Profe s s io na l Setting Guide
Table of Contents Taking Photographs 1 Improving Camera Response ........................................... 2 Settings by Subject ............................................................. 6 Matching Settings to Your Goal...................................... 12 • Reducing Camera Blur: Vibration Reduction ..................12 • Preserving Natural Contrast: Active D-Lighting ............13 • Quick Setting Selection: Shooting Menu Banks ............14 • Finding Controls in the Dark: Button Backlights ..
Autofocus Tips ................................................................... 35 • Focusing with the AF-ON Button ........................................35 • Choosing the Number of Focus Points .............................35 • AF-C Priority Selection ............................................................36 • AF-Area Mode ............................................................................38 • Focus Point Selection and Camera Orientation.............
Table of Contents First-Time Users • • • • • • iv 6 67 7 Customizing the Command Dials .......................................68 Reversing Indicators ................................................................68 Choosing the Primary Slot ....................................................69 Adjusting Monitor Brightness ..............................................69 Choosing the Monitor off Delay ..........................................69 Metering ................................................
Taking Photographs This chapter describes how the camera can be configured for improved shutter response and settings adjusted for different subjects, and gives tips on using autofocus.
Improving Camera Response This section introduces settings for reliably and quickly photographing athletes and other moving subjects. Continuous-Servo AF (AF-C) Press the AF-mode button and rotate the main command dial to select AF-C. Focus is adjusted continuously while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway or the AF-mode B button is pressed.
A Custom Settings a1 AF-C priority selection > Release: The camera gives priority to shutter release over focus, ensuring that you never miss a shot (page 36). a10 Store points by orientation > Yes: Select separate focus points in landscape and portrait orientations for quick framing (page 41). c2 Standby timer > 1 min: Reactivating the exposure meters introduces a slight delay. Choose settings around 1 min according to your subject, but note that longer times increase the drain on the battery.
Taking Photographs f3 Assign Fn button/f4 Assign preview button > Press > MY MENU: Add Custom settings bank to My Menu and then use the Fn or Pv button to quickly select a bank according to the scene. To add items to My Menu: 1 Select Add items. In My Menu, highlight Add items and press 2. 2 Add items. Navigate to the item you wish to add and press J, then position the new item and press J again to add it to My Menu. Custom Settings Banks Custom settings are stored in four banks (A, B, C, and D).
Improving Camera Response f16 Assign movie record button > Press + command dial > ISO sensitivity: When taking photos, use your right hand on the movie record button and main command dial to set ISO sensitivity without taking your eye from the viewfinder. Lens Vibration Reduction (VR) Lens VR switch > OFF: Vibration is unlikely to affect photographs at shutter speeds of 1⁄500 s or faster. For accurate framing at high shutter speeds, turn vibration reduction off.
Settings by Subject In addition to the changes described above under “Improving Camera Response”, you can fine-tune settings to improve response for specific subjects. Situation Most team sports (e.g., soccer/rugby). Choose these basic settings if subjects are often partially obscured by other objects or focus shifts quickly between nearby and distant subjects. Subjects are often obscured by other athletes (e.g., track events). Select a long lock-on to maintain focus on your subject.
AF-C priority selection (page 36 36)) AF-area mode (page 38 38)) Release Release or Focus + release Release Focus tracking with lock-on (page 44 44)) 3 (Normal) Dynamicarea AF (9 points) Dynamicarea AF (21 points) See also High-contrast scenes, backlighting: page 13 • Focus tracking with 3 (Normal) to lock-on: page 44 5 (Long) • AF-C priority selection: page 36 3 (Normal) High-contrast scenes: page 13 7
Taking Photographs Situation Outer focus points are used (e.g., speed skating). Increase number of dynamic-area focus points by one level when framing pictures in “tall” (portrait) orientation. Choose Focus + release for improved focus when photographing ball sports and in other situations in which precise timing is not a priority. Subjects move rapidly; camera orientation changes often (e.g., figure skating). Increase number of dynamic-area focus points.
