DIGITAL CAMERA

User's Manual
No reproduction in any form of this manual, in whole or in part (except for brief
quotation in critical articles or reviews), may be made without written authorization
from NIKON CORPORATION.

6MB15211-01

En

Printed in Thailand

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Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon single-lens reflex (SLR) digital camera. To get
the most from your camera, please be sure to read all instructions thoroughly and
keep them where they will be read by all who use the product.
Symbols and Conventions

To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and
conventions are used:

This icon marks cautions; information that should be read before use to
prevent damage to the camera.

This icon marks notes; information that should be read before using the
camera.

This icon marks references to other pages in this manual.

Menu items, options, and messages displayed in the camera monitor are shown in bold.
Camera Settings
The explanations in this manual assume that default settings are used.
Help
Use the cameras on-board help feature for help on menu items and other topics. See page 18
for details.
Digitutor
Digitutor, a series of watch and learn manuals in movie form, is available from the following
website: http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html
A For Your Safety
Before using the camera for the first time, read the safety instructions in For Your Safety
(0 xviiixix).

Where to Find It
Find what youre looking for from:

i The Table of Contents ............ 0 x

i The Index................................. 0 337

i The Q&A Index........................ 0 ii

i Error Messages........................ 0 322

i Menu Options ......................... 0 iv

i Troubleshooting ..................... 0 316

X Introduction
s Basic Photography and Playback
x Live View Photography
y Movie Live View
# P, S, A, and M Modes
$ User Settings: U1 and U2 Modes
k Release Mode
d Image Recording Options
N Focus
S ISO Sensitivity
Z Exposure
r White Balance
J Image Enhancement
l Flash Photography
t Other Shooting Options
I More on Playback
Q Connections
U Menu Guide
n Technical Notes

0 35
0 49
0 57
0 73
0 81
0 83
0 89
0 97
0 105
0 109
0 115
0 129
0 143
0 151
0 177
0 193
0 207
0 285

Q&A Index
Find what youre looking for using this question and answer index.

Taking Photographs
i

Shooting Modes and Framing Options

Is there a quick and easy way to take snapshots (i mode)?

How do I quickly adjust settings for different scenes?
Can I adjust shutter speed to freeze or blur motion (mode S)?
Can I adjust aperture to blur backgrounds or bring them into focus
(mode A)?
How do I make long (time) exposures (mode M)?
Can I frame photos in the monitor (C live view photography)?
Can I shoot movies (1 movie live view)?
Can I join photographs taken at regular intervals to create a timelapse movie?

3539
4045
76
77
79
49
57
168

i Release Modes
Can I take photos one at a time or in quick succession?
How do I take pictures with the self-timer or a remote control?
Can I reduce shutter noise in quiet surroundings (quiet shutter-release)?

6, 83
85
6, 83

i Focus
Can I choose how the camera focuses?
Can I choose the focus point?

97100
101

i Exposure
Can I make photos brighter or darker?
How do I preserve details in shadows and highlights?

112
137

i Using the Flash

Can I set the flash to fire automatically when needed?
How do I keep the flash from firing?
How do I avoid red-eye?

35, 143147

i Image Quality and Size

How do I take pictures for printing at large sizes?
How can I get more pictures on the memory card?

Viewing Photographs

9395

i Playback
How do I view photographs on the camera?
How do I view more information about a photo?
Can I view photos in an automatic slide show?
Can I view photos on a TV?
Can I protect photos from accidental deletion?

46, 177
179184
213
204205
188

i Deletion
How do I delete unwanted photos?

ii

47, 189191

Retouching Photographs
How do I create retouched copies of photos?
How do I remove red-eye?
How do I make JPEG copies of RAW (NEF) photos?
Can I overlay two NEF (RAW) photos to make a single image?
Can I create a copy of a photo that looks like a painting?
Can I trim movie footage on the camera or save movie stills?

Menus and Settings

How do I use the menus?
How do I display menus in another language?
How do I use the command dials?
How do I keep the displays from turning off?
How do I focus the viewfinder?
Can I display a framing grid in the viewfinder or the monitor?
How do I tell if the camera is level?
How do I set the camera clock?
How do I format memory cards?
How do I restore default settings?
How do I get help for a menu or message?

Connections

0
261279
264
271
269270
275
69

0
1820
27, 253
1216
228
33
55, 62, 229
258
27, 253
31, 250
151, 214, 221
18, 322

How do I copy photos to a computer?

193195

How do I print photos?

196203

Can I print the date of recording on my photos?

198, 203

Maintenance and Optional Accessories

What memory cards can I use?
What lenses can I use?
What optional flash units (Speedlights) can I use?
What other accessories are available for my camera?
What software is available for my camera?
What do I do with the supplied eyepiece cap?
How do I clean the camera?
Where should I take my camera for servicing and repairs?

0
333
285
292
297298
86
300

iii

Menu Options
D PLAYBACK MENU (0 207)

C SHOOTING MENU (0 214)

Delete

Reset shooting
menu

Selected
Select date
All
Playback folder ND600
(default)
All
Current
Hide image
Select/set
Select date
Deselect all?
Playback display Done
options
Basic photo info
Focus point
Additional photo info
None (image only)
Highlights
RGB histogram
Shooting data
Overview
Copy image(s)
Select source
Select image(s)
Select destination folder
Copy image(s)?
Image review
On
Off
(default)
After delete
Show next
(default)
Show previous
Continue as before
Rotate tall
On
(default)
Off
Slide show
Start
Image type
Frame interval
DPOF print order Select/set
Deselect all?

Storage folder
File naming
Role played by
card in Slot 2
Image quality

(0 93)

Image size

Yes
No
Select folder by number
Select folder from list
File naming
Overflow
(default)
Backup
RAW Slot 1 - JPEG Slot 2
NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine
NEF (RAW) + JPEG normal
NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic
NEF (RAW)
JPEG fine
JPEG normal
(default)
JPEG basic
Large
(default)
Medium

(0 95)
Image area
JPEG
compression
NEF (RAW)
recording
White balance

(0 115)

Small
Auto DX crop
Choose image area
Size priority
(default)
Optimal quality
Type
NEF (RAW) bit depth
Auto
(default)
Incandescent
Fluorescent
Direct sunlight
Flash
Cloudy
Shade
Choose color temp.
Preset manual

Items marked with a

icon can be saved to the memory card using the Save/load settings > Save
settings option in the camera setup menu (0 249). The saved settings can be copied to other D600
cameras by inserting the memory card into the camera and selecting Save/load settings > Load
settings.

iv

Set Picture
Control

Standard
Neutral
Vivid
Monochrome
Portrait
Landscape
Manage Picture Save/edit
Control
Rename 1
Delete 1
Load/save
Auto distortion On
control
Off
Color space
sRGB
Adobe RGB
Active
Auto
D-Lighting 2
Extra high
High
Normal
Low
Off
HDR (high
HDR mode
dynamic range) Exposure differential
Smoothing
Vignette control High
Normal
Low
Off
Long exposure
On
NR
Off
High ISO NR
High
Normal
Low
Off
ISO sensitivity
ISO sensitivity
settings

(default)

Time-lapse
photography
Movie settings
(default)
(default)

Multiple
exposure

Choose start time

Now
Start time
Interval
Select no. of timesno. of
shots
Start
Start
Interval
Shooting time
Frame size/frame rate
Movie quality
Microphone
Destination

1 Not available if no custom Picture Controls are

present.
2 Defaults to Off (modes P, S, A, M, 1, 2, and 3) or
Auto (other modes).

A CUSTOM SETTING MENU

(0 219)
Reset custom
settings
(default)

(default)
(default)

Auto ISO sensitivity control

(0 105)
Remote control
mode

Interval timer
shooting

Delayed remote
(default)
Quick-response remote
Remote mirror-up
Multiple exposure mode
Number of shots
Auto gain

a Autofocus
a1 AF-C priority
selection

Yes
No

Release
Focus
a2 AF-S priority Release
selection
Focus
a3 Focus
5 (Long)
tracking with 4
lock-on
3 (Normal)
2
1 (Short)
Off
a4 AF point
Auto
illumination On
Off
a5 Focus point Wrap
wrap-around No wrap
a6 Number of
39 points
focus points 11 points
a7 Built-in AFOn
assist
Off
illuminator

(default)

(default)

(default)

(default)

(default)
(default)
(default)

b Metering/exposure
b1 ISO sensitivity 1/3 step
step value
1/2 step
b2 EV steps for 1/3 step
exposure
1/2 step
cntrl
b3 Easy exposure On (Auto reset)
compensation On
Off
b4 Center 8 mm
weighted
12 mm
area
15 mm
20 mm
Average
b5 Fine-tune
Yes
optimal
No
exposure

(default)
(default)

(default)
(default)

(default)

c Timers/AE lock
c1 ShutterOn
release
Off
(default)
button AE-L
c2 Standby
4s
timer
6s
(default)
10 s
30 s
1 min
5 min
10 min
30 min
No limit
c3 Self-timer
Self-timer delay
Number of shots
Interval between shots
c4 Monitor off
Playback
delay
Menus
Information display
Image review
Live view
c5 Remote on
1 min
(default)
duration
5 min
10 min
15 min

vi

d Shooting/display
d1 Beep
Volume
Pitch
d2 Viewfinder
On
grid display Off
(default)
d3 ISO display
Show ISO sensitivity
and
Show ISO/Easy ISO
adjustment
Show frame count (default)
d4 Screen tips
On
(default)
Off
d5 CL mode
5 fps
shooting
4 fps
speed
3 fps
(default)
2 fps
1 fps
d6 Max.
1100
continuous
release
d7 File number On
(default)
sequence
Off
Reset
d8 Information Auto
(default)
display
Manual
d9 LCD
On
illumination Off
(default)
d10 Exposure
3s
delay mode 2 s
1s
Off
(default)
d11 Flash warning On
(default)
Off
d12 MB-D14
LR6 (AA alkaline)
(default)
battery type HR6 (AA Ni-MH)
FR6 (AA lithium)
d13 Battery order Use MB-D14 batteries first
(default)
Use camera battery first

e Bracketing/flash
e1 Flash sync
1/250 s (Auto FP)
speed
1/200 s (Auto FP)
1/200 s
1/160 s
1/125 s
1/100 s
1/80 s
1/60 s
e2 Flash shutter 1/60 s
speed
1/30 s
1/15 s
1/8 s
1/4 s
1/2 s
1s
2s
4s
8s
15 s
30 s
e3 Flash cntrl for TTL
built-in flash Manual
Repeating flash
Commander mode
e3 Optional
TTL
flash *
Manual
e4 Exposure
Entire frame
comp. for
Background only
flash
e5 Modeling
On
flash
Off
e6 Auto
AE & flash
bracketing
AE only
set
Flash only
WB bracketing
ADL bracketing
e7 Bracketing
MTR > under > over
order
Under > MTR > over

f Controls
f2 Assign Fn
button
(default)

(default)

(default)

f3
(default)
(default)

(default)
(default)

(default)

* Displayed only when optional SB-400 flash unit is

attached.
f Controls
f1 OK button
(shooting
mode)

Select center focus point

(default)
Highlight active focus point
Not used

Assign
preview
button

Preview
FV lock
AE/AF lock
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
Flash off
Bracketing burst
Active D-Lighting
+ NEF (RAW)
Matrix metering
Center-weighted metering
Spot metering
Framing grid
Choose image area (default)
Viewfinder virtual horizon
MY MENU
Access top item in MY MENU
1 step spd/aperture
Choose non-CPU lens number
Playback
None
Preview
(default)
FV lock
AE/AF lock
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
Flash off
Bracketing burst
Active D-Lighting
+ NEF (RAW)
Matrix metering
Center-weighted metering
Spot metering
Framing grid
Choose image area
Viewfinder virtual horizon
MY MENU
Access top item in MY MENU
1 step spd/aperture
Choose non-CPU lens number
Playback
None

vii

f Controls
f4 Assign AE-L/
AF-L button

f5

f6

f7
f8
f9

AE/AF lock
(default)
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
FV lock
None
Customize
Reverse rotation
command
Change main/sub
dials
Aperture setting
Menus and playback
Release
Yes
button to use No
(default)
dial
Slot empty
Release locked
release lock Enable release
(default)
Reverse
indicators
(default)

Assign
MB-D14
4 button

g Movie
g1 Assign Fn
button

g2 Assign
preview
button

viii

AE/AF lock
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
FV lock
Same as Fn button

(default)

Index marking
View photo shooting info
AE/AF lock
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
None
(default)
Index marking
(default)
View photo shooting info
AE/AF lock
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
None

g Movie
g3 Assign AE-L/
AF-L button

g4 Assign
shutter
button

Index marking
View photo shooting info
AE/AF lock
(default)
AE lock only
AE lock (Hold)
AF lock only
AF-ON
None
Take photos
(default)
Record movies

B SETUP MENU (0 249)

Format memory
card
Save user
settings
Reset user
settings
Monitor
brightness
Clean image
sensor
Lock mirror up
for cleaning 1
Image Dust Off
ref photo

Slot 1
Slot 2
Save to U1
Save to U2
Reset U1
Reset U2
Auto
Manual
(default)
Clean now
Clean at startup/shutdown
Start

Start
Clean sensor and then start
HDMI
Output resolution
Device control
Flicker reduction Auto
(default)
50 Hz
60 Hz
Time zone and
Time zone
date
Date and time
Date format
Daylight saving time
Language
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,

Image comment Done

Input comment
Attach comment
Auto image
On
(default)
rotation
Off
Battery info

Copyright
Done
information
Artist
Copyright
Attach copyright information
Save/load
Save settings
settings
Load settings
GPS
Standby timer
Position
Use GPS to set camera clock
Virtual horizon
Non-CPU lens
Done
data
Lens number
Focal length (mm)
Maximum aperture
AF fine-tune
AF fine-tune (On/Off)
Saved value
Default
List saved values
Eye-Fi upload 2
Slot 1
Slot 2
Firmware version
1 Not available at battery levels of J or below.
2 Available only with compatible Eye-Fi memory
cards.

Color balance
Image overlay 1
NEF (RAW)
processing
Resize

Quick retouch
Straighten
Distortion
control
Fisheye
Color outline
Color sketch
Perspective
control
Miniature effect
Selective color
Edit movie
Side-by-side
comparison 2

Filter effects

Black-and-white
Sepia
Cyanotype
Skylight
Warm filter
Red intensifier
Green intensifier
Blue intensifier
Cross screen
Soft

Select image
Choose destination
Choose size

Auto
Manual

Choose start/end point

Save selected frame

1 Available only when G button is pressed and

N tab selected in menus.
2 Only available when J or c (b) button is
pressed to display retouch menu during fullframe playback.

O MY MENU (0 280)
Add items

N RETOUCH MENU (0 261)

D-Lighting
Red-eye
correction
Trim
Monochrome

Remove items *
Rank items
Choose tab

Playback menu
Shooting menu
Custom setting menu
Setup menu
Retouch menu

My Menu
Recent settings

* Items can also be deleted by highlighting them

in MY MENU and pressing the O (Q) button
twice.

ix

Table of Contents
Q&A Index .................................................................................................................................... ii
Menu Options ............................................................................................................................ iv
For Your Safety ......................................................................................................................xviii
Notices......................................................................................................................................... xx

Introduction

Getting to Know the Camera................................................................................................. 1

The Camera Body ......................................................................................................................1
The Mode Dial.............................................................................................................................5
The Release-Mode Dial ............................................................................................................6
The Control Panel......................................................................................................................7
The Viewfinder............................................................................................................................8
The Information Display..........................................................................................................9
The Command Dials .............................................................................................................. 12
The BM-14 Monitor Cover ................................................................................................... 17

Camera Menus..........................................................................................................................18
Using Camera Menus ............................................................................................................ 19

First Steps ...................................................................................................................................21

Charge the Battery ................................................................................................................. 21
Insert the Battery .................................................................................................................... 23
Attach a Lens............................................................................................................................ 25
Basic Setup................................................................................................................................ 27
Insert a Memory Card............................................................................................................ 29
Format the Memory Card .................................................................................................... 31
Adjust Viewfinder Focus ...................................................................................................... 33

Basic Photography and Playback

35

Point-and-Shoot Photography (i and j Modes)...................................................35

Step 1: Turn the Camera On................................................................................................ 35
Step 2: Select i or j Mode ............................................................................................... 36
Step 3: Frame the Photograph .......................................................................................... 37
Step 4: Focus ............................................................................................................................ 38
Step 5: Shoot ............................................................................................................................ 38

Creative Photography (Scene Modes) .............................................................................40

k Portrait...............................................................................................................................41
l Landscape........................................................................................................................41
p Child...................................................................................................................................41
m Sports.................................................................................................................................41
n Close Up............................................................................................................................42
o Night Portrait ..................................................................................................................42
r Night Landscape............................................................................................................42
s Party/Indoor ....................................................................................................................42
t Beach/Snow ....................................................................................................................43
u Sunset................................................................................................................................43
v Dusk/Dawn ......................................................................................................................43
w Pet Portrait.......................................................................................................................43
x Candlelight........................................................................................................................44
y Blossom.............................................................................................................................44
z Autumn Colors ...............................................................................................................44
0 Food....................................................................................................................................44
1 Silhouette.........................................................................................................................45
2 High Key............................................................................................................................45
3 Low Key.............................................................................................................................45

Basic Playback ...........................................................................................................................46

Deleting Unwanted Photographs.....................................................................................47

Live View Photography

49

Focusing in Live View ............................................................................................................51

The Live View Display: Live View Photography ...........................................................53
The Information Display: Live View Photography ......................................................55
Manual Focus ...........................................................................................................................55

Movie Live View

57

Indices.........................................................................................................................................60
The Live View Display: Movie Live View .........................................................................61
The Information Display: Movie Live View.....................................................................62
Image Area ................................................................................................................................63
Movie Settings .........................................................................................................................65

Viewing Movies ........................................................................................................................67

Editing Movies ..........................................................................................................................69
Trimming Movies ....................................................................................................................69
Saving Selected Frames........................................................................................................72

xi

P, S, A, and M Modes

73

P: Programmed Auto ............................................................................................................. 75

S: Shutter-Priority Auto ......................................................................................................... 76
A: Aperture-Priority Auto...................................................................................................... 77
M: Manual................................................................................................................................... 78
Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only)........................................................................ 79

User Settings: U1 and U2 Modes

81

Saving User Settings.............................................................................................................. 81

Recalling User Settings ......................................................................................................... 82
Resetting User Settings ........................................................................................................ 82

Release Mode

83

Choosing a Release Mode ....................................................................................................83

Self-Timer and Remote Control Modes ...........................................................................85
Mirror up Mode ........................................................................................................................88

Image Recording Options

89

Image Area.................................................................................................................................89
Image Quality and Size..........................................................................................................93
Image Quality........................................................................................................................... 93
Image Size ................................................................................................................................. 95

Using Two Memory Cards ....................................................................................................96

Focus

97

Autofocus ...................................................................................................................................97
Autofocus Mode ..................................................................................................................... 97
AF-Area Mode.......................................................................................................................... 99
Focus Point Selection..........................................................................................................101
Focus Lock...............................................................................................................................102

Manual Focus ......................................................................................................................... 103

ISO Sensitivity

105

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control ............................................................................................. 107

xii

Exposure

109

Metering................................................................................................................................... 109
Autoexposure Lock .............................................................................................................. 110
Exposure Compensation.................................................................................................... 112

White Balance

115

Fine-Tuning White Balance ............................................................................................... 117

Choosing a Color Temperature ....................................................................................... 120
Preset Manual ........................................................................................................................ 121

Image Enhancement

129

Picture Controls..................................................................................................................... 129

Selecting a Picture Control............................................................................................... 129
Modifying Picture Controls .............................................................................................. 131
Creating Custom Picture Controls ................................................................................. 134
Sharing Custom Picture Controls................................................................................... 136

Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows ............................................................ 137

Active D-Lighting................................................................................................................. 137
High Dynamic Range (HDR) ............................................................................................. 139

Flash Photography

143

Using the Built-in Flash....................................................................................................... 143

Flash Mode ............................................................................................................................. 144

Flash Compensation............................................................................................................ 148

FV Lock...................................................................................................................................... 149

Other Shooting Options

151

Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default Settings........................................................... 151

Bracketing ............................................................................................................................... 153
Multiple Exposure................................................................................................................. 160
Interval Timer Photography.............................................................................................. 164
Time-Lapse Photography .................................................................................................. 168
Non-CPU Lenses.................................................................................................................... 172
The GP-1 GPS Unit ................................................................................................................ 175

xiii

More on Playback

177

Full-Frame Playback............................................................................................................. 177

Photo Information................................................................................................................179

Thumbnail Playback ............................................................................................................ 185

Calendar Playback ................................................................................................................ 186
Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom........................................................................... 187
Protecting Photographs from Deletion........................................................................ 188
Deleting Photographs ........................................................................................................ 189
Full-Frame, Thumbnail, and Calendar Playback........................................................189
The Playback Menu..............................................................................................................190

Connections

193

Connecting to a Computer ............................................................................................... 193

Before Connecting the Camera.......................................................................................193
Connecting the Camera .....................................................................................................194

Printing Photographs.......................................................................................................... 196

Connecting the Printer.......................................................................................................196
Printing Pictures One at a Time.......................................................................................197
Printing Multiple Pictures..................................................................................................199
Creating a DPOF Print Order: Print Set .........................................................................202

Viewing Photographs on TV............................................................................................. 204

Menu Guide

207

D The Playback Menu: Managing Images ........................................................................... 207

Playback Folder.................................................................................................................207
Hide Image .........................................................................................................................208
Playback Display Options..............................................................................................209
Copy Image(s) ...................................................................................................................209
Image Review ....................................................................................................................212
After Delete ........................................................................................................................212
Rotate Tall...........................................................................................................................212
Slide Show ..........................................................................................................................213

C The Shooting Menu: Shooting Options ............................................................................ 214

Reset Shooting Menu .....................................................................................................214
Storage Folder...................................................................................................................215
File Naming ........................................................................................................................216
Auto Distortion Control .................................................................................................217
Color Space ........................................................................................................................217
Vignette Control...............................................................................................................218
Long Exposure NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction)........................................218
High ISO NR........................................................................................................................218

xiv

A Custom Settings: Fine-Tuning Camera Settings................................................................... 219

Reset Custom Settings................................................................................................... 221
a: Autofocus ........................................................................................................................... 221
a1: AF-C Priority Selection ............................................................................................ 221
a2: AF-S Priority Selection ............................................................................................ 221
a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On............................................................................... 222
a4: AF Point Illumination .............................................................................................. 222
a5: Focus Point Wrap-Around..................................................................................... 222
a6: Number of Focus Points......................................................................................... 223
a7: Built-in AF-assist Illuminator................................................................................. 223
b: Metering/Exposure......................................................................................................... 224
b1: ISO Sensitivity Step Value ..................................................................................... 224
b2: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl .................................................................................. 224
b3: Easy Exposure Compensation ............................................................................. 225
b4: Center-Weighted Area ........................................................................................... 226
b5: Fine-tune Optimal Exposure................................................................................ 226
c: Timers/AE Lock ................................................................................................................. 226
c1: Shutter-Release Button AE-L ................................................................................ 226
c2: Standby timer ............................................................................................................ 227
c3: Self-Timer..................................................................................................................... 227
c4: Monitor off Delay...................................................................................................... 228
c5: Remote on Duration................................................................................................ 228
d: Shooting/Display............................................................................................................. 228
d1: Beep .............................................................................................................................. 228
d2: Viewfinder Grid Display ......................................................................................... 229
d3: ISO Display and Adjustment ................................................................................ 229
d4: Screen Tips.................................................................................................................. 229
d5: CL Mode Shooting Speed ..................................................................................... 229
d6: Max. Continuous Release ...................................................................................... 230
d7: File Number Sequence........................................................................................... 230
d8: Information Display................................................................................................. 231
d9: LCD Illumination....................................................................................................... 231
d10: Exposure Delay Mode .......................................................................................... 231
d11: Flash Warning ......................................................................................................... 231
d12: MB-D14 Battery Type ........................................................................................... 232
d13: Battery Order........................................................................................................... 233
e: Bracketing/Flash .............................................................................................................. 234
e1: Flash Sync Speed ...................................................................................................... 234
e2: Flash Shutter Speed................................................................................................. 235
e3: Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash.................................................................................. 236
e4: Exposure Comp. for Flash...................................................................................... 240
e5: Modeling Flash.......................................................................................................... 241
e6: Auto Bracketing Set................................................................................................. 241
e7: Bracketing Order....................................................................................................... 241

xv

f: Controls ................................................................................................................................241
f1: OK Button (Shooting Mode)...................................................................................241
f2: Assign Fn Button ........................................................................................................242
f3: Assign Preview Button .............................................................................................244
f4: Assign AE-L/AF-L Button .........................................................................................244
f5: Customize Command Dials ....................................................................................245
f6: Release Button to Use Dial......................................................................................246
f7: Slot Empty Release Lock..........................................................................................246
f8: Reverse Indicators......................................................................................................246
f9: Assign MB-D14 4 Button........................................................................................247
g: Movie....................................................................................................................................247
g1: Assign Fn Button.......................................................................................................247
g2: Assign Preview Button............................................................................................248
g3: Assign AE-L/AF-L Button ........................................................................................248
g4: Assign Shutter Button.............................................................................................248

B The Setup Menu: Camera Setup .......................................................................................... 249

Format Memory Card .....................................................................................................250
Monitor Brightness..........................................................................................................250
Image Dust Off Ref Photo .............................................................................................251
Flicker Reduction..............................................................................................................252
Time Zone and Date .......................................................................................................253
Language ............................................................................................................................253
Image Comment ..............................................................................................................253
Auto Image Rotation ......................................................................................................254
Battery Info.........................................................................................................................255
Copyright Information ...................................................................................................256
Save/Load Settings..........................................................................................................257
Virtual Horizon ..................................................................................................................258
AF Fine-tune ......................................................................................................................259
Eye-Fi Upload ....................................................................................................................260
Firmware Version .............................................................................................................260

N The Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies ................................................................. 261

Creating Retouched Copies..............................................................................................262
D-Lighting...........................................................................................................................264
Red-Eye Correction..........................................................................................................264
Trim .......................................................................................................................................265
Monochrome.....................................................................................................................266
Filter Effects........................................................................................................................267
Color Balance.....................................................................................................................268
Image Overlay ...................................................................................................................269
NEF (RAW) Processing ....................................................................................................271
Resize....................................................................................................................................272
Quick Retouch...................................................................................................................273
Straighten ...........................................................................................................................274
Distortion Control............................................................................................................274
Fisheye .................................................................................................................................274
Color Outline .....................................................................................................................275

xvi

Color Sketch ...................................................................................................................... 275

Perspective Control ........................................................................................................ 275
Miniature Effect................................................................................................................ 276
Selective Color.................................................................................................................. 277
Side-by-side Comparison ............................................................................................. 279

O My Menu/m Recent Settings...................................................................................... 280

Recent Settings..................................................................................................................... 283

Technical Notes

285

Compatible Lenses............................................................................................................... 285

Optional Flash Units (Speedlights)................................................................................. 292
The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) ................................................................. 293

Other Accessories ................................................................................................................. 297

Attaching a Power Connector and AC Adapter ........................................................ 299

Caring for the Camera......................................................................................................... 300

Storage..................................................................................................................................... 300
Cleaning .................................................................................................................................. 300
The Low-Pass Filter.............................................................................................................. 301
Clean Now ...................................................................................................................... 301
Clean at Startup/Shutdown ..................................................................................... 302
Manual Cleaning.............................................................................................................. 303

Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions............................................................. 306

Available Settings ................................................................................................................. 309
Defaults .................................................................................................................................... 312
Exposure Program (Mode P)............................................................................................. 315
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................... 316
Display ..................................................................................................................................... 316
Shooting (All Modes) .......................................................................................................... 317
Shooting (P, S, A, M)........................................................................................................... 319
Playback .................................................................................................................................. 320
Miscellaneous........................................................................................................................ 321

Error Messages....................................................................................................................... 322

Specifications ......................................................................................................................... 326
Approved Memory Cards................................................................................................... 333
Memory Card Capacity ....................................................................................................... 334
Battery Life .............................................................................................................................. 336
Index.......................................................................................................................................... 337

xvii

For Your Safety

To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to others, read the following
safety precautions in their entirety before using this equipment. Keep these safety instructions
where all those who use the product will read them.
The consequences that could result from failure to observe the precautions listed in this
section are indicated by the following symbol:
This icon marks warnings. To prevent possible injury, read all warnings before using this
A Nikon
product.

WARNINGS
A Keep the sun out of the frame
Keep the sun well out of the frame when
shooting backlit subjects. Sunlight
focused into the camera when the sun is
in or close to the frame could cause a fire.

A Do not look at the sun through the viewfinder

Viewing the sun or other strong light
source through the viewfinder could
cause permanent visual impairment.

A Using the viewfinder diopter adjustment control

When operating the viewfinder diopter
adjustment control with your eye to the
viewfinder, care should be taken not to
put your finger in your eye accidentally.

A Turn off immediately in the event of malfunction

Should you notice smoke or an unusual
smell coming from the equipment or AC
adapter (available separately), unplug
the AC adapter and remove the battery
immediately, taking care to avoid burns.
Continued operation could result in
injury. After removing the battery, take
the equipment to a Nikon-authorized
service center for inspection.

A Do not use in the presence of flammable gas

Do not use electronic equipment in the
presence of flammable gas, as this could
result in explosion or fire.

A Do not place the strap around the neck of an

infant or child
Placing the camera strap around the neck
of an infant or child could result in
strangulation.

xviii

A Keep out of reach of children

Failure to observe this precaution could
result in injury. In addition, note that small
parts constitute a chocking hazard. Should
a child swallow any part of this equipment,
consult a physician immediately.

A Do not disassemble
Touching the products internal parts
could result in injury. In the event of
malfunction, the product should be
repaired only by a qualified technician.
Should the product break open as the
result of a fall or other accident, remove
the battery and/or AC adapter and then
take the product to a Nikon-authorized
service center for inspection.

A Do not remain in contact with the camera,

battery, or charger for extended periods while
the devices are on or in use
Parts of the device become hot. Leaving
the device in direct contact with the skin
for extended periods may result in lowtemperature burns.

A Do not aim a flash at the operator of a motor

vehicle
Failure to observe this precaution could
result in accidents.

A Avoid contact with liquid crystal

Should the monitor break, care should be
taken to avoid injury due to broken glass
and to prevent the liquid crystal from the
monitor touching the skin or entering
the eyes or mouth.

A Observe caution when using the flash

Using the camera with the flash in close
contact with the skin or other objects
could cause burns.
Using the flash close to the subjects
eyes could cause temporary visual
impairment. Particular care should be
observed when photographing infants,
when the flash should be no less than
one meter (39 in.) from the subject.

A Observe proper precautions when handling

batteries
Batteries may leak or explode if
improperly handled. Observe the
following precautions when handling
batteries for use in this product:
Use only batteries approved for use in
this equipment.
Do not short or disassemble the battery.
Be sure the product is off before
replacing the battery. If you are using
an AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged.
Do not attempt to insert the battery
upside down or backwards.
Do not expose the battery to flame or to
excessive heat.
Do not immerse in or expose to water.
Replace the terminal cover when
transporting the battery. Do not
transport or store the battery with metal
objects such as necklaces or hairpins.
Batteries are prone to leakage when
fully discharged. To avoid damage to
the product, be sure to remove the
battery when no charge remains.
When the battery is not in use, attach
the terminal cover and store in a cool,
dry place.
The battery may be hot immediately
after use or when the product has been
used on battery power for an extended
period. Before removing the battery
turn the camera off and allow the
battery to cool.
Discontinue use immediately should
you notice any changes in the battery,
such as discoloration or deformation.

A Observe proper precautions when handling the

charger
Keep dry. Failure to observe this
precaution could result in fire or electric
shock.
Dust on or near the metal parts of the
plug should be removed with a dry
cloth. Continued use could result in fire.
Do not handle the power cable or go
near the charger during thunderstorms.
Failure to observe this precaution could
result in electric shock.
Do not damage, modify, or forcibly tug
or bend the power cable. Do not place
it under heavy objects or expose it to
heat or flame. Should the insulation be
damaged and the wires become
exposed, take the power cable to a
Nikon-authorized service
representative for inspection. Failure to
observe this precaution could result in
fire or electric shock.
Do not handle the plug or charger with
wet hands. Failure to observe this
precaution could result in electric
shock.
Do not use with travel converters or
adapters designed to convert from one
voltage to another or with DC-to-AC
inverters. Failure to observe this
precaution could damage the product
or cause overheating or fire.

A Use appropriate cables

When connecting cables to the input and
output jacks, use only the cables
provided or sold by Nikon for the
purpose to maintain compliance with
product regulations.

A CD-ROMs
CD-ROMs containing software or
manuals should not be played back on
audio CD equipment. Playing CD-ROMs
on an audio CD player could cause
hearing loss or damage the equipment.

xix

Notices
No part of the manuals included with this
product may be reproduced, transmitted,
transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or
translated into any language in any form,
by any means, without Nikons prior
written permission.
Nikon reserves the right to change the
specifications of the hardware and
software described in these manuals at
any time and without prior notice.

Nikon will not be held liable for any

damages resulting from the use of this
product.
While every effort has been made to
ensure that the information in these
manuals is accurate and complete, we
would appreciate it were you to bring any
errors or omissions to the attention of the
Nikon representative in your area (address
provided separately).

Notices for Customers in Canada

CAUTION
This Class B digital apparatus complies with
Canadian ICES-003.

ATTENTION
Cet appareil numrique de la classe B est
conforme la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Notices for Customers in Europe

CAUTION
RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE. DISPOSE OF USED
BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.
This symbol indicates that
electrical and electronic
equipment is to be collected
separately.
The following apply only to users in
European countries:
This product is designated for separate
collection at an appropriate collection
point. Do not dispose of as household
waste.
Separate collection and recycling helps
conserve natural resources and prevent
negative consequences for human health
and the environment that might result
from incorrect disposal.
For more information, contact the retailer
or the local authorities in charge of waste
management.

xx

This symbol on the battery

indicates that the battery is to be
collected separately.
The following apply only to users in
European countries:
All batteries, whether marked with this
symbol or not, are designated for separate
collection at an appropriate collection
point. Do not dispose of as household
waste.
For more information, contact the retailer
or the local authorities in charge of waste
management.

Notices for Customers in the U.S.A.

Power Cable
At voltages over AC 125 V (U.S.A. only): The power cable must be rated for the voltage in use, be at
least AWG no. 18 gauge, and have SVG insulation or better with a NEMA 6P-15 plug rated for
AC 250 V 15 A.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and found
to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful
CAUTIONS
interference in a residential installation. This
Modifications
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
The FCC requires the user be notified that any
radio frequency energy and, if not installed
changes or modifications made to this device
and used in accordance with the instructions,
that are not expressly approved by Nikon
may cause harmful interference to radio
Corporation may void the users authority to
communications. However, there is no
operate the equipment.
guarantee that interference will not occur in
Interface Cables
a particular installation. If this equipment
Use the interface cables sold or provided by
does cause harmful interference to radio or
Nikon for your equipment. Using other
television reception, which can be
interface cables may exceed the limits of
determined by turning the equipment off
Class B Part 15 of the FCC rules.
and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/television technician for help.

Notice for Customers in the State of California

WARNING: Handling the cord on this product
may expose you to lead, a chemical known to
the State of California to cause birth defects
or other reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling.
Nikon Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road,
Melville, New York 11747-3064, U.S.A.
Tel.: 631-547-4200

xxi

Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction

Note that simply being in possession of material that has been digitally copied or reproduced
by means of a scanner, digital camera, or other device may be punishable by law.
Items prohibited by law from being copied or
reproduced
Do not copy or reproduce paper money,
coins, securities, government bonds, or
local government bonds, even if such
copies or reproductions are stamped
Sample.
The copying or reproduction of paper
money, coins, or securities which are
circulated in a foreign country is prohibited.
Unless the prior permission of the
government has been obtained, the
copying or reproduction of unused postage
stamps or post cards issued by the
government is prohibited.
The copying or reproduction of stamps
issued by the government and of certified
documents stipulated by law is prohibited.

Cautions on certain copies and reproductions

The government has issued cautions on
copies or reproductions of securities issued
by private companies (shares, bills, checks,
gift certificates, etc.), commuter passes, or
coupon tickets, except when a minimum of
necessary copies are to be provided for
business use by a company. Also, do not
copy or reproduce passports issued by the
government, licenses issued by public
agencies and private groups, ID cards, and
tickets, such as passes and meal coupons.
Comply with copyright notices
The copying or reproduction of
copyrighted creative works such as books,
music, paintings, woodcuts, prints, maps,
drawings, movies, and photographs is
governed by national and international
copyright laws. Do not use this product for
the purpose of making illegal copies or to
infringe copyright laws.

Disposing of Data Storage Devices

Please note that deleting images or formatting memory cards or other data storage devices
does not completely erase the original image data. Deleted files can sometimes be recovered
from discarded storage devices using commercially available software, potentially resulting in
the malicious use of personal image data. Ensuring the privacy of such data is the users
responsibility.
Before discarding a data storage device or transferring ownership to another person, erase all
data using commercial deletion software, or format the device and then completely refill it
with images containing no private information (for example, pictures of empty sky). Be sure to
also replace any pictures selected for preset manual (0 121). Care should be taken to avoid
injury when physically destroying data storage devices.
AVC Patent Portfolio License
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSE FOR THE PERSONAL AND NONCOMMERCIAL USE OF A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AVC STANDARD (AVC
VIDEO) AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND
NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE AVC
VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM MPEG LA, L.L.C. SEE http://www.mpegla.com

xxii

Use Only Nikon Brand Electronic Accessories

Nikon cameras are designed to the highest standards and include complex electronic circuitry.
Only Nikon brand electronic accessories (including chargers, batteries, AC adapters, and flash
accessories) certified by Nikon specifically for use with this Nikon digital camera are
engineered and proven to operate within the operational and safety requirements of this
electronic circuitry.
The use of non-Nikon electronic accessories could damage the camera and may
void your Nikon warranty. The use of third-party rechargeable Li-ion batteries not
bearing the Nikon holographic seal shown at right could interfere with normal
operation of the camera or result in the batteries overheating, igniting, rupturing, or leaking.
For more information about Nikon brand accessories, contact a local authorized Nikon dealer.

Use Only Nikon Brand Accessories

Only Nikon brand accessories certified by Nikon specifically for use with your Nikon digital
camera are engineered and proven to operate within its operational and safety
requirements. THE USE OF NON-NIKON ACCESSORIES COULD DAMAGE YOUR CAMERA AND MAY VOID YOUR
NIKON WARRANTY.

Servicing the Camera and Accessories

The camera is a precision device and requires regular servicing. Nikon recommends that the
camera be inspected by the original retailer or a Nikon-authorized service representative
once every one to two years, and that it be serviced once every three to five years (note that
fees apply to these services). Frequent inspection and servicing are particularly
recommended if the camera is used professionally. Any accessories regularly used with the
camera, such as lenses or optional flash units, should be included when the camera is
inspected or serviced.

Before Taking Important Pictures

Before taking pictures on important occasions (such as at weddings or before taking the
camera on a trip), take a test shot to ensure that the camera is functioning normally. Nikon
will not be held liable for damages or lost profits that may result from product malfunction.

Life-Long Learning
As part of Nikons Life-Long Learning commitment to ongoing product support and
education, continually-updated information is available on-line at the following sites:
For users in the U.S.A.: http://www.nikonusa.com/
For users in Europe and Africa: http://www.europe-nikon.com/support/
For users in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East: http://www.nikon-asia.com/
Visit these sites to keep up-to-date with the latest product information, tips, answers to
frequently-asked questions (FAQs), and general advice on digital imaging and photography.
Additional information may be available from the Nikon representative in your area. See the
following URL for contact information: http://imaging.nikon.com/

xxiii

xxiv

XIntroduction
Getting to Know the Camera
Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays. You
may find it helpful to bookmark this section and refer to it as you read through the
rest of the manual.

The Camera Body

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Release mode dial .............................................6, 83

Mode dial....................................................................5
Mode dial lock release.............................................5
Eyelet for camera strap
Release mode dial lock release ......................6, 83
Accessory shoe (for optional flash unit).........292
Accessory shoe cover..........................................292
Power switch..............................................................1
Shutter-release button...................................38, 39

10 E button
Exposure compensation................................ 112
Two-button reset............................................. 151
11 Movie-record button .............................................58
12 Z/Q button
Metering............................................................ 109
Formatting memory cards ...............................31
13 Focal plane mark (E)........................................ 103
14 Control panel.............................................................7

The Power Switch

Rotate the power switch as shown to turn
the camera on.

Rotate the power switch as shown to turn

the camera off.

The Camera Body (Continued)

1
2
3
4
5

6
7
8
9

Built-in flash ..........................................................143

Mirror ............................................................... 88, 303
Meter coupling lever...........................................328
Lens mounting mark............................................. 26
M/Y button
Flash mode ........................................................143
Flash compensation........................................148
D button
Bracketing........................................153, 156, 158
Infrared receiver (front) ........................................ 86
Built-in microphone ....................................... 58, 65
Audio connector cover ................................ 61, 298

HDMI/USB connector cover ............ 194, 196, 204

Cover for accessory terminal ............................ 298
Lens release button............................................... 26
AF-mode button .....................................51, 98, 100
Focus-mode selector ................................... 97, 103
Headphone connector ......................................... 61
Connector for external microphone ................. 61
USB connector
Connecting to a computer............................ 194
Connecting to a printer.................................. 196
18 HDMI mini-pin connector.................................. 204
19 Accessory terminal..................................... 175, 298
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

LCD Illuminators
Rotating the power switch toward D activates the
standby timer and control panel backlight (LCD
illuminator), allowing the display to be read in the dark.
After the power switch is released and returns to the ON
position, the illuminators will remain lit for six seconds
while the standby timer is active or until the shutter is
released or the power switch is rotated toward D again.

Power switch

The Camera Body (Continued)

1 AF-assist illuminator ...........................................223

Self-timer lamp ...................................................... 86
Red-eye reduction lamp ....................................145
2 Sub-command dial....................................... 12, 245
3 Depth-of-field preview button...60, 77, 244, 248
4 Fn (function) button................... 92, 149, 174, 242
5 Battery-chamber cover ........................................ 23
6 Battery-chamber cover latch .............................. 23

7 Contact cover for optional MB-D14 battery pack

.............................................................................. 297
8 Power connector cover ...................................... 299
9 CPU contacts
10 Lens mount.....................................................26, 103
11 AF coupling
12 Tripod socket
13 Body cap..........................................................25, 298

The Microphone and Speaker

Do not place the microphone or speaker in close proximity to magnetic devices. Failure to
observe this precaution could affect the data recorded on the magnetic devices.

The Camera Body (Continued)

1 Viewfinder eyepiece.............................................. 33
2 Rubber eyecup ....................................................... 86
3 O/Q button
Delete .......................................................... 47, 189
Formatting memory cards............................... 31
4 K button
Playback ...................................................... 46, 177
5 Monitor
Viewing settings................................................... 9
Live view ....................................................... 49, 57
Viewing pictures ................................................ 46
Full-frame playback.........................................177
6 G button
Menu............................................................ 18, 207
7 c/b button
Retouch ....................................................... 69, 261
Picture Control........................................... 50, 129
8 L/U button
Help....................................................................... 18
Protect ................................................................188
White balance.................................115, 117, 120
9 X/T button
Playback zoom in.............................................187
Image quality/size ...................................... 93, 95

10 W/S button
Playback zoom out/thumbnails.......... 185, 186
ISO sensitivity ................................................... 105
Auto ISO sensitivity control........................... 107
Two-button reset............................................. 151
11 Diopter adjustment control ................................ 33
12 A button
Using the AE/AF lock button ...... 102, 110, 244
13 Main command dial..................................... 12, 245
14 Multi selector.......................................................... 19
15 J (OK) button .............................................. 19, 241
16 Focus selector lock .............................................. 101
17 Memory card slot cover ....................................... 29
18 Ambient brightness sensor for automatic
monitor brightness control..................... 53, 250
19 Live view selector
Live view photography .................................... 49
Movie live view .................................................. 57
20 a button...........................................................49, 57
21 Infrared receiver (rear).......................................... 86
22 Memory card access lamp.............................29, 38
23 Speaker .................................................................... 67
24 R (info) button.................................................. 9, 11

The Mode Dial

The camera offers the modes Mode dial
listed below. To choose a
mode, press the mode dial lock
release and rotate the mode
dial.

X
Mode dial lock release
P, S, A, and M Modes
Select these modes for full control over camera settings.
PProgrammed auto (0 75)
SShutter-priority auto (0 76)
AAperture-priority auto (0 77)
MManual (0 78)

Auto Modes
Select these modes for simple, point-and-shoot
photography.
i Auto (0 35)
j Auto (flash off) (0 35)

Scene Modes (0 40)

The camera automatically optimizes settings to suit
the selected scene. Match your selection to the
scene being photographed.

U1 and U2 Modes (0 81)

Store and recall customized shooting settings.

Non-CPU Lenses
Non-CPU (0 285) lenses can be used only in modes A and M. Selecting another mode when
a non-CPU lens is attached disables the shutter release.

The Release-Mode Dial

To choose a release mode, press the
release mode dial lock release and turn
the release mode dial to the desired
setting (0 83).

Release mode dial lock release

X
Release mode dial
Mode

Single frame

One photograph is taken each time the shutterrelease button is pressed.

CL

Continuous low speed

The camera takes photographs at a slow rate

while the shutter-release button is pressed.

CH

Continuous high speed

The camera takes photographs at a fast rate while

the shutter-release button is pressed.

Quiet shutter-release

As for single-frame, except that camera noise is

reduced.

Self-timer

Take pictures with the self-timer.

Remote control

Take pictures with an optional ML-L3 remote

control.

Mirror up

Raise the mirror before taking photographs.

MUP

Description

The Control Panel

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1 Color temperature indicator .............................120
2 Shutter speed ...................................................76, 78
Exposure compensation value .........................112
Flash compensation value.................................148
White balance fine-tuning ................................118
Color temperature ......................................115, 120
White balance preset number..........................121
Number of shots in exposure and flash
bracketing sequence .......................................153
Number of shots in WB bracketing
sequence ............................................................156
Number of intervals for interval timer
photography......................................................165
Focal length (non-CPU lenses) .........................172

Metering ................................................................109
Flash sync indicator.............................................234
Flexible program indicator .................................. 75
Auto-area AF indicator ......................................... 99
AF-area mode indicator .....................................100
3D-tracking indicator............................................ 99
21 HDR indicator........................................................140
22 Multiple exposure indicator..............................161
17
18
19
20

13
14
15
16

MB-D14 battery indicator.................................. 233

Battery indicator.....................................................35
Flash mode............................................................ 144
Autofocus mode .....................................................97
Image size ................................................................95
Image quality ..........................................................93
White balance fine-tuning indicator .............. 118
White balance ...................................................... 115
Aperture stop indicator ...............................73, 288
Aperture (f-number).......................................77, 78
Aperture (number of stops)........................73, 288
Bracketing increment................................ 154, 156
Number of shots in ADL bracketing
sequence............................................................ 158
Number of shots per interval ........................... 165
Maximum aperture (non-CPU lenses)............ 174
PC mode indicator............................................... 195
Memory card indicator (Slot 1) ....................30, 96
Memory card indicator (Slot 2) ....................30, 96
ISO sensitivity indicator ..................................... 105
Auto ISO sensitivity indicator ........................... 108
Interval timer indicator ...................................... 166
Time-lapse indicator........................................... 170

23 Exposure and flash bracketing indicator....... 153

WB bracketing indicator .................................... 156
ADL bracketing indicator................................... 158
24 Bracketing progress indicator ........ 153, 156, 158
25 Exposure compensation indicator .................. 112
26 Flash compensation indicator.......................... 148
27 K (appears when memory remains for over
1000 exposures) ..................................................36
28 Number of exposures remaining........................36
Number of shots remaining before memory
buffer fills ..............................................38, 84, 334
ISO sensitivity....................................................... 105
Preset white balance recording indicator ..... 122
Active D-Lighting amount ................................ 138
Time-lapse recording indicator........................ 170
Manual lens number .......................................... 174
Capture mode indicator..................................... 195
HDMI-CEC connection indicator...................... 205

The Viewfinder

X
1 Framing grid (displayed when On is selected for
Custom Setting d2) ..........................................229
2 Focus points .......................................... 38, 101, 222
AF-area mode ......................................................... 99
3 AF area brackets..................................... 33, 37, 179
4 Focus indicator ..................................... 38, 102, 103
5 Metering.................................................................109
6 Autoexposure (AE) lock ......................................110
7 Shutter speed .................................................. 76, 78
Autofocus mode..................................................... 97
8 Aperture (f-number) ...................................... 77, 78
Aperture (number of stops) ....................... 73, 288
9 Flash compensation indicator ..........................148
10 Exposure compensation indicator...................112
11 ISO sensitivity indicator......................................105
12 ISO sensitivity........................................................105
Active D-Lighting amount.................................138
AF-area mode ......................................................... 99
13 Flash-ready indicator ................................... 39, 231

14
15
16
17

18
19

20
21

22

FV lock indicator .................................................. 149

Flash sync indicator............................................. 234
Aperture stop indicator............................... 73, 288
Exposure indicator ................................................ 78
Exposure compensation display...................... 112
Roll indicator......................................................... 243
Low battery warning ............................................ 35
Exposure and flash bracketing indicator ....... 153
WB bracketing indicator .................................... 156
ADL bracketing indicator................................... 158
Auto ISO sensitivity indicator ........................... 108
Number of exposures remaining....................... 36
Number of shots remaining before memory
buffer fills ..............................................38, 84, 334
Preset white balance recording indicator...... 122
Exposure compensation value .........................112
Flash compensation value................................. 148
K (appears when memory remains for over
1000 exposures) ................................................. 36

No Battery
When the battery is totally exhausted or no battery is inserted, the display in the viewfinder
will dim. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction. The viewfinder display will
return to normal when a fully-charged battery is inserted.

The Control Panel and Viewfinder Displays

The brightness of the control panel and viewfinder displays varies with temperature, and the
response times of the displays may drop at low temperatures. This is normal and does not
indicate a malfunction.

The Information Display

Press the R button to display shutter speed, aperture, the
number of exposures remaining, AF-area mode, and other
shooting information in the monitor.

R button

Shooting mode .........................................35, 40, 73

Flexible program indicator .................................. 75
Flash sync indicator.............................................234
Shutter speed ...................................................76, 78
Exposure compensation value .........................112
Flash compensation value.................................148
Number of shots in exposure and flash
bracketing sequence .......................................153
Number of shots in WB bracketing
sequence ............................................................156
Focal length (non-CPU lenses) .........................172
Color temperature ......................................115, 120
5 Color temperature indicator .............................120
6 Aperture stop indicator............................... 73, 288
7 Aperture (f-number) .......................................77, 78
Aperture (number of stops) ....................... 73, 288
Bracketing increment ................................154, 155
Number of shots in ADL bracketing
sequence ............................................................158
Maximum aperture (non-CPU lenses)............174
1
2
3
4

8 Release mode..................................................... 6, 83
Continuous shooting speed ............................. 229
9 Exposure indicator .................................................78
Exposure compensation display...................... 112
Bracketing progress indicator
Exposure and flash bracketing..................... 153
WB bracketing.................................................. 156
10 HDR indicator ....................................................... 140
HDR exposure differential ................................. 140
11 Camera battery indicator .....................................35
12 MB-D14 battery type display............................ 232
MB-D14 battery indicator.................................. 232
13 K (appears when memory remains for over
1000 exposures) ..................................................36
14 Number of exposures remaining .......................36
Time-lapse recording indicator........................ 170
Manual lens number .......................................... 174
15 Fn button assignment ........................................ 242
16 AE-L/AF-L button assignment ............................ 244
17 Remote control mode ...........................................85
18 Long exposure noise reduction indicator ..... 218
19 Role played by card in slot 2................................96
20 White balance ...................................................... 115
White balance fine-tuning indicator .............. 118
21 Auto-area AF indicator....................................... 100
Focus points indicator........................................ 101
AF-area mode indicator ..................................... 100
3D-tracking indicator ......................................... 100
22 Image quality ..........................................................93
23 Image size ................................................................95
24 Flash mode............................................................ 144

32
33
34
35
36
37
38

25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Image area indicator ............................................. 90

Metering.................................................................109
Auto distortion control.......................................217
Clock not set indicator.............................. 28, 253
Image comment indicator.................................253
Copyright information........................................256
Exposure and flash bracketing indicator .......153
WB bracketing indicator.....................................156
ADL bracketing indicator ...................................158

39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47

48

ADL bracketing amount..................................... 138

Multiple exposure indicator.............................. 162
Beep indicator ................................................... 228
Exposure compensation indicator .................. 112
Flash compensation indicator .......................... 148
FV lock indicator .................................................. 149
Interval timer indicator ...................................... 166
Time-lapse indicator........................................... 170
GPS connection indicator.................................. 175
Depth-of-field preview button assignment...... 244
Vignette control indicator ................................. 218
Active D-Lighting indicator............................... 138
High ISO noise reduction indicator................. 218
Movie settings........................................................ 65
Autofocus mode .................................................... 97
Eye-Fi connection indicator .............................. 260
ISO sensitivity indicator ..................................... 105
ISO sensitivity ....................................................... 105
Auto ISO sensitivity indicator ........................... 108
Picture Control indicator.................................... 130

Turning the Monitor Off

To clear shooting information from the monitor, press the R button twice more or press the
shutter-release button halfway. The monitor will turn off automatically if no operations are
performed for about 10 seconds.

