Introduction to the Nikon D200 | 
| Studio: Blue Crane Digital
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.94
You Save: $10.01 (40%)
New (5) from $14.94
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 27058
Format: Ac-3, Color, Full Length, Full Screen, Ntsc
Region: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 104 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: BC106
UPC: 186102000060
EAN: 0186102000060
ASIN: B000F4LMIA
Release Date: March 31, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
If you have just purchased your Nikon D200, the controls on the outside of the camera coupled with all the menus and custom settings can be downright overwhelming. We give you a structure for looking at the controls as well as a repeatable ritual for taking great photos with your new camera. You spent a bundle on this camera. Let it be an extension of your hands rather than a struggle. The Nikon D200 is a powerful piece of equipment. A solid understanding of its features and controls can really unleash its potential. Once you learn how the camera's components work together, you'll have all the tools you need to capture the best image under all conditions. Topics include: Be Prepared (To Get the Shot) Shutter Priority Aperture Priority/Depth of Field Focus Alternatives Metering and Bracketing ISO Playback Options Understanding Histograms Exposure Compensation Flash Overview Custom Settings Shooting Menu Banks Programmable Buttons RAW (NEF) Files Composition Picture Project Software And much more! Take great pictures with your Nikon D200! All you need is this training DVD and about 100 minutes, and you'll have the knowledge and the confidence to create the images you want. The topics are arranged in chapters, so you can move at your own pace, and return later to individual subjects.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Mixed Bag May 30, 2006
David Englander (Vermont)
69 out of 74 found this review helpful
I bought this to have an introduction to the D200's features (it is my first digital SLR after a two decades of using a mechanical Olympus OM-1). It is an odd mix of: a) Cheerleader (Hey, isn't this Nikon camera great!); b) Elementary School teacher (Now we'll learn how to take a picture. 'The Rule of Thirds' - painters have been using it for centuries!); c) Actual Instructor (Use the Dynamic Area AF with spot metering when shooting kids or pets. Here's why...). A DVD for a camera of this sophistication, and cost, it seems to me, warrants only category c).
But it does have some good instruction. And while it is true that the information provided in the DVD is in the manual, the manual alone is not always clear how the various pieces fit together. For instance, the DVD does a nice job of explaining how the metering system interacts with the focusing options and in what circumstances to use which settings (as mentioned above). The discussion of white balance is detailed and informative. In addition, it has a quick review of some of the lesser-used features, such as interval timed and multiple exposure photographs that I glazed right over in my first read of the manual.
In truth, I would have preferred the DVD be half the time and half the price, or better, the same length without the cheerleading or elementary lessons in shot composition. Overall, a neophyte is likely find some good tips while being a bit underwhelmed by the depth of the discussions.
 They Did It Again April 25, 2006
Okay (Glendale, Heights)
51 out of 58 found this review helpful
Blue Crane did it again, another great instruction DVD. I loved the one they provided for the Nikon D70 and it saved me lots of mistakes and decreased my learning curve. I am now the owner of a D200 and in my opinion their new DVD is worth every penny and very well done.
If you are a professional or anyone who can decode all the features on the D200 then great... you do not need this kind of support. Even though the Nikon D200 comes with a manual, the manual's explanations and definitions did not provide me with as expansive an explanation or an instant understanding of how to operate the camera as the DVD. I am very grateful to have access to this media. As stated in the presentation "a new car comes with a manual but the manual does not teach you how to drive the car."
I spent two days absorbing the information presented and I am no longer struggling with all the new features on this camera and believe me there is a multitude of new learning. The D200 is not as forgiving as the D70 and it pays in quality photographs to know what you are doing. This is a professional camera and much more complex than the D70 in my opinion.
My ability to shoot perfect photographs the way I did with the D70 when I surpassed the learning curve is still far from constantly present when I use the D200; however, I am not totally lost due to Blue Crane's guidance and I am getting better each day. The instructor gives you exercises and solid information of how to operate the camera to obtain better photographs. A Small amount of the information on basic composition and types of lenses is repeated from the D70 video but, it was good to hear it again.
Often, I avoided many in-camera menu features on the D70 because of the various auto provided programs that comes with the camera (i.e. portrait, landscape, macro, etc.,) or I shot in manual mode most of the time; however, that kind of grace is not a component of the D200; therefore, it is necessary to learn how to use the camera's features to create those kinds of components and much more.
Also, to compliment your learning I recommend that you purchase John Cooksey's DVD "Nikon D200 Training," he gives you indepth training and additional photo tips on all the D200 menus that you will not find on this DVD or in the manual. Both DVD's together, make the perfect marriage.
So, if you choose to avoid frustration and struggle in learning how to use the Nikon D200 right away, buy this DVD!
Informative, but not worth the money May 10, 2006
V. Jones (Orlando, FL USA)
34 out of 37 found this review helpful
I found this DVD to be somewhat informative, but the "trainer" was obviously reading from the script and was very wooden and awkward. I thought this detracted from the presentation. Most of the information is a basic review for anyone who's been a photographer for a while, or has ever owned a more advanced featured Nikon SLR.
This DVD is useful if you're new to photography and Nikon SLRs. Give it a pass otherwise.
Great for Beginners - waste of money for advanced users August 11, 2006
RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful
I would rate this a 5 if you are brand new to digital photography -- but, oddly, the D200 is geared toward users who already have the basic knowledge of 90 percent of this DVD. There are a few things here and there that are interesting and allows you to quickly learn a few of the features if you don't want to bother reading the manual -- but the manual is free inside the box, the cost of this DVD does not make sense for anyone with intermediate to advanced digital camera skills.
Excellent Guide April 22, 2006
Mary Phoenix (Sonora, CA USA)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful
I ordered this guide so that I could understand all of the options and functions available on my new Nikon D200. Since it is a video that I could watch, pause, then continue watching it was easy for me to understand. The explanations made a lot of sense. There are lots of examples and exercises that help to explain not only how the D200 works but how to use the various functions to take better photos. I highly reccommend it!
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