Cover image for Mastering the Nikon D300/D300S

Mastering the Nikon D300/D300S

Author Darrell Young
Release Date: 2010/11/01
ISBN: 9781933952642
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Book Description

Mastering the Nikon D300/D300S, by Darrell Young, provides a wealth of experience-based information and insights for owners of these powerful and sophisticated cameras. Darrell is determined to help the user navigate past the confusion factor that often comes with complex but powerful new professional camera equipment.

The book explores the features and capabilities of the two cameras in a way that completely surpasses user's manuals. It guides readers through the DSLR camera features with step-by-step setting adjustments, color illustrations, and detailed explanations for each option. Each button, dial, switch, screen, and menu configuration option is explored in a user-friendly manner, with suggestions for setup according to various shooting styles.

Darrell Young's friendly and informative writing style allows readers to easily follow directions, while feeling as if a friend dropped in to share his knowledge. The learning experience for D300/D300S beginners-and refresher information for professionals-goes beyond just the camera itself. Detailed explanations cover White Balance, the Histogram, the Multi-CAM 3500DX autofocus system, and how the Live View and D-Movie modes work. Camera accessories such as Speedlight flash and GPS units are also considered.

Table of Contents

  1. Mastering the Nikon D300/D300S
  2. Dedication
  3. Foreword
  4. Camera Body Reference
    1. Fig 1 (1–11)
    2. Fig 2 (12-18)
    3. Fig 3 (19-22)
    4. Fig 4 (23–32)
    5. Fig 5 (33-46)
  5. Colors and Wording Legend
  6. Special D300 Information
  7. 1. Basic Camera Setup
    1. D300S and D300 Reference Material
      1. First-Time DSLR Users
    2. Shoot Now Camera Configuration
      1. Accessing the Camera Menus
    3. Camera Functions for Initial Configuration
      1. Setup Menu
      2. Shooting Menu
      3. Playback Menu
      4. Custom Setting Menu
      5. Two Additional Functions
    4. My Personal Camera Setting Recommendations
    5. My Conclusions
  8. 2. Playback Menu
    1. Delete
    2. Playback Folder
    3. Hide Image
    4. Display Mode
    5. Copy Images (D300S Only)
    6. Image Review
    7. After Delete
    8. Rotate Tall
    9. Slide Show
    10. Print Set (DPOF)
    11. My Conclusions
  9. 3. Shooting Menu
    1. Shooting Menu Bank
    2. Reset Shooting Menu
    3. Active Folder
    4. File Naming
      1. File Number Sequence used with File Naming
    5. Primary Slot Selection (D300S Only)
    6. Secondary Slot Function (D300S Only)
    7. Image Quality
      1. NEF (RAW) Image Quality Format
      2. RAW Files Aren’t Images Yet!
        1. NEF (RAW) Positives
        2. NEF (RAW) Negatives
      3. JPEG Image Quality Format
        1. JPEG Positives
        2. JPEG Negatives
      4. TIFF Image Quality Format
        1. TIFF Positives
        2. TIFF Negatives
      5. Combined NEF and JPEG Shooting (Two Images at Once)
      6. Final Image Format Ramblings
    8. Image Size
    9. JPEG Compression
    10. NEF (RAW) Recording
      1. NEF (RAW) Type
      2. NEF (RAW) Bit Depth
      3. Channel and Bit Depth Tutorial
    11. White Balance
    12. Set Picture Control
      1. Examining Picture Controls
      2. MC Picture Control Filter Effects and Toning
      3. Picture Control Grid Screen
      4. Resetting a Nikon Picture Control
    13. Manage Picture Control
      1. Save/Edit a Custom Picture Control
      2. Rename a Custom Picture Control
      3. Delete a Custom Picture Control
      4. Load/Save a Custom Picture Control
        1. Copy to Camera
        2. Delete from Card
        3. Copy to Card
    14. Color Space
    15. Active D-Lighting
    16. Long Exp. NR
    17. High ISO NR
    18. ISO Sensitivity Settings
      1. Setting the ISO Sensitivity Settings
      2. ISO Sensitivity Auto Control (ISO-AUTO)
      3. Maximum Sensitivity
