DIGITAL CAMERA

User's Manual

Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon single-lens reflex (SLR) digital
camera. To get the most from your camera, please be sure to read all
instructions thoroughly and keep them where they will be read by all
those who use the product.
Symbols and Conventions
To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols
and conventions are used:

This icon marks cautions; information that should be read before

use to prevent damage to the camera.

This icon marks notes; informationthat should be read before

using the camera.

This icon marks references to other pages in this manual.

Menu items, options, and messages displayed in the camera monitor are
shown in bold.
Camera Settings
The explanations in this manual assume that default settings are used.
Help
Use the cameras on-board help feature for help on menu items and other
topics. See page 22 for details.
Digitutor
Digitutor, a series of watch and learn manuals in movie form, is available
from the following website:
http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html

A For Your Safety

Before using the camera for the first time, read the safety
instructions in For Your Safety (0 xiiixv).

Where to Find It
Find what youre looking for from:
i
i
i
i
i
i

The Table of Contents.............................................................. 0 iv

The Q&A Index ......................................................................... 0
ii
The Quick Start Guide ............................................................. 0 xxii
The Index.................................................................................. 0 449
Error Messages ........................................................................ 0 424
Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 0 419

X Introduction
s Tutorial
x Live View Photography
y Movie Live View
d Image Recording Options
N Focus
k Release Mode
S ISOSensitivity
Z Exposure
r White Balance
J Image Enhancement
l Flash Photography
t Other Shooting Options
I More About Playback
e Voice Memos
Q Connections
U Menu Guide
n Technical Notes

0 1
0 19
0 49
0 63
0 85
0 97
0 111
0 117
0 123
0 153
0 173
0 191
0 207
0 235
0 255
0 263
0 283
0 385

Q&AIndex
Find what youre looking for using this question and answer
index.

Taking Photographs
i

Shooting and Framing Options

Is there a quick and easy way to take snapshots?

Can I frame photos in the monitor (C live view
photography)?
Can I shoot movies (1 movie live view)?
Can I join photographs taken at regular intervals to
create a time-lapse movie?

xxii, 40
49
63
223

i Release Modes
Can I take photos in quick succession?
How do I take pictures with the self-timer?

111
114

i Focus
Can I choose how the camera focuses?
Can I choose the focus point?

97
103

i Exposure
Can I make photos brighter or darker?
How do I preserve details in shadows and highlights?

137
184,
186

i Image Quality and Size

How do I take pictures for printing at large sizes?
How can I get more pictures on the memory card?

Viewing Photographs

90, 93

i Playback
How do I view photographs on the camera?
How do I view more information about a photo?
Can I view photos in an automatic slide show?
Can I view photos on a TV?
Can I protect photos from accidental deletion?

235
238
291
280
249

i Deletion
How do I delete unwanted photos?

ii

251

Retouching Photographs

How do I create retouched copies of photos?

How do I make JPEG copies of RAW (NEF) photos?

361
372

Can I trim movie footage on the camera or save

movie stills?

79

Menusand Settings
How do
How do
How do
How do
How do

I use the menus?

I keep the displays from turning off?
I focus the viewfinder?
I set the camera clock?
I format memory cards?

How do I restore default settings?

How do I get help for a menu or message?

Connections
How do I copy photos to a computer?
How do I print photos?
Can I print the date of recording on my photos?

Maintenanceand Optional Accessories

What memory cards can I use?
What lenses can I use?
What optional flash units (Speedlights) can I use?
What other accessories are available for my camera?
What software is available for my camera?
How do I clean the camera?
Where should I take my camera for servicing and
repairs?

0
19
316, 317
38
30, 348
36
207,295,
305
22

0
263
271
274

0
442
385
192
391
398
405

iii

Table of Contents
Q&A Index ................................................................................................. ii
For Your Safety .................................................................................... xiii
Notices.................................................................................................... xvi
Quick Start Guide............................................................................... xxii

Introduction

Package Contents...................................................................................1
Getting to Know the Camera..............................................................2
Camera Body....................................................................................... 2
The Top Control Panel ..................................................................... 7
The Rear Control Panel .................................................................... 9
The Viewfinder Display..................................................................11
The Information Display................................................................13
The BS-2Accessory Shoe Cover .................................................17

Tutorial

19

Camera Menus...................................................................................... 19
Using Camera Menus .....................................................................20
Help ......................................................................................................22

First Steps ............................................................................................... 23

Charge the Battery ..........................................................................23
Insert the Battery .............................................................................25
Attach a Lens.....................................................................................28
BasicSetup.........................................................................................30
Insert a Memory Card.....................................................................33
Format the Memory Card .............................................................36
Adjust Viewfinder Focus ...............................................................38

BasicPhotography and Playback................................................... 40

Turn the Camera On .......................................................................40
Ready the Camera ...........................................................................42

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Focus and Shoot.............................................................................. 43

Viewing Photographs.................................................................... 46
Deleting Unwanted Photographs............................................. 47

Live View Photography

49

Focusing in LiveView .................................................................... 52