Settings by Subject AF-C priority selection (page 36 36)) AF-area mode (page 38 38)) Focus tracking with lock-on (page 44 44)) Focus + release Dynamicarea AF (21 points) 3 (Normal) Release • AF-area mode: page 38 Dynamic• Focus point selec3 (Normal) or area AF (9 or tion and camera 5 (Long) 21 points) orientation: page 41 • Focus tracking with lock-on: page 44 Release Dynamic• AF-area mode: area AF (9 page 38 points) or Off or 1 (Short) • Focus tracking with single-point lock-on: page 44 AF See al
Taking Photographs Situation Time between focus and shooting is short and there are obstacles between autofocus target and camera (e.g., volleyball or swimming). Use single-point AF to prevent camera focusing on obstacles such as volleyball net or splashes, and set standby timer to 1 minute or longer for improved shutter response. If the camera has trouble focusing when high frame advance rates are selected in continuous release mode, try lowering the frame rate.
Settings by Subject AF-C priority selection (page 36 36)) AF-area mode (page 38 38)) Focus tracking with lock-on (page 44 44)) Release Single-point AF 3 (Normal) See also The standby timer: page 3 11
Matching Settings to Your Goal ● Reducing Camera Blur: Vibration Reduction Vibration reduction (VR) is supported with VR lenses. To reduce camera blur, choose a setting suited to the subject. Situation Moving subjects shot at shutter speeds of 1⁄500 s or faster: Because blur is less likely, OFF is recommended at fast shutter speeds. VR mode OFF Stationary subjects; panning shots of moving subjects: Select ON ON/ or NORMAL to reduce the effects of vibration.
● Preserving Natural Contrast: Active D-Lighting Active D-Lighting helps preserve details in highlights and shadows. Use Active D-Lighting for natural contrast when photographing day matches in stadiums and other venues that mix sunlight and shade. Note Noise may appear when Active D-Lighting is used at high ISO sensitivities.
Taking Photographs ● Quick Setting Selection: Shooting Menu Banks Use the Shooting menu bank option in the shooting menu when you need to switch rapidly from one group of settings to another, for example when alternating between sunlight and shade. Shooting Menu Banks Shooting menu settings are stored in four banks (A, B, C, and D). To store a particular combination of frequentlyused settings, select a bank using the Shooting menu bank option in the shooting menu and set the camera to the desired settings.
Matching Settings to Your Goal ● Finding Controls in the Dark: Button Backlights If you are having trouble finding camera controls in the dark, rotate the power switch toward D to activate the control panel and button backlights. The backlights remain on for 6 s after the switch is released. The Standby Timer If On is selected for Custom Setting d10 (LCD illumination), the control panel and button backlights will remain on while the standby timer is active.
Taking Photographs ● Reducing Noise and Blur: Auto ISO Sensitivity Control When On is selected for ISO sensitivity settings > Auto ISO sensitivity control in the shooting menu, the camera automatically adjusts ISO sensitivity if optimal exposure can not be achieved at the value selected by the user. Auto ISO sensitivity control can be finetuned using the following options. • Maximum sensitivity: Choose the maximum value available for auto ISO sensitivity control (200–Hi 4). The minimum is ISO 100.
Matching Settings to Your Goal ● Reducing Shutter Noise: Quiet and Silent Release To reduce the amount of noise made by the shutter during viewfinder photography, rotate the release mode dial to J. In live view, shutter noise can be eliminated by selecting Silent for Live view photography in the shooting menu (note that while FX format pictures taken when Quiet is selected for Live view photography are the same size as those taken during viewfinder photography—about 16.
Taking Photographs ● Optimizing White Balance If auto white balance does not produce the desired results, you can try another setting, choose a color temperature, or use preset manual white balance as described below. Choosing a Setting Press the U button and rotate the main command dial until the desired setting is displayed in the rear control panel.
Matching Settings to Your Goal Choosing a Color Temperature To choose a color temperature for the amber (A)–blue (B) axis, select a white balance setting of K (Choose color temp.) as described opposite and then press the U button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired value is displayed in the rear control panel.
Taking Photographs Preset Manual White Balance To choose a white balance preset, select a white balance setting of L (page 18) and then press the U button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired preset (d-1 to d-4) is displayed in the rear control panel. U button Sub-command dial Rear control panel To measure white balance for the selected preset, place a neutral gray or white object under the lighting that will be used in the final photograph and follow the steps below.