      4. Minimum Shutter Speed
      5. ISO Sensitivity Auto Control from the Camera’s Perspective
      6. When and why should I use ISO sensitivity auto control?
      7. Are there any drawbacks to using ISO sensitivity auto control?
    19. Live View Mode
    20. Multiple Exposure
      1. Understanding Auto Gain
    21. Movie Settings (D300S Only)
    22. Interval Timer Shooting
    23. My Conclusions
  10. 4. Custom Setting Menu
    1. Renaming a Custom Setting Bank
    2. Reset Custom Settings
      1. Naming Variances between the D300S and D300
    3. Section One – (a) Autofocus: Custom Settings a1 to a10
      1. AF-C Priority Selection
        1. Custom setting a1 (D300S and D300)
      2. AF-S Priority Selection
        1. Custom setting a2 (D300S and D300)
        2. Using Custom settings a1 and a2
      3. Dynamic AF Area
        1. Custom setting a3 (D300S and D300)
      4. Focus Tracking with Lock-On
        1. Custom setting a4 (D300S and D300)
        2. Does Lock-On Cause Autofocus to Slow Down?
      5. AF Activation
        1. Custom setting a5 (D300S and D300)
      6. AF Point Illumination
        1. Custom setting a6 (D300S and D300)
      7. Focus Point Wrap-Around
        1. Custom setting a7 (D300S and D300)
      8. AF Point Selection
        1. Custom setting a8 (D300S and D300)
      9. Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator
        1. Custom setting a9 (D300S and D300)
      10. AF-ON for MB-D10
        1. Custom setting aio (D300S and D300)
    4. Section Two – (b) Metering/Exposure: Custom Settings b1 to b6
      1. ISO Sensitivity Step Value
        1. Custom setting b1 (D300S and D300)
      2. EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl.
        1. Custom setting b2 (D300S and D300)
      3. Exp Comp/Fine Tune
        1. Custom setting b3 (D300S and D300)
      4. Easy Exposure Compensation
        1. Custom setting b4 (D300S and D300)
      5. Center-Weighted Area
        1. Custom setting b5 (D300S and D300)
      6. Fine Tune Optimal Exposure
        1. Custom setting b6 (D300S and D300)
    5. Section Three – (c) Timers/AE Lock: Custom Settings c1 to c4
      1. Shutter-Release Button AE-L
        1. Custom setting c1 (D300S and D300)
      2. Auto Meter-Off Delay
        1. Custom setting C2 (D300S and D300)
      3. Self-Timer (Delay)
        1. Custom setting C3 (D300S and D300)
      4. Monitor Off Delay
        1. Custom setting C4 (D300S and D300)
      5. D300S Only – Monitor Off Delay
        1. D300 Only – Monitor Off Delay
    6. Section Four – (d) Shooting/Display: Custom Settings d1 to d12
      1. Beep
        1. Custom setting d1 (D300S and D300)
      2. Viewfinder Grid Display
        1. Custom setting d2 (D300S and D300)
      3. Viewfinder Warning Display
        1. Custom setting d3 (D300S and D300)
      4. Screen Tips
        1. Custom setting d4 (D300S Only)
      5. CL Mode Shooting Speed
        1. Custom setting d5 (D300S) and d4 (D300)
      6. Max. Continuous Release
        1. Custom setting d6 (D300S) and d5 (D300)
      7. File Number Sequence
        1. Custom setting d7 (D300S) and d6 (D300)
      8. Information Display (Shooting Info Display)
        1. Custom setting d8 (D300S) and d7 (D300)
      9. LCD Illumination
        1. Custom setting d9 (D300S) and d8 (D300)
      10. Exposure Delay Mode
        1. Custom setting d10 (D300S) and d9 (D300)
      11. MB-D10 Battery Type
        1. Custom setting d11 (D300S) and d10 (D300)
      12. Battery Order
        1. Custom setting d12 (D300S) and d11 (D300)
    7. Section Five – (e) Bracketing/Flash: Custom Settings e1 to e7
      1. Flash Sync Speed
        1. Custom setting e1 (D300S and D300)
        2. Auto FP High-Speed Sync Review
      2. Special Shutter Speed Setting X + Flash Sync Speed
      3. Flash Shutter Speed
        1. Custom setting e2 (D300S and D300)
      4. Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash
        1. Custom setting e3 (D300S and D300)
        2. Commander Mode Notes
      5. Modeling Flash