The LiveView Display:LiveViewPhotography ................... 55
The Information Display:LiveViewPhotography............... 58
Manual Focus ................................................................................... 59
LiveViewShutter Release Options ........................................... 60

Movie Live View

63

Indices ................................................................................................. 67
The LiveView Display:Movie LiveView................................. 68
The Information Display:Movie LiveView............................. 70
Image Area ........................................................................................ 71
Movie Settings ................................................................................. 74

Viewing Movies.................................................................................... 77
Editing Movies...................................................................................... 79
Trimming Movies............................................................................ 79
Saving Selected Frames................................................................ 83

Image Recording Options

85

Image Area............................................................................................. 85
Image Quality........................................................................................ 90
Image Size.............................................................................................. 93
Using Two Memory Cards ................................................................ 95

Focus

97

Autofocus ............................................................................................... 97
Autofocus Mode ..............................................................................97
AF-Area Mode ................................................................................ 100
Focus Point Selection.................................................................. 103
Focus Lock....................................................................................... 105

Manual Focus ......................................................................................108

Release Mode

111

Choosing a Release Mode ..............................................................111

Continuous Release Modes ...................................................... 112

Self-Timer Mode.................................................................................114
Mirror up Mode ..................................................................................116

ISOSensitivity

117

Manual Adjustment ..........................................................................117

Auto ISOSensitivity Control ..........................................................119

Exposure

123

Metering ...............................................................................................123
Exposure Mode...................................................................................125
e: Programmed Auto .................................................................. 126
f: Shutter-Priority Auto .............................................................. 127
g: Aperture-Priority Auto ........................................................... 128
h: Manual ......................................................................................... 129

Long Time-Exposures.......................................................................131
Shutter-Speed and Aperture Lock...............................................133
Autoexposure (AE) Lock..................................................................135
Exposure Compensation.................................................................137
Bracketing ............................................................................................139

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White Balance

153

White Balance Options ....................................................................153

Fine-Tuning White Balance............................................................156
Choosing a Color Temperature ....................................................160
Preset Manual .....................................................................................163

Image Enhancement

173

Picture Controls..................................................................................173
Selecting a Picture Control ........................................................173
Modifying Existing Picture Controls.......................................175
Creating Custom Picture Controls ..........................................179
Sharing Custom Picture Controls ............................................182

Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows .........................184

Active D-Lighting..........................................................................184
High Dynamic Range (HDR) ......................................................186

Flash Photography

191

Using a Flash .......................................................................................191

The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) ..........................192
i-TTL Flash Control ........................................................................198

Flash Modes.........................................................................................199
Flash Compensation.........................................................................202
FV Lock ..................................................................................................204

Other Shooting Options

207

Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default Settings .......................207

Multiple Exposure .............................................................................210
Interval Timer Photography ..........................................................216
Time-Lapse Photography ...............................................................223
Non-CPULenses.................................................................................228
Using a GPSUnit ................................................................................231

vii

More About Playback

235

Viewing Images ..................................................................................235

Full-Frame Playback .................................................................... 235
Thumbnail Playback .................................................................... 235
Playback Controls ........................................................................ 236

Photo Information.............................................................................238
Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom........................................247
Protecting Photographs from Deletion.....................................249
Deleting Photographs .....................................................................251
Full-Frame and Thumbnail Playback..................................... 251
The Playback Menu...................................................................... 253

Voice Memos

255

Recording Voice Memos .................................................................255

Playing Voice Memos .......................................................................260

Connections

263

Connecting to a Computer ............................................................263

Before Connecting the Camera ............................................... 263
Direct USB Connection ............................................................... 267
Ethernet and Wireless Networks ............................................. 269

Printing Photographs.......................................................................271
Connecting the Printer ............................................................... 272
Printing Pictures One at a Time............................................... 273
Printing Multiple Pictures .......................................................... 275
Creating a DPOFPrint Order: Print Set ................................. 277

Viewing Photographs on TV ..........................................................280

HDMI Options ................................................................................ 281

vi
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Menu Guide

283

D The Playback Menu: Managing Images ..............................283

Playback Folder .........................................................................284
Hide Image..................................................................................284
Playback Display Options ......................................................285
Copy Image(s)............................................................................286
Image Review.............................................................................289
After Delete ................................................................................290
Rotate Tall...................................................................................290
Slide Show...................................................................................291

C The Shooting Menu: Shooting Options ..............................293

Shooting Menu Bank...............................................................294
Extended Menu Banks............................................................295
Storage Folder ...........................................................................296
File Naming.................................................................................298
Color Space.................................................................................299
Vignette Control .......................................................................300
Auto Distortion Control .........................................................301
Long Exposure NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction) ...302
High ISONR ................................................................................302

