Nikon 920162, D300BODY, D300OUTFIT Taking Photographs

vi

❚❚Taking Photographs

How do I get more information about the

battery? Battery info 321

How do I keep the file number from

being reset when I insert a new memory

card? File number sequence 283

How do I reset file numbering to 1?

How do I clean the camera or lens? Cleaning the camera 372

Question Key phrase See page

How many more shots can I take with this

card?

Number of exposures

remaining 45

How do I take bigger photographs?

Image quality and size 56, 60

How can I get more photos on the

memory card?

Can I control how the camera focuses? Autofocus 61

How do I take a lot of photographs

quickly? Release mode 74

Can I change the frame advance rate? Shooting speed 76, 282

Can I shoot a self-portrait? Self-timer mode 89

Can I take pictures under low light

without the flash? ISO sensitivity 94

Can the ISO sensitivity I choose be

adjusted to ensure optimal exposure?

ISO sensitivity auto

control 96

How do I freeze or blur moving objects? Exposure mode f

(shutter-priority auto) 106

How do I blur background details or keep

both foreground and background in

focus?

Exposure mode g

(aperture-priority auto) 107

Question Key phrase See page

Contents

Main User's Manual Where to Find It i i Package Contents ii Symbols and Conventions A D A Page iv Q&A Index Find what youre looking for using this question and answer index. Camera Setup New Features Menus and Displays v Taking Photographs vi Viewing Photographs vii Retouching Photographs viii ix Viewing or Printing Photographs on Other Devices Optional Accessories Tab le o f Co nte nts x Introduction 1 Tutorial 23 Page xii Exposure 99 White Balance 125 Image Enhancement 145 Flash Photography 169 xiii Other Shooting Options 181 More About Playback 203 Connections 223 xiv Menu Guide 245 DThe Playback Menu: Managing Images............................... 246 CThe Shooting Menu: Shooting Options...............................254 ACustom Settings: Fine-Tuning Camera Settings ..............264 xv xvi BThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup............................................... 311 NThe Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies .............329 xvii Technical Notes 349 xviii For Your Safety A WARNINGS A xix A xx A xxi Notices D300 xxii xxiii xxiv A X Introduction Overview D Getting to Know the Camera Camera Body Page Page Camera Body (Continued ) Page The Control Panel 1 13 2 3 4 5 6 14 Flash mode.................................171 The Viewfinder Display D The Shooting Information Display Page 14 The Command Dials Main command dial Sub-command dial Image Quality and Size Press the QUAL button and rotate the command dials. ISO Sensitivity Press the ISO button and rotate the main command dial. Exposure Press the I button and rotate the main command dial to choose the exposure mode. Use the command dials to adjust exposure. A White Balance Press the WB button and rotate the command dials. Flash Settings Press the M button and rotate the command dials. Attaching the AN-D300 Camera Strap Attach the camera strap securely to the two eyelets on the camera body as shown below. The BM-8 Monitor Cover The DK-23 Viewfinder Eyepiece Cup Quick Start Guide Page s 23 Tutorial Camera Menus.................................................................. pg. 24 First Steps............................... ........................................... pg. 30 Camera Menus Menus The following menus are available: 26 Using Camera Menus Menu Controls 1 2 current menu. Page 28 8 Help 30 First Steps Charge the Battery 1 2 3 4 Page D A 34 Attach a Lens 1 2 35 3 Detaching the Lens D A Basic Setup 1 2 3 37 4 5 6 on or off. 7 8 9 A 39 Insert a Memory Card 1 2 3 D 40 4 Removing Memory Cards 2 41 Format t he Memor y Card 1 2 42 3 D A 43 Adjust Viewfinder Focus 1 2 A 44 Basic Photography and Playback Turn the Camera On 1 2 45 3 remaining. A 47 Adjust Camera Settings Control panel Viewfinder display This tutorial describes how to take photos at default settings. 1 Default settings are listed below. 48 2 3 release mode. 4 49 5 autofocus. 