Professional Setting Guide — For Still Photography — En
Table of Contents Landscapes 5 Basic Settings for Landscape Photography.................... 6 • Focus: Choose “Single AF” and “Single-Point AF”!.............7 • VR: Choose “Normal” for Hand-Held Photography!...............7 • Silent Photography: Choose “On”!...............................................9 • Low-Light AF: Choose “On”!..........................................................9 • Exposure Delay Mode: Choose “1 s”!.........................................
Custom Controls for Portrait Photography................... 17 • K Playback......................................................................................17 • K Select Center Focus Point....................................................17 • y Active D‑Lighting......................................................................18 • Shooting Mode > p Zoom On/Off............................................18 • Playback Mode > p Zoom On/Off.............................................
Table of Contents Tips and Tricks 33 Recalling Saved Settings via the Mode Dial................. 34 Using the Viewfinder Without Fatigue........................... 35 Flicker Reduction............................................................... 36 Subject-Tracking AF........................................................... 38 Assigning Focus and Release to Separate Controls..... 40 Animal Face/Eye-Detection AF........................................ 41 • Basic Settings for Animal Portraits...........
Landscapes Learn basic techniques and helpful features for capturing landscapes more vividly and with greater ease.
Basic Settings for Landscape Photography The following are the recommended settings for photographing landscapes: Photo shooting menu Focus mode AF-area mode Diffraction compensation Vibration reduction Single AF Single-point AF On • Hand-held photography: Normal • Tripod photography: Off 1 On Silent photography Custom Settings menu Shutter/AF-ON a7 AF activation a11 Low-light AF On d4 Exposure delay mode 1 s2 Other settings Release mode Single frame Monitor mode Monitor only 1.
l Focus: Choose “Single AF” and “Single-Point AF”! Choose Single AF (AF‑S) for Focus mode and select Single-point AF for AF-area mode. This is the standard combination of settings for landscapes and other static subjects: focus will lock once you have chosen a focus point and pressed the shutter-release button halfway. l VR: Choose “Normal” for Hand-Held Photography! Choose a vibration reduction option according to whether the camera is mounted on a tripod.
Tripod Photography The recommended settings for tripod photography vary with the lens: • Z mount lenses: Choose Normal for lenses with on-board vibration reduction, Off for other lenses. • F mount lenses: If you are using one of the lenses listed below, slide the lens vibration reduction switch to “NORMAL”. Users of other lenses should consult the lens manual. ‣‣AF‑P DX NIKKOR 10–20mm f/4.5–5.6G VR ‣‣AF‑P DX NIKKOR 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6G VR ‣‣AF‑P DX NIKKOR 70–300mm f/4.5–6.
Basic Settings for Landscape Photography l Silent Photography: Choose “On”! Choosing On for Silent photography in the photo shooting menu enables the electronic shutter, helping prevent blur caused by vibrations from the mechanical shutter. Silent Photography Select Off for Silent photography: • during flash photography, • when using long-exposure noise reduction or flicker reduction, or • if you notice distortion in photos of moving subjects.
Basic Settings for Landscape Photography l Exposure Delay Mode: Choose “1 s”! Custom Setting d4 (Exposure delay mode) is used to delay release of the shutter for a set time after the shutter-release button is pressed. A delay of a second or more helps reduce blur caused by the camera moving when you press the shutter-release button. z appears in the display when an option other than Off is selected.
Custom Controls for Landscape Photography The following custom control settings are recommended for landscape photography: w Fn1 button y Fn2 button V AF‑ON button 8 Center of sub-selector z Movie-record button Shooting mode J button Playback mode q Preview t Auto bracketing A AF‑ON K Select center focus point b Framing grid display p Zoom on/off; zoom ratio 1:1 (100%) p Zoom on/off; zoom ratio 1:1 (100%) Roles can be assigned to the J button via Custom Setting f3 (OK button) and to other controls via Cus
Custom Controls for Landscape Photography l K Select Center Focus Point If you typically use the sub-selector for focus-point selection, assigning this role to the center of the control lets you use it to quickly choose the center focus point. l b Framing Grid Display Use the selected control to quickly view the framing grid for landscape shots that keep verticals vertical and horizontals horizontal.
