Nikon D200 User Manual

Page 10

Quality (QUAL

[also has a green dot]):

This sets the file format and compression

levels. Hold it and turn the rear dial to choose JPG compression and raw or not. Hold and
turn the front dial to change JPG image size in pixels. I use Large JPG BASIC. I have an
entire page with explanations and examples at

D200 Quality Settings

The green dot is used with the other green dot button to reset most of the common
shooting parameters. I explained that back on

page one

ISO:

Hold this and spin the rear dial to change ISO. Default is 1/3 stop steps. I prefer to

change ISO in more meaningful in full stops as you can set in the menu. Above ISO 1,600
Nikon calls ISO 2,000 "H+0.3," ISO 2,500 "H+0.7" and ISO 3,200 "H+1.0."

HINT: Since ISO is displayed in the finder you can set this without taking your eye
from the eyepiece.

HINT: If you've selected

Auto ISO

then you cannot set a manual ISO higher than you

allow in Auto ISO. To get to ISO 3,200 (cryptically called H+1.0 by Nikon) you must
turn off Auto ISO.

Frame Advance Mode Dial (S, CL, CH, clock and Mup):

This sets the frame

advance rate, the self timer, and the mirror lock up. It's located in the same protuberance
on the top left as the Three Kings above.

S: Single Frame. One frame for each press of the shutter button.

CL: Continuous Low. I always use this setting. Press the shutter once and you get one
photo. Hold it down and the D200 takes pictures continuously at 3 FPS. You can set this in
a menu (d4) to be 1, 2, 3 or 4 FPS. 3 FPS is default and where I leave mine.

If I need one shot I get one shot. If the light is dim and I want a few shots to ensure I get a
sharp one I hold the release down and make several from which I'll pick the sharp one.

CH: Continuous High. The D200 runs at 5FPS as long as you hold the shutter. I don't
use CH because it's so fast I often get 2 shots where one will do.

Self Timer (clock): Press the shutter and the D200 takes a picture some seconds
afterwards. We can set the delay in a menu later.

Mup: Mirror Up: Press the shutter and the mirror flips up. Nothing happens until you press
the shutter again, at which time the picture is taken and the mirror flips back down.

NOTE 1: The Self Timer and Mirror Up modes are defective. If you forget to set either
back to the other modes you'll still be in these weird modes tomorrow! Worse, the Mirror
up mode is still stupid, since you need to buy a $100 cable release to release the shutter
after the mirror goes up. The correct design for these two functions is to add a dedicated
button. Press this button and the shutter fires several seconds later. On an SLR the correct
implementation is to have the mirror flip up at the beginning of the self timer interval. You'd
get sharper pictures, not have to screw with caps and cable releases, and not miss
tomorrow’s shots because you forgot and left the D200 selector in last night's position.