Nikon® D5000 Digital Field Guide

Nikon® D5000 Digital Field Guide

Released July 2009
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470521267

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Book description

This portable, beautifully illustrated guide covers every feature of the Nikon D5000

Your Nikon D5000 offers a wide range of possibilities when you know how to use its features. Nikon D5000 Digital Field Guide covers them all.

Whether you're new to dSLR photography or moving up from a less feature-rich camera, you'll learn to use all the controls of your D5000 and how to get perfect shots in all types of situations. The Quick Tour gets you started, and the step-by-step instructions give you confidence to move from the Auto function into full manual control.

  • Begins with a Quick Tour that helps you start using your camera right away

  • Provides in-depth explanations of the essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D5000

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

  • Explains how to adjust white balance, autofocus, and exposure, and why these settings are important

  • Discusses how to choose lenses

  • Offers a refresher guide to the principles of digital photography, including lighting, composition, and exposure

  • Shares tips on getting great portraits, sports and travel shots, candids, and more

Sized to fit your camera bag, Nikon D5000 Digital Field Guide puts all the features of your D5000 at your fingertips.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. About the D5000
  6. I. Using the Nikon D5000
    1. 1. Exploring the Nikon D5000
      1. 1.1. Key Components of the D5000
        1. 1.1.1. Top of the camera
        2. 1.1.2. Back of the camera
        3. 1.1.3. Front of the camera
        4. 1.1.4. Sides and bottom of the 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. Information Display
    2. 2. Nikon D5000 Essentials
      1. 2.1. Exposure Modes
        1. 2.1.1. Auto modes
          1. 2.1.1.1. Auto
          2. 2.1.1.2. Auto (flash off)
        2. 2.1.2. Advanced scene modes
          1. 2.1.2.1. Portrait
          2. 2.1.2.2. Landscape
          3. 2.1.2.3. Child
          4. 2.1.2.4. Sports
          5. 2.1.2.5. Close Up
          6. 2.1.2.6. Night Portrait
          7. 2.1.2.7. Night Landscape
          8. 2.1.2.8. Party/Indoor
          9. 2.1.2.9. Beach/Snow
          10. 2.1.2.10. Sunset
          11. 2.1.2.11. Dusk/Dawn
          12. 2.1.2.12. Pet Portrait
          13. 2.1.2.13. Candlelight
          14. 2.1.2.14. Blossom
          15. 2.1.2.15. Autumn Colors
          16. 2.1.2.16. Food
          17. 2.1.2.17. Silhouette
          18. 2.1.2.18. High Key
          19. 2.1.2.19. Low Key
        3. 2.1.3. Programmed Auto
        4. 2.1.4. Aperture Priority
        5. 2.1.5. Shutter Priority
        6. 2.1.6. 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. Autofocus Modes
        1. 2.3.1. Continuous
        2. 2.3.2. Single
        3. 2.3.3. Auto
        4. 2.3.4. Manual
      4. 2.4. AF Area Modes
        1. 2.4.1. Single Point AF mode
        2. 2.4.2. Dynamic Area AF mode
        3. 2.4.3. 3D-tracking mode
        4. 2.4.4. 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. Custom Picture Controls
      8. 2.8. Understanding JPEG Compression
        1. 2.8.1. Image size
        2. 2.8.2. Image quality
      9. 2.9. NEF or RAW Flexibility
      10. 2.10. Live View
    3. 3. Exploring the D5000 Menus
      1. 3.1. Playback Menu
        1. 3.1.1. Delete
        2. 3.1.2. Playback folder
        3. 3.1.3. Display mode
        4. 3.1.4. Image review
        5. 3.1.5. Rotate tall
        6. 3.1.6. Slide show
        7. 3.1.7. Print set (DPOF)
      2. 3.2. Shooting Menu
        1. 3.2.1. Scene mode
        2. 3.2.2. Set Picture Control
        3. 3.2.3. Manage Picture Control
        4. 3.2.4. Image quality
