Nikon® D300s: Digital Field Guide

Nikon® D300s: Digital Field Guide

Released November 2009
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470521274

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Book description

What you need to know to take amazing photos—or shoot movies!—with your Nikon D300s camera

This portable, full-color guide explains all essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D300s camera, including the exciting new D-Movie with auto-focus feature, 3-inch LCD screen, quiet shutter release, and external microphone for movie recording. You’ll find step-by-step instructions and invaluable tips and tricks to help you take your best stills or live action, whether you’re capturing portraits, candid shots, sports or travel images, or macro photography.

  • Shows you how to get the very most out of your new Nikon D300s digital camera

  • Discusses in detail all the essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D300s, including the new D-Movie feature

  • Provides step-by-step instructions and full-color images of each menu screen

  • Explains not only how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and other settings, it explains when and why you should adjust these settings

  • Gives you a thorough digital photography refresher on lighting and composition

  • Shares valuable tips and tricks to help you capture amazing shots

  • Shows you topic-specific secrets to capturing portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, macro photography, and others

Now that you have a Nikon D300s, make sure you have a copy of the Nikon D300s Digital Field Guide!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. About this book
    2. About the D300s
  6. 1. Exploring the Nikon D300s
    1. 1.1. Key Components of the D300s
      1. 1.1.1. Top of the camera
      2. 1.1.2. Back of the camera
      3. 1.1.3. Front of the camera
        1. 1.1.3.1. Left front
        2. 1.1.3.2. Right front
      4. 1.1.4. Sides and bottom of camera
        1. 1.1.4.1. Right side
        2. 1.1.4.2. Left side
        3. 1.1.4.3. Bottom
    2. 1.2. Viewfinder Display
    3. 1.3. Control Panel
    4. 1.4. Shooting Info Display
    5. 1.5. D300s DX-format CMOS Sensor
      1. 1.5.1. From Analog to Digital
      2. 1.5.2. CMOS versus CCD
        1. 1.5.2.1. CCD
        2. 1.5.2.2. CMOS
      3. 1.5.3. Pixels
        1. 1.5.3.1. Micro-lenses
        2. 1.5.3.2. Interpreting color
  7. 2. Nikon D300s Essentials
    1. 2.1. Exposure Modes
      1. 2.1.1. Programmed Auto
      2. 2.1.2. Aperture Priority
      3. 2.1.3. Shutter Priority
      4. 2.1.4. Manual
    2. 2.2. Metering Modes
      1. 2.2.1. Matrix
      2. 2.2.2. Center-weighted
      3. 2.2.3. Spot
    3. 2.3. Focus Modes
      1. 2.3.1. How the D300s autofocus works
        1. 2.3.1.1. Phase detection
        2. 2.3.1.2. Contrast detection
      2. 2.3.2. Continuous
      3. 2.3.3. Single
      4. 2.3.4. Manual
    4. 2.4. Autofocus Area Modes
      1. 2.4.1. Single-area AF
      2. 2.4.2. Dynamic-area AF
        1. 2.4.2.1. 9 points
        2. 2.4.2.2. 21 points
        3. 2.4.2.3. 51 points
        4. 2.4.2.4. 51 points (3D-tracking)
      3. 2.4.3. Auto-area AF
    5. 2.5. ISO Sensitivity
      1. 2.5.1. Auto ISO
      2. 2.5.2. Noise reduction
        1. 2.5.2.1. Long exposure NR
        2. 2.5.2.2. High ISO NR
    6. 2.6. White Balance
