Nikon D200 Users Manual

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Setup
Custom Settings
Custom Setting a6: AF Activation
This option controls whether both the shutter-release but-
ton and the AF-ON button can be used to initiate autofocus 
or whether autofocus is only initiated when the AF-ON but-
ton is pressed.
Option Description
Shutter/AF-ON
(default)Autofocus can be performed with AF-ON button or by pressing shutter-
release button halfway.
AF-ON OnlyAutofocus can only be performed with AF-ON button.
Custom Setting a7: AF Area Illumination
This option controls whether or not the active focus area is 
highlighted in red in the viewfi nder.
Option Description
Auto
(default)Selected focus area is automatically highlighted as needed to provide contrast 
with background.
Off Selected focus area is not highlighted.
OnSelected focus area is always highlighted, regardless of brightness of back-
ground.  Depending on brightness of background, selected focus area may be 
diffi  cult to see.
Custom Setting a8: Focus Area Selection
At the default setting of No Wrap, the fo cus-area display 
is bounded by the outer fo cus areas so that, for example, 
press ing the multi se lec tor up when the top fo cus area is 
se lect ed has no eff ect.  Select Wrap to allow focus-area 
selection to “wrap around” from top to bottom, bottom to 
top, right to left, and left to right.
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Custom Settings
Setup
Option Description
AF-ON+
Focus Area
(default)AF-ON button on battery pack performs same function as camera AF-ON 
button.  Focus area can be selected by pressing AF-ON button on MB-D200 
and rotating sub-command dial.
AF-ONAF-ON button on battery pack performs same function as camera AF-ON 
button.
AE/AF-L+
Focus AreaAF-ON button on battery pack performs same function as camera AE-L/AF-L 
button.  Focus area can be selected by pressing AF-ON button on MB-D200 
and rotating sub-command dial.
AE/AF-LAF-ON button on battery pack performs same function as camera AE-L/AF-L 
button.
Focus AreaFocus area can be selected by pressing AF-ON button on MB-D200 and 
rotating sub-command dial.
Same as 
FUNC buttonAF-ON button on battery pack performs function currently assigned to 
camera FUNC. button using Custom Setting f4 (FUNC. Button; 
 170)
Custom Setting b1: ISO Sensitivity Auto Control
If On is selected for this option, the cam era will au to mat i-
  cal ly adjust ISO sensitivity when necessary to help ensure 
optimal exposure.  This op tion is not available at ISO sen-
sitivities over 1600.
Custom Setting a10: AF-ON Button for MB-D200 Battery Pack
This option controls the function assigned to the AF-ON 
button for the optional MB-D200 battery pack (
 181).
Custom Setting a9: Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator
At the default setting of On, the built-in AF-assist illumina-
tor lights to assist the focus operation when the subject is 
poorly lit (
 58).  Select Off  to turn the illuminator off .
 High ISO NR ( 131)
Noise is more likely to appear in photographs taken at higher sensitivities.  To reduce noise 
at sensitivities of ISO 400 equivalent and above, turn on the High ISO NR option in the 
shooting menu.
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Setup
Custom Settings
Option Description
Off 
(default)ISO sensitivity remains fi xed at value selected by user, regardless of whether 
optimal exposure can be achieved at current ex po sure settings.
OnIf optimal exposure can not be achieved at ISO sensitivity selected by user, 
ISO  sen si tiv i ty  is  adjusted  to  compensate,  to  min i mum  ap prox i mate ly  equiv-
  a lent to ISO 200 and max i mum selected using Max. Sensitivity option.  
Flash level is adjusted appropriately when fl ash is used.  In exposure modes 
P and A, ISO sensitivity will be adjusted if photo would be overexposed at 
shutter speed of 
1/8,000 or underexposed at value selected for Min. Shutter 
Speed.  Otherwise camera adjusts ISO sensitivity when limits of exposure 
metering system are exceeded (mode S) or when optimum exposure can 
not be achieved at shutter speed and aperture selected by user (mode M).  
ISO sensitivity can not be set to values over 1600 while this option is in ef-
fect.
Max.
SensitivityMenu shown at right is displayed.  Highlight desired 
ISO value and press multi selector right to return to 
ISO auto menu.
Min.
Shutter 
SpeedMenu shown at right is displayed.  Highlight desired 
shutter speed and press multi selector right to return 
to ISO auto menu.
When On is selected, the control panel and viewfi nder 
show ISO-AUTO.  When sensitivity is altered from the value 
selected by the user, these indicators blink and the altered 
value is shown in the viewfi nder (the indicators do not 
blink if a fl ash is used). 
 ISO  Auto > On
When a fl ash is used, foreground subjects may be underexposed in photos taken at slow 
shutter speeds, in daylight, or against a bright background.  Choose a fl ash mode other 
than slow sync or select mode A or M and choose a larger aperture.
If a shooting menu bank in which ISO sensitivity has been set to a value greater than 1600 is 
chosen after On is selected, ISO sensitivity will not be ad just ed automatically.  ISO sensitiv-
ity will also not be ad just ed automatically if a Custom Set tings bank in which On is selected 
is chosen after ISO sensitivity has been set to a value over 1600.
