Nikon D200 vs Nikon D50

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D200 compared with D50

	NikonD200	NikonD50
Overview
Released
Released	December 2005	2005
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CCD	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.6 × 15.8 mm	23.7 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	10.2 MP	6.1 MP
Largest image
Largest image	3872 × 2592	3008 × 2000
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	100–1600	200–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	10.92 million total pixels; four-channel output; Image Dust Off reference data for software correction	Nikon DX CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; Image Dust Off reference data for optional Nikon Capture correction
Image formats
Image formats	12-bit NEF RAW, compressed or uncompressed, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG. The original manual and Nikon Korea establish 12-bit recording; the current US archived table also lists 14-bit, which is not used here	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings
ISO detail
ISO detail	Expanded equivalents up to ISO 3200; Auto ISO	ISO 200–1600 in whole stops
Image processor
Image processor	Nikon image-processing engine inherited from the D2X	–
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	5 fps	2.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure; entering lens data enables colour matrix metering and aperture display. IX and F3AF lenses unsupported	Body autofocus motor supports compatible AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D; AF-S lenses also supported. Other AF NIKKOR lenses lose 3D matrix metering; non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; E-type lenses incompatible according to current Nikon USA specification
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 1000 phase detection; 11 normal areas or seven wide areas; single, dynamic, group dynamic and closest-subject modes; AF-S and AF-C	Multi-CAM 900 phase-detection module; five selectable focus areas; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A and manual focus, single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority modes; AF-assist illuminator. Current US page lists Face-Priority AF, absent from the original manual specification; no face-detection capability inferred
Shutter
Shutter	1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested beyond 100000 cycles	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in half or one-third stops, Bulb and remote long exposures; flash synchronisation up to 1/500 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	High-speed approximately 5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fps; maker claims up to 37 JPEG or 22 NEF frames, depending on settings	Approximately 2.5 fps; US launch specifies up to 137 Normal Large JPEG frames on SanDisk UltraII 256 MB SD card. Original manual buffer table separately lists four RAW or nine Fine Large JPEG frames with long-exposure noise reduction off; card-dependent sustained shooting differs from buffer capacity
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Pictured original AF-S DX 18–55 mm ED kit lens has no VR
Flash
Flash	Pop-up i-TTL flash; guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres, 13 at full manual output; commander for two remote groups; hot shoe and PC sync terminal	Built-in pop-up i-TTL flash; original manual guide number approximately 15 m at ISO 200 (17 manual) or 11 m at ISO 100 (12 manual); accessory shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; interval timer and multiple exposure	P/S/A/M, Auto and six scene modes; 420-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in half or one-third stops; exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	2.5″	2″
Screen dots
Screen dots	230,000	130,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	–	No
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels	Fixed 2-inch low-temperature-polysilicon TFT with 130000 dots; top status LCD; contextual help and playback magnification; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentaprism, approximately 95% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.75× magnification; original manual specifies 18 mm eyepoint, conflicting with 8 mm on current US page
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	–
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	340 photographs	400 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	830 g	540 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon's original US announcement specifies late December 2005 availability; main records the month	Nikon USA original announcement dated 20 April 2005 states June US availability as a prospective schedule; actual first-sale month is unconfirmed, so year precision is retained
Recording media
Recording media	CompactFlash Type I/II and Microdrive; no UDMA capability inferred from the current archived US table	One Secure Digital card slot; no SDHC compatibility inferred
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, ten-pin accessory terminal, PC flash sync and optional AC adapter input; optional MC-35 connects compatible external GPS receivers	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, NTSC/PAL video output and DC input; optional ML-L3 infrared remote
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	Optional WT-3 transmitter provides 802.11b/g image transfer; networking is not built into the body	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL3e; approximately 340 photographs in the manual's single-frame test with flash on alternate exposures, not labelled CIPA. A separate continuous test claims approximately 1800; optional MB-D200 holds one or two EN-EL3e packs or six AA batteries	EN-EL3 lithium-ion battery; main 400 shots is original manual single-frame test with 18–55 mm ED lens, Normal Large JPEG and flash every other exposure, not labelled CIPA. Separate 2000-shot continuous test uses Basic Medium JPEG and limited monitor use; the launch announcement promotes that continuous figure
Charging
Charging	External MH-18a charger; optional EH-6 AC adapter	External MH-18a quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 147 × 113 × 74 mm	Approximately 133 × 102 × 76 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 830 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover	Approximately 540 g excluding battery, memory card and body cap
Colours
Colours	–	Black or silver
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy chassis and body cover with environmental sealing; not a waterproof rating	–
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording or live view	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback, despite the current US page labelling it Movie File Format