        1. Custom setting e4 (D300S and D300)
      6. Auto Bracketing Set
        1. Custom setting e5 (D300S and D300)
        2. How to Use the Auto Bracketing System (Bracketing Explained)
        3. Exposure Bracketing (AE and Flash Combination)
        4. WB Bracketing
      7. ADL Bracketing (D300S only)
      8. Auto Bracketing (Mode M)
        1. Custom setting e6 (D300S and D300)
      9. Bracketing Order
        1. Custom setting e7 (D300S and D300)
    8. Section Six – (f) Controls: Custom Settings f1 to f11
      1. Switch (Backlight)
        1. Custom setting f1 (D300S only)
      2. Multi Selector Center Button
        1. Custom setting f2 (D300S) and f1 (D300)
        2. Shooting Mode
        3. Playback Mode
        4. Thumbnail on/off
        5. View histograms
        6. Zoom on/off
        7. Choose slot and folder (D300S)
        8. Choose folder (D300)
      3. Multi Selector
        1. Custom setting f3 (D300S) and f2 (D300)
      4. Photo Info/Playback
        1. Custom setting f4 (D300S) and f3 (D300)
      5. Assign Fn (FUNC.) Button – Custom Setting f5 (D300S) and f4 (D300)
      6. Assign Preview Button – Custom Setting f6 (D300S) and f5 (D300)
      7. Assign AE-L/AF- L Button – Custom Setting f7 (D300S) and f6 (D300)
        1. Assignable Function List
      8. Customize Command Dials
        1. Custom setting f8 (D300S) and f7 (D300)
        2. Reverse rotation
        3. Change main/sub
        4. Aperture setting
        5. Menus and playback
      9. Release Button to Use Dial
        1. Custom setting f9 (D300S) and f8 (D300)
      10. No Memory Card?
        1. Custom setting f10 (D300S) and f9 (D300)
      11. Reverse Indicators
        1. Custom setting f11 (D300S) and f10 (D300)
    9. My Conclusions
      1. Using the Shooting Banks and Custom Banks Together
        1. Passionate Photography
  11. 5. Setup Menu
    1. Format Memory Card
      1. Camera Button Format Method
    2. LCD Brightness
    3. Clean Image Sensor
    4. Lock Mirror Up For Cleaning
    5. Video Mode
    6. HDMI
    7. Time Zone and Date or World Time
    8. Language
    9. Image Comment
    10. Auto Image Rotation
    11. USB (D300 only)
    12. Image Dust Off Ref Photo
      1. Finding a Subject for the Dust-Off Reference Photo
    13. Battery Info
      1. Using an MB-D10 Battery Pack
    14. Wireless Transmitter
    15. Image Authentication
    16. Copyright Information (D300S Only)
    17. Save/Load Settings
    18. GPS
      1. What You’ll Need to Use a GPS Unit with Your D300(S)
      2. Preparing the Camera for GPS Usage
    19. Virtual Horizon (D300S only)
    20. Non-CPU Lens Data
      1. Selecting a Lens by Using the Non-CPU Lens Menu
      2. Selecting a Non-CPU Lens by Using External Camera Controls
    21. AF Fine Tune
    22. Eye-Fi Upload (D300S only)
    23. Firmware Version
      1. Upgrading Your Camera’s Firmware
    24. My Conclusions
  12. 6. Retouch Menu
    1. Playback Retouching
    2. Using Retouch Menu Items Directly
      1. D-Lighting
      2. Red-Eye Correction
      3. Trim
      4. Monochrome
      5. Filter Effects
      6. Color Balance
      7. Image Overlay
      8. NEF (RAW) Processing (D300S only)
      9. Resize (D300S only)
      10. Edit Movie (D300S only)
      11. Side-By-Side Comparison
    3. My Conclusions
  13. 7. My Menu and Recent Settings
    1. My Menu
    2. Add Items
    3. Remove Items
    4. Rank Items
    5. Choose Tab
    6. Recent Settings (D300S only)
    7. My Conclusions
      1. Sample D300S Image
  14. 8. Live View and D-Movie Modes
    1. Live View Mode – Section One
      1. Live View’s Two Modes
      2. Live View’s Four Screens
    2. D-Movie Mode – Section Two
      1. High-Definition (HD) Video
        1. Progressive vs. Interlaced
      2. Camera Setup for Making D-Movies
        1. Which Video Encoding Method?
        2. Selecting a D-Movie Video Quality
        3. Dealing with Sound on D-Movies
        4. Choosing a Destination for Video Recordings
      3. Recording a Video with Your D300S
