Nikon D200 User Manual

							Reference—Image Quality and Size
31
The RAW Compression Menu
The following options are available for NEF (RAW ) images:
Mode Description
NEF (RAW)
(default)NEF images are not compressed.
Comp. NEF 
(RAW)NEF images are compressed by about 40–50 % with little drop in qual-
ity.  Recording time is reduced.
1 Highlight RAW Compression in the shooting 
menu and press the multi selector to the right.
2 High light the de sired op tion and press the multi 
se lec tor to the right.  The shooting menu will 
be displayed.  The selected option applies to all 
subsequent NEF (RAW ) images.
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							Reference—Image Quality and Size
32
The QUAL Button
Press the QUAL button and rotate the sub-command 
dial until the desired setting is displayed in the con-
trol panel.
Image Size
Image size is measured in pixels.  Smaller sizes pro duce smaller fi les, making 
them suited to dis tri bu tion via e-mail or inclusion in web pages.  Con verse ly, the 
larger the image, the larger the size at which it can be printed without becoming 
noticeably “grainy.”  Choose image size according to the space available on the 
memory card and the task at hand.
Image size Size (pixels) Approximate size when printed at 200  dpi
Large  (3872 × 2592/10.0  M)3,872 × 2,592 49.2 × 32.9 cm   (19.36 × 12.96 in.)
Medium  (2896 × 1944/5.6  M)2,896 × 1,944 36.8 × 24.7 cm  (14.48 × 9.72 in.)
Small  (1936 × 1296/2.5  M)1,936 × 1,296 24.6 × 16.5 cm    (9.68 × 6.48 in.)
Image size can be set using the Image Size option in the shooting menu or 
by pressing the QUAL button and rotating the sub-command dial.  Note that the 
option selected does not aff ect the size of NEF (RAW ) images.  When viewed on 
a computer using the supplied software or Nikon Capture 4 Version 4.4 or later 
(available separately), NEF im ag es are 3,872 × 2,592 pixels in size.
The Image Size Menu
1 Highlight Image Size in the shooting menu 
and press the multi selector to the right.
2 High light the de sired op tion and press the multi 
se lec tor to the right.  The shooting menu will be 
displayed.
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							Reference—ISO Sensitivity
33
ISO Sensitivity
“ISO sensitivity” is the digital equivalent of fi  lm speed.  The higher the ISO sensitiv-
ity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing higher shutter speeds or 
smaller apertures.
ISO sensitivity can be set between values roughly equivalent to ISO 100 and ISO 
1600 in steps equivalent to / EV.  Where high sensitivity is a priority, ISO sensi-
tivity can be further increased up to 1 EV over ISO 1600.  ISO sensitivity can be 
adjusted using the ISO Sensitivity option in the shooting menu or by pressing 
the ISO button and rotating the main command dial.
The ISO Sensitivity Menu
1 Highlight ISO Sensitivity in the shooting menu 
and press the multi selector to the right.
2 High light the de sired op tion and press the multi 
se lec tor to the right.  The shooting menu will be 
displayed.
The ISO Button
Press the ISO button and rotate the main command 
dial until the desired setting is displayed in the con-
trol panel or viewfi nder.
*
*  Viewfi nder display shows .
*
*
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							Reference—ISO Sensitivity
34
 Noise
The higher the ISO sensitivity, the more likely pictures are to be subject to “noise” in the form 
of randomly-spaced, brightly-colored pixels.  Pho tos taken at ISO sensitivities over ISO 1600 
will likely con tain ap pre cia ble amounts of noise.
 High ISO NR ( 131)
This option can be used to reduce noise at ISO sensitivities of 400 or more (this reduces the 
capacity of the memory buff er).  Note that although high ISO noise reduction is always in 
eff ect at ISO sensitivities over ISO 800, turning High ISO NR on will increase the amount of 
noise reduction performed.
 b1—ISO Auto ( 152)
When On is selected for Custom Setting b1 (ISO Auto), the camera will automatically 
vary ISO sensitivity from the value selected by the user to help ensure optimum exposure 
(maximum can be selected from ISO 200, 400, 800, and 1600).  ISO sensitivity can not be 
raised above 1600 while ISO Auto is on, and On can not be selected for ISO Auto at ISO 
sensitivities over 1600.
 b2—ISO Step Value ( 154)
Depending on the option selected for Custom Setting b2, ISO sensitivity can also be set in 
increments equivalent to / or 1 EV.