See Also
For information on choosing how long the monitor stays on, see Custom Setting c4
(Monitor off delay, 0 228). For information on changing the color of the lettering in the
information display, see Custom Setting d8 (Information display, 0 231).

10

 Changing Settings in the Information Display

To change settings for the items listed below, press the R
button in the information display. Highlight items using the
multi selector and press J to view options for the highlighted
item.
R button
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Movie settings.........................................................65
High ISO noise reduction .................................. 218
Active D-Lighting ................................................ 137
Vignette control................................................... 218
Depth-of-field preview button assignment ..... 244
Fn button assignment ........................................ 242
AE-L/AF-L button assignment ............................ 244
Remote control mode ...........................................85
Long exposure noise reduction ....................... 218
Role played by card in Slot 2................................96

Tool Tips
A tool tip giving the name of the selected item appears in the
information display. Tool tips can be turned off using Custom
Setting d4 (Screen Tips; 0 229).

11

The Command Dials

The main- and sub-command dials are used alone or in combination with other
controls to adjust a variety of settings.
M/Y button
Flash mode
Flash compensation

D button
Bracketing

AF-mode button
Autofocus mode
AF-area mode

Sub-command dial

Mode dial

E button
Exposure compensation
Z/Q button
Metering
Main command dial

L/U button
White balance
X/T button
Image quality/size
W/S button
ISO sensitivity
Auto ISO sensitivity control

12

 Scene Mode
Choose a scene (h; 0 40).

h mode Main command dial

Monitor

Image Quality and Size

Set image quality (0 93).

+
X (T) button Main command dial

Control panel

Choose an image size (0 95).

+
X (T) button Sub-command dial

Control panel

Autofocus
Choose an autofocus mode
(0 98).

+
AF-mode button Main command dial

Choose an AF-area mode

(0 100).

Control panel

+
AF-mode button Sub-command dial

Control panel

13

 ISO Sensitivity
Set ISO sensitivity (0 105).

+
W (S) button Main command dial

Set auto ISO sensitivity control

(0 107).

Control panel

+
W (S) button Sub-command dial

Control panel

Exposure
Choose a combination of
aperture and shutter speed
(mode P; 0 75).
Mode P

Main command dial

Control panel

Mode S or M

Main command dial

Control panel

Mode A or M

Sub-command dial

Control panel

Choose a shutter speed (mode S

or M; 0 76, 78).

Choose an aperture (mode A or

M; 0 77, 78).

Choose a metering option

(mode P, S, A, or M; 0 109).

+
Z (Q) button Main command dial

14

Control panel

Set exposure compensation

(mode P, S, A, or M; 0 112).

+
E button

Activate or cancel bracketing/

select number of shots in
bracketing sequence (mode P, S,
A, or M; 0 153).

Main command dial

Control panel

+
D button

Select bracketing increment

(mode P, S, A, or M; 0 154).

Main command dial

X
Control panel

+
D button

Sub-command dial

Control panel

White Balance
Choose a white balance option
(mode P, S, A, or M; 0 115).

+
L (U) button Main command dial

Fine-tune white balance

(0 117), set color temperature
(0 120), or choose a white
balance preset (0 121) in mode
P, S, A, or M.

Control panel

+
L (U) button Sub-command dial

Control panel

15

 Flash Settings
Choose a flash mode (0 144).

+
M (Y) button Main command dial

Set flash compensation (mode P,

S, A, or M; 0 148).

+
M (Y) button Sub-command dial

16

Control panel

Control panel

The BM-14 Monitor Cover

A clear plastic cover is provided with the camera to keep the
monitor clean and protect it when the camera is not in use. To
attach the cover, insert the projection on the top of the cover
into the matching indentation above the camera monitor (q)
and press the bottom of the cover until it clicks into place (w).

To remove the cover, hold the camera firmly and pull the
bottom of the cover gently outwards as shown at right.

17

Camera Menus
Most shooting, playback, and setup options can be accessed
from the camera menus. To view the menus, press the G
button.

G button

Tabs
Choose from the following menus:
D: Playback (0 207)
C: Shooting (0 214)
A: Custom Settings (0 219)

B: Setup (0 249)
N: Retouch (0 261)
O/m: My Menu or Recent settings (defaults to
My Menu; 0 280)

Slider shows position in current menu.

Current settings are shown by icons.

Menu options
Options in current menu.

If a d icon is displayed at the bottom left corner of the

monitor, help can be displayed by pressing the L (U)
button. A description of the currently selected option or
menu will be displayed while the button is pressed. Press
1 or 3 to scroll through the display.
L (U) button

18

Using Camera Menus

The multi selector and J button are used to navigate the camera menus.
Move cursor up
Cancel and return to
previous menu

J button: select highlighted item

Select highlighted item or
display sub-menu

Move cursor down

Follow the steps below to navigate the menus.

Display the menus.

Press the G button to display the menus.

G button

Highlight the icon for the current menu.

Press 4 to highlight the icon for the current
menu.

Select a menu.
Press 1 or 3 to select the desired menu.

Position the cursor in the selected menu.

Press 2 to position the cursor in the selected
menu.

19

Highlight a menu item.

Press 1 or 3 to highlight a menu item.

Display options.
Press 2 to display options for the selected menu
item.

Highlight an option.
Press 1 or 3 to highlight an option.

Select the highlighted item.

Press J to select the highlighted item. To exit
without making a selection, press the G
button.

Note the following:

Menu items that are displayed in gray are not currently available.
While pressing 2 generally has the same effect as pressing J, there are some
cases in which selection can only be made by pressing J.
To exit the menus and return to shooting mode, press the shutter-release button
halfway (0 39).

20

First Steps
Charge the Battery
The camera is powered by an EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery (supplied). To
maximize shooting time, charge the battery in the supplied MH-25 battery charger
before use. About 2 hours and 35 minutes are required to fully recharge the battery
when no charge remains.

Connect the AC power cable.

Connect the power cable. The AC adapter plug should be
in the position shown at right; do not rotate.

Remove the terminal cover.

Remove the terminal cover from the battery.

Insert the battery.

Place the battery in the battery bay as shown in the
illustration on the charger.

Plug the charger in.

The CHARGE lamp will flash slowly while the battery
charges.

Battery
charging

Charging
complete

Charging the Battery

Charge the battery indoors at ambient temperatures between
535C (4195F). The battery will not charge if its
temperature is below 0C (32F) or above 60C (140F).

Remove the battery when charging is complete.

Charging is complete when the CHARGE lamp stops flashing. Unplug the charger
and remove the battery.

21

The AC Wall Adapter

Depending on the country or region of purchase, an AC wall
adapter may also be supplied with the charger. To use the adapter,
insert it into the charger AC inlet (q). Slide the AC wall adapter
latch in the direction shown (w) and rotate the adapter 90 to fix it
in the position shown (e). Reverse these steps to remove the
adapter.

AC wall adapter
latch

90

22

Insert the Battery

Before inserting the battery, rotate the power switch to OFF.

Inserting and Removing Batteries

Always turn the camera off before inserting or removing batteries.

Open the battery-chamber cover.

Unlatch (q) and open (w) the battery-chamber cover.

Insert the battery.

Insert the battery in the orientation shown (q), using the
battery to keep the orange battery latch pressed to one
side. The latch locks the battery in place when the battery
is fully inserted (w).

Battery latch

Close the battery-chamber cover.

Removing the Battery

Turn the camera off and open the battery-chamber cover. Press the
battery latch in the direction shown by the arrow to release the
battery and then remove the battery by hand.

23

The Battery and Charger

Read and follow the warnings and cautions on pages xviiixix and 306308 of this manual. Do
not use the battery at ambient temperatures below 0C/32F or above 40C/104F; failure to
observe this precaution could damage the battery or impair its performance. Capacity may
be reduced and charging times may increase at battery temperatures from 0C/32F to
15C/59F and from 45C/113F to 60C/140F.

If the CHARGE lamp flashes quickly (about eight times a second) during charging, confirm that
the temperature is in the correct range and then unplug the charger and remove and
reinsert the battery. If the problem persists, cease use immediately and take battery and
charger to your retailer or a Nikon-authorized service representative.
Do not short the charger terminals; failure to observe this precaution could result in
overheating and damage to the charger. Do not move the charger or touch the battery
during charging. Failure to observe this precaution could in very rare instances result in the
charger showing that charging is complete when the battery is only partially charged.
Remove and reinsert the battery to begin charging again. Battery capacity may temporarily
drop if the battery is charged at low temperatures or used at a temperature below the
temperature at which it was charged. If the battery is charged at a temperature below 5 C
(41 F), the battery life indicator in the Battery info (0 255) display may show a temporary
decrease.
The battery may be hot immediately after use. Wait for the battery to cool before recharging.
The supplied power cable and AC wall adapter are for use with the MH-25 only. Use the
charger with compatible batteries only. Unplug when not in use.
A marked drop in the time a fully charged battery retains its charge when used at room
temperature indicates that it requires replacement. Purchase a new EN-EL15 battery.

EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries

The supplied EN-EL15 shares information with compatible devices, enabling the camera to
show battery charge state in six levels (0 35). The Battery info option in the setup menu
details battery charge, battery life, and the number of pictures taken since the battery was
last charged (0 255).

24

Attach a Lens
Care should be taken to prevent dust from entering the camera when the lens is
removed. The lens generally used in this manual for illustrative purposes is an AF-S
NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR.
Focal length scale index
Mounting index

Focal length scale

CPU contacts (0 287)

Lens hood
Lens cap

Rear lens cap

Focus mode switch (0 26, 103)

Zoom ring

Vibration reduction ON/OFF switch

Vibration reduction mode switch
Focus ring (0 55, 103)

Turn the camera off.

Remove the rear lens cap and the

camera body cap.

25

Attach the lens.

Keeping the mounting index on the lens aligned with the mounting index on
the camera body, position the lens in the cameras bayonet mount (q). Being
careful not to press the lens-release button, rotate the lens counter-clockwise
until it clicks into place (w).

If the lens is equipped with an A-M or M/A-M mode

switch, select A (autofocus) or M/A (autofocus with
manual override).

Detaching the Lens

Be sure the camera is off when removing or exchanging lenses. To
remove the lens, press and hold the lens release button (q) while
turning the lens clockwise (w). After removing the lens, replace the
lens caps and camera body cap.

CPU Lenses with Aperture Rings

In the case of CPU lenses equipped with an aperture ring (0 287),
lock aperture at the minimum setting (highest f-number).

Image Area
The DX format image area is automatically selected when a DX lens is
attached (0 89).

Image area

26

Basic Setup
A language-selection dialog will be displayed the first time the camera is turned on.
Choose a language and set the time and date. Photographs can not be taken until
you have set the time and date.

Turn the camera on.

A language-selection dialog will be displayed.

Select a language.

Press 1 or 3 to highlight the desired language

and press J.

Choose a time zone.

A time-zone selection dialog will be displayed.
Press 4 or 2 to highlight the local time zone (the
UTC field shows the difference between the
selected time zone and Coordinated Universal
Time, or UTC, in hours) and press J.

Choose a date format.

Press 1 or 3 to choose the order in which the
year, month, and day will be displayed. Press J
to proceed to the next step.

Turn daylight saving time on or off.

Daylight saving time options will be displayed.
Daylight saving time is off by default; if daylight
saving time is in effect in the local time zone,
press 1 to highlight On and press J.

Set the date and time.

The dialog shown at right will be displayed. Press
4 or 2 to select an item, 1 or 3 to change. Press
J to set the clock and exit to shooting mode.

27

Setting the Clock

Language and date/time settings can be changed at any time using the Language (0 253)
and Time zone and date (0 253) options in the setup menu. The camera clock can also be
synchronized with GPS devices (0 175).

The Clock Battery

The camera clock is powered by an independent, rechargeable power source, which is
charged as necessary when the main battery is installed or the camera is powered by an
optional EP-5B power connector and EH-5b AC adapter (0 297). Two days of charging will
power the clock for about three months. If the camera displays a warning at startup stating
that the clock is not set and a B icon flashes in the information display, the clock battery
is exhausted and the clock has been reset. Set the clock to the correct time and date.

The Camera Clock

The camera clock is less accurate than most watches and household clocks. Check the clock
regularly against more accurate time pieces and reset as necessary.

28

Insert a Memory Card

The camera stores pictures on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (available separately;
0 333). The camera has two memory card slots (Slot 1 and Slot 2); if you will be using
only one memory card, insert it in Slot 1 (0 30).

Turn the camera off.

Inserting and Removing Memory Cards

Always turn the camera off before inserting or removing memory cards.

Open the card slot cover.

Slide the card slot cover out (q) and open the card slot
(w).

Insert the memory card.

Inserting Memory Cards

Inserting memory cards upside down or backwards could
damage the camera or the card. Check to be sure the card is in
the correct orientation. The card slot cover will not close if the
card is not correctly inserted.

16GB

Holding the memory card as shown at right, slide it in until

it clicks into place. The memory card access lamp will light
for a few seconds.

Front
Memory card access
lamp

Close the memory card slot cover. If this is the first time
the memory card will be used in the camera or the card has
been formatted in another device, format the card as
described on page 31.

Removing Memory Cards

After confirming that the memory card access lamp is off, turn the
camera off, open the memory card slot cover, and press the card in to
eject it (q). The card can then be removed by hand (w).

16GB

29

No Memory Card
If the camera is turned off with a charged EN-EL15 battery and no
memory card inserted, S will be displayed in the control panel
and viewfinder.

Using Two Memory Cards

Slot 1 is for the main card; the card in slot 2 plays a backup or
secondary role. If the default setting of Overflow is selected for Role
played by card in Slot 2 (0 96) when two memory cards are
inserted, the card in slot 2 will only be used when the card in slot 1 is
full.

Slot 1

Slot 2
The control panel shows the slot or slots that currently hold a
memory card (the example at right shows the icons displayed when a
card is inserted in each slot). If the memory card is full or locked or an
error has occurred, the icon for the affected card will flash (0 324).

Control panel

Information display

Memory Cards
Memory cards may be hot after use. Observe due caution when removing memory cards
from the camera.
Turn the power off before inserting or removing memory cards. Do not remove memory
cards from the camera, turn the camera off, or remove or disconnect the power source
during formatting or while data are being recorded, deleted, or copied to a computer.
Failure to observe these precautions could result in loss of data or in damage to the
camera or card.
Do not touch the card terminals with your fingers or metal objects.
Do not bend, drop, or subject to strong physical shocks.
Do not apply force to the card casing. Failure to observe this precaution could damage
the card.
Do not expose to water, heat, high levels of humidity, or direct sunlight.
Do not format memory cards in a computer.

30

Format the Memory Card

Memory cards must be formatted before first use or after being used or formatted in
other devices.

Formatting Memory Cards

Formatting memory cards permanently deletes any data they may contain. Be sure to copy any
photographs and other data you wish to keep to a computer before proceeding (0 193).

Turn the camera on.

Press the O (Q) and Z (Q) buttons.

Hold the O (Q) and Z (Q) buttons down
simultaneously until a flashing C (format)
appears in the shutter-speed displays in the
control panel and viewfinder. If two memory
cards are inserted, the card in Slot 1 (0 30) will
be selected; you can choose the card in Slot 2
by rotating the main command dial. To exit
without formatting the memory card, wait until
C stops flashing (about six seconds) or press
any button other than the O (Q) and Z (Q)
buttons.

O (Q) button Z (Q) button

Press the O (Q) and Z (Q) buttons again.

Press the O (Q) and Z (Q) buttons together a second time while C is
flashing to format the memory card. Do not remove the memory card or remove
or disconnect the power source during formatting.
When formatting is complete, the control panel and viewfinder will show the
number of photographs that can be recorded at current settings.

31

The Write Protect Switch

SD memory cards are equipped with a write protect
switch to prevent accidental loss of data. When this switch
is in the lock position, the memory card can not be
formatted and photos can not be deleted or recorded (a
warning will be displayed in the monitor if you attempt to
release the shutter). To unlock the memory card, slide the
switch to the write position.

32

B
16G

Write-protect switch

See Also
See page 250 for information on formatting memory cards using the Format memory card
option in the setup menu.

Adjust Viewfinder Focus

The camera is equipped with diopter adjustment to accommodate individual
differences in vision. Check that the display in the viewfinder is in focus before
framing pictures in the viewfinder.

Turn the camera on.

Remove the lens cap and turn the camera on.

Focus the viewfinder.

Rotate the diopter adjustment control until
the AF area brackets are in sharp focus. When
operating the diopter adjustment control with
your eye to the viewfinder, be careful not to
put your fingers or fingernails in your eye.

AF area brackets

Adjusting Viewfinder Focus

If you are unable to focus the viewfinder as described above, select single-servo autofocus
(AF-S; 0 97), single-point AF (0 99), and the center focus point (0 101), and then frame a
high-contrast subject in the center focus point and press the shutter-release button halfway
to focus the camera. With the camera in focus, use the diopter adjustment control to bring
the subject into clear focus in the viewfinder. If necessary, viewfinder focus can be further
adjusted using optional corrective lenses (0 297).

33

34

sBasic Photography and Playback

Point-and-Shoot Photography
(i and j Modes)
This section describes how to take photographs in i (auto) mode, an
automatic point-and-shoot mode in which the majority of settings
are controlled by the camera in response to shooting conditions, and
in which the flash will fire automatically if the subject is poorly lit. To
take photographs with the flash off while leaving the camera in
control of other settings, rotate the mode dial to j to select auto (flash off) mode.

Step 1: Turn the Camera On

Turn the camera on.

Remove the lens cap and turn the camera on. The control panel will turn on and
the display in the viewfinder will light.

Check the battery level.

Check the battery level in the control panel or viewfinder.

Control panel * Viewfinder *

Description
L

Battery fully charged.

K

Battery partially discharged.

I

H
d
Low battery. Charge battery or ready spare battery.
H
d
Shutter release disabled. Charge or exchange battery.
(flashes)
(flashes)
* No icon displayed when camera is powered by optional EP-5B power connector and
EH-5b AC adapter. V appears in information display.

Image Sensor Cleaning

The camera vibrates the low-pass filter covering the image sensor to remove dust when the
camera is turned on or off (0 301).

35

Check the number of exposures

remaining.
The control panel and viewfinder show the
number of photographs that can be taken at
current settings (values over 1,000 are rounded
down to the nearest hundred; e.g., values
between 2,000 and 2,099 are shown as 2.0 K). If two memory cards are inserted,
the displays show the space available on the card in Slot 1 (0 30). When the
number of exposures remaining reaches A, the number will flash, n or j
will flash in the shutter-speed displays, and the icon for the affected card will
flash. Insert another memory card (0 29) or delete some photos (0 47, 189).

Step 2: Select i or j Mode

To shoot where use of a flash is prohibited,
Mode dial
photograph infants, or capture natural lighting under
low light conditions, rotate the mode dial to j.
Otherwise, rotate the mode dial to i.

j mode

i mode

Camera Off Display

If the camera is turned off with a battery and memory card
inserted, the memory card icon and number of exposures
remaining will be displayed (some memory cards may in
rare cases only display this information when the camera is
on).

36

Control panel

Step 3: Frame the Photograph

Ready the camera.

When framing photographs in the viewfinder,
hold the handgrip in your right hand and cradle
the camera body or lens with your left. Keep
your elbows propped lightly against your torso
for support and place one foot half a pace ahead
of the other to keep your upper body stable.
When framing photographs in portrait (tall)
orientation, hold the camera as shown in the
bottom of the three illustrations at right.

In j mode, shutter speeds slow when lighting is

poor; use of a tripod is recommended.

Frame the photograph.

Frame a photograph in the viewfinder with the
main subject in the AF area brackets.

AF area brackets

Using a Zoom Lens

Use the zoom ring to zoom in on the subject so that it fills a
larger area of the frame, or zoom out to increase the area
visible in the final photograph (select longer focal lengths
on the lens focal length scale to zoom in, shorter focal
lengths to zoom out).

Zoom in
Zoom ring

Zoom out

37

Step 4: Focus

Press the shutter-release button halfway.

Press the shutter-release button halfway to
focus. The active focus point will be displayed. If
the subject is poorly lit, the flash may pop up and
the AF-assist illuminator may light.

2
s

Check the indicators in the viewfinder.

Focus point

When the focus operation is complete, the infocus indicator (I) will appear in the viewfinder.
In-focus
indicator
I
2 4
2 4
2 4
(flashes)

Description
Subject in focus.
Focus point is between camera and subject.
Focus point is behind subject.
Camera unable to focus using autofocus.
See page 98.

In-focus
indicator

Buffer
capacity

While the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the number of exposures

that can be stored in the memory buffer (t; 0 84) will be displayed in the
viewfinder.

Step 5: Shoot
Smoothly press the shutter-release button the rest of
the way down to release the shutter and record the
photograph. The memory card access lamp next to
the memory card slot cover will light while the
photograph is being recorded to the memory card. Do
not eject the memory card or remove or disconnect the
power source until the lamp has gone out and recording
is complete.

38

Memory card access

lamp

The Shutter-Release Button

The camera has a two-stage shutter-release button. The camera focuses when the shutterrelease button is pressed halfway. To take the photograph, press the shutter-release button
the rest of the way down.

Focus: press halfway

Shoot: press all the way down

The Standby Timer

The viewfinder and the control panel shutter speed and aperture displays will turn off if no
operations are performed for about 6 seconds, reducing the drain on the battery. Press the
shutter-release button halfway to reactivate the display. The length of time before the
standby timer expires automatically can be selected using Custom Setting c2 (Standby
timer, 0 227).

Exposure meters on

Exposure meters off

Exposure meters on

The Built-in Flash

If additional lighting is required for correct exposure in i mode, the
built-in flash will pop up automatically when the shutter-release
button is pressed halfway. If the flash is raised, photographs can only
be taken when the flash-ready indicator (M) is displayed. If the flashready indicator is not displayed, the flash is charging; remove your
finger briefly from the shutter-release button and try again.

To save power when the flash is not in use, press it gently downward
until the latch clicks into place.

39

Creative Photography (Scene Modes)

The camera offers a choice of scene modes. Choosing a scene mode
automatically optimizes settings to suit the selected scene, making
creative photography as simple as selecting a mode, framing a picture,
and shooting as described on pages 3539.

h Mode
To view the currently selected scene, rotate the mode dial to h and press the R
button. To choose another scene, rotate the main command dial.

Mode dial

Main command dial

Portrait

Landscape

Child

Sports

Close up

Night
portrait

Night
landscape

Sunset

Dusk/dawn

Pet portrait

Candlelight

Blossom

Autumn
colors

Food

Silhouette

High key

Low key

Party/indoor Beach/snow

40

Monitor

 Scene Modes

k Portrait

p Child

Use for portraits with soft, naturallooking skin tones. If the subject is far
from the background or a telephoto lens
is used, background details will be
softened to lend the composition a
sense of depth.

Use for snapshots of children. Clothing

and background details are vividly
rendered, while skin tones remain soft
and natural.

l Landscape

m Sports

Use for vivid landscape shots in daylight.

The built-in flash and AF-assist
illuminator turn off; use of a tripod is
recommended to prevent blur when
lighting is poor.

Fast shutter speeds freeze motion for

dynamic sports shots in which the main
subject stands out clearly. The built-in
flash and AF-assist illuminator turn off.
To take a sequence of shots, select
continuous release mode (0 6, 83).

41

42

n Close Up

r Night Landscape

Use for close-up shots of flowers, insects,

and other small objects (a macro lens can
be used to focus at very close ranges).
Use of a tripod is recommended to
prevent blur.

Reduce noise and unnatural colors when

photographing night landscapes,
including street lighting and neon signs.
The built-in flash and AF-assist
illuminator turn off; use of a tripod is
recommended to prevent blur.

o Night Portrait

s Party/Indoor

Use for a natural balance between the

main subject and the background in
portraits taken under low light. Use of a
tripod is recommended to prevent blur
when lighting is poor.

Capture the effects of indoor

background lighting. Use for parties and
other indoor scenes.

t Beach/Snow

v Dusk/Dawn

Capture the brightness of sunlight

expanses of water, snow, or sand. The
built-in flash and AF-assist illuminator
turn off.

Preserves the colors seen in the weak

natural light before dawn or after sunset.
The built-in flash and AF-assist
illuminator turn off; use of a tripod is
recommended to prevent blur when
lighting is poor.

u Sunset

w Pet Portrait

Preserves the deep hues seen in sunsets

and sunrises. The built-in flash and AFassist illuminator turn off; use of a tripod
is recommended to prevent blur when
lighting is poor.

Use for portraits of active pets. The AFassist illuminator turns off.

43

44

x Candlelight

z Autumn Colors

For photographs taken by candlelight.

The built-in flash turns off; use of a tripod
is recommended to prevent blur when
lighting is poor.

Captures the brilliant reds and yellows in

autumn leaves. The built-in flash turns
off; use of a tripod is recommended to
prevent blur when lighting is poor.

y Blossom

0 Food

Use for fields of flowers, orchards in

bloom, and other landscapes featuring
expanses of blossoms. The built-in flash
turns off; use of a tripod is
recommended to prevent blur when
lighting is poor.

Use for vivid photographs of food. Use of

a tripod is recommended to prevent
blur; the flash can also be used (0 143).

1 Silhouette

3 Low Key

Silhouette subjects against bright

backgrounds. The built-in flash turns off;
use of a tripod is recommended to
prevent blur when lighting is poor.

Use when shooting dark scenes to create

dark, somber images that bring out
highlights. The built-in flash turns off;
use of a tripod is recommended to
prevent blur when lighting is poor.

2 High Key

Use when shooting bright scenes to

create bright images that seem filled
with light. The built-in flash turns off.

45

Basic Playback
1

Press the K button.

A photograph will be displayed in the
monitor. The memory card containing the
picture currently displayed is shown by an
icon.
K button

View additional pictures.

Additional pictures can be displayed by
pressing 4 or 2. To view additional
information on the current photograph,
press 1 and 3 (0 179).
1/ 12

1/ 125

F5. 6

NIKON D600

100

85mm

0, 0
100ND600 DSC_0001. JPG
15 / 04 / 2012 10: 02: 28

To end playback and return to shooting

mode, press the shutter-release button
halfway.

Image Review
When On is selected for Image review in the playback menu (0 212), photographs are
automatically displayed in the monitor for a few seconds after shooting.

See Also
See page 178 for information on choosing a memory card slot.

46

N OR
ORMAL
AL
6016x4016

Deleting Unwanted Photographs

To delete the photograph currently displayed in the monitor, press the O (Q) button.
Note that photographs can not be recovered once deleted.

Display the photograph.

Display the photograph you wish to delete
as described on the preceding page. The
location of the current image is shown by an
icon at the bottom left corner of the display.

Delete the photograph.

Press the O (Q) button. A confirmation

dialog will be displayed; press the O (Q)
button again to delete the image and return
to playback. To exit without deleting the
picture, press K.
O (Q) button

Delete
To delete selected images (0 190), all images taken on a selected date (0 191), or all images
in a chosen location on a selected memory card (0 190), use the Delete option in the
playback menu.

47

48

xLive View Photography

Follow the steps below to take photographs in live view.

Rotate the live view selector to C (live view

photography).

Cover the Viewfinder

To prevent light entering via the viewfinder from interfering
with exposure, remove the rubber eyecup and cover the
viewfinder with the supplied DK-5 eyepiece cap before
shooting (0 86).

Live view selector

Press the a button.

The mirror will be raised and the view through the lens will
be displayed in the camera monitor. The subject will no
longer be visible in the viewfinder.
a button

Position the focus point.

Position the focus point over your subject as described on page 51.

Focus.
Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus.
The focus point will flash green while the camera focuses.
A AE-L/AF-L button
If the camera is able to focus, the focus point will be
displayed in green; if the camera is unable to focus, the
focus point will flash red (note that pictures can be taken
even when the focus point flashes red; check focus in the
monitor before shooting). Exposure can be locked by
pressing the A AE-L/AF-L button (0 110); focus locks while
the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. In mode M, exposure can be
adjusted with the assistance of an exposure indicator (0 78).

49

Take the picture.

Press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down
to shoot. The monitor will turn off.

Exit live view mode.

Press the a button to exit live view mode.

Ending Live View

Live view ends automatically if the lens is removed. Live view may also end
automatically to prevent damage to the cameras internal circuits; exit live view when
the camera is not in use. Note that the temperature of the cameras internal circuits
may rise and noise (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, or fog) may be
displayed in the following instances (the camera may also become noticeably warm,
but this does not indicate a malfunction):
The ambient temperature is high
The camera has been used for extended periods in live view or to record movies
The camera has been used in continuous release mode for extended periods
If live view does not start when you press the a button, wait for the internal circuits to
cool and then try again.

A Choosing a Picture Control (P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Pressing c (b) during live view displays a list
of Picture Controls. Highlight the desired
Picture Control and press 2 to adjust Picture
Control settings (0 129).
c (b) button

Movies
Movie recording is not available during live view photography and pressing the
movie-record button has no effect. Select movie live view (0 57) to shoot movies.

50

Focusing in Live View

To focus using autofocus, rotate the focus-mode
selector to AF and follow the steps below to choose
autofocus and AF-area modes. For information on
focusing manually, see page 55.

Focus-mode selector

Choosing a Focus Mode

The following autofocus modes are available in live view:
Mode
AF-S
AF-F

Description
Single-servo AF: For stationary subjects. Focus locks when shutter-release button is
pressed halfway.
Full-time servo AF: For moving subjects. Camera focuses continuously until shutterrelease button is pressed. Focus locks when shutter-release button is pressed halfway.

To choose an autofocus 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

Using Autofocus in Live View

Use an AF-S lens. The desired results may not be achieved with other lenses or
teleconverters. Note that in live view, autofocus is slower and the monitor may brighten or
darken while the camera focuses. The focus point may sometimes be displayed in green
when the camera is unable to focus. The camera may be unable to focus in the following
situations:
The subject contains lines parallel to the long edge of the frame
The subject lacks contrast
The subject in the focus point contains areas of sharply contrasting brightness, or includes
spot lighting or a neon sign or other light source that changes in brightness
Flicker or banding appears under fluorescent, mercury-vapor, sodium-vapor, or similar
lighting
A cross (star) filter or other special filter is used
The subject appears smaller than the focus point
The subject is dominated by regular geometric patterns (e.g., blinds or a row of windows
in a skyscraper)
The subject is moving

51

 Choosing an AF-Area Mode

The following AF-area modes can be selected in live view:
Mode

&

Description
Face-priority AF: Use for portraits. The camera automatically detects and focuses on
portrait subjects; the selected subject is indicated by a double yellow border (if
multiple faces, up to a maximum of 35, are detected, the camera will focus on the
closest subject; to choose a different subject, use the multi selector). If the camera can
no longer detect the subject (because, for example, the subject has turned to face
away from the camera), the border will no longer be displayed.
Wide-area AF: Use for hand-held shots of landscapes and other non-portrait subjects.
Use the multi selector to move the focus point anywhere in the frame, or press J to
position the focus point in the center of the frame.
Normal-area AF: Use for pin-point focus on a selected spot in the frame. Use the multi
selector to move the focus point anywhere in the frame, or press J to position the
focus point in the center of the frame. A tripod is recommended.
Subject-tracking AF: Position the focus point over your subject and press J. The focus
point will track the selected subject as it moves through the frame. To end tracking,
press J again. Note that the camera may be unable to track subjects if they move
quickly, leave the frame or are obscured by other objects, change visibly in size, color,
or brightness, or are too small, too large, too bright, too dark, or similar in color or
brightness to the background.

To choose 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

52

Sub-command
dial

Monitor

The Live View Display: Live View Photography

er
q

t
y

w
Item
q Time remaining
w Guide
e Autofocus mode
r AF-area mode
t Focus point

Monitor brightness
indicator

u Exposure indicator

u
Description
The amount of time remaining before live view ends
automatically. Displayed if shooting will end in 30 s or less.
A guide to the options available during live view photography.
The current autofocus mode.
The current AF-area mode.
The current focus point. The display varies with the option
selected for AF-area mode.
Keeping the L (U) button pressed, press 1 or 3 to adjust
monitor brightness (note that monitor brightness has no
effect on photographs taken with the camera). If A (auto) is
selected, the camera will automatically adjust brightness in
response to ambient lighting conditions as measured by the
ambient brightness sensor when the monitor is on (0 4).
Indicates whether the photograph would be under- or
overexposed at current settings (mode M only).

x
0
56

51
52
49

78

53

The Live View Display

Although they will not appear in the final picture, jagged edges, color fringing, moire, and
bright spots may appear in the monitor, while bright bands may appear in some areas with
flashing signs and other intermittent light sources or if the subject is briefly illuminated by a
strobe or other bright, momentary light source. In addition, distortion may occur if the
camera is panned horizontally or an object moves at high speed through the frame. Flicker
and banding visible in the monitor under fluorescent, mercury vapor, or sodium lamps can
be reduced using Flicker reduction (0 252), although they may still be visible in the final
photograph at some shutter speeds. When shooting in live view mode, avoid pointing the
camera at the sun or other strong light sources. Failure to observe this precaution could
result in damage to the cameras internal circuitry.

54

Exposure
Depending on the scene, exposure may differ from that which would be obtained when live
view is not used. Metering in live view is adjusted to suit the live view display, producing
photographs with exposure close to what is seen in the monitor. In P, S, A, and M modes,
exposure can be adjusted by 5 EV (0 112). Note that the effects of values over +3 EV or
under 3 EV can not be previewed in the monitor.

The Information Display: Live View Photography

To hide or display indicators in the monitor during live view photography, press the
R button.
Information on

Information off

x
Virtual horizon
(0 258)

Framing guides

Manual Focus
To focus in manual focus mode (0 103), rotate the lens focus
ring until the subject is in focus.

To magnify the view in the monitor up to about 19 for precise

focus, press the X (T) button. While the view through the
lens is zoomed in, a navigation window will appear in a gray
frame at the bottom right corner of the display. Use the multi
selector to scroll to areas of the frame not visible in the monitor
(available only if wide- or normal-area AF is selected for AFX (T) button
area mode), or press W (S) to zoom out.

Navigation window

55

Non-CPU Lenses
When using non-CPU lenses, be sure to enter the focal length and maximum aperture using
the Non-CPU lens data option in the setup menu (0 172). Non-CPU lenses can be used
only in A and M modes (0 73); aperture can be adjusted using the lens aperture ring.

The Count Down Display

A count down will be displayed 30 s before live view ends automatically (0 53; the timer
turns red if live view is about to end to protect the internal circuits or, if an option other than
No limit is selected for Custom Setting c4Monitor off delay > Live view; 0 2285 s
before the monitor is due to turn off automatically). Depending on shooting conditions, the
timer may appear immediately when live view is selected. Note that although the count
down does not appear during playback, live view will still end automatically when the timer
expires.
HDMI
x A
If the camera is attached to an HDMI video device during live
view photography, the camera monitor will remain on and
the video device will display the view through the lens as
shown at right. If the device supports HDMI-CEC, select Off
for the HDMI > Device control option in the setup menu
(0 205) before shooting in live view.

56

yMovie Live View

Movies can be recorded in live view.

Rotate the live view selector to 1 (movie live view).

Live view selector

Press the a button.

The mirror will be raised and the view through the lens will
be displayed in the camera monitor as it would appear in
the actual movie, modified for the effects of exposure. The
subject will no longer be visible in the viewfinder.
a button

A The 0 Icon
A 0 icon (0 61) indicates that movies can not be recorded.
A

Before Recording
Before recording, choose an aperture (modes A and M only, 0 77, 78); you can also
choose a Picture Control (modes P, S, A, and M only, 0 129) or color space (0 217). In
modes P, S, A, and M, white balance (0 115) can be set at any time by pressing the
L (U) button and rotating the main command dial.

Choose a focus mode (0 51).

Choose an AF-area mode (0 52).

57

Focus.
Frame the opening shot and focus as described in Steps 3
and 4 on pages 49 (for more information on focusing in
movie live view, see page 51). Note that the number of
subjects that can be detected in face-priority AF drops in movie live view.

Exposure
The following settings can be adjusted in movie live view:
P, S, A
M
Other shooting
modes

Aperture

Shutter speed

ISO sensitivity

Exposure compensation

In mode M, ISO sensitivity can be set to values between 100 and Hi 2 and shutter speed
to values between 1/25 s and 1/4,000 s (the slowest available shutter speed varies with
the frame rate; 0 65). In other modes, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity are adjusted
automatically. If the result is over- or under-exposed, exit and restart movie live view.

Start recording.
Press the movie-record button to start recording. A
recording indicator and the time available are displayed
in the monitor. Exposure is set using matrix metering and
can be locked by pressing the A AE-L/AF-L button (0 110)
or (in modes P, S, and A) altered by up to 3 EV in steps of
1/3 EV using exposure compensation (0 112). In
autofocus mode, focus can be locked by pressing the
shutter-release button halfway.

Movie-record button
Recording indicator

Time remaining

Audio
The camera can record both video and sound; do not cover the microphone on the
front of the camera during movie recording. Note that the built-in microphone may
record sounds made by the lens during autofocus or vibration reduction.

58

End recording.
Press the movie-record button again to end recording.
Recording will end automatically when the maximum
length is reached, or the memory card is full.

Maximum Length
The maximum length for individual movie files is 4 GB (for maximum recording times,
see page 65); note that depending on memory card write speed, shooting may end
before this length is reached (0 333).

Taking Photographs
To take a photograph while recording is in progress, press the shutter-release button
all the way down (if desired, shooting information display can be assigned to the Fn,
depth-of-field preview,or AE-L/AF-L button and the button used to display camera still
photography settings before shooting; 0 247, 248). Movie recording will end (the
footage recorded to that point will be saved) and the camera will return to live view.
The photograph will be recorded at the current image area setting using a crop with
an aspect ratio of 16 : 9. Photos will be taken with the flash off. Note that the exposure
for photographs can not be previewed during movie live view; mode P, S, or A is
recommended but accurate results can be achieved in mode M by using the Fn, depthof-field preview, or AE-L/AF-L button (0 247, 248), using the button to display shooting
information and checking the exposure indicator. Exposure compensation for the
photograph can be set to values between 5 and +5 EV, but only values between 3
and +3 can be previewed in the monitor (modes P, S, and A; 0 112).

The Count-Down Display

A count down will be displayed 30 s before live view ends automatically (0 53).
Depending on shooting conditions, the timer may appear immediately when movie
recording begins. Note that regardless of the amount of recording time available, live
view will still end automatically when the timer expires. Wait for the internal circuits to
cool before resuming movie recording.

Exit live view mode.

Press the a button to exit live view mode.

59

Indices
If Index marking is selected for Custom Setting g1 (Assign Fn
button, 0 247), g2 (Assign preview button, 0 248), or g3
(Assign AE-L/AF-L button, 0 248), you can press the button
during recording to add indices that can be used to locate
frames during editing and playback (0 68). Up to 20 indices can
be added to each movie.

Index

See Also
Frame size, microphone sensitivity, and card slot options are available in the Movie settings
menu (0 65). Focus can be adjusted manually as described on page 55. The roles played by
the J, Fn, depth-of-field preview, and A AE-L/AF-L buttons can be chosen using Custom
Settings f1 (OK button (shooting mode); 0 241), g1 (Assign Fn button; 0 247), g2 (Assign
preview button; 0 248), and g3 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button, 0 248), respectively (the last
three options also allow you to lock exposure without having to keep a button pressed).
Custom Setting g4 (Assign shutter button; 0 248) controls whether the shutter-release
button can be used to start movie live view or to start and end movie recording.

60

The Live View Display: Movie Live View

q

ty

w
e
r

u
i

Item
Description
Indicates that movies can not be recorded.
q No movie icon
Volume of audio output to headphones.
w Headphone volume
Microphone
sensitivity
Microphone
sensitivity for movie recording.
e
Sound level for audio recording. Displayed in red if level is too
high; adjust microphone sensitivity accordingly. Left (L) and
r Sound level
right (R) channel indicators appear when optional ME-1 or
other stereo microphone is used.
Time remaining
The recording time available for movies.
t (movie live view)
The frame size for movie recording.
y Movie frame size
Monitor brightness
A monitor brightness indicator.
u indicator
A guide to the options available during movie live view.
i Guide

62
62

62

58
65
62
62

Using an External Microphone

The optional ME-1 stereo microphone can be used to record sound in stereo or to avoid
recording lens noise caused by autofocus (0 298).

Headphones
Third-party headphones can be used. Note that high sound levels may result in high
volume; particular care should be taken when headphones are used.

61

 Adjusting Settings in the Live View Display

Microphone sensitivity, headphone volume, and monitor brightness can be adjusted
as described below. Note that microphone sensitivity and headphone volume can
not be adjusted during recording, and that brightness affects the monitor only
(0 61); movies recorded with the camera are unaffected.

Highlight a setting.
Press and hold L (U) and press 4 or 2 to highlight
the indicator for the desired setting.

L (U) button

Adjust the highlighted setting.

Keeping the L (U) button pressed, press 1 or 3 to
adjust the highlighted setting.

The Information Display: Movie Live View

To hide or display indicators in the monitor during movie live view, press the R
button.

62

Information on

Information off

Virtual horizon
(0 258)

Framing guides

Image Area
Regardless of the option selected for Image area in the shooting menu (0 89), all
movies and photographs recorded in movie live view (0 57) have an aspect ratio of
16 : 9. Images recorded with On selected for Image area > Auto DX crop and a DX
lens attached use a DX-based movie format, as do images recorded with DX (2416)
1.5 selected for Image area > Choose image area. An FX-based movie format is
used when FX (36 24) 1.0 is selected. A a icon is displayed when the DX-based
movie format is selected.

Movie Live View Photographs

The following table shows the size of photographs taken in movie live view:

Option
Size (pixels)
Print size (cm/in.) *
Large
6,016 3,376
50.9 28.6/20.1 11.3
FX-based format
Medium
4,512 2,528
38.2 21.4/15.0 8.4
(35.5 20.0 mm)
Small
3,008 1,688
25.5 14.3/10.0 5.6
Large
3,936 2,224
33.3 18.8/13.1 7.4
DX-based format
Medium
2,944 1,664
24.9 14.1/ 9.8 5.5
(23.5 13.2 mm)
Small
1,968 1,112
16.7 9.4/ 6.6 3.7
* Approximate size when printed at 300 dpi. Print size in inches equals image size in pixels
divided by printer resolution in dots per inch (dpi; 1 inch = approximately 2.54 cm).
Image quality is determined by the option selected for Image quality in the shooting menu
(0 93).
Image area

63

HDMI
If the camera is connected to an HDMI device (0 204), the
view through the lens will appear both in the camera monitor
and on the HDMI device. The indicators that appear in the
HDMI device during movie recording are shown at right. The
camera monitor does not show the sound level or virtual
horizon; indicators in the monitor and on the HDMI device
can not be hidden or displayed using the R button. To use
live view when the camera is connected to an HDMI-CEC device, select Off for HDMI >
Device control in the setup menu (0 205).

Remote Cords
If Record movies is selected for Custom Setting g4 (Assign shutter button, 0 248), the
shutter-release buttons on optional MC-DC2 remote cords (0 298) can be used to start
movie live view and to start and end movie recording.
Recording Movies
y D
Flicker, banding, or distortion may be visible in the monitor and in the final movie under
fluorescent, mercury vapor, or sodium lamps or if the camera is panned horizontally or an
object moves at high speed through frame (for information on reducing flicker and banding,
see Flicker reduction, 0 252). Jagged edges, color fringing, moir, and bright spots may
also appear. Bright bands may appear in some areas of the frame with flashing signs and
other intermittent light sources or if the subject is briefly illuminated by a strobe or other
bright, momentary light source. When recording movies, avoid pointing the camera at the
sun or other strong light sources. Failure to observe this precaution could result in damage
to the cameras internal circuitry. Note that noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or
lines) and unexpected colors may appear if you zoom in on the view through the lens (0 55)
during movie live view.
Flash lighting can not be used during movie live view.
Recording ends automatically if the lens is removed, the mode dial is rotated, or a remote
control release mode is selected.
Live view may end automatically to prevent damage to the cameras internal circuits; exit live
view when the camera is not in use. Note that the temperature of the cameras internal
circuits may rise and noise (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, or fog) may be
displayed in the following instances (the camera may also become noticeably warm, but this
does not indicate a malfunction):
The ambient temperature is high
The camera has been used for extended periods in live view or to record movies
The camera has been used in continuous release mode for extended periods
If live view does not start when you press the a button, wait for the internal circuits to cool
and then try again.

64

Movie Settings
Use the Movie settings option in the shooting menu to adjust the following settings.
Frame size/frame rate, Movie quality: Choose from the following options:
Frame size/frame rate

o/1
p/2
q/3
r/4
s/5
t/6
u/7

Frame size (pixels)

Frame rate *

1920 1080
1920 1080
1920 1080
1280 720
1280 720
1280 720
1280 720

30p
25p
24p
60p
50p
30p
25p

Movie quality
Maximum length
Maximum bit rate (Mbps)
( high quality/Normal)
( high quality/Normal)

24/12

20 min./
29 min. 59 s

12/ 8

29 min. 59 s/
29 min. 59 s

* Listed value. Actual frame rates for 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, and 23.976 fps
respectively.

Microphone: Turn the built-in or optional ME-1 stereo microphones on or off or

adjust microphone sensitivity. Choose Auto sensitivity to adjust sensitivity
automatically, Microphone off to turn sound recording off; to select microphone
sensitivity manually, select Manual sensitivity and choose a sensitivity.
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.

65

Select Movie settings.

Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Movie settings in the shooting
menu and press 2.
G button

Choose movie options.

Highlight the desired item and press 2, then
highlight an option and press J.

Frame Size and Rate

Frame size and rate affects the distribution and amount of noise (randomly-spaced bright
pixels, fog, or bright spots).

66

Viewing Movies
Movies are indicated by a 1 icon in full-frame playback (0 177). Press J to start
playback.
1 icon

Length

Current position/total length

Movie progress bar

Volume

Guide

The following operations can be performed:

To

Use

Pause
Play

Rewind/
advance

Skip 10 s
Skip ahead/
back
Adjust volume
Trim movie
Exit
Return to
shooting mode

Description

Pause playback.
J

Resume playback when movie is paused or during rewind/

advance.
Speed increases with each press, from
2 to 4 to 8 to 16; keep pressed to
skip to beginning or end of movie (first frame is indicated by h
in top right corner of monitor, last frame by i). If playback is
paused, movie rewinds or advances one frame at a time; keep
pressed for continuous rewind or advance.
Rotate the main command dial to skip ahead or back 10 s.
Use sub-command dial to skip to next or previous index, or to
skip to the last or first frame if the movie contains no indices.

X (T)/
Press X (T) to increase volume, W (S) to decrease.
W (S)
c (b)
See page 69 for more information.
/K Exit to full-frame playback.
Press the shutter-release button halfway to exit to shooting
mode.

67

A The p Icon
Movies with indices (0 60) are indicated by a p icon in full-frame
playback.

The 2 Icon
2 is displayed in full-frame and movie playback if the movie was
recorded without sound.

68

Editing Movies
Trim footage to create edited copies of movies or save selected frames as JPEG stills.
Option
9 Choose start/end point
4 Save selected frame

Description
Create a copy from which the opening or closing footage has been
removed.
Save a selected frame as a JPEG still.

Trimming Movies
To create trimmed copies of movies:

Display a movie full frame.

Press the K button to display pictures full
frame in the monitor and press 4 and 2 to
scroll through pictures until the movie you
wish to edit is displayed.

y
K button

Choose a starting or end point.

Play the movie back as described on page
67, pressing J to start and resume playback
and 3 to pause and pressing 4 or 2 or
rotating the main or sub-command dials to
locate the desired frame (0 67). Your
approximate position in the movie can be
ascertained from the movie progress bar.

Movie progress bar

Display movie edit options.

Press the c (b) button to display movie
edit options.

c (b) button

69

Select Choose start/end point.

Highlight Choose start/end point and press
J.

The dialog shown at right will be displayed;

choose whether the current frame will be
the starting or end point of the copy and
press J.

Delete frames.
If the desired frame is not currently
displayed, press 4 or 2 to advance or
rewind (to skip to 10 s ahead or back, rotate
the main command dial; to skip to an index,
or to the first or last frame if the movie
L (U) button
contains no indices, rotate the subcommand dial). To switch the current selection from start point (w) to end point
(x) or vice versa, press L (U).

Once you have selected the start point and/

or end point, press 1. All frames before the
selected start point and after the selected
end point will be removed from the copy.

Save the copy.

Highlight one of the following and press J:
Save as new file: Save the copy to a new file.
Overwrite existing file: Replace the original
movie file with the edited copy.
Cancel: Return to Step 5.
Preview: Preview the copy.
Edited copies are indicated by a 9 icon in full-frame playback.

70

Trimming Movies
Movies must be at least two seconds long. If a copy can not be created at the current
playback position, the current position will be displayed in red in Step 5 and no copy will be
created. The copy will not be saved if there is insufficient space available on the memory
card.
Copies have the same time and date of creation as the original.

The Retouch Menu

Movies can also be edited using the Edit movie option in the retouch
menu (0 261).

71

Saving Selected Frames

To save a copy of a selected frame as a JPEG still:

View the movie and choose a frame.

Play the movie back as described on page
67; your approximate position in the movie
can be ascertained from the movie progress
bar. Press 4 or 2 to rewind or advance and
press 3 to pause the movie at the frame you
intend to copy.

Display movie edit options.

Press the c (b) button to display movie
edit options.

c (b) button

Choose Save selected frame.

Highlight Save selected frame and press J.

Create a still copy.

Press 1 to create a still copy of the current
frame.

Save the copy.

Highlight Yes and press J to create a finequality (0 93) JPEG copy of the selected
frame. Movie stills are indicated by a 9 icon
in full-frame playback.

Save Selected Frame

JPEG movie stills created with the Save selected frame option can not be retouched. JPEG
movie stills lack some categories of photo information (0 179).

72

#P, S, A, and M Modes

P, S, A, and M modes offer different degrees of control over shutter
speed and aperture.

Lens Types
When using a CPU lens equipped with an aperture ring (0 287), lock the aperture ring at the
minimum aperture (highest f-number). Type G lenses are not equipped with an aperture
ring.
Non-CPU lenses can only be used in modes A (aperture-priority auto) and M (manual), when
aperture can only be adjusted using the lens aperture ring. Selecting any other mode
disables the shutter release.

Non-CPU Lenses (0 285)

Use the lens aperture ring to adjust aperture. If the maximum
aperture of the lens has been specified using the Non-CPU lens
data item in setup menu (0 172) when a non-CPU lens is attached,
the current f-number will be displayed in the viewfinder and
control panel, rounded to the nearest full stop. Otherwise the
aperture displays will show only the number of stops (F, with
maximum aperture displayed as FA) and the f-number must be
read from the lens aperture ring.

