jvandegr's Full Review: Nikon D200 Body Only Digital Camera
Introduction
Vertical grip is essential for photojournalism. Without it, camera handling is much less efficient. Besides improving ergonomics, the additional battery weight helps balance the camera body against heavier lenses. Of course, the additional battery capacity of vertical grips is welcomed by photographers in all fields, but especially those in photojournalism who have limited time to be worrying about battery power and changing power supplies. I purchased the Nikon MB-D200 at the same time that I purchased the Nikon D200 body because I knew I would use it immediately. Besides this camera, I shoot with a Nikon F5 and a Nikon F100, both of which have vertical grips. I will use these cameras and their grips for comparison.
Features
- shutter release button
- autofocus on button
- command dial
- accepts 2 EN-EL3e batteries or 6 AA size batteries (adapter included)*
- metal tripod mount
- includes Nikon user's guide and 1 year Nikon warranty
As of Fall 2006, the MB-D200 sells for approximately $150 - $180 at a variety of online dealers.
*usable battery combinations are: 1 EN-EL3e battery, 2 EN-EL3e batteries, or 6 AA size batteries.
Performance
Ergonomics
In the field, the ergonomics (placement of controls and ease of control operation) of the MB-D200 have been good. The shutter release button and command dial fall right at my finger tips and their operation is very similar to those on the D200 camera body. The battery compartment door is fairly easy to open and close in a hurry to swap power supplies. Because the latch for the battery door folds flat, it is never accidentally opened. The tripod mount is located exactly below the center of the lens, allowing for predictable camera articulation and more even weight distribution. The oversized dial that tightens the MB-D200 to the camera body is easy to use and stays out of the way. However, even when it is well-tightened, there is a very small amount of play between the grip and the body. Although this hasn't caused any problems so far, it makes the camera feel noticeably less connected with the vertical grip. With my F100, I completely forgot that I was using a vertical grip because it connected so well to the camera body that the combination felt like one solid piece - not quite as solid as the F5 with its integrated grip, but close enough. Why can't Nikon do that again? Why un-fix what worked so well to begin with? The F100 vertical grip was made from higher quality materials, was much more carefully designed, provided more balance for the camera, and cost less.
Handling
Unfortunately, handling has been below average. The surface of this vertical grip appears to be textured to improve grip, but in practice this plastic is far too slippery. The only place my hand sticks to the MB-D200 is on the small section of rubber located across the center of the grip. Unfortunately, this section of rubber does not extend all the way to my finger tips (in other words, toward the body of the camera), leaving my finger tips to easily slide on the slippery plastic if I'm not holding the grip in the idealized shooting position. Since the shape of the grip does not fit my hand as well as the F100's grip or the F5, this slippery plastic is even more detrimental to the handling properties of this vertical grip. In particular, the crucial notch for the middle finger (thumb goes around back, index finger on the release, middle finger provides grip) is way to shallow to provide a truly secure grip. Nikon needs to go back to their superior F100 grip design.
One of the added benefits of vertical grips is their extra battery capacity. Besides the obvious power gain, the extra battery weight helps balance the camera with a larger lens attached. Although the MB-D200 does double my shooting time with the additional EN-EL3e battery, it adds little extra weight because of the all-plastic construction of the MB-D200 and the relatively low weight of the EN-EL3e batteries (compared to the AAs that I use in my F5 and F100). For those of you who hike long distances with your camera in your pack, you'll be very happy to read this. However, when it comes time to shoot, I sorely miss the additional weight of the F100's vertical grip.
The MB-D200 has environmental sealing around the battery compartment to protect it from the elements. However, the left side of the door doesn't close as tightly around this sealing as the right side of the door. This smells of rushed design work and a lack of attention to detail. In general, the rear door design is noticeably inferior to the slide out battery tray design of the F100 and F5, and I hope Nikon finds a way to bring those back. Is there environmental sealing around the controls? I don't know, and I can't find any information published by Nikon that tells me. I've been frustrated by Nikon's lack of published specifications for their major accessories. I've used this vertical grip in some wet conditions and I've often worried about water shorting out the circuitry inside because I don't really know how this grip is constructed. So far, I've had no problems whatsoever but I feel like I'm holding my breath a little.
Durability
The MB-D200 feels like a plastic toy; its build quality does not inspire confidence. This lack of confidence can certainly have an impact on a photographer's work. So far, I have had only one mechanical problem with the MB-D200, but again I feel like I'm holding my breath waiting for more. In particular, I'm waiting for one of the plastic battery catches to break (I've heard rumors of this happening to other photographers), or the tiny battery compartment door latch to bend or break. I take care to not let this happen, but I shouldn't have to worry about it with a semi-pro/pro camera like the D200.
UPDATE (2/16/07):
As I feared, the quality of this vertical grip is not good. The command dial stopped working this morning for about two minutes. I've been expecting something like this so I didn't think twice about switching my hands to the D200 body to get my shots. Thankfully, it was not a timing-critical situation, but it easily could have been. I triple-checked my settings to make sure it wasn't user error. Without changing any settings on the camera body or the vertical grip, it started working a couple minutes later. Temperature above freezing, batteries fully charged, vertical grip set to on. This vertical grip has been very well cared for and has never been abused. I'm betting 1000 to 1 that this is a quality control problem, mostly because the other controls on the MB-D200 continued to work. Nikon should be embarrassed by this vertical grip. In no way is this grip representative of, or worthy of, the superb D200 that it is attached to.
Conclusions
I am surprised that Nikon designed this relatively low quality vertical grip to accompany a camera body of much higher quality; the MB-D200 and the D200 are obviously mismatched. This vertical grip seems much more of a match to the plastic D70 than it does the metal D200. So far, I've had only one operational problem with the MB-D200, but the questionable build quality, poor handling characteristics relative to other Nikon vertical grips, and high price make it difficult to recommend. I will do so only because it does significantly improve the utility of the Nikon D200.
10.2-megapixel SLR captures enough detail for photo-quality enlargements or creative cropping Body only; lens must be purchased separately 2.5-inch LC...More at Amazon Marketplace
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