Nikon D90 For Dummies

340 Pages·2009·19.22 MB·English

by  Julie Adair King

Nikon D90
®
FOR
DUMmIES
‰
by Julie Adair King
0011__445577772266--ffffiirrss..iinndddd ii 11//66//0099 55::5555::1177 PPMM
Nikon® D90 For Dummies®
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permit-
ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written
permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the
Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone].
Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://
www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the
Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com, Making Everything
Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its
affi liates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Nikon
is a registered trademark of Nikon Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF
THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITH-
OUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE
CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES
CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR
OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF
A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE
AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION
OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUR-
THER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFOR-
MATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE.
FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE
CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ.
For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care
Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax [phone].
For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may
not be available in electronic books.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009920036
ISBN: 978-0-470-45772-6
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
0011__445577772266--ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiii 11//66//0099 55::5555::1188 PPMM
About the Author
Julie Adair King is the author of many books about digital photography
and imaging, including the best-selling Digital Photography For Dummies. Her
most recent titles include a series of guides to popular digital SLR cameras,
including Nikon D60 For Dummies and Nikon D40/D40x For Dummies. Other
works include Digital Photography Before & After Makeovers, Digital Photo
Projects For Dummies, Julie King’s Everyday Photoshop For Photographers, Julie
King’s Everyday Photoshop Elements, and Shoot Like a Pro!: Digital Photography
Techniques. When not writing, King teaches digital photography at such
locations as the Palm Beach Photographic Centre. A graduate of Purdue
University, she resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Author’s Acknowledgments
I am extremely grateful to the team of talented professionals at John Wiley
and Sons for all their efforts in putting together this book. Special thanks
go to my awesome project editor, Kim Darosett, who is the type of editor
that all authors hope for but rarely experience: supportive, skilled, and amaz-
ingly calm in the face of any storm, including my not infrequent freakouts.
I also owe much to the rest of the folks in both the editorial and art depart-
ments, especially Heidi Unger, Rashell Smith, Shelley Lea, Steve Hayes,
Andy Cummings, and Mary Bednarek.
Thanks, too, to Jonathan Conrad for providing the awesome nighttime shot
for Chapter 7, and to agent extraordinaire, Margot Maley Hutchison, for
her continuing help and encouragement. And last but not least, I am also
indebted to technical editor Dave Hall, without whose insights and expertise
this book would not have been the same.
0011__445577772266--ffffiirrss..iinndddd iiiiii 11//66//0099 55::5555::1188 PPMM
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located
at http://dummies.custhelp.com. For other comments, please contact our Customer Care
Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax [phone].
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions and Editorial Composition Services
Project Editor: Kim Darosett Project Coordinator: Patrick Redmond
Executive Editor: Steven Hayes Layout and Graphics: Stacie Brooks,
Carrie A. Cesavice, Reuben W. Davis,
Copy Editor: Heidi Unger
Ronald Terry, Erin Zeltner
Technical Editor: David Hall
Proofreaders: John Greenough, Betty Kish
Editorial Manager: Leah Cameron
Indexer: Broccoli Information Management
Editorial Assistant: Amanda Foxworth
Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case
Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)
Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies
Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher
Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher
Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director
Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director
Publishing for Consumer Dummies
Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher
Composition Services
Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services
Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services
0011__445577772266--ffffiirrss..iinndddd iivv 11//66//0099 55::5555::1188 PPMM
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................. 1
A Quick Look at What’s Ahead ......................................................................1
Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps .........................................................2
Part II: Taking Creative Control ............................................................2
Part III: Working with Picture Files ......................................................3
Part IV: The Part of Tens .......................................................................3
Icons and Other Stuff to Note ........................................................................3
About the Software Shown in This Book ......................................................4
Practice, Be Patient, and Have Fun! ...............................................................5
Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps .................................. 7
Chapter 1: Getting the Lay of the Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Getting Comfortable with Your Lens ..........................................................10
Attaching a lens ....................................................................................10
Removing a lens ...................................................................................12
Using a VR (vibration reduction) lens ...............................................12
Setting the focus mode (auto or manual) .........................................13
Zooming in and out ..............................................................................14
Adjusting the Viewfi nder Focus ...................................................................15
Working with Memory Cards .......................................................................16
Exploring External Camera Controls ...........................................................18
Topside controls ..................................................................................19
Back-of-the-body controls ...................................................................20
Front-left buttons .................................................................................23
Front-right controls .............................................................................24
Ordering from Camera Menus .....................................................................26
Monitoring Shooting Settings ......................................................................28
Asking Your Camera for Help .......................................................................31
Reviewing Basic Setup Options ...................................................................31
Cruising the Setup menu .....................................................................31
Browsing the Custom Setting menu ..................................................35
Chapter 2: Taking Great Pictures, Automatically. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Getting Good Point-and-Shoot Results ........................................................42
Using Flash in Automatic Exposure Modes ................................................46
0022__445577772266--ffttoocc..iinndddd vv 11//66//0099 55::5555::2266 PPMM
vvii
Nikon D90 For Dummies
Exploring Your Automatic Exposure Options ...........................................47
Auto mode ............................................................................................48
Digital Vari-Program modes ...............................................................50
Changing the (Shutter Button) Release Mode ...........................................55
Chapter 3: Controlling Picture Quality and Size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Diagnosing Quality Problems .......................................................................60
Considering Resolution (Image Size) ..........................................................62
Pixels and print quality .......................................................................63
Pixels and screen display size ............................................................64
Pixels and fi le size ................................................................................64
Resolution recommendations ............................................................66
Understanding the Image Quality Options .................................................68
