Nikon D300 User manual

Nikon

DIGITAL CAMERA

)(

User's Manual

Exposure

- Controlling How the Camera Sets Exposure

This section describes the options available to control exposure,

including metering, exposure mode, exposure lock, exposure

com pensation, and bracketing.

Metering ......................................................................... pg. 100

Exposure Mode .............................................................. pg. 102

P: Programmed Auto ...................................................................pg. 104

E_:Shutter-Priority Auto ..............................................................pg. 106

Ft:Aperture-Priority Auto ...........................................................pg. 107

11:Manual .........................................................................................pg. 109

Autoexposure (AE) Lock ............................................... pg. 112

Exposure Compensation .............................................. pg. 114

Bracketing ....................................................................... pg. 116

Metering determines how the camera sets exposure. The

following options are available:

Method Description

Recommended in most situations. Camera meters a wide area

of the frame and sets exposure according to distribution of

3D color

matrix II brightness, color, distance, and composition for natural

results.

Camera meters entire frame but assigns

greatest weight to area in center of

_3 frame (defaults to 8-ram circle in center

Center- ofviewfinder; if CPU lens is attached,

weighted area can be selected using Custom

Setting b5, [Center-weighted area],

pg. 277). Classic meter for portraits, i Center weight area 2

Camera meters circle 3 mm (0.12 in.) in

diameter (approximately 2% of frame).

Circle is centered on current focus

point, making it possible to meter off-

_3 center subjects (if non-CPU lens is used

Spot or if Auto-area AF is in effect (pg. 64),

camera will meter center focus point). Spot metering

Ensures that subject will be correctly area 2

exposed, even when background is

much brighter or darker, i

I For improved precision with non-CPU lenses, specify lens focal length and

maximum aperture in [Non-CPU lens data] menu (pg. 197).

2 Metered area is not actually displayed in viewfinder.

100

To choose a metering method,

rotate the metering selector until

the desired mode is displayed.

Metering selector

[] 3D Color Matrix II Metering

In matrix metering, exposure is set using a 1,005-segment RGB sensor.

Use a type G or D lens for results that include range information (3D color

matrix metering II;see page 352 for information on lens types). With other

CPU lenses, 3D range information is not included (color matrix metering

II). Color matrix metering is available when focal length and maximum

aperture of non-CPU lens are specified using [Non-CPU lens data] item in

setup menu (see page 197; center-weighted metering is used if focal

length or aperture is not specified).

[] See Also

For information on choosing the size of the area assigned the greatest

weight in center-weighted metering, see Custom Setting b5 ([Center-

weighted area], pg. 277). For information on making separate

adjustments to optimal exposure for each metering method, see Custom

Setting b6 ([Fine tune optimal exposure], pg. 277). 101

Exposure mode determines how the camera sets shutter speed

and aperture when adjusting exposure. Four modes are available:

programmed auto (P), shutter-priority auto (,S), aperture-priority

auto (sq),and manual (M).

Mode Description

Programmed

Pauto

(pg. 104)

Shutter-priority

.5 auto

(pg. 106)

Aperture-

priority auto

(pg. 107)

Manual

!I (pg. 109)

Camera sets shutter speed and aperture for

optimal exposure. Recommended for snapshots

and in other situations in which there is little time

to adjust camera settings.

User chooses shutter speed; camera selects

aperture for best results. Use to freeze or blur

motion.

User chooses aperture; camera selects shutter

speed for best results. Use to blur background for

portraits or bring both foreground and

background into focus for landscape shots.

User controls both shutter speed and aperture.

Set shutter speed to "bu I_b" for long time-

exposures.

[] LensTypes

When using a CPUlensequipped with an aperture ring (pg. 352), lock the

aperture ring at the minimum aperture (highest f-number). Type Glenses

are not equipped with an aperture ring.

Non-CPU lenses can only be used in exposure mode A (aperture-priority

auto) and !I (manual). In other modes, exposure mode A is automatically

selected when a non-CPU lens is attached. The exposure mode indicator

(P or .S)in the control panel will blink and A will be displayed in the

viewfinden

102

To choose the exposure mode, press the IVlODE

button and rotate the main command dial

until the desired mode is displayed in the

control panel or viewfinder.

