En The Guide to Digital Photography with the DIGITAL CAMERA
Product Documentation The documentation for this product includes the manuals listed below. Please be sure to read all instructions thoroughly to get the most from your camera. Fast Track Guide/For Your Safety In addition to taking first-time users step-by-step through the process of setting up and using the camera, the Fast Track Guide provides a quick overview of camera settings.
Contents Where Do I Go from Here? 45 Overview: About This Manual ............................... 1 Tutorial 3 Getting to Know the COOLPIX 880: The Parts of the Camera and Their Functions ............. 4 Using the Camera Menus ......................................... 12 First Steps: Getting Ready to Use Your Camera .......... 15 Inserting the Battery .................................................... 15 Inserting the Memory Card ..................................... 18 Choosing a Language ...........
Advanced Photography: P, A, M, and CSM ......... 68 Choosing a Mode: P, A, M, or CSM? ...................... 69 Adjusting Exposure: A and M Modes .................. 70 Reacting Faster to Light: Sensitivity (ISO Equivalency) ................................................................. 74 Focusing at a Preset Distance: Manual Focus .. 76 The Shooting Menu ...................................................... 78 Keeping Colors True: The White-Balance Menu .................................
Camera Setup:The Setup Menu ....................... 134 Controlling the (File) Size of Photographs: Image Quality and Size ........................................ 137 Organizing Your Photographs: The Folders Menu ................................................. 142 Monitor Options ......................................................... 149 The Auto Off Menu .................................................. 151 File Numbering: The Seq. Numbers Menu .... 153 Formatting Memory Cards: CF Card Format ......
Overview About This Manual Thank you for your purchase of a COOLPIX 880 digital camera. This manual has been written to help you enjoy taking digital photographs with your COOLPIX 880. As you read through it, you will find explanations not only of how the camera works but also of why certain features have been included, and how they may be used to take photographs in many different situations.
To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and conventions are used: This icon marks cautions, information that you should read before use to prevent damage to your camera. This icon marks notes, information that you should read before using your camera. This icon marks tips, additional information you may find helpful when using your camera. This icon indicates that more information is available elsewhere in this manual or in other documentation.
Tutorial Parts of the COOLPIX 880 Using the Menus First Steps/Taking Photographs This section: • Introduces you to the parts of the COOLPIX 880 and the camera menus • Takes you step-by-step through the process of setting up your camera • Outlines the steps involved in taking photographs and playing them back 3
Getting to Know the COOLPIX 880 The Parts of the Camera and Their Functions Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls, displays, and menus. 9 (55) 10 (56) A 1 (26) B D 11 (11) C N 12 (11) L 2 (181) I 8( 13 (18) ) J 14 (162) 3 7 (166) 6 5 (15) 4 (15) E K F M G H * Refer to the page numbers in parentheses for more information.
A The Power Switch The power switch is used to turn the camera on and off. 23–24 B The Shutter-Release Button The COOLPIX 880 has a twostage shutter-release button. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus. Focus will remain fixed while the button is held in this position (focus lock). Press the shutter-release button all the way down to take a picture. 28–30 C The Zoom Buttons Use the zoom buttons to frame button photographs.
D The Mode Dial Mode Auto Scene Use the mode dial to select the operating mode.
E The / Button The functions controlled by the / button depend on the operating mode and on the combination of buttons used. F The / Button The / button controls the functions shown at right.
G The / Button The / button controls: Function Mode Operation Flash mode AUTO, SCENE, P, A, M, CSM Press 55–57 Press 118 Thumbnail display H The / Button The / button is used to review photographs while shooting. In playback mode, its function is to star t and stop movie playback. 39–43, 117 8 I The MENU Button J The Multi Selector Press the MENU button to display or hide the menu for the current operating mode, or to display the second page of a two-page menu.
K The MONITOR Button L The Control Panel 9 (58) 10 (91) 1 (55) 8 (62) The MONITOR button controls the monitor in AUTO, P, A, M, modes. CSM, and 2 (16) 7 (139) 3 (24) 6 (85) Monitor on, information icons displayed 5 (74) Press Monitor on, information icons hidden Press Monitor off Press The monitor can not be turned off in SCENE and SETUP modes. 4 (64) * Refer to the page numbers in parentheses for more information.
M The Monitor 2 1 25 23 21 26 NIKON 24 WB- L WB 22 AE- L 20 19 5 27 29 +0.7 3 4 5 6 1.25 0.66ft 7 28 8 9 10 11 12 30 VGA NORMAL 13 ISO P 1/60 F2.8 +2.0 [ 10 ] 18 17 16 15 14 * Refer to the page numbers in parentheses for more information.
N The Viewfinder Lamp Use this area to frame photographs at ranges of less than 90 cm (1 yd) AF Lamp (Green) Flash Lamp (Red) Focus target (Auto/Scene) Center focus area for manual or automatic AF-area selection (P•A•M/CSM) The flash lamp (red) and autofocus (AF) lamp (green) next to the viewfinder provide a visual guide to camera status.
Using the Camera Menus Changes to some settings can be made with the help of menus that appear in the monitor. Separate menus are available for scene, P•A•M, CSM, playback, and setup modes (no menu is available in AUTO mode). Viewing the menus When the camera is on, the menu for the current operating mode can be displayed by pressing the MENU button. WHITE BALANCE Mode SETUP P•A•M CSM SCENE 12 Menu Function SET-UP Basic camera setup (e.g.
Making a selection Use the multi selector to make a selection. 1 Highlight menu item 2 Display options METERING METERING A A 1 1 2 Matrix Spot Center-Weighted Spot AF Area 2 A A A A MENU PAGE2 3 SELECT SET Highlight option MENU OF F 4 SELECT SET Make selection METERING METERING A A 1 Matrix Spot Center-Weighted Spot AF Area 2 A A • To go back one step, press the multi selector to the left. • The selection for some menu options is made from a sub-menu.
Multi-page menus To move between pages of a multi-page menu. 1 Position cursor in main menu 2 Highlight page tab WHITE BALANCE A SHOOTING MENU1 1 A 1 2 A A 2 MENU PAGE2 SELECT A A SET MENU PAGE2 3 Highlight page number 4 SELECT SET Display selected page IMAGE SIZE & QUALITY SHOOTING MENU2 QUAL. 1 2 C MENU OF F SELECT SET • You can also go from the first to the second page of a multi-page menu by pressing the MENU button once.
First Steps Getting Ready to Use Your Camera Before using your camera for the first time, you will need to: • Check the contents of the package (see the packing list included in the “Open Me First” envelope) • Attach the camera strap and lens-cap string as described in For Your Safety ( ) • Put the battery in the camera • Insert the memory card • Choose a language for the camera menus and messages • Set the time and date Inserting the Battery the camera off 1 Turn If the camera is on a tripod, remove the tr
the battery 3 Insert Inser t a 2CR5 (DL245) lithium batter y or a rechargeable Nikon EN-EL1 lithium-ion battery (available separately) as shown at right. the battery-chamber cover 4 Close To prevent the battery from falling out of the camera during operation, be sure the battery chamber is latched. the battery level 5 Check After removing the lens cap ( 23), turn the camera on and check the battery level in the control panel. Battery fully charged Low battery Replace the battery as soon as possible.
Read and follow all warnings and instructions supplied by the battery manufacturer. The battery can be removed without affecting photographs stored on the camera’s memory card. All settings other than date and language will, however, be reset. The clock-calendar is powered by a separate, rechargeable battery, which is charged as necessary when the main battery is installed. If the camera has been stored for a long period of time with the main battery removed, the clock may need to be reset.
Inserting the Memory Card 1 Turn the camera off the memory card 2 Insert Slide the card-slot cover out (1) and flip it open (2). Slide the card in (3) until it is firmly in place and the eject button pops up. 3 Close the card-slot cover (4) Removing memory cards Memory cards can be removed without loss of data when the camera is off. To remove memory cards, turn the camera off and open the card-slot cover (5). Press the eject button to partially eject the card (6) and then remove the card by hand.
Formatting Memory Cards Format memory cards before first use. 1 Select SETUP 2 Turn camera on. SET-UP menu will be displayed. 3 Highlight CF Card Format SET-UP1 SET-UP1 Image Quality Image Quality 1 Image Size 1 Image Size Folders Monitor Options Folders Monitor Options 2 Auto Off Seq. Numbers CF Card Format SELECT MENU PAGE2 4 2 Auto Off SET Seq.