73

Shutter Speed and Aperture

Two of the chief factors in determining exposure are shutter speed and aperture. By slowing
shutter speed while increasing aperture, or increasing shutter speed while reducing
aperture, you can achieve different effects while keeping exposure constant. Fast shutter
speeds and large apertures freeze moving objects and soften background details, while slow
shutter speeds and small apertures blur moving objects and bring out background details.
Shutter speed

Aperture

#
Fast shutter speed
(1/1,600 s)

74

Slow shutter speed

(1/6 s)

Large aperture (f/5.6) Small aperture (f/22)

(Remember, the higher the f-number, the
smaller the aperture.)

P: Programmed Auto
In this mode, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture according
to a built-in program to ensure optimal exposure in most situations. This mode is
recommended for snapshots and other situations in which you want to leave the
camera in charge of shutter speed and aperture.

Flexible Program
In mode P, different combinations of shutter speed
and aperture can be selected by rotating the main
command dial while the exposure meters are on
(flexible program). Rotate the dial to the right for
large apertures (low f-numbers) that blur background
details or fast shutter speeds that freeze motion.
Main command dial
Rotate the dial to the left for small apertures (high
f-numbers) that increase depth of field or slow shutter speeds that blur motion. All
combinations produce the same exposure. While flexible program is in effect, a U indicator
appears in the control panel. To restore default shutter speed and aperture settings, rotate
the main command dial until the indicator is no longer displayed, choose another mode, or
turn the camera off.

See Also
See page 315 for information on the built-in exposure program. For information on
activating the exposure meters, see The Standby Timer on page 39.

75

S: Shutter-Priority Auto
In shutter-priority auto, you choose the shutter speed while the camera
automatically selects the aperture that will produce the optimal exposure. Use slow
shutter speeds to suggest motion by blurring moving subjects, fast shutter speeds to
freeze motion.

Fast shutter speed (1/1,600 s)

Slow shutter speed (1/6 s)

To choose a shutter speed, rotate the main

command dial while the exposure meters are on.
Shutter speed can be set to v or to values
between 30 s and 1/4,000 s.
Main command dial

See Also
See page 323 for information on what to do if flashing A or % indicator appears in
the shutter-speed displays.

76

A: Aperture-Priority Auto
In aperture-priority auto, you choose the aperture while the camera automatically
selects the shutter speed that will produce the optimal exposure. Large apertures (low
f-numbers) increase flash range (0 147) and reduce depth of field, blurring objects
behind and in front of the main subject. Small apertures (high f-numbers) increase
depth of field, bringing out details in the background and foreground. Short field
depths are generally used in portraits to blur background details, long field depths in
landscape photographs to bring the foreground and background into focus.

Large aperture (f/5.6)

Small aperture (f/22)

To choose an aperture between the minimum and

maximum values for the lens, rotate the subcommand dial while the exposure meters are on.

#
Sub-command dial

Depth-of-Field Preview
To preview the effects of aperture, press and hold the
depth-of-field preview button. The lens will be
stopped down to the aperture value selected by the
camera (modes P and S) or the value chosen by the user
(modes A and M), allowing depth of field to be
previewed in the viewfinder.

Depth-of-field preview button

Custom Setting e5Modeling Flash

This setting controls whether the built-in flash and optional flash units such as the SB-910,
SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 (0 293) will emit a modeling flash when the depth-offield preview button is pressed. See page 241 for more information.

77

M: Manual
In manual exposure mode, you control both shutter speed and aperture. While the
exposure meters are on, rotate the main command dial to choose a shutter speed,
and the sub-command dial to set aperture. Shutter speed can be set to v or to
values between 30 s and 1/4,000 s, or the shutter can be held open indefinitely for a
long time-exposure (A, 0 79). Aperture can be set to values between the
minimum and maximum values for the lens. Use the exposure indicators to check
exposure.
Shutter speed

Main command dial

Aperture

Sub-command dial

AF Micro NIKKOR Lenses

Provided that an external exposure meter is used, the exposure ratio need only be taken into
account when the lens aperture ring is used to set aperture.

The Exposure Indicator

If a shutter speed other than bulb or time is selected, the exposure indicator in the
viewfinder shows whether the photograph would be under- or over-exposed at current
settings. Depending on the option chosen for Custom Setting b2 (EV steps for exposure
cntrl, 0 224), the amount of under- or over-exposure is shown in increments of 1/3 EV or
1/2 EV (the illustrations below show the display in the viewfinder when 1/3 step is selected
for Custom Setting b2). If the limits of the exposure metering system are exceeded, the
displays will flash.
Optimal exposure

Underexposed by 1/3 EV

Overexposed by over 2 EV

See Also
For information reversing the exposure indicators so that negative values are displayed on
the right and positive values on the left, see Custom Setting f8 (Reverse indicators, 0 246).

78

 Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only)

Select the following shutter speeds for long timeexposures of moving lights, the stars, night
scenery, or fireworks.
Bulb (A): The shutter remains open while
the shutter-release button is held down. To
prevent blur, use a tripod or an optional
MC-DC2 remote cord (0 298).
Time (%): Requires an optional ML-L3 remote
control (0 298). Start the exposure by pressing
the ML-L3 shutter-release button. The shutter
remains open for thirty minutes or until the
button is pressed a second time.

Length of exposure: 35 s
Aperture: f/25

Ready the camera.

Mount the camera on a tripod or place it on a stable, level surface. To prevent
light entering via the viewfinder interfering with exposure, remove the rubber
eyecup and cover the viewfinder with the supplied DK-5 eyepiece cap (0 86).
To prevent loss of power before the exposure is complete, use a fully charged
EN-EL15 battery or an optional EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power connector.
Note that noise (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, or fog) may be
present in long exposures; before shooting, choose On for Long exposure NR
in the shooting menu (0 218).

Rotate the mode dial to M.

Mode dial

79

Choose a shutter speed.

While the exposure meters are on, rotate the
main command dial to choose a shutter
speed of A.
Main command dial

For a shutter speed of time (%), select

remote control release mode (0 85) after
choosing the shutter speed.

Open the shutter.

Bulb: After focusing, press the shutter-release button on the camera or optional
remote cord all the way down. Keep the shutter-release button pressed until
the exposure is complete.

Time: Press the ML-L3 shutter-release button all the way down.

Close the shutter.

Bulb: Take your finger off the shutter-release button.
Time: Press the ML-L3 shutter-release button all the way down. Shooting ends
automatically after thirty minutes.

80

$User Settings: U1 and U2 Modes

Assign frequently-used settings to the U1 and U2 positions on the mode dial.

Saving User Settings

Select a mode.

Mode dial

Rotate the mode dial to the desired mode.

Adjust settings.
Make the desired adjustments to flexible program (mode P), shutter speed
(modes S and M), aperture (modes A and M), exposure and flash compensation,
flash mode, focus point, metering, autofocus and AF-area modes, bracketing,
and settings in the shooting (0 214) and Custom Settings (0 219) menus (note
that the camera will not store the options selected for Storage folder, File
naming, Image area, Manage Picture Control, Multiple exposure, or
Interval timer shooting).

Select Save user settings.

Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Save user settings in the setup
menu and press 2.
G button

Select Save to U1 or Save to U2.

Highlight Save to U1 or Save to U2 and
press 2.

81

Save user settings.

Highlight Save settings and press J to
assign the settings selected in Steps 1 and 2
to the mode dial position selected in Step 4.

Recalling User Settings

Simply rotate the mode dial to U1 to recall the
settings assigned to Save to U1, or to U2 to recall
the settings assigned to Save to U2.

Mode dial

Resetting User Settings

$

To reset settings for U1 or U2 to default values:

Select Reset user settings.

Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Reset user settings in the setup
menu and press 2.
G button

Select Reset U1 or Reset U2.

Highlight Reset U1 or Reset U2 and press 2.

Reset user settings.

Highlight Reset and press J.

82

kRelease Mode
Choosing a Release Mode
To choose a release mode, press the release mode dial lock
release and turn the release mode dial to the desired setting.

Mode

Description

Single frame: Camera takes one photograph each time shutter-release button is pressed.

CL
CH
J
E
4
MUP

Continuous low speed: While shutter-release button is held down, camera records 15
frames per second. 1 Frame rate can be chosen using Custom Setting d5 (CL mode
shooting speed, 0 229). Note that only one picture will be taken if the flash fires.
Continuous high speed: While shutter-release button is held down, camera records up to
5.5 frames per second. 2 Note that only one picture will be taken if the flash fires.
Quiet shutter-release: As for single frame, except that mirror does not click back into place
while shutter-release button is fully pressed, allowing user to control timing of click
made by mirror, which is also quieter than in single frame mode. In addition, beep
does not sound regardless of setting selected for Custom Setting d1 (Beep; 0 228).
Self-timer: Use self-timer for self-portraits or to reduce blurring caused by camera shake
(0 85).
Remote control: Shutter is controlled using shutter-release button on optional ML-L3
remote control (0 85).
Mirror up: Choose this mode to minimize camera shake in telephoto or close-up
photography or in other situations in which the slightest camera movement can result
in blurred photographs.

1 Average frame rate with an EN-EL15 battery, continuous-servo AF, manual or shutter-priority
auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/200 s or faster, remaining settings other than Custom
Setting d5 at default values, and memory remaining in memory buffer.
2 Average frame rate with an EN-EL15 battery, continuous-servo AF, manual or shutter-priority
auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/200 s or faster, other settings at default values, and
memory remaining in memory buffer.

Frame rate drops at slow shutter speeds or very small apertures (high f-numbers),
when vibration reduction (available with VR lenses) or auto ISO sensitivity control is
on (0 105, 107), or when the battery is low.

83

The Memory Buffer

The camera is equipped with a memory buffer for temporary
storage, allowing shooting to continue while photographs are
being saved to the memory card. Up to 100 photographs can
be taken in succession; note, however, that the frame rate will
drop when the buffer is full (t00). The approximate number
of images that can be stored in the buffer at current settings is
shown in the exposure-count displays in the viewfinder and
control panel while the shutter-release button is pressed. The illustration at right shows the
display when space remains in the buffer for about 28 pictures.

While photographs are being recorded to the memory card, the access lamp next to the
memory card slot will light. Depending on shooting conditions and memory card
performance, recording may take from a few seconds to a few minutes. Do not remove the
memory card or remove or disconnect the power source until the access lamp has gone out. If
the camera is switched off while data remain in the buffer, the power will not turn off until all
images in the buffer have been recorded. If the battery is exhausted while images remain in
the buffer, the shutter release will be disabled and the images transferred to the memory
card.

Live View
If a continuous release mode is used during live view photography (0 49) or in movie live
view (0 57), photographs will be displayed in place of the view through the lens while the
shutter-release button is pressed.

See Also
For information on choosing the maximum number of photographs that can be taken in a
single burst, see Custom Setting d6 (Max. continuous release, 0 230). For information on
the number of pictures that can be taken in a single burst, see page 334.

84

Self-Timer and Remote Control Modes

The self-timer and optional ML-L3 remote control (0 298) can be used to reduce
camera shake or for self-portraits.

Mount the camera on a tripod.

Mount the camera on a tripod or place the camera on a stable, level surface.

Select a release mode.

Press the release mode dial lock release and
rotate the release-mode dial to E (self-timer)
or 4 (remote control) mode.
Release mode dial

In remote control mode, the timing of the

shutter release can be selected using the
Remote control mode option in the
shooting menu. After pressing the G
button to display the menus, highlight
Remote control mode in the shooting
G button
menu and press 2 to display the following
options. Press the selector up or down to highlight an option and press J.

Option

Description
Shutter is released 2 s after ML-L3 shutter-release button is
% Delayed remote
pressed.
Quick-response Shutter is released when ML-L3 shutter-release button is
$
remote
pressed.
Press ML-L3 shutter-release button once to raise mirror, again to
Remote
&
release shutter and take photograph. Prevents blur caused by
mirror-up
camera moving when mirror is raised.

85

Frame the photograph.

Cover the Viewfinder

When taking photos without your eye to
the viewfinder, remove the DK-21 rubber
eyecup (q) and insert the supplied DK-5
eyepiece cap as shown (w). This
prevents light entering via the
viewfinder interfering with exposure.
Hold the camera firmly when removing
the rubber eyecup.

DK-21 rubber eyecup

DK-5 eyepiece cap

Take the photograph.

Self-timer mode: Press the shutter-release
button halfway to focus, and then press the
button the rest of the way down to start the
self-timer (note that the timer will not start if the camera is unable to focus or in
other situations in which the shutter can not be released). The self-timer lamp
will start to flash. Two seconds before the photograph is taken, the self-timer
lamp will stop flashing. The shutter will be released ten seconds after the timer
starts.
Remote control mode: From a distance of 5 m
(16 ft) or less, aim the transmitter on the
ML-L3 at either of the infrared receivers on
the camera (0 2, 4) and press the ML-L3
shutter-release button. In delayed remote
mode, the self-timer lamp will light for about
two seconds before the shutter is released. In quick-response remote mode, the
self-timer lamp will flash after the shutter has been released. In remote mirrorup mode, pressing the ML-L3 shutter-release button once raises the mirror; the
shutter will be released and the self-timer lamp will flash after 30 s or when the
button is pressed a second time. Note that the remote control can not be used
to record movies; even if Record movies is selected for Custom Setting g4
(Assign shutter button, 0 248), pressing the shutter-release button on the
remote control will release the shutter and record a photograph.

To cancel shooting, select another release mode.

86

Before Using the Remote Control

Before using the remote control for the first time, remove the clear plastic battery-insulator
sheet.

Using the Built-in Flash

Before taking a photograph with the flash in P, S, A, M, or 0 modes, press the M (Y) button to
raise the flash and wait for the M indicator to be displayed in the viewfinder (0 143).
Shooting will be interrupted if the flash is raised while remote control mode is in effect or
after the self-timer has started. If the flash is required, the camera will only respond to the
ML-L3 shutter-release button once the flash has charged. In auto or scene modes in which
the flash pops up automatically, the flash will begin charging when remote control mode is
selected; once the flash is charged, it will automatically pop up and fire when required. Note
that only one photograph will be taken when the flash fires, regardless of the number of
exposures selected for Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer; 0 227).
In flash modes that support red-eye reduction, the red-eye reduction lamp will light for
about one second before the shutter is released. In delayed remote mode, the self-timer
lamp will light for two seconds, followed by the red-eye reduction lamp which light for one
second before the shutter is released.

Focusing in Remote Control Mode

The camera will not adjust focus in remote mirror-up mode or when continuous-servo
autofocus is selected; note however that if any autofocus mode is selected, you can focus by
pressing the camera shutter-release button halfway before shooting (pressing the button all
the way down will not release the shutter). If auto- or single-servo autofocus is selected or
the camera is in live view in delayed or quick-response remote mode, the camera will
automatically adjust focus before shooting; if the camera is unable to focus in viewfinder
photography, it will return to stand-by without releasing the shutter.

Remote Mirror-up Mode

Metering is not performed in remote mirror-up mode. Photos can not be framed in the
viewfinder while the mirror is raised.

A
Time (bulb) exposures can not be recorded using the self-timer. A fixed shutter speed will be
used if a speed of A is selected in mode M.

See Also
For information on choosing the duration of the self-timer, the number of shots taken, and
the interval between shots, see Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer; 0 227). For information on
choosing the length of time the camera will remain in stand-by mode waiting for a signal
from the remote control, see Custom Setting c5 (Remote on duration; 0 228). For
information on controlling the beeps that sound when the self-timer and remote control are
used, see Custom Setting d1 (Beep; 0 228).

87

Mirror up Mode
Choose this mode to minimize blurring caused by camera movement when the
mirror is raised. Use of a tripod is recommended.

Select mirror up mode.

Press the release mode dial lock release and
rotate the release mode dial to MUP.

Release mode dial

Raise the mirror.

Frame the picture, focus, and then press the
shutter-release button the rest of the way down
to raise the mirror.

Mirror Up
While the mirror is raised, photos can not be framed in the viewfinder and autofocus
and metering will not be performed.

Take a picture.
Press the shutter-release button all the way
down again to take a picture. To prevent
blurring caused by camera movement, press the
shutter-release button smoothly, or use an optional remote cord (0 298). The
mirror lowers when shooting ends.

Mirror up Mode
A picture will be taken automatically if no operations are performed for about 30 s after the
mirror is raised.

See Also
For information on using the optional ML-L3 remote control for mirror-up photography, see
page 85.

88

dImage Recording Options

Image Area
Choose the aspect ratio and angle of view (image area). Thanks to the cameras FX
format (35.9 24 mm) image sensor, you can choose from angles of view as wide as
those supported by 35 mm (135) format film cameras, while automatically cropping
pictures to the DX angle of view when using DX format lenses. See page 334 for
information on the number of pictures that can be stored at different image area
settings.

Auto DX Crop
Choose whether to automatically select a DX crop when a DX
lens is attached.
Option
On
Off

Description
Camera automatically selects DX crop when DX lens is
attached. If another lens is attached, the crop selected for
Choose image area will be used.
Crop selected for Choose image area is used.

DX Lenses
DX lenses are designed for use with DX format cameras and have a smaller angle of view
than lenses for 35mm format cameras. If Auto DX crop is off and FX (3624) 1.0 (FX
format) is selected for Choose image area when a DX lens is attached, the edges of the
image may be eclipsed. This may not be apparent in the viewfinder, but when the images
are played back you may notice a drop in resolution or that the edges of the picture are
blacked out.

89

 Choose Image Area

Choose the image area used when a non-DX lens is attached or
a DX-lens is attached with Off selected for Auto DX crop
(0 91).
Option
FX (3624)
c 1.0
(FX format)
DX (2416)
a 1.5
(DX format)

Description
Images are recorded in FX format using the full
area of the image sensor (35.9 24.0 mm),
producing an angle of view equivalent to a
NIKKOR lens on a 35 mm format camera.
An area at the center of the image sensor
23.5 15.7 mm is used to record pictures in DX
format. To calculate the approximate focal length
of the lens in 35mm format, multiply by 1.5.

FX format (3624)
image circle
FX format

DX format (2416)
image circle
DX format

Image Area
The selected option is shown in the information display.

The Viewfinder Display

The DX format crop is shown at right; the area outside the crop can be
viewed in gray when Off is selected for Custom Setting a4 (AF point
illumination, 0 222).

DX format

See Also
See page 63 for information on the crops available in movie live view.

90

Image area can be set using the Image area option in the shooting menu or by
pressing a control and rotating a command dial.

The Image Area Menu

Select Image area in the shooting

menu.
Press G to display the menus. Highlight
Image area in the shooting menu (0 214)
and press 2.
G button

Choose an option.
Highlight Auto DX crop or Choose image
area and press 2.

Adjust settings.
Choose an option and press J. The
selected crop is displayed in the viewfinder
(0 90).

91

 Camera Controls

Assign image area selection to a camera control.

Select Choose image area for a camera control in the Custom Settings menu
(0 219). Image area selection can be assigned to the Fn button (Custom Setting
f2, Assign Fn button, 0 242) or the depth-of-field preview button (Custom
Setting f3, Assign preview button, 0 244).

Use the selected control to choose an image area.

The image area can be selected by pressing the
selected button and rotating the main or subcommand dial until the desired crop is
displayed in the viewfinder (0 90).
Fn button Main command
dial

The option currently selected for image area can

be viewed by pressing the button to display the
image area in the control panel, viewfinder, or
information display. FX format is displayed as
36 24 and DX format as 24 16.

Auto DX Crop
The selected control can not be used to select image area when a DX lens is attached and
Auto DX crop is on.

Image Size
Image size varies with the option selected for image area (0 95).

92

Image Quality and Size

Together, image quality and size determine how much space each photograph
occupies on the memory card. Larger, higher quality images can be printed at larger
sizes but also require more memory, meaning that fewer such images can be stored
on the memory card (0 334).

Image Quality
Choose a file format and compression ratio (image quality).
Option

File type

Description
Raw data from the image sensor are saved directly to the memory card.
NEF (RAW)
NEF Settings such as white balance and contrast can be adjusted after
shooting.
Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1:4 (fine
JPEG fine
quality). *
Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1:8 (normal
JPEG normal JPEG
quality). *
Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1:16 (basic
JPEG basic
quality). *
NEF (RAW)+
Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one fine-quality
JPEG fine
JPEG image.
NEF (RAW)+ NEF/ Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one normalJPEG normal JPEG quality JPEG image.
NEF (RAW)+
Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one basic-quality
JPEG basic
JPEG image.
* Size priority selected for JPEG compression.

Image quality can be set by pressing the X (T) button and rotating the main
command dial until the desired setting is displayed in the control panel.

X (T) button

Main command dial

Control panel

The Shooting Menu

Image quality can also be adjusted using the Image quality option
in the shooting menu (0 214).

93

The following options can be accessed from the shooting menu. Press the G
button to display the menus, highlight the desired option and press 2.

JPEG Compression
Choose the type of compression for JPEG images.
Option
Description
Images are compressed to produce relatively uniform file size.
O Size priority
P Optimal quality Optimal image quality. File size varies with scene recorded.

NEF (RAW) Recording > Type

Choose the type of compression for NEF (RAW) images.
Option
Lossless
N
compressed
O Compressed

Description
NEF images are compressed using a reversible algorithm, reducing
file size by about 2040% with no effect on image quality.
NEF images are compressed using a non-reversible algorithm,
reducing file size by about 3555% with almost no effect on image
quality.

NEF (RAW) Recording > NEF (RAW) Bit Depth

Choose a bit depth for NEF (RAW) images.

Option
q 12-bit
r 14-bit

Description
NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit-depth of 12 bits.
NEF (RAW) images are recorded at a bit depth of 14 bits, producing
files larger than those with a bit depth of 12 bits but increasing the
color data recorded.

NEF (RAW) Images

NEF (RAW) images can be viewed on the camera or using software such as Capture NX 2
(available separately; 0 298) or ViewNX 2 (available on the supplied ViewNX 2 CD). Note
that the option selected for image size does not affect the size of NEF (RAW) images; when
viewed on a computer, NEF (RAW) images have the dimensions given for large (#-size)
images in the table on page 95. JPEG copies of NEF (RAW) images can be created using the
NEF (RAW) processing option in the retouch menu (0 271).

NEF+JPEG
When photographs taken at settings of NEF (RAW) + JPEG are viewed on the camera with
only one memory card inserted, only the JPEG image will be displayed. If both copies are
recorded to the same memory card, both copies will be erased when the photo is deleted. If
the JPEG copy is recorded to a separate memory card using the Role played by card in
Slot 2 > RAW Slot 1JPEG Slot 2 option, deleting the JPEG copy will not delete the NEF
(RAW) image.

94

Image Size
Image size is measured in pixels. Choose from # Large, $ Medium, or % Small
(note that image size varies depending on the option selected for Image area, 0 89):
Option
Size (pixels)
Print size (cm/in.) *
Large
6,016 4,016
50.9 34.0/20.1 13.4
FX (3624) 1.0
Medium
4,512 3,008
38.2 25.5/15.0 10.0
(FX format)
Small
3,008 2,008
25.5 17.0/10.0 6.7
Large
3,936 2,624
33.3 22.2/13.1 8.7
DX (2416) 1.5
Medium
2,944 1,968
24.9 16.7/ 9.8 6.6
(DX format)
Small
1,968 1,312
16.7 11.1/ 6.6 4.4
* Approximate size when printed at 300 dpi. Print size in inches equals image size in pixels
divided by printer resolution in dots per inch (dpi; 1 inch=approximately 2.54 cm).
Image area

Image size can be set by pressing the X (T) button and rotating the subcommand dial until the desired setting is displayed in the control panel.

X (T) button

Sub command dial

Control panel

The Shooting Menu

Image size can also be adjusted using the Image size option in the
shooting menu (0 214).

95

Using Two Memory Cards

When two memory cards are inserted in the camera, you can use the Role played by
card in Slot 2 item in the shooting menu to choose the role played by the card in Slot
2. Choose from Overflow (the card in Slot 2 is used only when the card in Slot 1 is
full), Backup (each picture is recorded twice, once to the card in Slot 1 and again to
the card in Slot 2), and RAW Slot 1JPEG Slot 2 (as for Backup, except that the NEF/
RAW copies of photos recorded at settings of NEF/RAW + JPEG are recorded only to
the card in Slot 1 and the JPEG copies only to the card in Slot 2).

Backup and RAW Slot 1JPEG Slot 2

The camera shows the number of exposures remaining on the card with the least amount of
memory. Shutter release will be disabled when either card is full.

Recording Movies
When two memory cards are inserted in the camera, the slot used to record movies can be
selected using the Movie settings > Destination option in the shooting menu (0 65).

96

NFocus
This section describes the focus options available when photographs are framed in
the viewfinder. Focus can be adjusted automatically (see below) or manually
(0 103). The user can also select the focus point for automatic or manual focus
(0 101) or use focus lock to focus to recompose photographs after focusing (0 102).

Autofocus
To use autofocus, rotate the focus-mode selector to AF. Focus-mode selector

Autofocus Mode
Choose from the following autofocus modes:
Mode

Description
Auto-servo AF: Camera automatically selects single-servo autofocus if subject is stationary,
AF-A
continuous-servo autofocus if subject is moving.
Single-servo AF: For stationary subjects. Focus locks when shutter-release button is pressed
AF-S halfway. At default settings, shutter can only be released when in-focus indicator is
displayed (focus priority; 0 221).
Continuous-servo AF: For moving subjects. Camera focuses continuously while shutterrelease button is pressed halfway; if subject moves, camera will engage predictive focus
AF-C tracking (0 100) to predict final distance to subject and adjust focus as necessary. At
default settings, shutter can be released whether or not subject is in focus (release
priority; 0 221).

Predictive Focus Tracking

In AF-C mode or when continuous-servo autofocus is selected in AF-A mode, the camera will
initiate predictive focus tracking if the subject moves toward or away from the camera while
the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. This allows the camera to track focus while
attempting to predict where the subject will be when the shutter is released.

97

Autofocus mode can be selected by pressing the AFmode button and rotating the main command dial
until the desired setting is displayed in the viewfinder
or control panel.
AF-mode button Main command
dial

AF-A

AF-S

AF-C

Getting Good Results with Autofocus

Autofocus does not perform well under the conditions listed below. The shutter release may
be disabled if the camera is unable to focus under these conditions, or the in-focus indicator
(I) may be displayed and the camera may sound a beep, allowing the shutter to be released
even when the subject is not in focus. In these cases, focus manually (0 103) or use focus
lock (0 102) to focus on another subject at the same distance and then recompose the
photograph.

There is little or no contrast

between the subject and the
background.

The focus point contains

areas of sharply contrasting
brightness.

Example: Subject is the same

color as the background.
The focus point contains
objects at different distances
from the camera.

Example: Subject is half in

the shade.

Example: Subject is inside a

cage.
The subject is dominated by
regular geometric patterns.
Example: Blinds or a row of
windows in a skyscraper.

Background objects appear

larger than the subject.
Example: A building is in the
frame behind the subject.
The subject contains many
fine details.
Example: A field of flowers or
other subjects that are
small or lack variation in
brightness.

See Also
For information on using focus priority in continuous-servo AF, see Custom Setting a1 (AF-C
priority selection, 0 221). For information on using release priority in single-servo AF, see
Custom Setting a2 (AF-S priority selection, 0 221). See page 51 for information on the
autofocus options available in live view or during movie recording.

98

AF-Area Mode
Choose how the focus point for autofocus is selected.
Single-point AF: Select the focus point as described on page 101; the camera will
focus on the subject in the selected focus point only. Use with stationary subjects.
Dynamic-area AF: Select the focus point as described on page 101. In AF-A and AF-C
focus modes, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding focus
points if the subject briefly leaves the selected point. The number of focus points
varies with the mode selected:
- 9-point dynamic-area AF: Choose when there is time to compose the photograph or
when photographing subjects that are moving predictably (e.g., runners or race
cars on a track).
- 21-point dynamic-area AF: Choose when photographing subjects that are moving
unpredictably (e.g., players at a football game).
- 39-point dynamic-area AF: Choose when photographing subjects that are moving
quickly and can not be easily framed in the viewfinder (e.g., birds).
3D-tracking: Select the focus point as described on page 101. In AF-A and AF-C focus
modes, the camera will track subjects that leave the selected focus point and select
new focus points as required. Use to quickly compose pictures with subjects that
are moving erratically from side to side (e.g., tennis players). If the subject leaves
viewfinder, remove your finger from the shutter-release button and recompose
the photograph with the subject in the selected focus point.

Auto-area AF: The camera automatically detects the subject and

selects the focus point. If a type G or D lens is used (0 287),
the camera can distinguish human subjects from the
background for improved subject detection. The active focus
points are highlighted briefly after the camera focuses; in AF-C
mode or when continuous-servo autofocus is selected in AF-A
mode, the main focus point remains highlighted after the
other focus points have turned off.

99

AF-area mode can be selected by pressing

the AF-mode button and rotating the subcommand dial until the desired setting is
displayed in the viewfinder or control panel.
AF-mode button

Control panel

Sub-command dial

Viewfinder

3D-tracking
When the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the colors in the area surrounding the
focus point are stored in the camera. Consequently 3D-tracking may not produce the
desired results with subjects that are the same color as the background or that occupy a very
small area of the frame.

AF-Area Mode
AF-area mode is shown in the control panel and viewfinder.
AF-area mode

Control panel

Viewfinder

AF-area mode

Single-point AF

39-point dynamic-area
AF *

9-point dynamic-area
AF *

3D-tracking

21-point dynamic-area
AF *

Auto-area AF

Control panel

Viewfinder

* Only active focus point is displayed in the viewfinder. Remaining focus points provide information to
assist focus operation.

Manual Focus
Single-point AF is automatically selected when manual focus is used.

See Also
For information on adjusting how long the camera waits before refocusing when an object
moves in front of the camera, see Custom Setting a3 (Focus tracking with lock-on, 0 222).
See page 52 for information on the autofocus options available in live view or during movie
recording.

100

Focus Point Selection

The camera offers a choice of 39 focus points that can be used to compose
photographs with the main subject positioned almost anywhere in the frame.

Rotate the focus selector lock to .

This allows the multi selector to be used to select
the focus point.
Focus selector lock

Select the focus point.

Use the multi selector to select the focus point in
the viewfinder while the exposure meters are on.
Press J to select the center focus point.

The focus selector lock can be rotated to the

locked (L) position following selection to prevent
the selected focus point from changing when
the multi selector is pressed.

Auto-area AF
The focus point for auto-area AF is selected automatically; manual focus-point selection is
not available.

See Also
For information on choosing when the focus point is illuminated, see Custom Setting a4 (AF
point illumination, 0 222). For information on setting focus-point selection to wrap
around, see Custom Setting a5 (Focus point wrap-around, 0 222). For information on
choosing the number of focus points that can be selected using the multi selector, see
Custom Setting a6 (Number of focus points, 0 223). For information on changing the role
of the J button, see Custom Setting f1, OK button (shooting mode); 0 241.

101

Focus Lock
Focus lock can be used to change the composition after focusing, making it possible
to focus on a subject that will not be in a focus point in the final composition. If the
camera is unable to focus using autofocus (0 98), focus lock can also be used to
recompose the photograph after focusing on another object at the same distance as
your original subject. Focus lock is most effective when an option other than autoarea AF is selected for AF-area mode (0 99).

Focus.
Position the subject in the selected focus point
and press the shutter-release button halfway to
initiate focus. Check that the in-focus indicator
(I) appears in the viewfinder.

Lock focus.
AF-A and AF-C focus modes: With the shutter-release
button pressed halfway (q), press the A AE-L/AF-L
button (w) to lock both focus and exposure (an
AE-L icon will be displayed in the viewfinder).
Focus will remain locked while the A AE-L/AF-L
button is pressed, even if you later remove your
finger from the shutter-release button.

AF-S focus mode: Focus locks automatically when

the in-focus indicator appears, and remain
locked until you remove your finger from the
shutter-release button. Focus can also be locked
by pressing the A AE-L/AF-L button (see above).

Shutter-release button

A AE-L/AF-L button

Recompose the photograph and shoot.

Focus will remain locked between shots if you
keep the shutter-release button pressed halfway
(AF-S) or keep the A AE-L/AF-L button pressed,
allowing several photographs in succession to
be taken at the same focus setting.

Do not change the distance between the camera and the subject while focus lock is
in effect. If the subject moves, focus again at the new distance.

See Also
See Custom setting c1 (Shutter-release button AE-L, 0 226) for information on using the
shutter-release button to lock exposure, Custom Setting f4 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button,
0 244) for information on choosing the role played by the A AE-L/AF-L button.

102

Manual Focus
Manual focus is available for lenses that do not support autofocus (non-AF NIKKOR
lenses) or when the autofocus does not produce the desired results (0 98).
AF-S lenses: Set the lens focus mode switch to M.
AF lenses: Set the lens focus mode switch (if present) Focus-mode selector
and camera focus-mode selector to M.

AF Lenses
Do not use AF lenses with the lens focus mode switch
set to M and the camera focus-mode selector set to AF.
Failure to observe this precaution could damage the
camera or lens.

Manual focus lenses: Set the camera focus-mode selector to M.

To focus manually, adjust the lens focus ring until the
image displayed on the clear matte field in the
viewfinder is in focus. Photographs can be taken at
any time, even when the image is not in focus.

The Electronic Rangefinder

If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster,
the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm
whether the subject in the selected focus point is in
focus (the focus point can be selected from any of the
39 focus points). After positioning the subject in the
selected focus point, press the shutter-release button
halfway and rotate the lens focus ring until the in-focus indicator (I) is displayed.
Note that with the subjects listed on page 98, the in-focus indicator may sometimes
be displayed when the subject is not in focus; confirm focus in the viewfinder before
shooting.

Focal Plane Position

To determine the distance between your subject and the
camera, measure from the focal plane mark (E) on the
camera body. The distance between the lens mounting
flange and the focal plane is 46.5 mm (1.83 in.).

46.5 mm

Focal plane mark

103

104

SISO Sensitivity
ISO sensitivity is the digital equivalent of film speed. Choose from settings that
range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400 in steps equivalent to 1/3 EV. Settings of from about
0.3 to 1 EV below ISO 100 and 0.3 to 2 EV above ISO 6400 are also available for special
situations. Auto and scene modes also offer an AUTO option, which allows the camera
to set ISO sensitivity automatically in response to lighting conditions. The higher the
ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing higher shutter
speeds or smaller apertures.
ISO sensitivity can be adjusted by
pressing the W (S) button and
rotating the main command dial until
the desired setting is displayed in the
control panel or viewfinder.
W (S) button Main command dial

Control panel

Viewfinder

105

AUTO
If the mode dial is rotated to P, S, A, or M after AUTO is selected for ISO sensitivity in another
mode, the ISO sensitivity last selected in P, S, A, or M mode will be restored.

Hi 0.3Hi 2
The settings Hi 0.3 through Hi 2 correspond to ISO sensitivities 0.32 EV over ISO 6400 (ISO
800025600 equivalent). Pictures taken at these settings are more likely to be subject to
noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines).

Lo 0.3Lo 1
The settings Lo 0.3 through Lo 1 correspond to ISO sensitivities 0.31 EV below ISO 100 (ISO
8050 equivalent). Use for larger apertures when lighting is bright. Contrast is slightly
higher than normal; in most cases, ISO sensitivities of ISO 100 or above are recommended.

The Shooting Menu

ISO sensitivity can also be adjusted using the ISO sensitivity
settings option in the shooting menu (0 214).

See Also
For information on choosing the ISO sensitivity step size, see Custom Setting b1 (ISO
sensitivity step value; 0 224). For information on displaying ISO sensitivity in the control
panel or adjusting ISO sensitivity without using the W (S) button, see Custom Setting d3
(ISO display and adjustment; 0 229). For information on using the High ISO NR option in
the shooting menu to reduce noise at high ISO sensitivities, see page 218.

106

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

If On is selected for ISO sensitivity settings > Auto ISO sensitivity control in the
shooting menu, ISO sensitivity will automatically be adjusted if optimal exposure can
not be achieved at the value selected by the user (ISO sensitivity is adjusted
appropriately when the flash is used).

Select Auto ISO sensitivity control for

ISO sensitivity settings in the shooting
menu.
To display the menus, press the G button.
Select ISO sensitivity settings in the
G button
shooting menu, highlight Auto ISO
sensitivity control and press 2.

Select On.
Highlight On and press J (if Off is selected,
ISO sensitivity will remain fixed at the value
selected by the user).

Adjust settings.
The maximum value for auto ISO sensitivity
can be selected using Maximum sensitivity
(the minimum value for auto ISO sensitivity
is automatically set to ISO 100; note that if
the value selected for Maximum sensitivity
is lower than the value currently selected for ISO sensitivity, the value selected
for Maximum sensitivity will be used). In modes P and A, sensitivity will only
be adjusted if underexposure would result at the shutter speed selected for
Minimum shutter speed (1/20001 s, or Auto; in modes S and M, ISO sensitivity
will be adjusted for optimal exposure at the shutter speed selected by the user).
If Auto (available only with CPU lenses; equivalent to 1/30 s when a non-CPU
lens is used) is selected, the camera will choose the minimum shutter speed
based on the focal length of the lens (auto shutter-speed selection can be finetuned by highlighting Auto and pressing 2; for example, even faster values
than those usually selected automatically by the camera can be used with
telephoto lenses to reduce blur). Shutter speeds slower than the minimum
value may be used if optimum exposure can not be achieved at the ISO
sensitivity value selected for Maximum sensitivity. Press J to exit when
settings are complete.

107

When On is selected, the viewfinder and

control panel show ISO-AUTO. When
sensitivity is altered from the value
selected by the user, these indicators
flash and the altered value is shown in
viewfinder.

Control panel

Viewfinder

S
A

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control

Noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) is more likely at higher sensitivities. Use
the High ISO NR option in the shooting menu to reduce noise (see page 218). When a flash
is used, the value selected for Minimum shutter speed is ignored in favor of the option
selected for Custom Setting e1 (Flash sync speed, 0 234). Note that ISO sensitivity may be
raised automatically when auto ISO sensitivity control is used in combination with slow sync
flash modes (available with the built-in flash and the optional flash units listed on page 293),
possibly preventing the camera from selecting slow shutter speeds.

Turning Auto ISO Sensitivity Control On or Off

You can turn auto ISO sensitivity control on or off by
pressing the W (S) button and rotating the subcommand dial. ISO-AUTO is displayed when auto ISO
sensitivity control is on.
W (S) button

108

Sub-command
dial

ZExposure
Metering

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Choose how the camera sets exposure in P, S, A, and M modes (in other modes, the
camera selects the metering method automatically).
Option

Description
Matrix: Produces natural results in most situations. Camera meters a wide area of the
frame and set exposure according to tone distribution, color, composition, and, with
type G or D lenses (0 287), distance information (3D color matrix metering II; with
a other CPU lenses, camera uses color matrix metering II, which does not include 3D
distance information). With non-CPU lenses, camera uses color matrix metering if focal
length and maximum aperture are specified using Non-CPU lens data option in setup
menu (0 173); otherwise camera uses center-weighted metering.
Center-weighted: Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area
(if CPU lens is attached, size of area can be selected using Custom Setting b4, CenterZ weighted area, 0 226; if non-CPU lens is attached, area is 12 mm in diameter). Classic
meter for portraits; recommended when using filters with an exposure factor (filter
factor) over 1. *
Spot: Camera meters circle 4 mm (0.16 in.) in diameter (approximately 1.5% of frame).
Circle is centered on current focus point, making it possible to meter off-center subjects
b (if non-CPU lens is used or if auto-area AF is in effect, camera will meter center focus
point). Ensures that subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much
brighter or darker. *
* For improved precision with non-CPU lenses, specify lens focal length and maximum
aperture in Non-CPU lens data menu (0 173).

To choose a metering option, press the

Z (Q) button and rotate the main
command dial until the desired setting is
displayed in the viewfinder and control
panel.

See Also
For information on making separate
adjustments to optimal exposure for each
metering method, see Custom Setting b5
(Fine-tune optimal exposure, 0 226).

Z (Q) button Main command dial

Control panel

Viewfinder

109

Autoexposure Lock
Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using center-weighted
metering and spot metering to meter exposure. Note that matrix metering will not
produce the desired results.

Lock exposure.
Position the subject in the selected focus point
and press the shutter-release button halfway.
With the shutter-release button pressed halfway
and the subject positioned in the focus point,
press the A AE-L/AF-L button to lock focus and
exposure (if you are using autofocus, confirm
that the I in-focus indicator appears in the
viewfinder).
While exposure lock is in effect, an AE-L indicator
will appear in the viewfinder.

2
Z

110

Recompose the photograph.

Keeping the A AE-L/AF-L button pressed,
recompose the photograph and shoot.

Shutter-release button

A AE-L/AF-L button

Metered Area
In spot metering, exposure will be locked at the value metered in a 4-mm (0.16 in.) circle
centered on the selected focus point. In center-weighted metering, exposure will be locked
at the value metered in a 12-mm circle in the center of the viewfinder.

Adjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture

While exposure lock is in effect, the following settings can be adjusted without altering the
metered value for exposure:
Mode
P
S
A

Setting
Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; 0 75)
Shutter speed
Aperture

The new values can be confirmed in the viewfinder and control panel. Note that metering
can not be changed while exposure lock is in effect.

See Also
If On is selected for Custom Setting c1 (Shutter-release button AE-L, 0 226), exposure will
lock when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. For information on changing the
role of the A AE-L/AF-L button, see Custom Setting f4 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button, 0 244).

111

Exposure Compensation

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the
camera, making pictures brighter or darker. It is most effective when used with
center-weighted or spot metering (0 109). Choose from values between 5 EV
(underexposure) and +5 EV (overexposure) in increments of 1/3 EV. In general,
positive values make the subject brighter while negative values make it darker.

1 EV

No exposure compensation

To choose a value for exposure compensation, press the E

button and rotate the main command dial until the desired
value is displayed in the control panel or viewfinder.

+1 EV
E button

Main command dial

0 EV
(E button pressed)

0.3 EV

+2.0 EV

At values other than 0.0, the 0 at the center of the exposure

indicators will flash (modes P, S, and A only) and a E icon will be
displayed in the control panel and viewfinder after you release
the E button. The current value for exposure compensation
can be confirmed in the exposure indicator by pressing the E
button.
Normal exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to 0. Exposure
compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off.

112

Mode M
In mode M, exposure compensation affects only the exposure indicator; shutter speed and
aperture do not change.

Using a Flash
When a flash is used, exposure compensation affects both flash level and exposure, altering
the brightness of both the main subject and the background. Custom Setting e4 (Exposure
comp. for flash, 0 240) can be used to restrict the effects of exposure compensation to the
background only.

See Also
For information on choosing the size of the increments available for exposure
compensation, see Custom Setting b2 (EV steps for exposure cntrl, 0 224). For
information on making adjustments to exposure compensation without pressing the E
button, see Custom Setting b3 (Easy exposure compensation, 0 225). For information on
automatically varying exposure, flash level, white balance, or Active D-Lighting, see page
153.

113

114

rWhite Balance

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

White balance ensures that colors are unaffected by the color of the light source. In
modes other than P, S, A, and M, white balance is set automatically by the camera.
Auto white balance is recommended for most light sources in P, S, A, and M modes, but
other values can be selected if necessary according to the type of source:
Option

Color temp. *

Description
White balance is adjusted automatically. For best
3,500
results, use type G or D lens. If built-in or optional
8,000 K
flash fires, results are adjusted for flash.
3,000 K Use under incandescent lighting.
Use with:
2,700 K Sodium-vapor lighting (found in sports venues).
3,000 K Warm-white fluorescent lights.
3,700 K White fluorescent lights.
4,200 K Cool-white fluorescent lights.
5,000 K Daylight white fluorescent lights.
6,500 K Daylight fluorescent lights.
High color temperature light sources (e.g.
High temp. mercury-vapor
7,200 K
mercury-vapor lamps).
H Direct sunlight
5,200 K Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight.
N Flash
5,400 K Use with built-in or optional flash.
G Cloudy
6,000 K Use in daylight under overcast skies.
M Shade
8,000 K Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.
2,500 Choose color temperature from list of values
K Choose color temp.
10,000 K (0 120).
Use subject, light source, or existing photograph as
L Preset manual

reference for white balance (0 121).

* All values are approximate and do not reflect fine-tuning (if applicable).
v Auto
Normal
Keep warm lighting colors
J Incandescent
I Fluorescent
Sodium-vapor lamps
Warm-white fluorescent
White fluorescent
Cool-white fluorescent
Day white fluorescent
Daylight fluorescent

White balance is set by pressing

the L (U) button and rotating
the main command dial until the
desired setting is displayed in the
control panel.
L (U) button Main command
dial

Control panel

115

The Shooting Menu

White balance can also be adjusted using the White balance
option in the shooting menu (0 214), which also can be used to
fine-tune white balance (0 117) or measure a value for preset
white balance (0 121). The Auto option in the White balance
menu offers a choice of Normal and Keep warm lighting colors,
which preserves the warm colors produced by incandescent
lighting, while the I Fluorescent option can be used to select the
light source from the bulb types.

Studio Flash Lighting

Auto white balance may not produce the desired results with large studio flash units. Use
preset white balance or set white balance to Flash and use fine tuning to adjust white
balance.

Color Temperature
The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer and other conditions. Color
temperature is an objective measure of the color of a light source, defined with reference to
the temperature to which an object would have to be heated to radiate light in the same
wavelengths. While light sources with a color temperature in the neighborhood of 5,000
5,500 K appear white, light sources with a lower color temperature, such as incandescent
light bulbs, appear slightly yellow or red. Light sources with a higher color temperature
appear tinged with blue. The camera white balance options are adapted to the following
color temperatures:
I (sodium-vapor lamps): 2,700 K
H (direct sunlight): 5,200 K
J (incandescent)/
N (flash): 5,400 K
I (warm-white fluorescent): 3,000 K
G (cloudy): 6,000 K
I (white fluorescent): 3,700 K
I (daylight fluorescent): 6,500 K
I (cool-white fluorescent): 4,200 K
I (high temp. mercury-vapor): 7,200 K
I (day white fluorescent): 5,000 K
M (shade): 8,000 K

116

See Also
When WB bracketing is selected for Custom Setting e6 (Auto bracketing set, 0 241), the
camera will create several images each time the shutter is released. White balance will be
varied with each image, bracketing the value currently selected for white balance (0 156).

Fine-Tuning White Balance

White balance can be fine-tuned to compensate for variations in the color of the
light source or to introduce a deliberate color cast into an image. White balance is
fine-tuned using the White balance option in the shooting menu or by pressing the
L (U) button and rotating the sub-command dial.

The White Balance Menu

Select a white balance option in the

shooting menu.
To display the menus, press the G button.
Select White balance in the shooting menu,
then highlight a white balance option and
press 2. If an option other than Auto,
G button
Fluorescent, Choose color temp., or Preset
manual is selected, proceed to Step 2. If Auto, Fluorescent, or Choose color
temp. is selected, highlight the desired setting and press 2. For information on
fine-tuning preset white balance, see page 125.

Fine tune white balance.

Use the multi selector to fine-tune white
balance. White balance can be fine-tuned
on the amber (A)blue (B) axis and the green
(G)magenta (M) axis. The horizontal
(amber-blue) axis corresponds to color
Coordinates
temperature, with each increment
Adjustment
equivalent to about 5 mired. The vertical
(green-magenta) axis has the similar effects to the corresponding color
compensation (CC) filters.
Increase green

Green (G)

Blue (B)

Increase magenta
Increase blue

Amber (A)

Magenta (M)
Increase amber

117

Press J.
Press J to save settings and return to the
shooting menu. If white balance has been
fine-tuned, an asterisk (E) will be displayed
in the control panel.

The L (U) Button

At settings other than K (Choose color temp.) and
L (Preset manual), the L (U) button can be
used to fine-tune white balance on the amber (A)
blue (B) axis (0 117; to fine-tune white balance when
K or L is selected, use the shooting menu as
described on page 117). Six settings in both
L (U) button Sub-command
directions are available; each increment is equivalent
dial
to about 5 mired (0 119). Press the L (U) button
and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired
value is displayed in the control panel. Rotating the
sub-command dial to the left increases the amount of
amber (A). Rotating the sub-command dial to the
Control panel
right increases the amount of blue (B). At settings
other than 0, an asterisk (E) appears in the control
panel.

118

White Balance Fine-Tuning

The colors on the fine-tuning axes are relative, not absolute. For example, moving the cursor
to B (blue) when a warm setting such as J (incandescent) is selected for white balance will
make photographs slightly colder but will not actually make them blue.

Color Temperature Fine-Tuning

When Choose color temp. is selected, you can view the
color temperature while fine-tuning white balance.

Mired
Any given change in color temperature produces a greater difference in color at low color
temperatures than it would at higher color temperatures. For example, a change of 1000 K
produces a much greater change in color at 3000 K than at 6000 K. Mired, calculated by
multiplying the inverse of the color temperature by 10 6, is a measure of color temperature
that takes such variation into account, and as such is the unit used in color-temperature
compensation filters. E.g.:
4000 K3000 K (a difference of 1000 K)=83 mired
7000 K6000 K (a difference of 1000 K)=24 mired

119

Choosing a Color Temperature

When K (Choose color temp.) is selected for white
balance, color temperature can be selected by
pressing the L (U) button and rotating the subcommand dial. The color temperature is displayed in
the control panel.
L (U) button Sub-command
dial

Control panel

Choose Color Temperature

Note that the desired results will not be obtained with flash or fluorescent lighting. Choose
N (Flash) or I (Fluorescent) for these sources. With other light sources, take a test shot to
determine if the selected value is appropriate.

The White Balance Menu

Color temperature can also be selected in the white
balance menu. Note that the color temperature with the
L (U) button and the sub-command dial replaces the
value selected in the white balance menu.

120

Preset Manual
Preset manual is used to record and recall custom white balance settings for shooting
under mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a strong color cast. The
camera can store up to four values for preset white balance in presets d-1 through
d-4. Two methods are available for setting preset white balance:
Method
Direct measurement
Copy from existing
photograph

Description
Neutral gray or white object is placed under lighting that will be used
in final photo and white balance measured by camera (0 121).
White balance is copied from photo on memory card (0 124).

Measuring a Value for White Balance

Light a reference object.

Place a neutral gray or white object under the lighting that will be used in the
final photograph. In studio settings, a standard gray panel can be used as a
reference object. Note that exposure is automatically increased by 1 EV when
measuring white balance; in mode M, adjust exposure so that the exposure
indicator shows 0 (0 78).

Set white balance to L (Preset manual).

Press the L (U) button and rotate the main command dial until L is
displayed in the control panel.

r
L (U) button

Main command dial

Control panel

Measuring Preset White Balance

Preset manual white balance can not be measured during live view (0 49, 57), while you are
shooting an HDR photograph (0 139) or multiple exposure (0 160), or when Record
movies is selected for Custom Setting g4 (Assign shutter button, 0 248).

121

Select a preset.
Press the L (U) button and rotate the sub-command dial until the desired
white balance preset (d-1 to d-4) is displayed in the control panel.

L (U) button

Sub-command dial

Control panel

Select direct measurement mode.

Release the L (U) button briefly and then press the
button until the L icon in the control panel starts to
flash. A flashing D will also appear in the viewfinder.
The displays will flash for about six seconds.

Control panel

Viewfinder

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. The camera
will measure a value for white balance and store it in the preset selected in Step
3. No photograph will be recorded; white balance can be measured accurately
even when the camera is not in focus.

Protected Presets
If the current preset is protected (0 127), 3 will flash in the control panel and viewfinder
if you attempt to measure a new value.

122

Check the results.

If the camera was able to measure a value for white
balance, C will flash in the control panel for about
six seconds, while the viewfinder will show a flashing
a.
Control panel

Viewfinder

If lighting is too dark or too bright, the camera may be

unable to measure white balance. A flashing b a
will appear in the control panel and viewfinder for
about six seconds. Press the shutter-release button
halfway to return to Step 5 and measure white balance
again.

Control panel

Viewfinder

Direct Measurement Mode

If no operations are performed while the displays are flashing, direct measurement mode
will end in the time selected for Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer, 0 227).