MODEbutton

Main command

dial

[] Depth-of-Field Preview

To preview the effects of aperture, press and hold

the depth-of-field preview button. The lens will

be stopped down to the aperture value selected

by the camera (modes Pand .5) or the value

chosen by the user (modes .qand !I), allowing

depth of field to be previewed in the viewfinder.

Preview button

[] Custom Setting e4--Modeling Flash

This setting controls whether the built-in flash and the SB-900, SB-800,

SB-600, SB-R200, and other optional flash units that support the Creative

Lighting System (CLS; see page 357) will emit a modeling flash when the

depth-of-field preview button is pressed. See page 297 for more

information.

[] See Also

See page 96 for information on auto ISO sensitivity control. For

information on using the [Long exp. NR] option in the shooting menu for

reducing noise at slow shutter speeds, see page 262. For information on

choosing the size of the increments available for shutter speed and

aperture, see Custom Setting b2 ([EV steps for exposure cntrl.], pg. 275).

For information on changing the roles of the main and sub-command

dials, see Custom Setting f7 ([Customize command dials] > [Change main/

sub], pg. 307). 103

P: Programmed Auto

In this mode, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and

aperture according to a built-in program to ensure optimal

exposure in most situations. This mode is recommended for

snapshots and other situations in which you want to leave the

camera in charge of shutter speed and aperture. To take

photographs in programmed auto:

1MODEbutton

Select exposure mode P.

Press the MODEbutton and rotate the

main command dial until Pisdisplayed

in the viewfinder and control panel.

|Main command dial

2Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

Shutter speed: 1/320 S

Aperture: f/9

104

[] Flexible Program

In exposure mode P, different combinations of

shutter speed and aperture can be selected by

rotating the main command dial ("flexible

program"). Rotate the command dial to the right

for large apertures (small f-numbers) that blur

background details or fast shutter speeds that

"freeze" motion. Rotate the command dial to the Main command dial

left for small apertures (large f-numbers) that

increase depth of field or slow shutter speeds that

urmotioncom inationsoro ucetho me

exposure. While flexible program isin effect, an

asterisk ("*") appears in the control panel. To [_ [restore default shutter speed and aperture C • _A IS_{_]

settings, rotate the command dial until the

asterisk is no longer displayed, choose another mode, or turn the camera

off.

Shutter speed: 1/2,500 S Shutter speed: 1/60 S

Aperture: f/2.8 Aperture: f/22

[] See Also

See page 407 for information on the built-in exposure program.

105

.'3:Shutter-Priority Auto

In shutter-priority auto, you choose the shutter speed while the

camera automatically selects the aperture that will produce the

optimal exposure. To take photographs in shutter-priority auto:

1Select exposure mode MODEbutton

Press the MODEbutton and

rotate the main command

dial until ,.qis displayed in

the viewfinder and

control panel. Main command dial

125 F5.6 }

2Choose a shutter speed.

Rotate the main command dial to

choose the desired shutter speed.

Shutter speed can be set to "x 2So" or

to values between 30 s (3o") and

1/8,000s (Booo). Use slow shutter speeds to suggest motion by

blurring moving objects, high shutter speeds to "freeze"

motion.

Slow shutter speed (I/6 S)Fast shutter speed (1/1,600 S)

3Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

[] See Also

See page 393 for information on what to do if flashing "_,u [b" indicator

appears in the shutter-speed displays.

106

Aperture-Priority Auto

In aperture-priority auto, you choose the aperture while the camera

automatically selects the shutter speed that will produce the

optimal exposure. To take photographs in aperture-priority auto:

1Select exposure MODEbutton

mode A.

Press the MODEbutton

and rotate the main

command dial until ,qis

displayed in the

viewfinder and control

panel.

Main command dial

F5.6 ]

Choose an aperture. __

Rotate the sub- __-_%7_

command dial to _ _ I_ '----" _"_I

choose the desired /' _°;_...... [_C. _ [5_] J

aperture from values _ _ I_J

between the minimum Sub-command dial

and maximum for the

lens. Small apertures (high f-numbers) increase depth of field

(see page 103), bringing both foreground and background

into focus. Large apertures (low f-numbers) soften

background details in portraits or other compositions that

emphasize the main subject.

Small aperture (f/36) Large aperture (f/2.8)

107

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