Nikon D200

Pros: Extremely fast, excellent control layout, good "control panel screen", excellent capabilities. If you like Nikon's way of doing things, you will love this camera.

Cons: Occasional WB confusion (true for most digitals, pro or otherwise), more camera than most people need (or can understand), but will be purchased by those who don't understand it, much less need it.

Summary: The day I first unpacked this camera and shot my first picture with it, I knew I had made the right decision. Compared to the D70 (also a very good camera) it is in another world. By published specs, it is not a D2x, but it is very close in many areas. Like with most other "technology" the D2x is already starting to show it's age, after only a year and I am just not quite ready to shell out 5K for something that will probably be re-done in the next year or so. So, in the mean time, for 2K, I get most of the features and capabilities and get to explore more of my photography with something that exceeds my capabilities.

Most impressive is the control layout. It took only a few minutes of review to find what each button, knob, switch, etc., does and my fingers were able to get to them easilly without a great deal of thought. Need to switch from single shot to continuous, a quick flick of my finger get's me 5 fps to catch what is going on. A simple press of the button and a turn of a knob gives me ISO from 100 - 1600 all without having to move the camera from my eye. Excellent job on layout.

Image quality is superb. Just remember, 10 Megapixles will not correct for poor photographic techniques! Take a bad picture with this camera and you will get a bad picture with more pixels than most others. As with most digital cameras, even those costing many thousands of dollars more, high ISO settings (1000 and above) will result in a bit more noise. A D2x does a slightly better job with this, but the D200 is a fair step ahead of the D70, etc.

The list can go on and on and on and quite honestly, most of it is beyond my knowledge. What I do know is that the camera "fit" me, has the capabilities that will alow me to progress and do excellent phtography and if my skills improve and finances allow, whatever Nikon comes up with to replace the D2x (D3x?) would be my next step... maybe.

I said in the "cons" section that this camera is more camera than most will need, but would get anyway. The reason I think this is a "cons" is that people will purchase it and then become disatisfied when they can't control it like a D50/D70. It doesn't take much more thought, but an accidental slip on one of the controls will result in the camera doing something you might not be ready for. A setting in the software that is incorrectly done will result in poor photo's. If you don't take the time to learn it's capabilities, to learn the functions available, you will not be able to correct a simple problem and reset things. This is not a "point and shoot" camera. It is one step (1/2 maybe) below the best available and either you are serious about it and spend a few minutes to learn it, or you will end up hating it. It is a two edged sword - high end capabilities with a mid range pricetag. More people will purchase it than probably should.

On the other hand, if you want the ability to do many of what the "big boys" do with their D2x, Canon's similar, etc., without the pricetage, this is the camera for you.