Selecting a Preset
Selecting Preset manual for the White balance option in the
shooting menu displays the dialog shown at right; highlight a preset
and press J. If no value currently exists for the selected preset,
white balance will be set to 5,200 K, the same as Direct sunlight.

123

 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.

Select L (Preset manual) for White

balance in the shooting menu.
Press the G button and select White
balance in the shooting menu. Highlight
Preset manual and press 2.
G button

Select a destination.
Highlight the destination preset (d-1 to d-4)
and press W (S).

W (S) button

Choose Select image.

Highlight Select image and press 2.

Highlight a source image.

Highlight the source image.

Press J.
Press J to copy the white balance value for
the highlighted photograph to the selected
preset. If the highlighted photograph has a
comment (0 253), the comment will be
copied to the comment for the selected
preset.

124

Choosing a Source Image

To view the image highlighted in Step 4 full frame,
press and hold the X (T) button.

X (T) button
To view images in other locations, hold the D
button and press 1. The dialog shown at right will be
displayed; select the desired card and folder (0 178).

D button

Choosing a White Balance Preset

Press 1 to highlight the current white balance preset
(d-1 d-4) and press 2 to select another preset.

Fine-Tuning Preset White Balance

The selected preset can be fine-tuned by selecting
Fine-tune and adjusting white balance as
described on page 117.

125

 Entering a Comment
Follow the steps below to enter a descriptive comment of up to thirty-six characters
for a selected white balance preset.

Select L (Preset manual).

Highlight Preset manual in the white
balance menu and press 2.

Select a preset.
Highlight the desired preset and press
W (S).

W (S) button

Select Edit comment.

Highlight Edit comment and press 2.

Edit the comment.

Edit the comment as described on page 135.

126

 Protecting a White Balance Preset

Follow the steps below to protect the selected white balance preset. Protected
presets can not be modified and the Fine-tune and Edit comment options can not
be used.

Select L (Preset manual).

Highlight Preset manual in the white
balance menu and press 2.

Select a preset.
Highlight the desired preset and press
W (S).

W (S) button

Select Protect.
Highlight Protect and press 2.

Select On.
Highlight On and press J to protect the
selected white balance preset. To remove
protection, select Off.

127

128

JImage Enhancement
Picture Controls

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Nikons unique Picture Control system makes it possible to share image processing
settings, including sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue, among
compatible devices and software.

Selecting a Picture Control

The camera offers a choice of preset Picture Controls. In P, S, A, and M modes, you can
choose a Picture Control according to the subject or type of scene (in other modes,
the camera selects a Picture Control automatically).
Option

Description
Standard processing for balanced results. Recommended for most
Q Standard
situations.
Minimal processing for natural results. Choose for photographs that will later
R Neutral
be extensively processed or retouched.
Pictures are enhanced for a vivid, photoprint effect. Choose for photographs
S Vivid
that emphasize primary colors.
T Monochrome Take monochrome photographs.
e Portrait
Process portraits for skin with natural texture and a rounded feel.
f Landscape Produces vibrant landscapes and cityscapes.

Press c (b).
A list of Picture Controls will be displayed.

J
c (b) button

Choose a Picture Control.

Highlight the desired Picture Control and
press J.

129

Custom Picture Controls

Custom Picture Controls are created through modifications to existing Picture Controls using
the Manage Picture Control option in the shooting menu (0 134). Custom Picture Controls
can be saved to a memory card for sharing among other cameras of the same model and
compatible software (0 136).

The Picture Control Indicator

The current Picture Control is shown in the information display when
the R button is pressed.

Picture Control
indicator

The Shooting Menu

Picture Controls can also be selected using the Set Picture Control
option in the shooting menu (0 214).

130

Modifying Picture Controls

Existing preset or custom Picture Controls (0 134) can be modified to suit the scene
or the users creative intent. Choose a balanced combination of settings using Quick
adjust, or make manual adjustments to individual settings.

Select a Picture Control.

Highlight the desired Picture Control in the
Picture Control list (0 129) and press 2.

Adjust settings.
Press 1 or 3 to highlight the desired setting
(0 132) and press 4 or 2 to choose a value.
Repeat this step until all settings have been
adjusted, or select Quick adjust to choose a
preset combination of settings. Default settings
can be restored by pressing the O (Q) button.

Press J.

Modifications to Original Picture Controls

Picture Controls that have been modified from default
settings are indicated by an asterisk (E).

131

 Picture Control Settings

Option

Manual adjustments
(all Picture Controls)

Description
Choose from options between 2 and +2 to reduce or exaggerate the effect
of the selected Picture Control (note that this resets all manual adjustments).
Quick adjust
For example, choosing positive values for Vivid makes pictures more vivid.
Not available with Neutral or Monochrome Picture Controls.
Control the sharpness of outlines. Select A to adjust sharpening
Sharpening automatically according to the type of scene, or choose from values between
0 (no sharpening) and 9 (the higher the value, the greater the sharpening).
Select A to adjust contrast automatically according to the type of scene, or
choose from values between 3 and +3 (choose lower values to prevent
Contrast
highlights in portrait subjects from being washed out in direct sunlight,
higher values to preserve detail in misty landscapes and other low-contrast
subjects).
Choose 1 for reduced brightness, +1 for enhanced brightness. Does not
Brightness
affect exposure.

Manual adjustments Manual adjustments

(non-monochrome only) (monochrome only)

Control the vividness of colors. Select A to adjust saturation automatically

Saturation according to the type of scene, or choose from values between 3 and +3
(lower values reduce saturation and higher values increase it).
Hue

Choose negative values (to a minimum of 3) to make reds more purple,

blues more green, and greens more yellow, positive values (up to +3) to
make reds more orange, greens more blue, and blues more purple.

Filter
effects

Simulate the effect of color filters on monochrome photographs. Choose

from Off, yellow, orange, red, and green (0 133).

Toning

Choose the tint used in monochrome photographs from B&W (black-andwhite), Sepia, Cyanotype (blue-tinted monochrome), Red, Yellow, Green,
Blue Green, Blue, Purple Blue, Red Purple (0 133).

A (Auto)
Results for auto sharpening, contrast, and saturation vary with exposure and the position of
the subject in the frame. Use a type G or D lens for best results.

Custom Picture Controls

The options available with custom Picture Controls are the same as those on which the
custom Picture Control was based.

132

The Picture Control Grid

Pressing the W (S) button in Step 2 on page 131 displays a Picture
Control grid showing the contrast and saturation for the selected
Picture Control in relation to the other Picture Controls (only contrast
is displayed when Monochrome is selected). Release the W (S)
button to return to the Picture Control menu.
The icons for Picture Controls that use auto contrast and saturation
are displayed in green in the Picture Control grid, and lines appear
parallel to the axes of the grid.

Previous Settings
The line under the value display in the Picture Control setting menu
indicates the previous value for the setting. Use this as a reference
when adjusting settings.

Filter Effects (Monochrome Only)

The options in this menu simulate the effect of color filters on monochrome photographs.
The following filter effects are available:
Option
Description
Y Yellow Enhances contrast. Can be used to tone down the brightness of the sky in
O Orange landscape photographs. Orange produces more contrast than yellow, red
R
Red more contrast than orange.
G Green Softens skin tones. Can be used for portraits.
Note that the effects achieved with Filter effects are more pronounced than those
produced by physical glass filters.

Toning (Monochrome Only)

Pressing 3 when Toning is selected displays saturation options.
Press 4 or 2 to adjust saturation. Saturation control is not available
when B&W (black-and-white) is selected.

133

Creating Custom Picture Controls

The Picture Controls supplied with the camera can be modified and saved as custom
Picture Controls.

Select Manage Picture Control in the

shooting menu.
To display the menus, press the G button.
Highlight Manage Picture Control in the
shooting menu and press 2.
G button

Select Save/edit.
Highlight Save/edit and press 2.

Select a Picture Control.

Highlight an existing Picture Control and
press 2, or press J to proceed to Step 5 to
save a copy of the highlighted Picture
Control without further modification.

Edit the selected Picture Control.

See page 132 for more information. To
abandon any changes and start over from
default settings, press the O (Q) button.
Press J when settings are complete.

Select a destination.
Choose a destination for the custom Picture
Control (C-1 through C-9) and press 2.

134

Name the Picture Control.

The text-entry dialog shown at right will be
Keyboard
displayed. By default, new Picture Controls
area
are named by adding a two-digit number
Name area
(assigned automatically) to the name of the
existing Picture Control; to use the default
name, proceed to Step 7. To move the cursor in the name area, hold the
W (S) button and press 4 or 2. To enter a new letter at the current cursor
position, use the multi selector to highlight the desired character in the
keyboard area and press J. To delete the character at the current cursor
position, press the O (Q) button.
Custom Picture Control names can be up to nineteen characters long. Any
characters after the nineteenth will be deleted.

Press X (T).
Press the X (T) button to save changes
and exit. The new Picture Control will
appear in the Picture Control list.
X (T) button

Manage Picture Control > Rename

Custom Picture Controls can be renamed at any time
using the Rename option in the Manage Picture
Control menu.

Manage Picture Control > Delete

The Delete option in the Manage Picture Control
menu can be used to delete selected custom Picture
Controls when they are no longer needed.

The Original Picture Control Icon

The original preset Picture Control on which the
custom Picture Control is based is indicated by an icon
in the top right corner of the edit display.

Original Picture Control icon

135

Sharing Custom Picture Controls

Custom Picture Controls created using the Picture Control Utility available with
ViewNX 2 or optional software such as Capture NX 2 can be copied to a memory card
and loaded into the camera, or custom Picture Controls created with the camera can
be copied to the memory card to be used in other D600 cameras and software and
then deleted when no longer needed.
To copy custom Picture Controls to or from the
memory card, or to delete custom Picture Controls
from the memory card, highlight Load/save in the
Manage Picture Control menu and press 2. The
following options will be displayed:
Copy to camera: Copy custom Picture Controls from the
memory card to custom Picture Controls C-1
through C-9 on the camera and name them as
desired.
Delete from card: Delete selected custom Picture
Controls from the memory card. The confirmation
dialog shown at right will be displayed before a
Picture Control is deleted; to delete the selected
Picture Control, highlight Yes and press J.
Copy to card: Copy a custom Picture Control (C-1
through C-9) from the camera to a selected
destination (1 through 99) on the memory card.

Saving Custom Picture Controls

Up to 99 custom Picture Controls can be stored on the memory card at any one time. The
memory card can only be used to store user-created custom Picture Controls. The preset
Picture Controls supplied with the camera (0 129) can not be copied to the memory card,
renamed, or deleted.
The options in the Manage Picture Control menu apply only to the memory card in Slot 1.
Custom Picture Controls can not be deleted from or copied to or from the card in Slot 2.

136

Preserving Detail in Highlights and

Shadows
Active D-Lighting

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Active D-Lighting preserves details in highlights and shadows, creating photographs

with natural contrast. Use for high contrast scenes, for example when
photographing brightly lit outdoor scenery through a door or window or taking
pictures of shaded subjects on a sunny day. It is most effective when used with
matrix metering (0 109).

Active D-Lighting off

Active D-Lighting: Y Auto

Active D-Lighting Versus D-Lighting

The Active D-Lighting option in the shooting menu adjusts exposure before shooting to
optimize the dynamic range, while the D-Lighting option in the retouch menu optimizes
dynamic range in images after shooting.

137

To use Active D-Lighting:

Select Active D-Lighting in the

shooting menu.
To display the menus, press the G button.
Highlight Active D-Lighting in the shooting
menu and press 2.
G button

Choose an option.
Highlight the desired option and press J.
If Y Auto is selected, the camera will
automatically adjust Active D-Lighting
according to shooting conditions (in mode
M, however, Y Auto is equivalent to
Q Normal).

Active D-Lighting
Active D-Lighting can not be used with movies. Noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog,
or lines) may appear in photographs taken with Active D-Lighting. Uneven shading may be
visible with some subjects. Active D-Lighting can not be used at ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 or
above.

See Also
When ADL bracketing is selected for Custom Setting e6 (Auto bracketing set, 0 241), the
camera varies Active D-Lighting over a series of shots (0 158). For information on using the
Fn button and main command dial to select an Active D-Lighting option, see page 242.

138

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

Used with high-contrast subjects, High Dynamic Range (HDR) preserves details in
highlights and shadows by combining two shots taken at different exposures. HDR is
most effective when used with matrix metering (0 109; with other metering
methods and a non-CPU lens, an exposure differential of Auto is equivalent to about
2 EV). It can not be used to record NEF (RAW) images. Movie recording (0 57), flash
lighting, bracketing (0 153), multiple exposure (0 160), and time-lapse
photography (0 168) can not be used while HDR is in effect and a shutter speed of
A is not available.

+
First exposure (darker)

Second exposure (brighter)

Combined HDR image

Select HDR (high dynamic range).

Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight HDR (high dynamic range) in
the shooting menu and press 2.
G button

139

Select a mode.
Highlight HDR mode and press 2.

Highlight one of the following and press J.

To take a series of HDR photographs, select
6 On (series). HDR shooting will
continue until you select Off for HDR
mode.
To take one HDR photograph, select On
(single photo). Normal shooting will resume automatically after you have
created a single HDR photograph.
To exit without creating additional HDR photographs, select Off.
If On (series) or On (single photo) is selected, a k icon
will be displayed in the control panel.

Choose the exposure differential.

To choose the difference in exposure
between the two shots, highlight Exposure
differential and press 2.

140

The options shown at right will be

displayed. Highlight an option and press J.
Choose higher values for high-contrast
subjects, but note that choosing a value
higher than required may not produce the
desired results; if Auto is selected, the
camera will automatically adjust exposure to suit the scene.

Choose the amount of smoothing.

To choose how much the boundaries
between the two images are smoothed,
highlight Smoothing and press 2.
The options shown at right will be
displayed. Highlight an option and press J.
Higher values produce a smoother
composite image. Uneven shading may be
visible with some subjects.

Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

The camera takes two exposures when the shutter-release
button is pressed all the way down. l k will be
displayed in the control panel and l u in the
viewfinder while the images are combined; no
photographs can be taken until recording is complete.
Regardless of the option currently selected for release
mode, only one photograph will be taken each time the
shutter-release button is pressed.

Control panel

Viewfinder

If On (series) is selected, HDR will only turn off when Off is

selected for HDR mode; if On (single photo) is selected, HDR turns off
automatically after the photograph is taken. The k icon clears from the display
when HDR shooting ends.

Framing HDR Photographs

The edges of the image will be cropped out. The desired results may not be achieved if the
camera or subject moves during shooting. Use of a tripod is recommended. Depending on
the scene, shadows may appear around bright objects or halos may appear around dark
objects; this effect can be reduced by adjusting the amount of smoothing.

Interval Timer Photography

If On (series) is selected for HDR mode before interval timer shooting begins, the camera
will continue to shoot HDR photographs at the selected interval (if On (single photo) is
selected, interval timer shooting will end after a single shot).

141

142

lFlash Photography
Using the Built-in Flash
The built-in flash has a Guide Number (GN) 12/39 (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 C/68 F) and
provides coverage for the angle of view of 24 mm lens, or a 16 mm lens in DX format.
It can be used not only when natural lighting is inadequate but to fill in shadows and
backlit subjects or to add a catch light to the subjects eyes.

Using the Built-in Flash: i, k, p, n, o, s, and w Modes

Choose a flash mode (0 144).

Take pictures.
The flash will pop up as required when the
shutter-release button is pressed halfway, and fire
when a photograph is taken. If the flash does not
pop up automatically, DO NOT attempt to raise it by
hand. Failure to observe this precaution could
damage the flash.

Using the Built-in Flash: P, S, A, M, and 0 Modes

Raise the flash.

Press the M (Y) button to raise the flash.

Choose a flash mode (P, S, A, and M modes

only; 0 144).

Take pictures.

M (Y) button

The flash will fire whenever a picture is taken.

Metering
Select matrix or center-weighted metering to activate i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR.
Standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR is activated automatically when spot metering is selected.

143

Flash Mode
The flash modes available vary with shooting mode:
i, k, p, n, s, w

o
Auto+slow sync+
red-eye reduction

Auto
Auto+red-eye reduction
j

Fill flash

Auto+slow sync
j

Off

Off

P, A

S, M

Fill flash

Fill flash

Red-eye reduction

Red-eye reduction

Slow sync+red-eye reduction

Rear-curtain sync

Slow sync
Rear curtain+slow sync *
* S is displayed when setting is complete.

To choose a flash mode, press the M (Y) button and rotate the main command dial
until the desired setting is displayed in the control panel.

M (Y) button

Main command dial

Control panel

Lowering the Built-in Flash

To save power when the flash is not in use, press it gently downward
until the latch clicks into place.

144

Default Flash Modes

Default flash modes are shown below.
Mode
i, k, p, n, w
s

Default
Auto
Auto+red-eye reduction

Mode
o
0, P, S, A, M

Default
Auto+slow sync
Fill flash

Flash Modes
The flash modes listed on the previous page may combine one or more of the following
settings, as shown by the flash mode icon:
AUTO (auto flash): When lighting is poor or subject is back lit, flash pops up automatically
when shutter-release button is pressed halfway and fires as required.
Y (red-eye reduction): Use for portraits. Red-eye reduction lamp lights before flash fires,
reducing red-eye.
j (off): Flash does not fire even when lighting is poor or subject is back-lit.
SLOW (slow sync): Shutter speed slows automatically to capture background lighting at night
or under low light. Use to include background lighting in portraits.
REAR (rear-curtain sync): Flash fires just before shutter closes, creating a stream of light behind
moving light sources (below at right). If this icon is not displayed, flash will fire as the
shutter opens (front-curtain sync; the effect this produces with moving light sources is
shown below at left).

Front-curtain sync

Rear-curtain sync

The Built-in Flash

Use with lenses with focal lengths in FX format of 24300 mm (16300 mm in DX format;
0 288). Remove lens hoods to prevent shadows. The flash has a minimum range of 0.6 m
(2 ft) and can not be used in the macro range of zoom lenses with a macro function. i-TTL
flash control can be used at ISO sensitivities between 100 and 6400. At values over 6400, the
desired results may not be achieved at some ranges or aperture settings.
If the flash fires in continuous release mode (0 83), only one picture will be taken each time
the shutter-release button is pressed.

The shutter release may be briefly disabled to protect the flash after it has been used for
several consecutive shots. The flash can be used again after a short pause.

145

Shutter Speeds Available with the Built-in Flash

The following shutter speeds are available with the built-in flash.
Mode
i, P *, A *, k, p, s, w
n, 0
o

Shutter speed
1/2001/60 s
1/2001/125 s
1/2001 s

Mode
S*
M*

Shutter speed
1/20030 s
1/20030 s, A

* Speeds as fast as 1/4,000 s are available with optional SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 flash
units when 1/250 s (Auto FP) or 1/200 s (Auto FP) is selected for Custom Setting e1 (Flash sync
speed, 0 234). When 1/250 s (Auto FP) is selected, shutter speeds as fast as 1/250 s are available with
the built-in flash.

Flash Control Mode

The camera supports the following i-TTL flash control modes:
i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR: Flash emits series of nearly invisible preflashes (monitor
preflashes) immediately before main flash. Preflashes reflected from objects in all areas of
frame are picked up by 2,016-pixel RGB sensor and are analyzed in combination with
range information from matrix metering system to adjust flash output for natural balance
between main subject and ambient background lighting. If type G or D lens is used,
distance information is included when calculating flash output. Precision of calculation
can be increased for non-CPU lenses by providing lens data (focal length and maximum
aperture; see 0 172). Not available when spot metering is used.
Standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR: Flash output adjusted to bring lighting in frame to standard
level; brightness of background is not taken into account. Recommended for shots in
which main subject is emphasized at expense of background details, or when exposure
compensation is used. Standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR is activated automatically when
spot metering is selected.

The flash control mode for the built-in flash can be selected using Custom Setting e3 (Flash
cntrl for built-in flash, 0 236). The information display shows the flash control mode for
the built-in flash as follows:
Flash sync

i-TTL

Manual

Repeating flash

Commander mode

146

Auto FP (0 234)

Aperture, Sensitivity, and Flash Range

Flash range varies with sensitivity (ISO equivalency) and aperture.
100
1.4
2
2.8
4
5.6
8
11
16

200
2
2.8
4
5.6
8
11
16
22

Aperture at ISO equivalent of

400
800 1600 3200
2.8
4
5.6
8
4
5.6
8
11
5.6
8
11
16
8
11
16
22
11
16
22
32
16
22
32

22
32

32

Range
6400
11
16
22
32

m
0.78.5
0.66.0
0.64.2
0.63.0
0.62.1
0.61.5
0.61.1
0.60.8

ft
2ft 4in.27ft 11in.
2ft19ft 8in.
2ft13ft 9in.
2ft9ft 10in.
2ft6ft 11in.
2ft4ft 11in.
2ft3ft 7in.
2ft2ft 7in.

The built-in flash has a minimum range of 0.6 m (2 ft).

In mode P, the maximum aperture (minimum f-number) is limited according to ISO
sensitivity, as shown below:
100
2.8

200
3.5

Maximum aperture at ISO equivalent of:

400
800
1600
4
5
5.6

3200
7.1

6400
8

If the maximum aperture of the lens is smaller than given above, the maximum value for
aperture will be the maximum aperture of the lens.

See Also
See page 149 for information on locking flash value (FV) for a metered subject before
recomposing a photograph.

For information on auto FP high-speed sync and choosing a flash sync speed, see Custom
Setting e1 (Flash sync speed, 0 234). For information on choosing the slowest shutter
speed available when using the flash, see Custom Setting e2 (Flash shutter speed, 0 235).
For information on flash control and using the built-in flash in commander mode, see
Custom Setting e3 (Flash cntrl for built-in flash, 0 236).
See page 292 for information on using optional flash units.

147

Flash Compensation

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Flash compensation is used to alter flash output by from 3EV to +1EV in increments
of 1/3 EV, changing the brightness of the main subject relative to the background.
Flash output can be increased to make the main subject appear brighter, or reduced
to prevent unwanted highlights or reflections.
Press the M (Y) button and rotate the sub-command
dial until the desired value is displayed in the control
panel. In general, choose positive values to make the
main subject brighter, negative values to make it
darker.
M (Y) button

Sub-command
dial

At values other than 0.0, a Y icon will be displayed

in the control panel and viewfinder after you release
the M (Y) button. The current value for flash
compensation can be confirmed by pressing the
M (Y) button.
Normal flash output can be restored by setting flash
compensation to 0.0. Flash compensation is not
reset when the camera is turned off.

0 EV
(M (Y) button pressed)
0.3 EV
+1.0 EV

l A Optional Flash Units

Flash compensation is also available with optional SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600,
SB-400, and SB-R200 flash units. The SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 also allow
flash compensation to be set using the controls on the flash unit; the value selected with the
flash unit is added to the value selected with the camera.

See Also
For information on choosing the size of the increments available for flash compensation, see
Custom Setting b2 (EV steps for exposure cntrl, 0 224). For information on choosing how
flash and exposure compensation combine, see Custom Setting e4 (Exposure comp. for
flash, 0 240). For information on automatically varying flash level over a series of shots, see
page 153.

148

FV Lock
This feature is used to lock flash output, allowing photographs to be recomposed
without changing the flash level and ensuring that flash output is appropriate to the
subject even when the subject is not positioned in the center of the frame. Flash
output is adjusted automatically for any changes in ISO sensitivity and aperture.
To use FV lock:

Assign FV lock to the Fn button.

Select FV lock for Custom Setting f2 (Assign Fn
button, 0 242).

Raise the flash.

In P, S, A, M, and 0 modes, the flash can be raised
by pressing the M (Y) button. In i, k, p, n, o,
s, and w modes, the flash will pop up
automatically when required.
M (Y) button

Focus.
Position the subject in the center of the frame
and press the shutter-release button halfway to
focus.

Lock flash level.

After confirming that the flash ready indicator (M)
is displayed in the viewfinder, press the Fn
button. The flash will emit a monitor preflash to
determine the appropriate flash level. Flash
output will be locked at this level and FV lock
icons (e) will appear in the viewfinder.

l
Fn button

149

Recompose the photograph.

Take the photograph.

Press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to shoot. If desired,
additional pictures can be taken without releasing FV lock.

Release FV lock.
Press the Fn button to release FV lock. Confirm that the FV lock icon (e) is no
longer displayed in the viewfinder.

Using FV Lock with the Built-in Flash

FV lock is only available with the built-in flash when TTL is selected for Custom Setting e3
(Flash cntrl for built-in flash, 0 236).

Using FV Lock with Optional Flash Units

FV lock is also available with optional flash units in TTL and (where supported) monitor preflash AA and monitor pre-flash A flash control modes. Note that when commander mode is
selected for Custom Setting e3 (Flash cntrl for built-in flash, 0 236), you will need to set
the flash control mode for the master or at least one remote group to TTL or AA.

Metering
The metering areas for FV lock when using optional flash unit are as follows:
Flash unit
Stand-alone flash unit
Used with other flash units
(Advanced Wireless Lighting)

Flash mode
i-TTL
AA
i-TTL
AA
A (master flash)

Metered area
5-mm circle in center of frame
Area metered by flash exposure meter
Entire frame
Area metered by flash exposure meter

See Also
For information on using the depth-of-field preview or A AE-L/AF-L button for FV lock, see
Custom Setting f3 (Assign preview button, 0 244) or Custom Setting f4 (Assign AE-L/AF-L
button, 0 244).

150

tOther Shooting Options

Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default
Settings
E button

The camera settings listed below can be restored to

default values by holding the W (S) and E buttons
down together for more than two seconds (these
buttons are marked by a green dot). The control
panel turns off briefly while settings are reset.
W (S) button
Option
Image quality
Image size
White balance
Fine tuning
HDR (high dynamic range)
ISO sensitivity settings
ISO sensitivity
Auto and scene modes
P, S, A, M
Auto ISO sensitivity control
Interval timer shooting
Autofocus (viewfinder)
Autofocus mode
AF-area mode
n, x, 0, 1, 2, 3
m, w
i, j, k, l, p, o, r, s, t, u, v, y, z, P, S, A, M

Default
JPEG normal
Large
Auto > Normal
A-B: 0, G-M: 0
Off 1

0
93
95
115
117
139

AUTO
100
Off
Off 2

107
164

AF-A

97

Single-point AF
39-point dynamic-area AF
Auto-area AF

99

105

151

Option
Autofocus (live view/movie)
Autofocus mode
AF-area mode
m, r, w, 1, 2, 3, P, S, A, M
n, 0
i, j, k, l, p, o, s, t, u, v, x, y, z
Focus point 3
Metering
AE lock hold
Bracketing
Picture Control settings 4
Flash compensation
Exposure compensation
Exposure delay mode
Flash mode
i, k, p, n, w
s
o
0, P, S, A, M
FV lock
Multiple exposure
Flexible program
+ NEF (RAW)

Default

AF-S

51

Wide-area AF
Normal-area AF
Face-priority AF
Center
Matrix
Off
Off
Unmodified
Off
Off
Off
Auto
Auto+red-eye reduction
Auto+slow sync
Fill flash
Off
Off 5
Off
Off

52
101
109
102, 110
153
129
148
112
231

144

149
160
75
242

1 Exposure differential and smoothing are not reset.

2 If interval timer shooting is currently in progress, shooting will end. Starting time, shooting interval, and
number of intervals and shots are not reset.
3 Focus point not displayed if auto-area AF is selected for AF-area mode.
4 Current Picture Control only.
5 If multiple exposure is currently in progress, shooting will end and multiple exposure will be created
from exposures recorded to that point. Gain and number of shots are not reset.

152

Bracketing

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Bracketing automatically varies exposure, flash level, Active D-Lighting (ADL), or

white balance slightly with each shot, bracketing the current value. Choose in
situations in which it is difficult to set exposure, flash level (i-TTL and, where
supported, auto aperture flash control modes only; see pages 146, 236, and 294),
white balance, or Active D-Lighting and there is not time to check results and adjust
settings with each shot, or to experiment with different settings for the same subject.

Exposure and Flash Bracketing

To vary exposure and/or flash level over a series of photographs:

Select flash or exposure bracketing for

Custom Setting e6 (Auto bracketing
set) in the Custom Settings menu.
To display the menus, press the G button.
Select Custom Setting e6 (Auto bracketing
set) in the Custom Settings menu, highlight G button
an option, and press J. Choose AE & flash
to vary both exposure and flash level, AE
only to vary only exposure, or Flash only to
vary only flash level.

Choose the number of shots.

Pressing the D button, rotate the main command dial to choose the number
of shots in the bracketing sequence and the order in which they will be taken.
Number of shots
Bracketing progress
indicator
D button

Main command dial

No. of shots Bracketing progress indicator

Control panel

Bracketing order
Normal exposure, underexposure, overexposure
Normal exposure, overexposure
Normal exposure, underexposure

D will be displayed in the viewfinder (see

right); the control panel will show M.

153

Select a bracketing increment.

Pressing the D button and rotate the sub-command dial to choose a
bracketing increment.
Bracketing
increment
D button

Sub-command dial

Control panel

See Also
For information on choosing the size of the increment, see Custom Setting b2 (EV
steps for exposure cntrl, 0 224). For information on choosing the order in which
bracketing is performed, see Custom Setting e7 (Bracketing order, 0 241).

Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

The camera will vary exposure and/or flash level shot-byshot according to the bracketing program selected.
Modifications to exposure are added to those made with
exposure compensation (0 112), making it possible to achieve exposure
compensation values of more than 5 EV.
While bracketing is in effect, a bracketing progress indicator will be displayed in
the control panel. A segment will disappear from the indicator after each shot:
the y segment when the unmodified shot is taken, the z segment when the
shot with the negative increment is taken, and the x segment when the shot
with the positive increment is taken.

t
Exposure modified by:
0 EV (y)

Exposure modified by:

1 EV (z)

Exposure modified by:

+1 EV (x)

To cancel bracketing, press the D button and rotate the main command dial until
the bracketing progress indicator and M icon are no longer displayed.

154

Exposure and Flash Bracketing

In continuous low speed and continuous high speed release modes, shooting will pause
after the number of shots specified in the bracketing program have been taken. Shooting
will resume the next time the shutter-release button is pressed. In self-timer mode, the
camera will take the number of shots selected in Step 2 on page 153 each time the shutterrelease button is pressed, regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting c3 (Selftimer) > Number of shots (0 227); the interval between shots is however controlled by
Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer) > Interval between shots. In other modes, one shot will be
taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
If the memory card fills before all shots in the sequence have been taken, shooting can be
resumed from the next shot in the sequence after the memory card has been replaced or
shots have been deleted to make room on the memory card. If the camera is turned off
before all shots in the sequence have been taken, bracketing will resume from the next shot
in the sequence when the camera is turned on.

Exposure Bracketing
The camera modifies exposure by varying shutter speed and aperture (mode P), aperture
(mode S), or shutter speed (modes A and M). If On is selected for ISO sensitivity settings >
Auto ISO sensitivity control (0 107) in modes P, S, and A, the camera will automatically vary
ISO sensitivity for optimum exposure when the limits of the camera exposure system are
exceeded; in mode M, the camera will first use auto ISO sensitivity control to bring exposure
as close as possible to the optimum and then bracket this exposure by varying shutter
speed.

155

 White Balance Bracketing

The camera creates multiple copies of each photograph, each with a different white
balance. For more information on white balance, see page 115.

Select white balance bracketing.

Choose WB bracketing for Custom Setting e6 Auto
bracketing set.

Choose the number of shots.

Pressing the D button, rotate the main command dial to choose the number
of shots in the bracketing sequence and the order in which they will be taken.
Number of shots
Bracketing progress
indicator
D button

Main command dial

Control panel

D will be displayed in the viewfinder (see right); the

control panel will show W.

Select a white balance increment.

Pressing the D button, rotate the sub-command dial to choose from
increments of 1 (5 mired; 0 119), 2 (10 mired), or 3 (15 mired). The B value
indicates the amount of blue, the A value the amount of amber (0 117).
White balance
increment

D button

Sub-command dial

Control panel

The bracketing programs with an increment of 1 are listed below.

Control panel

156

Bracketing progress indicator

No. of shots
2
2
3

Increment
1B
1A
1A, 1B

Bracketing order
0/1B
0/1A
0/1A/1B

Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

Each shot will be processed to create the number of
copies specified in the bracketing program, and
each copy will have a different white balance.
Modifications to white balance are added to the
white balance adjustment made with white
balance fine-tuning.
If the number of shots in the bracketing program is
greater than the number of exposures remaining,
n and the icon for the affected card will flash in
the control panel, a flashing j icon will appear in
the viewfinder as shown at right, and the shutter
release will be disabled. Shooting can begin when
a new memory card is inserted.

To cancel bracketing, press the D button and rotate the main command dial until
the bracketing progress indicator and W icon are no longer displayed.

White Balance Bracketing

White balance bracketing is not available at an image quality of NEF (RAW). Selecting NEF
(RAW), NEF (RAW)+JPEG fine, NEF (RAW)+JPEG normal, or NEF (RAW)+JPEG basic
cancels white balance bracketing.

White balance bracketing affects only color temperature (the amber-blue axis in the white
balance fine-tuning display, 0 117). No adjustments are made on the green-magenta axis.
In self-timer mode (0 85), the number of copies specified in the white-balance program will
be created each time the shutter is released, regardless of the option selected for Custom
Setting c3 (Self-timer) > Number of shots (0 227).
If the camera is turned off while the memory card access lamp is lit, the camera will power off
only after all photographs in the sequence have been recorded.

157

 ADL Bracketing
The camera varies Active D-Lighting over a series of exposures. For more information
on Active D-Lighting, see page 137.

Select ADL bracketing.

Choose ADL bracketing for Custom Setting e6 Auto
bracketing set.

Choose the number of shots.

Pressing the D button, rotate the main command dial to choose the number
of shots in the bracketing sequence. Choose two shots to take one photograph
with Active D-Lighting off and another at the value currently selected for Active
D-Lighting in the shooting menu (if Active D-Lighting is off, the second shot
will be taken with Active D-Lighting set to Auto). Choose three shots to take a
series of photographs with Active D-Lighting set to Off, Normal, and High.
Number of shots
Bracketing progress
indicator
D button

Main command dial

Control panel

D will be displayed in the viewfinder (see right); the

control panel will show d.

158

Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

The camera will vary Active D-Lighting shot-by-shot
according to the bracketing program selected. While
bracketing is in effect, a bracketing progress indicator will
be displayed in the control panel. A segment will
disappear from the indicator after each shot: the y
segment when the first shot is taken, the 0 segment when
the second shot is taken, and the 1 segment when the
third shot (if applicable) is taken.

To cancel bracketing, press the D button and rotate the main command dial until
the bracketing progress indicator and d icon are no longer displayed.

ADL Bracketing
In continuous low speed and continuous high speed release modes, shooting will pause
after the number of shots specified in the bracketing program have been taken. Shooting
will resume the next time the shutter-release button is pressed. In self-timer mode, the
camera will take the number of shots selected in Step 2 on page 158 each time the shutterrelease button is pressed, regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting c3 (Selftimer) > Number of shots (0 227); the interval between shots is however controlled by
Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer) > Interval between shots. In other modes, one shot will be
taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.

If the memory card fills before all shots in the sequence have been taken, shooting can be
resumed from the next shot in the sequence after the memory card has been replaced or
shots have been deleted to make room on the memory card. If the camera is turned off
before all shots in the sequence have been taken, bracketing will resume from the next shot
in the sequence when the camera is turned on.

159

Multiple Exposure

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Follow the steps below to record a series of two or three exposures in a single
photograph. Multiple exposures can make use of RAW data from the camera image
sensor to produce colors noticeably superior to those in software-generated
photographic overlays.

Creating a Multiple Exposure

Multiple exposures can not be recorded in live view. Exit live view before proceeding.
Note that at default settings, shooting will end and a multiple exposure will be
recorded automatically if no operations are performed for 30 s.

Extended Recording Times

For an interval between exposures of more than 30 s, extend the meter-off delay using
Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer, 0 227). The maximum interval between exposures is
30 s longer than the option selected for Custom Setting c2. If the monitor has turned off
during playback or menu operations, shooting will end 30 s after the exposure meters turn
off and a multiple exposure will be created from the exposures that have been recorded to
that point.

Select Multiple exposure in the

shooting menu.
Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Multiple exposure in the
shooting menu and press 2.
G button

160

Select a mode.
Highlight Multiple exposure mode and
press 2.

Highlight one of the following and press J.

To take a series of multiple exposures, select
6 On (series). Multiple exposure
shooting will continue until you select Off
for Multiple exposure mode.
To take one multiple exposure, select On
(single photo). Normal shooting will resume automatically after you have
created a single multiple exposure.
To exit without creating additional multiple exposures, select Off.
If On (series) or On (single photo) is
selected, a n icon will be displayed in the
control panel.

Choose the number of shots.

Highlight Number of shots and press 2.

Press 1 or 3 to choose the number of

exposures that will be combined to form a
single photograph and press J.

161

Choose the amount of gain.

Highlight Auto gain and press 2.

The following options will be displayed.

Highlight an option and press J.
On: Gain is adjusted according to number
of exposures actually recorded (gain for
each exposure is set to 1/2 for 2 exposures,
1/3 for 3 exposures, etc.).
Off: Gain is not adjusted when recording multiple exposure. Recommended
if background is dark.

Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

In continuous high-speed and continuous
low-speed release modes (0 83), the camera
records all exposures in a single burst. If On
(series) is selected, the camera will continue to record multiple exposures while
the shutter-release button is pressed; if On (single photo) is selected, multiple
exposure shooting will end after the first photograph. In self-timer mode, the
camera will automatically record the number of exposures selected in Step 3 on
page 161, regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer)
> Number of shots (0 227); the interval between shots is however controlled
by Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer) > Interval between shots. In other release
modes, one photograph will be taken each time the shutter-release button is
pressed; continue shooting until all exposures have been recorded (for
information on interrupting a multiple exposure before all photographs are
recorded, see page 163).

162

The n icon will flash until shooting ends. If

On (series) is selected, multiple exposure
shooting will only end when Off is selected
for multiple exposure mode; if On (single
photo) is selected, multiple exposure
shooting ends automatically when the multiple exposure is complete. The n
icon clears from the display when multiple exposure shooting ends.

 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. Note that shooting will end automatically if:
A two-button reset is performed (0 151)
The camera is turned off
The battery is exhausted
Pictures are deleted

Multiple Exposures
Do not remove or replace the memory card while recording a multiple exposure.

Multiple exposures can not be recorded in live view. Taking photographs in live view resets
Multiple exposure mode to Off.
Noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) may appear in photographs taken with
Off selected for auto gain (0 162).
The information listed in the playback photo information display (including metering,
exposure, shooting mode, focal length, date of recording and camera orientation) is for the
first shot in the multiple exposure.

Interval Timer Photography

If interval timer photography is activated before the first exposure is taken, the camera will
record exposures at the selected interval until the number of exposures specified in the
multiple exposure menu have been taken (the number of shots listed in the interval timer
shooting menu is ignored). These exposures will then be recorded as a single photograph
and interval timer shooting will end (if On (single photo) is selected for multiple exposure
mode, multiple exposure shooting will also end automatically).

Other Settings
While a multiple exposure is being shot, memory cards can not be formatted and some
menu items are grayed out and can not be changed.

163

Interval Timer Photography

The camera is equipped to take photographs automatically at preset intervals.

Before Shooting
Do not select self-timer (E), remote (4), or MUP release mode when using the interval timer.
Before beginning interval timer photography, take a test shot at current settings and view
the results in the monitor.
Before choosing a starting time, select Time zone and date in the setup menu and make
sure that the camera clock is set to the correct time and date (0 253).
Use of a tripod is recommended. Mount the camera on a tripod before shooting begins. To
ensure that shooting is not interrupted, be sure the camera EN-EL15 battery is fully charged.
If in doubt, charge the battery before use or use an EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power
connector (available separately).

Select Interval timer shooting in the

shooting menu.
Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Interval timer shooting in the
shooting menu and press 2.
G button

Choose a starting time.

Chose from the following starting triggers.
To start shooting immediately, highlight Now
and press 2. Shooting begins about 3 s
after settings are completed; proceed to
Step 3.
To choose a starting time, highlight Start time
and press 2 to display the start time
options shown at right. Press 4 or 2 to
highlight hours or minutes and press 1 or
3 to change. Press 2 to continue.

Choose the interval.

Press 4 or 2 to highlight hours, minutes, or
seconds; press 1 or 3 to change. Choose an
interval longer than the time needed to take
the number of shots selected in Step 4. If the
interval is too short, the number of photos
taken may be less than the total listed in Step 4 (the number of intervals
multiplied by the number of shots per interval). Press 2 to continue.

164

Choose the number of intervals and

number of shots per interval.
Press 4 or 2 to highlight number of
intervals or number of shots; press 1 or 3 to
change. Press 2 to continue.

Number of Number Total

intervals of shots/ number of
interval shots

Start shooting.
Highlight On and press J (to return to the
shooting menu without starting the interval
timer, highlight Off and press J). The first
series of shots will be taken at the specified
starting time, or after about 3 s if Now was
selected for Choose start time in Step 2. Shooting will continue at the selected
interval until all shots have been taken. Note that because the shutter speed,
frame rate, and time needed to record images may vary from one interval to the
next, the time between the end of one interval and the beginning of the next
may vary. If shooting can not proceed at current settings (for example, if a
shutter speed of A is currently selected in manual exposure mode or the
start time is in less than a minute), a warning will be displayed in the monitor.

t
D

Out of Memory
If the memory card is full, the interval timer will remain active but no pictures will be taken.
Resume shooting (0 167) after deleting some pictures or turning the camera off and
inserting another memory card.

Cover the Viewfinder

To prevent light entering via the viewfinder interfering with exposure, remove the rubber
eyecup and cover the viewfinder with the supplied DK-5 eyepiece cap (0 86).

165

Interval Timer Photography

Interval timer photography can not be combined with long time-exposures (bulb
photography, 0 79) or live view (0 49) or time-lapse (0 168) photography and is not
available in movie live view (0 57) or when Record movies is selected for Custom Setting g4
(Assign shutter button, 0 248).

Release Mode
Regardless of the release mode selected, the camera will take the specified number of shots
at each interval. In CH (continuous high speed) mode, photographs will be taken at a rate of
up to 5.5 shots per second. In S (single frame) and CL (continuous low-speed) modes,
photographs will be taken at the rate chosen for Custom Setting d5 (CL mode shooting
speed, 0 229); in mode J, camera noise will be reduced.

Bracketing
Adjust bracketing settings before starting interval timer photography. If exposure, flash, or
ADL bracketing is active while interval timer photography is in effect, the camera will take
the number of shots in the bracketing program at each interval, regardless of the number of
shots specified in the interval timer menu. If white balance bracketing is active while interval
timer photography is in effect, the camera will take one shot at each interval and process it
to create the number of copies specified in the bracketing program.

During Shooting
During interval timer photography, the Q icon in the control panel
will flash. Immediately before the next shooting interval begins, the
shutter speed display will show the number of intervals remaining,
and the aperture display will show the number of shots remaining in
the current interval. At other times, the number of intervals
remaining and the number of shots in each interval can be viewed by pressing the shutterrelease button halfway (once the button is released, the shutter speed and aperture will be
displayed until the standby timer expires).
To view current interval timer settings, select Interval timer
shooting between shots. While interval timer photography is in
progress, the interval timer menu will show the starting time, the
shooting interval, and the number of intervals and shots remaining.
None of these items can be changed while interval timer
photography is in progress.

166

Pictures can be played back and shooting and menu settings can be adjusted freely while
interval timer photography is in progress. The monitor will turn off automatically about four
seconds before each interval.

 Pausing Interval Timer Photography

Interval timer photography can be paused by:
Pressing the J button between intervals
Highlighting Start > Pause in the interval timer menu and pressing J
Turning the camera off and then on again (if desired, the memory card can be
replaced while the camera is off)
Selecting self-timer (E), remote (4), or MUP release mode
To resume shooting:

Choose a new starting time.

Choose a new starting time as described on
page 164.

Resume shooting.
Highlight Restart and press J. Note that if
interval timer photography was paused
during shooting, any shots remaining in the
current interval will be canceled.

Interrupting Interval Timer Photography

Interval timer shooting will end automatically if the battery is exhausted. Interval
timer photography can also be ended by:
Selecting Start > Off in the interval timer menu
Performing a two button reset (0 151)
Selecting Reset shooting menu in the shooting menu (0 214)
Changing bracketing settings (0 153)
Terminating HDR (0 139) or multiple exposure shooting (0 163)
Normal shooting will resume when interval timer photography ends.

No Photograph
The camera will skip the current interval if any of the following situations persist for
eight seconds or more after the interval was due to start: the photograph or
photographs for the previous interval have yet to be taken, the memory buffer is full,
or the camera is unable to focus in AF-S or when single-servo AF is selected in AF-A
(note that the camera focuses again before each shot). Shooting will resume with the
next interval.

167

Time-Lapse Photography
The camera automatically takes photos at selected intervals to create a silent timelapse movie using the options currently selected for Movie settings in the shooting
menu (0 65).

Before Shooting
Before beginning time-lapse photography, take a test shot at current settings (framing the
photo in the viewfinder for an accurate exposure preview) and view the results in the
monitor. To record changes in brightness, choose manual exposure (0 78); for consistent
coloration, choose a white balance setting other than auto (0 115). We recommend that
you briefly switch to movie live view and check the current image area crop in the monitor
(0 57); note, however, that time-lapse photography is not available in live view.
Use of a tripod is recommended. Mount the camera on a tripod before shooting begins. To
ensure that shooting is not interrupted, use an optional EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power
connector or a fully-charged EN-EL15 battery.

Select Time-lapse photography in the

shooting menu.
Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Time-lapse photography in the
shooting menu and press 2.
G button

Press 2.
Press 2 to proceed to Step 3 and choose an
interval and shooting time. To record a timelapse movie using the default interval of 5
seconds and shooting time of 25 minutes,
proceed to step 5.

3
t

168

Choose the interval.

Press 4 or 2 to highlight minutes or
seconds; press 1 or 3 to change. Choose an
interval longer than the slowest anticipated
shutter speed. Press 2 to continue.

Select the shooting time.

Press 4 or 2 to highlight hours or minutes;
press 1 or 3 to change. The maximum
shooting time is 7 hours and 59 minutes.
Press 2 to continue.

Start shooting.
Highlight On and press J (to return to the
shooting menu without starting time-lapse
photography, highlight Off and press J).
Time-lapse photography starts after 3 s. The
camera takes photographs at the interval selected in Step 3 for the time
selected in Step 4. The memory card access lamp lights while each shot is
recorded; note that because shutter speed and the time needed to record the
image to the memory card may vary from shot to shot, the interval between a
shot being recorded and the start of the next shot may vary. Shooting will not
begin if a time-lapse movie can not be recorded at current settings (for
example, if the memory card is full, the interval or shooting time is zero, the
interval is longer than the shooting time, or remote (4) release mode is
selected).
When complete, time-lapse movies are recorded to the memory card selected
for Movie settings > Destination (0 65).

169

Time-Lapse Photography
Time-lapse is not available in live view (0 49, 57), at a shutter speed of A (0 79), when
bracketing (0 153), High Dynamic Range (HDR, 0 139), multiple exposure (0 160), or
interval timer photography (0 164) is active.

Release Mode
Regardless of the release mode selected, the camera will take one shot at each interval. The
self-timer can not be used. Time-lapse photography is not available in remote (4) release
mode.

Calculating the Length of the Final Movie

The total number of frames in the final movie can be approximated
by dividing the shooting time by the interval and rounding up. The
length of the final movie can then be calculated by diving the
number of shots by the frame rate selected for Movie settings >
Frame size/frame rate. A 48 frame movie recorded at 1920 1080;
24p, for example, will be about two seconds long. The maximum
length for movies recorded using time-lapse photography is 20
minutes.

Cover the Viewfinder

To prevent light entering via the viewfinder interfering with
exposure, remove the rubber eyecup and cover the viewfinder with
the supplied DK-5 eyepiece cap (0 86).

Length recorded/
maximum length

Memory card
indicator
Frame size/
frame rate

During Shooting
During time-lapse photography, a Q icon will flash and the timelapse recording indicator will be displayed in the control panel. The
time remaining (in hours and minutes) appears in the shutter-speed
display immediately before each frame is recorded. At other times,
the time remaining can be viewed by pressing the shutter-release
button halfway. Regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer,
0 227), the standby timer will not expire during shooting.

170

To view current time-lapse photography settings, press the G

button between shots. While time-lapse photography is in progress,
the time-lapse photography menu will show the interval and the
time remaining. These settings can not be changed while time-lapse
photography is in progress, nor can pictures be played back or other
menu settings adjusted.

 Interrupting Time-Lapse Photography

Time-lapse photography will end automatically if the battery is exhausted. The
following will also end time-lapse photography:
Selecting Start > Off in the Time-lapse photography menu
Pressing the J button between frames or immediately after a frame is recorded
Turning the camera off
Removing the lens
Connecting a USB or HDMI cable
Inserting a memory card into an empty slot
Pressing the shutter-release button all the way down to take a photograph
Selecting remote (4) release mode
Selecting mode U1 or U2, or selecting another mode after starting time-lapse
photography in mode U1 or U2
A movie will be created from the frames shot to the point where time-lapse
photography ended. Note that time-lapse photography will end and no movie will
be recorded if the power source is removed or disconnected or the destination
memory card is ejected.

No Photograph
The camera will skip the current frame if it is unable to focus using single-servo
autofocus (AF-S or single-servo autofocus selected for AF-A; note that the camera
focuses again before each shot). Shooting will resume with the next frame.

t
A

Image Review
The K button can not be used to view pictures while time-lapse photography is in progress,
but the current frame will be displayed for a few seconds after each shot if On is selected for
Image review in the playback menu (0 212). Other playback operations can not be
performed while the frame is displayed.

See Also
For information on setting a beep to sound when time-lapse photography is complete, see
Custom Setting d1 (Beep, 0 228).

171

Non-CPU Lenses
By specifying lens data (lens focal length and maximum aperture), the user can gain
access to a variety of CPU lens functions when using a non-CPU lens.
If the focal length of the lens is known:
Power zoom can be used with optional flash units (0 294)
Lens focal length is listed (with an asterisk) in the playback photo info display
If the maximum aperture of the lens is known:
The aperture value is displayed in the control panel and viewfinder
Flash level is adjusted for changes in aperture if the flash unit supports AA (auto
aperture) mode
Aperture is listed (with an asterisk) in the playback photo info display
Specifying both the focal length and maximum aperture of the lens:
Enables color matrix metering (note that it may be necessary to use centerweighted or spot metering to achieve accurate results with some lenses, including
Reflex-NIKKOR lenses)
Improves the precision of center-weighted and spot metering and i-TTL balanced
fill-flash for digital SLR

172

The camera can store data for up to nine non-CPU lenses. To enter or edit data for a
non-CPU lens:

Select Non-CPU lens data.

Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Non-CPU lens data in the setup
menu and press 2.
G button

Choose a lens number.

Highlight Lens number and press 4 or 2 to
choose a lens number between 1 and 9.

Enter the focal length and aperture.

Highlight Focal length (mm) or Maximum
aperture and press 4 or 2 to edit the
highlighted item. Focal length can be
selected from values between 6 and
4,000 mm, maximum aperture from values
between f/1.2 and f/22.

Focal Length Not Listed

If the correct focal length is not listed, choose the closest value greater than the actual
focal length of the lens.

Teleconverters and Zoom Lenses

The maximum aperture for teleconverters is the combined maximum aperture of the
teleconverter and the lens. Note that lens data are not adjusted when non-CPU lenses
are zoomed in or out. The data for different focal lengths can be entered as separate
lens numbers, or the data for the lens can be edited to reflect the new values for lens
focal length and maximum aperture each time zoom is adjusted.

t
Select Done.
Highlight Done and press J. The specified
focal length and aperture will be stored
under the chosen lens number.

173

To recall lens data when using a non-CPU lens:

Assign non-CPU lens number selection to a camera control.

Select Choose non-CPU lens number for Custom Setting f2 (Assign Fn
button, 0 242) or Custom Setting f3 (Assign preview button, 0 244).