Choosing a Language Camera menus and messages can be displayed in English, French, German, and Japanese. 1 Turn camera on and select SETUP 2 Press to display second page of SET-UP menu SET-UP2 Controls Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm 1 Pic data/Confirm Date Video Mode Folders Monitor Options Date Video Mode 2 Language 2 Auto Off Seq.
Setting the Time and Date 1 Turn camera on and select SETUP 2 Press to display second page of SET-UP menu SET-UP2 Controls Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm 1 Pic data/Confirm Date Video Mode Folders Monitor Options Date Video Mode 2 Language 2 Auto Off Seq.
7 To change order in which year, month, and date are displayed, press multi selector to right until Y M D is highlighted, then press multi selector up or down Camera cycles through settings as shown below: DATE 1 Y M D 2000 . 03 . 02 YMD 2 DMY 23 : 05 SELECT 8 SET MDY To save changes to settings, highlight Y M D and press multi selector to right DATE 1 Y M D 2000 . 03 .
Taking Photographs The Basics This chapter describes the basic steps involved in taking photographs in AUTO and SCENE modes. In these automatic, “point-and-shoot” modes, the majority of settings are controlled by the camera in response to lighting conditions and focus distance, producing the best possible results.
the camera on 3 Turn After a short pause, current settings will be displayed in the monitor and control panel. P 1/60 F2.8 NORMAL [ 10 ] the number of exposures remaining 4 Check The monitor and control panel show the number of exposures remaining at current settings. When this number reaches zero, you will need to insert a new memory card or delete some pictures ( 122) before you will be able to take more photographs.
camera settings (optional) 5 Adjust In AUTO mode, you can use the buttons or menus listed below to control flash setting, focus mode, image quality, and image size. The first time you turn the camera on, these settings will be set to the default values shown. These settings are adequate for most situations, and the description in this section assumes that the default settings are used. For information on changing these settings, refer to the page numbers given below.
Framing Photographs 1 A Ready the camera To reduce blurring caused by camera shake, hold the camera steadily in both hands. Photographs can be framed in the monitor (A) or the viewfinder (B).
your subject 2 Select Frame the photograph using the zoom buttons. Press the button to zoom out from your subject, increasing the area visbutton to zoom in on your ible in the frame. Press the subject, decreasing the area visible in the frame. Zoom out Zoom in P 1/60 F2.
Focus and Shoot 1 Focus In AUTO mode, the camera focuses on the subject in the center of the frame, shown by the focus target in the viewfinder. Before taking a photograph, press the shutter-release button halfway to initiate autofocus, and check the status of the autofocus (AF) lamp (green) and the flash lamp (red) next to the viewfinder. 28 Flash Lamp (Red) Meaning Glows steadily AF Lamp (Green) Lamp Glows steadily Subject in focus Flashes rapidly Camera unable to focus using autofocus.
Focusing on an Off-Center Subject: Focus Lock In AUTO and in all SCENE modes except Portrait and Close Up ( 32), the camera automatically focuses on the subject at the center of the frame. If your subject is not located at the center of the frame when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the camera will focus on the background. Focus lock allows you to first focus on your subject, then adjust the composition before taking the photograph.
the photograph 2 Take To take a photograph, press the shutter-release button all the way down. the results 3 Check After a photograph has been taken, the green autofocus lamp will blink while the photograph is recorded. Before the photograph is transferred to the memory card, it will be displayed briefly in the monitor. The following operations can be performed while the photograph is being displayed: Button ( ) Operation Press Function Delete dialog is displayed.
Button II ( Shutter release Shutter release ) Operation Function Press Press to pause display for 20 s. Press again to record photograph, or press ( ) to delete as described above. Photograph recorded automatically after 20 s. Press halfway Full press Record photograph and return to shooting mode Take new photograph while saving photograph displayed in monitor to memory card. While photograph is being saved, any new photographs will be stored in temporary memory buffer before being saved to card.
Assisted Creative Photography: Scene Mode While the default settings in AUTO mode are suited to a wide variety of situations, some compositions call for special combinations of settings. In SCENE mode, you select the scene from a menu of creative shooting situations, and the camera automatically adjusts settings to produce the best possible results. This section outlines how to take photographs in SCENE mode.
the scene 2 Choose After identifying the shooting situation (see following pages), select the appropriate composition type from the SCENE-mode menu. a Select SCENE b Press to display SCENE-mode menu c Highlight desired composition type SCENE 1 d 1 Press to put selection into effect and return to shooting mode P 1/60 F3.
camera settings 3 Adjust Depending on the scene selected, you may be able to adjust flash and focus-mode settings as described in Step 5 of “Getting the Camera Ready for Use (AUTO Mode)” ( 23). Restrictions apply to the selection of flash and focus modes in some cases (see following pages). Image quality and size can be adjusted from the SET-UP menu ( 137). and shoot 4 Focus Focus the camera and shoot as described above under “Focus and Shoot” ( 28).
The SCENE-mode Menu The SCENE-mode menu contains two pages of options. The types of composition available are described below. SCENE 1 1 2 MENU OF F Portrait ( ) Use to obtain por trait photographs in which the main subject stands out clearly and background details are softened, lending the composition a sense of depth.
Night Portrait ( ) Use for photographs that provide a natural balance between the main subject and the background when taking por traits against a backdrop of nighttime scenery. Flash mode: Auto with Red-Eye Reduction/Slow Synch Focus mode: Can be chosen from autofocus and autofocus + self-timer Camera shake: ✯ Beach/Snow ( ) Use for photographs that vividly capture the brightness of such subjects as snowfields, beaches, or sunlit oceans and lakes.
Night Landscape ( ) Use for photographs that employ slow shutter speeds to produce stunning night landscapes. Sparkler ( ) Use when taking atmospheric shots of sparklers with your family and friends. Flash mode: Flash Cancel (off) Focus mode: Infinity Camera shake: ✯✯ Flash mode: Auto with Red Eye Reduction/Slow Synch Focus mode: Can be chosen from autofocus and autofocus + self-timer Camera shake: ✯ Notes: Position the sparkler in the center of the frame for the best results.
Close Up ( ) Use to capture vivid colors in close-up shots of flowers, insects, and other small objects that catch your eye. Copy ( ) Use to obtain clear pictures of text or drawings on a white board, business card, or in printed matter. Flash mode: Flash Cancel (off) Focus mode: Can be chosen from macro closeup and macro close-up + self-timer Camera shake: ✯ Notes: AF-area mode is set to Manual, allowing the focus target to be chosen using the multi se66).
Review and Deletion: Quick Review In AUTO, SCENE, P, A, M, and CSM modes, you can use the button to play back photographs stored on the memory card. Press the button to cycle through shooting and review modes as shown below. 2000.04.25 14:20 [ P 1/60 F2.8 NORMAL [ 10 ] Shooting Mode (AUTO, SCENE, P, A, M, or CSM) 100NIKON 0005.JPG 5] P 1/60 F2.
Quick Review When you press the button in AUTO, SCENE, P, A, M, and CSM modes, the most recent photograph in memory will be displayed at the top left corner of the monitor. The following operations can be performed in quick-review mode: Button 5] P 1/60 F2.8 NORMAL [ 10 ] Operation Function Press View other photographs in current folder. Press up or left to view photographs recorded before current photo, down or right to view images recorded after current photo.
Full-Screen Review From quick-review mode, press the button to enter fullscreen review mode. The photograph displayed in quick-review mode will be displayed full screen. The following operations can be performed in full-screen review mode: Button ( ) 2000.04.25 14:20 NORMAL 100NIKON 0005.JPG [ 5/9] Operation Function Press View other photographs in current folder. Press up or left to view photographs recorded before current photo, down or right to view images recorded after current photo.
Thumbnail Review ( ) button in full-screen review brings up a menu Pressing the of nine thumbnail images. The following operations can be performed while thumbnails are displayed: Button ( ( ) ) Operation Function Press Press once to display menu of four thumbnail images, twice to view highlighted thumbnail at full size Press Highlight thumbnail.
Deleting Photographs In full-screen or thumbnail review, pressing the ( ) button selects the current image for deletion. Full-screen review 2000.04.25 14:20 NORMAL Thumbnail review 100NIKON 0005.JPG [ 5/9] Press ( button ) DELETE 1 ERASE IMAGES YES OR NO No Yes SELECT SET Delete dialog is displayed. Press multi selector up or down to highlight option, press right to select.