Portraits Learn basic techniques and helpful features that free you to concentrate on your subject during portrait photography.
Basic Settings for Portrait Photography The following settings are recommended for portrait photography: Photo shooting menu Set Picture Control Focus mode AF-area mode Vibration reduction Silent photography Custom Settings menu a4 Auto-area AF face/eye detection d5 Shutter type Other settings Monitor mode Portrait Continuous AF Auto-area AF Normal Off Face and eye detection on Auto Prioritize viewfinder l Set Picture Control: Choose “Portrait”! Choose this option for portraits in which your subject’s com
l AF-Area Mode: Choose “Auto-Area AF”! In auto-area AF, the camera scans all focus points in the frame and chooses the focus point automatically.
Basic Settings for Portrait Photography l Vibration Reduction: Choose “Normal”! Choose Normal for a comparatively high level of vibration reduction. As a consequence of how lens shift vibration reduction operates in Normal mode, the image in the display may jiggle after the shutter is released, but this is expected and does not indicate a malfunction. If you find the motion distracting, choosing Sport will stabilize the image in the viewfinder and free you to concentrate on composition.
Custom Controls for Portrait Photography The following custom control settings are recommended for portrait photography: w Fn1 button y Fn2 button V AF‑ON button 8 Center of sub-selector z Movie-record button Shooting mode J button Playback mode K Playback z Focus mode/AF-area mode A AF‑ON K Select center focus point y Active D‑Lighting p Zoom on/off; zoom ratio 1:1 (100%) p Zoom on/off; zoom ratio 1:1 (100%) Roles can be assigned to the J button via Custom Setting f3 (OK button) and to other controls via
Custom Controls for Portrait Photography l y Active D‑Lighting Active D‑Lighting can be adjusted by holding the button and rotating a command dial, easing the task of photographing subjects in high-contrast settings, as for example when framing a sunlit subject through a window from inside a darkened room or photographing subjects on a beach in direct sunlight.
Sports Learn basic techniques and helpful features for photographing sporting events and other scenes that feature motion.
Basic Settings for Sports Photography The following are the recommended settings for shots of sporting events and other scenes that feature motion: Photo shooting menu Focus mode AF-area mode Vibration reduction Silent photography Custom Settings menu a3 Focus tracking with lock-on d5 Shutter type Other settings Release mode Shutter speed Monitor mode Continuous AF Dynamic-area AF Sport Off 3 Auto Continuous H or Continuous H (extended) High shutter speeds of 1/500 s or faster Prioritize viewfinder l Focu
l AF-Area Mode: Choose “Dynamic-Area AF”! The camera focuses on a point of your choosing but will use information from surrounding focus points if the subject wanders briefly from the chosen point. This option is only available when AF-C is selected for focus mode. If the subject is moving quickly or is otherwise hard to track, try using Wide-area AF (S) or Wide-area AF (L) to allow autofocus to choose subjects from a wider area.
Basic Settings for Sports Photography l Monitor Mode: Choose “Prioritize Viewfinder”! Recommended for users familiar with traditional digital SLRs, “prioritize viewfinder” mode lets you frame pictures in the viewfinder during hand-held photography. In photo mode, putting your eye to the viewfinder turns it on and displays the view through the lens, but the shooting display does not appear in the monitor when you take your eye away.
Custom Controls for Sports Photography The following custom control settings are recommended for sports photography: w Fn1 button y Fn2 button V AF‑ON button 8 Center of sub-selector z Movie-record button Shooting mode J button Playback mode K Playback g Protect A AF‑ON K Select center focus point z Focus mode/AF-area mode p Zoom on/off; zoom ratio 1:1 (100%) p Zoom on/off; zoom ratio 1:1 (100%) Roles can be assigned to the J button via Custom Setting f3 (OK button) and to other controls via Custom Settin
Custom Controls for Sports Photography l K Select Center Focus Point If you typically use the sub-selector for focus-point selection, assigning this role to the center of the control lets you use it to quickly choose the center focus point. l z Focus Mode/AF-Area Mode Focus and AF-area modes can be selected by holding the control and rotating the main and sub-command dials. This role is normally assigned to the Fn2 button and we recommend you give it to another control when the Fn2 button is reassigned.