      1. 2.6.1. What is Kelvin?
      2. 2.6.2. White balance settings
    7. 2.7. Picture Controls
      1. 2.7.1. Original Picture Controls
      2. 2.7.2. Optional Picture Controls
      3. 2.7.3. Custom Picture Controls
    8. 2.8. JPEG
    9. 2.9. TIFF
    10. 2.10. Image Size
    11. 2.11. Image Quality
    12. 2.12. NEF (RAW)
      1. 2.12.1. Type
      2. 2.12.2. Bit depth
    13. 2.13. Live View
  8. 3. Setting Up the Nikon D300s
    1. 3.1. Accessing Menus
    2. 3.2. Playback Menu
      1. 3.2.1. Delete
      2. 3.2.2. Playback folder
      3. 3.2.3. Hide image
      4. 3.2.4. Display mode
      5. 3.2.5. Copy image(s)
      6. 3.2.6. Image review
      7. 3.2.7. After delete
      8. 3.2.8. Rotate tall
      9. 3.2.9. Slide show
      10. 3.2.10. Print set (DPOF)
    3. 3.3. Shooting Menu
      1. 3.3.1. Shooting menu bank
      2. 3.3.2. Reset shooting menu
      3. 3.3.3. Active folder
      4. 3.3.4. File naming
      5. 3.3.5. Primary slot selection
      6. 3.3.6. Secondary slot function
      7. 3.3.7. Image quality
      8. 3.3.8. Image size
      9. 3.3.9. JPEG compression
      10. 3.3.10. NEF (RAW) recording
      11. 3.3.11. White balance
        1. 3.3.11.1. Using standard WB settings
        2. 3.3.11.2. Choosing a color temperature
        3. 3.3.11.3. Preset white balance
          1. 3.3.11.3.1. Direct measurement
          2. 3.3.11.3.2. Copy white balance from existing photograph
      12. 3.3.12. Set Picture Control
      13. 3.3.13. Manage Picture Control
      14. 3.3.14. Color space
      15. 3.3.15. Active D-Lighting
      16. 3.3.16. Long exp. NR
      17. 3.3.17. High ISO NR
      18. 3.3.18. ISO sensitivity settings
      19. 3.3.19. Live view
      20. 3.3.20. Multiple exposure
      21. 3.3.21. Movie Settings
      22. 3.3.22. Interval timer shooting
    4. 3.4. Custom Settings Menu
      1. 3.4.1. Custom setting bank
      2. 3.4.2. Reset custom settings
      3. 3.4.3. CSM a – Autofocus
        1. 3.4.3.1. a1 – AF-C priority selection
        2. 3.4.3.2. a2 – AF-S priority selection
        3. 3.4.3.3. a3 – Dynamic AF area
        4. 3.4.3.4. a4 – Focus tracking with lock-on
        5. 3.4.3.5. a5 – AF activation
        6. 3.4.3.6. a6 – AF point illumination
        7. 3.4.3.7. a7 – Focus point wrap-around
        8. 3.4.3.8. a8 – AF point selection
        9. 3.4.3.9. a9 – Built-in AF-assist illuminator
        10. 3.4.3.10. a10 – AF-ON for MB-D10
      4. 3.4.4. CSM b – Metering/exposure
        1. 3.4.4.1. b1 – ISO sensitivity step value
        2. 3.4.4.2. b2 – EV steps for exposure cntrl.
        3. 3.4.4.3. b3 – Exp comp/fine tune
        4. 3.4.4.4. b4 – Easy exposure compensation
        5. 3.4.4.5. b5 – Center-weighted area
        6. 3.4.4.6. b6 – Fine tune optimal exposure
      5. 3.4.5. CSM c – Timers/AE lock
        1. 3.4.5.1. c1 – Shutter-release button AE-L
        2. 3.4.5.2. c2 – Auto meter-off delay
        3. 3.4.5.3. c3 – Self-timer delay
        4. 3.4.5.4. c4 – Monitor off delay
      6. 3.4.6. CSM d – Shooting/display
        1. 3.4.6.1. d1 – Beep
        2. 3.4.6.2. d2 – Viewfinder grid display
        3. 3.4.6.3. d3 – Viewfinder warning display
        4. 3.4.6.4. d4 – Screen tips
        5. 3.4.6.5. d5 – CL mode shooting speed
        6. 3.4.6.6. d6 – Max. continuous release
        7. 3.4.6.7. d7 – File number sequence
        8. 3.4.6.8. d8 – Information display