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Custom Settings
Setup
Custom Setting b2: ISO Sensitivity Step Value
Choose whether adjustments to sensitivity (ISO equivalen-
cy) are made in increments equivalent to 
/ EV  (1/3 Step, 
the default option), 
/ EV  (1/2 Step), or 1 EV (1 Step).
Custom Setting b3: EV Steps for Exposure Control
Choose whether adjustments to shutter speed, aperture, 
and bracketing are made in increments equivalent to 
/ EV 
(1/3 Step, the default option), 
/ EV  (1/2 Step), or 1 EV (1 
Step).
Custom Setting b4: Steps for Exposure Comp and Fine Tuning
Choose whether adjustments to exposure compensation 
and exposure fi ne tuning are made in increments equiv-
alent to / EV (1/3 Step, the default option), / EV (1/2 
Step), or 1 EV (1 Step).
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Setup
Custom Settings
Custom Setting b5: Easy Exposure Compensation
This option controls whether the  button is needed to 
set exposure compensation (
 72).  If On is selected, the 0 
at the center of the exposure display will blink even when 
exposure compensation is set to ±0.
Option Description
Off 
(default)Exposure compensation set by pressing 
 button and rotating main 
command dial.
OnExposure compensation set by rotating command dial only.  Dial used de-
pends on option selected for Custom Setting f5 > Change  Main / Sub.
Command dials (Custom Setting f5) > Change Main / Sub
Off On
Exposure 
modePSub-command dial Sub-command dial
SSub-command dial Main command dial
AMain command dial Sub-command dial
MN / A
On (Auto 
Reset)As for On except that exposure compensation set using command dial 
only is cancelled when camera is turned off  or exposure meters turn off .
Custom Setting b6: Center-Weighted Area
When calculating exposure, center-weighted metering as-
signs the greatest weight to a circle in the center of the 
frame.  The diameter (φ) of this circle can be selected from 
6, 8, 10, and 13 mm (the default option is 8 mm; note that 
the diameter is fi  xed at 8 mm when a non-CPU lens is used, 
regardless of the setting selected for Non-CPU Lens Data 
in the shooting menu).
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Custom Settings
Setup
Custom Setting b7: Fine Tune Optimal Exposure
Use this option to fi ne-tune the exposure value selected 
by the camera.  Exposure can be fi ne tuned separately for 
each metering method by from +1 to –1 EV in steps of 
/ EV.  Selecting this option displays a message warning 
that the 
 icon does not appear when exposure is altered; 
highlight Yes and press the multi selector to the right (se-
lect No to exit without altering exposure).  Highlight a me-
tering method and press the multi selector to the right to 
display a list of exposure values.  Highlight an option, then 
press to the right to make a selection.
 Fine-Tuning Exposure
Exposure can be fi ne-tuned separately for each Custom Settings bank.  Note that as the 
exposure compensation icon (
) is not displayed, the only way to determine whether ex-
posure has been altered is to view the fi ne-tuning menu.  Exposure compensation ( 72) 
is recommended in most situations.
Custom Setting c1: AE Lock Buttons
This option determines what controls lock exposure.
Option Description
AE-L/AF-L Button
(default)Exposure can only be locked by pressing 
AE-L/AF-L button.
+Release ButtonExposure can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-
L button or by pressing shutter-release but-
ton halfway.
Custom Setting c2: Assignment of AE-L/AF-L Button
This option controls the behavior of the AE-L/AF-L button.
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Setup
Custom Settings
Option Description
AE/AF Lock
(default)Both focus and exposure lock while AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.
AE Lock OnlyExposure locks while AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.  Focus is unaff ected.
AE Lock 
Hold/ResetExposure locks when AE-L/AF-L button is pressed and remains locked until 
button is pressed again, shutter is released or exposure meters turn off .
AE Lock HoldExposure locks when AE-L/AF-L button is pressed and remains locked until 
button is pressed again or exposure meters turn off .
AF LockFocus locks while AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.  Exposure is unaff ected.
Custom Setting c3: Auto Meter-Off  Delay
This option controls how long the camera continues to 
meter exposure when no operations are performed: 4 s, 
6 s (the default option), 8 s, or 16 s or until the camera is 
turned off  (No Limit).  Choose a shorter meter-off  delay 
for longer battery life.
Custom Setting c4: Self-Timer Delay
This option controls the length of the shutter-release delay 
in self-timer mode.  Shutter-release can be delayed by ap-
proximately 2 s, 5 s, 10 s (the default option), or 20 s.
Custom Setting c5: Monitor-Off  Delay
This option controls how long the monitor remains on 
when no operations are performed: 10 s, 20 s (the default 
option), 1 minute, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes.  Choose a 
shorter monitor-off  delay for longer battery life.