Split-Second Shots Ordinary burst photography may fail to capture the decisive moment of a golf swing or other fast-moving event. For split-second shots the like of which you’ve never taken before, try switching to movie mode, where the camera can record photos at up to 120 fps while the shutter-release button is pressed. 1 Select movie mode. Rotate the photo/movie selector to 1.
2 Set the frame size and rate to 1920 × 1080; 120p. The number of shots the camera takes per second is equivalent to the frame rate chosen for Frame size/frame rate in the movie shooting menu or for Frame size and rate/image quality in the movie-mode i menu. For a frame rate of 120 fps, choose 1920 × 1080; 120p. The photos will be the same dimensions as the movie frame and have an aspect ratio of 16∶9. 3 Choose Continuous release mode.
Split-Second Shots 5 Rotate the mode dial to “M”. Exposure cannot be adjusted manually in modes P and S when movie mode is selected. Choose mode M to make your own adjustments to aperture, ISO sensitivity, and other exposure settings. 6 Adjust exposure. Adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity. To reduce blur caused by subject motion, choose a shutter speed at least as fast as 1/1000 s. 7 Focus. Press the shutter-release button halfway or press the AF‑ON button to focus. 8 Take pictures.
“Continuous H” Versus “Continuous H (Extended)” The differences between the Continuous H and Continuous H (extended) release modes for the Z 7 and Z 6 are summarized below. Choose a mode according to the subject and situation. Continuous H Continuous H (extended) Continuous H Continuous H (extended) Z 7: Up to 9 fps Frame advance rate Approx. 5.
l The Shooting Display The image displayed in the monitor or viewfinder during shooting differs according to the release mode. Subject motion “Continuous H” Apart from momentarily going dark when the shutter is released, the display for Continuous H mode shows subject motion more or less in real time. “Continuous H (Extended)” The display for Continuous H (extended) never goes dark but lags subject motion by a fraction of a second.
“Continuous H” Versus “Continuous H (Extended)” l Frame Advance Rate Frame advance rates for burst photography vary with the camera model and settings. The approximate maximum rates for Continuous H and Continuous H (extended) release modes are shown below. Z7 Image quality JPEG/TIFF NEF (RAW)/NEF (RAW) + JPEG JPEG/TIFF NEF (RAW)/NEF (RAW) + JPEG Bit Silent Continuous H depth photography Continuous H (extended) — 5.5 fps 9 fps 12 Off 14 5 fps — 8 fps 4 fps 12 On 14 3.5 fps 6.
AE with Constant Shutter Speed and Aperture If ISO sensitivity is fixed, you may find it difficult to achieve the desired exposure without varying shutter speed or aperture, particularly in settings with a mix of sun and shade, such as a soccer stadium or baseball diamond during a day game. Enabling auto ISO sensitivity control allows the camera to adjust ISO sensitivity for optimal exposure. Auto ISO sensitivity control can be turned on or off by holding the S button and rotating the sub-command dial.
AE with Constant Shutter Speed and Aperture ISO sensitivity settings > Minimum shutter speed is used to choose the shutter speed below which auto ISO sensitivity control will kick in to prevent underexposure in modes P and A. Choose from speeds of 1/4000 to 30 s, or select Auto to have the camera choose the minimum shutter speed based on the focal length of the lens.
Tips and Tricks Learn about useful features that can be used with any subject.
Recalling Saved Settings via the Mode Dial Frequently-used settings can be assigned to mode-dial positions U1, U2, and U3. For example, you can assign landscape settings to U1, portrait settings to U2, and settings for sports photography to U3 and instantly switch combinations just by rotating the mode dial.
Using the Viewfinder Without Fatigue If you find your eyes get tired after using the viewfinder for prolonged periods, select Off for Custom Setting d8 (Apply settings to live view). Viewfinder brightness and hue will be adjusted for ease of viewing rather than to reflect changes to white balance, Picture Controls, exposure compensation, and the like. On Off Because pictures taken with Off selected may not match the preview in the viewfinder, we recommend that you check the results after shooting.
