Below is an overview of what Nikon says about Picture
Controls and what I see in my sample image taken with the
various controls. Also included in this list are two optional
Picture Controls, which you can download from Nikon for
free (PT, or Portrait and LS, or Landscape).
▪ SD, or Standard, is Nikon’s recommendation for getting
“balanced” results. They recommend SD for most
general situations. Use this if you want a balanced image
and don’t want to post-process it to get it there. It has
what Nikon calls Standard image processing. The SD
control provides what I would call medium saturation,
with darker shadows to add contrast. If I were shooting
JPEG images in a studio or during an event, I would
seriously consider using the SD control. I would
compare this setting to Fuji Provia or Kodak
Kodachrome 64 slide films.
▪ NL, or Neutral, is best for an image that will be
extensively post-processed in the computer. It, too, is a
balanced image setting, but it applies minimal camera
processing so that you’ll have room to do more with the
image later, in the computer. The NL control is lower in
color saturation and has weaker shadows, so the image
will be less contrasty. The effects of the NL and SD
controls are harder to see in the book since there’s not a
marked difference. However, the NL control will give
you a little extra dynamic range in each image due to
more open shadows and slightly less-saturated colors. If
you’ve ever shot with Fuji NPS film or Kodak Portra
negative films and liked them, you’ll like this control.
▪ VI, or Vivid, is for the Fuji Velvia slide film lovers
among us! This setting places emphasis on saturating
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