6 Ready the Camera 51 Focus and Shoot 1 release button halfway to focus (pg. 52). 52 2 button the rest of the way down to shoot. A 53 Viewing Photographs 1 2 A 54 Deleting Unwanted Photographs 1 2 A Page Image Quality The D300 supports the following image quality options. A A The JPEG Compression Menu The NEF (RAW) Recording Menu: Type The NEF (RAW) Recording Menu: NEF (RAW) Bit Depth A Image Size A N Focus Controlling How the Camera Focuses Focus M ode A AF-Area Mode AF-area mode determines how the focus point is selected in autofocus mode. A 66 Focus Po int Sele ction 1 lock to . 2 Page 68 Focus L ock 1 2 (I) appears in the viewfinder. 69 3 photograph and shoot. Getting Good Results with Autofocus Manual Focus A The Electronic Rangefinder A k Release Mode Single Frame, Continuous, Live View, Self-Timer, or Mirror Up Choosing a Release Mode The camera supports the following release modes: Page 76 Continuous Mode 1 2 A A Framing Pictures in the Monitor (Live View) A 80 Hand-Held Mode (g) 1 2 3 button all the way down. 81 4 5 82 6 D 83 Trip od Mo de (h) 1 2 3 4 in the viewfinder. 5 button all the way down. 6 D 85 7 D A D A 89 Self-Timer Mode 1 2 A 90 3 A 91 Mirror up Mode 1 2 D 3 Page S ISO Sensitivity Reacting Faster to Light Choosing ISO Sensitivity Manually A Auto ISO Sensitivity Control A Page V Exposure Controlling How the Camera Sets Exposure Metering Metering determines how the camera sets exposure. The following options are available: To choose a metering method, rotate the metering selector until the desired mode is displayed. A Exposure Mode Exposure mode determines how the camera sets shutter speed and aperture when adjusting exposure. A A 104 e: Programmed Auto 1 2 A 106 f: Shutter-Priority Auto 1 f. 2 3 107 1 mode g. 2 3 A h: Manual 1 110 2 3 photograph, focus, and A 112 Autoexposure (AE ) Lock 1 spot metering (pg. 100). 2 113 3 photograph. Keeping the AE-L/AF-L button pressed, recompose the photograph and shoot. A Exposure Compensation Page Bracketing 117 Exposure and Flash Bracketing 1 2 118 3 Pressing the Fn button, rotate the sub-command dial to choose the exposure increment. At default settings, the size of the increment can be chosen from 1/3, 2/3, and 1EV. The bracketing programs with an increment of 1/3EV are listed below. 4 Canceling Bracketing A 121 White Balance Bracketing 1 2 122 3 4 Canceling Bracketing A r White Balance Keeping Colors True White Balance Options The following options are available: Page A 129 Fine-Tuning White Balance The White Balance Menu 1 option. 130 2 A The WB Button Choosing a Color Temperature D A Preset Manual A 136 Measuring a Value for White Balance 1 2 137 3 4 5 138 6 D A Copying White Balance from d-0 to Presets d-1d-4 1 2 3 Copying White Balance from a Photograph (d-1d-4 Only) 1 2 3 141 4 5 A Selecting a White Balance Preset 1 2 3 A Page J Image Enhancement Picture Controls Using Picture Controls A 148 Selecting Nikon Picture Controls Choosing a Picture Control 1 A 150 Modifying Existing Picture Controls 2 A Picture Control Settings D A Creating Custom Picture Controls 1 2 4 5 156 6 Control. A 158 Sharing Custom Picture Controls Copying Custom Picture Controls to the Camera 1 2 4 5 160 Saving Custom Picture Controls to the Memory Card 1 3 A Managing Custom Picture Controls Renaming Custom Picture Controls 1 3 Deleting Custom Picture Controls from the Camera 1 3 A Page 4 Active D-Li ghting 166 1 2 D 167 Color Space 1 2 A l Flash Photography Using the Built-in Flash The Built-in Flash D 171 Using the Built-in Flash 1 (pg. 100). 2 3 4 5 Lowering the Built-in Flash D Flash Modes The D300 supports the following flash modes: Page Flash Compensation Page 178 FV Lock 1 2 3 179 4 5 6 7 D A t Other Shooting Options Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default Settings Page 184 Multiple Exposure Creating a Multiple Exposure 1 2 A 3 4 5 6 7 D A Interrupting Multiple Exposures 189 Interval Timer Photography 1 shooting]. 2 D 3 4 191 5 intervals and number of shots per interval. 6 A D A 193 Pausing Interval Timer Photography 1 trigger. 