 The EH-6 AC Adapter
When the camera is powered by an optional EH-6 AC adapter, exposure meters will not 
turn off  and the monitor will only power off  after ten minutes, regardless of the options 
chosen for Custom Settings c3 (Auto Meter-Off ) and c5 (Monitor-Off ).
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Custom Settings
Setup
Custom Setting d1: Beep
Controls the pitch of the beep that sounds when the self-
timer is counting down or the camera focuses in single-
servo AF with Focus (the default setting) selected for Cus-
tom Setting a2 (AF-S Mode Priority).  Choose from High 
(the default option), Low, and Off .
A  icon appears in the control panel when High or Low 
is selected.
Custom Setting d2: Viewfi nder Grid Display
Select On to display on-demand grid lines in the view-
fi nder (
 6).  The default option is Off .
Custom Setting d3: Viewfi nder Warning Display
Select On (the default option) to display a warning in the 
viewfi nder when the battery is low, no memory card is in-
serted, or when shooting in black-and-white.  No warning 
is displayed when Off  is selected; before shooting, check 
indicators in the control panel.
Custom Setting d4: CL-Mode Shooting Speed
This option determines the rate at which photographs 
can be taken in C
L (continuous low-speed) mode (during 
interval timer photography, this setting also determines 
the frame advance rate for single-frame and mirror-up 
modes).  Shooting speed can be set to values between 
1 and 4 frames per second (fps); the default value is 3 fps.  
The frame advance rate may drop at slow shutter speeds.
Custom Setting d5: Exposure Delay Mode
Select On to delay shutter release until about 0.4 s after 
the shutter-release button is pressed, reducing camera 
shake in situations in which the least camera movement 
could result in blurred photographs (for example, micro-
scope photography).  The default option is Off .
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Setup
Custom Settings
Custom Setting d6: File Number Sequence
When a photograph is taken, the camera names the fi le 
new by adding one to the last fi le number used.  This op-
tion controls whether fi le numbering continues from the 
last number used when a new folder is created, the mem-
ory card is formatted, or a new memory card is inserted in 
the camera.
Option Description
Off 
(default)File numbering reset to 0001 when new folder is created, memory card is for-
matted or new memory card is inserted in camera.
OnWhen new folder is created, memory card is formatted, or new memory card 
inserted in camera, fi le numbering continues from last number used or from 
largest number in current folder, whichever is higher.  If photograph is taken 
when current folder contains photograph numbered 9999, new folder will be 
created automatically and fi le numbering will begin again from 0001.
ResetAs for On, except that next photograph taken is assigned fi le number by add-
ing one to largest fi le number in current folder.  If selected folder contains no 
photographs, fi le numbering reset to 0001.
Custom Setting d7: LCD Illumination
This option controls the control panel backlight (LCD il-
luminator).
Option Description
Off 
(default)Control panel illuminates only while power switch is rotated to 
 position.
OnBacklight stays on while exposure meters are active (note that this increases 
drain on battery).
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Custom Settings
Setup
Custom Setting d8: MB-D200 Battery Type
To ensure that the camera functions as expected when AA 
batteries are used in the optional MB-D200 battery pack, 
match the option selected in this menu to the type of bat-
tery inserted in the battery pack.  There is no need to ad-
just this option when using EN-EL3e batteries.
Option Description
LR6 (AA-size Alkaline)
(default)Select when using LR6 alkaline AA batteries.
HR6 (AA-size Ni-MH)Select when using HR6 NiMH AA batteries.
FR6 (AA-size Lithium)Select when using FR6 lithium AA batteries.
ZR6 (AA-size Ni-Mn)Select when using ZR6 nickel-manganese AA batteries.
Custom Setting e1: Flash Sync Speed Setting
This option controls fl ash sync speed.  Options range from 
/ s  (1/250 s, the default setting) and / s (1/60 s).  To 
enable Auto FP High-Speed Sync when using Speedlights 
that support the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), se-
lect 1/250 s (Auto FP) (fl  ash sync speed will be set to / s 
if the built-in fl ash fi res or the attached Speedlight is not 
CLS-compatible).  When the camera shows a shutter speed of / s in exposure 
mode P or A, Auto FP High-Speed Sync will be activated if the actual shutter 
speed is faster than / s.
To fi x shutter speed at the sync speed limit in shutter-priority auto or manual exposure 
modes, select the shutter speed after the slowest possible shutter speed (30 s or ).  
An X will be displayed in the fl ash sync indicator in the control panel and viewfi nder.
Fixing Shutter Speed at the Flash Sync Speed Limit
 Using AA Batteries
EN-EL3e batteries are recommended for best performance.  The capacity of AA batteries 
drops sharply at temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F) and varies with make and storage condi-
tions; in some cases, batteries may cease to function before their expiry date.  Some AA 
batteries can not be used; due to their limited capacity and performance characteristics, 
alkaline and nickel-manganese batteries should be used only when no other alternative is 
available.  The camera shows the level of AA batteries as follows:
Control panel Viewfi  nder Description—Batteries fully charged.Low battery.  Ready fresh batteries. (blinks) (blinks)Shutter-release disabled.  Change batteries.
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