Matching Settings to Your Goal 2 Select direct measurement mode. Press the U button briefly and then press the button until the L icon in the rear control panel starts to flash. A flashing D will also appear in the top control panel and viewfinder. The displays will flash for about 6 s. 3 Measure white balance. Before the indicators stop flashing, frame the reference object so that it fills the viewfinder and press the shutter-release button all the way down.
Taking Photographs ● Varying White Balance: White Balance Bracketing Use bracketing if you have trouble adjusting white balance. Every time you take a photo, the camera will create multiple copies, each with a different white balance. 1 Select white balance bracketing. Select WB bracketing for Custom Setting e6 (Auto bracketing set). Note that white balance bracketing is not available with NEF (RAW) image quality options. 2 Choose the number of copies.
Matching Settings to Your Goal 3 Select a bracketing increment. Pressing the D button, rotate the sub-command dial to choose an increment of 1 (5 mired), 2 (10 mired), or 3 (15 mired). Bracketing increment D button Sub-command dial Top control panel Programs with increments of 1 are shown below. Control panel No.
4 Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot. Each shot is processed to create the selected number of copies; with each copy, white balance is incremented by the selected amount, starting from the value selected for white balance fine-tuning. If space is insufficient for all the copies, n and the icon for the affected card will flash in the top control panel, j will flash in the viewfinder, and the shutter release will be disabled. Shooting can begin when a new memory card is inserted.
Matching Settings to Your Goal Cancelling Bracketing To cancel bracketing, press the D button and rotate the main command dial until the number of copies is 0 (r) and W is no longer displayed. The program last in effect will be restored the next time bracketing is activated. Bracketing can also be cancelled by performing a two-button reset, although in this case the bracketing program will not be restored the next time bracketing is activated.
Taking Photographs ● Copying White Balance from a Photograph Follow the steps below to copy a value for white balance from an existing photograph to a selected preset. 26 1 Select preset manual white balance. Press G and select White balance in the shooting menu. Highlight Preset manual and press 2. 2 Select a destination. Highlight the destination preset (d-1 to d-4) and press the center of the multi selector. 3 Choose Select image. Highlight Select image and press 2.
Matching Settings to Your Goal 4 Highlight a source image. Highlight the source image. To view the highlighted image full frame, press and hold the X button. To view images in other locations, press W and select the desired card and folder. 5 Copy white balance. Press J to copy the white balance value for the highlighted photograph to the selected preset.
Taking Photographs ● Creating a Multiple Exposure Record from 2 to 10 exposures in a single photo. 28 1 Select Multiple exposure. Select Multiple exposure in the shooting menu. 2 Select a mode. Highlight Multiple exposure mode and press 2, then highlight one of the following and press J to select the highlighted option and return to the multiple exposure menu. • 0 On (series): Shoot a series of multiple exposures. Multiple exposure shooting will continue until you select Off.
Matching Settings to Your Goal 4 Adjust gain. Select Auto gain and choose from the following options. • On: Gain is adjusted according to number of exposures actually recorded (gain for each exposure is set to ½ for 2 exposures, 1⁄3 for 3 exposures, etc.). • Off: Gain is not adjusted when a multiple exposure is recorded. Recommended if background is dark. 5 Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot. The multiple exposure icon (n) will flash while multiple exposure shooting is in progress.
Taking Photographs Interrupting Multiple Exposures To interrupt a multiple exposure before the specified number of exposures have been taken, select Off for multiple exposure mode. If shooting ends before the specified number of exposures have been taken, a multiple exposure will be created from the exposures that have been recorded to that point. If Auto gain is on, gain will be adjusted to reflect the number of exposures actually recorded.
Matching Settings to Your Goal ● Copying Pictures Between Memory Cards When two memory cards are inserted, you can use the options in the playback Copy image(s) menu to copy pictures between the two cards (images will not be copied if there is not enough space on the destination card or if Enable is selected for Network > Network connection in the setup menu). • Select source: Choose the source card. • Select image(s): Select the pictures to be copied.
