Nikon D300 - Complete Guide Manual

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V1.02

Thom Hogan’s Complete Guide to the Nikon D300 Page 1

Thom Hogan’s

Complete Guide

to the Nikon D300

1st Edition

By Thom Hogan

byThom Press

Main Page

Acknowledgements3
About this Ebook4
Your Rights Versus Mine4
Printing the Ebook5
Note on the First Edition9
Table of Contents12
Conventions Used in this Ebook20
Introduction22
D300 Background25
The D300'S History25
Different29
Is It Better than Film33
Debunking some Myths37
D300 Basics44
D300 Design44
The D300 Sensor48
Sensor Specifications (Size)51
Sensor Specifications (Pixels)52
Sensor Filtration53
Tonal Range63
Dynamic Range -- Dark V. Bright68
Spectral Characteristics71
Noise72
Hot and Dead Pixels79
Sensor Longevity80
Sensor Wrap-Up81
Expeed82
Power84
Changing Batteries88
Charging Batteries89
Battery Storage91
Clock Battery91
Alternate Power Sources91
Battery Life96
Battery Notes102
Image Storage104
Buffer Sizes107
Compactflash109
Udma110
Solid-State Compactflash111
Microdrives113
Microdrive Compatibility114
Using Compactflash117
Nikon-Approved Cards121
How Much Card122
Compactflash Troubleshooting123
Image Formats126
Pixels129
Jpeg131
Setting JPEG133
JPEG Rendering143
JPEG Artifacts144
JPEG Recommendation150
TIFF Format150
Setting TIFF152
TIFF Recommendation154
NEF Format155
Typical D300 File Sizes159
Compressed Nefs159
Why NEF162
Setting NEF163
Press the MENU Button to Show the Menu System163
Use the Direction Pad to Navigate to the SHOOTING Menu (Green Camera Icon)163
Use the Direction Pad to Navigate to the Image163
Quality Option and Press the > Key on the Direction163
Pad to Select It164
Use the Direction Pad to Navigate to TIFF and Press166
The > Key on the Direction Pad to Select It166
NEF Recommendations168
Exif170
Iptc173
DPOF and Pictbridge174
File Names and Folders175
Folders176
File Names182
File Number Sequence189
Camera Setup191
How Menus Work191
The Camera191
The SETUP Menu194
Date, Time, and Language198
Setting Date and Time199
Setting Language204
Programming a Comment205
Setting the LCD Brightness208
Set up Recommendations Summary211
Viewfinder Adjustment211
Focus Screens213
Resetting the Camera214
Resetting Basic Settings214
Settings after Reset214
Resetting Other Settings215
Settings after Reset216
Resetting Custom Settings217
The Last Resort Reset217
Firmware Version218
Shooting Pictures with the D300224
Controls224
D300 Controls224
Front View225
Top View226
Iso Button226
Back View227
Side View228
D300 Displays229
D300 Top LCD229
D300 Color LCD231
D300 Viewfinder235
Image Quality237
Approximate Images Per Card239
Metering and Exposure245
Metering Methods246
Matrix246
Center-Weighted252
Spot253
Spot Meter Point255
Metering Compatibility256
Setting the Metering Method256
So Which Metering System Should You Use257
Metering with Digital Requires Care259
Options for Evaluating Exposure263
How to Interpret Histograms267
The Histogram271
Exposure Modes274
Flexible Program277
Program Exposure Table (at ISO 200)277
ISO Sensitivity278
Noise Reduction Settings286
Auto ISO290
How ISO Values Are Created295
ISO Operating Suggestions295
Exposure Bracketing299
D300 Exposure Bracketing Values Table (Exposures)301
Exposure Compensation307
Active D-Lighting310
White Balance313
D300 White Balance Settings324
D300 White Balance Bracketing Values Table333
Picture Controls334
Contrast Parameter354
Hue Parameter355
Saturation Parameter357
Brightness Parameter358
Lenses and Focusing360
An Aside about Lenses364
Lens Compatibility367
Focal Length Limitations371
Lens Differences When Used for 35Mm Film or FX Body Vs D300374
Lens Angle of View375
The Autofocus System377