2 Interrupting Interval Timer Photography No Photograph A Non-CPU Lenses A The Non-CPU Lens Data Menu 1 2 3 4 198 5 Choosing a Lens Number Using Camera Controls 1 control. 2 Using a GPS Unit The GP-1 GPS Unit Other GPS Units The k Icon A Setup Menu Options A I More About Playback Playback Options Full-Fr ame Pla yback A L Photo Information Photo information is superimposed on images displayed in full- frame playback. Shooting data pages 13 D File Information Highlights 1 Selec t R, G, B RGB Histogram 1 Select R, G, B A Shooting Data Page 11 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 Shooting Data Page 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 2 Shooting Data Page 3 * * Displayed only if [Data] is selected for [Display mode] (pg. 250). 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 Shooting Data Page 4 * 3Name of photographer..........324 4Copyright holder......................324 5Camera name 6Folder number GPS Data 1 3 5 6 4 7 9 8 1 2 3Latitude 4Longitude 5Altitude Overview Data Page Page The following operations can be performed while thumbnails are displayed: Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom 221 Protecting Photographs from Deletion 1 2 A 222 Deleting Individual Photographs 1 2 Q Connections Connecting to External Devices Connecting to a Computer D A Before Connecting the Camera Direct USB Connection 1 2 3 4 D 227 5 6 D 228 7 Wireless and Ethernet Networks D A Printing Photographs A Direct USB Connection D A Page 233 Printing Pictures One at a Time 1 2 3 Press 1 or 3 to highlight an option and press 2 to select. 4 Select [Start printing] and press J to start printing. To cancel before all copies have been printed, press J. D Printing Multiple Pictures 1 2 237 3 4 5 Press 1 or 3 to highlight an option and press 2 to select. Select [Start printing] and press J to start printing. 6 To cancel before all copies have been printed, press J. 1 2 3 4 240 1 2 241 3 4 D Viewing Photographs on TV Standard Definition Devices 2 3 4 A High-Definition Devices 2 3 4 A U Menu Guide DThe Playback Menu: Managing Images Selecting Multiple Pictures 1 2 248 3 4 Delete Playback Folder Hide Image D Display Mode Image Review Choose whether pictures are automatically displayed in the monitor immediately after shooting. After Delete Choose the picture displayed after an image is deleted. Rotate Tall Slide Show Page CThe Shooting Menu: Shooting Options The shooting menu contains the options listed below. For information on using the shooting menu, see Tutorial: Camera Menus (pg. 24). 255 1 256 2 3 Reset Shooting Menu 258 Active Folder New Folder Number 1 number]. 2 3 259 1 2 3 D A Page Page Long Exp. NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction) Choose whether to reduce noise in pictures taken at slow shutter speeds. High ISO NR ISO Sensitivity Settings Live View Multiple Exposure Interval Timer Shooting ACustom Settings: Fine-Tuning Camera Settings The following Custom Settings are available: Custom Setting Page Custom Setting Page B Custom setting bank A Reset custom settings aAutofocus bMetering/exposure cTimers/AE lock C: Custom Setting Bank A Reset Custom Settings a1: AF-C Priority Selection a: Autofocus a2: AF-S Priority Selection a3: Dynamic AF Area A a4: Focus Tracking with Lock-On This option controls how autofocus adjusts to sudden large changes in the distance to the subject. a5: AF Activation a6: AF Point Illumination a7: Focus Point Wrap-Around Choose whether focus-point selection wraps around from one edge of the viewfinder to another. w q a8: AF Point Selection a9: Built-in AF-assist Illuminator A a10: AF-On for MB-D10 Choose the function assigned to the B button on the optional MB-D10 battery pack. b1: ISO Sensitivity Step Value b2: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl. b3: Exp Comp/Fine Tune b: Metering/Exposure b4: Easy Exposure Compensation This option controls whether the E button is needed to set exposure compensation (pg. 114). A 277 b5: Center-Weighted Area 1 278 2 3 4 D c1: Shutter-Release Button AE-L c: Timers/AE Lock c3: Self-Timer Delay c4: Monitor off Delay d1: Beep d2: Viewfinder Grid Display d: Shooting/Display Page 283 d6: File Number Sequence J When a photograph