Taking Photographs ● Keeping the Camera Level: Virtual Horizon Roll and pitch data from the camera tilt sensor can be displayed for assistance in levelling the camera on a tripod and in other similar situations. The Monitor The Virtual horizon option in the setup menu is used to display a virtual horizon in the monitor.
Matching Settings to Your Goal The Viewfinder When Viewfinder virtual horizon is selected for Custom Setting f3 (Assign Fn button) or f4 (Assign preview button) > Press, pressing the button displays pitch and roll indicators in the viewfinder. Roll Camera tilted right Camera horizontal Camera tilted left Pitch Camera tilted forward Camera vertical Camera tilted back The roles of the indicators are reversed when the camera is rotated to take pictures in “tall” (portrait) orientation.
Taking Photographs ● Composing Photographs: The Framing Grid For help composing photographs, select On for Custom Setting d6 (Viewfinder grid display) to display a framing grid in the viewfinder. Framing grid ● Resizing Photographs for Upload: Resize Use the Resize option in the retouch menu to create small copies of selected photographs. Resized Copies Playback zoom may not be available when resized copies are displayed.
Autofocus Tips ● Focusing with the AF-ON Button If AF-ON only is selected for Custom Setting a4 (AF activation), the B button can be used to focus and the shutter-release button to release the shutter. To lock focus or suspend autofocus when an obstacle comes between you and the subject, release the B button. B button In the AF-ON position, the focus operation selection switch on some telephoto lenses functions in the same way as the B button.
Taking Photographs ● AF-C Priority Selection Custom Setting a1 (AF-C priority selection) controls whether the camera gives priority to focus or shutter release. G Release: Pictures can be taken whether or not the camera is in focus. Frame rates do not slow during burst photography. B Focus + release: In burst mode, priority is given to focus for the first frame and to release for later frames. Frame rates do not slow.
Autofocus Tips : Subject not in focus : Subject in focus : Shutter released 37
Taking Photographs ● AF-Area Mode AF-area modes are described below. AF-area mode Top control Sample focuspanel Viewfinder point display Single-point AF 9-point dynamic-area AF * 21-point dynamic-area AF * 51-point dynamic-area AF * 3D-tracking Auto-area AF * Only active focus point is displayed in viewfinder. Remaining points provide information to assist focus operation.
Autofocus Tips Description The focus point is selected manually. The camera focuses on the subject in the selected focus point only. Choose for subjects you can keep framed in the selected focus point. The focus point is selected manually. The camera focuses on the subject in the selected focus point when autofocus is initiated, but if the subject later leaves the selected point for brief periods, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding points.
Taking Photographs Focus Point Selection and Aperture The focus points available vary with the maximum aperture of the lens. Maximum aperture f/5.6 or faster: Focus point selection is supported with all 51 points: 15 cross sensors ( ) at the center of the display and 18 line sensors ( ) on either side. Maximum aperture slower than f/5.6 but faster than f/8 (e.g.
Autofocus Tips ● Focus Point Selection and Camera Orientation When Yes is selected for Custom Setting a10 (Store points by orientation), separate focus points can be selected for “wide” (landscape) orientation and for “tall” (portrait) orientation (camera rotated 90° clockwise or counterclockwise). If No is selected, the same focus point will be used regardless of camera orientation.
Taking Photographs ● Adjusting Autofocus to the Lens: AF Fine-Tune If you find that certain lenses do not produce the desired results with autofocus, you can adjust focus for each lens using the AF fine-tune > Saved value or Default options in the setup menu (note that AF tuning may interfere with normal focus; use only when required). Option Description AF fine tune • On: Turn AF tuning on for all saved lenses. (On/Off ) • Off: Turn AF tuning off.
Autofocus Tips Checking Focus Position a ruler at an angle so that one of the rules is at the same distance from the camera as a vertical surface such as the cover of a book stood upright. Using autofocus, focus on the vertical surface and then photograph the selected rule using focus lock. The illustration below shows how to interpret the results. Camera focuses in front of selected rule: adjust finetuning upward. Camera focuses on selected rule: no adjustment required.