        9. 3.4.6.9. d9 – LCD illumination
        10. 3.4.6.10. d10 – Exposure delay mode
        11. 3.4.6.11. d11 – MB-D10 battery type
        12. 3.4.6.12. d12 – Battery order
      7. 3.4.7. CSM e – Bracketing/flash
        1. 3.4.7.1. e1 – Flash sync speed
        2. 3.4.7.2. e2 – Flash shutter speed
        3. 3.4.7.3. e3 – Flash cntrl for built-in flash
        4. 3.4.7.4. e4 – Modeling flash
        5. 3.4.7.5. e5 – Auto bracketing set
        6. 3.4.7.6. e6 – Auto bracketing (Mode M)
        7. 3.4.7.7. e7 – Bracketing order
      8. 3.4.8. CSM f – Controls
        1. 3.4.8.1. f1 – Switch
        2. 3.4.8.2. f2 – Multi selector center button
          1. 3.4.8.2.1. Shooting mode
          2. 3.4.8.2.2. Playback mode
        3. 3.4.8.3. f3 – Multi-selector
        4. 3.4.8.4. f4 – Photo info/playback
        5. 3.4.8.5. f5 – Assign Fn. button
        6. 3.4.8.6. f6 – Assign preview button
        7. 3.4.8.7. f7 – Assign AE-L/AF-L button
        8. 3.4.8.8. f8 – Customize command dials
        9. 3.4.8.9. f9 – Release button to use dial
        10. 3.4.8.10. f10 – No memory card?
        11. 3.4.8.11. f11 – Reverse indicators
    5. 3.5. Setup Menu
      1. 3.5.1. Format memory card
      2. 3.5.2. LCD brightness
      3. 3.5.3. Clean image sensor
      4. 3.5.4. Lock mirror up for cleaning
      5. 3.5.5. Video mode
      6. 3.5.6. HDMI
      7. 3.5.7. Time zone and date
      8. 3.5.8. Language
      9. 3.5.9. Image comment
      10. 3.5.10. Auto image rotation
      11. 3.5.11. Image Dust Off ref photo
      12. 3.5.12. Battery info
      13. 3.5.13. Wireless transmitter
      14. 3.5.14. Image authentication
      15. 3.5.15. Copyright information
      16. 3.5.16. Save/load settings
      17. 3.5.17. GPS
      18. 3.5.18. Virtual Horizon
      19. 3.5.19. Non-CPU lens data
      20. 3.5.20. AF fine tune
      21. 3.5.21. Firmware version
    6. 3.6. Retouch Menu
      1. 3.6.1. D-Lighting
      2. 3.6.2. Red-eye correction
      3. 3.6.3. Trim
      4. 3.6.4. Monochrome
      5. 3.6.5. Filter effects
      6. 3.6.6. Color balance
      7. 3.6.7. Image overlay
      8. 3.6.8. NEF (RAW) Processing
      9. 3.6.9. Resize
      10. 3.6.10. Side-by-side comparison
      11. 3.6.11. Edit Movie
    7. 3.7. My Menu
    8. 3.8. Info Display Settings
  9. 4. Selecting and Using Lenses for the Nikon D300s
    1. 4.1. Nikon Lens Codes
    2. 4.2. Perspective Distortion
    3. 4.3. Lens Compatibility
    4. 4.4. Wide-Angle Lenses
      1. 4.4.1. When to use a wide-angle lens
      2. 4.4.2. Understanding limitations
    5. 4.5. DX Crop Factor
    6. 4.6. Midrange Lenses
    7. 4.7. Telephoto Lenses
    8. 4.8. Special-Purpose Lenses
      1. 4.8.1. Macro lenses
      2. 4.8.2. Perspective Control lenses
      3. 4.8.3. Defocus Control lenses
      4. 4.8.4. Fisheye lenses
    9. 4.9. Using Vibration Reduction Lenses
  10. 5. Understanding Exposure
    1. 5.1. Exposure Overview
      1. 5.1.1. Shutter speed
      2. 5.1.2. ISO
      3. 5.1.3. Aperture
    2. 5.2. Fine-Tuning Your Exposure
      1. 5.2.1. Exposure compensation
      2. 5.2.2. Histograms
      3. 5.2.3. Bracketing
  11. 6. Working with Light
    1. 6.1. Natural Light
    2. 6.2. D300s Flash Basics
      1. 6.2.1. Achieving proper exposures
        1. 6.2.1.1. Guide Number
        2. 6.2.1.2. Aperture
        3. 6.2.1.3. Distance
        4. 6.2.1.4. GN / Distance = Aperture
