David Busch’s Nikon D5500 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

David Busch’s Nikon D5500 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

by David D. Busch
Released October 2015
Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781681980409

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Book description

David Busch's Nikon D5500 Guide to Digital Photography is your all-in-one comprehensive resource and reference for the Nikon D5500 camera. This ultracompact and lightweight Nikon digital SLR has a swiveling touch screen LCD that makes taking photos or changing settings quick and easy. The D5500 includes built-in Wi-Fi, so you can use your iOS or Android device to control the camera or upload photos to your phone, tablet, or personal computer. The D5500 captures 24-megapixel still images and 1080p 60 fps high-definition movies with stereo sound, too. With this book in hand, you can fine-tune your camera skills as you explore the world of digital photography, develop your creativity, and take great photographs with your D5500.
Filled with detailed how-to steps and full-color illustrations, David Busch's Nikon D5500 Guide to Digital Photography covers all the camera's features in depth, from taking your first photos through advanced details of setup, exposure, lens selection, lighting, and more, and relates each feature to specific photographic techniques and situations. Also included is the handy visual guide to the D5500, with close-up photos and descriptions of the camera's essential features and controls, including the versatile LCD touch screen. Learn when to use each option and, more importantly, when not to use them, by following the author’s recommended settings for every menu entry. With best-selling photographer and mentor David Busch as your guide, you'll quickly have full creative mastery of your camera’s capabilities, whether you're shooting on the job, taking shots as an advanced enthusiast, or are just out for fun. Start building your knowledge and confidence, while bringing your vision to light with the Nikon D5500 today.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. About the Author
  7. Contents
  8. Introduction
  9. Chapter 1 Thinking Outside of the Box
    1. First Things First
    2. Initial Setup
      1. Mastering the Multi Selector, Command Dials, and Touch Screen
      2. Setting the Clock
      3. Battery Included
      4. Final Steps
  10. Chapter 2 Nikon D5500 Quick Start
    1. Choosing a Release Mode
    2. Adjusting ISO
    3. Selecting an Exposure Mode
      1. Choosing an Auto/Scene or Effects Mode
      2. Choosing an Advanced Mode
    4. Choosing a Metering Mode
    5. Choosing a Focus Mode
    6. Choosing the Focus Area Mode
    7. Reviewing the Images You’ve Taken
    8. Using the Built-in Flash
    9. Transferring Photos to Your Computer
    10. Changing Default Settings
      1. Resetting the Nikon D5500
      2. Recommended Default Changes
    11. Shooting Menu Recommendations
    12. Custom Setting Menu Recommendations
  11. Chapter 3 Nikon D5500 Roadmap
    1. Nikon D5500: Full Frontal
    2. The Nikon D5500’s Business End
    3. Playing Back Images
      1. Zooming the Nikon D5500 Playback Display
      2. Viewing Thumbnails
      3. Working with Calendar View
    4. Working with the Shooting Information/Photo Data Displays
      1. Using the Shooting Information Display
      2. Using the Photo Data Displays
    5. Going Topside
    6. Lens Components
    7. Looking Inside the Viewfinder
    8. Underneath Your Nikon D5500
  12. Chapter 4 Nailing the Right Exposure
    1. Getting a Handle on Exposure
    2. How the D5500 Calculates Exposure
      1. Correctly Exposed
      2. Overexposed
      3. Underexposed
    3. Choosing a Metering Method
      1. Matrix Metering
      2. Center-Weighted Metering
      3. Spot Metering
    4. Choosing an Exposure Method
      1. Aperture-Priority
      2. Shutter-Priority
      3. Program Mode
      4. Manual Exposure
    5. Using Scene Modes
    6. Adjusting Exposure with ISO Settings
      1. Dealing with Noise
    7. Fixing Exposures with Histograms
    8. Bracketing
      1. White Balance Bracketing/ADL Bracketing
      2. HDR Photography
      3. Auto HDR
      4. Bracketing and Merge to HDR
  13. Chapter 5 Mastering Autofocus Options
    1. How Focus Works
      1. Contrast Detection
      2. Phase Detection
      3. Cross-Type Focus Points
      4. Adding Circles of Confusion
      5. Phase Detection vs. Contrast Detection
    2. Using Autofocus with the Nikon D5500
      1. Autofocus Simplifies Our Lives . . . Doesn’t It?
      2. Focus on the D5500’s Multi-CAM 4800DX AF System
      3. Autofocus Point Selection Overview
      4. Choosing Autofocus Point Selection Mode
    3. Autofocus Mode and Priority
      1. Autofocus Mode
    4. Back Button Focus
      1. Activating Back Button Focus
  14. Chapter 6 Live View and Movies
    1. The New Perspective of Live View and Movies
    2. Beginning Live View
      1. Metering Mode
      2. Focus Mode
      3. Focus Area
      4. Introducing Subject-Tracking
      5. Viewing Live View Information
      6. Shooting in Live View
    3. Shooting Movies with the D5500
      1. Movie Exposure
      2. Viewing Your Movies
      3. Editing Your Movies
    4. Tips for Shooting Better Movies
      1. Make a Shooting Script
      2. Use Storyboards
      3. Storytelling in Video
      4. Lighting for Video
      5. Audio
  15. Chapter 7 Advanced Techniques
    1. Continuous Shooting
    2. A Tiny Slice of Time
