Nikon D200 Users Manual

							Reference—White Balance
41
5 If the camera was able to measure a value for 
white balance, 
 will fl ash in the control 
panel and the viewfi nder will show a fl ashing 
 for about three seconds before the camera 
returns to shooting mode.
If lighting is too dark or too bright, the camera 
may be unable to measure white balance.  A 
fl ashing 
  will appear in the control panel 
and viewfi nder for about three seconds.  Return 
to Step 4 and measure white balance again.
The new value for white balance will be stored in preset d-0, automatically replac-
ing the previous value for this preset (no confi rmation dialog will be displayed).  
To use the new value, select preset d-0 (if no value has been measured for white 
balance before d-0 is selected, white balance will be set to a color temperature of 
5,200 K, the same as Direct Sunlight).  The new white balance value will remain 
in preset d-0 until white balance is measured again.  By copying preset d-0 to one 
of the other presets before measuring a new value for white balance, up to fi ve 
white balance values can be stored (
 42).
Nikon Capture 4 Version 4.4 or later (available separately) can be used to edit white 
balance when RAW photographs taken with the D200 are displayed on a computer.  
The edited value can be copied directly to a white balance preset while the camera is 
connected to a computer, or the image can be saved to the camera memory card and 
the white balance value copied using the Select Image option in the preset menu.  
Any comments created with Nikon Capture 4 will also be copied to the comment for 
the selected preset.  See the Nikon Capture 4 manual for details.
Nikon Capture 4
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							Reference—White Balance
42
At a setting of  (White Balance Preset), presets can 
also be selected by pressing the WB button and rotating 
the sub-command dial.  The current preset is displayed 
while the WB button is pressed.
The WB Button
Preset White Balance Options
Selecting White Balance Preset in the White Balance menu (
 35) displays 
the menu of white-balance presets shown in Step 1.  To display options for a 
selected preset:
1
Highlight desired preset. *
2
View options for highlighted preset. †
*  To set white balance to the value for the highlighted preset and return to shooting mode 
without completing Step 2, press  button.
† To view options for other presets, highlight name of current preset (d-0 – d-4) and press 
multi selector right.
Press the multi selector up or down to highlight an option, then press to the right 
to select.
Option Description
SetSet white balance to value for selected preset and return to shooting 
menu.
Edit
CommentText edit dialog is displayed (
 118).  Enter comment of up to 36 charac-
ters for current preset and press  button to return to Step 1.
Select Image
(d-1–d-4 only)Photos on memory card are displayed as thumbnail images.  Use multi 
selector to highlight photos; press 
 button to view highlighted photo 
full frame.  Press center of multi selector to copy white balance value (and 
comment, if any) for highlighted image to current preset and return to 
Step 1.  Only photos taken with D200 can be selected.
Copy d-0
(d-1–d-4 only)Copy white balance value (and comment, if any) for preset d-0 to current 
preset and return to Step 1.
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							Reference—White Balance
43
White Balance Bracketing
White bal ance brack et ing cre ates multiple im ag es each time the shut ter is re-
  leased, “bracketing” the current white balance setting (
 35).  Only one shot 
is re quired to complete the bracketing sequence.  White bal ance brack et ing is 
recommended when shoot ing under mixed light ing or experimenting with dif-
ferent white bal ance settings.  White balance bracketing is not available at white-
balance settings of 
 (Choose Color Temp.) or  (White Balance Preset) 
or at image qualities of NEF (RAW), NEF + JPEG  Fine, NEF + JPEG  Normal, or 
NEF + JPEG  Basic.
To use white balance bracketing:
1 Choose WB Bracketing for Cus tom Set ting e5 
(Auto BKT Set; 
 166).
3 Press ing  the  button, rotate the sub-com mand 
dial to choose the white balance adjustment (
 
197).  Each increment is roughly equivalent to 10 
mired.
2 Press ing  the  button, rotate the main com-
  mand dial to choose the number of shots in the 
bracketing sequence (
 197).  At settings other 
than zero, a 
 icon and bracketing indica-
tor will appear in the control panel.
If the number of shots in the bracketing program 
exceeds the number of exposures remaining, 
 () will be displayed and the number 
of exposures remaining will blink.  Shooting can 
begin if a new memory card is inserted.
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							Reference—White Balance
44
4 Com pose a photograph, focus, and shoot.  Each shot will be pro cessed to 
create the num ber of cop ies spec i fi  ed in the brack et ing program, and each 
copy will have a diff 
 er ent  white  bal ance.    Mod i fi   ca tions  to  white  balance 
are add ed to the white balance ad just ment made with white bal ance fi ne-
tun ing.
