Nikon D5100 The Mode Dial

The Mode Dial

The camera offers a choice of the following shooting modes:

Auto Modes

Select these modes for simple, point- and-shoot photography.

•iAuto (0 26)

•jAuto (flash off) (0 26)

P, S, A, and M Modes

Select these modes for full control over camera settings.

•P—Programmed auto (0 62)

•S—Shutter-priority auto (0 63)

•A—Aperture-priority auto (0 64)

•M—Manual (0 65)

X

Special Effects Modes

Use special effects during shooting.

•	%Night vision (0 116)	•	3Selective color
•	gColor sketch		(0 117, 120)
	(0 116, 118)	•	1Silhouette (0 117)
•	(Miniature effect	•	2High key (0 117)
	(0 116, 119)	•	3Low key (0 117)

Scene Modes

The camera automatically optimizes settings to suit the scene selected with the mode dial. Match your selection to the scene being photographed.

•	kPortrait (0 30)	•	mSports (0 31)
•	lLandscape (0 30)	•	nClose up (0 31)
•	pChild (0 31)	• h: Other scenes (0 32)

AScene Auto Selector (Live View)

Selecting live view in ior jmode enables automatic scene selection (“scene auto selector”; 0 104) when autofocus is used.

3

Contents

Page Page Where to Find It XIntroduction sBasic Photography zMore on Photography (All Modes) tP, S, A, and M Modes Q&A Index Taking Photographs Viewing Photographs Retouching Photographs Menus and Settings Connections Maintenance and Optional Accessories Table of Contents Introduction Basic Photography More on Photography (All Modes) P, S, A, and M Modes Live View Recording and Viewing Movies Special Effects More on Playback Connections Menu Guide Page Technical Notes For Your Safety ❚❚WARNINGS Page Notices Page Page Page Page Getting to Know the Camera The Camera Body (Continued) The Mode Dial The Monitor The Information Display Page The Command Dial Page Assign /Fn button The Viewfinder Camera Menus Using Camera Menus 1 Display the menus 2Highlight the icon for the current menu 3 Select a menu 4Position the cursor in the selected menu 5Highlight a menu item 6Display options 7Highlight an option 8Select the highlighted item First Steps Insert the Battery 1Turn the camera off 2Open the battery-chambercover 3 Insert the battery 4 Close the battery-chambercover Page Attach a Lens 2 Remove the rear lens cap and the camera body cap 3 Attach the lens A-M M/A-M ❚❚Vibration Reduction (VR) Basic Setup 1Turn the camera on 2 Select a language 3Choose a time zone 4Choose a date format Page Insert a Memory Card 2 Open the card slot cover 3 Insert the memory card Format the Memory Card X1 Turn the camera on 2 Display format options 3Highlight Yes 4Press J Adjust Viewfinder Focus 1Remove the lens cap 2Turn the camera on 3 Focus the viewfinder Page sBasic Photography Battery Level and Card Capacity ❚❚Number of Exposures Remaining “Point-and-Shoot”Photography (iand jModes) 5Press the shutter-releasebutton halfway 6Check the indicators in the viewfinder 7Shoot Page Page Creative Photography (Scene Modes) pChild mSports nClose up Other Scenes oNight Portrait rNight Landscape sParty/Indoor tBeach/Snow uSunset vDusk/Dawn wPet Portrait xCandlelight s yBlossom zAutumn Colors 0Food Release Mode 3Choose a release mode Self-Timerand Remote Control Modes 1Mount the camera on a tripod 2 Select a release mode 3Frame the photograph Take the photograph Page Focus 3Choose a focus mode Page AF-AreaMode Dynamic-area 3D-tracking (11 points) 2Display AF-areamode options Focus Point Selection Auto-area 1Choose an AF-areamode other than e (Auto-areaAF; 0 42) 2Select the focus point Focus Lock 1Focus 2Lock focus AE-L/AF focus mode Manual Focus 1 Set the lens focus-modeswitch 2Focus ❚❚The Electronic Rangefinder Image Quality and Size 3Choose a file type Image Size 1 Place