        5. 3.2.5. Image size
        6. 3.2.6. White balance
          1. 3.2.6.1. Using standard WB settings
          2. 3.2.6.2. Preset white balance
            1. 3.2.6.2.1. Direct measurement
            2. 3.2.6.2.2. Copy white balance from an existing photograph
        7. 3.2.7. ISO sensitivity settings
        8. 3.2.8. Active D-Lighting
        9. 3.2.9. Auto distortion control
        10. 3.2.10. Color space
        11. 3.2.11. Long exp. NR
        12. 3.2.12. High ISO NR
        13. 3.2.13. Active folder
        14. 3.2.14. Movie settings
      3. 3.3. Custom Setting Menu
        1. 3.3.1. Reset custom settings
        2. 3.3.2. CSM a - Autofocus
          1. 3.3.2.1. a1 – AF-area mode
          2. 3.3.2.2. a2 – Built-in AF-assist illuminator
          3. 3.3.2.3. a3 – Live View autofocus
          4. 3.3.2.4. a4 – Rangefinder
        3. 3.3.3. CSM b – Exposure
          1. 3.3.3.1. b1 – EV steps for exposure cntrl.
        4. 3.3.4. CSM c – Timers/AE lock
          1. 3.3.4.1. c1 – Shutter-release button AE-L
          2. 3.3.4.2. c2 – Auto off timers
          3. 3.3.4.3. c3 – Self-timer
          4. 3.3.4.4. c4 – Remote on duration
        5. 3.3.5. CSM d – Shooting/display
          1. 3.3.5.1. d1 – Beep
          2. 3.3.5.2. d2 – Viewfinder grid display
          3. 3.3.5.3. d3 – ISO display
          4. 3.3.5.4. d4 – File number sequence
          5. 3.3.5.5. d5 – Exposure delay mode
          6. 3.3.5.6. d6 – Date imprint
          7. 3.3.5.7. d7 – Live View display options
        6. 3.3.6. CSM e – Bracketing/flash
          1. 3.3.6.1. e1 – Flash cntrl for built-in flash
          2. 3.3.6.2. e2 – Auto bracketing set
        7. 3.3.7. CSM f – Controls
          1. 3.3.7.1. f1 – Assign self-timer/Fn button
          2. 3.3.7.2. f2 – Assign AE-L/AF-L button
          3. 3.3.7.3. f3 – Reverse dial rotation
          4. 3.3.7.4. f4 – No memory card?
          5. 3.3.7.5. f5 – Reverse indicators
      4. 3.4. Setup Menu
        1. 3.4.1. Format memory card
        2. 3.4.2. LCD brightness
        3. 3.4.3. Info display format
        4. 3.4.4. Auto information display
        5. 3.4.5. Info wrap-around
        6. 3.4.6. Clean image sensor
        7. 3.4.7. Lock mirror up for cleaning
        8. 3.4.8. Video mode
        9. 3.4.9. HDMI
        10. 3.4.10. Time zone and date
        11. 3.4.11. Language
        12. 3.4.12. Image comment
        13. 3.4.13. Auto image rotation
        14. 3.4.14. Image Dust Off ref photo
        15. 3.4.15. GPS
        16. 3.4.16. Eye-Fi Upload
        17. 3.4.17. Firmware version
      5. 3.5. Retouch Menu
      6. 3.6. My Menu
      7. 3.7. Quick Settings Display
    4. 4. Essential Photography Concepts
      1. 4.1. Understanding Exposure
        1. 4.1.1. Shutter speed
        2. 4.1.2. ISO
        3. 4.1.3. Aperture
      2. 4.2. Fine-tuning Exposure
        1. 4.2.1. Histograms
        2. 4.2.2. Bracketing
      3. 4.3. Understanding Depth of Field
      4. 4.4. Rules of Composition
        1. 4.4.1. Keep it simple
        2. 4.4.2. Rule of Thirds
        3. 4.4.3. Leading lines and S-curves
        4. 4.4.4. Helpful hints
    5. 5. Selecting and Using Lenses
      1. 5.1. Kit Lenses
        1. 5.1.1. Deciphering Nikon's lens codes
        2. 5.1.2. Nikon lens compatibility
      2. 5.2. Understanding Zoom Lenses
        1. 5.2.1. Variable aperture
        2. 5.2.2. Depth of field
        3. 5.2.3. Quality
      3. 5.3. Understanding Prime Lenses
      4. 5.4. Wide-angle and Ultrawide-angle Lenses
        1. 5.4.1. When to use a wide-angle lens
        2. 5.4.2. Understanding limitations
      5. 5.5. Standard or Midrange Zoom Lenses
      6. 5.6. Telephoto Lenses
      7. 5.7. Special-Purpose Lenses
        1. 5.7.1. Micro-Nikkor lenses
        2. 5.7.2. Fisheye lenses
      8. 5.8. Using Vibration Reduction Lenses
      9. 5.9. Third-party Lenses
