Nikon D200

The Nikon D200 is a DSLR from 2005. It pairs an APS-C sensor with the Nikon F DX mount, so it is a stills camera at heart, built for people who like composing through an optical viewfinder.

At 920 g with a fairly large body, it is something you carry deliberately rather than slip in a bag. The weather sealing gives it some resilience for outdoor sessions.

There is no video, no live view and no wireless transfer. It is a straightforward stills tool, not a connected camera.

The optics score of 41 out of 100 reflects a modest set of stills capabilities, placing the D200 in the bottom 7% of cameras in our database for Optics. The 10-megapixel CCD keeps files small, which suits everyday prints and web use but leaves little room for heavy cropping.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 1600. That covers daylight and reasonably lit interiors, but dim venues will push the ceiling quickly, so fast lenses and steady technique carry more of the load.

Autofocus offers 11 points, and the 5 fps burst figure is a maximum rate, not a sustained-speed promise. The 1/8000s top shutter speed is available for freezing fast movement.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so slower handheld shutter speeds depend on a stabilised lens or a steady hold. The optical pentaprism viewfinder earns its keep here, giving a direct, lag-free view of the scene.

The D200 does not record video at all; there is no video mode at any resolution or frame rate. It is a stills camera in this respect, so any motion work will need a separate device.

The one motion-related feature is a built-in timelapse function. Mounted on a tripod, the camera can fire off a sequence of frames automatically at set intervals, and you can later assemble those frames into a moving piece on your computer.

Because there is no live view, you compose the opening frame through the optical viewfinder, set the camera going, and then trust your framing for the rest of the sequence. Planning the interval and composition before you start saves repeating the whole run.

The features score of 30 out of 100 points to a limited feature set by modern expectations. The 2.5-inch, 230,000-dot LCD is small, and with no live view it serves for reviewing images rather than composing them.

Weather sealing is the practical highlight, offering protection for shooting in dusty or damp conditions, though it does not make the camera waterproof. The screen is fixed, so awkward angles mean moving yourself instead.

Lighting options are decent for a camera of this vintage. The built-in flash covers fill light, and the body also accepts external flash units when you want more power or control.

Connectivity is minimal. With no WiFi, Bluetooth or GPS, moving images off the camera means a card reader, and there is no touchscreen to speed up menu navigation.

The storage and battery score of 35 out of 100 reflects a limited setup. Cards are CompactFlash Type I or II, and there is only a single slot, so you carry spares instead of copying a backup as you shoot.

Battery endurance is a relative strength. The EN-EL3e is rated at 800 shots, though with no stated test conditions, so treat the figure as a rating, not a promise of real-world endurance.

There is no USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up over a USB cable. For long or multi-day shoots, a second charged battery is a sensible addition to the bag.