty wasting a bunch of money on a hobby you’re not sure if you’re going to like.
Then, if you get more serious about photography, you can move on from your Nikon D200 in favor of something a little nicer (and more expensive).
Given that disclaimer, I’m planning on using this Nikon D200 review to walk you through some of the basic things you need to know about this camera. I’ll give you the Nikon D200 specs, I’ll walk you through the Nikon D200 build, and I’ll show you why you should be interested in it in the first place.
Nikon D200 Specs
The Nikon D200 may not have state-of-the-art specs, but it has all the basics you need.
The Nikon D200 features a 10MP CCD sensor, an ISO range of 100-1,600, and a 2.5” screen with 230k-dots.
Unfortunately, due to the camera’s age, it does not feature any movie mode. So, if you’re looking for a camera that you can learn photography and videography on, you’ll need to get a slightly newer DSLR.
The camera is quite heavy at 2.0 lbs. However, it still features a pretty impressive battery life rating of 400-shots per charge.
Other Nikon D200 Specs Include:
- 10MP CCD sensor
- ISO range of 100-1,600
- 2.5” screen with 230k-dots
- No video capabilities
- 2.0 lbs
- 400-shot battery life
Nikon D200 Body & Design
The Nikon D200 measures 5.8” x 4.4” x 2.9” and weighs 2.0 lbs. This is… incredibly large. Of course, if you’re going to buy a camera from the mid-2000s, you shouldn’t expect anything different.
The camera is made out of magnesium alloy and is chunky, like a lot of the cameras from this era were.
The camera features a 2.5” screen, as well as a top control panel. Both of these screens feature a backlight so that you can see them even if you’re shooting at night.
You will need to get some old connectors if you’re planning on buying this camera. It features USB 2.0 connectors.
Learn More:
- The Sony a5100 is Still a Great Camera for Beginners
- This Camera for Beginner Photographers is Under $200
Nikon D200 Build & Handling
If you didn’t pick it up from my discussion of this camera’s body, the Nikon D200 handling is definitely not comfortable. But, you’re not looking for comfort. You’re looking for affordability.
One positive thing I will say about the handling of this camera is its grip. You don’t get grips as robust as the one on this camera anymore and it’s an absolute shame.
You’ll also be able to shoot with this camera for hours on end without needing to bring any extra batteries with you because of its 400-shot battery life.
The menu on the Nikon D200 actually isn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be when I set out to write this review, although it doesn’t come with an anti-reflective coating so it can be a pain to see in the middle of the day.
Nikon D200 Price
One of the biggest reasons why I’m still recommending the Nikon D200 in 2021 is the Nikon D200 price. Modern photographers would be absolutely shocked to learn that this camera cost well over $1,000 when it first came out in 2005, given its pretty abysmal specs compared to today’s standards.
However, it’s nowhere near $1,000 any more. Before publishing this article, I checked MPB (which is my favorite used camera retailer), and found out that there are over a dozen Nikon D200 bodies listed there starting at just $59.
If you’d like a Nikon D200 in good shape, you can expect to spend $114 on it from MPB.
And, if you’d like to learn all about why I recommend MPB to our readers, check out our full MPB review in the learn more links below.