JPEG: The imaging (and Web) standard ..........................................68
NEF (Raw): The purist’s choice ..........................................................71
My take: Choose JPEG Fine or NEF (Raw).........................................75
Setting Image Size and Quality .....................................................................75
Chapter 4: Monitor Matters: Picture Playback
and Live View Shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Enabling Automatic Picture Rotation .........................................................80
Disabling and Adjusting Instant Review .....................................................81
Viewing Images in Playback Mode ..............................................................82
Viewing multiple images at a time .....................................................84
Displaying photos in Calendar view ..................................................86
Zooming in for a closer view ..............................................................87
Viewing Picture Data .....................................................................................89
File Information mode .........................................................................90
RGB Histogram mode ..........................................................................92
Highlight display mode .......................................................................94
Shooting Data display mode ...............................................................95
GPS Data mode .....................................................................................97
Overview Data mode ...........................................................................97
Hiding Photos during Playback ...................................................................99
Deleting Photos ............................................................................................101
Deleting images one at a time ..........................................................101
Deleting all photos .............................................................................102
Deleting a batch of selected photos ................................................102
Protecting Photos ........................................................................................104
Exploring Live View Shooting ....................................................................105
Taking pictures in Live View mode .................................................107
Recording movies ..............................................................................110
Customizing the Live View display ..................................................113
0022__445577772266--ffttoocc..iinndddd vvii 11//66//0099 55::5555::2266 PPMM
vviiii
Table of Contents
Part II: Taking Creative Control ................................. 115
Chapter 5: Getting Creative with Exposure and Lighting . . . . . . . . . .117
Introducing the Exposure Trio: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO .......118
Understanding exposure-setting side effects .................................120
Doing the exposure balancing act ...................................................124
Exploring the Advanced Exposure Modes ...............................................126
Reading the Meter .......................................................................................127
Setting ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed .................................................129
Adjusting aperture and shutter speed ............................................129
Controlling ISO ...................................................................................130
Choosing an Exposure Metering Mode .....................................................134
Applying Exposure Compensation ............................................................138
Using Autoexposure Lock ...........................................................................141
Expanding Tonal Range with Active D-Lighting .......................................143
Using Flash in P, S, A, and M modes ..........................................................145
Setting the fl ash mode .......................................................................146
Adjusting fl ash output .......................................................................151
Locking fl ash exposure on your subject .........................................154
Exploring a few additional fl ash options.........................................155
Using an external fl ash head ............................................................156
Bracketing Exposures .................................................................................158
Chapter 6: Manipulating Focus and Color. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Reviewing Focus Basics ..............................................................................164
Adjusting Autofocus Performance ............................................................166
Understanding the AF-area mode setting .......................................166
Changing the Autofocus mode setting ............................................171
Choosing the right autofocus combo ..............................................172
Using autofocus lock .........................................................................173
Autofocusing in Live View mode......................................................173
Manipulating Depth of Field .......................................................................176
Controlling Color .........................................................................................183
Correcting colors with white balance .............................................183
Changing the white balance setting ................................................185
Fine-tuning white balance settings ..................................................188
Creating white balance presets ........................................................190
Bracketing white balance ..................................................................196
Choosing a Color Space: sRGB vs. Adobe RGB ........................................198
Taking a Quick Look at Picture Controls ..................................................200
0022__445577772266--ffttoocc..iinndddd vviiii 11//66//0099 55::5555::2266 PPMM
vviiiiii
Nikon D90 For Dummies
Chapter 7: Putting It All Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Recapping Basic Picture Settings ..............................................................206
Setting Up for Specifi c Scenes ....................................................................206
Shooting still portraits ......................................................................206
Capturing action ................................................................................211
Capturing scenic vistas .....................................................................214
Capturing dynamic close-ups ...........................................................217
Coping with Special Situations ..................................................................219
Part III: Working with Picture Files ........................... 223
Chapter 8: Downloading, Organizing,
and Archiving Your Picture Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
Sending Pictures to the Computer ............................................................226
Connecting the camera and computer ............................................227
Starting the transfer process ............................................................228
Downloading and Organizing Photos with the Nikon Software .............231
Downloading with Nikon Transfer ...................................................231
Browsing images in Nikon ViewNX ..................................................235
Viewing picture metadata .................................................................238
Organizing pictures ...........................................................................240
Processing Raw (NEF) Files ........................................................................242
Processing Raw images in the camera ............................................244
Processing Raw fi les in ViewNX .......................................................247
Chapter 9: Printing and Sharing Your Pictures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251
Printing Possibilities: Retail or Do-It-Yourself? ........................................252
Preventing Potential Printing Problems ...................................................253
Match resolution to print size ..........................................................253
Allow for different print proportions ..............................................256
Get print and monitor colors in synch ............................................258
Preparing Pictures for E-Mail .....................................................................260
Creating small copies using the camera .........................................262
Downsizing images in Nikon ViewNX ..............................................265
Creating a Digital Slide Show .....................................................................267
Setting up a simple slide show .........................................................268
Creating Pictmotion slide shows .....................................................269
Viewing Your Photos on a Television .......................................................271
0022__445577772266--ffttoocc..iinndddd vviiiiii 11//66//0099 55::5555::2266 PPMM