Flicker Reduction When powered by alternating current, fluorescent lamps and certain other types of artificial lighting flicker at a rate determined by the frequency of the power supply, which depending on the timing of the shutter release may produce areas of uneven color or exposure. Flicker reduction helps prevent this by matching the timing of the shutter release to the flicker rate. To enable flicker reduction, select On for Flicker reduction shooting in the photo shooting menu.
Flicker Reduction Flicker reduction can detect flicker at 100 and 120 Hz (associated respectively with AC power supplies of 50 and 60 Hz). Flicker may not be detected or the desired results may not be achieved with dark backgrounds, bright light sources, or decorative lighting displays and other non-standard lighting. Depending on the light source, there may be a slight delay before the shutter is released.
Subject-Tracking AF For subject-tracking AF, we recommend that you set focus and AF-area mode respectively to AF‑C and Autoarea AF. Once tracking starts, focus will follow the subject through the frame while the AF‑ON button is pressed or the shutter-release button is pressed halfway (note that the discussion in this section applies only from camera “C” firmware version 3.00). Before proceeding, position the focus point as desired.
To suspend subject tracking and restore the focus point selected before tracking started, lift your finger from the shutter-release or AF‑ON button. If you started subject tracking by pressing J or by tapping your subject in the display, you can press J to suspend tracking and select the center focus point. Custom Subject-Tracking Controls From camera “C” firmware version 3.
Assigning Focus and Release to Separate Controls If AF‑ON only is selected for Custom Setting a7 (AF activation), the camera will focus only when the AF‑ON button is pressed, freeing you to concentrate on the shutter-release button during portrait or sports photography and in other situations where you focus using AF‑C. The camera focuses while the AF‑ON button is pressed and pauses when the button is released.
Animal Face/Eye-Detection AF From “C” firmware version 3.00, the camera can detect and focus on the faces and eyes of dogs and cats (animal face/eye-detection AF).
Enabling Animal Face/Eye-Detection AF Animal face/eye-detection AF is available only when Animal detection is selected for Custom Setting a4 (Auto-area AF face/eye detection) and auto-area AF is selected for AF-area mode.
Animal Face/Eye-Detection AF Simplifying Exposure for Active Dogs or Cats We recommend that you make the following additions to the settings listed on page 41 when photographing active dogs or cats: • Mode: A (aperture-priority auto) • Auto ISO sensitivity control: On • Minimum shutter speed: 1/500 s In mode A, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed for optimal exposure.
Protecting and Rating Pictures Pictures can be protected and rated during playback. These settings remain in effect when the pictures are opened in Capture NX‑D or ViewNX‑i. l Protecting Pictures Pictures can be protected to prevent accidental deletion. Note that this does not prevent the pictures being deleted when the memory card is formatted. From the i Menu The i menu can be used to protect pictures during playback. 44 1 Play the picture back.
3 Select Protect. Highlight Protect and press J. Protected pictures are marked with a P icon; to remove protection, select the picture and choose Protect again. Using Function Buttons You can assign Protect to either of the Fn1 and Fn2 buttons using Custom Setting f2 (Custom control assignment) and thereafter add or remove protection simply by pressing the chosen control. 1 Play the picture back. Start playback by pressing the K button and select a picture you want to protect.
l Rating Pictures Selected pictures can be rated or marked as candidates for later deletion. Ratings can also be viewed in Capture NX-D and ViewNX-i. Protected pictures cannot be rated; remove protection before rating pictures. From the i Menu The i menu can be used to rate pictures during playback. 46 1 Play the picture back. Start playback by pressing the K button and select a picture you want to rate. 2 Press the i button. The playback i menu will be displayed. 3 Select Rating.
Protecting and Rating Pictures 4 Choose a rating. Rotate the main command dial to choose a rating of from zero to five stars, or select d to mark the picture as a candidate for later deletion. Press J to apply the selected rating. Using Function Buttons You can assign Rating to either of the Fn1 and Fn2 buttons using Custom Setting f2 (Custom control assignment) and thereafter rate pictures simply by holding the chosen control and rotating the main command dial. 1 Play the picture back.
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