2 GREAT WAYS TO LEARN!
212 PAGES OF GUIDES • 10 EXPERT VIDEO TUTORIALS
Nikon
Beginner’s Handbook Master your Nikon DSLR with our easy step-by-step guides ● Improve your
212 PAGES
FOURTH EDITION
Digital Edition
100% UNOFFICIAL
pictures fast ● Learn key menus and controls ● Aperture, shutter speed and ISO ● Exposure explained ● Complete Nikon beginner’s course
Nikon
Beginner’s Handbook Welcome…
Welcome to the new Nikon Beginner’s Handbook, your 212-page guide to using your Nikon DSLR. It doesn’t matter if you’re an absolute beginner who’s just bought a new Nikon camera, or you’re a seasoned enthusiast who needs a refresher course, inside you’ll find all you need to know to really get to grips with your DSLR. With so many seemingly complex controls, menu settings and dials, where do you begin? Over the following pages you’ll discover all the vital camera techniques you need to master, from holding your DSLR correctly to using the viewfinder and menu features, from shooting in fully automatic mode, progressing all the way to using semi-automatic and manual shooting modes, when you’re able to take control of your camera’s settings. There are also ten free video guides which you’ll find on your on our special FileSilo website – see page 210 for details. Once you’ve learned the basics, in the final chapter of this book you’ll find our comprehensive Nikopedia course, full of essential photography techniques, all explained in easy-to-follow lessons. We hope you enjoy reading this Nikon Beginner’s Handbook and it helps you to start improving your DSLR setup and shooting techniques today!
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Nikon
Beginner’s Handbook Future PLC Richmond House, 33 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6EZ
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Nikon Beginner’s Handbook Contents
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Nikon Beginner’s Handbook Contents
watch & learn
When you see this graphic there’s a video download!. See page 210 for more
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 6
Set up your new SLR ���������������������������������������������� 8
Lenses and composition �����������������������������������96
Get your camera ready to shoot......................................................10 An overview of your camera’s controls..........................................12 Master the main camera controls...................................................14 Discover how to navigate the settings menus...............................16 Set the in-camera file options.........................................................18
Get to know the standard zoom....................................................98 Specialised lenses..........................................................................100 Basic composition..........................................................................106 Advanced composition..................................................................110 Resolution and sensor size............................................................118
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 7
Learn essential SLR techniques ���������������������20
Advanced features ��������������������������������������������122
How to hold your camera............................................................... 22 Introducing the viewfinder and Live View mode......................... 26 How to read the viewfinder........................................................... 28 The information on the rear LCD....................................................30 Take your first picture..................................................................... 32
Metering modes.............................................................................124 Exposure compensation............................................................... 128 Drive modes explained..................................................................132 White balance................................................................................ 136 Take better photos with fill-in flash............................................. 140 Active D-Lighting........................................................................... 144 In-camera HDR.............................................................................. 146 Customise your Nikon D-SLR....................................................... 148 Improve your images with Picture Controls................................ 150
CHAPTER 3 Exposure modes explained ������������������������������ 36 Fully automatic and scene modes..................................................38 Program mode explained............................................................... 42 Aperture-priority mode..................................................................46 Shutter-priority mode.....................................................................50 Manual mode explained................................................................. 54
CHAPTER 4 Focusing �����������������������������������������������������������������60 The basics of autofocus................................................................... 62 Focus points explained...................................................................64 Single-servo autofocus....................................................................68 Continuous-servo autofocus...........................................................72 Manual focusing and when to use it...............................................76
CHAPTER 5 Live View and image review �����������������������������80 Introducing Live View mode........................................................... 82 Live View mode in action................................................................86 Review your images........................................................................88 Check exposure using the histogram............................................90 Check image sharpness...................................................................94
