Mastering the Nikon D300

Mastering the Nikon D300

by Darrell Young
Released October 2008
Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781933952345

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Book description

Mastering the Nikon D300 by Nikonian Darrell Young provides a wealth of information and professional insights for owners of this powerful new camera. Each chapter explores the features and capabilities of the D300 in detail, surpassing basic user manuals by providing step-by-step menu setting adjustments coupled with illustrations and logical explanations for each option. Darrell Young's writing style allows the reader to follow directions in a friendly and informative manner, as if a friend dropped in to share his experienced knowledge without "talking down" to you, explaining the how and the why. The learning experience for D300 beginners (and refresher information for professionals) goes beyond the camera itself. When camera features and options expand to additional Nikon equipment (such as with the use of optional Speedlights) Darrell adds the necessary information. Young's frequent references to user manuals provided by Nikon (complete with specific page references) allow the reader to easily navigate past the "confusion factor" that often comes with new equipment.

Mastering the Nikon D300 is the inaugural title kicking off the Nikonians Press imprint "the exciting, new joint venture between Nikonians and Rocky Nook.

Table of contents

  2. Copyright
  3. Foreword
  4. Preface
  5. Using the Nikon D300
    1. Nikon D100 - Generation 1
    2. Nikon D200 – Generation 2
    3. Nikon D300 – Generation 3
    4. EXPEED Image Processor
    5. 12.3 Megapixel DXCMOS Sensor
    6. 6 or 8 Frames per Second
    7. Noise Control
    8. Live View
    9. 3-Inch Monitor
    10. Fine-tuning
    11. Sensor Dust Cleaning
    12. Picture Control
    13. Active D-Lighting
    14. 51-Point Auto Focus
    15. 12-Bit or 14-Bit Color Depth
    16. Lossless Compressed NEF (RAW)
    17. Exposure Delay Mode
    18. Retouch Menu
    19. My Menu
    20. 100% Viewfinder Frame
    21. Rubber Covers Instead of Lost Screw-On Caps
    22. HDMI Device Port
    23. My Conclusions
  6. Exposure Metering, Exposure Modes, and Histogram
    1. Metering Systems
    2. 3D Color Matrix II Meter
    3. Fine Tuning Matrix Metering
    4. Using Flash with Matrix Metering
    5. Center-Weighted Meter
    6. Where's the Circle?
    7. What About the Averaging Meter?
    8. Spot Meter
    9. Exposure Modes
    10. P - Programmed Auto Mode
    11. Get Down Grandpa!
    12. S - Shutter Priority Auto Mode
    13. A - Aperture Priority Auto Mode
    14. Understanding Depth of Field
    15. M – Manual Mode
    16. Histogram
    17. Understanding the Histogram
    18. How Does the Eye React to Light Values?
    19. Computer Adjustment of Images
    20. My Conclusions
  7. Multi-CAM 3500DX Autofocus
    1. What is the Multi-CAM 3500DX Autofocus Module?
    2. Understanding the Focus Modes, AF-Area Modes, and Release Modes
    3. Focus Modes in Detail
    4. AF-Area Modes in Detail
    5. Release Modes in Detail
    6. My Conclusions
  8. White Balance
    1. How Does White Balance (WB) Work?
    2. Color Temperature
    3. Method 1 - Manual White Balance Using the WB Button
    4. Method 2 – Manual White Balance Using the Monitor LCD's Shooting Menu
    5. White Balance Bracketing
    6. AUTO White Balance
    7. White Balance Tips and Tricks
    8. My Conclusions
  9. Shooting Menu Banks
    1. Setting Up Shooting Menu Bank "A"
    2. Shooting Menu's 18 Item Review
    3. NEF (RAW) Format
    4. TIFF Format
    5. Combined NEF and JPEG Shooting (two images at once)
    6. Notes on the Image Formats: RAW, TIFF, and JPEG
    7. Picture Controls
    8. My Conclusions
  10. Custom Setting Banks
    1. Setting Up Custom Setting Bank "A"
    2. Configuring the Custom Settings
    3. Shooting/Display
    4. How to Use the Auto Bracketing System (Bracketing Explained)
    5. Controls
    6. My Conclusions – Using the Shooting Banks and Custom Banks Together
  11. Playback Menu
    1. Delete Function
    2. Playback Folder
    3. Hide Image
    4. Display Mode
    5. Image Review
    6. After Delete
    7. Rotate Tall
    8. Slide Show
    9. Print Set (DPOF)
    10. My Conclusions
  12. Setup Menu, Retouch Menu, and My Menu
    1. Section 1: Setup Menu
    2. Section 2: Retouch Menu
    3. Section 3: My Menu
    4. My Conclusions
  13. Nikon Creative Lighting System
    1. What is the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)?
    2. How Does the D300 Fit into the CLS Scheme?
    3. What is Commander Mode and How Does it Work?
    4. Using the Nikon D300 in Commander Mode
    5. Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Slave Configuration
    6. Using the Nikon SB-800 Speedlight as a Commander Device
    7. Examining the Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander Unit

Product information

  • Title: Mastering the Nikon D300
  • Author(s): Darrell Young
  • Release date: October 2008
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781933952345