Use the selected control to choose the lens number.

Press the selected button and rotate the main command dial until the desired
lens number is displayed in the control panel.
Focal length Maximum aperture

Lens number
Fn button

174

Main command dial

Control panel

The GP-1 GPS Unit

The GP-1 GPS unit (available separately) can be connected to the cameras accessory
terminal (0 298) using the cable supplied with the GP-1, allowing information on the
cameras current position to be recorded when photographs are taken. Turn the
camera off before connecting the GP-1; for more information, see the GP-1 manual.

Setup Menu Options

The GPS item in the setup menu contains the options listed below.
Standby timer: Choose whether the exposure meters turn off automatically when the
GP-1 is attached.
Option

Description
Exposure meters turn off automatically if no operations are performed for the
time selected for Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer, 0 227; to allow the camera
Enable time to acquire GPS data, the delay is extended by up to one minute after the
exposure meters are activated or the camera is turned on). This reduces the drain
on the battery.
Disable Exposure meters do not turn off while the GP-1 is connected.

Position: This item is only available if the GP-1 is connected, when it displays the
current latitude, longitude, altitude, and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as
reported by the GP-1.
Use GPS to set camera clock: Select Yes to synchronize the camera clock with the time
reported by the GPS device.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

UTC data is provided by the GPS device and is independent of the camera clock.

A The n Icon
Connection status is shown by the n icon:
n (static): Camera has established communication with GP-1.
Photo information for pictures taken while this icon is displayed
include an additional page of GPS data (0 183).
n (flashing): The GP-1 is searching for a signal. Pictures taken while
the icon is flashing do not include GPS data.
No icon: No new GPS data have been received from the GP-1 for at
least two seconds. Pictures taken when the n icon is not displayed do not include GPS
data.

175

176

IMore on Playback
Full-Frame Playback
To play photographs back, press the K button.
The most recent photograph will be displayed in
the monitor.

K button
O (Q) button

Multi selector

Sub-command dial

K button

G button
c (b) button
L (U) button
X (T) button
W (S) button
J button

Main command dial

Rotate Tall
To display tall (portrait-orientation) photographs in
tall orientation, select On for the Rotate tall option in
the playback menu (0 212).

I
A

Image Review
When On is selected for Image review in the playback menu (0 212), photographs are
automatically displayed in the monitor for about 4 s after shooting (because the camera is
already in the correct orientation, images are not rotated automatically during image
review). In continuous release mode, display begins when shooting ends, with the first
photograph in the current series displayed.

177

To

Use

Press 2 to view photographs in order recorded, 4 to view

photographs in reverse order.

View additional
photographs

Press 1 or 3 to view information about current photograph

(0 179).

View photo
information
View thumbnails
Zoom in on
photograph

W (S)

See page 185 for more information.

X (T)

See page 187 for more information.

Delete images

O (Q)

Change protect
status

L (U)

Return to
shooting mode
Retouch photo or
play movie

Description

/K

Confirmation dialog will be displayed. Press O (Q) again to

delete photo.
To protect image, or to remove protection from protected
image, press L (U) (0 188).
Monitor will turn off. Photographs can be taken
immediately.

Create retouched copy of current photograph (0 261). If

c (b)/J current picture is marked with 1 icon to show that it is a
movie, pressing J starts movie playback (0 67).

Choosing a Memory Card Slot

If two memory cards are inserted, you can select a card for
playback by holding the D button and pressing 1 during fullframe or thumbnail playback. The dialog shown at right will be
displayed; highlight the desired slot and press 2 to list the folders
on the selected card, then highlight a folder and press J to view
the pictures in the highlighted folder. The same procedure can be
D button
used when selecting pictures for operations in the playback
(0 207) and retouch (0 261) menus or when copying white
balance from an existing photograph (0 125).

See Also
For information on choosing how long the monitor will remain on when no operations are
performed, see Custom Setting c4 (Monitor off delay, 0 228).

178

Photo Information
Photo information is superimposed on images displayed in full-frame playback.
Press 1 or 3 to cycle through photo information as shown below. Note that image
only, shooting data, RGB histograms, highlights, and overview data are only
displayed if corresponding option is selected for Playback display options (0 209).
GPS data are only displayed if a GPS device was used when the photo was taken.
1/ 12

1/ 12

NIKON D600
L A T I T UD E
L ONG I T U D E

1/ 125

F5. 6

100

85mm

A L T I T UD E
T I M E (U T C )

:N
: 3 5 3 5. 9 7 1
:E
: 1 3 9 4 3. 6 9 6
: 3 5m
: 15 / 04 / 2012
: 01 : 15 : 00

0, 0
100ND600 DSC_0001. JPG
15 / 04 / 2012 10: 02: 28

N OR
ORMAL
AL
6016x4016

100ND600 DSC_0001. JPG

15 / 04 / 2012 10: 02: 28

File information

None (image only)

Overview

N OR
ORMAL
AL
6016x4016

N I KON D600

100-1

GPS data

100-1

M T R , S P D, A P .
E X P . MO D E , I S O

Highlights

RGB Highlights

RGB

Select R, G, B

Highlights

F O C A L L E NG T H
L ENS
A F / VR
F L ASH T YP E
S Y N C MO D E
,

100-1

Select R, G, B

RGB histogram

N I KON D600

: , 1 / 1 25 , F 5 . 6
: , 100
: 0. 0 , + 1 / 6
: 8 5 mm
: 85
/ 1. 4
:S
:
:
:

100-1

Shooting data

File Information
1/ 12

100ND600 DSC_0001. JPG

15 / 04 / 2012 10: 02: 28

N OR
ORMAL
AL
6016x4016

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Protect status ................................................... 188

Retouch indicator ........................................... 261
Focus point 1, 2 .................................................. 101
AF area brackets 1...............................................33
Frame number/total number of frames
Image quality ......................................................93
Image size.............................................................95
Image area 3 .........................................................89
Time of recording .................................... 27, 253
Date of recording..................................... 27, 253
Current card slot....................................... 46, 178
Folder name...................................................... 215
File name............................................................ 216

1 Displayed only if Focus point is selected for Playback display options (0 209).
2 If photograph was taken using AF-S or with single-servo autofocus selected during AF-A, display shows
point where focus first locked. If photograph was taken using AF-C or with continuous-servo autofocus
selected during AF-A, focus point is only displayed if option other than auto-area AF was selected for AFarea mode and camera was able to focus.
3 Displayed in yellow if picture is in non-FX format (including DX-based movie format; 0 63, 89).

179

 Highlights
1 Image highlights 1
2 Folder numberframe number 2 ............. 215
3 Current channel 1

100-1

Select R, G, B

RGB Highlights

1 Flashing areas indicate highlights (areas that may be overexposed) for the
current channel. Hold W (S) button and press 4 or 2 to cycle through
channels as follows:
RGB
(all channels)

R
(red)

G
(green)

B
(blue)

W (S) button
2 Displayed in yellow if picture is in non-FX format (including DX-based movie format; 0 63, 89).

RGB Histogram
3 White balance .................................................. 115

Highlights

RGB

4
5

100-1

Select R, G, B

highlights 1

1 Image
2 Folder numberframe number 2 ............. 215

6
7
8

Color temperature....................................... 120

White balance fine-tuning ....................... 117
Preset manual ............................................... 121
Current channel 1
Histogram (RGB channel). In all histograms,
horizontal axis gives pixel brightness,
vertical axis number of pixels.
Histogram (red channel)
Histogram (green channel)
Histogram (blue channel)

1 Flashing areas indicate highlights (areas that may be overexposed) for the
current channel. Hold W (S) button and press 4 or 2 to cycle through
channels as follows:
RGB
(all channels)

R
(red)

G
(green)

Highlight display off

B
(blue)

W (S) button

2 Displayed in yellow if picture is in non-FX format (including DX-based movie format; 0 63, 89).

180

Playback Zoom
To zoom in on the photograph when the histogram is
displayed, press X (T). Use the X (T) and W (S)
buttons to zoom in and out and scroll the image with the
multi selector. The histogram will be updated to show only
the data for the portion of the image visible in the monitor.

Histograms
Camera histograms are intended as a guide only and may differ from those displayed in
imaging applications. Some sample histograms are shown below:

If the image contains objects with a wide range of

brightnesses, the distribution of tones will be relatively
even.
If the image is dark, tone distribution will be shifted to the
left.
If the image is bright, tone distribution will be shifted to
the right.
Increasing exposure compensation shifts the distribution of tones to the right, while
decreasing exposure compensation shifts the distribution to the left. Histograms can
provide a rough idea of overall exposure when bright ambient lighting makes it difficult to
see photographs in the monitor.

181

 Shooting Data
3 Exposure compensation............................... 112
M T R , S P D, A P .
E X P . MO D E , I S O

: , 1 / 4 0 0 0 , F 2. 8
: , H i 0. 3,
: + 1. 3, +5 / 6
F O C A L L E N G T H : 8 5 mm
: 85
L ENS
/ 1. 4
: S / VR -O n
A F / VR
: B u i l t - i n , C MD
F L ASH T YP E
: S L OW
S Y N C MO D E
, : M : T T L , +3. 0 A : T T L , +3. 0
C : --B : ---

4
5
6
7
100-1

N I KON D600

W H I T E B A L AN C E
CO L OR S P AC E
P I C T UR E C T R L
Q U I C K AD J U S T
S HA R P E N I NG
C ON T R A S T
B R I GH T N E S S
S A T U R A T I ON
HU E

: AU T O 1 , 0 , 0
: s RGB
: S T ANDARD
:0
:3
:0
:0
:0
:0

COMMENT

10
11
12
13
100-1

N I KON D600

NO I S E R E D U C .
A C T . D - L I GH T .
HD R
V I GN E T T E C T R L
R E T OU C H

8
9

14
15
16

: H I I S O, N O R M
: N O R MA L
: A U T O, H I G H
: N O R MA L
: D - L I GH T I NG

W ARM F I L T E R
C Y ANO T Y P E
TR I M
: SPR I NG HAS COME .

100-1

N I KON D600

AR T I S T

: N I KON TARO

CO P Y R I GHT

: N I K ON

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

N I KON D600

100-1

1 Metering............................................................. 109

182

Shutter speed ......................................................74

Aperture ................................................................74
2 Shooting mode .....................................35, 40, 73
ISO sensitivity 1 ................................................. 105

25
26
27
28
29

Optimal exposure tuning 2 .......................... 226

Focal length ................................... 172, 288, 291
Lens data............................................................ 172
Focus mode................................................ 97, 103
Lens VR (vibration reduction) 3
Flash type..................................................143, 292
Commander mode ......................................... 237
Flash mode........................................................ 144
Flash control .................................. 236, 294, 295
Flash compensation....................................... 148
Camera name
Image area 4 .........................................................89
Folder numberframe number 4 ............. 215
White balance .................................................. 115
Color temperature....................................... 120
White balance fine-tuning ....................... 117
Preset manual ............................................... 121
Color space........................................................ 217
Picture Control................................................. 129
Quick adjust 5.................................................... 132
Original Picture Control 6 ............................. 135
Sharpening........................................................ 132
Contrast.............................................................. 132
Brightness.......................................................... 132
Saturation 7 ........................................................ 132
Filter effects 8 .................................................... 132
Hue 7 .................................................................... 132
Toning 8 ......................................................132, 133
High ISO noise reduction............................. 218
Long exposure noise reduction................. 218
Active D-Lighting............................................ 137
HDR exposure differential............................ 139
HDR smoothing ............................................... 139
Vignette control............................................... 218
Retouch history ............................................... 261
Image comment.............................................. 253
Name of photographer 9 .............................. 256
Copyright holder 9 .......................................... 256

1 Displayed in red if photo was taken with auto ISO sensitivity control on.
2 Displayed if Custom Setting b5 (Fine-tune optimal exposure, 0 226) has been set to a value other
than zero for any metering method.
3 Displayed only if VR lens is attached.
4 Displayed in yellow if picture is in non-FX format (including DX-based movie format; 0 63, 89).
5 Standard, Vivid, Portrait, and Landscape Picture Controls only.
6 Neutral, Monochrome, and custom Picture Controls.
7 Not displayed with monochrome Picture Controls.
8 Monochrome Picture Controls only.
9 The fourth page of the shooting data is only displayed if copyright information was recorded with the
photograph as described on page 256.

GPS Data *
L A T I T UD E
L ONG I T U D E
A L T I T UD E
T I M E (U T C )

N I KON D600

1
2
3
4

:N
: 3 5 3 5. 9 7 1
:E
: 1 3 9 4 3. 6 9 6
: 3 5m
: 15 / 04 / 2012
: 01 : 15 : 00

Latitude
Longitude
Altitude
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

100-1

* Data for movies are for start of recording.

183

 Overview Data
1/ 12

1. 3

NIKON D600

Hi 0. 3
1/ 4000 F2. 8
+ 1. 0
SLOW

1. 3

85mm

1/ 4000 F2. 8
Hi 0. 3
+ 1. 0
SLOW

85mm

0, 0

0, 0
100ND600 DSC_0001. JPG
15 / 04 / 2012 10: 02: 28

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

N OR
ORMAL
AL
6016x4016

Frame number/total number of images

Protect status.................................................... 188
Camera name
Retouch indicator............................................ 261
Histogram showing the distribution of
tones in the image (0 181).
Image quality.......................................................93
Image size .............................................................95
Image area 1..........................................................89
File name............................................................ 216
Time of recording..................................... 27, 253
Folder name ...................................................... 215
Date of recording ..................................... 27, 253
Current card slot ....................................... 46, 178
Metering............................................................. 109
Shooting mode .....................................35, 40, 73
Shutter speed ......................................................74

Aperture ................................................................74
ISO sensitivity 2................................................. 105
Focal length ................................... 172, 288, 291
GPS data indicator .......................................... 175
Image comment indicator........................... 253
Active D-Lighting............................................ 137
Picture Control................................................. 129
Color space........................................................ 217
Flash mode........................................................ 144
White balance .................................................. 115
Color temperature....................................... 120
White balance fine-tuning ....................... 117
Preset manual ............................................... 121
27 Flash compensation....................................... 148
Commander mode ......................................... 237
28 Exposure compensation............................... 112

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

1 Non-FX formats (including DX-based movie format) displayed in yellow (0 63, 89).
2 Displayed in red if photo was taken with auto ISO sensitivity control on.

184

Thumbnail Playback
To display images in contact sheets of four, nine, or 72 images, press the W (S)
button.
W (S)

W (S)

X (T)

X (T)

Full-frame
playback

Thumbnail playback

To

Use

Display more images

W (S)

Display fewer images

X (T)

Highlight images
View highlighted image
Delete highlighted
image
Change protect status of
highlighted image
Return to shooting
mode
Retouch photo

Description
Press W (S) to increase the number of images
displayed.
Press X (T) to reduce the number of images
displayed. When four images are displayed, press to
view highlighted image full frame.
Use multi selector to highlight images for full-frame
playback, playback zoom (0 187), deletion (0 189),
or protection (0 188).
Press J to display the highlighted image full frame.

O (Q)

See page 189 for more information.

L (U)

See page 188 for more information.

/K
c (b)

Calendar
playback

Monitor will turn off. Photographs can be taken

immediately.
Create retouched copy of current photograph (0 69,
261).

185

Calendar Playback
To view images taken on a selected date, press the W (S) button when 72 images
are displayed.
Date list
W (S)

W (S)

X (T)

X (T)

Thumbnail list
Full-frame
playback

Thumbnail playback

Calendar playback

The operations can be performed depend on whether the cursor is in the date list or
the thumbnail list:
To
Toggle between date
list and thumbnail list
Exit to thumbnail
playback/Zoom in on
highlighted photo

Use
W (S)
X (T)

Highlight dates/
Highlight images
Toggle full frame
playback
Delete highlighted
photo(s)
Change protect
status of highlighted
photo
Return to shooting
mode

186

Retouch photo

Description
Press W (S) button in date list to place cursor in
thumbnail list. Press again to return to date list.
Date list: Exit to 72-frame playback.
Thumbnail list: Press and hold X (T) button to zoom
in on highlighted picture.
Date list: Highlight date.
Thumbnail list: Highlight picture.

J
O (Q)
L (U)
/K
c (b)

Date list: View pictures taken on selected date.

Thumbnail list: View highlighted picture.
Date list: Delete all pictures taken on selected date.
Thumbnail list: Delete highlighted picture (0 189).

See page 188 for more information.

Monitor will turn off. Photographs can be taken
immediately.
Create retouched copy of photo highlighted in
thumbnail list (0 69, 261).

Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom

Press the X (T) button to zoom in on the image displayed in full-frame playback
or on the image currently highlighted in thumbnail playback. The following
operations can be performed while zoom is in effect:
To

Zoom in or out

View other
areas of image

Use

Description
Press X (T) to zoom in to maximum
of approximately 38 (large images in
X (T)/
36 24/3 : 2 format), 28 (medium
W (S)
images) or 19 (small images). Press
W (S) to zoom out. While photo is
zoomed in, use multi selector to view
areas of image not visible in monitor.
Keep multi selector pressed to scroll rapidly to other areas of
frame. Navigation window is displayed when zoom ratio is
altered; area currently visible in monitor is indicated by yellow
border.

Select faces

Faces (up to 35) detected during zoom

are indicated by white borders in
navigation window. Rotate subcommand dial to view other faces.

View other
images

Rotate main command dial to view same location in other

photos at current zoom ratio. Playback zoom is cancelled
when a movie is displayed.

Change protect
status
Return to
shooting mode
Retouch photo

L (U)

See page 188 for more information.

/ K Monitor will turn off. Photographs can be taken immediately.

c (b)

Create retouched copy of current photograph (0 69, 261).

187

Protecting Photographs from Deletion

In full-frame, zoom, thumbnail, and calendar playback, the L (U) button can be
used to protect photographs from accidental deletion. Protected files can not be
deleted using the O (Q) button or the Delete option in the playback menu. Note
that protected images will be deleted when the memory card is formatted (0 31,
250).
To protect a photograph:

Select an image.
Display the image in full-frame playback or playback zoom or highlight it in the
thumbnail list in thumbnail or calendar playback.

Full-frame playback

Thumbnail playback

Calendar playback

Press the L (U) button.

The photograph will be marked with a P
icon. To remove protection from the
photograph so that it can be deleted, display
the photograph or highlight it in the
thumbnail list and then press the L (U) L (U) button
button.

I
A

Removing Protection from All Images

To remove protection from all images in the folder or folders currently selected in the
Playback folder menu, press the L (U) and O (Q) buttons together for about two
seconds during playback.

188

Deleting Photographs
To delete the photograph displayed in full-frame playback or highlighted in the
thumbnail list, press the O (Q) button. To delete multiple selected photographs, all
photographs taken on a selected date, or all photographs in the current playback
folder, use the Delete option in the playback menu. Once deleted, photographs can
not be recovered. Note that pictures that are protected or hidden can not be deleted.

Full-Frame, Thumbnail, and Calendar Playback

Press the O (Q) button to delete the current photograph.

Select an image.
Display the image or highlight it in the thumbnail list in thumbnail or calendar
playback.

Press the O (Q) button.

A confirmation dialog will be displayed.

O (Q) button

Full-frame playback

Thumbnail playback

Calendar playback
(thumbnail list)

Press the O (Q) button again.

To delete the photograph, press the O (Q) button. To exit
without deleting the photograph, press the K button.

O (Q) button

I
A

Calendar Playback
During calendar playback, you can delete all photographs taken on a selected date by
highlighting the date in the date list and pressing the O (Q) button (0 186).

See Also
The After delete option in the playback menu determines whether the next image or the
previous image is displayed after an image is deleted (0 212).

189

The Playback Menu

The Delete option in the playback menu contains the following options. Note that
depending on the number of images, some time may be required for deletion.
Option
Description
Q Selected
Delete selected pictures.
n Select date Delete all pictures taken on a selected date (0 191).

R All

Delete all pictures in the folder currently selected for

playback (0 207). If two cards are inserted, you can
select the card from which pictures will be deleted.

Selected: Deleting Selected Photographs

Choose Selected for the Delete option

in the playback menu.
Press the G button and select Delete in
the playback menu. Highlight Selected and
press 2.
G button

Highlight a picture.
Use the multi selector to highlight a picture
(to view the highlighted picture full screen,
press and hold the X (T) button; to view
images in other locations, hold the D
button, press 1, and select the desired card
and folder as described on page 178).

190

Select the highlighted picture.

Press the W (S) button to select the
highlighted picture. Selected pictures are
marked by a O icon. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to
select additional pictures; to deselect a
picture, highlight it and press W (S).
W (S) button

Press J to complete the operation.

A confirmation dialog will be displayed;
highlight Yes and press J.

Select Date: Deleting Photographs Taken on a Selected Date

Choose Select date.

In the delete menu, highlight Select date
and press 2.

Highlight a date.
Press 1 or 3 to highlight a date.

To view the pictures taken on the

highlighted date, press W (S). Use the
multi selector to scroll through the pictures,
or press and hold X (T) to view the
current picture full screen. Press W (S) to
return to the date list.
W (S) button

Select the highlighted date.

Press 2 to select all pictures taken on the
highlighted date. Selected dates are marked
with a M icon. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to select
additional dates; to deselect a date,
highlight it and press 2.

Press J to complete the operation.

A confirmation dialog will be displayed;
highlight Yes and press J.

191

192

QConnections
Connecting to a Computer
This section describes how to use the supplied UC-E15 USB cable to connect the
camera to a computer.

Before Connecting the Camera

Before connecting the camera, install the software on the supplied ViewNX 2 CD. To
ensure that data transfer is not interrupted, be sure the camera EN-EL15 battery is
fully charged. If in doubt, charge the battery before use or use an EH-5b AC adapter
and EP-5B power connector (available separately).

Supplied Software
ViewNX 2 includes a Nikon Transfer 2 function for copying pictures from the camera
to the computer, where ViewNX 2 can be used to view and print selected images or
to edit photographs and movies. For more information, see ViewNX 2 online help.

Supported Operating Systems

The supplied software can be used with computers running the following operating
systems:
Windows: Pre-installed versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and
Windows 8; only 32-bit versions of Windows XP are supported.
Macintosh: Mac OS X version 10.6, 10.7, or 10.8
See the websites listed on page xxiii for the latest information on supported
operating systems.

Connecting Cables
Be sure the camera is off when connecting or disconnecting interface cables. Do not use
force or attempt to insert the connectors at an angle. Close the camera connector cover
when the connector is not in use.

During Transfer
Do not turn the camera off or disconnect the USB cable while transfer is in progress.

Windows
To visit the Nikon website after installing ViewNX 2, select All Programs > Link to Nikon
from the Windows start menu (Internet connection required).

193

Connecting the Camera

Connect the camera using the supplied UC-E15 USB cable.

Turn the camera off.

Turn the computer on.

Turn the computer on and wait for it to start up.

Connect the USB cable.

Connect the USB cable as shown.

USB Hubs
Connect the camera directly to the computer; do not connect the cable via a USB hub
or keyboard.

Turn the camera on.

Start Nikon Transfer 2.

If a message is displayed prompting you to choose a program, select
Nikon Transfer 2.

Windows 7
If the following dialog is displayed, select Nikon Transfer 2 as described below.
1 Under Import pictures and videos, click Change
program. A program selection dialog will be
displayed; select Import file using
Nikon Transfer 2 and click OK.
2 Double-click Import file.

194

Click Start Transfer.

At default settings, all the pictures on the memory card
will be copied to the computer (for more information on
using Nikon Transfer 2, start ViewNX 2 or Nikon Transfer 2
and select ViewNX 2 Help from the Help menu).
Start Transfer

Turn the camera off and disconnect the USB cable when transfer ends.
Nikon Transfer 2 will close automatically when transfer is complete.

Camera Control Pro 2

Camera Control Pro 2 software (available separately; 0 298) can be used to control the
camera from a computer. When Camera Control Pro 2 is used to capture photographs and
movies directly to the computer, the PC connection indicator (c) will appear in the control
panel.

195

Printing Photographs
Selected JPEG images can be printed on a PictBridge printer (0 332) connected
directly to the camera.

Connecting the Printer

Connect the camera using the supplied UC-E15 USB cable.

Turn the camera off.

Connect the USB cable.

Turn the printer on and connect the USB cable as shown. Do not use force or
attempt to insert the connectors at an angle.

USB Hubs
Connect the camera directly to the printer; do not connect the cable via a USB hub.

Turn the camera on.

A welcome screen will be displayed in the monitor, followed by a PictBridge
playback display.

196

Printing Via Direct USB Connection

Be sure the EN-EL15 battery is fully charged or use an optional EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B
power connector. When taking photographs to be printed via direct USB connection, set
Color space to sRGB (0 217).

Selecting Photographs for Printing

NEF (RAW) photographs (0 93) can not be selected for printing. JPEG copies of NEF (RAW)
images can be created using the NEF (RAW) processing option in the retouch menu
(0 271).

See Also
See page 325 for information on what to do if an error occurs during printing.

Printing Pictures One at a Time

Select a picture.
Press 4 or 2 to view additional pictures. Press
the X (T) button to zoom in on the current
frame (0 187; press K to exit zoom). To view six
pictures at a time, press the W (S) button. Use
the multi selector to highlight pictures, or press X
(T) to display the highlighted picture full frame; to view images in other
locations when thumbnails are displayed, hold the D button, press 1, and
select the desired card and folder as described on page 178.

Display printing options.

Press J to display PictBridge printing options.

197

Adjust printing options.

Press 1 or 3 to highlight an option and press 2 to select.
Option

Description
Highlight a page size (only sizes supported by the current printer are listed)
Page size and press J to select and exit to the previous menu (to print at the default
page size for the current printer, select Printer default).
No. of Press 1 or 3 to choose number of copies (maximum 99), then press J to
copies select and return to the previous menu.
This option is available only if supported by the printer. Highlight Printer
default (use current printer settings), Print with border (print photo with
Border
white border), or No border and press J to select and exit to the previous
menu.
Highlight Printer default (use current printer settings), Print time stamp
Time
(print times and dates of recording on photos), or No time stamp and press J
stamp
to select and exit to the previous menu.
This option is available only if supported by the printer. To exit without
cropping, highlight No cropping and press J. To crop the current picture,
highlight Crop and press 2.
Selecting Crop displays the dialog shown at right. Press
Cropping X (T) to increase the size of the crop, W (S) to
decrease. Position the crop using the multi selector and
press J. Note that print quality may drop if small crops
are printed at large sizes.

Start printing.
Select Start printing and press J to start
printing. To cancel before all copies have been
printed, press J.

198

Printing Multiple Pictures

Display the PictBridge menu.

Press the G button in the PictBridge
playback display (see Step 3 on page 196).

G button

Choose an option.
Highlight one of the following options and
press 2.
Print select: Select pictures for printing.
Select date: Print one copy of all the pictures
taken on a selected date.
Print (DPOF): Print an existing print order created with the DPOF print order
option in the playback menu (0 202). The current print order will be
displayed in Step 3.
Index print: To create an index print of all JPEG pictures (0 93) on the memory
card, proceed to Step 4. Note that if the memory card contains more than
256 pictures, only the first 256 images will be printed.

199

Select pictures or choose a date.

If you chose Print select or Print (DPOF) in
Step 2, use the multi selector to scroll through
the pictures on the memory card; to view
images in other locations, hold the D
button, press 1, and select the desired card
and folder as described on page 178. To
display the current picture full screen, press
and hold the X (T) button. To select the
current picture for printing, hold the
W (S) button and press 1. The picture
will be marked with a Z icon and the
W (S) + 13: Choose number of copies
number of prints will be set to 1. Keeping
the W (S) button pressed, press 1 or 3 to
specify the number of prints (up to 99; to
deselect the picture, press 3 when the
number of prints is 1). Continue until all the
desired pictures have been selected.
X (T) button: View photo full screen

If you chose Select date in Step 2, press 1 or 3

to highlight a date and press 2 to toggle the
highlighted date on or off. To view the
pictures taken on the selected date, press
W (S). Use the multi selector to scroll
through the pictures, or press and hold
X (T) to view the current picture full
screen. Press W (S) again to return to the
date selection dialog.

200

X (T)
button: View
highlighted photo
full screen

W (S)
button: View
photos for selected
date

Display printing options.

Press J to display PictBridge printing
options.

Adjust printing options.

Choose page size, border, and time stamp options as described on page 198 (a
warning will be displayed if the selected page size is too small for an index
print).

Start printing.
Select Start printing and press J to start
printing. To cancel before all copies have
been printed, press J.

201

Creating a DPOF Print Order: Print Set

The DPOF print order option in the playback menu is used to create digital print
orders for PictBridge-compatible printers and devices that support DPOF.

Choose Select/set for the DPOF print

order item in the playback menu.
Press the G button and select DPOF print
order in the playback menu. Highlight
Select/set and press 2 (to remove all
photographs from the print order, select
G button
Deselect all?).

Select pictures.
Use the multi selector to scroll through the
pictures on the memory card (to view
images in other locations, hold the D
button and press 1). To display the current
picture in full screen, press and hold the
X (T) button. To select the current
picture for printing, hold the W (S) button
and press 1. The picture will be marked
with a Z icon and the number of prints will
be set to 1. Keeping the W (S) button
pressed, press 1 or 3 to specify the number W (S) + 13: Choose number of copies
of prints (up to 99; to deselect the picture,
press 3 when the number of prints is 1).
Continue until all the desired pictures have
been selected.
X (T) button: View photo full screen

Display imprint options.

Press J to display data imprint options.

202

Select imprint options.

Highlight the following options and press 2
to toggle the highlighted option on or off (to
complete the print order without including
this information, proceed to Step 5).
Print shooting data: Print shutter speed and
aperture on all pictures in print order.
Print date: Print date of recording on all pictures in print order.

Complete the print order.

Highlight Done and press J to complete
the print order.

DPOF Print Order

To print the current print order when the camera is connected to a PictBridge printer, select
Print (DPOF) in the PictBridge menu and follow the steps in Printing Multiple Pictures to
modify and print the current order (0 199). DPOF print date and shooting data options are
not supported when printing via direct USB connection; to print the date of recording on
photographs in the current print order, use the PictBridge Time stamp option.

The DPOF print order option can not be used if there is not enough space on the memory
card to store the print order.
NEF (RAW) photographs (0 93) can not be selected using this option. JPEG copies of NEF
(RAW) images can be created using the NEF (RAW) processing option in the retouch menu
(0 271).

Print orders may not print correctly if images are deleted using a computer or other device
after the print order is created.

203

Viewing Photographs on TV
A type C mini-pin High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable (available
separately from commercial sources) can be used to connect the camera to highdefinition video devices.

Turn the camera off.

Always turn the camera off before connecting or disconnecting an HDMI cable.

Connect the HDMI cable as shown.

Connect to high-definition device
(choose cable with connector for
HDMI device)
Connect to camera

Tune the device to the HDMI channel.

Turn the camera on and press the K button.

During playback, images will be displayed on the television screen.

Close the Connector Cover

Close the camera connector cover when the connectors are not in use. Foreign matter in the
connectors can interfere with data transfer.

Television Playback
Use of an EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power connector (available separately) is
recommended for extended playback. The TV will display images full screen if photo
information is hidden during full-frame playback (0 179). Note that the edges may not be
visible when photographs are viewed on a television screen.

Audio
Stereo sound recorded with optional ME-1 (0 298) stereo microphones plays in stereo when
movies are viewed on HDMI devices using a camera connected via an HDMI cable (note that
audio will not be played back over headphones connected to the camera). Volume can be
adjusted using television controls; the camera controls can not be used.

204

 HDMI Options
The HDMI option in the setup menu (0 249) controls output resolution and can be
used to enable the camera for remote control from devices that support HDMI-CEC
(High-Definition Multimedia InterfaceConsumer Electronics Control, a standard
that allows HDMI devices to be used to control peripherals to which they are
connected).
Output Resolution
Choose the format for images output to the HDMI device.
If Auto is selected, the camera will automatically select
the appropriate format. Regardless of the option
selected, Auto will be used for movie live view, movie
recording, and playback.
Device Control
If On is selected for HDMI >Device control in the setup
menu when the camera is connected to a television that
supports HDMI-CEC and both the camera and television
are on, the display shown at right will appear on the
television and the television remote can be used in place
of the camera multi selector and J button during fullframe playback and slide shows. If Off is selected, the television remote can not be
used to control the camera.

HDMI and Live View

HDMI displays connected via an HDMI cable can be used for live view photography and
movie live view (0 49, 57). During movie live view and movie recording HDMI output is
adjusted according to the option selected for Movie settings > Frame size/frame rate in
the shooting menu (0 65). Note that some HDMI devices may not support the selected
setting; in this case, select 1080i (interlaced) for HDMI > Output resolution. Movies may
be output at a frame size smaller than that selected for Frame size/frame rate (0 65).

HDMI-CEC Devices
When the camera is connected to an HDMI-CEC device, ) will appear in the control panel
in place of the number of exposures remaining.

Device Control
See the television manual for details.

205

206

MMenu Guide
D The Playback Menu: Managing Images
To display the playback menu, press G and select the D (playback menu) tab.

G button

The playback menu contains the following options:

Option
Delete
Playback folder
Hide image
Playback display options
Copy image(s)

0
190
207
208
209
209

Option
Image review
After delete
Rotate tall
Slide show
DPOF print order

0
212
212
212
213
202

See Also
Menu defaults are listed on page 312.

Playback Folder

G button D playback menu

Choose a folder for playback (0 177):

Option
ND600
All
Current

Description
Pictures in all folders created with the D600 will be visible during playback.
Pictures in all folders will be visible during playback.
Only pictures in the current folder will be visible during playback.

207

G button D playback menu

Hide Image

Hide or reveal pictures. Hidden pictures are visible only in the Hide image menu and
can only be deleted by formatting the memory card.
Option
Select/set

Description
Hide or reveal selected pictures.

Select date

Selecting this option displays a list of dates. To hide all

pictures taken on a date, highlight the date and press 2.
Selected dates are marked by a L; to reveal all pictures
taken on a selected date, highlight it and press 2. Press J
to complete the operation.

Deselect all?

Reveal all pictures.

Protected and Hidden Images

Revealing a protected image will also remove protection from the image.

Follow the steps below to hide or reveal selected pictures.

Choose Select/set.
Highlight Select/set and press 2.

Select pictures.
Use the multi selector to scroll through the
pictures on the memory card (to view the
highlighted picture full screen, press and
hold the X (T) button; to view images in
other locations as described on page 178,
W (S) button
hold D and press 1) and press W (S) to
select the current picture. Selected pictures are marked by a R icon; to deselect
a picture, highlight it and press W (S) again. Continue until all the desired
pictures have been selected.

Press J.
Press J to complete the operation.

208

Playback Display Options

G button D playback menu

Choose the information available in the playback

photo information display (0 179). Press 1 or 3
to highlight an option, then press 2 to select the
option for the photo information display. A L
appears next to selected items; to deselect,
highlight and press 2. To return to the playback
menu, highlight Done and press J.

G button D playback menu

Copy Image(s)

Copy pictures from one memory card to another. This option is only available when
two memory cards are inserted in the camera.
Option
Select source
Select image(s)
Select destination folder
Copy image(s)?

Description
Choose card from which pictures will be copied.
Select pictures to be copied.
Select destination folder on remaining card.
Copy selected pictures to specified destination.

Choose Select source.

Highlight Select source and press 2.

Select the source card.

Highlight the slot for the card containing the
images to be copied and press J.

209

Choose Select image(s).

Highlight Select image(s) and press 2.

Select the source folder.

Highlight the folder containing the images
to be copied and press 2.

Make the initial selection.

Before going on to select or deselect
individual images, you can mark all or all
protected images in the folder for copying
by choosing Select all images or Select
protected images. To mark only
individually selected images for copying,
choose Deselect all before proceeding.

Select additional images.

Highlight pictures and press W (S) to
select or deselect (to view the highlighted
picture full screen, press and hold the
X (T) button). Selected images are
marked with a L. Press J to proceed to Step W (S) button
7 when your selection is complete.

Choose Select destination folder.

Highlight Select destination folder and
press 2.

210

Select a destination folder.

To enter a folder number, choose Select
folder by number, enter the number
(0 215), and press J. If the folder with the
selected number does not already exist, a
new folder will be created.
To choose from a list of existing folders,
choose Select folder from list, highlight a
folder, and press J.

Copy the images.

Highlight Copy image(s)? and press J.

A confirmation dialog will be displayed;

highlight Yes and press J. Press J again to
exit when copying is complete.

Copying Images
Images will not be copied if there is insufficient space on the destination card. Be sure the
battery is fully charged before copying movies.
If the destination folder contains an image with the
same name as one of the images to be copied, a
confirmation dialog will be displayed. Select Replace
existing image to replace the image with the image to
be copied, or select Replace all to replace all existing
images with the same names without further
prompting. To continue without replacing the image,
select Skip, or select Cancel to exit without copying
any further images.
Protect status is copied with the images but print marking (0 202) is not. Hidden images
can not be copied.

211

Image Review

G button D playback menu

Choose whether pictures are automatically displayed in the

monitor immediately after shooting. If Off is selected, pictures
can only be displayed by pressing the K button.

After Delete

G button D playback menu

Choose the picture displayed after an image is deleted.

Option

Description
Display following picture. If deleted picture was last frame, previous
S Show next
picture will be displayed.
Display previous picture. If deleted picture was first frame, following
T Show previous
picture will be displayed.
If user was scrolling through pictures in order recorded, following
picture will be displayed as described for Show next. If user was
U Continue as before
scrolling through pictures in reverse order, previous picture will be
displayed as described for Show previous.

Rotate Tall

G button D playback menu

Choose whether to rotate tall (portrait-orientation) pictures

for display during playback. Note that because the camera itself
is already in the appropriate orientation during shooting,
images are not rotated automatically during image review.
Option
On
Off

212

Description
Tall (portrait-orientation) pictures are automatically rotated for display in the
camera monitor. Pictures taken with Off selected for Auto image rotation (0 254)
will be displayed in wide (landscape) orientation.
Tall (portrait-orientation) pictures are displayed in wide (landscape) orientation.

G button D playback menu

Slide Show

Create a slide show of the pictures in the current playback folder (0 207). Hidden
images (0 208) are not displayed.
Option
Start
Image type
Frame interval

Description
Start slide show.
Choose type of image displayed from Still images and movies, Still
images only, and Movies only.
Choose how long each picture will be displayed.

To start the slide show, highlight Start and press J. The following operations can be
performed while the slide show is in progress:
To

Press

Description

Skip back/skip ahead

Press 4 to return to previous frame, 2 to skip to next

frame.

View additional photo

info

Change or hide photo info displayed (still images only;

0 179).

J
X (T)/
Raise/lower volume
W (S)
Exit to playback menu
G
Exit to playback mode
K

Pause or resume slide show.

Press X (T) during movie playback to increase
volume, W (S) to decrease.
End slide show and return to playback menu.
End show and return to playback mode.

Exit to shooting mode

Press shutter-release button halfway to return to

shooting mode.

Pause/resume

The dialog shown at right is displayed when the show ends.

Select Restart to restart or Exit to return to the playback menu.

213

C The Shooting Menu: Shooting Options

To display the shooting menu, press G and select the C (shooting menu) tab.

G button

The shooting menu contains the following options:

Option
Reset shooting menu
Storage folder
File naming
Role played by card in Slot 2
Image quality
Image size
Image area
JPEG compression
NEF (RAW) recording
White balance
Set Picture Control
Manage Picture Control
Auto distortion control

0
214
215
216
96
93
95
89
94
94
115
129
134
217

Option
Color space
Active D-Lighting
HDR (high dynamic range)
Vignette control
Long exposure NR
High ISO NR
ISO sensitivity settings
Remote control mode
Multiple exposure
Interval timer shooting
Time-lapse photography
Movie settings

0
217
137
139
218
218
218
105
85
160
164
168
65

Note: Depending on camera settings, some items may be grayed out and unavailable. For
information on the options available in each shooting mode, see page 309.

Reset Shooting Menu

G button C shooting menu

Select Yes to restore shooting menu options to their default

values (0 312).

214

Storage Folder

G button C shooting menu

Select the folder in which subsequent images will be stored.

Selecting Folders by Folder Number

Choose Select folder by number.

Highlight Select folder by number and press 2.
The dialog shown at right will be displayed.

Choose a folder number.

Press 4 or 2 to highlight a digit, press 1 or 3 to change. If a folder with the
selected number already exists, a W, X, or Y icon will be displayed to the left
of the folder number:
W : Folder is empty.
X : Folder is partially full.
Y : Folder contains 999 pictures or a picture numbered 9999. No further
pictures can be stored in this folder.
The card on which the folder is stored is shown by the card slot icon in the top
right corner of the Select folder by number dialog. The card used for new
folders depends on the option currently selected for Role played by card in
slot 2 (0 96).

Save changes and exit.

Press J to complete the operation and return to the shooting menu (to exit
without choosing the storage folder, press the G button). If a folder with the
specified number does not already exist, a new folder will be created.
Subsequent photographs will be stored in the selected folder unless it is
already full.

Folder and File Numbers

If the current folder is numbered 999 and contains 999 pictures or a picture numbered 9999,
the shutter-release will be disabled and no further photographs can be taken. To continue
shooting, create a folder with a number less than 999, or select an existing folder with a
number less than 999 and less than 999 images.

Startup Time
Additional time may be required for camera startup if the memory card contains a very large
number of files or folders.

215

 Selecting Folders from a List

Choose Select folder from list.

Highlight Select folder from list and press 2.

Highlight a folder.
Press 1 or 3 to highlight a folder.

Select the highlighted folder.

Press J to select the highlighted folder and return to the shooting menu.
Subsequent photographs will be stored in the selected folder.

File Naming

G button C shooting menu

Photographs are saved using file names consisting of DSC_ or, in the case of images
that use the Adobe RGB color space, _DSC, followed by a four-digit number and a
three-letter extension (e.g., DSC_0001.JPG). The File naming option is used to
select three letters to replace the DSC portion of the file name. For information on
editing file names, see page 135.

Extensions
The following extensions are used: .NEF for NEF (RAW) images, .JPG for JPEG images,
.MOV for movies, and .NDF for dust off reference data. In each pair of photographs
recorded at image-quality settings of NEF (RAW)+JPEG, the NEF and JPEG images have the
same file names but different extensions.

216

Auto Distortion Control

G button C shooting menu

Select On to reduce barrel distortion when shooting with wideangle lenses and to reduce pin-cushion distortion when
shooting with long lenses (note that the edges of the area
visible in the viewfinder may be cropped out of the final
photograph, and that the time needed to process photographs
before recording begins may increase). This option does not
apply to movies and is available only with type G and D lenses (PC, fisheye, and
certain other lenses excluded); results are not guaranteed with other lenses. Before
using auto distortion control with DX lenses, select On for Auto DX crop or choose an
image area of DX (2416) 1.5 (0 90); selecting other options may result in heavily
cropped photographs or in photographs with severe peripheral distortion.

Retouch: Distortion Control

For information on creating copies of existing photographs with reduced barrel and pincushion distortion, see page 274.

Color Space

G button C shooting menu

The color space determines the gamut of colors available for color reproduction.
Choose sRGB for photographs that will be printed or used as is, with no further
modification. Adobe RGB has a wider color gamut and is recommended for images
that will be extensively processed or retouched after leaving the camera.

Color Space
Color spaces define the correspondence between colors and the numeric values that
represent them in a digital image file. The sRGB color space is widely used, while the Adobe
RGB color space is typically used in publishing and commercial printing. sRGB is
recommended when taking photographs that will be printed without modification or
viewed in applications that do not support color management, or when taking photographs
that will be printed with ExifPrint, the direct printing option on some household printers, or
kiosk printing or other commercial print services. Adobe RGB photographs can also be
printed using these options, but colors will not be as vivid.

JPEG photographs taken in the Adobe RGB color space are DCF compliant; applications and
printers that support DCF will select the correct color space automatically. If the application
or device does not support DCF, select the appropriate color space manually. For more
information, see the documentation provided with the application or device.

Nikon Software
ViewNX 2 (supplied) and Capture NX 2 (available separately) automatically select the correct
color space when opening photographs created with this camera.

217

Vignette Control

G button C shooting menu

Vignetting is a drop in brightness at the edges of a photograph. Vignette control

reduces vignetting for type G and D lenses (DX and PC lenses excluded). Its effects
vary from lens to lens and are most noticeable at maximum aperture. Choose from
High, Normal, Low, and Off.

Vignette Control
Depending on the scene, shooting conditions, and type of lens, JPEG images may exhibit
noise (fog) or variations in peripheral brightness, while custom Picture Controls and preset
Picture Controls that have been modified from default settings may not produce the desired
effect. Take test shots and view the results in the monitor. Vignette control does not apply
to movies (0 57), multiple exposures (0 160), or DX-format images (0 89).

Long Exposure NR
(Long Exposure Noise Reduction)

G button C shooting menu

If On is selected, photographs taken at shutter speeds slower

than 1 s will be processed to reduce noise (bright spots,
randomly-spaced bright pixels, or fog). The time required for
processing roughly doubles; during processing, l m
will flash in the shutter speed/aperture displays and pictures
can not be taken (if the camera is turned off before
processing is complete, the picture will be saved but noise
reduction will not be performed). In continuous release
mode, frame rates will slow and while photographs are being processed, the capacity
of the memory buffer will drop. Long exposure noise reduction is not available
during movie recording.

High ISO NR

G button C shooting menu

Photographs taken at high ISO sensitivities can be processed to reduce noise.

218

Option
Description
High Reduce noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, lines, or fog), particularly in
Normal photographs taken at high ISO sensitivities. Choose the amount of noise reduction
performed from High, Normal, and Low.
Low
Noise reduction is only performed at ISO sensitivities of ISO 2500 and higher. The
Off
amount of noise reduction is less than the amount performed when Low is selected
for High ISO NR.

A Custom Settings:
Fine-Tuning Camera Settings
To display the Custom Settings menu, press G and select the A (Custom Settings
menu) tab.

G button

Custom Settings are used to customize camera settings

to suit individual preferences.

Custom Setting groups

Main menu

Reset custom
settings
(0 221)

219

The following Custom Settings are available:

a
a1
a2
a3
a4
a5
a6
a7
b
b1
b2
b3
b4
b5
c
c1
c2
c3
c4
c5
d
d1
d2
d3
d4
d5
d6
d7
d8

Custom Setting
Reset custom settings
Autofocus
AF-C priority selection
AF-S priority selection
Focus tracking with lock-on
AF point illumination
Focus point wrap-around
Number of focus points
Built-in AF-assist illuminator
Metering/exposure
ISO sensitivity step value
EV steps for exposure cntrl
Easy exposure compensation
Center-weighted area
Fine-tune optimal exposure
Timers/AE lock
Shutter-release button AE-L
Standby timer
Self-timer
Monitor off delay
Remote on duration
Shooting/display
Beep
Viewfinder grid display
ISO display and adjustment
Screen tips
CL mode shooting speed
Max. continuous release
File number sequence
Information display

0
221
221
221
222
222
222
223
223
224
224
225
226
226
226
227
227
228
228
228
229
229
229
229
230
230
231

d
d9
d10
d11
d12
d13
e
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
f
f1
f2
f3
f4
f5
f6
f7
f8
f9
g
g1
g2
g3
g4

Custom Setting
Shooting/display
LCD illumination
Exposure delay mode
Flash warning
MB-D14 battery type
Battery order
Bracketing/flash
Flash sync speed
Flash shutter speed
Flash cntrl for built-in flash
Exposure comp. for flash
Modeling flash
Auto bracketing set
Bracketing order
Controls
OK button (shooting mode)
Assign Fn button
Assign preview button
Assign AE-L/AF-L button
Customize command dials
Release button to use dial
Slot empty release lock
Reverse indicators
Assign MB-D14 4 button
Movie
Assign Fn button
Assign preview button
Assign AE-L/AF-L button
Assign shutter button

0
231
231
231
232
233
234
235
236
240
241
241
241
241
242
244
244
245
246
246
246
247
247
248
248
248

Note: Depending on camera settings, some items may be grayed out and unavailable. For
information on the options available in each shooting mode, see page 309. If settings in the
current bank have been modified from default values (0 313), an asterisk will be displayed
adjacent to the altered settings in the second level of the Custom Settings menu.

220

Reset Custom Settings

G button A Custom Settings menu

Select Yes to restore Custom Settings to their default values

(0 313).

a: Autofocus
a1: AF-C Priority Selection

G button A Custom Settings menu

When AF-C is selected for viewfinder photography (0 97), this option controls
whether photographs can be taken whenever the shutter-release button is pressed
(release priority) or only when the camera is in focus (focus priority).
Option
G Release
F Focus

Description
Photos can be taken whenever the shutter-release button is pressed.
Photos can only be taken when the in-focus indicator (I) is displayed.

Regardless of the option selected, focus will not lock when AF-C is selected for
autofocus mode. The camera will continue to adjust focus until the shutter is
released.

a2: AF-S Priority Selection

G button A Custom Settings menu

When AF-S is selected for viewfinder photography (0 97), this option controls
whether photographs can be taken only when the camera is in focus (focus priority)
or whenever the shutter-release button is pressed (release priority).
Option
G Release
F Focus

Description
Photos can be taken whenever the shutter-release button is pressed.
Photos can only be taken when the in-focus indicator (I) is displayed.

Regardless of the option selected, if the in-focus indicator (I) is displayed when AF-S
is selected for autofocus mode, focus will lock while the shutter-release button is
pressed halfway. Focus lock continues until the shutter is released.

221

a3: Focus Tracking with Lock-On

G button A Custom Settings menu

This option controls how autofocus adjusts to sudden large changes in the distance
to the subject when AF-C is selected or continuous-servo autofocus is selected when
the camera is in AF-A mode for viewfinder photography (0 97).
Option
C 5 (Long)

Description

When the distance to the subject changes abruptly, the camera waits for the
specified period before adjusting the distance to the subject. This prevents
D 3 (Normal)
the camera from refocusing when the subject is briefly obscured by objects
) 2
passing through the frame.
E 1 (Short)
The camera immediately adjusts focus when the distance to the subject
Off
changes. Use when photographing a series of subjects at varying distances in
quick succession.
( 4

a4: AF Point Illumination

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose whether the active focus point is highlighted in red in the viewfinder.
Option
Auto
On
Off

Description
The selected focus point is automatically highlighted as needed to establish
contrast with the background.
The selected focus point is always highlighted, regardless of the brightness of
the background. Depending on the brightness of the background, the
selected focus point may be difficult to see.
The selected focus point is not highlighted. The area outside the current crop
is shown in grey (0 90).

a5: Focus Point Wrap-Around

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose whether focus-point selection wraps around from one edge of the
viewfinder to another.
Option

Wrap

U
No wrap

222

Description
Focus-point selection wraps around from top to
bottom, bottom to top, right to left, and left to right, w
q
so that, for example, pressing 2 when a focus point
at the right edge of the display is highlighted (q)
selects the corresponding focus point at the left
edge of the display (w).
The focus-point display is bounded by the outermost focus points so that, for
example, pressing 2 when a focus point at the right edge of the display is
selected has no effect.

a6: Number of Focus Points

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the number of focus points available for manual focus-point selection.
Option

Description

# 39 points Choose from the 39 focus points shown at right.

A 11 points

Choose from the 11 focus points shown at right. Use for

quick focus-point selection.

a7: Built-in AF-assist Illuminator

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose whether the built-in AF-assist illuminator lights to assist

the focus operation when lighting is poor.

Option

On

Off

Description
The AF-assist illuminator lights when lighting is poor (viewfinder photography
only). AF-assist illumination is only available when both of the following
conditions are met:
1. AF-S is selected for autofocus mode (0 97) or single-servo autofocus is selected
when the camera is in AF-A mode.
2. Auto-area AF is chosen for AF-area mode (0 99), or an option other than autoarea AF is chosen and the center focus point is selected.
The AF-assist illuminator does not light to assist the focus operation. The camera
may not be able to focus using autofocus when lighting is poor.

The AF-Assist Illuminator

The AF-assist illuminator has a range of about 0.53.0 m (1 ft 8 in.9 ft 10 in.); when using the
illuminator, use a lens with a focal length of 24200 mm and remove the lens hood.