A Custom Settings: Fine-Tuning Camera Settings...............303

Custom Settings Bank.............................................................305
a: Autofocus ....................................................................................307
a1: AF-C Priority Selection .....................................................307
a2: AF-S Priority Selection .....................................................308
a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On ........................................309
a4: AF Activation .......................................................................309
a5: Focus Point Illumination .................................................310
a6: Focus Point Wrap-Around ..............................................310
a7: Number of Focus Points..................................................311
a8: Assign AF-ON Button .......................................................311
a9: Assign AF-ON Button (Vert.) ..........................................312
a10: Store Points by Orientation .........................................312
b: Metering/Exposure..................................................................313
b1: ISO Sensitivity Step Value ..............................................313
b2: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl ...........................................313
b3: Exp./Flash Comp. Step Value........................................313

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b4: Easy Exposure Compensation ...................................... 314

b5: Center-Weighted Area .................................................... 315
b6: Fine-Tune Optimal Exposure........................................ 315
c: Timers/AE Lock.......................................................................... 316
c1: Shutter-Release Button AE-L ......................................... 316
c2: Standby Timer .................................................................... 316
c3: Self-Timer ............................................................................. 317
c4: Monitor off Delay .............................................................. 317
d: Shooting/Display ..................................................................... 318
d1: Beep....................................................................................... 318
d2: Shooting Speed................................................................. 318
d3: Max. Continuous Release ............................................... 319
d4: Exposure Delay Mode ..................................................... 319
d5: File Number Sequence ................................................... 320
d6: Viewfinder Grid Display .................................................. 321
d7: Control Panel/Viewfinder .............................................. 321
d8: Screen Tips .......................................................................... 321
d9: Information Display ......................................................... 322
d10: LCD Illumination ............................................................. 322
e: Bracketing/Flash....................................................................... 323
e1: Flash Sync Speed............................................................... 323
e2: Flash Shutter Speed ......................................................... 324
e3: Optional Flash .................................................................... 324
e4: Exposure Comp. for Flash .............................................. 325
e5: Modeling Flash................................................................... 325
e6: Auto Bracketing Set ......................................................... 325
e7: Auto Bracketing (Mode M)............................................. 326
e8: Bracketing Order ............................................................... 326
f: Controls ........................................................................................ 327
f1: Multi Selector Center Button ......................................... 327
f2: Multi Selector....................................................................... 328
f3: Assign Fn Button ................................................................ 328
f4: Assign Preview Button ..................................................... 333
f5: Assign Sub-selector ........................................................... 333
f6: Assign Sub-selector Center ............................................ 333
f7: Assign Fn Button (Vert.) ...................................................334
f8: Shutter Spd & Aperture Lock......................................... 334
f9: Assign BKT Button.............................................................. 335
f10: Customize Command Dials.......................................... 336

f11: Release Button to Use Dial............................................337

f12: Slot Empty Release Lock................................................338
f13: Reverse Indicators............................................................338
f14: Assign Multi Selector (Vert.) .........................................338
f15: Playback Zoom .................................................................339
f16: Assign Movie Record Button........................................339
g: Movie............................................................................................340
g1: Assign Fn Button ...............................................................340
g2: Assign Preview Button ....................................................341
g3: Assign Sub-selector Center ...........................................342
g4: Assign Shutter Button .....................................................343

B The Setup Menu: Camera Setup...............................................344

Format Memory Card..............................................................345
Monitor Brightness ..................................................................345
Image Dust OffRefPhoto ......................................................346
FlickerReduction ......................................................................348
Time Zone and Date ................................................................348
Language.....................................................................................349
Auto Image Rotation ...............................................................350
Battery Info .................................................................................351
Image Comment.......................................................................352
Copyright Information............................................................353
IPTC................................................................................................354
Save/Load Settings ..................................................................356
Virtual Horizon...........................................................................358
AF Fine-Tune ..............................................................................359
Firmware Version......................................................................360

N The Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies .............361

D-Lighting...................................................................................364
Red-EyeCorrection ..................................................................365
Trim................................................................................................366
Monochrome .............................................................................367
Filter Effects................................................................................367
Color Balance .............................................................................368
Image Overlay............................................................................369
NEF (RAW) Processing.............................................................372
Resize............................................................................................374
Straighten....................................................................................376

xi

Distortion Control .................................................................... 377

Perspective Control................................................................. 378
Side-by-Side Comparison ..................................................... 378

O MyMenu/m Recent Settings....................................................380

Technical Notes

385

Compatible Lenses............................................................................385
Other Accessories..............................................................................391
Attaching a Power Connector and AC Adapter................. 396

Caring for the Camera......................................................................398

Storage ............................................................................................. 398
Cleaning ........................................................................................... 398
The Low-Pass Filter ...................................................................... 399
Clean Now ............................................................................... 399
Clean at Startup/Shutdown .............................................. 400
Manual Cleaning ...................................................................... 402
Replacing the ClockBattery...................................................... 406

Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions..........................408

Defaults .................................................................................................412
Exposure Program .............................................................................418
Troubleshooting ................................................................................419
Error Messages....................................................................................424
Specifications ......................................................................................430
Calibrating Batteries .................................................................... 440

Approved Memory Cards ...............................................................442

Memory Card Capacity ....................................................................444
Battery Life ...........................................................................................447
Index.......................................................................................................449

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