Taking Photographs ● Focus Tracking with Lock-On By preventing the camera from refocusing when your subject is briefly obscured by another object, focus tracking with lock-on ensures that the camera will continue to track the main subject once the obstacle has moved away (continuous-servo AF only). Choose the length of time before the camera refocuses from 5 (Long), 4, 3 (Normal), 2, and 1 (Short). To refocus before lock-on ends, press the B or shutter-release button again.
Movies This chapter covers basic camera settings and tips and tricks you can use when shooting movies, in the order you will use them during filming.
Before Filming Before filming, ready the camera as described below. ● Sound The D4 supports the following sound recording features. External Microphones The optional ME-1 stereo microphone can be used to record sound in stereo or to avoid recording lens noise during autofocus. To reduce low-frequency noise, including that produced by the wind, rotate the low-cut filter switch from FLAT to L-CUT. Note that noise from the switch may be recorded if the control is operated during filming.
● Movie Settings In addition to microphone sensitivity, the following options can be adjusted using Movie settings. Frame Size, Frame Rate, and Movie Quality Frame size, frame rate, and movie quality can be chosen using Frame size/frame rate and Movie quality. The camera offers sizes of 1920 × 1080, 1280 × 720, and 640 × 424 pixels, rates of 60 (59.94), 50, 30 (29.97), 25, or 24 (23.976) fps, and normal and high quality.
Movies Image Area Using an FX lens with movie live view gives you a choice of two crops in addition to the standard FX-based format: 1. To record movies with a crop factor 2.7× that of an FX format lens used with a non-DX image area, select a “1920 × 1080 crop” option for Movie options > Frame size/frame rate in the shooting menu. The effective lens focal length will increase by 2.7× for a telephoto effect and movies will be recorded at a higher quality than when an FX-based movie format is used. 2.
Before Filming Destination Choose the slot to which movies are recorded. The menu shows the time available on each card; recording ends automatically when no time remains. Live view can be used to record movies up to 29 minutes 59 seconds in length. ISO Sensitivity Range Choose the range of ISO sensitivities available during recording in modes e, f, and g.
Movies ● Starting Movie Live View 1 Select movie live view. Rotate the live view selector to 1. Live view selector 2 Start live view. Press the a button. a button The Shutter-Release Button If Record movies is selected for Custom Setting g4 (Assign shutter button), you can press the shutter-release button halfway once to start live view and then press it halfway again to focus (autofocus only) or all the way down to start recording (page 58). To end movie live view, press the a button.
Before Filming ● Exposure Mode Before recording, press the I (Q) button and rotate the main command dial to choose an exposure mode. The settings that can be adjusted in movie live view are determined by the exposure mode as shown below. Aperture Shutter speed ISO sensitivity Exposure comp. ✔ e, f — — — g ✔ — — ✔ h ✔ ✔* ✔ — * Slower speeds produce smoother results: at a frame rate of 30 fps, for example, choose speeds between ⁄ s and ⁄ s.
Movies ● Using Autofocus To focus using autofocus, rotate the focus-mode selector to AF and select autofocus and AF-area modes as described below. Focus-mode selector Choosing a Focus Mode Press the AF-mode button and rotate the main command dial until the desired mode is displayed in the monitor. AF-mode button Main command dial Monitor Choose AF-S (single-servo AF) or AF-F (full-time servo AF): • AF-S: The camera focuses when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
Before Filming Choosing an AF-Area Mode Press the AF-mode button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired mode is displayed in the monitor. AF-mode button Sub-command dial Monitor Face-priority AF: Camera focuses on faces. If multiple faces (up ! to 35) are detected, desired subject can be chosen with multi selector. 5 Wide-area AF: For handheld shots of landscapes and other subjects. Focus point can be positioned with multi selector.
Movies ● Lens Vibration Reduction (VR) We recommend using VR lenses with the vibration reduction ON/OFF switch in the ON position. If the lens has a vibration reduction mode switch, choose NORMAL for hand-held photography or when using a monopod. Vibration reduction should generally be turned off when the camera is on a tripod, although an exception can be made for a lens such as the AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II, which automatically detects tripod vibration.