Putting the Camera Away When you have finished using the camera, follow these steps before putting the camera away. the camera off 1 Turn To avoid wasting batteries, check that the camera is off before putting it away.
Where Do I Go from Here? This section: When they have finished shooting, users of conventional film cameras typically take the film to be developed.
164) Getting the Most from Digital Images:Your Camera and Your Computer ( As the name would indicate, digital cameras produce digital images. As digital data, digital images can be readily copied to a computer, where they can then be stored, viewed or edited using imaging software, sent to your acquaintances via e-mail, or saved to removable media (for example, a floppy or Zip disk) for delivery to a photofinisher.
Once the camera is connected, a camera icon will appear in the My Computer window (Windows computers) or on the desktop (Macintosh computers). Double-click the icon to view the contents of the camera’s memory card. Nikon View shows the images stored on the memory card as icons or thumbnails (small previews) that can be dragged and dropped into another folder for storage, or directly into an application for immediate use (note that images can not be saved to the camera from the computer).
162) Viewing Photos on TV ( The COOLPIX 880 can be connected to a television or VCR using the EG-900 video cable provided with your camera. While the camera is connected, the television will show the same image as the camera’s monitor. 132) Ordering Prints: Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) ( The mode menu contains an option for creating digital “print orders” that are stored on the camera’s memory card in Digital Print Order Format (DPOF).
Taking Photographs for E-Mail and the Web Your camera stores images in TIFF and JPEG formats, which can be viewed with a wide variety of imaging software. JPEG images can even be displayed in web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. This makes them ideal for transmission by e-mail or for use on a web page. Be aware, however, that when displayed on a monitor with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels, only VGA and 89) are small enough to fit in the browser window.
Taking Photographs for Printing When taking photographs that are to be reproduced on a personal color printer, two factors need to be kept in mind: image size and contrast. 140) determines the maximum size at which the image can be printed. If the print size Image size ( is too large, the individual pixels will be visible to the naked eye, giving the image a rough, uneven appearance. A typical target resolution for an ink-jet printer is about 200 pixels per inch.
Reference Camera Controls The Shooting Menu Playback Camera Setup This section: This section details the settings available in shooting, playback, and setup modes. It also describes how to connect your camera to external devices such as computers and television sets, and explains how to care for your camera and what to do when it does not function as expected. Camera specifications and a list of the optional accessories available for the COOLPIX 880 are included in the final section. Pg.
Beyond Point and Shoot Shooting Controls for All Modes This chapter covers operations that can be performed in AUTO and SCENE modes. In these modes, the majority of camera settings are made automatically by the camera to produce the best results.
Optical Zoom Photos can be framed in the viewfinder or monitor using the zoom buttons. Indicator in monitor displays amount of zoom while either button is pressed Zoom out Zoom in P 1/60 F2.8 NORMAL [ 10 ] Digital Zoom At the maximum optical zoom position, holding the zoom. button down for two seconds triggers digital X2.0 4.2 P 1/60 F4.2 NORMAL [ 10 ] Maximum optical zoom position P 1/60 F4.
button is pressed, to a While digital zoom is in effect, the zoom factor increases each time the maximum of 4.0×. Pressing the button decreases the zoom factor. To cancel digital zoom, press the button until the zoom indicator disappears. Digital zoom enlarges the center portion of the image to fill the frame. Because only the center portion 86) is used, and the center of the image appears in the final photograph, center-weighted metering ( focus area is automatically selected.
Throwing Light on Your Subject: The Flash Button The flash can be adjusted for a variety of shooting situations, as described on the following pages. To change the flash setting, press the camera. 1 Press button, located above the monitor on the back of the 2 P 1/60 F2.8 Confirm flash setting in control panel or monitor (setting not displayed in monitor when flash set to NORMAL “auto”) [ 10 ] A short pause is required between exposures for the flash system to charge.
The following flash settings are available (restrictions may apply in SCENE mode depending on the scene selected): Setting Auto Flash Cancel (off) Auto with red-eye reduction Anytime Flash (fill flash) How It Works Flash fires when lighting is poor When to Use It Best choice in most circumstances Use where subject is outside range of Flash will not fire even when lighting is flash or to capture natural lighting unpoor der dim light Pre-flash lamp fires before main flash Use for portraits (works best wh
When lighting is poor and the flash is set to “Off ” ( ) or “Slow Sync” ( ), shutter speeds slow and photos may be blurred. If possible, use a tripod when lighting is poor. At speeds of below 1/4 s, the shutter-speed indicator in the monitor turns yellow. Mottling (“noise”) may appear in photographs taken at speeds slower than this value. To increase the shutter speed, try zooming the camera out ( 53), raising sensitivity (ISO equivalency; 74), or setting the exposure mode to aperture-priority 71).
Focusing Near and Far: The Focus-Mode Button By default, the camera adjusts focus automatically for subjects 40 cm (16˝) or more from the lens, which is ideal for snapshots. Under some circumstances, however, you may want to force the camera to focus on distant objects rather than on the closest object visible in the focus area—for example, when shooting a distant landscape through a screen of branches or when taking a shot through a window.
The following focus modes are available (restrictions may apply in SCENE mode depending on the scene selected): Setting NO ICON Autofocus Autofocus + self-timer Infinity Macro close-up Macro close-up + self-timer How It Works When to Use It Camera automatically adjusts focus Use with subjects 40 cm (16˝) or more according to distance to subject from lens Delay shutter release by 10 s or 3 s in Use for self-portraits or to reduce camautofocus mode era shake Use for photographing distant scenes Focus is
Autofocus Mode The autofocus system operates in one of two modes: AF Mode How It Works Pros and Cons Continuous PRO Minimizes time required to focus Camera adjusts focus CON continuously Photos can be taken even when camera is not in focus— check AF lamp before shooting Single PROS Camera focuses when Photographs can be taken only when camera is in focus shutter-release button Saves batteries pressed halfway CON Slight delay before camera focuses In AUTO mode, autofocus mode is determined by whether
Getting Good Results with Autofocus Autofocus performs best when: • There is contrast between the subject and the background. For example, autofocus may not perform well on subjects that are the same color as the background. • The subject is evenly lit. Autofocus does not perform well when: • The focus area contains objects at different distances from the camera.
Delaying Shutter Release: Self-Timer Mode The COOLPIX 880 is equipped with an automatic timer with two settings: three seconds (good for reducing camera shake) and ten seconds (ideal for self-portraits). To use the self-timer, follow these steps: the camera 1 Position Mount the camera on a tripod (recommended) or rest it on a flat, stable surface.
3 Compose the photograph the timer 4 Start Fully depress the shutter-release button to activate the timer. Press the shutter-release button once for a ten-second delay, twice for a three-second delay. To stop the timer, press the shutter-release button a third time. Full press Count-down timer in monitor shows number of seconds remaining until shutter is released 3 P 1/60 F2.
Bright, Dark, and High-Contrast Subjects: Exposure Compensation To obtain the desired result with certain subject compositions (for example, when large areas of the frame are very bright, very dark, or contain areas of strong contrast), it may be necessary to alter exposure from the value suggested by the camera. This can be done using exposure compensation. Exposure compensation can be set to values between +2.0 EV (overexposure) and –2.0 EV (underexbutton. posure) in increments of 1/3 EV.
Exposure compensation is not available in manual exposure mode, when the user adjusts exposure directly by adjusting shutter speed and aperture ( 72). By default, exposure compensation returns to ± 0.0 EV when the mode dial is turned to a new setting or the camera is turned off. If desired, the camera can be set to “remember” the exposure-compensation value ( 155), restoring it the next time the mode dial is set to AUTO, SCENE, P, A, or CSM (exposure mode P or A).
Choosing a Focus Area: Manual Focus-Area Selection In AUTO mode, the camera automatically focuses on the subject in the center focus area, shown by the focus target in the viewfinder. At SCENE-mode settings of Portrait and Close Up ( 32), or when Manual is selected in the FOCUS OPTIONS > AF Area Mode sub-menu for P, A, M, or CSM mode ( 103), the focus target can be chosen from one of five focus areas. This makes it possible to focus on an off-center subject without using focus lock.
Focus-area selection can be used in combination with focus lock if the subject would not fall in any of the focus areas in the final composition. In P, A, M, and CSM modes, it can also be used in combination with spot AF-area metering ( 86) to lock the spot metering point to the selected focus area.
