Part I
Nikon D800/D800E Quick Start

This first part of the book, consisting of just three short chapters, is designed to familiarize you with the basics of your Nikon D800 or D800E as quickly as possible, even though I have no doubt that you’ve already been out shooting a few hundred (or thousand) photographs with your pride and joy. (As a reminder, I generally refer to both the Nikon D800 and D800E as Nikon D800, except when describing the sole feature that is different between the two: the “neutral” non-anti-aliasing filter found in the D800E model. The two cameras are otherwise identical in every way.)

After all, inserting a memory card, mounting a lens, stuffing a charged battery into the base, and removing the lens cap to fire off a shot or two isn’t rocket science. Even the rawest neophyte can rotate the mode dial (located at top left on the camera body) to the P (Programmed auto) indicator, point the D800 at something interesting, and press the shutter release. Presto! A pretty good picture will pop up on the color LCD on the back of the camera. It’s easy!

But in digital photography, there is such a thing as too easy. If you bought a D800, you certainly had no intention of using the camera as a point-and-shoot snapshooter. After all, the D800 is a tool suitable for the most advanced photographic pursuits, with an extensive array of customization possibilities. As such, you don’t want the camera’s operation to be brainless; you want access to the advanced features to be easy.

You get that easy access with the Nikon D800. However, you’ll still need to take the time to learn how to use these features, and I’m going to provide everything those who are new to this type of camera need to know to begin shooting in these first three chapters. To help you decide which sections are important to you, I’m including green-accented “executive summaries” and chapter descriptions like the following:

This part of the book is intended for anyone who needs basic information on getting started with the Nikon D800/D800E. You can learn the basic functions needed to begin shooting immediately, discover the function of every control, and review my recommended changes from Nikon’s default settings.

Chapter 1: Nikon D800 Quick Start. This chapter is optional for many of those who have extensive experience with a Nikon mid- or pro-level dSLR. The information is fairly basic, but contains the kind of Quick Start descriptions that many readers have told me is essential for those who may not be old hands with Nikon cameras at this level of sophistication. I promise you we didn’t charge anything extra for this chapter, so skim over it if you don’t need it.

But the D800 does have some interesting new features, including the most advanced autofocus systems ever seen in a Nikon camera body (and which deserves an entire chapter of its own later in this book). But even with all the goodies to play with and learning curve still to climb, you’ll find that Chapter 1 will get you shooting quickly with a minimum of fuss.

Chapter 2: Nikon D800 Roadmap. This is a Streetsmart Roadmap to the Nikon D800. Confused by the tiny little diagrams and multiple cross-references for each and every control that send you scurrying around looking for information you know is buried somewhere in the inadequate manual stuffed in the box? This chapter uses multiple large full-color pictures that show every dial, knob, and button, and explain the basics of using each in clear, easy-to-understand language. I’ll give you the basics up front, and, even if I have to send you deeper into the book for a full discussion of a complex topic, you’ll have what you need to use a control right away.

Chapter 3: Recommended Settings. This is a “Recommended Settings” introduction that consists of several parts. At the beginning of the chapter I’ll provide recommendations about default settings of the Nikon D800 as it comes from the factory that you probably should change right away. I’ll tell you why to make these changes, and list some exceptions for sticking with Nikon’s defaults. Later in the chapter I’ll list some recommended settings for various types of shooting situations, based on my experience with this camera. If you’re just starting out with the Nikon D800, you might want to try out my recommendations, and alter them to fit your own needs as you gain experience.

Once you’ve finished (or skimmed through) these three chapters, you’ll be ready for Part II, which explains how to use the most important basic features, such as the D800’s exposure controls, nifty improved autofocus system, and the related tools that put techniques like high dynamic range (HDR) photography and movie-making tools at your fingertips. Then, you can visit Part III, which shows you how to work with light, Part IV, which explains all the dozens of setup options that can be used to modify the capabilities you’ve learned to use so far, and Part V, which provides an introduction to movie shooting with the D800 and related accessories.