To cancel bracketing, press the 
 button and rotate the main com mand 
dial until the number of shots in the bracketing sequence is zero and 
white-balance bracketing indicator is no longer dis played in the con trol 
panel.  The program last in eff ect will be restored the next time brack et ing 
is ac ti vat ed.  Bracketing can also be can celled by per form ing a two-but-
ton reset (
 97), al though in this case the brack et ing pro gram will not be 
restored the next time brack et ing is activated.
 Image Quality
Se lect ing NEF (RAW), NEF + JPEG  Fine, NEF + JPEG  Normal, or NEF + JPEG  Basic cancels 
white balance bracketing.
 Shooting Mode
In all modes (including self-timer and continuous modes), only one shot will be taken each 
time the shutter-release button is pressed.  Each shot will be processed to create the num-
ber of copies specifi ed in the bracketing program.
 Turning the Camera Off 
If the camera is turned off  while the camera while the memory card access lamp is lit, the 
cam era will power off  only af ter all pho to graphs in the sequence have been re cord ed.  To 
turn the camera off  without recording the remaining photographs, press the 
 button 
while turning the camera off  (keep the  button pressed for at least one second after 
turning the camera off  ).
 Bracketing Programs
See the Appendix for a list of white balance bracketing programs.
 e7—Auto BKT Order ( 167)
This option can be used to change the bracketing order.
 e8—Auto BKT Selection ( 167)
If desired, the main command dial can be used to turn bracketing on and off  and the sub-
command dial to select both the number of shots and the white-balance increment.
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							45
Reference—Optimizing Images
Optimizing Images
The options in the Optimize Image menu can be used to optimize photographs 
according to how the picture will be used or the type of scene.  Sharpening, con-
trast, color reproduction, saturation, and hue can also be customized individually 
to match the user’s creative intent.
Option Description
NNormal
(default)Recommended for most situations.
SOSofterSoftens outlines, producing natural images suitable for portraits 
or retouching on a computer.
VIVividEnhances saturation, contrast, and sharpness to produce vivid 
images with vibrant reds, greens, and blues.
VI  More vividMaximizes saturation, contrast, and sharpness to produce crisp 
images with sharp outlines.
POPortraitLowers contrast while lending natural texture and rounded feel 
to skin of portrait subjects.
CustomCustomize sharpness, contrast, color reproduction, saturation, 
and hue ( 46).BWBlack-and-whiteTake photos in black-and-white.
 At Settings Other than Custom
At settings other than Custom:
•  Photographs are optimized for current shooting conditions.  Results will vary with ex-
posure and the position of the subject in the frame, even in scenes of the same type.  
To take a series of photographs with identical image optimization, choose Custom and 
adjust settings individually, being sure not to select Auto for Image Sharpening, Tone 
Compensation, or Saturation.
•  Use a type G or D lens for best results.A B/W icon is displayed in the viewfi nder when shooting in black-and-white (
 6).Black-and-white
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							46
Reference—Optimizing Images
To select an image optimization option:
1 Highlight Optimize Image in the shooting 
menu (
 124) and press the multi selector to 
the right.
2 High light the desired option and press the multi 
se lec tor to the right.  If Custom is selected, a 
menu of custom options will be displayed (
 
49).  In all other cases, the shooting menu will be 
displayed.
Customizing Image Enhancement Options
Select Custom to make separate adjustments to sharpening, contrast, color re-
production, saturation, and hue.
Making Edges More Distinct: Image Sharpening
During shooting, the camera processes photographs to emphasize the borders 
between light and dark areas, mak ing pic tures appear sharper.  Sharpening can 
be customized using the Image Sharpening menu.
Option Description
Auto
(default)Camera automatically adjusts sharpening according to subject.  Re-
sults vary from shot to shot, even in scenes of same type; choose 
diff erent setting to take multiple shots with same sharpening.  For 
best results, use type G or D lens.
NormalAll im ag es are sharpened by same standard amount.LowImages are sharpened less than standard amount.Medium LowImages are sharpened slightly less than standard amount.Medium HighImages are sharpened slightly more than standard amount.HighImages are sharpened more than standard amount.NoneImages are not sharpened.
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							47
Reference—Optimizing Images
Adjusting Contrast: Tone Compensation
As photographs are saved to the memory card, they are processed to adjust the 
distribution of tones in the image, en hanc ing con trast.  Tone com pen sa tion is 
performed by means of tone curves that defi  ne the relationship be tween the dis-
  tri bu tion of tones in the original image and the compensated result.  The To n e  
Compensation menu controls the type of curve used.
Option Description
Auto
(default)Camera automatically optimizes con trast by selecting ap pro pri ate curve.  
Curve varies from shot to shot, even in scenes of same type; to take mul-
tiple shots with same curve, choose diff erent setting.  For best results, use 
type G or D lens.
NormalCamera uses same standard curve for all im ag es.  Suit ed to most scenes, 
whether dark or bright.