Advanced Photography P, A, M, and CSM This chapter details settings available only in P, A, M, and CSM modes.
Choosing a Mode: P, A, M, or CSM? Because P, A, M, and CSM share many settings in common, you may have difficulty knowing which mode to choose for a particular task. The first consideration is how much control you want to have over camera settings: • If you want to adjust white balance and metering, for example, but don’t want to have to worry about getting the correct exposure, choose a mode setting of P or turn the mode dial to CSM and choose P as the exposure mode ( 98).
Adjusting Exposure: A and M Modes Exposure Modes Exposure mode can be chosen by setting the mode dial to P, A, or M, or by turning the mode dial to CSM and choosing the exposure mode from the EXPOSURE OPTIONS > Exposure Mode sub98).
The exposure mode is displayed in the monitor. P 1/60 F2.8 NORMAL [ 10] Choosing an Aperture In aperture-priority auto and manual-exposure modes, aperture is chosen by pressing the multi selector to the left or right while holding down the button. 1 2 Press multi selector to left for maximum aperture (small f number), to right for minimum aperture (large f number) Confirm aperture setting in control panel and monitor A 1/60 F2.
Choosing a Shutter Speed In manual mode, shutter speed is chosen by pressing the multi selector up or down while holding the button. Options range from 8 s to 1/1000 s in increments equivalent to 1 EV (one step). In addition, a shutter speed of “bulb” is available for long-time exposures (see tip on following page). 2 1 Press multi selector up for slower shutter speeds, down for faster shutter speeds Confirm shutter speed in control panel and monitor M 1/1000 F7.
Long-time exposure When the shutter speed is set to bulb (manual-exposure mode only), the shutter will remain open while the shutter-release button is pressed (maximum exposure 60 s). To reduce blurring caused by camera shake, we recommend that you use a remote shutter release (the MC-EU1 remote cord, available separately, functions as a remote shutter-release cable) and a tripod. Shutter-speed limitations At a CONTINUOUS setting of Ultra HS ( 89), the lowest available shutter speed is 1/30 s.
Reacting Faster to Light: Sensitivity (ISO Equivalency) What Is “Sensitivity”? “Sensitivity” is a measure of how quickly your camera reacts to light. The higher the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing the same exposure to be achieved with higher shutter speeds or smaller apertures. In a film camera, sensitivity is a characteristic of the film, not the camera.
The following settings are available: Setting Description AUTO (default) Equivalent to setting of 100 under normal conditions; when lighting is poor, however, camera automatically raises sensitivity to compensate. ISO icon appears in control panel and monitor only when sensitivity raised above 100.
Focusing at a Preset Distance: Manual Focus In P, A, M, and CSM modes, manual focus can be used in place of autofocus for situations in which you know the distance to your subject. Focus distance can be selected from forty-eight preset distances, ranging from 0.04 m (0.13´) to infinity, by pressing the zoom buttons while holding down the button. 1 2 Press to increase the focus distance to maximum of infinity (Inf), to decrease INF 2.8 P 1/60 F2.
The value displayed for manual focus-distance is the approximate distance from the front of the lens. The actual focus distance may differ slightly from the value shown; check focus in the monitor before shooting. Manual focus can be cancelled by pressing the button. To use the self-timer in combination with manual focus, select a focus mode of (autofocus + selftimer) or (macro close-up + self-timer) before choosing the focus distance. The flash can be used while manual focus is in effect.
The Shooting Menu In P, A, M, and CSM modes, many adjustments to camera settings are made from the shooting menu. There are two shooting menus, one for P, A, and M modes, the other for CSM mode. Save where noted on the following pages, the contents of these menus are identical. Menu settings for P, A, and M modes are, however, stored separately from the settings for CSM mode.
The shooting menu contains two pages of options: Shooting Menu, Page 1 WHITE BALANCE A BEST SHOT SELECTOR A 1 1 2 Off On 2 A A A A SELECT MENU PAGE2 SET WHITE BALANCE A A 1 Auto White hite Bal Preset set Fine Incandescent Fluorescent Cloudy loudy Speedlight peedlight SELECT MENU O F F 2 A A A 1 Matrix Spot Center-Weighted Spot AF Area 2 White Balance Set white balance according to light source 81 SET METERING Metering Control how camera sets exposure SELECT Continuous Set camera
IMAGE SIZE & QUALITY Shooting Menu, Page 2 IMAGE SIZE & QUALITY Image Quality Image Size Image Quality & Size Set image quality and size for all modes 137 SENSITIVITY Sensitivity Adjust sensitivity setting for current mode (mirrors setting made with button) 98 EXPOSURE OPTIONS QUAL. 1 AE Lock Auto Bracketing EXP. +/– 2 Exposure Options Modify auto-exposure from the value set by the camera C MENU OF F SELECT 98 SET FOCUS OPTIONS Focus Options Autofocus options QUAL.
Keeping Colors True:The White-Balance Menu What Is “White Balance”? The color of the light reflected by an object depends on the color of the light source. The human brain is able to detect and compensate for such changes in color, with the result that a white object will look white to humans whether viewed in sunlight, under overcast skies, or indoors under incandescent or fluorescent lighting.
Choosing a White-Balance Setting In P, A, M, or CSM modes, white balance can be chosen from the WHITE BALANCE sub-menu. The following options are available: Option Description A Auto White balance automatically adjusted to suit lighting conditions. Best setting in most circumstances.
Fine-Tuning White Balance At settings other than A (auto) and (preset), white balance can be “fine-tuned” by highlighting the desired setting and selecting an adjustment from a sub-menu.
Preset White Balance When (preset) is selected, the camera will zoom in and the preset white-balance menu will appear in the monitor. WHITE BALANCE PRESET 1 2 MENU O F F SELECT SET Option Description Cancel Recalls the most recent value for preset white balance from memory and sets white balance to this value Measure Camera measures white balance, using object displayed in center of monitor as reference.
Measuring Light:The Metering Menu The “metering method” is the method your camera uses to measure light when determining exposure.
Method CenterWeighted How It Works When to Use It Classic meter for portraits; preserves background details while letting lighting Camera measures light in entire frame but conditions at center of frame determine assigns weight of 80% to area in center of exposure. Selected automatically when frame occupying roughly 1/4 of total digital zoom ( 52) is used. Can be used in combination with AE hold ( 87).
Auto-Exposure Hold Spot or center-weighted metering sets exposure for the subject in the center focus area (shown by the focus target in the viewfinder) when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. If your subject is not in the center focus area, exposure will be set for an object in the background, with the result that your main subject may be over- or under-exposed. Using AE hold, you can meter your main subject and then adjust the composition before taking the photograph.
Making Movies and Taking Photographs in a Sequence:The Continuous Menu CONTINUOUS Using the CONTINUOUS menu, you can set the camera to take A 1 photographs one at a time, shoot multiple photographs in sequence, or even record short movies.
Option Ultra HS Movie Description Camera takes seventy photographs 320 × 240 pixels in size (QVGA) each time 138) is set to NORMAL, shutter-release button is pressed. Image quality ( allowing photos to be taken at approximately thirty frames per second. Each sequence of photographs is saved in separate folder automatically created by camera. Folder name is composed of “N_” followed by three-digit number assigned in ascending order by camera.
The camera is equipped with a memory buffer for temporary storage of photos during shooting, allowing you to take several photographs in succession without waiting for the images to be transferred to the memory card. The number of images that can be stored in the buffer depends on the quality and size of the images. When the buffer becomes full, an hourglass icon ( ) will be displayed in the monitor until enough data have been transferred to the card to allow more photographs to be taken.
The CONTINUOUS setting is shown by icons in the control panel and monitor. P 1/60 F2.
Getting Sharper Photographs:The BSS Menu BEST SHOT SELECTOR “Best-shot selection” (BSS) compensates for camera movement.
When BSS is on, a BSS icon is displayed in the monitor. BSS P 1/60 F2.8 NORMAL [ 10] When photographs are taken with BSS on, the focus, exposure, and white-balance settings used for the first photograph apply to all images in the same sequence. The flash is set to “Off ” ( ) when BSS is on ( 55). BSS is not available at: 88) • CONTINUOUS settings other than Single ( • an image-quality setting of HI ( 138) Selecting any of the above options automatically cancels BSS.