        1. Using Camera Controls during a Video Recording Session
        2. Using Picture Controls
      4. Displaying D-Movies
        1. Displaying a D-Movie on the Camera LCD Screen
        2. Displaying a D-Movie on a Standard Definition TV (SDTV)
        3. Displaying a D-Movie on a High Definition TV (HDTV)
        4. Limitations in D-Movie Mode Video Capture
        5. How the Rolling Shutter Works in D-Movie Mode
        6. Avoiding the “Jellywobble Effect”
    3. My Conclusions
      1. Video Editing Software
  15. 9. Metering, Exposure Modes, and Histogram
    1. Metering Systems
      1. 3D Color Matrix II Meter
      2. Fine-Tuning Matrix Metering
      3. Using Flash with Matrix Metering
      4. Center-Weighted Meter
      5. Where’s the Circle?
      6. What about the Averaging Meter?
      7. Spot Meter
    2. Exposure Modes
      1. P – Programmed Auto Mode
      2. Get Down Grandpa!
      3. S – Shutter Priority Auto Mode
      4. A – Aperture Priority Auto Mode
      5. M – Manual Mode
    3. Histogram
      1. Understanding the Histogram
      2. Light Range
      3. Histogram Shape
      4. How Does the Eye React to Light Values?
      5. Computer Adjustment of Images
    4. My Conclusions
  16. 10. White Balance
    1. How Does White Balance (WB) Work?
    2. Color Temperature
    3. Method 1 – Manual White Balance Using the WB Button
    4. Manually Selecting a Color Temperature between 2,500 and 10,000 K
    5. Measuring Actual Ambient Light and Using PRE
    6. Storing White Balance Values for Future Use
    7. Editing the Comment Field
    8. Using the White Balance from a Previously Captured Image
    9. Adjusting a Saved White Balance’s Color Values
    10. Method 2 – Manual White Balance Using the Shooting Menu
    11. White Balance Bracketing
    12. Auto White Balance
      1. My Opinion about Auto WB
      2. Should I worry about white balance if I shoot in RAW mode?
    13. White Balance Tips and Tricks
      1. Sample Full WB Range D300(S) Image
    14. My Conclusions
  17. 11. Multi-CAM 3500DX Autofocus
    1. What Is the Multi-CAM 3500DX Autofocus Module?
    2. Setting Your Lens to Manual Focus
    3. Understanding the Focus Modes, AF-Area Modes, and Release Modes
      1. Focus Modes in Detail
    4. Single-servo AF Mode (S)
    5. Continuous-servo AF Mode (C)
      1. Predictive Focus Tracking
      2. Effect of Lens Movement
    6. AF-Area Modes in Detail
      1. Single-point AF
      2. Single-Point AF Example of Use
      3. Dynamic-area AF
      4. Auto-area AF
    7. Release Modes in Detail
      1. Single Frame (S) Mode
      2. Continuous Low Speed (CL) Mode
      3. Continuous High Speed (CH) Mode
      4. Quiet (Q) Mode (D300S only)
      5. Live View (Lv) Mode (D300 only)
      6. Self-Timer Mode
      7. Mirror Up (MUP) Mode
      8. Don’t Touch That Shutter Release!
    8. Autofocus in Live View Mode
      1. Entering Live View
      2. Selecting Hand-held or Tripod Modes
      3. Selecting a Release Mode Frame Rate
    9. My Conclusions
  18. 12. Speedlight Flash Photography
    1. What Is a Guide Number?
    2. Flash Modes
      1. Front-Curtain Sync
      2. Red-Eye Reduction
      3. Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync
      4. Slow Sync
      5. Rear-Curtain Sync
    3. Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
      1. How Does the D300(S) Fit into the CLS Scheme?
      2. What Is Commander Mode and How Does It Work?
      3. Using Commander Mode
      4. Commander Mode Settings
      5. Setting the Channel (CH) for Communication
    4. Selecting a Nikon Speedlight Flash Unit
    5. My Conclusions
      1. Thank You!
  19. Credits for Chapter Opening Images
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
    7. Chapter 7
    8. Chapter 8
    9. Chapter 9
    10. Chapter 10
    11. Chapter 11
    12. Chapter 12
  20. Nikonians Gold Membership
  21. Additional Downloadable Resources Website
  22. Index
  23. About the Author
  24. Copyright
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