the cursor in the information display 2 Display image size options 3Choose an image size Using the Built-inFlash ❚❚Using the Built-inFlash: i, k, p, n, o, s, w, and gModes ❚❚Using the Built-inFlash: P, S, A, M, and 0Modes Flash Mode 2Display flash mode options 3Choose a flash mode Page Page ISO Sensitivity Page Interval Timer Photography 4Choose the number of intervals 5Start shooting Now ❚❚Settings Accessible from the Information Display ❚❚ Other Settings Page tP, S, A, and M Modes Shutter Speed and Aperture Mode P (Programmed Auto) 1 Rotate the mode dial to P 2Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot Mode S (Shutter-PriorityAuto) 1 Rotate the mode dial to S 2 Choose a shutter speed 3Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot Mode A (Aperture-PriorityAuto) 1 Rotate the mode dial to A 2 Choose an aperture Mode M (Manual) 1 Rotate the mode dial to M 2Choose aperture and shutter speed ❚❚Long Time-Exposures(M Mode Only) 4Open the shutter Bulb Time 5Close the shutter Exposure Autoexposure Lock Center-weighted metering Spot metering 1Meter exposure Exposure Compensation 2Display exposure compensation options 3Choose a value Page Flash Compensation 2Display flash compensation options Page Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows 3Choose an option Extra high High Normal Low High Dynamic Range (HDR) 1 Select HDR (High Dynamic Range) HDR (High Dynamic Range) 2Enable HDR HDR mode 3Choose the exposure differential Exposure differential 4Choose the amount of smoothing Smoothing 5Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot Multiple Exposure ❚❚Creating a Multiple Exposure 3Choose the number of shots Number of shots 4Choose the amount of gain Auto gain ❚❚Interrupting Multiple Exposures White Balance Page Fine-TuningWhite Balance 1 Display white balance options 2Select a white balance option Preset manual and press 2 (if Fluorescent is ❚❚Measuring a Value for Preset White Balance 5Measure white balance 6 Check the results Page ❚❚Copying White Balance from a Photograph Bracketing 3Display bracketing options 4Select a bracketing increment ADL AE bracketing ADL bracketing Page Picture Controls Modifying Picture Controls Quick adjust Display the Picture Control menu Highlight Set Picture Control in the Adjust settings ❚❚Picture Control Settings Page Creating Custom Picture Controls 1 Select Manage Picture Control Manage Picture Control 2Select Save/edit Save/edit 6Name the Picture Control 7Save changes and exit Sharing Custom Picture Controls • Copy to camera • Delete from card Page xLive View Framing Photographs in the Monitor ❚❚Choosing a Focus Mode ❚❚Choosing an AF-AreaMode ❚❚Choosing the Focus Point Page Page Page Page Recording Movies 4End recording ❚❚Movie Settings Viewing Movies Editing Movies 4Choose an option Choose start point Choose end point 5Delete frames 6Save the copy Saving Selected Frames 1View the movie and choose a frame 2Display the retouch menu 3Choose Save selected frame Save selected frame Page %Special Effects Shooting with Special Effects %Night Vision gColor Sketch %(Miniature Effect 3Selective Color 1Silhouette 2High Key 3Low Key ❚❚gColor Sketch ❚❚(Miniature Effect ❚❚3Selective Color 6Return to the live view display Page IMore on Playback Full-FramePlayback ❚❚File Information ❚❚ Highlights Page Page ❚❚Overview ❚❚ GPS Data Thumbnail Playback Calendar Playback Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom Protecting Photographs from Deletion Deleting Photographs ❚❚Selected: Deleting Selected Photographs ❚❚Select Date: Deleting Photographs Taken on a Selected Date Slide Shows QConnections Connecting to a Computer ❚❚Supplied Software ❚❚Supported