Nikon D5000 User manual

DIG ITAL CAM ERA

User's Manual

Metering

Choose how the camera sets exposure in P,S,A,and Mmodes (in other modes, the

camera selects the metering method automatically).

Place the cursor in the information display.

If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.

Press the 41, button to place the cursor in the information display.

[] button Information display @button

Display metering options.

Highlight the current metering method in the

information display and press _).

Choose a metering method.

Highlight one of the following options and press

[] Matrix

Center-

[] weighted

[] Spot

Produces natural results in most situations. Camera uses 420-pixel RGB

sensor to meter a wide area of the frame and set exposure according to

tone distribution, color, composition, and, with type G or D lenses

(_ 194), range information (3D color matrix metering II;with other CPU

lenses, camera uses color matrix metering II, which does not include 3D

range information).

Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area.

Classic meter for portraits; recommended when using filters with an

exposure factor (filter factor) over 1x.

Camera meters current focus point; use to meter off-center subjects (if

Auto-area is selected for AF-area mode as described on page 56, camera

will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject will be correctly

exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.

Autoexposure Lock

Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after metering exposure:

Select center-weighted (r_) or spot (Fq) metering

(_ 88).

Matrix metering (_) will not produce the desired results.

2Lock exposure.

Position the subject in the selected focus point and press

the shutter-release button halfway. With the shutter-

release button pressed halfway and the subject positioned

in the focus point, press the AE-L/AF-Lbutton to lock focus

and exposure.

While exposure lock is in effect, an AE-Lindicator will

appear in the viewfinder.

Shutter-release

button

AE-UAF-Lbutton

3Recompose the photograph.

Keeping the AE-L/AF-Lbutton pressed,recompose the photograph and shoot.

[] Adjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture

While exposure lock is in effect, the following settings can be adjusted without altering the

metered value for exposure:

_=--'="i="i_:- M0deSetting

Programmed auto Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; _ 81)

Shutter-priority auto Shutter speed

Aperture-priority auto Aperture

The metering method itself can not be changed while exposure lock is in effect.

[] See Also

If On is selected for Custom Setting cl (Shutter-release button AE-L, _ 156), exposure will

lock when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. For information on changing the

role of the AE-L/AF-Lbutton, see Custom Setting f2 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button, _ 164).

Exposure Compensation

Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the

camera, making pictures brighter or darker. It is most effective when used with

center-weighted or spot metering (_ 88).

Place the cursor in the information display.

If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.

Press the ,n, button to place the cursor in the information display.

[] button Information display ,B,button

Display exposure compensation options.

Highlight exposure compensation in the

information display and press _).

Choose a value.

Highlight a value and press _). Exposure

compensation can be set to values between

-5 EV(underexposure) and +5 EV(overexposure)

in increments of 1/3EV. In general, choose

positive values to make the subject brighter,

negative values to make it darker.

-I EV +I EV

No exposurecompensation

Normal exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to _+0.Exposure

compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off.

[] The [] Button

Exposure compensation can also be

set by pressing the [] button and

rotating the command dial. The

selected value isshown in the

viewfinder and information display.

[] button Command dial

-0.3 EV +2 EV

[] Mode M

In mode M, exposure compensation affects only the exposure indicator; shutter speed and

aperture do not change.

[] Using a Flash

When a flash is used, exposure compensation affects both background exposure and flash

level.

[] See Also

For information on choosing the size of the increments available for exposure

compensation, see Custom Setting bl (EV steps for exposure cntrl., _ 156). For

information on automatically varying exposure over a series of photographs to "bracket" a

selected exposure compensation value, see "Bracketing" (_ 103).

Flash Compensation

Flash compensation is used to alter flash output from the level suggested by the

camera, changing the brightness of the main subject relative to the background.

Flash output can be increased to make the main subject appear brighter, or reduced

to prevent unwanted highlights or reflections.

Place the cursor in the information display.

If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.

Press the ,1t, button to place the cursor in the information display.

[] button Information display ,I], button

2Display flash compensation options.

Highlight flash compensation in the information

display and press _).

3Choose a value.

Highlight a value and press _). Flash

compensation can be set to values between

-3 EV(darker) and +1 EV(brighter) in increments

of 1/3 EV. In general, choose positive values to

make the subject brighter, negative values to

make it darker.

Normal flash output can be restored by setting flash compensation to _+0.0. Flash

compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off.

[] The I_ (_) and [] Buttons

Flash compensation can also be set by

rotating the command dial while

pressing the I_ (_) and [] buttons.

The selected value is shown in the

viewfinder and information display.

I_ (_ ) button [] button Command dial

-0.3 EV +I EV

[] Optional Flash Units

Flash compensation is also available with an optional SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, or

SB-R200 flash units.

[] Exposure Increments

For information on choosing the size of the increments available when setting flash

compensation, see Custom Setting bl (EV steps for exposure cntrl., _ 156).

Active D-Lighting

Active D-Lighting preserves details in highlights and shadows, creating photographs

with natural contrast. Use for high contrast scenes, for example when

photographing brightly lit outdoor scenery through a door or window or taking

pictures of shaded subjects on a sunny day. It is most effective when used with

matrix metering (1_;_ 88).

Active D-Ligh ting: OFFOff Active D-Lighting: -_ A Auto

Place the cursor in the information display.

If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.

Press the 4]_button to place the cursor in the information display.

[] button Information display ,I], button

Display Active D-Lighting options.

Highlight Active D-Lighting in the information

display and press _).

Choose an option.

Highlight -_[_AAuto, -_[_H÷Extra high, -_[_HHigh,

_i NNormal, ._ L Low, or OFFOff and press _).

i_ Active D-Lighting

Noise (graininess, banding, and mottling) may appear in photographs taken with Active

D-Lighting at high ISO sensitivities. If center-weighted or spot metering is selected, settings

other than OFFOff are equivalent to -_[_NNormal. In mode M, an Active D-Lighting setting of

•_6A Auto is equivalent to -_[_NNormal.

_I_ "Active D-Lighting" Versus "D-Lighting"

The Active D-Lighting option in the shooting menu adjusts exposure before shooting to

optimize the dynamic range, while the D-Lighting option in the retouch menu (_ 174)

optimizes dynamic range in images after shooting.

[] The Shooting Menu

Active D-Lighting can also be adjusted using the Active D-Lighting

option in the shooting menu (_ 148).

[] See Also

For information on using the Fn (_) button and command dial to

select Active D-Lighting, see page 163. For information on

automatically varying Active D-Lighting over two photographs

(one with Active D-Lighting off, the second with the current setting

for Active-D-Lighting), see page 103.

White balance ensures that colors are unaffected by the color of the light source.

Auto white balance is recommended for most light sources; in P,S,A,and Mmodes,

other values can be selected if necessary according to the type of source:

Place the cursor in the information display.

if shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.

Press the ,I], button to place the cursor in the information display.

[] button Information display ,I], button

Display white balance options.

Highlight the current white balance setting in

the information display and press _).

Choose a white balance option.

Highlight one of the following options and press

AUTOAuto _Directsunlight

_ Incandescent _ Flash

Fluorescent(_ 97) ._- Cloudy

_,. Shade

PREPresetmanual(_ 99)

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