Nikon Canada Announces D200

Mississauga, ON, November 1, 2005 – Nikon Canada Inc. today announced the latest in a line-up of exceptional digital SLRs, the Nikon D200. The D200 combines newly developed Nikon digital technologies with advanced features to create a precision-engineered, high-performance digital SLR designed for the ultimate digital SLR experience.

“The D200 is an exciting edition to Nikon’s superior line-up of digital SLR’s. Its speed and performance are designed to satisfy the requirements of the most passionate and demanding photographers,” said Gregory Flasch, Nikon Canada’s National Manager of Advertising and Communications.

Employing a newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor, and featuring Nikon’s exclusive image processing engine and image optimizing functionality, the D200 captures images with sharp detail and faithful colour to deliver extraordinary resolution that supports significant image enlargement while enabling greater freedom for creative cropping. The new image sensor also incorporates high-speed 4-channel data output and features a new Optical Low Pass Filter, allowing photographers to benefit from a significant reduction in the incidence of moiré, colour fringing, and shifting. The 4-channel output also allows the D200 to adopt the advanced image-processing engine of the D2x that combines colour-independent preconditioning prior to A/D (analogue/digital) conversion with advanced digital image processing algorithms to deliver fine colour gradations with satisfyingly smooth, consistent transitions.

Advanced auto-exposure is achieved with the newly developed, Nikon exclusive 1,005-pixel 3D Colour Matrix Metering II Sensor that more precisely establishes the position and size of highlight or shadow areas. Brightness, colour contrast, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance information is evaluated and referenced against the in-camera database of over 30,000 actual photographic scenes. The final value is calculated instantly to deliver consistently reliable exposure, for both automatic and manual operation. Nikon’s exclusive 3D-Colour Matrix Metering II is unparalleled in speed, accuracy and efficiency.

Handling response is exceptional. The D200 excels in the capture of fleeting or unexpected moments with power-up in a mere 0.15 seconds, a remarkable shutter time lag of only 50 milliseconds and a shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds. Performance is accelerated with high-speed continuous shooting capability at up to 5fps, with continuous bursts of up to an impressive 37 JPEG (Fine-large) images* or up to 22 shots* in NEF (RAW) format, making the D200 a perfect fit for discriminating photographers and a natural choice for wedding, event and action specialists.

The D200 features a new and highly accurate 11-area AF system and 7-wide area AF – both of which are based on Nikon’s advanced Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module. This AF system supports the photographer with fast and precise auto focus under a variety of shooting conditions, and offers a pleasing array of functions for greater flexibility. An individual area can be selected from either the 11-area AF or 7-wide area AF sensors for Single AF or make use of multiple sensors to enable Dynamic AF, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF and Group Dynamic AF.

Complementing its exceptional handling, the D200 has been created with a magnesium alloy chassis that combines light weight with high-level durability. It also features an enhanced sealing system that helps protect exterior seams from potentially damaging moisture and dust. The D200 viewfinder is bright and offers a large 0.94x magnification to ensure the clearest view possible for precise composition, and a built-in diopter adjustment that allows the camera to be calibrated to the photographer’s vision.

Viewing excellence is taken further with an expansive 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD that provides an ultra-wide 170° viewing angle from all directions. It also offers the ability to magnify images by up to 400 per cent to enable photographers to closely inspect images for fine details while offering a selectable RGB histogram display. Photographers can make better-informed exposure decisions through the viewing of a composite RGB histogram, or a separate histogram for each individual colour channel. The large top LCD panel on the D200 provides maximum information at a glance with easy access to shooting data including shooting mode, battery condition, card information, gridline display, shutter speed, F stop and number of remaining shots.

The D200 offers photographers flexible workflow advantages with the option to shoot in their choice of memory-efficient JPEG format, in the NEF (RAW) format or even in both simultaneously. This allows photographers to select the image best suited to their needs. In NEF (RAW) format, not only does the 10.2 effective megapixel image sensor capture the RAW image data, but also a thumbnail image and a highly useful “Instruction Set” of the cameras settings at the time of shooting.

Adding exceptional versatility after the fact, NEF allows each and every element of the Instruction Set data – such as white balance, colour balance and tone curves and more – to be reset for each recorded image at any time after shooting through the use of Nikon Capture software (sold separately). The software also allows NEF to preserve a record of the original settings even after the saving of a new version, making it easy to return to the original results in just a few clicks. The new Version 4.4 of Nikon Capture enables a flexible, stable and creative workflow approach for any photographer in both professional and personal use through Nikon’s unique approach referred to as “Camera to NEF to Capture” performance.

Like all Nikon SLR cameras, the D200 also offers all the advantages of compatibility with Nikon’s superior and comprehensive Total Imaging System. High image quality is assured through compatibility with over 50 outstanding AF Nikkor lenses, including Nikon’s DX Nikkor lenses engineered exclusively for use with Nikon digital SLRs and an extensive array of AF Nikkor lenses designed for use on digital and 35mm SLRs. Expanding the Total Imaging System even further, the D200 offers compatibility with the Nikon Creative Lighting System, enabling high-precision flash photography with SB-800, SB-600 and the new SB-R200 Speedlights to offer benefits such as i-TTL flash control, Advanced Wireless Lighting, highly reliable FV Lock and Auto FP High-Speed Sync. Nikon’s Total Imaging System also allows the photographer to benefit from the use of Nikon’s digital-exclusive DX Nikkor lenses as well as those from Nikon’s 35mm/digital compatible AF Nikkor System.

The latest version of Nikon’s PictureProject software (included) enables easy image editing, organization and sharing, as well as the design of multi-image album pages and slideshows and more to push photographic enjoyment even further. Nikon’s image processing software, Nikon Capture 4.4 (sold separately) allows photographers to reprocess and refine images or even initiate processing settings as an alternative to those made by the camera. It also accepts a diverse range of optional plug-in software, such as the nik Colour Efex Pro 2.0 range of filters and effects.

Taking freedom and versatility even further, the D200 is compatible with the Wireless Transmitter WT-3* (available Spring, 2006), which delivers IEEE802.11b/g compatibility to enable cable-free image transfer to a compatible computer with the added assurance of wide-ranging network and security protocols. For additional convenience, the Wireless Transmitter WT-3 provides alternative buttons for shutter release and AF start as well as an extra command dial to facilitate more comfortable shooting in vertical format.

Accessories

The new D200 Digital SLR includes Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, Video Cable, USB Cable UC-E4, Strap, Body Cap, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-21, LCD Monitor Cover BM-6 and PictureProject CD-ROM.

Optional:

Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D200, Wireless Transmitter WT-3, Semi-soft Case D200, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M, Remote Cord MC-36/30, GPS Adapter Cord MC-35, AC Adapter EH-6, Speedlight SB-800/SB-600/SB-R200 and Nikon Capture 4.4.

Pricing and Availability

The D200 Digital SLR will be available in mid-December 2005, with an MSRP of approximately $2,200.

About Nikon

Nikon Canada Inc. headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, is a subsidiary of Nikon Corporation, a world leader in imaging products, precision equipment and instrument technology. Nikon Canada offers an extensive array of digital, SLR and compact cameras as well as film scanners, binoculars and microscopes for the consumer, business and photography markets. All Nikon Canada products are sold through a network of Nikon Canada Authorized Dealers. For more information on Nikon Canada and its products and services or to find a Nikon Authorized Dealer, visit www.nikon.ca.