      1. Working with Short Exposures
    3. Long Exposures
      1. Three Ways to Take Long Exposures
      2. Working with Long Exposures
    4. Delayed Exposures
      1. Self-Timer
      2. Time-Lapse/Interval Photography
    5. Geotagging
      1. GPS with the Nikon GP-1/GP-1a
    6. Wi-Fi
      1. Connecting Your Camera to Your Smart Device
      2. Eye-Fi Cards and Alternatives
  16. Chapter 8 Playback and Shooting Menus
    1. Anatomy of the Nikon D5500’s Menus
    2. Playback Menu Options
      1. Delete
      2. Playback Folder
      3. Playback Display Options
      4. Image Review
      5. Auto Image Rotation
      6. Rotate Tall
      7. Slide Show
      8. DPOF Print Order
      9. Rating
      10. Select to Send to Smart Device
    3. Shooting Menu Options
      1. Reset Shooting Menu
      2. Storage Folder
      3. File Naming
      4. Image Quality
      5. Image Size
      6. NEF (RAW) Recording
      7. ISO Sensitivity Settings
      8. White Balance
      9. Set Picture Control
      10. Manage Picture Control
      11. Color Space
      12. Active D-Lighting
      13. HDR (High Dynamic Range)
      14. Release Mode
      15. Long Exp. NR
      16. High ISO NR
      17. Vignette Control
      18. Auto Distortion Control
      19. Interval Timer Shooting
      20. Movie Settings
  17. Chapter 9 Custom Setting Menu
    1. Custom Setting Menu Layout
      1. Reset Custom Settings
    2. a. Autofocus
      1. a1 AF-C Priority Selection
      2. a2 Number of Focus Points
      3. a3 Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator
      4. a4 Rangefinder
    3. b. Exposure
      1. b1 EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl
      2. b2 ISO Display
    4. c. Timers/AE Lock
      1. c1 Shutter Release Button AE-L
      2. c2 Auto Off Timers
      3. c3 Self-Timer
      4. c4 Remote on Duration (ML-L3)
    5. d. Shooting/Display
      1. d1 Exposure Delay Mode
      2. d2 File Number Sequence
      3. d3 Viewfinder Grid Display
      4. d4 Date Stamp
      5. d5 Reverse Indicators
    6. e. Bracketing/Flash
      1. e1 Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash
      2. e2 Auto Bracketing Set
    7. f. Controls
      1. f1 Assign Fn Button
      2. f2 Assign AE-L/AF-L Button
      3. f3 Assign Touch Fn
      4. f4 Reverse Dial Rotation
  18. Chapter 10 Setup, Retouch, and My Menus
    1. Setup Menu Options
      1. Format Memory Card
      2. Image Comment
      3. Copyright Information
      4. Time Zone and Date
      5. Language
      6. Beep Options
      7. Touch Controls
      8. Monitor Brightness
      9. Info Display Format
      10. Auto Info Display
      11. Info Display Auto Off
      12. Clean Image Sensor
      13. Lock Mirror Up for Cleaning
      14. Image Dust Off Ref Photo
      15. Flicker Reduction
      16. Slot Empty Release Lock
      17. Video Mode
      18. HDMI
      19. Accessory Terminal
      20. Wi-Fi
      21. Eye-Fi Upload
      22. Conformity Marking
      23. Firmware Version
    2. Retouch Menu Options
      1. NEF (RAW) Processing
      2. Trim
      3. Resize
      4. D-Lighting
      5. Quick Retouch
      6. Red-Eye Correction
      7. Straighten
      8. Distortion Control
      9. Perspective Control
      10. Fisheye
      11. Filter Effects
      12. Monochrome
      13. Image Overlay
      14. Color Outline
      15. Photo Illustration
      16. Color Sketch
      17. Miniature Effect
      18. Selective Color
      19. Painting
      20. Edit Movie
      21. Side-by-Side Comparison
    3. Using Special Effects Modes
    4. Using My Menu
  19. Chapter 11 Working with Lenses
    1. Sensor Sensibilities
      1. Crop or Not?
    2. Your First Lens
      1. Buy Now, Expand Later
      2. Your Best Do-Everything Option?
    3. What Lenses Can You Use?
    4. Ingredients of Nikon’s Alphanumeric Soup
    5. What Lenses Can Do for You
      1. Zoom or Prime?
    6. Categories of Lenses
    7. Using Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom Lenses
      1. Avoiding Potential Wide-Angle Problems
    8. Using Telephoto and Tele-Zoom Lenses
      1. Avoiding Telephoto Lens Problems
      2. Telephotos and Bokeh
    9. Add-ons and Special Features
      1. Lens Hoods
      2. Telephoto Converters
      3. Macro Focusing
      4. Vibration Reduction
  20. Chapter 12 Making Light Work for You
    1. Continuous Illumination versus Electronic Flash
    2. Continuous Lighting Basics
      1. Daylight
      2. Incandescent/Tungsten Light
      3. Fluorescent Light/Other Light Sources
      4. Adjusting White Balance
    3. Electronic Flash Basics
      1. How Electronic Flash Works
      2. Determining Exposure
      3. Guide Numbers
      4. Flash Control
      5. Flash Metering Mode
      6. Choosing a Flash Sync Mode
    4. A Typical Electronic Flash Sequence
    5. Working with Nikon Flash Units
      1. Nikon D5500 Built-in Flash
    6. Nikon Add-on Flash Units
      1. Nikon SB-300
      2. Nikon SB-400
      3. Nikon SB-500
      4. Nikon SB-700
      5. Nikon SB-R200
      6. Nikon SB-910
    7. Flash Techniques
      1. Using the Zoom Head
      2. Flash Modes
    8. Working with Wireless Commander Mode
    9. Connecting External Flash
    10. More Advanced Lighting Techniques
      1. Diffusing and Softening the Light
      2. Using Multiple Light Sources
      3. Other Lighting Accessories

Product information

  • Title: David Busch’s Nikon D5500 Guide to Digital SLR Photography
  • Author(s): David D. Busch
  • Release date: October 2015
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781681980409