Nikon D5100 The Mode Dial

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The Mode Dial

The camera offers a choice of the following shooting modes:

P, S, A, and M Modes

Select these modes for full control over

camera settings.

•P—Programmed auto (062)

•S—Shutter-priority auto (063)

•A—Aperture-priority auto (064)

•M—Manual (065)

Auto Modes

Select these modes for simple, point-

and-shoot photography.

•i Auto (026)

•j Auto (flash off) (026)

Special Effects Modes

Use special effects during shooting.

•% Night vision (0116)

•g Color sketch

(0116, 118)

•( Miniature effect

(0116, 119)

•3 Selective color

(0117, 120)

•1 Silhouette (0117)

•2 High key (0117)

•3 Low key (0117)

Scene Modes

The camera automatically optimizes settings to suit the scene selected with the mode dial.

Match your selection to the scene being photographed.

•k Portrait (030)

•l Landscape (030)

•p Child (031)

•m Sports (031)

•n Close up (031)

•h: Other scenes (032)

AScene Auto Selector (Live View)

Selecting live view in i or j mode enables automatic scene selection (“scene auto

selector”; 0104) when autofocus is used.

Contents

Main D A 0 Page ii Find what youre looking for using this question and answer index. Q&A Index Taking Photographs Viewing Photographs iii Retouching Photographs Menus and Settings Connections Maintenance and Optional Accessories Table of Contents iv Introduction 1 Basic Photography 25 v More on Photography (All Modes) 35 P, S, A, and M Modes 61 vi Live View 99 Recording and Viewing Movies 107 Special Effects 115 More on Playback 123 vii Connections 137 Menu Guide 149 viii ix Technical Notes 197 x For Your Safety A WARNINGS A A xi A xii Notices xiii D5100 xiv xv D A Page X Introduction The Camera Body Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays. A Rotate the power switch as shown to turn the camera on. Rotate the power switch as shown to turn the camera off. The Mode Dial The camera offers a choice of the following shooting modes: A The Monitor The monitor can be angled and rotated as shown below. D The Information Dis play Camera settings can be viewed and adjusted in the information display. Press the P button once to view settings, and again to make changes to settings. Highlight items using the multi selector and press J to view options for the highlighted item. A The Command Dial Page Page The Viewfinder D The response time and brightness of the viewfinder display may vary with temperature. Camera Menus d Using Camera Menus 1 2 3 Page 14 First Steps Charge the Battery 1 2 3 2 3 4 A D 17 Attach a Lens 2 camera body cap. 3 D Vibration Reduction (VR) A D 19 Basic Setup 1 2 3 4 5 A 21 Insert a Memory Card GB 2 3 A D A 1 2 3 4 D 23 1 2 3 A Page s Basic Photography Battery Level Number of Exposures Remaining Battery Level and Card Capacity Point-and-Shoot Photography (iand j Modes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Page A Creative Photography (Scene Modes) The Mode Dial k l p m n Other Scenes o r s t u v w x y z 0 z More on Photography (All Modes) 2 Release Mode 36 3 A 37 Self-Timer and Remote Control Modes 1 2 3 4 D A D A qw 39 Focus Focus Mod e 2 40 3 Highlight a focus mode and press J. To ret urn to shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway. A D 42 AF-Area Mode 2 3 43 Focus Point Selection 1 (Auto-area AF; 042). 2 A 44 1 2 3 A 45 1 2 A The Electronic Rangefinder A 47 Image Quality and Size Image Quality 2 48 3 Highlight an option and press J. To ret urn to shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway. A 2 3 Using the Built-in Flash Using the Built-in Flash: i, k, p, n, o, s, w, and g Modes 1 2 Using the Built-in Flash: P, S, A, M, and 0 Modes 1 2 3 A + A 54 ISO Sensitivity 2 3 Page 56 Interval Timer Photography 1 2 3 D 4 5 A Restoring Default Settings The information display turns off briefly while settings are reset. Settings Accessible from the Information Display Other Settings Page t P, S, A, and M Modes P, S, A, and M modes offer different