is taken, the camera names the file by adding one to the last file number used. D d7: Shooting Info Display d8: LCD Illumination d9: Exposure Delay Mode d10: MB-D10 Battery Type A d11: Battery Order A e1: Flash Sync Speed This option controls flash sync speed. A e: Bracketing/Flash Flash Control at [1/320s (Auto FP)] D e2: Flash Shutter Speed e3: Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash Choose the flash mode for the built-in flash. A Manual Repeating Flash A Commander Mode Press 4 or 2 to highlight the following options, 1 or 3 to change. Page 295 6 7 8 9 A D e4: Modeling Flash e5: Auto Bracketing Set 298 e6: Auto Bracketing (Mode M) F G H I Page 300 f1: Multi Selector Center Button n J f: Controls K o p 301 f2: Multi Selector f3: Photo Info/Playback u f4: Assign FUNC. r FUNC. 302 303 t L M N FUNC. t w f5: Assign Preview Button f6: Assign AE-L/AF-L Button f7: Customize Command Dials This option controls the operation of the main and sub-command dials. f8: Release Button to Use Dial f9: No Memory Card? f10: Reverse Indicators BThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup The setup menu contains the options listed below. For information on using the setup menu, see Tutorial: Camera Menus (pg. 24). Page Page HDMI World Time Choose a language for camera menus and messages. Language The following options are available. Image Comment Auto Image Rotation D A USB Dust off Ref Photo 319 1 D 2 320 3 D Battery Info View information on the battery currently inserted in the camera. A Wireless Transmitter Image Authentication D A Copyright Information D Save/Load Settings A GPS Non-CPU Lens Data AF Fine Tune D View the current camera firmware version. A Firmware Version NThe Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies 330 Creating Retouched Copies Creating Retouched Copies in Full-Frame Playback 1 2 3 4 Creating Retouched Copies from the Retouch Menu 1 2 3 4 D A D-Lighting Red-Eye Correction Trim D Monochrome Filter Effects Color Balance A 339 Image Overlay 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 341 8 9 D Side-by-Side Comparison Making a Side-by-Side Comparison 1 2 343 3 original. D 344 OMy Menu: Creating a Custom Menu Adding Options to My Menu 1 2 3 4 5 346 Deleting Options from My Menu 1 2 3 4 A Page 348 Displaying Recent Settings 1 2 n Tec hn ic al No te s Camera Care, Options, and Resources Compatible Lenses Page D Page A D A Lens Optional Flash Units (Speedlights) The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) CLS-Compatible Flash Units The SU-800 itself is not equipped with a flash. A The following features are available with the SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200, and SU-800: Other Flash Units D Maximum aperture at ISO equivalent of: Page Flash Contacts The Accessory Shoe The Sync Terminal D Other Accessories At the time of writing, the following accessories were available for the D300. Page Page Page Page Page Approved Memory Cards The following cards have been tested and approved for use in the D300: Other cards have not been tested. For more details on the above cards, please contact the manufacturer. Caring for the Camera Storage Cleaning 373 The Low-Pass Filter 1 2 sensor] menu. A 3 Clean at Startup/Shutdown 1 375 2 Highlight one of the following options and press J. D 376 1 2 377 4 5 6 7 D Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions Page Page Page Troubleshooting Refer to the page numbers in the right-most column for more inform ation. Display A Shooting Page Page Page Playback Page Miscellaneous Error Messages Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Defaults Defaults Restored with a Two-Button Reset (pg. 182)1 Defaults Restored with [Reset Shooting Menu] (pg. 257) 402 Defaults Restored with [Reset Custom Settings] (pg. 266)* Page Page Memory Card Capacity A Exposure Program The exposure program for programmed auto is shown i n the following graph: Aperture Shutter speed f/1.4 f/16 Aperture, Sensitivity, and Flash Range Specifications Nikon D300 Digital Camera Type Page Page Page Page Page Page Page A Page Index Page Page Page Page Page Page User's Manual