Less
ContrastPre vents highlights on portrait subjects from being “washed out” in direct 
sunlight.
More
ContrastPreserves de tail in misty land scapes and other low-contrast subjects.
Custom
Custom curve can be created in Nikon Capture 4 Version 4.4 or later (avail-
able separately) and downloaded to camera.  Choose Custom to se lect 
this user-defi ned curve.  If no custom curve has been created, this op tion 
is  equiv a lent  to Nor mal.
Suiting Colors to the Subject: Color Mode
Much as fi  lm cameras off er a choice of fi  lms for diff erent subjects, the D200 off ers 
a choice of color modes with subtly diff erent palettes.
Option Description
I
(default)Choose for portrait shots.
IIChoose for photographs that will be extensively processed or retouched.  This 
option is available only when AdobeRGB is selected for Color space.
IIIChoose for nature or landscape shots.
 Mode II
If sRGB is chosen for Color space when Color mode is set to Mode II, Color mode will be 
reset to the mode in eff ect when sRGB was last selected.
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							48
Reference—Optimizing Images
Controlling Vividness: Saturation
Saturation controls the vividness of colors.
OptionDescription
AutoCamera automatically adjusts saturation according to subject.  For best 
results, use type G or D lens.
Normal
(default)Normal vividness.  Recommended for most situations.
ModerateReduced vividness.  Use when taking pictures that will later be re-
touched by computer.
EnhancedIncreased vividness.  Use for vivid, photoprint eff ect when taking pic-
tures that will be printed “as is,” without further modifi cation.
Controlling Color: Hue Adjustment
Hue can be adjusted in the range of about –9 ° to +9 ° in in cre ments of 3 °.  If red 
is taken as the start ing color, raising hue above 0 ° (the de fault set ting) would 
introduce a yel low cast, mak ing col ors that would be red at a setting of 0 ° ap pear 
in creas ing ly or ange.  Low er ing hue be low 0 ° would in tro duce a blue cast, mak-
  ing col ors that would be red at a setting of 0 ° appear in creas ing ly pur ple.
The RGB color model used in digital photographs re pro duc es colors using diff 
 er ing 
amounts of red, green, and blue light.  By mixing two colors of light, a variety of diff 
 er ent 
colors can be pro duced.  For example, red combined with a small amount of green light 
produces orange.  If red and green are mixed in equal amounts, yellow re sults, while 
a smaller amount of red produces a yel low green.  Mixing diff 
 er ent amounts of red 
and blue light pro duc es col ors rang ing from a red dish purple through pur ple to navy, 
while mixing diff erent amounts of green and blue light produces col ors rang ing from 
em er ald to turquoise.  (Add ing a third color of light results in lighter hues; if all three 
are mixed in equal amounts, the results range from white through gray.)  When this 
pro gres sion of hues is ar ranged in a cir cle, the re sult is known as a color wheel.Hue
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							49
Reference—Optimizing Images
Choosing Custom Image Optimization Options
Choosing Custom in the Optimize Image menu (
 45) displays the menu 
shown in Step 1.
1
Highlight optimization option.
2
Display sub-menu.
3
Highlight option.
4
Make selection.  Repeat steps 1–4 to 
adjust other options.
5
Highlight Done.
6
Return to shooting menu.
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							50
Reference—Color Space
The options in the Color Space menu determine the gamut of colors available 
for color reproduction.  Choose a color space according to how pho to graphs will 
be pro cessed on leaving the cam era.
Option DescriptionsRGB
(default)Choose for photographs that will be print ed or used “as is,” with no 
fur ther modifi cation.  Color mode II is not available ( 47).
AdobeRGBThis color space is capable of expressing a wider gamut of colors than 
sRGB, making it the preferred choice for images that will be extensively 
processed or retouched.
Color Space
1 Highlight Color Space in the shooting menu 
and press the multi selector to the right.
2 High light the desired option and press the multi 
se lec tor to the right.
 Color Space
sRGB is recommended when taking photographs that will be printed without modifi  cation 
or viewed in applications that do not support color management, or when taking photo-
graphs that will be printed with ExifPrint, the direct printing option on some household 
printers, or kiosk printing or other commercial print services.  Adobe RGB photographs can 
also be printed using these options, but colors will not be as vivid.
JPEG photographs taken in the Adobe RGB color space are Exif 2.21 and DCF 2.0 compliant; 
applications and printers that support Exif 2.21 and DCF 2.0 will select the correct color 
space automatically.  If the application or device does not support Exif 2.21 and DCF 2.0, 
select the appropriate color space manually.  For more information, see the documentation 
provided with the application or device.
 Nikon Software
Nikon Capture 4 Version 4.4 or later (available separately) and PictureProject automatically 
select the correct color space when opening photographs created with the D200.
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