The media release says: "Nikon Corporation and Australian distributor Maxwell Optical Industries are pleased to announce the introduction of the D200. Combining newly-developed Nikon technologies with advanced features, the D200 is a precision-engineered, high-performance digital SLR designed to satisfy the requirements of passionate and demanding photographers.

"Employing a new 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor, and featuring Nikon's exclusive image processing engine and image-optimising functionality, the D200 captures images with sharp detail and faithful colour to deliver extraordinary resolution that supports significant image enlargement and enables greater freedom for creative cropping.

"This image sensor also incorporates high-speed 4-channel data output and features a new Optical Low Pass Filter, significantly reducing the incidence of moiré as well as colour fringing and shifting. Furthermore, 4-channel output allows the D200 to adopt the advanced image-processing engine of the D2x, which combines colour-independent preconditioning prior to A/D conversion with advanced digital image processing algorithms, to deliver fine colour gradations with satisfyingly smooth, consistent transitions.

"Equipped with Nikon’s exclusive 1005-pixel 3D Colour Matrix Metering II, the D200 seamlessly determines ideal exposures, even in complex lighting conditions. Capturing scene elements including brightness, contrast and colour content with a 1005-pixel RGB-enabled sensor, this advanced system employs improved algorithms for even better evaluation of highlight and shadow detail, and an onboard database of over 30,000 images to evaluate against the content of each scene.

"The D-200 is even compatible with (non-CPU) Nikkor F-mount lenses. The user simply dials in focal length and aperture information, and the camera does the rest!
Responsive

"Handling response is exceptional. With power-up in a mere 0.15 seconds, a remarkable shutter lag of only 50 milliseconds and a shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds, the D200 excels in the capture of fleeting or unexpected moments. Combined with high-speed continuous shooting capability at up to 5fps, and continuous bursts of up to 37 JPEG (Fine-large) images* or 22 shots* in NEF (RAW) format, the D200 is a perfect choice for discriminating photographers, and a natural choice for wedding, event and action specialists
*When using a SanDisk SDCFH (Ultra II) or SDCFX (Extreme III) 1GB CF card.

"For accurate autofocus across a more diverse range of compositions, the D200 features a new and highly accurate 11-area AF system in addition to its 7 wide-area AF – both of which are based on Nikon's advanced Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module. Not only does this AF system support the photographer with fast and precise autofocus under a variety of shooting conditions, but it also offers an array of functions for greater flexibility – allowing an individual area to be selected from either the 11-area AF or 7-wide area AF sensors for Single AF, or making use of multiple sensors to enable Dynamic AF, Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF, and Group Dynamic AF.

"Complementing its excellent handling, the D200 has been created with a magnesium alloy chassis that combines light weight with durability. In addition to this, it also features an enhanced sealing system that helps protect exterior seams from potentially damaging moisture and dust. The D200 also features a large and bright viewfinder offering large 0.94x magnification to ensure the clearest view possible for precise composition, as well as built-in dioptre adjustment that allows the camera to be calibrated to the photographer’s eyesight.

"Viewing excellence is taken further with an expansive 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD that provides an ultra-wide 170˚ viewing angle from all directions. It also offers the ability to magnify images by up to 400%, to enable photographers to closely inspect fine details in their work. The LCD features a selectable RGB histogram display, which allows photographers to make better-informed exposure decisions by viewing either a composite RGB histogram, or a separate histogram for each individual colour channel.

"The D200 also features the largest top LCD panel among cameras in its class, to convey maximum information at a glance with easy access to shooting data including shooting mode, battery condition, card information, gridline display, shutter speed, F-stop and number of remaining shots"

The Nikon D200 is epected to be in the Australian shops in January. No price has been announced, but if we pay a price comparable with America then the body only should cost about $2500.

There is a hands on preview of the D200 on dpreview.com