Contrast, Brightness, and Image Type: The Image Adjustment Menu IMAGE ADJUSTMENT When you take a photograph, the camera automatically performs image A A 1 compensation for optimal brightness and contrast before recording the photograph to the memory card. The image-adjustment sub2 menu gives you control over this image compensation operation, A A allowing you to control not only brightness and contrast, but also to SELECT SET MENU OF F produce monochrome images.
Option Darken Image Description Decreases brightness of mid-tones in image, without affecting detail in highlights or shadows. This setting can be used on images that will be output on computer monitor or printer if device tends to produce images that are too bright. Image converted to black and white. Black-and-white images require same amount of memory as color images, but show higher level of detail. When this option is in effect, view through lens shown in monitor is in black and white.
Making Edges More Distinct: The Image Sharpening Menu When you take a photograph, the camera automatically outlines edges, making the image appear sharper. The image-sharpening submenu gives you control over the amount of sharpening performed.
A sharpening icon appears in the monitor at settings other than Normal. P 1/60 F2.
Modifying Sensitivity from a Menu:The ISO Menu The ISO menu mirrors the sensitivity (ISO equivalency) value set button in combination with the zoom buttons ( 74). with the As with the button, sensitivity can be set to AUTO, 100, 200, or 400. Choosing a new sensitivity value from the ISO sub-menu changes the value selected with the and zoom buttons, while changing the sensitivity value with the button changes the value selected in the ISO sub-menu.
Taking Multiple Photographs with the Same Exposure: AE Lock When taking a series of photographs that you will later join into a single image (for example, when taking shots that will later be joined to form a panorama or a 360° virtual-reality image), you will need to use the same exposure, sensitivity, and white-balance settings for each of the images in the series. This is possible using the AE-lock menu. AE LOCK QUAL. 1 AE Lock Auto Bracketing EXP.
Varying Exposure over a Series of Photographs: Auto-Exposure Bracketing When using exposure compensation ( 64), you may be unsure of the appropriate exposure-compensation value for your subject, and yet not have time to check the results and change the compensation value after each shot. Auto-exposure bracketing allows you to vary exposure by 1/3 EV over a series of five photographs without the need to adjust exposure compensation manually. Option AUTO BRACKETING QUAL. 1 AE Lock Auto Bracketing EXP.
At settings of Continuous and VGA Sequence ( photographs has been taken. 88), shooting pauses after each series of five 56), the flash setting for the first photograph in each sequence of When the flash is set to “Auto” ( five photographs applies to the remaining four. If the flash is used for the first photograph, it will be used for the next four; if it is not used for the first photograph, it will not be used for the next four.
Modifying Exposure Compensation from a Menu: Exp. +/– The Exp. +/– item in the EXPOSURE OPTIONS menu mirrors the exposure-compensation value set with the button and multi 64). As with the button, exposure compensation selector ( can be set to values between +2.0 EV and –2.0 EV in increments of 1 /3 EV. Choosing a new exposure compensation value from the button, Exp. +/– sub-menu changes the value selected with the while changing exposure compensation with the button changes the value selected in the Exp.
Focus Options The focus options sub-menu provides control over focus settings. FOCUS OPTIONS QUAL. 1 AF Area Mode Auto-Focus Mode Focus Confirmation 2 C MENU OF F Focus-Area Selection: AF Area Mode This setting determines how the camera will choose the focus area in P•A•M or CSM modes. The following options take effect while the monitor is on (when the monitor is off, AF-area mode is automatically set to Off): SELECT SET AF AREA MODE QUAL.
Autofocus Mode In P•A•M and CSM modes, you can choose the autofocus mode used when the monitor is on (when the monitor is off, single autofocus is used, regardless of the setting in the autofocus mode sub-menu). See “Beyond Point and Shoot: Focusing Near and Far” for more information on autofocus ( 58). AUTO-FOCUS MODE QUAL.
Focus Confirmation Use focus confirmation when you want to know exactly what areas of the frame will be in focus before you take the final photograph. Focus confirmation affects only the view through the lens shown in the monitor; no indicators of focus appear in the final photograph. FOCUS CONFIRMATION QUAL.
Settings for Optional Lens Converters When the UR-E2 step down ring lens adapter (available separately) is attached to the camera lens, optional lens converters for wideangle, telephoto, and fisheye photography can be used with the COOLPIX 880. An adapter for taking photographs of film positives is also available. Each of these converters is adapted to a particular combination of settings, including focus mode, zoom position, and metering method.
Option Telefoto2 (for TC-E3ED 3× telephoto converter) Fisheye1 (for FC-E8 fisheye converter) Fisheye2 (for FC-E8 fisheye converter) Slide Copy Adptr (for ES-E28 slide-copying adapter) Description • Zoom fixed at maximum optical zoom position ( • Flash disabled ( 55) • • • • • 52) Zoom fixed at maximum optical zoom position ( 52) 58) Focus fixed at infinity ( Metering method fixed at center-weighted ( 85) Flash disabled ( 55) Four corners of frame blacked out to create circular frame • Zoom fixed at ma
A lens converter icon appears in the monitor at settings other than Normal. P 1/60 F2.
Restoring Default Shooting Settings: The Reset Menus In P, A, M and CSM modes, a reset option is available to restore settings in the P•A•M and CSM SHOOTING menus to their default values. Only settings in the selected menu are affected; the reset option in the P•A•M menu clears shooting settings for P, A, and M modes but has no effect on CSM settings, while the reset option in the CSM menu clears settings in the CSM SHOOTING menu without changing settings in the P•A•M menu. CLEAR SETTING QUAL.
Choosing Reset in the P•A•M or CSM menus restores the following options to their default values: Setting Default Setting Default White Balance Auto P Metering Matrix Exposure Mode (CSM only) Continuous Single AE Lock Off BSS Off Auto Bracketing Off Lens Normal Exp.
Playing Images Back Playback Mode This chapter details the operations that can be performed when the mode dial is set to . These include: • playback of photographs stored on the memory card, either singly or in “contact sheets” of nine or four thumbnail images • display of detailed photo information • zooming in on images to view fine details • deleting individual photographs The above operations can be performed using the buttons on the back of the camera.
Basic Playback When the mode dial is turned to , the camera enters playback mode with the most recent photograph displayed in the monitor. This section covers the operations that can be performed in playback mode using the buttons on the rear of the camera. 2000.04.25 14:20 NORMAL 100NIKON 0005.JPG [ 5/9] Only photographs in the current folder are displayed. If there are no photographs in the current folder, the message “CARD CONTAINS NO IMAGE DATA” will be displayed in the monitor.
Single-Image Playback Selecting a Photograph Use the multi selector to page through the photographs in memory one at a time. Operation Function View photograph recorded before current photograph Press up or left View photograph recorded after current photograph Press down or right To scroll quickly to a particular frame number without viewing intervening photos, press and hold the multi selector in one of the four directions.
Viewing Photo Information ( ) Photo information is superimposed on photographs displayed in single-image playback. There is a total of five pages of information for each photo. Press the ( ) button to cycle through photo information as follows: Page 1 ⇒ Page 2 ⇒ Page 3 ⇒ Page 4 ⇒ Page 5 ⇒ Page 1. Page 2 Page 1 1 2000.04.25 2 14:20 3 VGA 4 NORMAL NORMAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100NIKON 5 100NIKON 0005.
Page 4 (histogram) 3 1 4 5 6 7 8 2 1 Thumbnail preview (flashing border marks image highlights, or brightest areas of image) 2 Histogram (shows distribution of tones in image: horizontal axis gives pixel brightness, with dark tones to left and bright tones to right, while vertical axis shows number of pixels of each brightness in image) 3 4 5 6 7 8 File number and type Metering method Shutter speed Aperture Exposure compensation Sensitivity (ISO equivalency) Page 5 (focus confirmation) 1 0005.
Zoom ( ) Use the ( ) button to zoom in on photographs displayed in single-image playback. × 2.0 SCROLL SCR OLL Operation ( ) Press Press Press up, left, down, or right ZOOM Function Zoom photograph in. Zoom increases each time button is pressed, to maximum of 4.0×. While image is zoomed in, indicator and zoom factor are displayed in monitor. Cancel zoom Scroll to another area of image To use the multi selector to view other photographs in memory, first cancel zoom by pressing the button.
Movie Playback ( ) In single-image playback, movie files are indicated by a icon in the lower left corner of the display. Movie playback is controlled by ( ) button. the 2000.04.20 11:42 QUICK Operation ( Press 100NIKON 0002.JPG START [ 2/5] Function ) Press up or left Press down, or right Start movie. While movie is in progress, press to pause movie; press again to resume movie playback.