Before Filming ● Adjusting Settings During Live View You can highlight the microphone sensitivity, headphone volume, or monitor brightness indicator in the live view display by holding W and pressing 4 or 2, and then adjust the highlighted setting by pressing 1 or 3.
Movies ● The Information Display Press the R button to choose the information displayed during movie live view. Information on Information off Virtual horizon Framing guides Histogram Hide indicators when the camera is connected to an external recording device (page 64).
Before Filming ● Checking Focus If Zoom on/off is selected for Custom Setting f1 (Multi selector center button) > Live view, you can press the center of the multi selector to zoom in on the current focus point. The initial zoom setting can be selected from low, medium, and high magnification by highlighting Zoom on/off option in the multi selector center button menu and pressing 2. Focus zoom is not available during movie recording.
Filming Movies ● Starting and Ending Recording Press the movie-record button to start Recording recording. If Record movies is selected indicator for Custom Setting g4 (Assign shutter button), you can start and end movie recording by pressing the shutter-release button all the way down.
Filming Movies ● Editing Movies The Edit movie option in the retouch menu can be used to create edited copies of the movies on the memory card. Select Choose start/end point to trim unwanted footage in amounts as small as 0.5 s, or Save selected frames to save selected frames as JPEG stills.
Time-Lapse Movies ● Time-Lapse Movies Follow the steps below to create silent time-lapse movies from photos taken automatically at selected intervals. The resulting movie is recorded at the settings currently selected for Movie settings in the shooting menu. We recommend that you connect the camera to an AC power supply using an optional EH-6b AC adapter and EP-6 power connector to ensure that shooting is not interrupted. 60 1 Select Time-lapse photography.
Time-Lapse Movies 3 Choose the shooting time. Enter a shooting time of from 1 minute to 7 hours 59 minutes (the selected setting is shown in the bottom section of the dialog) and press 2 to proceed. 4 Start shooting. Highlight On and press J (to return to the shooting menu without starting time-lapse photography, select Off). Shooting will begin after 3 s.
Movies Interrupting Time-Lapse Photography Time-lapse photography will end automatically if the battery is exhausted.
Time-Lapse Movies Time Lapse Photography Time-lapse photography is not available in live view, at a shutter speed of A or when bracketing, High Dynamic Range (HDR), multiple exposure, or interval timer photography is active. To record changes in brightness, use manual exposure; for consistent framing, colors and focus, turn vibration reduction off, choose a white balance setting other than auto, and use manual focus.
HDMI Output The camera can be connected to HDMI recording devices. Connect to HDMI device The HDMI option in the setup menu controls HDMI output. Output Resolution Auto is recommended. Other settings should be used only if Auto does not produce the desired results. Advanced Adjust settings as follows: • Output range: Auto. Choose Limited range (16–235) or Full range (0–255) only if the camera is unable to detect the correct RGB video signal output range.
HDMI Recording The D4 does not compress HDMI output, with the result that the camera can be connected to an HDMI recording device and movie footage recorded at a higher quality than if it were saved to a memory card. Note that while movies are being recorded with the camera, the camera may output movie footage at a smaller frame size than that selected for Frame size/frame rate.
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First-Time Users 67
First-Time Users ● Customizing the Command Dials Custom Setting f10: Customize Command Dials Reverse rotation: Reverse the direction of rotation for the main and sub-command dials when making adjustments to Exposure compensation and/or Shutter speed/aperture (these settings also apply to the command dials for vertical shooting). Highlight options and press 2 to select or deselect, then highlight Done and press J.
First-Time Users ● Choosing the Primary Slot When using two memory cards, you can choose one as the primary card using the Primary slot selection item in the shooting menu. ● Adjusting Monitor Brightness The Monitor brightness option in the setup menu can be used to adjust monitor brightness for playback, menus, and the information display. Option Description When the monitor is on, monitor brightness is automatically adjusted according to ambient lighting conditions.
First-Time Users ● Metering To choose how the camera sets exposure, press the Y button and rotate the main command dial until the desired metering option is displayed in the viewfinder and top control panel. Choose from matrix (L), center-weighted (M), and spot (N) metering.
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