degrees of control over shutter speed and aperture: Shutter Speed and Aperture D 1 2 A 63 Mode S (Shutter-Priority Auto) 1 2 64 Mode A (Aperture-Priority Auto) 1 2 65 Mode M (Manual) 1 2 A 66 Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only) 1 2 3 4 5 68 Exposure Metering 2 3 69 1 2 3 A 70 2 3 A 72 Flash Compensation 2 3 A 74 Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows Active D-Lighting 2 3 D A 76 High Dynamic Range (HDR) 1 2 + 77 3 4 D 78 Multiple Exposure Creating a Multiple Exposure 1 2 A 3 4 A Interrupting Multiple Exposures D 81 White Balance 2 3 A 83 Fine-Tuning White Balance 1 2 3 4 A 1 2 3 4 85 5 6 D A Copying White Balance from a Photograph 1 2 3 4 5 Bracketing 1 2 89 3 4 A 91 Picture Controls Selecting a Picture Control 2 3 92 1 2 3 4 A Picture Control Settings D A 95 Creating Custom Picture Controls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A Sharing Custom Picture Controls A Page 99 x Live View 1 2 3 1 display. 2 3 101 1 display. 2 3 Choosing the Focus Point D Page A c d e f Z b A A Page D A 107 y Recording and Viewing Movies 1 2 3 4 Press the movie-record button again to end recording. A D 1 Highlight Movie settings in the shooting menu and press 2. 2 Highlight the desired item and press 2, then highlight an option and press J. A Viewin g Movies The following operations can be performed: Movies are indicated by a 1 icon in full-frame playback (0123). Press J to start playback. Editing Movies Trim ming Movi es 1 2 3 4 5 6 D A 1 2 3 4 5 Page % Special Effects Special effects can be used when recording images. Shooting with Special Effects A % g ( 3 1 2 3 118 Options Available in Live View gColor Sketch 2 (Miniature Effect 3 4 5 120 3Selective Color 2 3 4 5 6 Page I More on Playback To play photographs back, press the K button. The most recent photograph will be displayed in the monitor. Full-Fr ame Play back Photo Information Photo information is superimposed on images displayed in full-frame playback. 5 6 4 Highlights * RGB Histogram A Shooting Data A D5100 N 14 15 16 17 Original Picture Control5........................................92 18 19 20 21 Filter effects 7..............................................................93 Overview GPS Data * Thumbnail Playback To display images in contact sheets of four, nine, or 72 images, press the W button. Calendar Playback To view images taken on a selected date, press the W button when 72 images are displayed. Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom P The following operations can be performed while zoom is in effect: 132 Protecting Photographs from Deletion 1 2 A 133 Deleting Photographs Full-Frame, Thumbnail, and Calendar Playback 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 136 Slide Shows 1 2 A Q Connections Before Connecting the Camera Supplied Software Supported Operating Systems 1 2 3 4 5 6 D Printing Photographs Connecting the Printer 2 A D 3 Printing Pictures One at a Time 1 2 3 141 4 Select Start printing and press J to start printing. To cancel before all copies have been printed, press J. D 1 2 3 D 143 4 5 6 A 144 1 order item in the playback menu. 2 3 145 4 5 D 146 Viewing Photographs on TV Standard Definition Devices 1 2 3 4 A 2 3 4 D A HDMI Options Output Resolution Device Control A M o Menu Guide Choose a folder for playback: To display the playback menu, press G and select the D (playback menu) tab. o Playback Display Options Image Review Rotate Tall CThe Shooting Menu: ShootingO ptions To display the shooting menu, press G and select the C (shooting menu) tab. The shooting menu contains the following options: Reset shooting menu Storage Folder D Auto Distortion Control A Color Space A Long Exposure NR High ISO NR Auto ISO sensitivity control ISO Sensitivity Settings A Page The following Custom Settings are available: Reset Custom Settings Select Yes to restore Custom Settings to their default values. a: Autofocus a1: AF-C Priority Selection a2: Built-in AF-assist Illuminator a3: Rangefinder A b: Exposure b1: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl. c: Timers/AE Lock c2: Auto off Timers A c3: Self-Timer c4: Remote on Duration d: Shooting/Display d2: ISO Display d1: Beep d3: File Number Sequence D d4: Exposure Delay Mode Choose the date information imprinted on photographs as they are taken. Future date (two days remaining) Past date (two days elapsed) Date Counter Highlight an option and press J. Highlight Done in the date counter menu and press J when settings are complete. d5: Print Date A e: Bracketing/Flash e1: Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash A 165 & f: Controls f1: Assign E/Fn Button G button ACustom Settings menu E v w f2: Assign AE-L/AF-L Button B C F E BThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup To display the setup menu, press G and select the B (setup menu) tab. Note: Depending on camera settings, some items may be grayed out and unavailable. The setup menu contains the following options: 168 1 2 Monitor Brightness Info Display Format The Classic display is shown below. A When the camera is rotated 90, shooting information rotates to match camera orientation. Auto Info Display Video Mode Flicker Reduction A Time Zone and Date Language Image Comment 172 1 Auto Image Rotation Image Dust Off Ref Photo D A 2 3 D GPS A Eye-Fi Upload D Firmware Version A NThe Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies To display the retouch menu, press G and select the N (retouch menu) tab. A 177 Creating Retouched Copies 1 2 3 4 A D-Lighting Red-Eye Correction Trim A Monochrome Choose from the following filter effects. Filter Effects 1 181 Color Balance + 2 3 4 5 6 1 183 2 3 1 Resize 2 3 4 A Quick Retouch Straighten Distortion Control D Fisheye Color Outline Color Sketch Perspective Control Miniature Effect 189 1 2 3 4 Selective Color 5 6 7 191 1 2 3 Side-by-Side Comparison D mRecent Settings/OMy Menu My Menu 1 2 A 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 A Page Page n Technical Notes The f-number given in lens names is the maximum aperture of the lens. This camera supports autofocus with AF-S and AF-I CPU lenses only. A Compatible Non-CPU Lenses Non-CPU lenses may only be used when the camera is in mode M. Selecting another mode disables the shutter release. Some non-CPU lenses can not be used; see Incompatible Accessories and Non-CPU Lenses, below. Page D A 202 Optional Flash Units (Speedlights) 1 2 A D The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) CLS-Compatible Flash Units A The following features are available with CLS-compatible flash units: Other Flash Units The following flash units can be used in non-TTL auto and manual modes. D Other Accessories At the time of writing, the following accessories were available for the D5100. Approved Memory Cards The following SD memory cards have been tested and approved for use in the D5100. Other cards have not been tested. Cards with class 6 or faster write speeds are recommended for movie recording. 1 2 3 4 r e Caring for the Camera Storage Cleaning D 210 1 2 3 211 Clean at startup/shutdown 1 2 D 212 Manual Cleaning 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 A D Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions Page Available Settings The following table lists the settings that can be adjusted in each mode. Page Memory Card Capac ity A Exposure Program (Mode P) The exposure program for mode P is shown in the following graph: f1.4 f22 When matrix metering is used, values over 161/3EV are reduced to 161/3EV. Troubleshooting Shooting (All Modes) Display A Page Shooting (P, S, A, M) Playback Miscellaneous Error Messages This section lists the indicators and error messages that appear in the viewfinder and monitor. A Page Page Specifications Nikon D5100 Digital Camera Page Page Page Page Page The AF-S DX NIKKOR 1855mm f/3.55.6G VR A D A A For more information, see Getting Good Results with Autofocus (040). Supported Standards Battery Life Index Symbols Numerics A B D E F G H N O P Q R