Nikon D5100 User manual

Nikon

DIGITAL CAMERA

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Reference Manual

Metering

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

camera selects the metering method automatically).

_-_:i'_M°eth_od°°_'u'_" Description .........

[] Matrix

metering

Center-

[] weighted

metering

[] Spot

metering

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 (_ 198), distance

information (3D color matrix metering II; with other CPU lenses, the camera uses

color matrix metering II,which does not include 3D distance 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 lx.

Camera meters current focus point; use to meter off-center subjects (if[i] Auto-

area AF is selected for AF-area mode during viewfinder photography as

described on page 42, camera will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject

will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.

Place the cursor in the information display.

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

Press the ,B, button again to place the cursor in the information display.

Information display ,B, button

Display metering options.

Highlight the current metering method in the

information display and press _).

Choose a metering method.

Highlight an option and press _). To return to

shooting mode, press the shutter-release button

halfway.

Autoexposure Lock

Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using _ (Center-weighted

metering) and G3(Spot metering) to meter exposure; note that autoexposure lock is

not available in _o or _ mode.

Meter exposure.

Position the subject in the center of the frame

(center-weighted metering) or the selected

focus point (spot metering) and press the

shutter-release button halfway to set focus and

meter exposure. Check that the in-focus

indicator (0) appears in the viewfinder.

2Lock exposure.

With the shutter-release button pressed halfway and the

subject positioned in the focus point, press the AE-L/AF-L

button to lock exposure.

[] Autoexposure Lock

If On is selected for Custom Setting cl (Shutter-release

button AE-L; _ 159), 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; _ 166).

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

appear in the viewfinder.

Shutter-release

button

AE-L/AF-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:

Mode Setting

Programmed auto Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; _ 62)

Shutter-priority auto Shutter speed

Aperture-priority auto Aperture

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

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

F_ (Center-weighted metering) or _ (Spot metering) (_ 68). Choose from values

between -5 EV(underexposure) and +5 EV(overexposure) in increments of 1/3EV. In

general, positive values make the subject brighter while negative values make it

darker.

-1 EV No exposure compensation +1EV

Place the cursor in the information display.

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

Press the ,B, button again to place the cursor in the information display.

_;_t [8271 ,B,button

Information display

2Display exposure compensation options.

Highlight exposure compensation in the

information display and press _).

3Choose a value.

Highlight a value and press _). To return to

shooting mode, press the shutter-release button

halfway.

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

compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off, but is reset if you select

another mode after choosing [_.

[] 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 (EM steps for exposure cntrl., _ 159). For

information on automatically varying exposure over a series of shots, see page 88.

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.

Choose from values between -3 EV(darker) and 4-1EV (brighter) in increments of

1/3EV_in general, positive values make the subject brighter while negative values

make it darker.

Place the cursor in the information display.

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

Press the ,B, button again to place the cursor in the information display.

_!,_ [8271 ,B,button

Information display

2Display flash compensation options.

Highlight flash compensation in the information

display and press _).

3Choose a value.

Highlight a value and press _). To return to

shooting mode, press the shutter-release button

halfway.

Normal flash output can be restored by setting flash compensation to _+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 +1EV

[] Optional Flash Units

Flash compensation is also available with optional flash units that support the Nikon

Creative Lighting System (CLS; see page 203). The SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 also

allow flash compensation to be set using the controls on the flash unit. The flash

compensation selected with the optional flash unit is added to the flash compensation

selected with the camera.

[] See Also

For information on choosing the size of the increments available for flash compensation, see

Custom Setting bl (EV steps for exposure cntrl., _ 159).

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

1_ (Matrix metering; _ 68).

Active D-Lighting: OFFOff Active D-Lighting: -_6AAuto

Place the cursor in the information display.

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

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

_ i AF-L

_Se [8271 ,B,button

Information display

Display Active D-Lighting options.

Highlight Active D-Lighting in the information

display and press _).

3Choose an option.

Highlight -_6AAuto, -_6H* Extra high, -_6H High,

NNormal, ¢6 L Low, or OFFOff and press _). If

-_6AAuto is selected, the camera will

automatically adjust Active D-Lighting

according to shooting conditions. To return to

shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway.

_I_ Active D-Lighting

Noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) may appear in photographs taken with

Active D-Lighting. Uneven shading may be visible with some subjects. Active D-Lighting

can not be used at ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 or above. A setting of -_6AAuto is equivalent to

¢6NNormal in mode Mor when center-weighted or spot metering is used.

[] "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 (_ 178)

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 (_ 151).

[] See Also

For information on automatically varying Active D-Lighting over a series of shots, see page

88. For information on using the Fn button and command dial to turn Active D-Lighting on

and off, see page 165.

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

High Dynamic Range (HDR) combines two exposures to form a single image that

captures a wide range of tones from shadows to highlights, even with high-contrast

subjects. HDR is most effective when used with _ (Matrix metering) (_ 68; with

other metering methods, an exposure differential of Auto is equivalent to about

2 EV). It can not be used to record NEF (RAW) images. The flash can not be used

while HDR is in effect.

First exposure (darker)

Second exposure (brighter)

Select HDR (High Dynamic Range).

Press the MENUbutton to display the menus.

Highlight HDR (High Dynamic Range) in

the shooting menu and press I_.

Combined HDR image

MENUbutton

Enable HDR.

Highlight HDRmode and press I_.

Theoptions shown at right will be displayed.

Highlight On and press _).

Hdr will be displayed in the viewfinder. ®

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