Focus Mode (Single Servo, Continuous Servo, and Manual)384
Single Servo Versus Continuous Servo Autofocus385
Autofocus Area Modes387
Autofocus Summary389
Autofocus Settings Summary390
Trap Autofocus391
Autofocus Assist392
Lock-On (Focus Tracking)394
The Pro Approach to Autofocus394
Adjusting Your Lenses395
Chromatic Aberration Correction405
Manual Focus406
Depth of Field Preview407
18Mm Lens409
28Mm Lens410
70Mm Lens411
Diffraction411
Other DOF Theories412
Sharpening413
Shooting Controls420
Shutter Releases420
Shutter Lag421
Shooting Method (and Frame Rate)423
Self Timer426
Live View428
Using Hand-Held Live View432
Using Tripod Live View435
Frame Rate Troubleshooting439
Interval Shooting440
Multiple Exposures and Overlays448
Remote Control451
Connecting to a GPS451
Shooting Information Display454
Color Lcd454
D300 Menus455
PLAYBACK Menu ( Tab)456
Playback Folder456
SHOOTING Menu (Õ Camera Tab)457
After Delete457
Active Folder458
Setting and Naming Shooting Menu Banks461
CUSTOM SETTING Menu ( Pencil Tab)464
SETUP Menu (Ø Wrench Icon)465
Format Memory Card466
Lcd Brightness466
Clean Image Sensor466
Lock Mirror up for Cleaning466
Video Mode466
RETOUCH Menu (Folder Tab)469
MY MENU (Checked Tab)470
Error Messages477
Image Review and Playback484
Image Review484
Image Review Options485
Rotating Images493
The PLAYBACK Menu496
Deleting Images496
Image Recovery501
Dealing with Folders501
Hiding Images505
Other PLAYBACK Menu Items507
Custom Settings508
Custom Setting #C Custom Settings Bank514
Custom Setting #R Reset Custom Settings for Current Bank519519
Custom Setting #A1 Continuous Servo AF Priority521
Custom Setting #A2 Single Servo AF Priority524
Custom Setting #A3 Dynamic Area AF Customization525
Custom Setting #A4 Set Focus Lock-On Parameters528
Custom Setting #A5 Autofocus Initiation Method529
Custom Setting #A6 Focus Area Illumination531
Custom Setting #A7 Focus Point Selection Wrap532
Custom Setting #A8 Number of AF Points532
Custom Setting #A9 Autofocus Assist Illumination533
Custom Setting #A10 MB-D10 AF-ON Button Options534
Custom Setting #B1 ISO Increment536
Custom Setting #B2 Exposure Control Increment537
Custom Setting #B3 Exposure Compensation Increment538
Custom Setting #B4 Exposure Compensation Control539
Custom Setting #B5 Center-Weight Metering Circle Size541
Custom Setting #B6 Meter Compensation542
Custom Setting #C1 Shutter Release Exposure Locking544
Custom Setting #C2 Meter/Camera Active Time545
Custom Setting #C3 Self Timer Delay Setting546
Custom Setting #C4 Color LCD Active Time547
Custom Setting #D1 Sound Feedback Setting548
Custom Setting #D2 Grid Line Display in Viewfinder549
Custom Setting #D3 Viewfinder Warnings Display550
Custom Setting #D4 Continuous Low Shooting Speed551
Custom Setting #D5 Maximum Continuous Shots552
Custom Setting #D6 File Number Sequence553
Custom Setting #D7 Shooting Info Display Style554
Custom Setting #D8 LCD Illumination Control555
Custom Setting #D9 One Second Shutter Delay556
Custom Setting #D10 Battery Type in MB-D10558
Custom Setting #D11 Order Batteries Are Used559
Custom Setting #E1 Flash Top Sync Speed560
Custom Setting #E2 Flash Low Shutter Speed Barrier562
Custom Setting #E3 Flash Mode for Internal Flash563
Custom Setting #E4 DOF Preview Triggers Modeling Flash566566
Custom Setting #E5 Exposure Bracketing Method567
Custom Setting #E6 Manual Exposure Mode Bracketing569
Custom Setting #E7 Bracketing Order570
Custom Setting #F1 Direction Pad Center Button572
Custom Setting #F2 Additional Direction Pad Control574
Custom Setting #F3 Direction Pad Scrolling During Playback575
Custom Setting #F4 FUNC Button Setting576
Command Dials576
Custom Setting #F5 DOF Preview Button Setting580