Viewing Multiple Images: Thumbnail Playback ( ) The thumbnail menu can be used to select photographs or movies for viewing. Operation ( ) Press Press up, left, down, or right ( ) Press 118 Function Press once to display nine thumbnail images, or twice to display four thumbnail images. Press again to view highlighted thumbnail at full size.
Deleting Individual Photographs ( ) To delete the photograph or movie currently on display in single-image playback, or to delete the currently selected thumbnail, press the ( ) button. Full-screen review 2000.04.25 14:20 NORMAL Thumbnail review 100NIKON 0005.JPG [ 5/9] Press ( button ) DELETE 1 ERASE IMAGES YES OR NO No Yes SELECT SET Delete dialog is displayed. Press multi selector up or down to highlight option, press to right to select.
The Playback Menu The playback menu contains options for deleting images, folders, and print-order files, for protecting images from deletion or hiding images during playback, and for playing photographs back one after the other in automatic “slide shows.” You can also create digital “print orders” for printing photographs on a device compatible with the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF), and set the length of time before the monitor turns off automatically in playback mode.
The playback menu contains the following options: Playback Menu PLAY BACK MENU Delete Folders Slide Show Protect Hide Image Print Set 30S Auto Off SELECT MENU OF F PROTECT Protect Protect images from deletion 1 SET DELETE Delete Delete all or selected photos; delete folders and print orders 1 SELECT MENU OF F SET FOLDER 1 Options All Folders NOV SHOW SELECT MENU OF F SET SLIDE SHOW Pause MENU OF F SELECT 122 SET SET 126 127 SET Hide Image Hide images during playback DONE 131 Pri
Deleting Photographs:The Delete Menu Using the Delete option in the playback menu, you can: • delete selected photographs • delete all photographs • delete folders • delete print-order files created with the Print Set option Note that, once deleted, photographs can not be recovered. Be sure to back up any photographs you want to keep. DELETE 1 MENU OF F SELECT SET Deleting Selected Photographs To delete selected photographs, choose Selected Images from the Delete sub-menu.
4 Press up or down to select image for deletion (selected images marked by icon). Repeat steps 3 and 4 to select more images for deletion. To deselect thumbnail, highlight and press multi selector up or down.
Deleting All Photographs To delete all photographs on the memory card: 1 Highlight All Images 2 Press to right ERASE ALL IMAGES DELETE 1 Erasing all images ( Excluded) No Yes MENU OF F SELECT MENU OF F SET SELECT SET Confirmation dialog displayed: • Select Yes to delete all images on memory card (images that are hidden or protected will not be deleted) • Select No to return to playback menu without deleting images Deleting Folders To delete a folder and all images it contains: 1 Highlight
4 Press to right Confirmation dialog displayed: • Select Yes to delete selected folder • Select No to return to playback menu without deleting folder DELETE NOV Deleting folder ? No Yes MENU OF F SELECT SET Folder NIKON can not be selected for deletion. If the selected folder contains hidden or protected images, the folder will not be deleted. Any images it contains that are neither hidden nor protected will, however, be deleted.
Selecting a Folder for Playback:The Folders Menu The Folders item in the playback menu can be used to select images in all folders for playback, or images in a selected folder. FOLDER 1 Options All Folders NOV SHOW MENU OF F 1 Highlight desired folder. To view images in all folders, select All Folders. NOV Most recent photograph 0005.JPG in selected folder is displayed Options All Folders NOV SHOW MENU OF F SELECT SET SET Press to right 2000.04.
Automated Playback:The Slide-Show Menu The slide-show option in the playback menu allows unattended sequential playback. All images in the current folder that have not been hidden using Hide Image will be played back one after the other, with a pause between each image.
The following operations can be performed while a slide show is in progress: Operation Press Press Function Pause slide show End slide show and return to single-image playback Restarting a Slide Show Once the slide show comes to an end, or while the slide show is paused, the dialog shown at right will be displayed. Select Restart to restart, or Frame Intvl to change the length of time each image is displayed. Press the MENU button to end the slide show and return to single-image playback.
Changing the Display Interval When Frame Intvl is selected, either from the slide-show submenu or the pause screen, a menu of interval settings appears. To change the length of time each image is displayed, highlight the desired setting and press the multi selector to the right.
Safeguarding Valuable Images:The Protect Menu The Protect option in the playback menu is used to protect images from accidental deletion. Protected files can not be deleted in single-image playback or from the Delete sub-menu. Note that even protected files will be deleted when the memory card is formatted. 1 Press to left or right to highlight desired thumbnail Press up or down to select image for protection DONE SET 3 DONE Press to complete operation DONE Selected images are marked by icon.
Hiding Images During Playback:The Hide-Image Menu When creating a slide show or showing photographs to an audience, you may want to use the Hide Image option to hide some of the photographs in the current folder. Hidden images are only visible in the Hide Image menu. They can not be deleted in singleimage playback or from the Delete sub-menu.
Preparing Photographs for Printing: The Print-Set Menu The Print Set option in the playback menu is used to create digital “print orders” that specify the photographs to be printed, the number of prints, and the information to be included with each print. This information is stored on the memory card in Digital Print Order Format (DPOF).
3 Use multi selector to change number of prints. Press up to increase (maximum of 9), down to decrease. To deselect, press multi selector down when number of prints is 1. Repeat steps 1–3 to select more images.
Camera Setup The Setup Menu This chapter details the options available in the SETUP-mode menu, where you make changes to basic camera settings, and perform such tasks as formatting memory cards. The SET-UP menu can also be used to set image quality and size and choose a folder for storing images and for playback. Some of the options in the setup menu can also be accessed from the P•A•M, CSM, and playback menus. The SET-UP menu is displayed automatically when the mode dial is turned to SETUP.
The setup menu contains two pages of options: Setup Menu, Page 1 SET-UP1 Image Quality MONITOR OPTIONS Image Quality 1 Image Size 1 Image Size Folders Monitor Options 2 Auto Off Seq. Numbers CF Card Format SELECT MENU PAGE2 Folders Monitor Options Display Mode 2 Auto Off Seq. Numbers Brightness CF Card FormatHue SET IMAGE QUALITY Image Quality HI 1 Image Size FINE NORMAL Folders BASIC Monitor Options 2 Auto Off Seq.
Setup Menu, Page 2 SET-UP2 Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm Date Video Mode 2 Language Distance Units Reset All SELECT MENU PAGE1 SET CONTROLS 1 Controls Specify what settings are restored when camera turned on save save save Digital Zoom Done 2 BK SELECT PIC DATA/CONFIRM Pic Data/Confirm Save photo information in text format; control visual shutter-release confirmation Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm Shot Confirm Date Video Modeinfo.
Controlling the (File) Size of Photographs: Image Quality and Size Image quality and size together determine the file size of photographs taken with the camera. This in turn determines how many photographs can be stored on a single memory card.
The Image-Quality Menu To reduce memory requirements, images are compressed using JPEG compression. JPEG compression analyzes images in blocks of 8 × 8 pixels and selectively reduces detail within each block. At higher compression ratios the block pattern becomes more visible and there may be noticeable loss of detail. The actual effect depends on the size of the image when reproduced on a monitor or printer and on the type of subject.
The following image-quality settings are available: Option File Format Description HI TIFF No compression, maximum quality FINE JPEG File size reduced to roughly 1/4 of original NORMAL JPEG File size reduced to roughly 1/8 of original BASIC JPEG File size reduced to roughly 1/16 of original While a setting of NORMAL represents the best trade-off between file size and image quality in most cases, a setting of BASIC can be used to save memory or create smaller files suitable for electronic dist
The Image Size Menu The image-size menu controls the physical dimensions of the image, measured in pixels. Image size can be adjusted from the SETUPmode menu and the Image Size & Quality sub-menu in the P•A•M and CSM SHOOTING menus ( 78). Changes to image size in any of these menus apply to all modes. IMAGE SIZE Image Quality 1 Image Size Folders Monitor Options 2 Auto Off Seq.
At settings of XGA and VGA, the current image size is displayed in the monitor and the image-quality indicator in the control panel flashes. 2.8 P 1/60 F2.
