200David Busch’s Nikon D7000 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

10.At the bottom of the next dialog box that appears, check the box that says, “Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images,” then click OK. The images will load; it may take several minutes for the program to load the images and attempt to arrange them into layers that are aligned based on their content.

11.Once the program has finished processing the images, go to the Layers panel and select all of the layers. You can do this by clicking on the top layer and then Shift- clicking on the bottom one.

12.While the layers are all selected, in Photoshop go to Edit > Auto-Blend Layers. In the dialog box that appears, select the two options, Stack Images and Seamless Tones and Colors, then click OK. The program will process the images, possibly for a con- siderable length of time.

13.If the procedure worked well, the result will be a single image made up of numer- ous layers that have been processed to produce a sharply focused rendering of your subject. If it did not work well, you may have to take additional images the next time, focusing very carefully on small slices of the subject as you move progressively farther away from the lens.

Although this procedure can work very well in Photoshop CS4 and CS5, you also may want to try it with programs that were developed more specifically for focus stacking and related procedures, such as Helicon Focus (www.heliconsoft.com), PhotoAcute (www.photoacute.com), or CombineZM (www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk).

Recommended Customized Settings

I’m going to finish off this chapter with some tables listing recommended settings for your Shooting and Custom Settings menus. I’ve divided the recommended settings into a group of tables, rather than one or two huge tables that would be more difficult to read. The tables show the “default” settings for the Shooting banks and Custom Settings menus, as they come from the factory, plus eight groups intended for Basic, Studio Flash, Portrait, Long Exposure, Sports—Indoors, Sports—Outdoors, Landscapes, and Portraits. For the Custom Settings menu, I add one more group of settings, for expo- sure bracketing.

Each setting includes options that I consider best-suited for their particular shooting situations. For example, when I am bracketing exposures, I like to shoot off a single bracket burst fairly quickly, so I choose CL release mode, with the shooting speed set to 4 frames per second. When I press the shutter release, all the exposures are taken con- secutively in a brief period of time. Similarly, when I am shooting indoor sports, I like to use ISO 1600 and set my autofocus priority to Release. That lets me shoot bursts of pictures with minimal shutter lag when I press the shutter release button, but still gives

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D7000 specifications

The Nikon D7000 is a mid-range digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera that has garnered a reputation for its impressive blend of features and user-friendly design. Released in 2010, the D7000 marked a significant step forward for Nikon, appealing to both amateur photographers and enthusiasts seeking a robust and versatile camera.

At the heart of the D7000 is a 16.2-megapixel APS-C (DX) CMOS sensor that delivers sharp, high-resolution images with rich colors and stunning detail. Coupled with Nikon's EXPEED 2 image processing engine, the camera excels in low-light performance, allowing photographers to shoot at sensitivities ranging from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, expandable to ISO 25600. This flexibility empowers users to capture clean images even in challenging lighting situations.

The autofocus system of the D7000 is another highlight, featuring a 39-point AF system with nine cross-type sensors. This advanced system ensures fast and accurate focus, making it suitable for a variety of shooting scenarios, from portraits to fast-action sports photography. The camera also includes full HD video recording capabilities at 1080p, with options for frame rates of 24, 25, and 30 frames per second, providing videographers with quality and flexibility.

The D7000's build quality is robust, with a magnesium alloy body designed to withstand the rigors of regular use. It is weather-sealed to protect against dust and moisture, making it a reliable choice for outdoor shooting. The camera features a 3-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 921,000 dots, allowing for high-clarity image review and menu navigation. The 100% viewfinder coverage gives a true-to-life perspective when composing shots.

Additional features include in-camera HDR, multiple exposure capabilities, and a comprehensive set of scene modes that assist users in achieving the best results in various conditions. The D7000 is also equipped with dual memory card slots, supporting both SD and SDHC formats for ample storage and backup options.

With its combination of high-quality imaging, advanced autofocus, robust build, and versatile features, the Nikon D7000 stands out as a powerful tool for photographers looking to elevate their craft.
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