See Also
For information on the shooting modes in which AF-assist is available, see page 309. See
page 290 for restrictions on the lenses that can be used with AF assist.

223

b: Metering/Exposure
b1: ISO Sensitivity Step Value

G button A Custom Settings menu

Select the increments used when making adjustments to ISO

sensitivity. If possible, the current ISO sensitivity setting is
maintained when the step value is changed. If the current
setting is not available at the new step value, ISO sensitivity will
be rounded to the nearest available setting.

b2: EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl

G button A Custom Settings menu

Select the increments used when making adjustments to

shutter speed, aperture, exposure and flash compensation, and
bracketing.

224

b3: Easy Exposure Compensation

G button A Custom Settings menu

This option controls whether the E button is needed to set exposure compensation
(0 112). If On (Auto reset) or On is selected, the 0 at the center of the exposure
display will flash even when exposure compensation is set to 0.
Option

Description
Exposure compensation is set by rotating one of the command dials (see note
below). The setting selected using the command dial is reset when the camera
On (Auto reset)
turns off or the standby timer expires (exposure compensation settings
selected using the E button are not reset).
As above, except that the exposure compensation value selected using the
On
command dial is not reset when the camera turns off or the standby timer
expires.
Exposure compensation is set by pressing the E button and rotating the main
Off
command dial.

Change Main/Sub
The dial used to set exposure compensation when On (Auto reset) or On is selected for
Custom Setting b3 (Easy exposure compensation) depends on the option selected for
Custom Setting f5 (Customize command dials) > Change main/sub (0 245).

Mode

P
S
A
M

Customize command dials > Change main/sub

Off
On
Sub-command dial
Sub-command dial
Sub-command dial
Main command dial
Main command dial
Sub-command dial
N/A

Show ISO/Easy ISO

Custom Setting b3 (Easy exposure compensation) can not be used with Custom Setting d3
(Show ISO/Easy ISO). Adjustments to either of these items reset the remaining item; a
message is displayed when the item is reset.

225

b4: Center-Weighted Area

G button A Custom Settings menu

When calculating exposure, center-weighted metering assigns

the greatest weight to a circle in the center of the frame. The
diameter ( ) of this circle can be set to 8, 12, 15, or 20 mm or to
the average of the entire frame.
Note that unless Average is selected, the diameter is fixed at 12 mm when a non-CPU
lens is used, regardless of the setting selected for Non-CPU lens data in the setup
menu (0 172). When Average is selected, the average of the entire frame will be
used for both CPU and non-CPU lenses.

b5: Fine-tune Optimal Exposure

G button A Custom Settings menu

Use this option to fine-tune the exposure value selected by the

camera. Exposure can be fine-tuned separately for each
metering method by from +1 to 1 EV in steps of 1/6 EV.

Fine-Tuning Exposure
Exposure fine-tuning is not affected by two-button resets. Note that as the exposure
compensation (E) icon is not displayed, the only way to determine how much exposure has
been altered is to view the amount in the fine-tuning menu. Exposure compensation
(0 112) is preferred in most situations.

c: Timers/AE Lock
c1: Shutter-Release Button AE-L

G button A Custom Settings menu

If On is selected, exposure will lock when the shutter-release

button is pressed halfway.

226

c2: Standby timer

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose how long the camera continues to meter exposure

when no operations are performed. The shutter-speed and
aperture displays in the control panel and viewfinder turn off
automatically when the timer expires.
Choose a shorter standby timer delay for longer battery life.

c3: Self-Timer

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the length of the shutter release delay, the number of

shots taken, and the interval between shots in self-timer mode.

Self-timer delay: Choose the length of the shutter-release delay

(0 85).

Number of shots: Press 1 and 3 to choose the number of shots

taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.

Interval between shots: Choose the interval between shots when

the Number of shots is more than 1.

227

c4: Monitor off Delay

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose how long the monitor remains on when no operations

are performed during playback (Playback; defaults to 10 s) and
image review (Image review; defaults to 4 s), when menus
(Menus; defaults to 1 minute) or information (Information
display; defaults to 10 s) are displayed, or during live view and
movie recording (Live view; defaults to 10 minutes). Choose a
shorter monitor-off delay for longer battery life.

c5: Remote on Duration

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose how long the camera will remain on stand-by in remote

release mode (0 85). If no operations are performed for the
selected period, remote shooting will end and the exposure
meters will turn off. Choose shorter times for longer battery life.
To reactivate remote control mode after the timer has expired,
press the camera shutter-release button halfway.

d: Shooting/Display
d1: Beep

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the pitch and volume of the beep that sounds when the camera focuses
using single-servo AF (AF-S or when single-servo AF is selected for AF-A; 0 97), when
focus locks during live view photography, while the release timer is counting down in
self-timer and delayed remote release modes (0 85), when a photograph is taken in
quick-response remote or remote mirror-up mode (0 85), when time-lapse
photography ends (0 168), or if you attempt to take a photograph when the
memory card is locked (0 32). Note that a beep will not sound in movie live view
(0 57) or quiet-shutter release mode (mode J; 0 83), regardless of the option
selected.
Volume: Choose 3 (high), 2 (medium), 1 (low) or Off (mute).
When an option other than Off is selected, c appears in the
information display.
Pitch: Choose High or Low.

228

d2: Viewfinder Grid Display

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose On to display on-demand grid lines in the viewfinder for

reference when composing photographs (0 8).

d3: ISO Display and Adjustment

G button A Custom Settings menu

If Show ISO sensitivity or Show ISO/Easy ISO is selected, the control panel will
show ISO sensitivity in place of the number of exposures remaining. If Show ISO/
Easy ISO is selected, ISO sensitivity can be set in modes P and S by rotating the subcommand dial or in mode A by rotating the main command dial. Select Show frame
count to display the number of exposures remaining in the control panel.

d4: Screen Tips

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose On to display tool tips for items selected in the

information display (0 11).

d5: CL Mode Shooting Speed

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the maximum frame advance rate in CL (continuous low

speed) mode (0 83; during interval timer photography, this
setting also determines the frame advance rate for singleframe).

229

d6: Max. Continuous Release

G button A Custom Settings menu

The maximum number of shots that can be taken in a single burst in continuous
mode can be set to any value between 1 and 100.

The Memory Buffer

Regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting d6, shooting will slow when the
memory buffer fills (t00). See page 334 for more information on the capacity of the memory
buffer.

d7: File Number Sequence

G button A Custom Settings menu

When a photograph is taken, the camera names the file by

adding one to the last file number used. This option controls
whether file numbering continues from the last number used
when a new folder is created, the memory card is formatted, or
a new memory card is inserted in the camera.
Option

Description
When a new folder is created, the memory card formatted, or a new memory card
inserted in the camera, file numbering continues from the last number used or from
On the largest file number in the current folder, whichever is higher. If a photograph is
taken when the current folder contains a photograph numbered 9999, a new folder
will be created automatically and file numbering will begin again from 0001.
File numbering is reset to 0001 when a new folder is created, the memory card is
formatted, or a new memory card is inserted in the camera. Note that a new folder is
Off
created automatically if a photograph is taken when the current folder contains 999
photographs.
As for On, except that the next photograph taken is assigned a file number by adding
Reset one to the largest file number in the current folder. If the folder is empty, file
numbering is reset to 0001.

File Number Sequence

If the current folder is numbered 999 and contains either 999 photographs or a photograph
numbered 9999, the shutter-release button will be disabled and no further photographs can
be taken. Choose Reset for Custom Setting d7 (File number sequence) and then either
format the current memory card or insert a new memory card.

230

d8: Information Display

G button A Custom Settings menu

If Auto (v) is selected, the color of the lettering in the information display (0 9) will
automatically change from black to white or white to black to maintain contrast with
the background. To always use the same color lettering, select Manual and choose
Dark on light (w; black lettering) or Light on dark (x; white lettering). Monitor
brightness will automatically be adjusted for maximum contrast with the selected
text color.

Dark on light

d9: LCD Illumination

Light on dark
G button A Custom Settings menu

If Off is selected, the control panel backlight (LCD illuminator)

will only light while the power switch is rotated toward D. If On
is selected, the control panel will be illuminated whenever the
standby timer is active (0 39). Select Off for increased battery
life.

d10: Exposure Delay Mode

G button A Custom Settings menu

In situations where the slightest camera movement can blur

pictures, select 1 s, 2 s, or 3 s to delay shutter release until one,
two, or three seconds after the mirror is raised.

d11: Flash Warning

G button A Custom Settings menu

If On is selected, the flash-ready indicator (c) will flash in the viewfinder if the flash is
required to ensure optimal exposure.

231

d12: MB-D14 Battery Type

G button A Custom Settings menu

To ensure that the camera functions as expected when the optional MB-D14 battery
pack is used with AA batteries, match the option selected in this menu to the type of
batteries inserted in the battery pack. There is no need to adjust this option when
using EN-EL15 batteries.
Option
1 LR6 (AA alkaline)
2 HR6 (AA Ni-MH)
3 FR6 (AA lithium)

Description
Select when using LR6 alkaline AA batteries.
Select when using HR6 Ni-MH AA batteries.
Select when using FR6 lithium AA batteries.

Using AA Batteries
The capacity of AA batteries drops sharply at temperatures below 20 C (68 F) and varies
with make and storage conditions; in some cases, batteries may cease to function before
their expiry date. Some AA batteries can not be used; due to their performance
characteristics and limited capacity, alkaline batteries have less capacity than some other
types and should only be used if no alternative is available and then only at warmer
temperatures. The camera shows the level of AA batteries as follows:
Control panel
L
H
H
(flashes)

232

Viewfinder

d
d
(flashes)

Description
Batteries fully charged.
Low battery. Ready fresh batteries.
Shutter release disabled. Change batteries.

d13: Battery Order

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose whether the battery in the camera or the batteries in the

battery pack are used first when an optional MB-D14 battery
pack is attached. Note that if the MB-D14 is powered by an
optional EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power connector, the AC
adapter will be used regardless of the option selected.
A s icon is displayed in the camera control panel when the
batteries in the MB-D14 are in use.

The MB-D14 Battery Pack

The MB-D14 takes one EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery or six AA alkaline, Ni-MH, or
lithium batteries (an EN-EL15 is supplied with the camera; AA batteries are available
separately).
The information display shows the type of battery inserted in the
MB-D14 as follows:
MB-D14 battery type display
$
w

Battery type
EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery
AA batteries

233

e: Bracketing/Flash
e1: Flash Sync Speed

G button A Custom Settings menu

This option controls flash sync speed.

Option

Description
Auto FP high-speed sync is used when a compatible flash unit is attached
(0 294). If the built-in flash or other flash units are used, shutter speed is set
1/250 s
to 1/250 s. When the camera shows a shutter speed of 1/250 s in mode P or A,
(Auto FP)
auto FP high-speed sync will be activated if the actual shutter speed is faster
than 1/250 s.
Auto FP high-speed sync is used when a compatible flash unit is attached
(0 294). If the built-in flash or other flash units are used, shutter speed is set
1/200 s
to 1/200 s. When the camera shows a shutter speed of 1/200 s in mode P or A,
(Auto FP)
auto FP high-speed sync will be activated if the actual shutter speed is faster
than 1/200 s.
1/200 s1/60 s Flash sync speed set to selected value.

Fixing Shutter Speed at the Flash Sync Speed Limit

To fix shutter speed at the sync speed limit in mode S or M, select the next shutter speed after
the slowest possible shutter speed (30 s or bulb). An X (flash sync indicator) will be displayed
in the viewfinder and control panel.

Auto FP High-Speed Sync

Allows the flash to be used at the highest shutter speed supported by the camera, making it
possible to choose the maximum aperture for reduced depth of field even when the subject
is backlit in bright sunlight. The information display flash mode indicator shows FP when
auto FP high-speed sync is active (0 295).

234

 Auto FP High-Speed Sync

When 1/250 s (Auto FP) or 1/200 s (Auto FP) is selected for Custom Setting e1 (Flash
sync speed, 0 234), the built-in flash can be used at shutter speeds as fast as 1/250 s
or 1/200 s, while compatible optional flash units (0 294) can be used at any shutter
speed (Auto FP High-Speed Sync).
Flash sync speed

1/250 s (Auto FP)

Optional
Built-in flash
flash unit

1/200 s (Auto FP)

Optional
Built-in flash
flash unit

1/200 s
Optional
Built-in flash
flash unit

Shutter speed
From 1/4,000 to but

Auto FP

Auto FP

not including 1/250 s

From 1/250 to but
Flash sync *

Auto FP

not including 1/200 s

1/20030 s
Flash sync
* Flash range drops as shutter speed increases. Flash range will nevertheless be greater than
that obtained at the same speeds with Auto FP.

e2: Flash Shutter Speed

G button A Custom Settings menu

This option determines the slowest shutter speed available

when using front- or rear-curtain sync or red-eye reduction in
mode P or A (regardless of the setting chosen, shutter speeds
can be as slow as 30 s in S and M modes or at flash settings of
slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, or red-eye reduction with slow
sync). Options range from 1/60 s (1/60 s) to 30 s (30 s).

235

e3: Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the flash mode for the built-in flash.

Option

1
2
3
4

Description
Flash output is adjusted automatically in response to shooting
TTL
conditions.
Choose the flash level (0 236). The camera does not emit monitor preManual
flashes.
The flash fires repeatedly while the shutter is open, producing a strobeRepeating flash
light effect (0 236).
Use the built-in flash as a master flash controlling remote optional flash
Commander mode
units in one or more groups (0 237).

Manual
Choose a flash level between Full and 1/128 (1/128 of full power). At full power, the
built-in flash has a Guide Number of 12/39 (m/ft, ISO 100, 20C/68F).

Repeating Flash
The flash fires repeatedly while the shutter is open, producing
a strobe-light effect. Press 4 or 2 to highlight the following
options, 1 or 3 to change.
Option
Output

Description
Choose flash output (expressed as a fraction of full power).
Choose the number of times the flash fires at the selected
output. Note that depending on shutter speed and the
Times
option selected for Frequency, the actual number of flashes
may be less than selected.
Frequency Choose how often the flash fires per second.

Flash Control Mode

The flash control mode for the built-in flash is shown in the
information display (0 146).

Manual and Repeating Flash

Y icons flash in the control panel and viewfinder when these options are selected.

236

The SB-400
When an optional SB-400 flash unit is attached and turned on, Custom Setting e3 changes to
Optional flash, allowing the flash control mode for the SB-400 to be selected from TTL and
Manual (Repeating flash and Commander mode options are not available).

Times
The options available for Repeating Flash > Times are determined by flash output.
Output
1/4
1/8
1/16

Options available for Times

2
25
210

Output
1/32
1/64
1/128

Options available for Times

210, 15
210, 15, 20, 25
210, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35

Commander Mode
Use the built-in flash as a master flash controlling one or more remote optional flash
units in up to two groups (A and B) using advanced wireless lighting (0 294).
Selecting this option displays the menu shown at right. Press 4
or 2 to highlight the following options, 1 or 3 to change.

Option
Built-in
flash

Description
Choose a flash mode for the built-in flash (commander flash).

i-TTL mode. Choose flash compensation from values between +3.0 and 3.0 EV in
increments of 1/3 EV.
M
Choose the flash level from values between 1/1 and 1/128 (1/128 of full power).
The built-in flash does not fire, although remote flash units do. The built-in flash

must be raised so that it can emit monitor pre-flashes.

Group A Choose a flash mode for all flash units in group A.
i-TTL mode. Choose flash compensation from values between +3.0 and 3.0 EV in
TTL
increments of 1/3 EV.
Auto aperture (available only with compatible flash units; 0 294). Choose flash
AA
compensation from values between +3.0 and 3.0 EV in increments of 1/3 EV.
M
Choose the flash level from values between 1/1 and 1/128 (1/128 of full power).
The flash units in this group do not fire.
Choose a flash mode for all flash units in group B. The options available are the
Group B
same as those listed for Group A, above.
Choose from channels 14. All flash units in both groups must be set to the same
Channel
channel.
TTL

237

Follow the steps below to take photographs in commander mode.

Adjust settings for the built-in flash.

Choose the flash control mode and output level for the
built-in flash. Note that output level can not be adjusted
in mode.

Adjust settings for group A.

Choose the flash control mode and output level for the
flash units in group A.

Adjust settings for group B.

Choose the flash control mode and output level for the
flash units in group B.

238

Select the channel.

Press J.

Compose the shot.

Compose the shot and arrange the flash units as shown below. Note that the
maximum distance at which the remote flash units can be placed may vary with
shooting conditions.
10 m/33 ft or less

60 or less
30 or less

30 or less

5 m/15 ft or
less

Wireless remote sensors

on flash units should face
camera.

Camera
(built-in flash)
5 m/15 ft or less

60 or less

Configure the remote flash units.

Turn all the remote flash units on, adjust group settings as desired, and set them
to the channel selected in Step 4. See the flash unit instruction manuals for
details.

Raise the built-in flash.

Press the M (Y) button to raise the built-in flash. Note that even if is
selected for Built-in flash>Mode, the built-in flash must be raised so that
monitor preflashes will be emitted.

Frame the photograph, focus, and shoot.

After confirming that the camera flash-ready light and the flash-ready lights for
all other flash units are lit, frame the photograph, focus, and shoot. FV lock
(0 149) can be used if desired.

239

The Flash Sync Mode Display

M does not appear in the control panel flash sync mode display when is selected for Builtin flash > Mode.

Flash Compensation
The flash compensation value selected with the M (Y) button and sub-command dial is
added to the flash compensation values selected for the built-in flash, group A, and group B
in the Commander mode menu. A Y icon is displayed in the control panel and viewfinder
when a flash compensation value other than 0 is selected for Built-in flash > TTL. The Y
icon flashes when the built-in flash is in mode M.

Commander Mode
Position the sensor windows on the remote flash units to pick up the light from the built-in
flash (particular care is required if the camera is not mounted on a tripod). Be sure that direct
light or strong reflections from the remote flash units do not enter the camera lens (in TTL
mode) or the photocells on the remote flash units (AA mode), as this may interfere with
exposure. To prevent timing flashes emitted by the built-in flash from appearing in
photographs taken at short range, choose low ISO sensitivities or small apertures (high
f-numbers) or use an optional SG-3IR infrared panel for the built-in flash. An SG-3IR is
required for best results with rear-curtain sync, which produces brighter timing flashes.
After positioning the remote flash units, take a test shot and view the results in the camera
monitor.
Although there is no limit on the number of remote flash units that may be used, the
practical maximum is three. With more than this number, the light emitted by the remote
flash units will interfere with performance.

e4: Exposure Comp. for Flash

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose how the camera adjusts flash level when exposure compensation is used.
Option

Description
Both flash level and exposure compensation are adjusted to modify
YE Entire frame
exposure over the entire frame.
E Background only Exposure compensation applies to background only.

240

e5: Modeling Flash

G button A Custom Settings menu

If On is selected when the camera is being used with the built-in

flash or an optional CLS-compatible flash unit (0 294), a
modeling flash will be emitted when the camera depth-of-field
preview button is pressed (0 77). No modeling flash is emitted
if Off is selected.

e6: Auto Bracketing Set

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the setting or settings bracketed when auto bracketing (0 153) is in effect.
Choose AE & flash (j) to perform both exposure and flash-level bracketing, AE only
(k) to bracket only exposure, Flash only (l) to perform only flash-level bracketing,
WB bracketing (m) to perform white-balance bracketing (0 156), or ADL
bracketing (y) to perform bracketing using Active D-Lighting (0 158). Note that
white balance bracketing is not available at image quality settings of NEF (RAW) or
NEF (RAW) + JPEG.

e7: Bracketing Order

G button A Custom Settings menu

At the default setting of MTR > under > over (H), exposure, flash, and white balance
bracketing are performed in the order described on pages 153 and 156. If
Under > MTR > over (I) is selected, shooting will proceed in order from the
lowest to the highest value. This setting has no effect on ADL bracketing.

f: Controls
f1: OK Button (Shooting Mode)

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the J button during shooting: selecting the center focus
point (J Select center focus point), highlighting the active focus point
(K Highlight active focus point), or none (Not used).

241

f2: Assign Fn Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the Fn button.

Option

q Preview
r FV lock

Description
Press the Fn button to preview depth of field (0 77).
Press the Fn button to lock flash value (built-in flash and compatible
optional flash units only, 0 149, 294). Press again to cancel FV lock.
Focus and exposure lock while the Fn button is pressed.

B AE/AF lock
C AE lock only Exposure locks while the Fn button is pressed.
AE lock

Exposure locks when the Fn button is pressed, and remains locked until

E (Hold)
the button is pressed a second time or the standby timer expires.
F AF lock only Focus locks while the Fn button is pressed.

Pressing the Fn button initiates autofocus. The shutter-release button can

not be used to focus.
Flash off
The flash will not fire in photos taken while the Fn button is pressed.
If the Fn button is pressed while exposure, flash, or ADL bracketing is active
in single frame or quiet shutter-release mode, all shots in the current
Bracketing bracketing program will be taken each time the shutter-release button is
burst
pressed. If white balance bracketing is active or continuous release mode
(mode CH or CL) is selected, the camera will repeat the bracketing burst
while the shutter-release button is held down.
Active
Press the Fn button and rotate the main command dial to adjust Active
D-Lighting D-Lighting (0 137).
If image quality is set to JPEG fine, JPEG normal, or JPEG basic, RAW
will be displayed in the control panel and an NEF (RAW) copy will be
recorded with the next picture taken after the Fn button is pressed (to
+NEF (RAW)
record NEF/RAW copies with a series of photographs, keep the shutterrelease button pressed halfway between shots). To exit without recording
an NEF (RAW) copy, press the Fn button again.
Matrix
Matrix metering is activated while the Fn button is pressed.
metering
Centerweighted
Center-weighted metering is activated while the Fn button is pressed.
metering
Spot
Spot metering is activated while the Fn button is pressed.
metering

A AF-ON
s

L
M
N

242

Option

9
5
m
n
6

w
K

Description
Press the Fn button and rotate the main command dial to turn the framing
Framing grid
grid display in the viewfinder on or off (0 8).
Choose
Press the Fn button and rotate a command dial to choose an image area
image area (0 89).
Viewfinder
virtual
Press the Fn button to view a virtual horizon display in the viewfinder.
horizon
MY MENU
Pressing the Fn button displays MY MENU (0 280).
Access top
Press the Fn button to jump to the top item in MY MENU. Select this
item in MY
option for quick access to a frequently-used menu item.
MENU
If the Fn button is pressed when the command dials are rotated, changes
1 step spd/ to shutter speed (modes S and M) and aperture (modes A and M) are made
aperture
in increments of 1 EV, regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting
b2 (EV steps for exposure cntrl, 0 224).
Choose nonPress the Fn button and rotate a command dial to choose a lens number
CPU lens
specified using the Non-CPU lens data option (0 172).
number
Fn button performs same function as K button. Select when using a
Playback
telephoto lens or in other circumstances in which it is difficult to operate
the K button with your left hand.
None
Pressing the button has no effect.

Viewfinder Virtual Horizon

When Viewfinder virtual horizon is selected for Custom Setting f2 (Assign Fn button),
pressing the Fn button converts the exposure display in the viewfinder to a roll indicator.
Press the button again to restore the indicator to its normal function.
Camera tilted right

Camera level

Camera tilted left

Viewfinder
Note that the display may not be accurate when the camera is tilted at a sharp angle forward
or back. For a display that shows both pitch and roll, use the Virtual horizon option in the
setup menu (0 258).

243

f3: Assign Preview Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the depth-of-field preview button.

The options available are the same as for Assign Fn button
(0 242). The default setting is Preview.

f4: Assign AE-L/AF-L Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the A AE-L/AF-L button.

Option
AE/AF
B lock
AE lock
C only
AE lock

E (Hold)

AF lock

F only

A AF-ON

r FV lock
None

244

Description
Focus and exposure lock while the A AE-L/AF-L button is
pressed.
Exposure locks while the A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.
Exposure locks when the A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed,
and remains locked until the button is pressed a second
time or the standby timer expires.
Focus locks while the A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.
The A AE-L/AF-L button initiates autofocus. The shutterrelease button can not be used to focus.
Press the A AE-L/AF-L button to lock flash value (built-in
flash and compatible optional flash units only, 0 149,
294). Press again to cancel FV lock.
Pressing the button has no effect.

f5: Customize Command Dials

G button A Custom Settings menu

This option controls the operation of the main and sub-command dials.
Reverse rotation: Reverse the direction of rotation of the
command dials when they are used to make adjustments to
Exposure compensation and/or Shutter speed/aperture.
Highlight options and press the multi selector right to select
or deselect, then highlight Done and press J. This setting
also applies to the command dials for the MB-D14.
Change main/sub: If Off is selected, the main command dial
controls shutter speed and the sub-command dial controls
aperture. Select On (Mode A) to use the main command dial
to select aperture in shooting mode A, On to use the main
command dial to select aperture in modes A and M and the
sub-command dial to select shutter speed in modes S and M.
This setting also applies to the command dials for the MB-D14.
Aperture setting: If Sub-command dial is selected, aperture can only be adjusted
with the sub-command dial (or with the main command dial if On is selected for
Change main/sub). If Aperture ring is selected, aperture can only be adjusted
with the lens aperture ring and the camera aperture display will show aperture in
increments of 1 EV (aperture for type G lenses is still set using the sub-command
dial). Note that regardless of the setting chosen, the aperture ring must be used to
adjust aperture when a non-CPU lens is attached.
Menus and playback: If Off is selected, the multi selector is used to choose the picture
displayed during full-frame playback, highlight thumbnails, and navigate menus.
If On or On (image review excluded) is selected, the main command dial can be
used to choose the picture displayed during full-frame playback, move the cursor
left or right during thumbnail playback, and move the menu highlight bar up or
down. The sub-command dial is used to display additional photo information in
full-frame playback and to move the cursor up or down during thumbnail
playback. Select On (image review excluded) to prevent the command dials from
being used for playback during image review. While menus are displayed, rotating
the sub-command dial right displays the sub-menu for the selected option, while
rotating it left displays the previous menu. To make a selection, press 2 or J.

245

f6: Release Button to Use Dial

G button A Custom Settings menu

Selecting Yes allows adjustments that are normally made by holding the E, M (Y),
W (S), X (T), L (U), AF-mode, Z (Q), or D button and rotating a
command dial to be made by rotating the command dial after the button is released
(this also applies to the Fn and depth-of-field preview buttons if they have been
assigned Active D-Lighting using Custom Setting f2, Assign Fn button, or Custom
Setting f3, Assign preview button). Setting ends when any of the affected buttons
is pressed again or the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. Except when No
limit is selected for Custom Setting c2 Standby timer, setting will also end when the
standby timer expires.

f7: Slot Empty Release Lock

G button A Custom Settings menu

Selecting Enable release allows the shutter to be released when no memory card is
inserted, although no pictures will be recorded (they will however be displayed in the
monitor in demo mode). If Release locked is selected, the shutter-release button is
only enabled when a memory card is inserted in the camera.

f8: Reverse Indicators

G button A Custom Settings menu

If
(W) is selected, the exposure indicators in the control panel,
viewfinder, and information display are displayed with negative values on the left
and positive values on the right. Select
(V) to display positive
values on the left and negative values on the right.

246

f9: Assign MB-D14 4 Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the function assigned to the A AE-L/AF-L

button on the optional MB-D14 battery pack.

Option
B AE/AF lock
C AE lock only
E AE lock (Hold)
F AF lock only
A AF-ON

r FV lock
G

Same as Fn
button

Description
Focus and exposure lock while the MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.
Exposure locks while the MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.
Exposure locks when the MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed, and
remains locked until the button is pressed a second time or the standby
timer expires.
Focus locks while the MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button is pressed.
Pressing the MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button initiates autofocus. The shutterrelease button can not be used to focus.
Press the MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button to lock flash value (built-in flash and
compatible optional flash units only, 0 149, 294). Press again to cancel
FV lock.
The MB-D14 A AE-L/AF-L button performs the function selected for
Custom Setting f2 (0 242).

g: Movie
g1: Assign Fn Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the Fn button during movie live view (the default option is
None).
Option

Description
Press the button during movie recording to add an index at the current
r Index marking
position (0 60). Indices can be used when viewing and editing movies.
Press the button to display information on shutter speed, aperture, and
View photo
s
other photo settings in place of movie recording information. Press again
shooting info
to return to the movie recording display (0 59).
B AE/AF lock
Focus and exposure lock while the button is pressed.
C AE lock only
Exposure locks while the button is pressed.
Exposure locks when the button is pressed, and remains locked until the
E AE lock (Hold)
button is pressed a second time or the standby timer expires.
F AF lock only
Focus locks while the button is pressed.
Pressing the button initiates autofocus. The shutter-release button can
A AF-ON
not be used to focus.
None
Pressing the button has no effect.

247

g2: Assign Preview Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the depth-of-field preview button during movie live view.
The options available are the same as for Assign Fn button (0 247), except that the
default setting is Index marking.

g3: Assign AE-L/AF-L Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by the A AE-L/AF-L button during movie live view. The options
available are the same as for Assign Fn button (0 247), except that the default
setting is AE/AF lock.

g4: Assign Shutter Button

G button A Custom Settings menu

Choose the role played by pressing the shutter-release button when 1 is selected
with the live view selector.
Option

Description
Press the shutter-release button all the way down to end movie recording
C Take photos
and take a photograph with an aspect ratio of 16 : 9 (for information on
image size, see page 63).
Press the shutter-release button halfway to start movie live view. You can
then press the shutter-release button halfway to focus (autofocus mode
only) and press it all the way down to start or end recording. To end
movie live view, press the a button. The shutter-release button on an
optional remote cord (0 298) can be used to start movie live view and to
1 Record movies start and end movie recording; the optional ML-L3 remote control,
however, can not be used to record movies. In remote control (4) mode,
pressing the shutter-release button halfway does not start movie live
view, while pressing the shutter-release button on the remote control
releases the shutter to record a photograph and does not start or end
movie recording.

Record Movies
When this option is selected, interval timer (0 164) is not available and the shutter-release
button can not be used during movie live view to record photographs, measure preset white
balance, or record image dust off reference data. Select Take photos to use these options.

248

B The Setup Menu: Camera Setup

To display the setup menu, press G and select the B (setup menu) tab.

G button

The setup menu contains the following options:

Option
Format memory card
Save user settings
Reset user settings
Monitor brightness
Clean image sensor
Lock mirror up for cleaning 1
Image Dust Off ref photo
HDMI
Flicker reduction
Time zone and date
Language

0
250
81
82
250
301
303
251
205
252
253
253

Option
Image comment
Auto image rotation
Battery info
Copyright information
Save/load settings
GPS
Virtual horizon
Non-CPU lens data
AF fine-tune
Eye-Fi upload 2
Firmware version

0
253
254
255
256
257
175
258
172
259
260
260

1 Not available when battery is low.

2 Only displayed when compatible Eye-Fi memory card is inserted (0 260).

See Also
Menu defaults are listed on page 314.

249

Format Memory Card

G button B setup menu

To begin formatting, choose a memory card slot and select Yes.

Note that formatting permanently deletes all pictures and other
data on the card in the selected slot. Before formatting, be sure to
make backup copies as required.

During Formatting
Do not turn the camera off or remove memory cards during formatting.

Two-Button Format
Memory cards can also be formatted by pressing the O (Q) and Z (Q) buttons for more
than two seconds (0 31).

Monitor Brightness

G button B setup menu

Adjust the brightness of the monitor for playback, menus, and the information
display.
Option

Description
When the monitor is on, monitor brightness is automatically adjusted according to
Auto ambient lighting conditions. Care should be taken not to cover the ambient
brightness sensor (0 4).
Press 1 or 3 to choose monitor brightness. Choose higher values for increased
Manual
brightness, lower values for reduced brightness.

See Also
For information on adjusting monitor brightness in live view, see page 53.

250

Image Dust Off Ref Photo

G button B setup menu

Acquire reference data for the Image Dust Off option in Capture NX 2 (available
separately; for more information, see the Capture NX 2 manual).
Image Dust Off ref photo is available only when a CPU lens is mounted on the
camera. A non-DX lens with a focal length of at least 50 mm is recommended. When
using a zoom lens, zoom all the way in.

Choose a start option.

Highlight one of the following options and press
J. To exit without acquiring image dust off data,
press G.
Start: The message shown at right will be
displayed and rEF will appear in the
viewfinder and control panel displays.
Clean sensor and then start: Select this option to
clean the image sensor before starting. The
message shown at right will be displayed and
rEF will appear in the viewfinder and control
panel displays when cleaning is complete.

Frame a featureless white object in the viewfinder.

With the lens about ten centimeters (four inches) from a well-lit, featureless
white object, frame the object so that it fills the viewfinder and then press the
shutter-release button halfway.
In autofocus mode, focus will automatically be set to infinity; in manual focus
mode, set focus to infinity manually.

251

Acquire dust off reference data.

Press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to acquire Image Dust
Off reference data. The monitor turns off when the shutter-release button is
pressed. Note that noise reduction will be performed if the subject is poorly lit,
increasing recording times.
If the reference object is too bright or too dark, the camera
may be unable to acquire Image Dust Off reference data
and the message shown at right will be displayed. Choose
another reference object and repeat the process from
step 1.

Image Sensor Cleaning

Dust off reference data recorded before image sensor cleaning is performed can not be used
with photographs taken after image sensor cleaning is performed. Select Clean sensor and
then start only if the dust off reference data will not be used with existing photographs.

Image Dust Off Reference Data

The same reference data can be used for photographs taken with
different lenses or at different apertures. Reference images can not
be viewed using computer imaging software. A grid pattern is
displayed when reference images are viewed on the camera.

Flicker Reduction

G button B setup menu

Reduce flicker and banding when shooting under fluorescent or mercury-vapor

lighting during live view or movie recording. Choose Auto to allow the camera to
automatically choose the correct frequency, or manually match the frequency to that
of the local AC power supply.

Flicker Reduction
If Auto fails to produce the desired results and you are unsure as to the frequency of the local
power supply, test both the 50 and 60 Hz options and choose the one that produces the best
results. Flicker reduction may not produce the desired results if the subject is very bright, in
which case you should try choosing a smaller aperture (higher f-number).

252

Time Zone and Date

G button B setup menu

Change time zones, set the camera clock, choose the date display order, and turn
daylight saving time on or off (0 27).
Option

Description
Choose a time zone. The camera clock is automatically set to the time in
Time zone
the new time zone.
Set the camera clock. If the clock is not set, a flashing B icon will appear
Date and time
in the information display.
Date format
Choose the order in which the day, month, and year are displayed.
Turn daylight saving time on or off. The camera clock will automatically be
Daylight saving time
advanced or set back one hour. The default setting is Off.

Language

G button B setup menu

Choose a language for camera menus and messages.

Image Comment

G button B setup menu

Add a comment to new photographs as they are taken. Comments can be viewed as
metadata in ViewNX 2 (supplied) or Capture NX 2 (available separately; 0 298). The
comment is also visible on the shooting data page in the photo information display
(0 182).
Done: Save changes and return to the setup menu.
Input comment: Input a comment as described on page 135. Comments can be
up to 36 characters long.
Attach comment: Select this option to attach the comment
to all subsequent photographs. Attach comment can be
turned on and off by highlighting it and pressing 2.

253

G button B setup menu

Auto Image Rotation

Photographs taken while On is selected contain information on camera orientation,

allowing them to be rotated automatically during playback (0 177) or when viewed
in ViewNX 2 (supplied) or in Capture NX 2 (available separately; 0 298). The
following orientations are recorded:

Landscape (wide)
orientation

Camera rotated 90
clockwise

Camera rotated 90
counter-clockwise

Camera orientation is not recorded when Off is selected. Choose this option when
panning or taking photographs with the lens pointing up or down.

Rotate Tall
To automatically rotate tall (portrait-orientation) photographs for display during playback,
select On for the Rotate tall option in the playback menu (0 212).

254

Battery Info

G button B setup menu

View information on the battery currently inserted in the

camera.

Item
Charge
No. of shots

Battery age

Description
The current battery level expressed as a percentage.
The number of times the shutter has been released with the current battery
since the battery was last charged. Note that the camera may sometimes
release the shutter without recording a photograph, for example when
measuring preset white balance.
A five-level display showing battery age. 0 (k) indicates that battery
performance is unimpaired, 4 (l) that the battery has reached the end of its
charging life and should be replaced. Note that batteries charged at
temperatures under about 5 C (41 F) may show a temporary drop in
charging life; the battery age display will however return to normal once the
battery has been recharged at a temperature of about 20 C (68 F) or higher.

The MB-D14 Battery Pack

The display for the MB-D14 battery pack is shown at right. If AA
batteries are used, the battery level will be shown by a battery level
icon; other items will not be displayed.

255

Copyright Information

G button B setup menu

Add copyright information to new photographs as they are taken. Copyright

information is included in the shooting data shown in the photo information display
(0 182) and can be viewed as metadata in ViewNX 2 (supplied) or in Capture NX 2
(available separately; 0 298).
Done: Save changes and return to the setup menu.
Artist: Enter a photographer name as described on page 135. Photographer
names can be up to 36 characters long.
Copyright: Enter the name of the copyright holder as described on page 135.
Copyright holder names can be up to 54 characters long.
Attach copyright information: Select this option to attach
copyright information to all subsequent photographs.
Attach copyright information can be turned on and off by
highlighting it and pressing 2.

Copyright Information
To prevent unauthorized use of the artist or copyright holder names, make sure that Attach
copyright information is not selected and that the Artist and Copyright fields are blank
before lending or transferring the camera to another person. Nikon does not accept liability
for any damages or disputes arising from the use of the Copyright information option.

256

Save/Load Settings

G button B setup menu

Select Save settings to save the following settings to the memory card in Slot 1
(0 96; if the card is full, an error will be displayed). Use this option to share settings
among D600 cameras.
Menu

Option
Playback display options
Image review
Playback
After delete
Rotate tall
File naming
Role played by card in Slot 2
Image quality
Image size
Image area
JPEG compression
NEF (RAW) recording
White balance (with fine-tuning
and presets d-1d-4)
Shooting Set Picture Control
Auto distortion control
Color space
Active D-Lighting
Vignette control
Long exposure NR
High ISO NR
ISO sensitivity settings
Remote control mode
Movie settings

Menu
Option
Custom All Custom Settings except Reset
settings custom settings
Clean image sensor
HDMI
Flicker reduction
Time zone and date (excepting
date and time)
Language
Setup
Image comment
Auto image rotation
Copyright information
GPS
Non-CPU lens data
Eye-Fi upload
My Menu/ All My Menu items
Recent All recent settings
Settings Choose tab

Settings saved using this model of camera can be restored by selecting Load
settings. Note that Save/load settings is only available when a memory card is
inserted in the camera, and that the Load settings option is only available if the card
contains saved settings.

Saved Settings
Settings are saved in a file named NCSETUPA. The camera will not be able to load settings if
the file name is changed.

257

G button B setup menu

Virtual Horizon

Display roll and pitch information based on information from the camera tilt sensor.
If the camera is tilted neither left nor right, the roll reference line will turn green, while
if the camera is tilted neither forward nor back, the pitch reference line will turn green
and a dot will appear in the center of the display. Each division is equivalent to 5.

Camera level

Camera tilted left or

right

Camera tilted forward

or back

Tilting the Camera

The virtual horizon display is not accurate when the camera is tilted at a sharp angle forward
or back. If the camera is unable to measure tilt, the amount of tilt will not be displayed.

See Also
For information on viewing a roll indicator in the viewfinder, see Custom Setting f2 (Assign
Fn button; 0 242, 243). For information on displaying a virtual horizon in live view, see
pages 55 and 62.

258

G button B setup menu

AF Fine-tune

Fine-tune focus for up to 12 lens types. AF tuning is not recommended in most

situations and may interfere with normal focus; use only when required.
Option
AF fine-tune On: Turn AF tuning on.
(On/Off)
Off: Turn AF tuning off.

Description

Tune AF for the current lens (CPU lenses only).

Press 1 or 3 to choose a value between +20 and
Saved value
20. Values for up to 12 lens types can be stored.
Only one value can be stored for each type of lens.

Default

List saved
values

Choose the AF tuning value used when no

previously saved value exists for the current lens
(CPU lenses only).

Move focal
point away
from camera.

Move focal
point toward
camera.

Current
value

Previous
value

List previously saved AF tuning values. To delete a lens from the list, highlight
the desired lens and press O (Q). To change a lens identifier (for example, to
choose an identifier that is the same as the last two digits of the lens serial
number to distinguish it from other lenses of the same type in light of the fact
that Saved value can be used with only one lens of each type), highlight the
desired lens and press 2.
The menu shown at right will be displayed; press 1 or 3
to choose an identifier and press J to save changes and
exit.

AF Tuning
The camera may be unable to focus at minimum range or at infinity when AF tuning is
applied.

Live View
Tuning is not applied to autofocus during in live view (0 53).

Saved Value
Only one value can be stored for each type of lens. If a teleconverter is used, separate values
can be stored for each combination of lens and teleconverter.

259

Eye-Fi Upload

G button B setup menu

This option is displayed only when an Eye-Fi memory card (available separately from
third-party suppliers) is inserted in the camera. Choose Enable to upload
photographs to a preselected destination. Note that pictures will not be uploaded if
signal strength is insufficient.
Observe all local laws concerning wireless devices and choose Disable where
wireless devices are prohibited.
When an Eye-Fi card is inserted, its status is indicated by an icon
in the information display:
d: Eye-Fi upload disabled.
e: Eye-Fi upload enabled but no pictures available for upload.
f (static): Eye-Fi upload enabled; waiting to begin upload.
f (animated): Eye-Fi upload enabled; uploading data.
g: Error camera can not control Eye-Fi card. If a flashing W appears in the
control panel or viewfinder, refer to page 324; if this indicator is not flashing,
pictures can be taken normally but you may be unable to change Eye-Fi settings.

Eye-Fi Cards
Eye-Fi cards may emit wireless signals when Disable is selected. If a warning is displayed in
the monitor (0 324), turn the camera off and remove the card.

See the manual provided with the Eye-Fi card, and direct any inquiries to the manufacturer.
The camera can be used to turn Eye-Fi cards on and off, but may not support other Eye-Fi
functions.

Supported Eye-Fi Cards

As of December 2011, the camera supports 8 GB SDHC Pro X2 Eye-Fi cards. Some cards may
not be available in some countries or regions; consult the manufacturer for more
information. Eye-Fi cards are for use only in the country of purchase. Be sure the Eye-Fi card
firmware has been updated to the latest version.

Using Eye-Fi Cards in Ad Hoc Mode

Additional time may be required when connecting using Eye-Fi cards that support ad hoc
mode. Set Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer, 0 227) to 30 s or longer.

Firmware Version
View the current camera firmware version.

260

G button B setup menu

N The Retouch Menu:

Creating Retouched Copies
To display the retouch menu, press G and select the N (retouch menu) tab.

G button

The options in the retouch menu are used to create trimmed or retouched copies of
existing pictures. The retouch menu is only displayed when a memory card
containing photographs is inserted in the camera (note that if the memory card is
being used to store both RAW/NEF and JPEG copies of the same photographs as
described on page 93, retouch other than Image overlay and NEF (RAW)
processing apply only to the JPEG copies).
Option
0
Option
0
i D-Lighting
264
e Straighten
274
j Red-eye correction
264
( Distortion control
274
k Trim
265
) Fisheye
274
l Monochrome
266
f Color outline
275
m Filter effects
267
g Color sketch
275
n Color balance
268
h Perspective control
275
o Image overlay 1
269
i Miniature effect
276
7 NEF (RAW) processing
271
u Selective color
277
8 Resize
272
9 Edit movie
69
& Quick retouch
273
p Side-by-side comparison 2
279
1 Can only be selected by pressing G and selecting N tab.
2 Only available if J or c (b) is pressed in full-frame playback when a retouched image or
original is displayed.

Retouching Copies
Most options can be applied to copies created using other retouch options, although with
the exceptions of Image overlay and Edit movie > Choose start/end point each option
can be applied only once (note that multiple edits may result in loss of detail). Options that
can not be applied to the current image are grayed out and unavailable.

Image Quality
Except in the case of copies created with Trim, Image overlay, NEF (RAW) processing, and
Resize, copies created from JPEG images are the same size and quality as the original, while
copies created from NEF (RAW) photos are saved as large fine-quality JPEG images. Sizepriority compression is used when copies are saved in JPEG format.

261

Creating Retouched Copies

To create a retouched copy:

Select an item in the retouch menu.

Press 1 or 3 to highlight an item, 2 to select.

Select a picture.
Highlight a picture and press J (to view the
highlighted picture full screen, press and hold the
X (T) button; to view images in other
locations as described on page 178, hold D and
press 1).

Retouch
The camera may not be able to display or retouch images created with other devices.

Select retouch options.

For more information, see the section for the
selected item. To exit without creating a
retouched copy, press G.

Monitor off Delay

The monitor will turn off and the operation will be cancelled if no actions are
performed for a brief period. Any unsaved changes will be lost. To increase the time
the monitor remains on, choose a longer menu display time for Custom Setting c4
(Monitor off delay; 0 228).

Create a retouched copy.

Press J to create a retouched copy. Retouched
copies are indicated by a o icon.

262

Creating Retouched Copies During Playback

Retouched copies can also be created during playback.

Display picture full frame and

press J or c (b).

Highlight an option and

press J.

Create retouched copy.

263

G button N retouch menu

D-Lighting

D-lighting brightens shadows, making it ideal for dark or backlit photographs.

Before

After

Press 1 or 3 to choose the amount of correction performed.

The effect can be previewed in the edit display. Press J to copy
the photograph.

Red-Eye Correction

G button N retouch menu

This option is used to correct red-eye caused by the flash, and is available only with
photographs taken using the flash. The photograph selected for red-eye correction
can be previewed in the edit display. Confirm the effects of red-eye correction and
create a copy as described in the following table. Note that red-eye correction may
not always produce the expected results and may in very rare circumstances be
applied to portions of the image that are not affected by red-eye; check the preview
thoroughly before proceeding.
To

Use
Description
X (T) Press X (T) to zoom in, W (S) to zoom
out. While photo is zoomed in, use multi
Zoom out
W (S) selector to view areas of image not visible in
monitor. Keep multi selector pressed to scroll
View other
rapidly to other areas of frame. Navigation
areas of image
window is displayed when zoom buttons or
multi selector is pressed; area currently
visible in monitor is indicated by yellow border. Press J to cancel
Cancel zoom
J
zoom.
If the camera detects red-eye in the selected photograph, a copy will
Create copy
J
be created that has been processed to reduce its effects. No copy
will be created if the camera is unable to detect red-eye.
Zoom in

264

G button N retouch menu

Trim

Create a cropped copy of the selected photograph. The

selected photograph is displayed with the selected crop shown
in yellow; create a cropped copy as described in the following
table.
To
Reduce size of crop
Increase size of crop

Use
Description
W (S) Press W (S) to reduce the size of the crop.
X (T) Press X (T) to increase the size of the crop.

Change crop aspect ratio

Rotate the main command dial to switch between aspect

ratios of 3 : 2, 4 : 3, 5 : 4, 1 : 1, and 16 : 9.

Position crop

Use multi selector to position the crop. Press and hold to

move the crop rapidly to the desired position.

Create copy

Save the current crop as a separate file.

Trim: Image Quality and Size

Copies created from NEF (RAW) or NEF (RAW) + JPEG photos have an
image quality (0 93) of JPEG fine; cropped copies created from JPEG
photos have the same image quality as the original. The size of the
copy varies with crop size and aspect ratio and appears at upper left
in the crop display.

Viewing Cropped Copies

Playback zoom may not be available when cropped copies are displayed.

265

Monochrome

G button N retouch menu

Copy photographs in Black-and-white, Sepia, or

Cyanotype (blue and white monochrome).

Selecting Sepia or Cyanotype displays a preview of

the selected image; press 1 to increase color
saturation, 3 to decrease. Press J to create a
monochrome copy.

Increase
saturation

Decrease
saturation

266

Filter Effects

G button N retouch menu

Choose from the following filter effects. After adjusting filter effects as described
below, press J to copy the photograph.
Option
Skylight

Warm filter

Description
Creates the effect of a skylight filter, making the
picture less blue. The effect can be previewed in the
monitor as shown at right.
Creates a copy with warm tone filter effects, giving the
copy a warm red cast. The effect can be previewed in
the monitor.

Red intensifier
Intensify reds (Red intensifier), greens (Green
Green intensifier intensifier), or blues (Blue intensifier). Press 1 to
increase the effect, 3 to decrease.
Blue intensifier

Cross screen

Add starburst effects to light sources.

Number of points: Choose from four, six, or eight.
Filter amount: Choose the brightness of the light
sources affected.
Filter angle: Choose the angle of the points.
Length of points: Choose the length of points.
Confirm: Preview the effects of the filter as shown at
right. Press X (T) to preview the copy full frame.
Save: Create a retouched copy.

Soft

Add a soft filter effect. Press 1 or 3 to choose the filter

strength.

267

G button N retouch menu

Color Balance

Use the multi selector to create a copy with modified color

balance as shown below. The effect is displayed in the monitor
together with red, green, and blue histograms (0 181) giving
the distribution of tones in the copy.
Increase amount of green
Create retouched copy
Increase amount of blue

Increase amount of amber

Increase amount of magenta

Zoom
To zoom in on the image displayed in the monitor, press X (T). The
histogram will be updated to show data only for the portion of the
image displayed in the monitor. While the image is zoomed in, press
L (U) to toggle back and forth between color balance and zoom.
When zoom is selected, you can zoom in and out with the X (T)
and W (S) and scroll the image with the multi selector.

268

G button N retouch menu

Image Overlay

Image overlay combines two existing NEF (RAW) photographs to create a single
picture that is saved separately from the originals; the results, which make use of RAW
data from the camera image sensor, are noticeably better than overlays created in an
imaging application. The new picture is saved at current image quality and size
settings; before creating an overlay, set image quality and size (0 93, 95; all options
are available). To create a NEF (RAW) copy, choose an image quality of NEF (RAW).

Select Image overlay.

Highlight Image overlay in the retouch menu
and press 2.

The dialog shown at right will be displayed, with

Image 1 highlighted; press J to display a list of
the NEF pictures created with this camera.

Select the first image.

Use the multi selector to highlight the first
photograph in the overlay. To view the
highlighted photograph full frame, press and
hold the X (T) button (to view images in
other locations as described on page 178, hold
D and press 1). Press J to select the highlighted photograph and return to
the preview display.

Select the second image.

The selected image will appear as Image 1. Highlight Image 2 and press J,
then select the second photo as described in Step 2.

269

Adjust gain.
Highlight Image 1 or Image 2 and optimize
exposure for the overlay by pressing 1 or 3 to
select gain from values between 0.1 and 2.0.
Repeat for the second image. The default value is
1.0; select 0.5 to halve gain or 2.0 to double it. The
effects are visible in the Preview column.

Preview the overlay.

Press 4 or 2 to place the cursor in the Preview
column and press 1 or 3 to highlight Overlay.
Press J to preview the overlay as shown at right
(to save the overlay without displaying a preview,
select Save). To return to Step 4 and select new
photos or adjust gain, press W (S).

Save the overlay.

Press J while the preview is displayed to save the
overlay. After an overlay is created, the resulting
image will be displayed full-frame in the monitor.

Image Overlay
Only NEF (RAW) photographs with the same image area and bit depth can be combined.

The overlay has the same photo info (including date of recording, metering, shutter speed,
aperture, shooting mode, exposure compensation, focal length, and image orientation), and
values for white balance and Picture Control as the photograph selected for Image 1. The
current image comment is appended to the overlay when it is saved; copyright information,
however, is not copied. Overlays saved in NEF (RAW) format use the compression selected
for Type in the NEF (RAW) recording menu and have the same bit depth as the original
images; JPEG overlays are saved using size-priority compression.

270

G button N retouch menu

NEF (RAW) Processing

Create JPEG copies of NEF (RAW) photographs.

Select NEF (RAW) processing.

Highlight NEF (RAW) processing in the retouch
menu and press 2 to display a picture selection
dialog listing only NEF (RAW) images created with
this camera.