    6. 6. Working with Light
      1. 6.1. Natural Light
      2. 6.2. D5000 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. Guide Number/Distance = Aperture
        2. 6.2.2. Flash exposure modes
          1. 6.2.2.1. i-TTL
          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 Speedlight
          2. 6.3.2.2. SB-800 Speedlight
          3. 6.3.2.3. SB-600 Speedlight
          4. 6.3.2.4. SB-400 Speedlight
          5. 6.3.2.5. SU-800 Wireless Speedlight commander
      4. 6.4. Using the Built-in Speedlight
      5. 6.5. 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
    7. 7. Working with 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. Video-editing Software
    8. 8. Viewing and In-camera Editing
      1. 8.1. Viewing Your Images
        1. 8.1.1. Downloading Images
        2. 8.1.2. Using Nikon Transfer
          1. 8.1.2.1. Source tab
          2. 8.1.2.2. Embedded Info tab
          3. 8.1.2.3. Primary Destination tab
          4. 8.1.2.4. Backup Destination tab
          5. 8.1.2.5. Preferences tab
        3. 8.1.3. Transferring your images
      2. 8.2. The Retouch Menu
        1. 8.2.1. Retouch Menu Options
        2. 8.2.2. D-Lighting
        3. 8.2.3. Red-eye correction
        4. 8.2.4. Trim
        5. 8.2.5. Monochrome
        6. 8.2.6. Filter effects
        7. 8.2.7. Color Balance
        8. 8.2.8. Small Picture
        9. 8.2.9. Image Overlay
        10. 8.2.10. NEF (RAW) Processing
        11. 8.2.11. Quick Retouch
        12. 8.2.12. Straighten
        13. 8.2.13. Distortion Control
        14. 8.2.14. Fisheye
        15. 8.2.15. Color Outline
        16. 8.2.16. Perspective Control
        17. 8.2.17. Stop-motion Movie
        18. 8.2.18. Side-by-side Comparison
  7. II. Capturing Great Images with the Nikon D5000
    1. 9. Action and Sports Photography
      1. 9.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 9.2. Panning
        1. 9.2.1. Panning with a fast shutter speed
        2. 9.2.2. Panning with a slow shutter speed
      3. 9.3. Using Speedlights
    2. 10. Flower and Plant Photography
      1. 10.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 10.2. Backlit Lotus
      3. 10.3. Dried Seeds
    3. 11. Macro Photography
      1. 11.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 11.2. Tools of the Trade
        1. 11.2.1. Lenses
        2. 11.2.2. Close-up filters
        3. 11.2.3. Extension tubes
        4. 11.2.4. Reversing rings
        5. 11.2.5. Tripod
        6. 11.2.6. Flash
      3. 11.3. Using Ring Flashes
      4. 11.4. Outdoor Macro
    4. 12. Night and Lowlight Photography
      1. 12.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 12.2. Concerts
      3. 12.3. Nightlife
    5. 13. Portrait Photography
      1. 13.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 13.2. Studio
        1. 13.2.1. Setup
        2. 13.2.2. Camera settings
      3. 13.3. Indoor
        1. 13.3.1. Setup
        2. 13.3.2. Camera settings
      4. 13.4. Outdoor
        1. 13.4.1. Setup
        2. 13.4.2. Camera settings
    6. 14. Still-life and Product Photography
      1. 14.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 14.2. Using Available Light
      3. 14.3. Using Continuous Lighting
      4. 14.4. Using Speedlights
    7. 15. Urban and Rural Landscape Photography
      1. 15.1. Preparing Your Shot
      2. 15.2. Urban
      3. 15.3. Silhouettes
      4. 15.4. Desert
  8. III. Appendixes
    1. A. Accessories
      1. A.1. ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control
      2. A.2. EH-5A AC Adapter
      3. A.3. GP-1 GPS Unit
      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
    2. Glossary

Product information

  • Title: Nikon® D5000 Digital Field Guide
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: July 2009
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470521267