Nikon® D200 Digital Field Guide

Chapter 4. Photography Essentials

• In This Chapter

• Understanding exposure

• Getting the right exposure

• Understanding depth of field

As the proud owner of a Nikon D200, you're near the top of Nikon's digital food chain, two notches above your camera's entry-level siblings, and only a step or two below official professional models like the D2x. (Of course, the thousands of professional photographers who use the D200 to make their livings would beg to differ about professional suitability!) Because the D200 isn't considered an entry-level camera, it's likely that the D200 isn't your first dSLR and odds are good that you're well-versed in the basics of photography.

However, the aggressive price of the D200 has meant that quite a few budding photographers have made the jump to this camera directly from a point-and-shoot film or digital camera. Given the capabilities of the D200, using this camera can be daunting without a thorough grounding in photographic fundamental, so a quick introduction might be in order.

Other, more experienced photographers might have relied on their cameras' automated features so much that they're a little rusty on some of the basics. If you're in either of these camps, don't panic. In this chapter, you'll find a quick refresher on some important photography basics. Spend a minute or two boning up on exposure, depth of field, and a few other topics, and then capture that award-winning shot!

And even if you're well-versed in all this photography stuff, you still might ...