Select a photograph.
Highlight a photograph (to view the highlighted
photograph full frame, press and hold the X
(T) button; to view images in other locations
as described on page 178, hold D and press 1).
Press J to select the highlighted photograph
and proceed to the next step.

Choose settings for the JPEG copy.

Adjust the settings listed below. Note that white balance and vignette control
are not available with multiple exposures or pictures created with image
overlay and that exposure compensation can only be set to values between 2
and +2 EV. The Picture Control grid is not displayed when Picture Controls are
adjusted.

Image quality (0 93)

Image size (0 95)
White balance (0 115)
Exposure compensation (0 112)
Set Picture Control (0 129)
High ISO NR (0 218)

Color space (0 217)

Vignette control (0 218)
D-Lighting (0 264)

271

Copy the photograph.

Highlight EXE and press J to create a JPEG copy
of the selected photograph (to exit without
copying the photograph, press the G button).

Resize

G button N retouch menu

Create small copies of selected photographs.

Select Resize.
To resize selected images, press G to display
the menus and select Resize in the retouch
menu.

Choose a destination.
If two memory cards are inserted, you can choose
a destination for the resized copies by
highlighting Choose destination and pressing 2
(if only one card is inserted, proceed to Step 3).
The menu shown at right will be displayed;
highlight a card slot and press J.

Choose a size.
Highlight Choose size and press 2.

The options shown at right will be displayed;

highlight an option and press J.

272

Choose pictures.
Highlight Select image and press 2.

The dialog shown at right will be displayed;

highlight pictures using the multi selector and
press the W (S) button to select or deselect (to
view the highlighted picture full screen, press and
hold the X (T) button; to view images in
other locations as described on page 178, hold
D and press 1). Selected pictures are marked
by a 8 icon. Press J when the selection is
complete.

Save the resized copies.

A confirmation dialog will be displayed. Highlight Yes and
press J to save the resized copies.

Viewing Resized Copies

Playback zoom may not be available when resized copies are displayed.

Image Quality
Copies created from NEF (RAW) or NEF (RAW) + JPEG photos have an image quality (0 93) of
JPEG fine; copies created from JPEG photos have the same image quality as the original.

Quick Retouch

G button N retouch menu

Create copies with enhanced saturation and contrast.

D-Lighting is applied as required to brighten dark or backlit
subjects.
Press 1 or 3 to choose the amount of enhancement. The effect
can be previewed in the edit display. Press J to copy the
photograph.

273

Straighten

G button N retouch menu

Create a straightened copy of the selected image. Press 2 to

rotate the image clockwise by up to five degrees in increments
of approximately 0.25 degrees, 4 to rotate it counterclockwise
(the effect can be previewed in the edit display; note that edges
of the image will be trimmed to create a square copy). Press J
to copy the photograph, or press K to exit to playback without
creating a copy.

Distortion Control

G button N retouch menu

Create copies with reduced peripheral distortion. Select Auto

to let the camera correct distortion automatically and then
make fine adjustments using the multi selector, or select
Manual to reduce distortion manually (note that Auto is not
available with photos taken using auto distortion control; see
page 217). Press 2 to reduce barrel distortion, 4 to reduce pincushion distortion (the effect can be previewed in the edit display; note that greater
amounts of distortion control result in more of the edges being cropped out). Press
J to copy the photograph, or press K to exit to playback without creating a copy.
Note that distortion control may heavily crop or distort the edges of copies created
from photographs taken with DX lenses at an image area setting of FX (3624) 1.0.

Auto
Auto is for use only with pictures taken with type G and D lenses (PC, fisheye, and certain
other lenses excluded). Results are not guaranteed with other lenses.

Fisheye

G button N retouch menu

Create copies that appear to have been taken with a fisheye

lens. Press 2 to increase the effect (this also increases the
amount of that will be cropped out at the edges of the image),
4 to reduce it. The effect can be previewed in the edit display.
Press J to copy the photograph, or press K to exit to playback
without creating a copy.

274

G button N retouch menu

Color Outline

Create an outline copy of a photograph to use as a base for

painting. The effect can be previewed in the edit display. Press
J to copy the photograph.

Before

After
G button N retouch menu

Color Sketch

Create a copy of a photograph that resembles a sketch made

with colored pencils. Press 1 or 3 to highlight Vividness or
Outlines and press 4 or 2 to change. Vividness can be
increased to make colors more saturated, or decreased for a
washed-out, monochromatic effect, while outlines can be made
thicker or thinner. Thicker outlines makes colors more
saturated. The results can be previewed in the edit display. Press J to copy the
photograph, or press K to exit to playback without creating a copy.
G button N retouch menu

Perspective Control

Create copies that reduce the effects of perspective taken from

the base of a tall object. Use the multi selector to adjust
perspective (note that greater amounts of perspective control
result in more of the edges being cropped out). The results can
be previewed in the edit display. Press J to copy the
photograph, or press K to exit to playback without creating a
copy.

Before

After

275

Miniature Effect

G button N retouch menu

Create a copy that appears to be a photo of a diorama. Works best with photos taken
from a high vantage point. The area that will be in focus in the copy is indicated by a
yellow frame.
To
Choose
orientation

Press

Description

W (S) Press W (S) to choose orientation of area that is in focus.

If area of effect is in wide orientation, press 1

or 3 to position frame showing area of copy
that will be in focus.
Choose
position

Area in focus
If area of effect is in tall orientation, press 4 or
2 to position frame showing area of copy
that will be in focus.

If area of effect is in wide orientation, press 4 or 2 to choose

height.
Choose size
If area of effect is in tall orientation, press 1 or 3 to choose width.
Preview copy X (T) Preview copy.
Cancel
K
Exit to full-frame playback without creating copy.
Create copy
J
Create copy.

276

Selective Color

G button N retouch menu

Create a copy in which only selected hues appear in color.

Select Selective color.

Highlight Selective color in the retouch
menu and press 2 to display a picture
selection dialog.

Select a photograph.
Highlight a photograph (to view the
highlighted photograph full frame, press
and hold the X (T) button; to view
images in other locations as described on
page 178, hold D and press 1). Press J to
select the highlighted photograph and proceed to the next step.

Select a color.

Selected color

Use the multi selector to position the cursor

over an object and press the A AE-L/AF-L
button to select the color of the object as
one that will remain in the final copy (the
camera may have difficulty detecting
unsaturated colors; choose a saturated
A AE-L/AF-L button
color). To zoom in on the picture for precise
color selection, press X (T). Press W (S) to zoom out.

Highlight the color range.

Color range

Rotate the main command dial to highlight

the color range for the selected color.

277

Choose the color range.

Press 1 or 3 to increase or decrease the
range of similar hues that will be included in
the final photograph or movie. Choose from
values between 1 and 7; note that higher
values may include hues from other colors.
The effect can be previewed in the edit display.

Select additional colors.

To select additional colors, rotate the main
command dial to highlight another of the
three color boxes at the top of the display
and repeat Steps 35 to select another color.
Repeat for a third color if desired. To
deselect the highlighted color, press O (Q), or press and hold O (Q) to remove
all colors.

Save the edited copy.

Press J to copy the photograph.

278

Side-by-side Comparison
Compare retouched copies to the original photographs. This option is only available
if J or c (b) button is pressed to display the retouch menu when a copy or original
is played back full frame.

Select a picture.
In full-frame playback, select a retouched copy
(shown by a o icon) or a photograph that has
been retouched and press J or c (b).

Select Side-by-side comparison.

Highlight Side-by-side comparison and press
J.

Compare the copy with the original.

Options used to create

copy
The source image is displayed on the left, the
retouched copy on the right, with the options
used to create the copy listed at the top of the
display. Press 4 or 2 to switch between the
source image and the retouched copy. To view
the highlighted picture full frame, press and hold
the X (T) button. If the copy was created
Source Retouched
from two source images using Image overlay, or
image
copy
if the source has been copied multiple times,
press 1 or 3 to view the other source images or copies. To exit to playback
mode, press the K button, or press J to exit to playback with the highlighted
image selected.

Side-by-side Comparisons
The source image will not be displayed if the copy was created from a photograph that was
protected (0 188), is on a locked memory card, has since been deleted or hidden (0 208), or
is on a card in a different slot from that used when the image was created.

279

O My Menu/m Recent Settings

To display My Menu, press G and select the O (My Menu) tab.

G button

The My Menu option can be used to create and edit a customized list of options from
the playback, shooting, Custom Settings, setup, and retouch menus for quick access
(up to 20 items). If desired, recent settings can be displayed in place of My Menu
(0 283).
Options can be added, deleted, and reordered as described below.

Adding Options to My Menu

Select Add items.

In My Menu (O), highlight Add items and
press 2.

Select a menu.
Highlight the name of the menu containing
the option you wish to add and press 2.

Select an item.
Highlight the desired menu item and press
J.

4
U

280

Position the new item.

Press 1 or 3 to move the new item up or
down in My Menu. Press J to add the new
item.

Add more items.

The items currently displayed in My Menu
are indicated by a check mark. Items
indicated by a V icon can not be selected.
Repeat steps 14 to select additional items.

Deleting Options from My Menu

Select Remove items.

In My Menu (O), highlight Remove items and press 2.

Select items.
Highlight items and press 2 to select or
deselect. Selected items are indicated by a
check mark.

Select Done.
Highlight Done and press J. A
confirmation dialog will be displayed.

Delete the selected items.

Press J to delete the selected items.

Deleting Items in My Menu

To delete the item currently highlighted in My Menu, press the O (Q) button. A
confirmation dialog will be displayed; press O (Q) again to remove the selected item from
My Menu.

281

 Reordering Options in My Menu

Select Rank items.

In My Menu (O), highlight Rank items and press 2.

Select an item.
Highlight the item you wish to move and
press J.

Position the item.

Press 1 or 3 to move the item up or down
in My Menu and press J. Repeat Steps 23
to reposition additional items.

Exit to My Menu.
Press the G button to return to My Menu.

G button

282

Recent Settings
To display the twenty most recently used settings, select m Recent settings for
O My Menu > Choose tab.

Select Choose tab.

In My Menu (O), highlight Choose tab and
press 2.

Select m Recent settings.

Highlight m Recent settings and press J.
The name of the menu will change from MY
MENU to RECENT SETTINGS.

Menu items will be added to the top of the recent settings menu as they are used. To
view My Menu again, select O My Menu for m Recent settings > Choose tab.

Removing Items from the Recent Settings Menu

To remove an item from the recent settings menu, highlight it and press the O (Q) button.
A confirmation dialog will be displayed; press O (Q) again to delete the selected item.

283

284

nTechnical Notes
Read this chapter for information on compatible accessories, cleaning and storing
the camera, and what to do if an error message is displayed or you encounter
problems using the camera.

Compatible Lenses
Camera setting

CPU lenses 1

AF
Lens/accessory
2
Type G or D AF NIKKOR

AF-S, AF-I NIKKOR

PC-E NIKKOR series

PC Micro 85mm f/2.8D 4

AF-S / AF-I Teleconverter 7

Other AF NIKKOR (except lenses for F3AF)

8
AI-P NIKKOR

AI-, AI-modified, NIKKOR or Nikon Series E

lenses 11
Medical-NIKKOR 120mm f/4

Reflex-NIKKOR

PC-NIKKOR

AI-type Teleconverter 17

PB-6 Bellows Focusing Attachment 19

Auto extension rings (PK-series 11A, 12, or 13;

PN-11)

Non-CPU lenses 10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

9
10

Focus mode

Shooting
mode
P
A
S
M

Metering system
L
M
3D Color N

M (with electronic
rangefinder)

5
5

8
9

5
6

3,5
3,5
3
3
3

12

13 14

5
18
18

15
12
16
12
20

14

13 14

18

12

IX-NIKKOR lenses can not be used.

Vibration Reduction (VR) supported with VR lenses.
Spot metering meters selected focus point (0 109).
The cameras exposure metering and flash control systems do not work properly when shifting and/or
tilting the lens, or when an aperture other than the maximum aperture is used.
Can not be used with shifting or tilting.
Manual shooting mode only.
Can be used with AF-S and AF-I lenses only (0 287). For information on the focus points available for
autofocus and electronic rangefinding, see page 287.
When focusing at minimum focus distance with AF 80200mm f/2.8, AF 3570mm f/2.8, AF 2885mm
f/3.54.5 <New>, or AF 2885mm f/3.54.5 lens at maximum zoom, in-focus indicator may be
displayed when image on matte screen in viewfinder is not in focus. Adjust focus manually until image
in viewfinder is in focus.
With maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Some lenses can not be used (see page 288).

n
285

11 Range of rotation for AI 80200mm f/2.8 ED tripod mount is limited by camera body. Filters can not be
exchanged while AI 200400mm f/4 ED is mounted on camera.
12 If maximum aperture is specified using Non-CPU lens data (0 172), aperture value will be displayed
in viewfinder and control panel.
13 Can be used only if lens focal length and maximum aperture are specified using Non-CPU lens data
(0 172). Use spot or center-weighted metering if desired results are not achieved.
14 For improved precision, specify lens focal length and maximum aperture using Non-CPU lens data
(0 172).
15 Can be used in manual mode M at shutter speeds slower than flash sync speed by one step or more.
16 Exposure determined by presetting lens aperture. In mode A, preset aperture using lens aperture ring
before performing AE lock and shifting lens. In mode M, preset aperture using lens aperture ring and
determine exposure before shifting lens.
17 Exposure compensation required when used with AI 2885mm f/3.54.5, AI 35105mm f/3.54.5, AI
35135mm f/3.54.5, or AF-S 80200mm f/2.8D. See teleconverter manual for details.
18 With maximum effective aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
19 Requires PK-12 or PK-13 auto extension ring. PB-6D may be required depending on camera
orientation.
20 Use preset aperture. In mode A, set aperture using focusing attachment before determining exposure
and taking photograph.
PF-4 Reprocopy Outfit requires PA-4 Camera Holder.
Noise in the form of horizontal lines may appear in movies taken with the following lenses at ISO
sensitivities of 6400 or higher; use manual focus or focus lock.
- AF-S Zoom Nikkor 2485mm f/3.54.5G (IF)
- AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 1870mm f/3.54.5G IF-ED

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286

Recognizing CPU and Type G and D Lenses

CPU lenses (particularly types G and D) are recommended, but note that IX-NIKKOR lenses
can not be used. CPU lenses can be identified by the presence of CPU contacts, type G and D
lenses by a letter on the lens barrel. Type G lenses are not equipped with a lens aperture ring.
CPU contacts

CPU lens

Aperture ring

Type G lens

Type D lens

The AF-S/AF-I Teleconverter

The AF-S/AF-I teleconverter can be used with the following AF-S and AF-I lenses:

AF-S NIKKOR 70200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

AF-S VR 70200mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S 80200mm f/2.8D ED
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED *
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II
AF-S VR 200mm f/2G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 200400mm f/4G ED VR II
AF-S VR 200400mm f/4G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II
AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S 300mm f/2.8D ED II
AF-S 300mm f/2.8D ED
AF-I 300mm f/2.8D ED

AF-S 300mm f/4D ED

AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR
AF-S 400mm f/2.8D ED II
AF-S 400mm f/2.8D ED
AF-I 400mm f/2.8D ED
AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S 500mm f/4D ED II
AF-S 500mm f/4D ED
AF-I 500mm f/4D ED
AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S 600mm f/4D ED II
AF-S 600mm f/4D ED
AF-I 600mm f/4D ED

* Autofocus not supported.

f/8 Autofocus Support

If the lens can be used with the AF-S/AF-I
TC-20E/
teleconverter and has a maximum aperture of f/4, TC-17E II
TC-20E II/
TC-20E III
the apparent aperture will drop by two stops to f/8
when the lens is used with a TC-20E/TC-20E II/
TC-20E III teleconverter, or by one-and-a-half stops to f/6.8 when the lens is used with a
TC-17E II. The focus points shown in the illustrations can be used for autofocus and
electronic rangefinding when an AF-S teleconverter is attached. When used with TC-20E/
TC-20E II/TC-20E III, focus data for focus points other than the center focus point are obtained
from line sensors. Single point AF is used when 3D-tracking or auto-area AF is selected for
AF-area mode (0 99); at maximum or combined apertures slower than f/5.6, the camera
may not be able to focus on dark or low-contrast subjects.

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Lens f-number
The f-number given in lens names is the maximum aperture of the lens.

Compatible Non-CPU Lenses

When using non-CPU lenses and accessories, rotate the camera mode dial to A or M and set
aperture using the lens aperture ring. In other modes, the shutter-release is disabled. NonCPU lens data (0 172) can be used to enable many of the features available with CPU
lenses, including color matrix metering; if no data are provided, center-weighted metering
will be used in place of color matrix metering, while if the maximum aperture is not
provided, the camera aperture display will show the number of stops from maximum
aperture and the actual aperture value must be read off the lens aperture ring.

Incompatible Accessories and Non-CPU Lenses

The following can NOT be used with the D600:

TC-16AS AF teleconverter
Non-AI lenses
Lenses that require the AU-1 focusing unit
(400mm f/4.5, 600mm f/5.6, 800mm f/8,
1200mm f/11)
Fisheye (6mm f/5.6, 7.5mm f/5.6, 8mm f/8,
OP 10mm f/5.6)
2.1cm f/4
Extension Ring K2
180600mm f/8 ED (serial numbers
174041174180)
3601200mm f/11 ED (serial numbers
174031174127)
200600mm f/9.5 (serial numbers 280001
300490)

AF lenses for the F3AF (AF 80mm f/2.8, AF

200mm f/3.5 ED, AF Teleconverter TC-16)
PC 28mm f/4 (serial number 180900 or
earlier)
PC 35mm f/2.8 (serial numbers 851001
906200)
PC 35mm f/3.5 (old type)
Reflex 1000mm f/6.3 (old type)
Reflex 1000mm f/11 (serial numbers
142361143000)
Reflex 2000mm f/11 (serial numbers
200111200310)

The Built-in Flash

The built-in flash can be used with CPU lenses with focal lengths of 24 mm (16 mm in DX
format) to 300 mm, although in some cases the flash may be unable to entirely light the
subject at some ranges or focal lengths due to shadows cast by the lens, while lenses that
block the subjects view of the red-eye reduction lamp may interfere with red-eye reduction.
Remove lens hoods to prevent shadows. The flash has a minimum range of 0.6 m (2 ft) and
can not be used in the macro range of macro zoom lenses. The flash may be unable to light
the entire subject with the following lenses at ranges less than those given below:
Lens
AF-S DX NIKKOR 1024mm f/3.54.5G ED
DX

n
288

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 1224mm f/4G IF-ED

Zoom position
1824 mm
18 mm
2024 mm

Minimum distance without vignetting

No vignetting
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting

Lens
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 1755mm f/2.8G IF-ED
DX

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18200mm f/3.55.6G ED VR II

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18200mm f/3.55.6G
IF-ED
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18300mm f/3.55.6G ED VR
AF-S NIKKOR 1635mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 1735mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF Zoom-Nikkor 1835mm f/3.54.5D IF-ED
AF Zoom-Nikkor 2035mm f/2.8D IF
AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 2470mm f/2.8G ED

FX

AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24120mm f/3.55.6G

IF-ED
AF-S NIKKOR 24120mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 2870mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S NIKKOR 28300mm f/3.55.6G ED VR

PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED *

* When not shifted or tilted.

Zoom position
20 mm
2455 mm

Minimum distance without vignetting

2.0 m/6 ft 7 in.
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.

18 mm

1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.

24200 mm

No vignetting

28 mm
50300 mm
35 mm
28 mm
35 mm
24 mm
2835 mm
24 mm
28 mm
35 mm
24 mm
35 mm
5070 mm
24 mm
35120 mm
24 mm
28 mm
50120 mm
28 mm
5070 mm
28 mm
35 mm
50300 mm
24 mm

1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.

No vignetting
1.5 m/4 ft 11 in.
1.5 m/4 ft 11 in.
No vignetting
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting
1.5 m/4 ft 11 in.
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
1.5 m/4 ft 11 in.
No vignetting
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting
2.0 m/6 ft 7 in.
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting
1.5 m/4 ft 11 in.
1.0 m/3 ft 3 in.
No vignetting
1.5 m/4 ft 11 in.

When used with the AF-S NIKKOR 1424mm f/2.8G ED, the flash will be unable to light the
entire subject at all ranges.
The built-in flash can also be used with AI-S, AI-, AI-modified NIKKOR, Nikon Series E and nonCPU lenses with a focal length of 24300mm. AI 50300mm f/4.5, modified AI 50300mm
f/4.5, AI-S 50300mm f/4.5 ED, and AI 50300mm f/4.5 ED lenses must be used at a zoom
position of 70 mm or above. With AI-S and AI 2550mm f/4 ED lenses, the ranges above
which vignetting will not occur are: 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in.) at a zoom position of 25 mm and 1.0 m
(3 ft 3 in.) at a zoom position of 28 mm; vignetting will not occur at zoom positions of 35 mm
or above.

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AF-Assist Illumination
AF-assist illumination is available with lenses with focal lengths of 24200 mm. It can not
however be used to assist the focus operation with the following lenses:
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II
AF-S NIKKOR 200400mm f/4G ED VR II
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200400mm f/4G
AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II
IF-ED
At ranges under 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in.), the following lenses may block the AF-assist illuminator and
interfere with autofocus when lighting is poor:
AF Zoom Nikkor 24120mm f/3.55.6D (IF)
AF-S NIKKOR 1635mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 1735mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S NIKKOR 24120mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 1755mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S NIKKOR 28300mm f/3.55.6G ED VR
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18200mm
AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G
f/3.55.6G IF-ED
AF Zoom Micro Nikkor ED 70180mm
f/4.55.6D
AF Zoom-Nikkor 2035mm f/2.8D IF
AF Zoom-Nikkor 2485mm f/2.84D IF
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S NIKKOR 2485mm f/3.54.5G ED VR
At ranges under 1.0 m (3 ft 3 in.), the following lenses may block the AF-assist illuminator and
interfere with autofocus when lighting is poor:
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18200mm f/3.55.6G ED AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 2870mm f/2.8D IF-ED
VR II
AF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S NIKKOR 2470mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24120mm f/3.55.6G
IF-ED
At ranges under 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in.), the following lenses may block the AF-assist illuminator
and interfere with autofocus when lighting is poor:
AF-S NIKKOR 1424mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 70200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18300mm f/3.55.6G ED VR AF Zoom-Nikkor 80200mm f/2.8D ED
AF-S DX NIKKOR 55300mm f/4.55.6G ED VR AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 80200mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70200mm f/2.8G
IF-ED

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Calculating Angle of View

The D600 can be used with Nikon lenses for 35mm (135) format cameras. If Auto DX crop is
on (0 90) and a 35mm format lens is attached, the angle of view will be the same as a frame
of 35mm film (35.9 24.0 mm); if a DX lens is attached, the angle of view will automatically
be adjusted to 23.5 15.7 mm (DX format).
If a 35 mm format lens is attached, the angle of view can be reduced by 1.5 by turning Auto
DX crop off and selecting DX (2416).
FX (3624) picture size (35.9 24.0 mm,
equivalent to 35mm format camera)
Lens

Picture diagonal
DX (2416) picture size (23.5 15.7 mm,
equivalent to DX format camera)
Angle of view (FX (3624); 35mm format)
Angle of view (DX (2416); DX format)

The DX (2416) angle of view is about 1.5 times smaller than the 35mm format angle of
view. To calculate the focal length of lenses in 35mm format when DX (2416) is selected,
multiply the focal length of the lens by about 1.5 (for example, the effective focal length of a
50mm lens in 35mm format would be 75 mm when DX (2416) is selected).

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Optional Flash Units (Speedlights)

The camera supports the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) and can be used with
CLS-compatible flash units. Optional flash units can be attached directly to the
camera accessory shoe as described below. The accessory shoe is equipped with a
safety lock for flash units with a locking pin.

Remove the accessory shoe cover.

Mount the flash unit on the accessory shoe.

See the manual provided with the flash unit for details.
The built-in flash will not fire when an optional flash unit is
attached.

The AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter

When the AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately) is mounted on the camera
accessory shoe, flash accessories can be connected via a sync terminal.

n
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Use Only Nikon Flash Accessories

Use only Nikon flash units. Negative voltages or voltages over 250 V applied to the accessory
shoe could not only prevent normal operation, but damage the sync circuitry of the camera
or flash. Before using a Nikon flash unit not listed in this section, contact a Nikon-authorized
service representative for more information.

The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

Nikons advanced Creative Lighting System (CLS) offers improved communication
between the camera and compatible flash units for improved flash photography.

CLS-Compatible Flash Units

The camera can be used with the following CLS-compatible flash units:
The SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, and SB-R200:
Flash unit
SB-910 1
SB-900 1
SB-800
SB-700 1
SB-600
SB-400 2
SB-R200 3
ISO
100
34/111
34/111
38/125
28/92
30/98
21/69
10/33
Guide No. 4
ISO 200
48/157
48/157
53/174
39/128
42/138
30/98
14/46
1 If a color filter is attached to the SB-910, SB-900, or SB-700 when v or N (flash) is selected for white
balance, the camera will automatically detect the filter and adjust white balance appropriately.
2 Wireless flash control is not available with the SB-400.
3 Controlled remotely with built-in flash in commander mode or using optional SB-910, SB-900,
SB-800, or SB-700 flash unit or SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander.
4 m/ft, 20 C (68 F), SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 at 35 mm zoom head position; SB-910,
SB-900, and SB-700 with standard illumination.
Feature

SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander: When mounted on a CLS-compatible camera,

the SU-800 can be used as a commander for remote SB-910, SB-900, SB-800,
SB-700, SB-600, or SB-R200 flash units in up to three groups. The SU-800 itself is
not equipped with a flash.

Guide Number
To calculate the range of the flash at full power, divide the Guide Number by the aperture.
For example, at ISO 100 the SB-800 has a Guide Number of 38 m or 125 ft (35 mm zoom head
position); its range at an aperture of f/5.6 is 385.6 or about 6.8 meters (or in feet,
1255.6=approximately 23 ft 7 in.). For each twofold increase in ISO sensitivity, multiply the
Guide Number by the square root of two (approximately 1.4).

n
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The following features are available with CLS-compatible flash units:

Flash unit

Advanced Wireless Lighting

Master/commander
Remote
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
SB-900
SB-900
SB-900 SB-700
SB-800 SB-700 SB-600 SB-400 SB-800 SB-700 SU-800 1 SB-800 SB-600 SB-R200
Flash mode/feature
i-TTL i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR 2 3 2 3

5
5

AA Auto aperture
4

A Non-TTL auto
4
GN Distance-priority manual

M Manual

6
RPT Repeating flash

Auto FP High-Speed Sync 7

FV lock

AF-assist for multi-area AF 8

Flash Color Information Communication

REAR Rear-curtain sync

Y Red-eye reduction

Power zoom

1 Only available when SU-800 is used to control other flash units. The SU-800 itself is not equipped with a
flash.
2 Standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR is used with spot metering or when selected with flash unit.
3 Standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR is used with spot metering.
4 Selected with flash unit.
5 Auto aperture (AA) is used regardless of mode selected with flash unit.
6 Can be selected with camera.
7 Select 1/250 s (Auto FP) or 1/200 s (Auto FP) for Custom Setting e1 (Flash sync speed, 0 234).
8 CPU lens required.

n
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Auto Aperture/Non-TTL Auto

Unless the focal length and maximum aperture are specified using the Non-CPU lens data
option in the setup menu, choosing auto aperture (AA) when a non-CPU lens is attached
automatically selects non-TTL auto (A).

 Other Flash Units

The following flash units can be used in non-TTL auto and manual modes.
Flash unit SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28,
SB-30, SB-27 2, SB-22S,
SB-23, SB-29 3,
SB-26, SB-25, SB-24
SB-22, SB-20, SB-16B, SB-15 SB-21B 3, SB-29S 3
Flash mode
SB-50DX 1
A Non-TTL auto

M Manual

G Repeating flash

REAR Rear-curtain sync 4

1 Select mode P, S, A, or M, lower built-in flash, and use optional flash unit only.
2 Flash mode is automatically set to TTL and shutter-release is disabled. Set flash unit to A (non-TTL auto
flash).
3 Autofocus is available with AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED and AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm
f/2.8G ED lenses only.
4 Available when camera is used to select flash mode.

Flash Control Mode

The information display shows the flash control mode for optional flash units attached to the
camera accessory shoe as follows:
Flash sync

Auto FP (0 234)

i-TTL
Auto aperture (AA)
Non-TTL auto flash (A)
Distance-priority manual (GN)
Manual
Repeating flash
Advanced wireless lighting

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Notes on Optional Flash Units

Refer to the Speedlight manual for detailed instructions. If the flash unit supports CLS, refer
to the section on CLS-compatible digital SLR cameras. The D600 is not included in the
digital SLR category in the SB-80DX, SB-28DX, and SB-50DX manuals.
If an optional flash unit is attached in shooting modes other than j, the flash will fire with
every shot, even in modes in which the built-in flash can not be used. Note that optional
flash units can not be used in movie live view (0 57) or while HDR is in effect (0 139).
i-TTL flash control can be used at ISO sensitivities between 100 and 6400. At values over
6400, the desired results may not be achieved at some ranges or aperture settings. If the
flash-ready indicator flashes for about three seconds after a photograph is taken, the flash
has fired at full power and the photograph may be underexposed.
When an SC-series 17, 28, or 29 sync cable is used for off-camera flash photography, correct
exposure may not be achieved in i-TTL mode. We recommend that you select standard i-TTL
flash control. Take a test shot and view the results in the monitor.
In i-TTL, use the flash panel or bounce adapter provided with the flash unit. Do not use other
panels such as diffusion panels, as this may produce incorrect exposure.
The SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, and SB-400 provide red-eye reduction, while the
SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, and SU-800 provide AF-assist illumination with the
following restrictions:
SB-910 and SB-900: AF-assist illumination is available
with 17135 mm AF lenses, however, autofocus is
1719 mm
20105 mm 106135 mm
available only with the focus points shown at
right.
SB-800, SB-600, and SU-800: AF-assist illumination is
available with 24105 mm AF lenses, however,
2434 mm
3549 mm
50105 mm
autofocus is available only with the focus points
shown at right.
SB-700: AF-assist illumination is available with 24
135 mm AF lenses, however, autofocus is
24135 mm
available only with the focus points shown at
right.
In mode P, the maximum aperture (minimum f-number) is limited according to ISO
sensitivity, as shown below:
Maximum aperture at ISO equivalent of:
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400
4
5
5.6
7.1
8
10
11
If the maximum aperture of the lens is smaller than given above, the maximum value for
aperture will be the maximum aperture of the lens.

n
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Other Accessories
At the time of writing, the following accessories were available for the D600.

Power
sources

Filters

Viewfinder
eyepiece
accessories

Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL15 (0 21, 23): Additional EN-EL15 batteries are
available from local retailers and Nikon-authorized service representatives.
Battery Charger MH-25 (0 21): Recharge EN-EL15 batteries.
Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D14: The MB-D14 is equipped with a shutter-release
button, A AE/AF lock button, multi selector, and main- and sub-command
dials for improved operation when taking photographs in portrait (tall)
orientation. When attaching the MB-D14, remove the camera MB-D14 contact
cover.
Power Connector EP-5B, AC Adapter EH-5b: These accessories can be used to power
the camera for extended periods (EH-5a and EH-5 AC adapters can also be
used). The EP-5B is required to connect the camera to the EH-5b; see page 299
for details. Note that when the camera is used with an MB-D14, the EP-5B must
be inserted into the MB-D14, not the camera. Do not attempt to use the
camera with power connectors inserted into both the camera and MB-D14.
Filters intended for special-effects photography may interfere with autofocus
or the electronic rangefinder.
The D600 can not be used with linear polarizing filters. Use C-PL or C-PL II
circular polarizing filters instead.
Use NC filters to protect the lens.
To prevent ghosting, use of a filter is not recommended when the subject is
framed against a bright light, or when a bright light source is in the frame.
Center-weighted metering is recommended with filters with exposure factors
(filter factors) over 1 (Y44, Y48, Y52, O56, R60, X0, X1, C-PL, ND2S, ND4, ND4S,
ND8, ND8S, ND400, A2, A12, B2, B8, B12). See the filter manual for details.
DK-20C Eyepiece Correction Lenses: Lenses are available with diopters of 5, 4, 3,
2, 0, +0.5, +1, +2, and +3 m1 when the camera diopter adjustment control is
in the neutral position (1 m1). Use eyepiece correction lenses only if the
desired focus can not be achieved with the built in diopter adjustment control
(3 to +1 m1). Test eyepiece correction lenses before purchase to ensure that
the desired focus can be achieved. The rubber eyecup can not be used with
eyepiece correction lenses.
Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M: The DK-21M magnifies the view through the
viewfinder by approximately 1.17 (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; 1.0 m1) for
greater precision when framing.
Magnifier DG-2: The DG-2 magnifies the scene displayed in the center of the
viewfinder for greater precision during focusing. Eyepiece adapter required
(available separately).
Eyepiece Adapter DK-22: The DK-22 is used when attaching the DG-2 magnifier.
Right-Angle Viewing Attachment DR-6: The DR-6 attaches at a right angle to the
viewfinder eyepiece, allowing the image in the viewfinder to be viewed at
right angles to the lens (for example, from directly above when the camera is
horizontal).

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 Capture NX 2: A complete photo editing package with such advanced editing

features as selection control points and an auto retouch brush.
Camera Control Pro 2: Control the camera remotely from a computer to record
movies and photographs and save photographs directly to the computer hard
disk.
Software

Body cap

Note: Use the latest versions of Nikon software; see the websites listed on page
xxiii for the latest information on supported operating systems. At default
settings, Nikon Message Center 2 will periodically check for updates to Nikon
software and firmware while you are logged in to an account on the computer
and the computer is connected to the Internet. A message is automatically
displayed when an update is found.
Body Cap BF-1B/Body Cap BF-1A: The body cap keeps the mirror, viewfinder screen,
and low-pass filter free of dust when a lens is not in place.
Wireless Remote Control ML-L3: The ML-L3 uses a 3 V CR2025 battery.

Remote
controls

Accessory
terminal
accessories

Pressing the battery-chamber latch to the right (q), insert a fingernail into the
gap and open the battery chamber (w). Ensure that the battery is inserted in the
correct orientation (r).
The D600 is equipped with an accessory terminal for
MC-DC2 remote cords (0 79) and GP-1 GPS units (0 175),
which connect with the 4 mark on the connector
aligned with the 2 next to the accessory terminal (close
the camera connector cover when the terminal is not in
use).

Microphones Stereo Microphone ME-1 (0 61)

Wireless
Wireless Mobile Adapter WU-1b: Supports two-way communication between the
mobile
camera and smart devices running the Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility.
adapters

n
298

Attaching a Power Connector and AC Adapter

Turn the camera off before attaching an optional power connector and AC adapter.

Ready the camera.

Open the battery-chamber (q) and power
connector (w) covers.

Insert the EP-5B power connector.

Be sure to insert the connector in the orientation
shown, using the connector to keep the orange
battery latch pressed to one side. The latch locks
the connector in place when the connector is
fully inserted.

Close the battery-chamber cover.

Position the power connector cable so that it
passes through the power connector slot and
close the battery-chamber cover.

Connect the AC adapter.

Connect the AC adapter power cable to the AC socket on AC adapter (e) and
the EP-5B power cable to the DC socket (r). A V icon is displayed in the
monitor when the camera is powered by the AC adapter and power connector.

n
299

Caring for the Camera

Storage
When the camera will not be used for an extended period, replace the monitor cover,
remove the battery, and store the battery in a cool, dry area with the terminal cover
in place. To prevent mold or mildew, store the camera in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Do not store your camera with naphtha or camphor moth balls or in locations that:
are poorly ventilated or subject to humidities of over 60%
are next to equipment that produces strong electromagnetic fields, such as
televisions or radios
are exposed to temperatures above 50 C (122 F) or below 10 C (14 F)

Cleaning
Use a blower to remove dust and lint, then wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth. After
using the camera at the beach or seaside, wipe off sand or salt with a cloth lightly
dampened in distilled water and dry thoroughly. Important: Dust or other foreign
matter inside the camera may cause damage not covered under warranty.
These glass elements are easily damaged. Remove dust and lint with a blower. If
Lens,
using an aerosol blower, keep the can vertical to prevent the discharge of liquid. To
mirror, and
remove fingerprints and other stains, apply a small amount of lens cleaner to a soft
viewfinder
cloth and clean with care.
Remove dust and lint with a blower. When removing fingerprints and other stains,
Monitor
wipe the surface lightly with a soft cloth or chamois leather. Do not apply pressure,
as this could result in damage or malfunction.
Camera
body

Do not use alcohol, thinner, or other volatile chemicals.

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300

Servicing the Camera and Accessories

The camera is a precision device and requires regular servicing. Nikon recommends that the
camera be inspected by the original retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative once
every one to two years, and that it be serviced once every three to five years (note that fees
apply to these services). Frequent inspection and servicing are particularly recommended if
the camera is used professionally. Any accessories regularly used with the camera, such as
lenses or optional Speedlights, should be included when the camera is inspected or
serviced.

The Low-Pass Filter

The image sensor that acts as the cameras picture element is fitted with a low-pass
filter to prevent moir. If you suspect that dirt or dust on the filter is appearing in
photographs, you can clean the filter using the Clean image sensor option in the
setup menu. The filter can be cleaned at any time using the Clean now option, or
cleaning can be performed automatically when the camera is turned on or off.

Clean Now

Select Clean image sensor in the setup

menu.
Press the G button to display the menus.
Highlight Clean image sensor in the setup
menu and press 2.
G button

Select Clean now.

The camera will check the image sensor and
then begin cleaning. This process takes
about 10 seconds; during this time, P
flashes in the control panel and other
operations can not be performed. Do not
remove or disconnect the power source until
cleaning is complete and P is no longer
displayed.

Place the Camera Base Down

Image sensor cleaning is most effective when the camera is placed
base down as shown at right.

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 Clean at Startup/Shutdown
Choose from the following options:
Option
5 Clean at startup

Description
The image sensor is automatically cleaned each time the camera is
turned on.
The image sensor is automatically cleaned during shutdown each time
the camera is turned off.

Clean at
shutdown
Clean at startup &
7
The image sensor is cleaned automatically at startup and at shutdown.
shutdown
Cleaning off
Automatic image sensor cleaning off.
6

Select Clean at startup/shutdown.

Display the Clean image sensor menu as
described in Step 2 on the previous page.
Highlight Clean at startup/shutdown and
press 2.

Select an option.
Highlight an option and press J.

Image Sensor Cleaning

Using camera controls during startup interrupts image sensor cleaning. Image sensor
cleaning may not be performed at startup if the flash is charging.

Cleaning is performed by vibrating the low-pass filter. If dust can not be fully removed using
the options in the Clean image sensor menu, clean the image sensor manually (0 303) or
consult a Nikon-authorized service representative.

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302

If image sensor cleaning is performed several times in succession, image sensor cleaning
may be temporarily disabled to protect the cameras internal circuitry. Cleaning can be
performed again after a short wait.

 Manual Cleaning
If foreign matter can not be removed from the low-pass filter using the Clean image
sensor option in the setup menu (0 301), the filter can be cleaned manually as
described below. Note, however, that the filter is extremely delicate and easily
damaged. Nikon recommends that the filter be cleaned only by Nikon-authorized
service personnel.

Charge the battery or connect an AC adapter.

A reliable power source is required when inspecting or cleaning the low-pass
filter. Turn the camera off and insert a fully-charged EN-EL15 battery or connect
an optional EP-5B power connector and EH-5b AC adapter. The Lock mirror up
for cleaning option is only available in the setup menu at battery levels over
J.

Remove the lens.

Turn the camera off and remove the lens.

Select Lock mirror up for cleaning.

Turn the camera on and press the G
button to display the menus. Highlight Lock
mirror up for cleaning in the setup menu
and press 2.
G button

Press J.
The message shown at right will be
displayed in the monitor and a row of dashes
will appear in the control panel and
viewfinder. To restore normal operation
without inspecting the low-pass filter, turn
the camera off.

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303

Raise the mirror.

Press the shutter-release button all the way
down. The mirror will be raised and the
shutter curtain will open, revealing the lowpass filter. The display in the viewfinder will
turn off and the row of dashes in the control panel will flash.

Examine the low-pass filter.

Holding the camera so that light falls on the low-pass filter,
examine the filter for dust or lint. If no foreign objects are
present, proceed to Step 8.

Clean the filter.

Remove any dust and lint from the filter with a blower. Do
not use a blower-brush, as the bristles could damage the
filter. Dirt that can not be removed with a blower can only
be removed by Nikon-authorized service personnel.
Under no circumstances should you touch or wipe the
filter.

Turn the camera off.

The mirror will return to the down position and the shutter curtain will close.
Replace the lens or body cap.

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Use a Reliable Power Source

The shutter curtain is delicate and easily damaged. If the camera powers off while the mirror
is raised, the curtain will close automatically. To prevent damage to the curtain, observe the
following precautions:
Do not turn the camera off or remove or disconnect the power source while the mirror is
raised.
If the battery runs low while the mirror is raised, a beep will sound and the self-timer lamp
will flash to warn that the shutter curtain will close and the mirror will be lowered after
about two minutes. End cleaning or inspection immediately.

Foreign Matter on the Low-Pass Filter

Nikon takes every possible precaution to prevent foreign matter from coming into contact
with the low-pass filter during production and shipping. The D600, however, is designed to
be used with interchangeable lenses, and foreign matter may enter the camera when lenses
are removed or exchanged. Once inside the camera, this foreign matter may adhere to the
low-pass filter, where it may appear in photographs taken under certain conditions. To
protect the camera when no lens is in place, be sure to replace the body cap provided with
the camera, being careful to first remove all dust and other foreign matter that may be
adhering to the body cap. Avoid exchanging lenses in dusty environments.
Should foreign matter find its way onto the low-pass filter, clean the filter as described
above, or have the filter cleaned by authorized Nikon service personnel. Photographs
affected by the presence of foreign matter on the filter can be retouched using Capture NX 2
(available separately; 0 298) or the clean image options available in some third-party
imaging applications.

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Caring for the Camera and Battery:

Cautions
Do not drop: The product may malfunction if subjected to strong shocks or vibration.
Keep dry: This product is not waterproof, and may malfunction if immersed in water or exposed
to high levels of humidity. Rusting of the internal mechanism can cause irreparable damage.
Avoid sudden changes in temperature: Sudden changes in temperature, such as those that occur
when entering or leaving a heated building on a cold day, can cause condensation inside the
device. To prevent condensation, place the device in a carrying case or plastic bag before
exposing it to sudden changes in temperature.
Keep away from strong magnetic fields: Do not use or store this device in the vicinity of equipment
that generates strong electromagnetic radiation or magnetic fields. Strong static charges or
the magnetic fields produced by equipment such as radio transmitters could interfere with the
monitor, damage data stored on the memory card, or affect the products internal circuitry.
Do not leave the lens pointed at the sun: Do not leave the lens pointed at the sun or other strong light
source for an extended period. Intense light may cause the image sensor to deteriorate or
produce a white blur effect in photographs.
Turn the product off before removing or disconnecting the power source: Do not unplug the product or
remove the battery while the product is on or while images are being recorded or deleted.
Forcibly cutting power in these circumstances could result in loss of data or in damage to
product memory or internal circuitry. To prevent an accidental interruption of power, avoid
carrying the product from one location to another while the AC adapter is connected.
Cleaning: When cleaning the camera body, use a blower to gently remove dust and lint, then
wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth. After using the camera at the beach or seaside, wipe off any
sand or salt using a cloth lightly dampened in pure water and then dry the camera thoroughly.
In rare instances, static electricity may cause LCDs to light up or go dark. This does not indicate
a malfunction, and the display will soon return to normal.
The lens and mirror are easily damaged. Dust and lint should be gently removed with a blower.
When using an aerosol blower, keep the can vertical to prevent discharge of liquid. To remove
fingerprints and other stains from the lens, apply a small amount of lens cleaner to a soft cloth
and wipe the lens carefully.
See The Low-Pass Filter (0 301, 303) for information on cleaning the low-pass filter.
Lens contacts: Keep the lens contacts clean.
Do not touch the shutter curtain: The shutter curtain is extremely thin and easily damaged. Under
no circumstances should you exert pressure on the curtain, poke it with cleaning tools, or
subject it to powerful air currents from a blower. These actions could scratch, deform, or tear
the curtain.

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Storage: To prevent mold or mildew, store the camera in a dry, well-ventilated area. If you are
using an AC adapter, unplug the adapter to prevent fire. If the product will not be used for an
extended period, remove the battery to prevent leakage and store the camera in a plastic bag
containing a desiccant. Do not, however, store the camera case in a plastic bag, as this may
cause the material to deteriorate. Note that desiccant gradually loses its capacity to absorb
moisture and should be replaced at regular intervals.
To prevent mold or mildew, take the camera out of storage at least once a month. Turn the
camera on and release the shutter a few times before putting it away.
Store the battery in a cool, dry place. Replace the terminal cover before putting the battery
away.
Notes on the monitor: The monitor is constructed with extremely high precision; at least 99.99% of
pixels are effective, with no more than 0.01% being missing or defective. Hence while these
displays may contain pixels that are always lit (white, red, blue, or green) or always off (black),
this is not a malfunction and has no effect on images recorded with the device.
Images in the monitor may be difficult to see in a bright light.
Do not apply pressure to the monitor, as this could cause damage or malfunction. Dust or lint
on the monitor can be removed with a blower. Stains can be removed by wiping lightly with a
soft cloth or chamois leather. Should the monitor break, care should be taken to avoid injury
from broken glass and to prevent liquid crystal from the monitor touching the skin or entering
the eyes and mouth.
Replace the monitor cover when transporting the camera or leaving it unattended.
Batteries: Batteries may leak or explode if improperly handled. Observe the following
precautions when handling batteries:
Use only batteries approved for use in this equipment.
Do not expose the battery to flame or excessive heat.
Keep the battery terminals clean.
Turn the product off before replacing the battery.
Remove the battery from the camera or charger when not in use and replace the terminal
cover. These devices draw minute amounts of charge even when off and could draw the
battery down to the point that it will no longer function. If the battery will not be used for
some time, insert it in the camera and run it flat before removing it and storing it in a location
with an ambient temperature of 15 to 25 C (59 to 77 F; avoid hot or extremely cold
locations). Repeat this process at least once every six months.
Turning the camera on or off repeatedly when the battery is fully discharged will shorten
battery life. Batteries that have been fully discharged must be charged before use.
The internal temperature of the battery may rise while the battery is in use. Attempting to
charge the battery while the internal temperature is elevated will impair battery
performance, and the battery may not charge or charge only partially. Wait for the battery
to cool before charging.

n
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 Continuing to charge the battery after it is fully charged can impair battery performance.
A marked drop in the time a fully charged battery retains its charge when used at room
temperature indicates that it requires replacement. Purchase a new EN-EL15 battery.
Charge the battery before use. When taking photographs on important occasions, ready a
spare EN-EL15 battery and keep it fully charged. Depending on your location, it may be
difficult to purchase replacement batteries on short notice. Note that on cold days, the
capacity of batteries tends to decrease. Be sure the battery is fully charged before taking
photographs outside in cold weather. Keep a spare battery in a warm place and exchange
the two as necessary. Once warmed, a cold battery may recover some of its charge.
Used batteries are a valuable resource; recycle in accord with local regulations.

n
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Available Settings
The following table lists the settings that can be adjusted in each mode.

Shooting menu
Other settings 2

i
Storage folder

File naming 1

Role played by card in Slot 2 1

Image quality 1, 2

Image size 1, 2

Image area 1
JPEG compression 1

NEF (RAW) recording 1

White balance 1, 2

Set Picture Control 1

Auto distortion control 1

Color space 1

Active D-Lighting 1
3
HDR (high dynamic range) 1, 2

Vignette control 1

Long exposure NR 1
High ISO NR 1

ISO sensitivity settings 1, 2

4
Remote control mode 1

Multiple exposure 1, 2

Interval timer shooting 1

Time-lapse photography 1

Movie settings 1

Autofocus mode (viewfinder)

5
AF-area mode (viewfinder)
5
AF mode (Live view/movie)
5
AF-area mode (Live view/movie) 5
AE lock hold

Flexible program

Metering

Exposure compensation

Bracketing

Flash mode
5
Flash compensation

FV lock

j
P

3 2

5
5
5
5

k, p,
n, o,
S, A, M s, 0

2 3

l, m,
r, t,
u, v

5
5
5
5

5
5
5
5

x, y, 1, 2,
z
3

4 4

5 5
5 5
5 5
5 5

n
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Custom Settings 6

n
310

a1: AF-C priority selection

a2: AF-S priority selection
a3: Focus tracking with lock-on
a4: AF point illumination
a5: Focus point wrap-around
a6: Number of focus points
a7: Built-in AF-assist illuminator
b1: ISO sensitivity step value
b2: EV steps for exposure cntrl
b3: Easy exposure compensation
b4: Center-weighted area
b5: Fine-tune optimal exposure
c1: Shutter-release button AE-L
c2: Standby timer
c3: Self-timer
c4: Monitor off delay
c5: Remote on duration
d1: Beep
d2: Viewfinder grid display
d3: ISO display and adjustment
d4: Screen tips
d5: CL mode shooting speed
d6: Max. continuous release
d7: File number sequence
d8: Information display
d9: LCD illumination
d10: Exposure delay mode 2
d11: Flash warning
d12: MB-D14 battery type
d13: Battery order

k, p, l, m,
n, o, r, t,
S, A, M s, 0 u, v

x, y, 1, 2,
z
3

Custom Settings 6
1
2
3
4
5
6

e1: Flash sync speed

e2: Flash shutter speed
e3: Flash cntrl for built-in flash/
Optional flash
e4: Exposure comp. for flash
e5: Modeling flash
e6: Auto bracketing set
e7: Bracketing order
f1: OK button (shooting mode)
f2: Assign Fn button
f3: Assign preview button
f4: Assign AE-L/AF-L button
f5: Customize command dials
f6: Release button to use dial
f7: Slot empty release lock
f8: Reverse indicators
f9: Assign MB-D14 4 button
g1: Assign Fn button
g2: Assign preview button
g3: Assign AE-L/AF-L button
g4: Assign shutter button

k, p, l, m,
n, o, r, t,
P S, A, M s, 0 u, v

x, y, 1, 2,
z
3

Reset with Reset shooting menu (0 214).

Reset with two-button reset (0 151).
Fixed at Auto.
Auto ISO sensitivity control is not available.
Reset when mode dial is rotated to new setting.
Reset with Reset custom settings (0 221).

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Defaults
The default settings for the options in the camera menus are listed below. For
information on two-button resets, see page 151.

Playback Menu Defaults

Option
Playback folder
Image review
After delete
Rotate tall

Default
ND600
Off
Show next
On

0
Option
207 Slide show
212
Image type
212
212 Frame interval

Default

Still images and

movies
213
2s

Shooting Menu Defaults 1

Option
File naming
Role played by card in Slot 2
Image quality
Image size
Image area
Auto DX crop
Choose image area
JPEG compression
NEF (RAW) recording
Type
NEF (RAW) bit depth
White balance
Fine-tuning
Choose color temp.
Preset manual
Set Picture Control
Auto distortion control
Color space
Active D-Lighting
P, S, A, M, 1, 2, 3
Other modes
HDR (high dynamic range)
HDR mode
Exposure differential
Smoothing

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312

Default
DSC
Overflow
JPEG normal
Large

0
216
96
93
95

On
FX (3624)
Size priority

89
90
94

Lossless
compressed
14-bit
Auto > Normal
A-B: 0, G-M: 0
5000 K
d-1
Standard
Off
sRGB

94
115
117
120
121
129
217
217

Off
Auto

137

Off
Auto
Normal

140
140
141

Option
Vignette control
Long exposure NR
High ISO NR
ISO sensitivity settings
ISO sensitivity
P, S, A, M
Other modes
Auto ISO sensitivity control
Remote control mode
Multiple exposure 2
Multiple exposure mode
Number of shots
Auto gain
Interval timer shooting
Time-lapse photography
Movie settings
Frame size/frame rate
Movie quality
Microphone
Destination

Default
Normal
Off
Normal

0
218
218
218

100
105
Auto
Off
107
Delayed remote 85
Off
2
On
Reset 3
Reset 4

160
161
162
164
168

19201080; 30p
High quality
65
Auto sensitivity
Slot 1

1 Default settings restored with Reset shooting menu (0 214).

2 Reset shooting menu can not be selected while shooting is in progress.
3 Start time reset to Now, interval reset to 1 minute, number of intervals and number of shots reset to 1,
and Start set to Off. Shooting ends when reset is performed.
4 Interval reset to 5 s, recording time to 25 minutes.