Organizing Your Photographs:The Folders Menu By default, photographs are stored on the memory card in a folder labeled NIKON. To make it easier to locate photographs during playback, you can create additional folders and organize photographs by theme. The Folders sub-menu is used to create, rename, and delete folders, and to select the folder in which subsequent photographs will be stored or from which photographs are played back.
The camera file system conforms to the Design Rule for Camera File Systems (DCF). Under this system, folder names consist of a three-digit folder number followed by the folder name (e.g., “100NIKON”). Each folder can hold a maximum of 200 images (it may hold less, depending on the size of the memory card and other factors). Should a folder fill up, another folder will automatically be created with the same name but a different folder number (e.g., “101NIKON”).
Creating, Renaming, and Deleting Folders:The Folder Options Menu The folder options menu can be used to create, rename, or delete 1 folders.
4 Press up or down to edit selected letter 5 NEW Y Z 1 N NEW H I 1 N J K O N 2 K L SELECT SET Folder name can include uppercase letters (“A”– “Z”), numbers, and spaces. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to create new five-letter folder name. O V 2 0 1 SELECT SET Highlight last letter and press multi selector to right to create new folder. Press MENU button to exit without creating folder.
Renaming Existing Folders 1 Highlight Rename 2 Press to right to display list of folders RENAME OPTIONS 1 1 New NOV SHOW Rename 2 2 Delete SELECT 3 SELECT SET Highlight folder name 4 Press to right RENAME 1 SET Edit name as described in steps 3–5 of “Creating New Folders” on preceding pages RENAME 1 NOV SHOW Q R S 2 H O W 2 T U SELECT 146 SET SELECT SET
Deleting Folders 1 Highlight Delete 2 Press to right to display list of folders ERASE FOLDER OPTIONS 1 1 New NOV SHOW Rename 2 2 Delete SELECT 3 SET Highlight folder name (folder NIKON not available for deletion) 1 MENU OF F 4 SET Press to right ERASE FOLDER DELETE NOV SHOW NOV Deleting folder ? 2 MENU OF F SELECT • Select Yes to delete selected folder • Select No to return to playback menu without deleting folder No Yes SELECT SET MENU OF F SELECT SET If the selected fol
Choosing a Folder Once additional folders have been created, you can select the folder that will be used for playback or to store photographs in all modes. The folder can be chosen using the Folders item in the playback menu or from the Folders sub-menu in SETUP, P, A, M, and CSM modes. Until a new folder is selected, all subsequent images will be stored in this folder, which will also be used for playback.
Monitor Options The Monitor Options sub-menu is used to specify when the monitor will turn on automatically and to set monitor brightness and hue (tone). MONITOR OPTIONS Image Quality 1 Image Size Folders Monitor Options Display Mode Seq.
Adjusting Monitor Brightness:The Brightness Menu This option controls monitor brightness. Press the multi selector up or down to increase or decrease the brightness of the monitor by moving the arrow at the right side of the display up or down. Once you have adjusted brightness to your satisfaction, press the multi selector to the right to put the change into effect. Adjusting Monitor Tone:The Hue Menu This option controls the hue (tone) of the monitor.
The Auto Off Menu When operated on battery power, the camera enters sleep mode if no operations are performed for thirty seconds (three minutes when menus are displayed). The time limit for sleep mode can be chosen from the Auto Off menu. Changes to the time limit for recording modes (AUTO, SCENE, P, A, M, and CSM modes) are made from the setup-mode menu. The time limit for playback is independent of the time limit for recording mode, and is set by choosing Auto Off from the playback menu.
In sleep mode, all camera functions are deactivated and the camera itself is effectively off, consuming almost no power. The camera can be reactivated by pressing the MONITOR or MENU button or by pressing the shutter-release button halfway. While the camera is being powered by the EH-21 AC adapter/battery charger (available separately), the camera will remain on for thirty minutes if no operations are performed, regardless of the setting in the Auto Off menu.
File Numbering:The Seq. Numbers Menu The photographs and movies your camera creates are stored as image files. Each file is assigned a name consisting of “DSCN” followed by a four-digit number assigned automatically by the camera. Although all photographs in any given folder will have different names, photographs in different folders may share the same name, causing confusion when the files are copied to a computer. This can be prevented using the options in the Seq. Numbers menu. SEQ.
Formatting Memory Cards: CF Card Format To format memory cards for use in the COOLPIX 880, select CF Card Format from the setup-mode menu or the SHOOTING menu for P•A•M and CSM modes. To format a memory card: CF CARD FORMAT 1 2 WARNING! All images will be deleted! No Format SELECT 1 Highlight CF Card Format 2 Press SET-UP1 CF CARD FORMAT Image Quality 1 Image Size Folders Monitor Options 2 Auto Off Seq.
Storing Camera Settings:The Controls Menu The first three items in the Controls menu determine what camera settings remain in effect when the camera is turned off. If an item is checked, the setting in effect at the time the camera was turned off will be restored the next time the camera is turned on. Any items that are not checked will be restored to default settings when the camera is turned off.
Shutter Release Confirmation and Photo Information The Pic Data/Confirm sub-menu contains options for confirming shutter release and storing photo information in text format. PIC DATA/CONFIRM Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm Shot Confirm Date Video Modeinfo.txt 2 Language Distance Units Reset All SELECT Confirming Shutter Release:The Shot Confirm Lamp Menu If desired, the red-eye reduction lamp next to the viewfinder window can be used to let your subjects know that the shutter has been released.
Recording Photo Information:The Info.txt Menu When On is selected in the info.txt sub-menu, a text file (“info.txt”) will be created to store photo information for all subsequent images. When the contents of the memory card are viewed from a computer, this file, which may be found in the folder where the images are stored, can be read with a text browser such as SimpleText or Notepad. The default setting for info.txt is Off. INFO. TXT Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm Shot Confirm Date Off Video Modeinfo.
The Date Menu The Date option is used to set the date and time. For more information, see “First Steps: Setting the Time and Date” ( 21). DATE Y 1 M D 2000 . 00 . 00 2 00: 00 SELECT SET The Video Mode Menu The Video Mode sub-menu sets the standard used for video output. Adjust this setting to match the standard used in any video 162).
The Language Menu Use the Language sub-menu to choose the language used in menus and messages displayed by the camera. For more information, see “First Steps: Choosing a Language” ( 20). LANGUAGE Controls 1 Pic data/Confirm Date Video Mode 2 Language Distance Units Reset All SELECT D E F J SET The Distance Units Menu In this sub-menu, you can choose the units used when displaying 76). The options available are meters manual focus distance ( (m) or feet (ft).
Restoring Default Settings:The Reset All Menu The Reset All option in the SETUP-mode menu is used to restore settings for all modes to their default values.
Choosing Reset restores shooting settings for both P•A•M and CSM modes to their default values 110). In addition, the following settings (for a list of the settings affected and their default values, see are restored to default values: Setting Default Setting Default SCENE mode Portrait Auto Off (all modes) 30 s Image Quality (all modes) Normal Seq.
Connections Connecting Your Camera to a Computer,TV, or VCR This chapter provides information on connecting your camera to a computer and to a television or videocassette recorder (VCR). Connecting to a Television or VCR Using the EG-900 video cable provided with your camera, you can connect the COOLPIX 880 to a television or VCR. The video device will mirror the image displayed in the camera monitor. the black plug on the EG-900 into the camera’s VIDEO 1 Insert OUT connector.
Connect the EH-21 AC adapter/battery charger (available separately) if you want the television to continue displaying images after the camera has entered sleep mode and the monitor has turned off. Camera settings and photo info will not be displayed on the television screen when the monitor is off. 158) offers a choice of NTSC and PAL stanThe Video Mode item in the SETUP-mode menu ( dards for video output. Select a standard that matches that used in your television set.
Connecting to a Computer Using a computer, you can view the images stored in the camera’s memory card, retouch them in your favorite imaging application, send them to your acquaintances via e-mail, or save them to disk. You can connect your camera directly to your computer via the UC-E1 Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or optional SC-EW3/SC-EM3 serial cables, and browse the contents of the memory card using the Nikon View software provided with your camera.
Reference Manual (PDF) The reference CD includes separate reference manuals for Macintosh and Windows versions of Nikon View. These manuals provide complete operating instructions. Before they can be viewed, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or later. Installers in a number of language versions may be found on the reference CD; to install, open the folder for the language of your choice and double-click the installer icon.
Connecting Your Camera to a Computer The COOLPIX 880 can be connected using USB or serial cables.