If possible, the current ISO sensitivity setting is maintained when the step value is changed.  
If the current sensitivity setting is not available at the new step value, ISO sensitivity will be 
rounded up to the nearest available setting.
ISO step value set to 1/2 step ISO step value set to 1 step
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							Reference—White Balance
35
White Balance
The color of light refl  ected from an object varies with the color of the light source.  
The human brain is able to adapt to changes in the color of the light source, 
with the result that white objects appear white whether seen in the shade, direct 
sunlight, or under incandescent lighting.  Unlike the fi lm used in fi lm cameras, 
dig i tal cam er as can mimic this adjustment by processing images according to the 
color of the light source.  This is known as “white balance.”  For natural coloration, 
choose a white bal ance set ting that match es the light source before shooting.  
The following options are available:
OptionApproximate 
color
temperature *Description
Auto3,500–
8,000 KWhite bal ance adjusted automatically using color tem-
perature measured by 1,005-pixel RGB sensor and image 
sensor.  For best results, use type G or D lens.  With built-
in fl ash or optional SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights, white 
balance refl ects conditions in eff ect when fl ash fi res.
Incandescent3,000 K Use under incandescent lighting.Fluorescent4,200 K Use under fl uorescent lighting.Dir. Sunlight5,200 K Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight.Flash5,400 K Use with built-in fl ash or optional Nikon fl ash units.Cloudy6,000 K Use in daylight under overcast skies.Shade8,000 K Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.Choose Color 
Temp.2,500–
10,000 KChoose color temperature from list of values ( 38).
White Balance 
Preset—Use gray or white object or existing photograph as 
reference for white balance ( 39).
*  Fine-tuning set to 0.  See the Appendix for other values.
Auto white balance is recommended with most light sources.  If the desired re-
sults can not be achieved with auto white balance, choose an option from the list 
above or use preset white balance.
 Studio Strobe Lighting
Auto white balance may not produce the desired results with studio strobe lighting.  
Choose a color temperature, use preset white balance, or set white balance to Flash and 
use fi ne tuning to adjust white balance.
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							Reference—White Balance
36
White balance can be set using the White Balance option in the shooting menu 
or by pressing the WB button and rotating the main command dial.
The White Balance Menu
1 Highlight White Balance in the shooting menu 
and press the multi selector to the right.
2 High light  the  de sired  op tion  and  press  the  multi 
se lec tor to the right.  Selecting Choose Color 
Temp. displays a menu of color temperatures 
(
 38), White Balance Preset a preset white 
balance menu (
 39), other options a fi ne-tun-
ing dialog (
 37).
The WB Button
Press the WB button and rotate the main command 
dial until the desired setting is displayed in the con-
trol panel.
 e5—Auto BKT Set ( 166)
When WB Bracketing is selected for custom setting e5 (Auto BKT Set), the camera will 
create several images each time the shutter is released.  White balance will be varied with 
each image, “bracketing” the value currently selected for white balance.
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							Reference—White Balance
37
Fine-Tuning White Balance
At settings other than  (Choose Color Temp.) and PRE (White Balance Pre-
set), white bal ance can be “fi ne tuned” to compensate for vari a tions in the color 
of the light source or to in tro duce a deliberate “warm” or “cold” cast into an image.  
Higher settings (“+”) can be used to lend im ag es a blu ish tinge or to com pen sate 
for light sources with a yellow or red cast, while low er ing white bal ance (“–”) can 
make pho to graphs ap pear slight ly more yellow or red or com pen sate for light 
sources with a blue cast.  Adjustments can be made in the range +3 to –3 in 
in cre ments of one.  Except in Fluorescent mode, each in cre ment is equiv a lent 
to about 10 mired.
White balance is fi ne tuned using the White Balance option in the shooting 
menu or by pressing the WB button and rotating the sub-command dial.  At set-
tings other than ±0, a 
 icon appears in the control panel.
The White Balance Menu
Selecting an option other than Choose Color Temp. 
or White Balance Preset in the white balance menu 
(
 35) displays the menu shown at right.  Press the 
multi selector up or down to choose the desired 
value and press the multi selector to the right.  The 
shooting menu will be displayed.