Operating Systems Connecting the Camera 2Turn the computer on 3Connect the USB cable 4Turn the camera on Q5 Transfer photographs Printing Photographs 3Turn the camera on Printing Pictures One at a Time 1Select a picture 2Display printing options 3Adjust printing options 4Start printing Start printing Printing Multiple Pictures 1 Display the PictBridge menu 2Choose an option • Print select Print (DPOF) 4Display printing options 5Adjust printing options 6 Start printing Creating a DPOF Print Order: Print Set 1 Choose Select/set for the DPOF print order item in the playback menu DPOF print order 4Select imprint options Print date 5Complete the print order Done Viewing Photographs on TV High-DefinitionDevices 2Connect the HDMI cable as shown 3Tune the device to the HDMI channel 4Turn the camera on and press the Kbutton ❚❚HDMI Options Output Resolution Device Control MMenu Guide Playback Folder Playback Display Options Image Review Rotate Tall CThe Shooting Menu: Shooting Options Shooting Options Reset shooting menu Page Long Exposure NR High ISO NR ISO Sensitivity Settings ❚❚Auto ISO sensitivity control ACustom Settings: Reset Custom Settings a: Autofocus a1: AF-CPriority Selection a2: Built-in AF-assistIlluminator a3: Rangefinder b: Exposure b1: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl c: Timers/AE Lock c1: Shutter-ReleaseButton AE-L c2: Auto off Timers c3: Self-Timer d: Shooting/Display d1: Beep d2: ISO Display d3: File Number Sequence d4: Exposure Delay Mode d5: Print Date ❚❚Date Counter e: Bracketing/Flash e2: Auto Bracketing Set f: Controls f1: Assign E/Fn Button f2: Assign AE-L/AF-LButton f3: Reverse Dial Rotation f4: Slot Empty Release Lock f5: Reverse Indicators BThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup Monitor Brightness Info Display Format Page Auto Info Display Video Mode Flicker Reduction Time Zone and Date Language Image Comment Auto Image Rotation •Clean sensor and then start: Select this option to 2Frame a featureless white object in the viewfinder 3Acquire dust off reference data GPS Firmware Version NThe Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies 1Display retouch options 2Select a picture 3Select retouch options 4 Create a retouched copy D-Lighting Red-EyeCorrection Trim Monochrome Page Page 2Select the first image 3Select the second image 4Adjust gain Preview 5Preview the overlay NEF (RAW) Processing Resize Page Page Page Page Page 5Choose the color range 6Select additional colors 7Save the edited copy Side-by-SideComparison mRecent Settings/OMy Menu ❚❚Adding Options to My Menu ❚❚Deleting Options from My Menu ❚❚Reordering Options in My Menu Page nTechnical Notes Compatible Lenses Page Compatible Non-CPULenses Page Page Optional Flash Units (Speedlights) ❚❚CLS-CompatibleFlash Units ❚❚Other Flash Units Page Other Accessories Approved Memory Cards Attaching a Power Connector and AC Adapter 1 Ready the camera 2Insert the EP-5Apower connector 3 Close the battery-chambercover 4Connect the AC adapter Caring for the Camera ❚❚“Clean Now” ❚❚“Clean at startup/shutdown” ❚❚Manual Cleaning 7 Clean the filter 8Turn the camera off Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions Page Available Settings Page Memory Card Capacity Exposure Program (Mode P) Troubleshooting Page Shooting (P, S, A, M) Playback Miscellaneous Error Messages Page Page Specifications ❚❚Nikon D5100 Digital Camera Page Page Page Page Page ❚❚The AF-SDX NIKKOR 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6GVR Page ❚❚Supported Standards Battery Life •Single-framerelease mode (CIPA standard 1): Approximately 660 shots •Continuous release mode (Nikon standard 2): Approximately 2200 shots Index