Nikon® D3000 For Dummies®

Nikon® D3000 For Dummies®

Released December 2009
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9780470578940

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Book description

Explore your camera's creative options and learn to get great shots with your dSLR!

Congratulations — you've chosen to take greater control over your photos with a dSLR camera! Now get expert advice on making the most of your Nikon D3000. Learn how to use its many settings, how to get the best results in automatic mode, when to use the built-in flash, how to produce prints that look as good as they do on your monitor, and more.

  • Lenses, modes, and more — learn to attach and remove lenses, set the focus mode, and use all the controls

  • Quality control — discover how to get the best picture quality and solve common image problems

  • Cultivate creativity — explore automatic Scene modes and then step up to full control with manual exposure modes

  • Processing your pictures — download your images to yourcomputer, process RAW files, and organize your photos

  • Share — find out how to get perfect prints, optimize photos for e-mailing, and create a digital slide show

Open the book and find:

  • Details about every camera option

  • Answers to common photography questions

  • Secrets for capturing great action shots

  • Pro techniques for photographing people and pets

  • Ways to avoid red-eye and other photo problems

  • Fun effects you can add with your camera

  • When to use JPEG and when to use RAW

  • Simple explanations of f-stops, shutter speed, ISO, and other photo terms

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Author's Acknowledgments
  4. Publisher's Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. A Quick Look at What's Ahead
      1. Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps
      2. Part II: Taking Creative Control
      3. Part III: Working with Picture Files
      4. Part IV: The Part of Tens
    2. Icons and Other Stuff to Note
    3. About the Software Shown in This Book
    4. eCheat Sheet
    5. Practice, Be Patient, and Have Fun!
  6. I. Fast Track to Super Snaps
    1. 1. Getting the Lay of the Land
      1. 1.1. Getting Comfortable with Your Lens
        1. 1.1.1. Attaching a lens
        2. 1.1.2. Removing a lens
        3. 1.1.3. Using a VR (vibration reduction) lens
        4. 1.1.4. Setting the focus mode (auto or manual)
        5. 1.1.5. Zooming in and out
      2. 1.2. Adjusting the Viewfinder Focus
      3. 1.3. Working with Memory Cards
      4. 1.4. Exploring External Camera Controls
        1. 1.4.1. Topside controls
        2. 1.4.2. Back-of-the-body controls
        3. 1.4.3. Front-left buttons
      5. 1.5. Ordering from Camera Menus
        1. 1.5.1. Using the guided menus
        2. 1.5.2. Ordering off the main menus
      6. 1.6. Monitoring Shooting Settings
      7. 1.7. Using the Quick Settings Screen
      8. 1.8. Displaying Help Screens
      9. 1.9. Customizing Your Camera
      10. 1.10. Restoring Default Settings
    2. 2. Taking Great Pictures, Automatically
      1. 2.1. Getting Good Point-and-Shoot Results
      2. 2.2. Using Flash in Automatic Exposure Modes
      3. 2.3. Exploring Your Automatic Exposure Options
        1. 2.3.1. Auto mode
          1. 2.3.1.1. Auto Flash Off mode
        2. 2.3.2. Scene modes
          1. 2.3.2.1. Portrait and Child modes
          2. 2.3.2.2. Landscape mode
          3. 2.3.2.3. Sports mode
          4. 2.3.2.4. Close Up mode
          5. 2.3.2.5. Night Portrait mode
      4. 2.4. Changing the (Shutter Button) Release Mode
    3. 3. Controlling Picture Quality and Size
      1. 3.1. Diagnosing Quality Problems
      2. 3.2. Considering Resolution (Image Size)
        1. 3.2.1. Pixels and print quality
        2. 3.2.2. Pixels and screen display size
        3. 3.2.3. Pixels and file size
        4. 3.2.4. Resolution recommendations
      3. 3.3. Understanding the Image Quality Options
        1. 3.3.1. JPEG: The imaging (and Web) standard
        2. 3.3.2. NEF (RAW): The purist's choice
          1. 3.3.2.1. Examining the pros and cons of RAW
          2. 3.3.2.2. Exploring your RAW shooting options
        3. 3.3.3. My take: Choose JPEG Fine or NEF (RAW)
      4. 3.4. Setting Image Size and Quality
    4. 4. Reviewing Your Photos
      1. 4.1. Setting Playback Timing Preferences
        1. 4.1.1. Adjusting playback timing
        2. 4.1.2. Adjusting and disabling instant review
      2. 4.2. Enabling Automatic Picture Rotation
      3. 4.3. Viewing Images in Playback Mode
        1. 4.3.1. Viewing multiple images at a time
        2. 4.3.2. Displaying photos in Calendar view
        3. 4.3.3. Zooming in for a closer view
      4. 4.4. Viewing Picture Data
        1. 4.4.1. File Information mode
        2. 4.4.2. RGB Histogram mode
          1. 4.4.2.1. Reading a Brightness histogram
          2. 4.4.2.2. Understanding RGB histograms
        3. 4.4.3. Highlight display mode
        4. 4.4.4. Shooting Data display mode
        5. 4.4.5. Overview Data mode
      5. 4.5. Deleting Photos
        1. 4.5.1. Deleting images one at a time