The WB Button
Press the WB button and rotate the sub-command 
dial until the desired value is displayed.
Any given change in color temperature produces a greater diff erence in color at low 
color tem per a tures than it would at higher color temperatures.  For example, a change 
of 1000 K produces a much greater change in color at 3000 K than at 6000 K.  Mired, 
calculated by multiplying the inverse of the color temperature by 10 
6, is a measure of 
color temperature that takes such variation into account, and as such is the unit used 
in color-temperature compensation fi lters.  E.g.:
•  4000 K – 3000 K (a  diff erence  of  1000 K) = 83 mired
•  7000 K – 6000 K (a  diff erence  of  1000 K) = 24 mired
Mired
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							Reference—White Balance
38
 Take Test Shots
Take a test shot to determine if the selected value is appropriate to the light source.
 Color Temperature
The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer and other conditions.  Color 
temperature is an objective measure of the color of a light source, defi ned with ref er ence 
to the temperature to which an object would have to be heated to radiate light in the same 
wavelengths.  While light sources with a color temperature in the neigh bor hood of 5,000–
5,500 K appear white, light sources with a lower color tem per a ture, such as incandescent 
light bulbs, appear slightly yellow or red.  Light sourc es with a higher color temperature 
appear tinged with blue.
Choosing a Color Temperature
Choose a setting of  (Choose Color Temp.) to select the color temperature 
from thirty-one predetermined values ranging from 2,500 K to 10,000 K in incre-
ments of roughly 10 mired (note that the desired results will not be obtained 
with fl ash or fl uorescent lighting).  Color temperature can be selected in the 
white-balance menu or with the WB button and sub-command dial.
The White Balance Menu
Selecting Choose Color Temp. in the white balance 
menu (
 35) displays the menu shown at right.  Press 
the multi selector up or down to choose the desired 
value and press the multi selector to the right.  The 
shooting menu will be displayed.
The WB Button
Press the WB button and rotate the sub-command 
dial until the desired value is displayed.
…
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							Reference—White Balance
39
Preset White Balance
Preset white balance is used to record and recall custom white balance settings 
for shooting under mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a 
strong color cast.  Two methods are available for setting preset white balance:
Method Description
Direct
measurementNeutral gray or white object is placed under lighting that will be used in 
fi nal photograph and white balance is measured by camera (
 40).
Copy from 
existing
photographWhite balance is copied from photo on memory card ( 42) or white bal-
ance value is copied from Nikon Capture 4 Version 4.4 or later (available 
separately; 
 182).
The camera can store up to fi ve values for preset white balance in presets d-0 
through d-4.  A descriptive comment can be added to any white balance preset 
(
 42).
Store values created in Nikon Capture 4 Version 4.4 or 
later (available separately;  182).
d-0
Stores last 
measured 
value (
 40).
Store values cop-
ied from images 
on memory card 
(
 42).
 White Balance Presets
Changes to white balance presets apply to all shooting menu banks ( 125).  A confi rma-
tion dialog will be displayed if the user attempts to change a white balance preset created 
in another shooting menu bank (no warning is displayed for preset d-0).d-1 – d-4
Store values copied from d-0 (
 
42).
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							Reference—White Balance
40
Measuring a Value for White Balance
White balance can be measured with reference to a neutral gray object.  The new 
value for white balance is automatically stored in preset d-0.
1 Place a neutral gray or white object under the lighting that will be used in 
the fi nal photograph.  A standard gray card can be used as a reference in 
studio settings.
2 Press the WB button and rotate the main com-
mand dial until 
 is displayed in the control 
panel.  If the new value for preset white balance 
will be used immediately, select preset d-0 by 
pressing the WB button and rotating the sub-
command dial until d-0 is displayed.  Otherwise 
there is no need to select d-0 when measuring a 
new value for white balance.
3 Release the WB button briefl y and then press the 
button until the 
 icon starts to fl ash.  A blink-
ing 
 will also appear in the control panel and 
viewfi nder frame-count displays.
4 Frame the reference object so that it fi lls the 
viewfi nder and press the shutter-release button 
all the way down.  The camera will measure a 
value for white balance and use this value when 
preset white balance is selected.  No photograph will be recorded; white 
balance can be measured accurately even when the camera is not in fo-
cus.
To exit without measuring a new value for white balance, press the WB 
button.
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