 Custom Settings Menu Defaults *

a1
a2
a3
a4
a5
a6
a7
b1
b2
b3
b4
b5

c1
c2
c3

c4

c5
d1

d2
d3
d4
d5
d6
d7

Option
Default
AF-C priority selection
Release
AF-S priority selection
Focus
Focus tracking with lock-on
3 (Normal)
AF point illumination
Auto
Focus point wrap-around
No wrap
Number of focus points
39 points
Built-in AF-assist illuminator
On
ISO sensitivity step value
1/3 step
EV steps for exposure cntrl
1/3 step
Easy exposure compensation
Off
Center-weighted area
12 mm
Fine-tune optimal exposure
Matrix metering
0
Center-weighted metering
0
Spot metering
0
Shutter-release button AE-L
Off
Standby timer
6s
Self-timer
Self-timer delay
10 s
Number of shots
1
Interval between shots
0.5 s
Monitor off delay
Playback
10 s
Menus
1 min
Information display
10 s
Image review
4s
Live view
10 min
Remote on duration
1 min
Beep
Volume
Off
Pitch
High
Viewfinder grid display
Off
ISO display and adjustment Show frame count
Screen tips
On
CL mode shooting speed
3 fps
Max. continuous release
100
File number sequence
On

0
221
221
222
222
222
223
223
224
224
225
226

226

d8
d9
d10
d11
d12

d13 Battery order

e1 Flash sync speed
e2 Flash shutter speed
e3 Flash cntrl for built-in flash/
Optional flash
e4 Exposure comp. for flash
e5 Modeling flash
e6 Auto bracketing set
e7

226
227

227

f1
f2
f3
f4
f5

228

228
228
229
229
229
229
230
230

Option
Information display
LCD illumination
Exposure delay mode
Flash warning
MB-D14 battery type

f6
f7
f8
f9
g1
g2
g3
g4

Default
Auto
Off
Off
On
LR6 (AA alkaline)
Use MB-D14
batteries first
1/200 s
1/60 s
TTL

Entire frame
On
AE & flash
MTR > under >
Bracketing order
over
Select center focus
OK button (shooting mode)
point
Assign Fn button
Choose image area
Assign preview button
Preview
Assign AE-L/AF-L button
AE/AF lock
Customize command dials
Exposure
compensation: U
Reverse rotation
Shutter speed/
aperture: U
Change main/sub
Off
Aperture setting
Sub-command dial
Menus and playback
Off
Release button to use dial
No
Slot empty release lock
Enable release
Reverse indicators
Assign MB-D14 4 button
AE/AF lock
Assign Fn button
None
Assign preview button
Index marking
Assign AE-L/AF-L button
AE/AF lock
Assign shutter button
Take photos

0
231
231
231
231
232
233
234
235
236
240
241
241
241
241
242
244
244

245

246
246
246
247
247
248
248
248

* Default settings restored with Reset custom settings (0 221).

n
313

 Setup Menu Defaults

Option
Save user settings
Save to U1
Save to U2
Monitor brightness
Manual
Clean image sensor
Clean at startup/shutdown
HDMI
Output resolution
Device control

n
314

Default
Shooting mode
defaults to P
Manual
0
Clean at startup &
shutdown
Auto
On

Option
Flicker reduction
Time zone and date
81
Daylight saving time
Auto image rotation
250
GPS
Standby timer
Use GPS to set camera clock
301
Eye-Fi upload
205

Default
Auto

0
252

Off
On

253
254

Enable
Yes
Enable

175
260

Exposure Program (Mode P)

The exposure program for mode P is shown in the following graph:

14

f/1

16 15

f/1.4

17
18
19

f/5.6
f/8

20

f/2.8
f/4

16

1
/3

f/2

f/1.4 f/16

Aperture

13

11

12

10

-1

-3

-2

-5

]
V

[E

-4

ISO 100; lens with maximum aperture of f/1.4 and minimum

aperture of f/16 (e.g., AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G)

21

f/11

22

f/16

f/32

23

f/22
30" 15" 8" 4"

2"

1"

15 30 60 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000

Shutter speed (seconds)

The maximum and minimum values for EV vary with ISO sensitivity; the above graph
assumes an ISO sensitivity of ISO 100 equivalent. When matrix metering is used,
values over 161/3 EV are reduced to 161/3 EV.

n
315

Troubleshooting
If the camera fails to function as expected, check the list of common problems below
before consulting your retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative.

Display
Viewfinder is out of focus: Adjust viewfinder focus or use optional eyepiece correction lenses
(0 33, 297).
Viewfinder is dark: Insert a fully-charged battery (0 21, 35).
Displays turn off without warning: Choose longer delays for Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer) or
c4 (Monitor off delay) (0 227, 228).
Control panel and viewfinder displays are unresponsive and dim: The response times and brightness of
these displays vary with temperature.
Fine lines are visible around active focus point or display turns red when focus point is highlighted: These
phenomena are normal for this type of viewfinder and do not indicate a malfunction.

n
316

If the Camera Stops Responding

In extremely rare instances, the displays may not respond as expected and the camera may
stop functioning. In most cases, this phenomenon is caused by a strong external static
charge. Turn the camera off, remove and replace the battery, taking care to avoid burns, and
turn the camera on again, or, if you are using an AC adapter (available separately), disconnect
and reconnect the adapter and turn the camera on again. If the problem persists, contact
your retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative.

Shooting (All Modes)

Camera takes time to turn on: Delete files or folders.
Shutter-release disabled:
Memory card is locked, full, or not inserted (0 29, 31).
Built-in flash is charging (0 39).
Camera is not in focus (0 38).
CPU lens with aperture ring attached but aperture not locked at highest f-number. If B is
displayed in control panel, select Aperture ring for Custom Setting f5 (Customize
command dials) > Aperture setting to use lens aperture ring to adjust aperture (0 245).
Non-CPU lens is attached but camera is not in mode A or M (0 288).
Camera is slow to respond to shutter-release button: Select Off for Custom Setting d10 (Exposure
delay mode; 0 231).
No photo taken when remote control shutter-release button is pressed:
Replace battery in remote control (0 298).
Choose remote control release mode (0 85).
Flash is charging (0 87).
Time selected for Custom Setting c5 (Remote on duration, 0 228) has elapsed: press
camera shutter-release button halfway.
Bright light is interfering with remote.
Photos are out of focus:
Rotate focus-mode selector to AF (0 97).
Camera unable to focus using autofocus: use manual focus or focus lock (0 102, 103).
Focus does not lock when shutter-release button is pressed halfway: Use A AE-L/AF-L button to lock focus
when AF-C is selected for focus mode or when photographing moving subjects in AF-A mode.
Can not select focus point:
Unlock focus selector lock (0 101).
Auto-area AF or face-priority AF selected for AF-area mode: choose another mode.
Camera is in playback mode (0 177) or menus are in use (0 207).
Press shutter-release button halfway to turn monitor off or start standby timer (0 39).
Can not select AF-area mode: Manual focus selected (0 55, 103).
Only one shot taken each time shutter-release button is pressed in continuous release mode: Continuous
shooting is not available if built-in flash fires (0 145).
Image size can not be changed: Image quality set to NEF (RAW) (0 93).
Camera is slow to record photos: Turn long exposure noise reduction off (0 218).

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Noise (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) appear in photos:
Choose lower ISO sensitivity or use high ISO noise reduction (0 105, 218).
Shutter speed is slower than 1 s: use long exposure noise reduction (0 218).
Turn Active D-Lighting off to avoid heightening the effects of noise (0 137).
AF-assist illuminator does not light:
AF-assist lamp does not light if AF-C is selected for autofocus mode (0 97) or if continuousservo autofocus is selected when the camera is in AF-A mode. Choose AF-S. If an option other
than auto-area AF is selected for AF-area mode, select center focus point (0 99, 101).
The camera is currently in live view or a movie is being recorded.
Off selected for Custom Setting a7 (Built-in AF-assist illuminator) (0 223).
Illuminator has turned off automatically. Illuminator may become hot with continued use;
wait for lamp to cool down.
Smudges appear in photographs: Clean front and rear lens elements. If problem persists, perform
image sensor cleaning (0 301).
Sound is not recorded with movies: Microphone off is selected for Movie settings > Microphone.
The brightness of the image in the monitor differs from the exposure of photographs taken in live view:
Center-weighted or spot metering is selected (0 109).
The camera is in mode M.
The subject is too bright or too dark.
Active D-Lighting is in effect (0 137).
The photograph is a long time-exposure (0 79).
The flash is used (0 143).
Flicker or banding appears during live view or movie recording: Choose an option for Flicker reduction
that matches the frequency of the local AC power supply (0 252).
Bright bands appear during live view or movie recording: A flashing sign, flash, or other light source with
brief duration was used during live view or movie recording.
Menu item can not be selected: Some options are not available in all modes.

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Shooting (P, S, A, M)
Shutter-release disabled:
Non-CPU lens is attached: rotate camera mode dial to A or M (0 288).
Mode dial rotated to S after shutter speed of A selected in mode M: choose new shutter
speed (0 76).
Full range of shutter speeds not available: Flash in use. Flash sync speed can be selected using
Custom Setting e1 (Flash sync speed); when using compatible flash units, choose 1/250 s
(Auto FP) or 1/200 s (Auto FP) for full range of shutter speeds (0 234).
Colors are unnatural:
Adjust white balance to match light source (0 115).
Adjust Set Picture Control settings (0 129).
Can not measure white balance: Subject is too dark or too bright (0 123).
Image can not be selected as source for preset white balance: Image was not created with D600 (0 124).
White balance bracketing unavailable:
NEF (RAW) or NEF+JPEG image quality option selected for image quality (0 93).
Multiple exposure mode is in effect (0 163).
Effects of Picture Control differ from image to image: A (auto) is selected for sharpening, contrast, or
saturation. For consistent results over a series of photos, choose another setting (0 132).
Metering can not be changed: Autoexposure lock or movie live view is in effect (0 57, 110).
Exposure compensation can not be used: Choose mode P, S, or A (0 75, 76, 77).
Noise (reddish areas or other artifacts) appears in long time-exposures: Enable long exposure noise
reduction (0 218).

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Playback
NEF (RAW) image is not played back: Photo was taken at image quality of NEF + JPEG (0 93).
Can not view pictures recorded with other cameras: Pictures recorded with other makes of camera may
not be displayed correctly.
Message is displayed stating that no images are available for playback: Select All for Playback folder
(0 207).
Tall (portrait) orientation photos are displayed in wide (landscape) orientation:
Select On for Rotate tall (0 212).
Photo was taken with Off selected for Auto image rotation (0 254).
Camera was pointed up or down when photo was taken (0 254).
Photo is displayed in image review (0 212).
Can not delete picture:
Picture is protected: remove protection (0 188).
Memory card is locked (0 32).
Can not retouch picture: Photo can not be further edited with this camera (0 262).
Can not change print order:
Memory card is full: delete pictures (0 36, 189).
Memory card is locked (0 32).
Can not select photo for printing: Photo is in NEF (RAW) format. Create JPEG copy using NEF (RAW)
processing or transfer to computer and print using ViewNX 2 (supplied) or Capture NX 2
(available separately).
Picture is not displayed on TV:
Choose correct video mode (0 65) or output resolution (0 205).
HDMI (0 204) cable is not correctly connected.
Camera does not respond to remote control for HDMI-CEC television:
Select On for HDMI > Device control in the setup menu (0 205).
Adjust HDMI-CEC settings for the television as described in documentation provided with
the device.
Can not transfer photos to computer: OS not compatible with camera or transfer software. Use card
reader to copy photos to computer (0 193).
Photos are not displayed in Capture NX 2: Update to latest version (0 298).
Image Dust Off option in Capture NX 2 does not have desired effect: Image sensor cleaning changes the
position of dust on the low-pass filter. Dust off reference data recorded before image sensor
cleaning is performed can not be used with photographs taken after image sensor cleaning is
performed. Dust off reference data recorded after image sensor cleaning is performed can not
be used with photographs taken before image sensor cleaning is performed (0 252).
Computer displays NEF (RAW) images differently from camera: Third-party software does not display
effects of Picture Controls, Active D-Lighting, or vignette control. Use ViewNX 2 (supplied) or
optional Nikon software such as Capture NX 2 (available separately).

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Miscellaneous
Date of recording is not correct: Set camera clock (0 27, 253).
Menu item can not be selected: Some options are not available at certain combinations of settings
or when no memory card is inserted. Note that Battery info option is not available when
camera is powered by an optional EP-5B power connector and EH-5b AC adapter (0 255).

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Error Messages
This section lists the indicators and error messages that appear in the viewfinder,
control panel, and monitor.
Indicator
Control
Viewpanel
finder
B
(flashes)

Problem
Solution
0
Lens aperture ring is not set to Set ring to minimum aperture
26
minimum aperture.
(highest f-number).
Ready a fully-charged spare
H
d Low battery.
21
battery.
Battery exhausted.
Recharge or replace battery.
Battery can not be used.
Contact Nikon-authorized
service representative.

An
extremely
exhausted

Replace the battery, or

H
d
xxiii, 21,
recharge the battery if the
rechargeable
Li-ion
battery
(flashes) (flashes)
23
rechargeable Li-ion battery
or a third-party battery is
inserted either in the camera is exhausted.
or in the optional MB-D14
battery pack.
No lens attached, or non-CPU
lens attached without
Aperture value will be
F
specifying maximum aperture. displayed if maximum aperture
172
Aperture shown in stops from is specified.
maximum aperture.
2 4 Camera unable to focus using Change composition or focus

98, 103
(flashes) autofocus.
manually.
No lens attached.
Attach non-IX Nikkor lens.
25, 285
If a CPU lens is attached,
i
remove and reattach the
(flashes)
lens.
Non-CPU lens attached.
Select mode A or M.
288

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Indicator
Control
Viewpanel
finder

Problem

Solution
Use a lower ISO sensitivity
In shooting mode:
Subject too bright; photo will
P Use optional ND filter
be overexposed.
S Increase shutter speed
(Exposure
A Choose a smaller aperture
indicators and
(higher f-number)
shutter speed or
Use a higher ISO sensitivity
aperture display
In shooting mode:
flash)
Subject too dark; photo will be P Use flash
underexposed.
S Lower shutter speed
A Choose a larger aperture
(lower f-number)
A
Change shutter speed or select
A selected in mode S.
(flashes)
mode M.
%
Change shutter speed or select
% selected in mode S.
(flashes)
mode M.
P
k
Wait until processing is
Images are being processed.
(flashes) (flashes)
complete.
If indicator flashes for 3s after Check photo in monitor; if
c
flash fires, photo may be
underexposed, adjust settings

(flashes)
underexposed.
and try again.
Memory insufficient to record Reduce quality or size.
n
j further photos at current
Delete photographs.
(flashes) (flashes) settings, or camera has run out Insert new memory card.
of file or folder numbers.
Release shutter. If error persists
O
or appears frequently, consult
Camera malfunction.
(flashes)
Nikon-authorized service
representative.

0
105
297
76
77
105
143
76
77
76, 78
76, 78

177
93, 95
189
29

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Indicator
Monitor
No memory card.

Control
panel

This memory card

cannot be used.
W,
Card may be
O
damaged.
(flashes)
Insert another card.

W,
O
(flashes)

Memory card is
W,
locked. Slide lock to
X
write position.
(flashes)
W,
Not available if
O
Eye-Fi card is locked.
(flashes)
This card is not
[C]
formatted.
(flashes)
Format the card.
Clock has been reset

Failed to update
flash unit firmware.
Flash cannot be

used.
Contact a Nikonauthorized service
representative.
Unable to start live
view. Please wait.

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324

Solution
0
Turn camera off and confirm
29
that card is correctly inserted.
Use Nikon-approved card.
333
Check that contacts are

clean. If card is damaged,

contact retailer or Nikonauthorized service
representative.
Unable to create new Delete files or insert new
29, 189
folder.
memory card after copying
important images to
computer or other device.
Check that Eye-Fi card
260
firmware is up to date.
Camera can not control Copy files on Eye-Fi card to 29, 31,
Eye-Fi card.
a computer or other device
193
and format card, or insert
new card.

Problem
Camera cannot detect
S
memory card.
Error accessing
memory card.

Memory card is locked

(write protected).
Eye-Fi card is locked
(write protected).

Slide card write-protect

switch to write position.

32

Memory card has not

Format memory card or insert
been formatted for use in
29, 31
new memory card.
camera.
Camera clock is not set. Set camera clock.
27, 253

Firmware for flash unit

Contact a Nikon-authorized
mounted on camera was
service representative.
not updated correctly.

Wait for the internal circuits

The internal temperature
to cool before resuming live
of the camera is high.
view or movie recording.

64

Indicator
Monitor

Control
panel

Problem

Folder contains no
images.

No images on memory
card or in folder(s)
selected for playback.

All images are

hidden.

All photos in current

folder are hidden.

Solution
0
Select folder containing
images from Playback folder
29, 207
menu or insert memory card
containing images.
No images can be played
back until another folder has
been selected or Hide image
208
used to allow at least one
image to be displayed.

File has been created or

modified using a
Cannot display this
File can not be played back
computer or different

on camera.
file.
make of camera, or file is
corrupt.
Images created with other
Selected image can not
Cannot select this
devices can not be

file.
be retouched.
retouched.
Movies created with other
The selected movie can
This movie cannot be
devices can not be edited.

Movies must be at least

edited.
not be edited.
two seconds long.
Check printer. To resume,
Check printer.

Printer error.
select Continue (if available).
Paper in printer is not of Insert paper of correct size
Check paper.

selected size.
and select Continue.
Paper is jammed in
Clear jam and select
Paper jam.

printer.
Continue.
Insert paper of selected size
Out of paper.

Printer is out of paper.

and select Continue.
Check ink. To resume, select
Check ink supply.

Ink error.
Continue.
Replace ink and select
Out of ink.

Printer is out of ink.

Continue.
* See printer manual for more information.

262

71
196 *
196 *
196 *
196 *
196 *
196 *

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Specifications
Nikon D600 Digital Camera
Type
Type
Lens mount
Effective pixels
Effective pixels
Image sensor
Image sensor
Total pixels
Dust-reduction System
Storage
Image size (pixels)

Single-lens reflex digital camera

Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
24.3 million
35.9 24.0 mm CMOS sensor (Nikon FX format)
24.7 million
Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional
Capture NX 2 software required)

FX (3624) image area

6,016 4,016 (#)
4,512 3,008 ($)
3,008 2,008 (%)
DX (2416) image area
3,936 2,624 (#)
2,944 1,968 ($)
1,968 1,312 (%)
FX-format photographs taken in movie live view
6,016 3,376 (#)
4,512 2,528 ($)
3,008 1,688 (%)
DX-format photographs in movie live view
3,936 2,224 (#)
2,944 1,664 ($)
1,968 1,112 (%)
File format
NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed or compressed
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx.
1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression (Size priority); Optimal
quality compression available
NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and
JPEG formats
Picture Control System Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected
Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
Media
SD (Secure Digital) and UHS-I compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards
Double slot
Slot 2 can be used for overflow or backup storage or for separate storage
of copies created using NEF+JPEG; pictures can be copied between
cards.
File system
DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order
Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras)
2.3, PictBridge
Viewfinder
Viewfinder
Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage
FX (3624): Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical
DX (2416): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical
Magnification
Approx. 0.7 (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, 1.0 m1)
Eyepoint
21 mm (1.0 m1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)

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Viewfinder
Diopter adjustment
Focusing screen

3+1 m1
Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII screen with AF area brackets
(framing grid can be displayed)
Reflex mirror
Quick return
Depth-of-field preview Pressing depth-of-field preview button stops lens aperture down to
value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (other modes)
Lens aperture
Instant return, electronically controlled
Lens
Compatible lenses
Compatible with AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D lenses (some
restrictions apply to PC lenses) and DX lenses (using DX 24 16 1.5
image area), AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (A and M modes
only). IX NIKKOR lenses, lenses for the F3AF, and non-AI lenses can not be
used.
The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a
maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster (the electronic rangefinder supports
the center 7 focus points with lenses that have a maximum aperture of
f/8 or faster and the center 33 focus points with lenses that have a
maximum aperture of f/6.8 or faster)
Shutter
Type
Speed
Flash sync speed

Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter

30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb, time (requires optional ML-L3
remote control), X200
X= 1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/250 s or slower (flash range drops
at speeds between 1/200 and 1/250 s)
1/4000

Release
Release mode

S (single frame), CL (continuous low speed), CH (continuous high speed),

J (quiet shutter-release), E (self-timer), 4 (remote control), MUP (mirror
up)
Frame advance rate
15 fps (CL) or 5.5 fps (CH)
Self-timer
2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 19 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s
Remote release modes Delayed remote, quick-response remote, remote mirror-up
Exposure
Metering
TTL exposure metering using 2,016-pixel RGB sensor
Metering method
Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix
metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with
non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data
Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 12 mm circle in center of frame.
Diameter of circle can be changed to 8, 15, or 20 mm, or weighting can
be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU lenses use 12-mm circle
or average of entire frame)
Spot: Meters 4 mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected
focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 Matrix or center-weighted metering: 020 EV
lens, 20 C/68 F)
Spot metering: 220 EV

n
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Exposure
Exposure meter
coupling
Mode

n
328

Combined CPU and AI

Auto (i auto; j auto (flash off)); scene (k portrait; l landscape; p child; m sports;
n close up; o night portrait; r night landscape; s party/indoor; t beach/snow; u sunset;
v dusk/dawn; w pet portrait; x candlelight; y blossom; z autumn colors; 0 food;
1 silhouette; 2 high key; 3 low key); programmed auto with flexible program
(P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); U1 (user
settings 1); U2 (user settings 2)
Exposure compensation 5 +5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Exposure bracketing 23 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV
Flash bracketing
23 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV
White balance
23 frames in steps of 1, 2, or 3
bracketing
ADL bracketing
2 frames using selected value for one frame or 3 frames using preset
values for all frames
Exposure lock
Luminosity locked at detected value with A AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity
ISO 100 6400 in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5,
(Recommended
0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1,
Exposure Index)
or 2 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 6400; auto ISO sensitivity
control available
Active D-Lighting
Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, Off
Focus
Autofocus
Nikon Multi-CAM 4800 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase
detection, fine-tuning, 39 focus points (including 9 cross-type sensors;
the center 33 points are available at apertures slower than f/5.6 and
faster than f/8, while the center 7 focus points are available at f/8), and
AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.53 m/1 ft 8 in.9 ft 10 in.)
Detection range
1 +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 C/68 F)
Lens servo
Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto
AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated
automatically according to subject status
Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used
Focus point
Can be selected from 39 or 11 focus points
AF-area mode
Single-point AF; 9-, 21-, or 39-point dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking,
auto-area AF
Focus lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (singleservo AF) or by pressing A AE-L/AF-L button
Flash
Built-in flash
i, k, p, n, o, s, w: Auto flash with auto pop-up
P, S, A, M, 0: Manual pop-up with button release
Guide Number
Approx. 12/39, 12/39 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 C/68 F)
Flash control
TTL: i-TTL flash control using 2,016-pixel RGB sensor is available with
built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400; i-TTL
balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted
metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering

Flash
Flash mode

Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with
red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with
red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off;
Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported
Flash compensation
3 +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash-ready indicator Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes
after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe
ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, SB-910,
System (CLS)
SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash and SB-600 or SB-R200 as
remotes, or SU-800 as commander; built-in flash can serve as master
flash in commander mode; Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling
illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except
SB-400; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported
with all CLS-compatible flash units
Sync terminal
AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately)
White balance
White balance
Auto (2 types), incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash,
cloudy, shade, preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored), choose color
temperature (2500 K10000 K), all with fine-tuning
Live view
Modes
Live view photography (still images), movie live view (movies)
Lens servo
Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time servo AF (AF-F)
Manual focus (M)
AF-area mode
Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
Autofocus
Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point
automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Movie
Metering
TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Metering method
Matrix
Frame size (pixels) and 1,920 1,080; 30 p (progressive), 25 p, 24 p
frame rate
1,280 720; 60 p, 50 p, 30 p, 25 p
Actual frame rates for 60 p, 50 p, 30 p, 25 p, and 24 p are 59.94, 50, 29.97,
25, and 23.976 fps respectively; options support both high and normal
image quality
File format
MOV
Video compression
H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Audio recording format Linear PCM
Audio recording device Built-in monaural or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable
Other options
Index marking, time-lapse photography

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Monitor
Monitor

Playback
Playback

Interface
USB
HDMI output
Accessory terminal
Audio input
Audio output
Supported languages
Supported languages

Power source
Battery
Battery pack

8-cm/3.2-in., approx. 921k-dot (VGA), low-temperature polysilicon TFT

LCD with approx. 170 viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and
automatic monitor brightness control using ambient brightness sensor
Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with
playback zoom, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows,
histogram display, highlights, photo information, GPS data display, and
auto image rotation
Hi-Speed USB
Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately)
GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter; plug-in power supported)
Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter)
Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch,
English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal and
Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian
One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL15 battery
Optional MB-D14 multi-power battery pack with one rechargeable
Nikon EN-EL15 Li-ion battery or six AA alkaline, Ni-MH, or lithium
batteries
EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5B power connector (available separately)

AC adapter
Tripod socket
1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Tripod socket
Dimensions/weight
Dimensions (W H D) Approx. 141 113 82 mm (5.6 4.4 3.2 in.)
Weight
Approx. 850 g (1 lb 14.0 oz) with battery and memory card but without
body cap; approx. 760 g (1 lb 10.8 oz; camera body only)
Operating environment
Temperature
040 C (+32104 F)
Humidity
85% or less (no condensation)

Unless otherwise stated, all figures are for a camera with a fully-charged battery operating at an ambient
temperature of 20 C (68 F).
Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and software described in this
manual at any time and without prior notice. Nikon will not be held liable for damages that may result
from any mistakes that this manual may contain.

n
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MH-25 battery charger

Rated input
(in North America)
Rated input
(in other regions)
Rated output
Supported batteries
Charging time

AC 120 V, 60 Hz, 0.2 A

AC 100240 V, 50/60 Hz, 0.230.12 A

DC 8.4 V/1.2 A
Nikon EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion batteries
Approx. 2 hours and 35 minutes at an ambient temperature of
25 C (77 F) when no charge remains
Operating temperature 040 C (+32104 F)
Dimensions (W H D) Approx. 91.5 33.5 71 mm (3.6 1.3 2.8 in.), excluding projections
Length of power cable Approx. 1.8 m/6 ft (U.S.A. and Canada) or 1.5 m/4.9 ft (other countries)
Weight
Approx. 110 g (3.9 oz), excluding power cable and AC wall adapter
EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery
Type
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Rated capacity
7.0 V/1,900 mAh
Operating temperature 040 C (+32104 F)
Dimensions (W H D) Approx. 40 56 20.5 mm (1.6 2.2 0.8 in.)
Weight
Approx. 88 g (3.1 oz), excluding terminal cover
Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and software described in this
manual at any time and without prior notice. Nikon will not be held liable for damages that may result from
any mistakes that this manual may contain.

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 Supported Standards

DCF Version 2.0: The Design Rule for Camera File Systems (DCF) is a standard widely
used in the digital camera industry to ensure compatibility among different makes
of camera.
DPOF: Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) is an industry-wide standard that allows
pictures to be printed from print orders stored on the memory card.
Exif version 2.3: The camera supports Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for
Digital Still Cameras) version 2.3, a standard in which information stored with
photographs is used for optimal color reproduction when the images are output
on Exif-compliant printers.
PictBridge: A standard developed through cooperation with the digital camera and
printer industries, allowing photographs to be output directly to a printer without
first transferring them to a computer.
HDMI: High-Definition Multimedia Interface is a standard for multimedia interfaces
used in consumer electronics and AV devices capable of transmitting audiovisual
data and control signals to HDMI-compliant devices via a single cable connection.
Trademark Information
Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the United States
and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Vista are either registered
trademarks, or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries. PictBridge is a trademark. The SD, SDHC, and SDXC logos are trademarks of the
SD-3C, LLC. HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or
registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with
your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Approved Memory Cards

The following SD memory cards have been tested and approved for use in the
camera. Cards with class 6 or faster write speeds are recommended for movie
recording. Recording may end unexpectedly when cards with slower write speeds
are used.
SD cards
SDHC cards 2
SDXC cards 3
SanDisk
4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
64 GB
Toshiba
Panasonic
4 GB, 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB, 16 GB, 24 GB, 32 GB
48 GB, 64 GB
2 GB 1
Lexar Media
4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB
Platinum II

4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB

Professional
Full-HD Video

4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB
1 Check that any card readers or other devices with which the card will be used support 2 GB cards.
2 Check that any card readers or other devices with which the card will be used are SDHC-compliant. The
camera supports UHS-1.
3 Check that any card readers or other devices with which the card will be used are
SDXC-compliant. The camera supports UHS-1.

Other cards have not been tested. For more details on the above cards, please
contact the manufacturer.

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Memory Card Capacity

The following table shows the approximate number of pictures that can be stored on
an 8 GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-I card at different image quality (0 93),
image size (0 95), and image area settings (0 89).

FX (3624) Image Area *

Image quality
NEF (RAW), Lossless
compressed, 12-bit
NEF (RAW), Lossless
compressed, 14-bit
NEF (RAW), Compressed, 12-bit
NEF (RAW), Compressed, 14-bit

Image size

File size 1

No. of images 1

Buffer capacity 2

23.4 MB

190

22

29.2 MB

147

16

20.7 MB
258

25.4 MB
215
Large
12.4 MB
506
JPEG fine 3
Medium
7.4 MB
853
Small
3.8 MB
1600
Large
6.2 MB
1000
JPEG normal 3
Medium
3.7 MB
1600
Small
1.9 MB
3200
Large
3.2 MB
1900
JPEG basic 3
Medium
1.9 MB
3200
Small
1.0 MB
6300
* Includes images taken with non-DX lenses when On is selected for Auto DX crop.

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27
16
57
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

 DX (2416) Image Area *

Image quality
NEF (RAW), Lossless
compressed, 12-bit
NEF (RAW), Lossless
compressed, 14-bit
NEF (RAW), Compressed, 12-bit
NEF (RAW), Compressed, 14-bit

Image size

File size 1

No. of images 1

Buffer capacity 2

10.9 MB

426

62

13.4 MB

332

38

9.7 MB
571

11.7 MB
480
Large
5.9 MB
1000
JPEG fine 3
Medium
3.7 MB
1700
Small
2.2 MB
2900
Large
3.0 MB
2100
JPEG normal 3
Medium
1.9 MB
3300
Small
1.1 MB
5700
Large
1.5 MB
4100
Medium
1.0 MB
6300
JPEG basic 3
Small
0.6 MB
10000
* Includes images taken with DX lenses when On is selected for Auto DX crop.

86
61
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

1 All figures are approximate. File size varies with scene recorded.
2 Maximum number of exposures that can be stored in memory buffer at ISO 100. Drops if Optimal
quality is selected for JPEG compression (0 94), ISO sensitivity is set to Hi 0.3 or higher, or long
exposure noise reduction or auto distortion control is on.
3 Figures assume JPEG compression is set to Size priority. Selecting Optimal quality increases the file
size of JPEG images; number of images and buffer capacity drop accordingly.

d6Max. Continuous Release (0 230)

The maximum number of photographs that can be taken in a single burst can be set to any
amount between 1 and 100.

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335

Battery Life
The number of shots that can be taken with fully-charged batteries varies with the
condition of the battery, temperature, and how the camera is used. In the case of AA
batteries, capacity also varies with make and storage conditions; some batteries can
not be used. Sample figures for the camera and optional MB-D14 multi-power
battery pack are given below.
CIPA standard 1
One EN-EL15 battery (camera): Approximately 900 shots
One EN-EL15 battery (MB-D14): Approximately 900 shots
Six AA alkaline batteries (MB-D14): Approximately 450 shots

Nikon standard 2
One EN-EL15 battery (camera): Approximately 3900 shots
One EN-EL15 battery (MB-D14): Approximately 3900 shots
Six AA alkaline batteries (MB-D14): Approximately 1300 shots
1 Measured at 23 C/73.4 F (2 C/3.6 F) with an AF-S NIKKOR 2485mm f/3.54.5G ED VR
lens under the following test conditions: lens cycled from infinity to minimum range and
one photograph taken at default settings once every 30 s; flash fired once every other
shot. Live view not used.
2 Measured at 20 C/68 F with an AF-S NIKKOR 2485mm f/3.54.5G ED VR lens under the
following test conditions: image quality set to JPEG basic, image size set to M (medium),
shutter speed 1/250 s, shutter-release button pressed halfway for three seconds and focus
cycled from infinity to minimum range three times; six shots are then taken in succession
and monitor turned on for five seconds and then turned off; cycle repeated once standby
timer expires.

The following can reduce battery life:

Using the monitor
Keeping the shutter-release button pressed halfway
Repeated autofocus operations
Taking NEF (RAW) photographs
Slow shutter speeds
Using a GP-1 GPS unit
Using an Eye-Fi card
Using a WU-1b wireless mobile adapter
Using VR (vibration reduction) mode with VR lenses
To ensure that you get the most from rechargeable Nikon EN-EL15 batteries:
Keep the battery contacts clean. Soiled contacts can reduce battery performance.
Use batteries immediately after charging. Batteries will lose their charge if left
unused.

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Index
Symbols
i (Auto mode) .........................35, 36
j (Auto (flash off) mode) .....35, 36
h (Scene)....................................40
k (Portrait) ........................................41
l (Landscape)..................................41
p (Child).............................................41
m (Sports) ..........................................41
n (Close up) ......................................42
o (Night portrait)............................42
r (Night landscape) ......................42
s (Party/indoor)..............................42
t (Beach/snow)...............................43
u (Sunset)..........................................43
v (Dusk/dawn) ................................43
w (Pet portrait) ................................43
x (Candlelight)..................................44
y (Blossom).......................................44
z (Autumn colors) ..........................44
0 (Food)..............................................44
1 (Silhouette)...................................45
2 (High key)......................................45
3 (Low key).......................................45
P (Programmed auto) ....................75
S (Shutter-priority auto) ................76
A (Aperture-priority auto).............77
M (Manual) .........................................78
U1/U2. ...................................................81
S (Single frame) ........................... 6, 83
CL (Continuous low speed)..... 6, 83,
229
CH (Continuous high speed).... 6, 83
J (Quiet shutter-release)......... 6, 83
E (Self-timer)........................ 6, 83, 85
4 (Remote control)............ 6, 83, 85
MUP (Mirror up)...................... 6, 83, 88
! (Face-priority AF) .......................52
$ (Wide-area AF) ............................52
% (Normal-area AF)........................52
& (Subject-tracking AF) .............52
a (Matrix) ...................................... 109
Z (Center-weighted) ........109, 226
b (Spot).......................................... 109
AUTO (Auto flash) ..................144, 145
Y (Red-eye reduction).....144, 145
SLOW (Slow sync) ..................144, 145
REAR (Rear-curtain sync)....144, 145
E (Exposure compensation).... 112
Y (Flash compensation) .......... 148
U (Flexible program) .....................75
a (Live view) button..............49, 57
R (Info) button........................... 9, 11
D switch...............................................2

m (White balance) ....................... 115

L (Preset manual) ...........115, 121
D (Bracketing) ..................153, 178
d (Help)............................................. 18
I (Focus indicator)......38, 102, 103
t (Memory buffer)...................38, 84
N (Flash-ready indicator)............. 39

Numerics
12-bit .................................................. 94
14-bit .................................................. 94
2,016-pixel RGB sensor......146, 327
3D-tracking ............................. 99, 100

A
AC adapter.............................297, 299
Accessories..................................... 297
Accessory shoe ............................. 292
Accessory terminal ...................... 298
Active D-Lighting................137, 158
Add items (My Menu)................. 280
ADL bracketing ....................158, 241
Adobe RGB ..................................... 217
AE & flash (Auto bracketing set) ....
153, 241
AE lock.............................................. 110
AE only (Auto bracketing set). 153,
241
AE-L/AF-L button .102, 110, 244, 248
AF................................. 5152, 97102
AF area brackets ......................... 8, 33
AF fine-tune ................................... 259
AF point illumination.................. 222
AF-A .................................................... 97
AF-area mode............................52, 99
AF-assist........................ 223, 290, 296
AF-C ........................................... 97, 221
AF-F..................................................... 51
AF-mode button...... 51, 52, 98, 100
AF-S..................................... 51, 97, 221
After delete .................................... 212
A-M mode switch............................. 26
Ambient brightness sensor ... 4, 53,
250
Angle of view................................. 291
Aperture .............................. 74, 7778
Aperture-priority auto ................. 77
Aspect ratio.................................... 265
Assign AE-L/AF-L button ..244, 248
Assign Fn button .................242, 247
Assign MB-D14 4 button.......... 247
Assign preview button......244, 248
Assign shutter button ................ 248
Attaching the lens ......................... 25

Auto (White balance).................. 115

Auto bracketing...................153, 241
Auto bracketing set..................... 241
Auto distortion control .............. 217
Auto DX crop ............................ 89, 91
Auto flash........................................ 145
Auto FP high-speed sync. 234, 235
Auto image rotation.................... 254
Auto ISO sensitivity control...... 107
Auto-area AF........................... 99, 100
Autoexposure lock....................... 110
Autofocus.................. 5152, 97102
Autofocus mode...................... 51, 97
Auto-servo AF ................................. 97
Available settings......................... 309

B
Backlight .................................... 2, 231
Backup (Role played by card in
Slot 2)................................................ 96
Battery................21, 23, 35, 255, 331
Battery info..................................... 255
Battery life....................................... 336
Battery order.................................. 233
Battery pack ......232, 233, 247, 255,
297
Beep.................................................. 228
Bit rate................................................ 65
Black-and-white (Monochrome) ...
266
Blue intensifier (Filter effects) .. 267
Body cap...............................3, 25, 298
Border (PictBridge) ...................... 198
Bracketing..............................153, 241
Bracketing order........................... 241
Built-in AF-assist illuminator .... 223
Built-in flash ...................39, 143, 288
Bulb.............................................. 78, 79
Burst............................... 162, 230, 242

C
Calendar playback ....................... 186
Camera Control Pro 2 ................. 298
Camera controls ............................. 92
Capture NX 2........ 94, 251, 253, 298
CEC .................................................... 205
Center-weighted .................109, 226
Charging the battery ............. 2122
Choose color temp. (White
balance) ................................115, 120
Choose image area................. 90, 91
Choose start/end point................ 69
CL mode shooting speed.......... 229
Clean image sensor..................... 301

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337

Clock ..........................................27, 253

Clock battery.................................... 28
Cloudy (White balance) .............115
CLS.....................................................293
Color balance.................................268
Color outline ..................................275
Color sketch ...................................275
Color space.....................................217
Color temperature ....115, 116, 120
Commander mode ......................237
Compatible lenses .......................285
Compressed (Type) ....................... 94
Computer........................................193
Connector for external
microphone.......................................2
Continuous high speed ...........6, 83
Continuous low speed ... 6, 83, 229
Continuous release mode.......6, 83
Continuous-servo AF ...........97, 221
Control panel......................................7
Copy image(s)................................209
Copyright .............................. 182, 256
CPU contacts..................................287
CPU lens....................................26, 285
Creative Lighting System ..........293
Cross screen (Filter effects) .......267
Custom Settings ...........................219
Customize command dials .......245
Cyanotype (Monochrome) .......266

n
338

Date and time.........................27, 253

Date format .............................27, 253
Daylight saving time............27, 253
DCF.......................................... 217, 332
Default settings 151, 214, 221, 312
Delayed remote (Remote control
mode) ............................................... 85
Delete ........................................47, 189
Delete all images..........................190
Delete current image...........47, 189
Delete selected images..............190
Depth-of-field.................................. 77
Depth-of-field preview button. 60,
77, 241, 244, 248
Destination (Movie settings)...... 65
Device control (HDMI)................205
Digital Print Order Format .......199,
202, 332
Diopter adjustment control ...... 33,
297
Direct sunlight (White balance).....
115
Distortion control.........................274
D-Lighting.......................................264
DPOF..............................199, 202, 332

DPOF print order ..........................202

DX (24 16) 1.5 .................... 63, 90
DX format................................... 89, 90
DX-based movie format............... 63
Dynamic-area AF...................99, 100

E
Easy exposure compensation..225
Edit movie......................................... 69
Electronic rangefinder................103
EV steps for exposure cntrl .......224
Exif ........................................... 217, 332
Exposure......................... 74, 109113
Exposure bracketing ......... 153, 241
Exposure comp. for flash ...........240
Exposure compensation............112
Exposure delay mode.................231
Exposure differential...................140
Exposure indicator......................... 78
Exposure lock ................................110
Exposure meters....................39, 227
Exposure program .......................315
External microphone ............. 61, 65
Eye-Fi upload.................................260

F
Face-priority AF .............................. 52
File naming.....................................216
File number sequence................230
Filter effects.................132, 133, 267
Fine-tune optimal exposure.....226
Fine-tuning white balance........117
Firmware version..........................260
Fisheye .............................................274
Flash..... 39, 143, 144, 148, 149, 292
Flash (White balance) .................115
Flash bracketing ................. 153, 241
Flash cntrl for built-in flash .......236
Flash compensation....................148
Flash mode ........................... 144, 145
Flash only (Auto bracketing set) ....
153, 241
Flash range .....................................147
Flash ready indicator.. 39, 149, 296
Flash shutter speed ........... 146, 235
Flash sync speed........234, 235, 327
Flash warning ................................231
Flexible program ............................ 75
Flicker reduction...........................252
Fluorescent (White balance) ....115
Fn button ......92, 149, 174, 242, 247
f-number ...........................73, 77, 288
Focal length.......................... 173, 291
Focal length scale........................... 25
Focal length scale index .............. 25
Focal plane mark ..........................103

Focus indicator............. 38, 102, 103

Focus lock .......................................102
Focus mode............................... 51, 97
Focus mode switch........25, 26, 103
Focus point..... 38, 52, 99, 101, 103,
222, 223
Focus point wrap-around .........222
Focus tracking ........................97, 222
Focus tracking with lock-on .....222
Focusing screen ............................327
Focus-mode selector ............. 51, 97
Format memory card...........31, 250
Frame interval (Slide show) ......213
Frame size/frame rate................... 65
Framing guides ........................ 55, 62
Front-curtain sync........................145
Full-frame playback.....................177
Full-time servo AF .......................... 51
FV lock..............................................149
FX (36 24) 1.0 ............................ 90
FX format.................................... 89, 90
FX-based movie format................ 63

G
GP-1......................................... 175, 298
GPS .......................................... 175, 183
GPS data ..........................................183
Green intensifier (Filter effects)......
267

H
H.264.................................................329
HDMI......................... 56, 64, 204, 332
HDMI mini-pin connector ..............2
HDMI-CEC .......................................205
Headphones.............................. 61, 62
Help..................................................... 18
Hi (Sensitivity) ...............................106
Hide image .....................................208
High definition.................... 204, 332
High Dynamic Range (HDR) .....139
High ISO NR....................................218
Highlights ............................. 180, 209
Histogram ....................180, 181, 209

I
Image area............ 26, 63, 89, 91, 95
Image comment ...........................253
Image Dust Off ref photo ..........251
Image overlay................................269
Image quality................................... 93
Image review ..............171, 177, 212
Image size ......................................... 95
Image type (Slide show) ............213
Incandescent (White balance).115
Index marking .................60, 68, 247

Index print ...................................... 199

In-focus indicator .........38, 102, 103
Information ................................9, 179
Information display.................9, 231
Interval timer shooting.............. 164
ISO display and adjustment ..... 229
ISO sensitivity .......................105, 107
ISO sensitivity settings ............... 107
ISO sensitivity step value .......... 224
i-TTL ............................... 143, 146, 237

J
JPEG .....................................................93
JPEG basic..........................................93
JPEG compression ..........................94
JPEG fine.............................................93
JPEG normal......................................93

L
L (large) ........................................63, 95
Landscape (Set Picture Control) ....
129
Language ................................. 27, 253
LCD illumination.......................2, 231
Lens..................2526, 172, 259, 285
Lens cap..............................................25
Lens focus ring................ 25, 55, 103
Lens mount .........................3, 26, 103
Live view.......................4956, 5764
Live view photography .................49
Live view selector.....................49, 57
Lo (Sensitivity)............................... 106
Lock mirror up for cleaning...... 303
Long exposure NR ....................... 218
Lossless compressed (Type)........94

M
M (medium) ................................63, 95
Main command dial .......................12
Manage Picture Control............. 134
Manual ...................................... 78, 103
Manual (Flash cntrl for built-in
flash) ............................................... 236
Manual focus .......................... 55, 103
Matrix ............................................... 109
Max. continuous release............ 230
Maximum aperture .. 103, 147, 296
Maximum sensitivity................... 107
MB-D14...... 232, 233, 247, 255, 297
MB-D14 battery type .................. 232
Memory buffer..........................38, 84
Memory card 29, 31, 250, 333, 334
Memory card capacity................ 334
Metering.......................................... 109
Microphone ................... 3, 61, 62, 65
Miniature effect ............................ 276

Minimum aperture ..................26, 73

Minimum shutter speed............ 107
Mired ................................................ 119
Mirror.................................. 85, 88, 303
Mirror up ................................ 6, 83, 88
Mode dial .............................................5
Mode dial lock release.....................5
Modeling flash .............................. 241
Monitor.....................46, 49, 177, 250
Monitor brightness...................... 250
Monitor cover.................................. 17
Monitor off delay.......................... 228
Monitor pre-flash ................146, 149
Monochrome........................129, 266
Movie live view ............ 57, 247248
Movie quality (Movie settings).. 65
Movie settings................................. 65
Movie-record button .................... 58
Movies............................. 57, 247248
Multiple exposure........................ 160
My Menu ......................................... 280

N
NEF (RAW)................93, 94, 216, 271
NEF (RAW) bit depth ..................... 94
NEF (RAW) processing................ 271
NEF (RAW) recording .................... 94
Neutral (Set Picture Control).... 129
Nikon Transfer 2...................193, 194
Non-CPU lens ............. 172, 285, 288
Non-CPU lens data ...................... 172
Normal-area AF............................... 52
Number of focus points............. 223
Number of shots........................... 336

O
OK button (shooting mode)..... 241
Optimal quality (JPEG
compression) ................................. 94
Optional flash .......................237, 292
Output resolution (HDMI)......... 205
Overflow (Role played by card in
Slot 2)................................................ 96
Overview data............................... 184

P
Page size (PictBridge) ................. 198
Perspective control...................... 275
Photo information ..............179, 209
PictBridge ..............................196, 332
Picture Controls ...................129, 131
Picture size...................................... 291
Pitching............................................ 258
Playback ................................... 46, 177
Playback display options........... 209
Playback folder ............................. 207

Playback information.........179, 209

Playback menu.............................. 207
Playback slot and folder ............ 178
Playback zoom.............................. 187
Portrait (Set Picture Control).... 129
Power connector.................297, 299
Power switch ......................................1
Predictive focus tracking............. 97
Preset manual (White balance)......
115, 121
Press the shutter-release button
all the way down ................... 38, 39
Press the shutter-release button
halfway...................................... 38, 39
Preview button .............77, 244, 248
Print (DPOF) ................................... 199
Print select...................................... 199
Printing ............................................196
Programmed auto ......................... 75
Protecting photographs............ 188

Q
Quick retouch................................ 273
Quick-response remote (Remote
control mode)................................ 85
Quiet shutter-release................6, 83

R
Rank items (My Menu) ............... 282
RAW Slot 1 - JPEG Slot 2 (Role
played by card in Slot 2) ............ 96
Rear-curtain sync ......................... 145
Recent settings ............................. 283
Red intensifier (Filter effects) ... 267
Red-eye correction ...................... 264
Red-eye reduction ..............144, 145
Release button to use dial ........ 246
Release mode ..............................6, 83
Release mode dial......................6, 83
Release mode dial lock release ...6,
83
Remote control...........6, 83, 85, 298
Remote control mode .................. 85
Remote cord .................... 79, 88, 298
Remote mirror-up (Remote
control mode)................................ 85
Remote on duration.................... 228
Remove items (My Menu)......... 281
Removing the lens from the
camera ............................................. 26
Repeating flash ............................. 236
Reset .............................. 151, 214, 221
Reset custom settings ................ 221
Reset shooting menu ................. 214
Reset user settings......................... 82
Resize................................................ 272

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339

Restoring default settings........151,

214, 221, 312
Retouch menu...............................261
Reverse indicators........................246
RGB.......................................... 180, 217
Role played by card in Slot 2...... 96
Rotate tall........................................212

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340

S (small)....................................... 63, 95
Save selected frame ............... 69, 72
Save user settings .......................... 81
Save/load settings .......................257
Saving camera settings..............257
Scene mode ..................................... 40
Screen tips ......................................229
SD memory card.....29, 31, 96, 333,
334
Select date...................191, 199, 208
Selective color ...............................277
Self-timer...................... 6, 83, 85, 227
Sensitivity.............................. 105, 107
Sepia (Monochrome) ..................266
Set Picture Control.......................129
Setup menu....................................249
Shade (White balance)...............115
Shooting data................................182
Shooting menu.............................214
Shutter speed ........................... 76, 78
Shutter-priority auto..................... 76
Shutter-release button 38, 39, 102,
110, 226, 248
Shutter-release button AE-L.....226
Side-by-side comparison ..........279
Single frame.................................6, 83
Single-point AF ......................99, 100
Single-servo AF...............51, 97, 221
Size ............................................... 63, 95
Size priority (JPEG compression)...
94
Skylight (Filter effects)................267
Slide show.......................................213
Slot ......................................30, 96, 178
Slot empty release lock..............246
Slow sync .............................. 144, 145
Smoothing......................................141
Soft (Filter effects)........................267
Speaker ............................................ 3, 4
Speedlight ......................................292
Spot...................................................109
sRGB..................................................217
Standard (Set Picture Control).129
Standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR
146
Standby timer............... 39, 175, 227
Start printing (PictBridge)198, 201

Storage folder................................215
Straighten .......................................274
Sub-command dial........................ 12
Subject-tracking AF....................... 52

T
Television ........................................204
Thumbnail playback ...................185
Time ..................................................253
Time stamp (PictBridge) ............198
Time zone.................................27, 253
Time zone and date..............27, 253
Time-lapse photography...........168
Timer..........................................85, 164
Toning .................................... 132, 133
Trim ...................................................265
Trimming movies ........................... 69
Tripod ....................................................3
Two-button reset .........................151
Type D lens ........................... 285, 287
Type G lens ........................... 285, 287

U
USB .......................................... 194, 196
USB cable .............................. 194, 196
Use GPS to set camera clock ....175
User settings .................................... 81
UTC ................................... 27, 175, 183

V
Vibration reduction mode switch .
25
Viewfinder..................8, 33, 297, 326
Viewfinder eyepiece...................... 86
Viewfinder eyepiece cap ............. 86
Viewfinder focus....................33, 297
Viewfinder grid display ..............229
ViewNX 2 ............................... 193, 217
Vignette control............................218
Virtual horizon....... 55, 62, 243, 258
Vivid (Set Picture Control).........129
Volume............................................... 67

W
Warm filter (Filter effects)..........267
WB............................................ 115, 156
WB bracketing (Auto bracketing
set) ......................................... 156, 241
White balance...................... 115, 156
Wide-area AF ................................... 52
Wireless mobile adapter............298

No reproduction in any form of this manual, in whole or in part (except for brief quotation
in critical articles or reviews), may be made without written authorization from NIKON
CORPORATION.

DIGITAL CAMERA

User's Manual

6MB15211-04

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