Nikon D200 User Manual
Page 4
QUALity:
Large, JPG, BASIC, Optimal Quality Mode.
Reset brings you to NORMAL JPG. Once I've reset I'll immediately change to my preferred
QUAL setting: BASIC. Do this by pressing the QUAL button and spinning the rear dial one
click to the right. This shows as L and BASIC on the top LCD.
This is the only thing I change from the
reset
mode. Everything else I tweak below is
unchanged by
reset
.
I use a hidden menu option to set the JPG compression mode to Optimal Quality instead
of the default Size Priority. Do this at MENU > SHOOTING (green camera icon) > JPEG
Compression > Optimal Quality.
I'll set the size down to Medium JPG BASIC, Optimize Quality mode for parties and sports
when I'm shooting hundreds of images. In these cases I'm more concerned with time for
the files to transfer, copy and archive than I am about the 1% quality loss.
ISO: I use 100 and Auto ISO.
Auto ISO increases the ISO automatically as it gets
dark so I don't have to. It shoots at ISO 100 in good light, and at 1/15 of a second it starts
ramping up the ISO to a maximum of 1,600 as it gets darker. Only if it gets still darker will it
let the shutter speed go below 1/15 at ISO 1,600, exactly as I'd do manually.
I explain how to select the shutter speed at which the ISO starts to increase and the
maximum ISO to which it will increase in the
I set Auto ISO to 1,600 max because the noise from the D200 at ISO 1,600 looks much
better than blur. I set 1/15 because my
gives great results down to 1/15. I
adjust the lowest shutter speed setting in the AUTO ISO menu if I change conditions or
lenses. Unlike film, the D200 looks great at high ISOs, so I use them anytime I need them.
White Balance:
I use AUTO and a clear UV filter to protect my lens. The D200 has a
much warmer color balance than earlier cameras like the D70 so I don't need the 81A filter
or the -3 trim. White balance is how you set the color balance, and color is critical.
Luckily AUTO works great most of the time. I look at my LCD, and if it's not right, I'll set it
to whatever looks good. Usually that's the Direct Sun or Cloudy positions. These settings
give much warmer results than earlier cameras. I rarely use the warmer Shade setting on
my D200 while I used Shade often on my D1H and D70.
OPTIMIZE IMAGE:
This is set in the menus. I crave vivid color! I tweak my D200 to give
color as vivid as I can get. If it
I go to MENU > Shooting Menu (green camera icon) > Optimize Image > Custom.
Image Sharpening: Auto (default).
Tone Compensation (contrast): Auto (default). The D200 automatically adjusts its
contrast and dynamic range to each and every shot. It works great.
Color Mode: III (three). This is critical: this gives brighter colors than the default of I. No,
color mode II is pronounced "two" and not to be confused with 11 (eleven). I had Nikon
lock mode II out of production cameras. You don't want Mode II even if you could use it.
PDF by Paul Deakin - 4 - © 2006 KenRockwell.com