      2. 6.2.2. Flash exposure modes
        1. 6.2.2.1. i-TTL and i-TTL BL
        2. 6.2.2.2. Manual
        3. 6.2.2.3. Auto
        4. 6.2.2.4. Auto Aperture
        5. 6.2.2.5. Guide Number distance priority
        6. 6.2.2.6. Repeating flash
      3. 6.2.3. Flash sync modes
        1. 6.2.3.1. Sync speed
        2. 6.2.3.2. Front-curtain sync
        3. 6.2.3.3. Red-eye reduction
        4. 6.2.3.4. Slow sync
        5. 6.2.3.5. Rear-curtain sync
      4. 6.2.4. Flash Exposure Compensation
      5. 6.2.5. Fill flash
      6. 6.2.6. Bounce flash
    3. 6.3. Nikon Creative Lighting System Basics
      1. 6.3.1. Understanding the Creative Lighting System
      2. 6.3.2. Speedlights
        1. 6.3.2.1. SB-900
        2. 6.3.2.2. SB-800
        3. 6.3.2.3. SB-600
        4. 6.3.2.4. SB-400
        5. 6.3.2.5. SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander
        6. 6.3.2.6. R1/R1C1 Macro Ring Flash
    4. 6.4. Using the Built-In Flash
    5. 6.5. Using Studio Strobes
    6. 6.6. Continuous Lighting
      1. 6.6.1. Incandescent and halogen
      2. 6.6.2. Fluorescent
      3. 6.6.3. HMI
    7. 6.7. Light Modifiers
      1. 6.7.1. Umbrellas
      2. 6.7.2. Softboxes
      3. 6.7.3. Diffusion panels
      4. 6.7.4. Other light modifiers
  12. 7. D-Movie
    1. 7.1. About Video
      1. 7.1.1. Progressive versus interlaced
      2. 7.1.2. Frame rate
      3. 7.1.3. Shutter
      4. 7.1.4. Setting up D-Movie
      5. 7.1.5. Recording
    2. 7.2. Tricks, Tips, and Workarounds
    3. 7.3. In-Camera Editing
    4. 7.4. Video-Editing Software
  13. 8. Action and Sports Photography
    1. 8.1. Preparing Your Shot
    2. 8.2. Panning
    3. 8.3. Using Speedlights
  14. 9. Event Photography
    1. 9.1. Concert
      1. 9.1.1. Gaining access
      2. 9.1.2. Techniques and settings
    2. 9.2. Wedding
      1. 9.2.1. Getting started
        1. 9.2.1.1. Shot list
        2. 9.2.1.2. Other preparations
      2. 9.2.2. Using flash
      3. 9.2.3. After the wedding
  15. 10. Landscape and Nature
    1. 10.1. Landscape
    2. 10.2. Nature
    3. 10.3. Macro
      1. 10.3.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 10.3.2. Tools of the Trade
  16. 11. Night and Low-Light Photography
    1. 11.1. How to Photograph at Night and in Low Light
      1. 11.1.1. Long shutter speeds
      2. 11.1.2. Small apertures
    2. 11.2. What to Watch For
    3. 11.3. Shooting Architecture
    4. 11.4. Shooting Low Light Indoors
    5. 11.5. Shooting a Dark Scene without Flash
    6. 11.6. Shooting Fireworks
  17. 12. Portrait Photography
    1. 12.1. Setting
      1. 12.1.1. Studio considerations
      2. 12.1.2. Portrait lighting patterns
      3. 12.1.3. Indoor
      4. 12.1.4. Outdoor
      5. 12.1.5. Portrait photography tips
  18. A. Accessories
    1. A.1. MB-D10 Battery Grip
    2. A.2. WT-4a Wireless Transmitter
    3. A.3. Nikon GP-1 GPS Unit
      1. A.3.1. Setting up the GP-1
    4. A.4. Tripods
      1. A.4.1. When to use a tripod
      2. A.4.2. Which tripod is right for you?
    5. A.5. Camera Bags and Cases
  19. B. How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker
    1. B.1. The Gray Card
    2. B.2. The Color Checker
  20. GLOSSARY

Product information

  • Title: Nikon® D300s: Digital Field Guide
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: November 2009
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470521274