3 Turn camera on. Borders of exposure-count display in control panel will light up ( ). Monitor, and all indicators apart from battery indicator, will be off, and all camera functions will be disabled. Normal functioning will be restored when USB or serial cable is disconnected. For information on the operations that can be performed while the camera is connected to your computer, see the Nikon View Reference Manual for your platform.
Reading Photographs from Memory Cards To read photographs from the camera’s memory card, you will need: • a PC or Macintosh computer, and • either a CF-card reader or, if your computer is equipped with a PCMCIA Type II or Type III card slot, an ED-AD1 PC-card adapter (available separately from Nikon) Using a CF-Card Reader The steps involved in connecting a CF-card reader and inserting memory cards are covered in the documentation provided with your card reader.
The COOLPIX 880 can play back only images that conform to the format used by the COOLPIX 990, 950, 900s, 900, 800, and 700 digital cameras. It may not be able to display files created on a computer or by another make of camera. It may also not be able to display files that have been renamed or moved to a different folder on the memory card using a computer. You may need to install an ATA RAM-card driver before you will be able to read memory cards on a computer running Windows 3.
Technical Notes This chapter covers: • Camera care and storage • Camera accessories • Troubleshooting hints and tips • Product specifications Caring for Your Camera Cleaning Lens/ Viewfinder Monitor Body Use blower to remove dirt or dust. Wipe carefully with soft cloth to remove fingerprints and other stains. Do not touch with fingers.
Storage If you are not going to use the camera for an extended period, remove the battery before putting the camera away.
Optional Accessories At the time of writing, the following optional accessories were available for the COOLPIX 880. Contact your retailer or local Nikon representative for details.
Remote release cable • MC-EU1 remote cord Carrying case • CS-E880 Soft Case Serial cables • SC-EW3 serial cable for PC/AT computers • SC-EM3 serial cable for Macintosh computers CompactFlash memory cards and adapters • 64 MB and 96 MB Nikon CF memory cards • EC-AD1 PC-card adapter In addition to Nikon 64 MB and 96 MB CompactFlash memory cards, the following cards have been tested and approved for use in the COOLPIX 880: • SanDisk SDCFB series 48 MB, 64 MB, and 96 MB • Lexar Media 4× USB series 8 MB, 16 M
Troubleshooting Should you encounter problems with your camera, check the list below before consulting your retailer or Nikon representative. The page numbers in the rightmost column give cross-references to sections of this manual that provide more information on the problems listed in the table below. Problem Possible Cause • Camera is in sleep mode. Press MONITOR button.
Problem Possible Cause • • • • No photo is taken when • shutter-release button is fully pressed • Mode dial is set to or SETUP 6 Battery is exhausted 16 AF lamp flickers: camera is unable to focus 28 Flash lamp flickers: flash is charging 28 Number of exposures remaining is zero: not enough mem- 24 ory remaining Message “CARD IS NOT FORMATTED” appears in mon- 179 itor: card has not been formatted for use in COOLPIX 880 • Message “NO CARD PRESENT” appears in monitor: no 179 memory card has been inserted i
Problem Flash does not fire Possible Cause • Flash indicator in control panel and monitor shows : flash 55 is off • Battery level is low 16 (infinity) selected • Focus mode of 59 • Setting other than Single selected in CONTINUOUS sub- 88 menu • Best-shot selection is on 92 • Setting other than Normal selected in LENS sub-menu 106 • AE Lock option in EXPOSURE OPTIONS sub-menu is on 99 • Video cable is not correctly connected 162 162 Television does not mirror • Television not tuned to video channel • Sett
Problem Possible Cause • USB or serial cable not correctly connected 166 • Modem or COM port speed too high — • Camera not registered in Device Manager (Windows). — Nikon View displays commuReinstall driver from root directory of Nikon View CD.
Error Messages The following table lists the error messages that appear in the monitor and how to deal with them.
Message Problem Solution Camera can not detect memory card Turn camera off and confirm that memory card is correctly inserted 18 Error accessing memory card Use approved memory card 173 N O C A R D P R E S E N T THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED CARD IS NOT FORMATTED FORMAT NO SELECT O U T O F SET M E M O R Y IMAGE CANNOT BE SAVED Using multi selector, highlight Card has not been formatted for use FORMAT and press multi selector to right to format card, or turn camera in COOLPIX 880 off and replace
Message C A R D C O N T A I N S N O I M A G E S A L L I M A G E S ARE HIDDEN F I L E C O N T A I N S N O I M A G E D A T A Problem Solution Folder selected in playback mode con- Select folder containing images from 126 tains no images playback Folders menu Select another folder or use Hide All images in current folder are hidImage to change hidden status of im- 131 den ages in current folder File created by computer or different • Delete file make of camera • Reformat memory card 122 154 T H E F O L
Specifications Type Digital camera CCD • 1/1.8˝ high-density CCD • Total number of pixels: 3.34 million Image size Selectable from: • 2048 × 1536 pixels • XGA (1024 × 768 pixels) • VGA (640 × 480 pixels) Lens • 2.5 × Zoom-Nikkor • F = 8 – 20 mm [35 mm (135) format equivalent to 38 – 95 mm]/ f 2.8 – 4.
Focus modes • Continuous autofocus (when monitor is on) • Single autofocus (monitor off and/or single autofocus selected in P•A•M or CSM modes) • Manual (forty-eight steps from 4 cm/1.6˝ – ∞ with Focus Confirmation indication) Shooting distance • 40 cm (1.3´) – ∞ • Macro mode: 4 cm (1.6˝) – ∞ Optical viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder with LED indication Magnification 0.4 – 1.0 × Frame coverage Approximately 80% Monitor Frame coverage Auto-off mode 1.
Storage System Digitally stored (uncompressed TIFF or compressed JPEG; QuickTime Movie) Media CompactFlash (CF) card Shooting modes • Full auto (AUTO) • Scene mode (SCENE) with eleven scenes (Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night Portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night Landscape, Fireworks Show, Sparkler, Close Up, Copy, Back Light) • Programmed auto (P) • Aperture-priority auto (A) • Manual (M) • Custom (CSM) Shooting menu • • • • • • • • White balance • Exposure metering Continuous • Best-Shot Sele
Capture modes • • • • • • Exposure metering Four-mode TTL metering Modes Shutter Speed Aperture Range 184 • • • • Single Continuous Multi-Shot 16 (sixteen frames 1/16 in size) VGA Sequence Ultra HS (seventy QVGA images at approximately 30 fps) Movie (up to 40 s of QVGA frames at 15 fps) 256-segment Matrix Center-Weighted Spot AF Spot Mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter 8 – 1/1000 s, Bulb Electronically controlled preset aperture Two stops (f 2.8 and f 7.8 [W], f 4.2 and f 11.
Exposure Exposure control • Exposure modes: - Programmed Auto - Aperture-Priority Auto - Manual • Exposure Compensation (±2.0 EV in steps of 1/3 EV) • Auto-Exposure Bracketing (five steps within ± 2/3 EV) Range (ISO 100 equivalent) • EV 0 to +16 (W) • EV 1.2 to +17.
Built-in Speedlight Shooting range 0.4 – 2.5 m/1´4˝ – 8´2˝ (T), 0.4 – 3.7 m/1´4˝ – 12´2˝ (W) Macro mode: 0.2 – 2.
Interface USB or serial interface (Windows: 115 Kbps; Macintosh: 230 Kbps) Platform Windows Macintosh USB OS Windows 98/98SE, Windows 2000 or later pre-installed model CPU MMX Pentium or later OS Mac OS 8.6 or later. Only builtin USB ports supported Models iMac, iBook, Power Macintosh G3 (Blue/White) or Power Mac G4 or later, PowerBook G3 (with built-in USB port) or later Serial OS Windows 95/98/98SE, Windows NT 4.
Power requirements • One 6 V 2CR5 (DL245) lithium battery or rechargeable Nikon EN-EL1 lithium-ion battery (optional) • EH-21 AC adapter/battery charger (optional) Battery life Approximately 90 minutes (rechargeable lithium-ion battery) or 110 minutes (2CR5/DL245 lithium battery) when using monitor at 20°C (68°F) Operating environment • Temperature: 0 – 40°C (32 – 104°F) • Humidity: under 85% (no condensation) Dimensions (W × H × D) Approximately 99.5 × 75 × 53.2 mm (3.9˝ × 3.0˝ × 2.