CHAPTER 8 nikopedia ���������������������������������������������������������������154 Focal length.................................................................................... 156 Autofocus....................................................................................... 160 Depth of field................................................................................. 164 Exposure......................................................................................... 168 Aperture..........................................................................................172 Shutter speed..................................................................................176 Shooting modes.............................................................................180 Metering modes............................................................................ 184 White balance................................................................................ 188 Digital processing.......................................................................... 192 Contrast and dynamic range........................................................ 196 How flash works........................................................................... 200 Full-Frame explained.................................................................... 204
Your free downloads Filesilo ������������������������������������������������������������������ 210
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Nikon Beginner’s Handbook SET UP YOUR NEW SLR
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Nikon Beginner’s Handbook SET UP YOUR NEW SLR
Set up your new SLR Set up your Nikon digital SLR camera, and discover how to use all the main dials, buttons, and menus your camera 10Get ready to shoot
You’ve just got your new Nikon digital SLR camera out of the box – here’s what to do next…
overview of your 12An camera’s controls
Understand what each of your new digital SLR’s dials, buttons and settings are used for
the main 14Master camera controls
There are many buttons and dials on every Nikon, but there are three main controls you need to master to access many of your SLR’s functions and features
how to navigate 16Discover the settings menus
Find what you’re looking for fast using your digital SLR’s built-in menu system
the in-camera 18Set file options
Format your memory card, set the correct time and date, and define the image quality you want to use
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Nikon Beginner’s Handbook Set up your new SLR
Get started with your Nikon You’ve just got your new digital SLR out of the box – here’s what to do next… efore we look at the settings and controls on your camera, there are a few essential items that you need to get your camera up and running. Most of these will probably be pretty familiar, such as the battery and memory card, but there are some little tricks and habits that it’s worth getting to know before you start.
B
Changing lenses
The ability to change the lens is one of the main reasons for having an SLR, but the process of taking the lens off the camera and refitting it can be a little fiddly if you aren’t used to the process. Like when inserting and removing the memory card, it’s a good idea to make sure that the camera is switched off before taking the lens or body cap off the camera. This will help to minimise dust and dirt reaching the sensor, and to avoid firing the camera or activating any of the switches during the process. With the camera switched off, to release the lens or body cap you need to press and hold the large button on the side of the body next to the lens mount. Then you twist the lens gently but firmly until it’s free to come off the camera. Fitting the lens is almost the reverse of removing it, but you have to line up the dot on the lens and the dot next to the lens mount on the camera. Then twist the lens until you feel it click into position. 10
Batteries
The lithium-ion rechargeable batteries used in every current Nikon SLR don’t need to be discharged fully before charging them, but like older rechargeable batteries, it’s still not a good idea to recharge them when they are near a full charge. To charge the battery you’ll need to clip the battery into the charger, and then plug the charger into a mains socket. Normally, the indicator lamp on the charger will blink during the charging process, and then light constantly when the battery is fully charged. Once your battery is fully charged you can open the battery compartment on your camera, and then after making sure that the battery matches the orientation indicated by the diagram inside the compartment, carefully push the battery into the camera and close the door.
Nikon Beginner’s Handbook Set up your new SLR
Memory card types and speed
Inserting the memory card
There are a couple of things to watch out for when inserting or removing a memory card. The first is to try to get into the habit of checking the memory card access light on the back of the camera isn’t illuminated when you open the card door. To help avoid this it’s also good practice to turn the camera off before you open the card door. This helps to avoid damaging the memory card by removing it while the camera is trying to access the card. The second is to check the orientation of the card before you put it into the camera. There will be a small diagram inside the card cover or next to the card slot to help with this.
Secure Digital cards are used in almost every current Nikon SLR. These come in different capacities and have different speed ratings, depending on your needs and budget. When it comes to capacity, it’s a relatively simple choice – the larger the card, the more images you can fit onto it. They look similar, but SD cards come in a huge range of speed ratings, which indicates how fast data can be written to, or read from, the card. This may be quoted by a maximum data transfer rate such as 30MB/s (megabytes per second), or using a class rating, which measures the minimum speed of the card. So, when looking at cards it’s best to check the class rating because it’s more consistent across all cameras and devices. For taking individual images with your camera, this won’t make much difference. Using a slower card will mean that images take a little longer to write to the card than using a faster card, but this doesn’t make much difference to your photos. Where it will make a big difference is if you’re shooting lots of high-resolution images in quick succession, or shooting video. To avoid any problems you should use cards that have a speed rating of Class 6 or higher.
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Nikon Beginner’s Handbook Set up your new SLR
Camera body overview Find your way around all of the main dials, buttons and other controls on your camera 01
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