Custom Setting #F6 AE-Lock Button Function583
Preview Button584
Custom Setting #F7 Command Dial Functions587
Custom Setting #F8 Pressing or Holding Buttons590
Custom Setting #F9 Lock Camera with no Compactflash591
Custom Setting #F10 Reverse the Manual Metering Bar592
Using Flash593
What Happens When Flash Is Used593
Flash Basics594
Digital Flash Differences595
More Hidden Flash "Gotchas598
Allowable Apertures in Program Mode598
D300 Safe Flash Head Focal Length Settings599
Flash Modes600
I-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash600
Standard TTL602
High-Speed TTL (TTL FP)603
Summary of I-TTL Flash Modes604
Non-TTL Flash Modes604
Setting Flash Options608
Flash Option Interactions610
Flash Exposure Compensation610
Flash Features Available Using a D300 with Speedlights613
Controlled, Repeatable Flash Results614
Third Party Flash Units617
Studio Flash618
D300 Internal Flash618
Internal Flash Basics621
To Set TTL on the Internal Flash621
To Set Manual Flash622
Internal Flash Guide Numbers (Feet)623
Internal Flash Guide Numbers (Meters)624
To Set Repeating Flash624
Mode Setting624
Wireless Flash627
External Flash Models for the D300637
Specifications637
To Set TTL Flash638
Usable Apertures and Flash Range in TTL Mode (Feet)639
Specifications639
To Set TTL Flash640
Usable Apertures and Flash Range in TTL Mode (Feet)641
To Set Manual Flash642
Guide Numbers at ISO 100 (Feet)644
Guide Numbers at ISO 100 (Meters)644
Guide Numbers at ISO 200 (Feet)644
Guide Numbers at ISO 200 (Meters)644
To Manually Set the Zoom Head645
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation645
To Set Red-Eye Reduction646
Notes646
Specifications648
To Set TTL Flash649
Usable Apertures and Flash Range in TTL Mode (Feet)651
To Set Manual Flash651
To Set Repeating Flash652
Maximum Number of Repeating Flashes at each Power Setting654
To Manually Set the Zoom Head655
To Set the Distance Scale to Feet or Meters655
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation656
To Set Red-Eye Reduction657
SB-800 Notes657
Flash Troubleshooting658
Using a D300 in the Field661
The "Routine661
General Settings You Make Once661
Things to Do before You Head out on a Shoot661
Check each Time You Turn the Camera on663
Settings You Change Rarely (and then Only for a Reason)664
Settings You Change Often665
Things to Do after each Shooting Session666
Keeping Track of Batteries668
Maintaining Image Quality669
Which Type of Photographer Are You671
Dealing with JPEG673
Custom Curves674
Color Profiles and Color Spaces674
Setting Color Spaces in the Camera679
Setting Color Spaces and Profiles in Your Software680
Fine Tuning the Color682
Special Lighting Issues685
UV and Infrared685
Ultraviolet686
Infrared687
Shooting under Fluorescent Lighting689
Other Field Shooting Issues692
Keeping the Sensor Clean692
Turn the Camera on698
It's Not Just Static Cling701
Worst Case Scenario702
Temperature Considerations702
Humidity703
White Balance Settings703
White Balance Color Temperatures704
After You Ve Taken Pictures with Your D300708
Shot Is Taken708
The Retouch Menu709
D-Lighting710
Red-Eye Correction713
Trim715
Monochrome718
Filter Effects720
Color Balance723
Image Overlays725
Transferring Your Images to Your Computer731
Connecting to a Computer733
Turn the Camera off735
Printing Your Images736
Selecting Images to Print738
Pictbridge Printing741
Printing Resolution744
Output on Commercial Printers747
Viewing Your Images748
Television Playback749
Slide Shows752
D300 Accessories754
Specifications758
Getting Service761
Questions and Answers766

Nikon D300 - Complete Guide Manual

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