        2. 4.5.2. Deleting all photos
        3. 4.5.3. Deleting a batch of selected photos
      6. 4.6. Protecting Photos
  7. II. Taking Creative Control
    1. 5. Getting Creative with Exposure and Lighting
      1. 5.1. Introducing the Exposure Trio: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO
        1. 5.1.1. Understanding exposure-setting side effects
        2. 5.1.2. Doing the exposure balancing act
      2. 5.2. Exploring the Advanced Exposure Modes
      3. 5.3. Reading (And Adjusting) the Meter
      4. 5.4. Setting ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed
        1. 5.4.1. Adjusting aperture and shutter speed
        2. 5.4.2. Controlling ISO
      5. 5.5. Choosing an Exposure Metering Mode
      6. 5.6. Applying Exposure Compensation
      7. 5.7. Using Autoexposure Lock
      8. 5.8. Expanding Tonal Range with Active D-Lighting
      9. 5.9. Using Flash in P, S, A, and M Modes
        1. 5.9.1. Enabling flash and adjusting the flash mode
          1. 5.9.1.1. Fill flash
          2. 5.9.1.2. Red-eye reduction flash
          3. 5.9.1.3. Slow-sync and rear-sync flash
        2. 5.9.2. Adjusting flash output
        3. 5.9.3. Using an external flash head
    2. 6. Manipulating Focus and Color
      1. 6.1. Reviewing Focus Basics
      2. 6.2. Taking Advantage of Manual-Focusing Aids
      3. 6.3. Adjusting Autofocus Performance
        1. 6.3.1. Understanding the AF-area mode setting
          1. 6.3.1.1. Changing the AF-area mode setting
          2. 6.3.1.2. Selecting a single focus point
        2. 6.3.2. Changing the Focus mode setting
        3. 6.3.3. Choosing the right autofocus combo
        4. 6.3.4. Using autofocus lock
      4. 6.4. Manipulating Depth of Field
      5. 6.5. Controlling Color
        1. 6.5.1. Correcting colors with white balance
        2. 6.5.2. Changing the white balance setting
        3. 6.5.3. Fine-tuning white balance settings
        4. 6.5.4. Creating white balance presets
          1. 6.5.4.1. Setting white balance with direct measurement
          2. 6.5.4.2. Matching white balance to an existing photo
      6. 6.6. Choosing a Color Space: sRGB vs. Adobe RGB
      7. 6.7. Taking a Quick Look at Picture Controls
    3. 7. Putting It All Together
      1. 7.1. Recapping Basic Picture Settings
      2. 7.2. Setting Up for Specific Scenes
        1. 7.2.1. Shooting still portraits
        2. 7.2.2. Capturing action
        3. 7.2.3. Capturing scenic vistas
        4. 7.2.4. Capturing dynamic close-ups
      3. 7.3. Coping with Special Situations
  8. III. Working with Picture Files
    1. 8. Downloading, Organizing, and Archiving Your Picture Files
      1. 8.1. Sending Pictures to the Computer
        1. 8.1.1. Connecting the camera and computer
        2. 8.1.2. Starting the transfer process
      2. 8.2. Downloading and Organizing Photos with the Nikon Software
        1. 8.2.1. Downloading with Nikon Transfer
        2. 8.2.2. Browsing images in Nikon ViewNX
        3. 8.2.3. Viewing picture metadata
        4. 8.2.4. Organizing pictures
      3. 8.3. Processing RAW (NEF) Files
        1. 8.3.1. Processing RAW images in the camera
        2. 8.3.2. Processing RAW files in ViewNX
    2. 9. Printing and Sharing Your Pictures
      1. 9.1. Printing Possibilities: Retail or Do-It-Yourself?
      2. 9.2. Preventing Potential Printing Problems
        1. 9.2.1. Match resolution to print size
        2. 9.2.2. Allow for different print proportions
        3. 9.2.3. Get print and monitor colors in synch
      3. 9.3. Preparing Pictures for E-Mail
        1. 9.3.1. Creating small copies using the camera
        2. 9.3.2. Downsizing images in Nikon ViewNX
      4. 9.4. Creating a Digital Slide Show
      5. 9.5. Viewing Your Photos on a Television
  9. IV. The Part of Tens
    1. 10. Ten Fun and Practical Retouch Menu Features
      1. 10.1. Applying the Retouch Menu Filters
      2. 10.2. Removing Red-Eye
      3. 10.3. Shadow Recovery with D-Lighting
      4. 10.4. Boosting Shadows, Contrast, and Saturation Together
      5. 10.5. Two Ways to Tweak Color
        1. 10.5.1. Applying digital lens filters
        2. 10.5.2. Manipulating color balance
      6. 10.6. Creating Monochrome Photos
      7. 10.7. Softening Focus for a Dreamy Effect
      8. 10.8. Creating a Color Outline
      9. 10.9. Cropping Your Photo
      10. 10.10. Comparing Your Original and Retouched Photos
    2. 11. Ten Special-Purpose Features to Explore on a Rainy Day
      1. 11.1. Annotate Your Images
      2. 11.2. Creating Custom Image Folders
      3. 11.3. Changing the Function Button's Function
      4. 11.4. Customizing the AE-L/AF-L Button
      5. 11.5. Using the Shutter Button to Lock Exposure and Focus
      6. 11.6. Controlling Flash Output Manually
      7. 11.7. Adding a Starburst Effect
      8. 11.8. Combining Two Photos with Image Overlay
      9. 11.9. Turning Still Photos into a Stop-Motion Movie
      10. 11.10. Creating a Miniature Effect

Product information

  • Title: Nikon® D3000 For Dummies®
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: December 2009
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9780470578940