Nikon D5000 User manual

Je Revell
Snapshots to
Nikon D5000:
Great Shots
From

Nikon D5000: From Snapshots to Great Shots
Jeff Revell
Peachpit Press
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Berkeley, CA 94710
510/524-2178
510/524-2221 (fax)
Find us on the Web at www.peachpit.com
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Peachpit Press is a division of Pearson Education
Copyright © 2010 by Peachpit Press
All photography © Jeff Revell except where noted
Editor: Ted Waitt
Production Editor: Lisa Brazieal
Interior Design: Riezebos Holzbaur Design Group
Compositor: WolfsonDesign
Indexer: James Minkin
Cover Design: Aren Howell
Cover Image: Jeff Revell
Back Cover Author Photo: Scott Kelby
Notice of Rights
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of the publisher. For information on getting permission reprints and excerpts, contact permissions@
peachpit.com.
Notice of Liability
The information in this book is distributed on an “As Is” basis without warranty. While every precaution
has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor Peachpit shall have any liability
to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or
indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products
described in it.
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ISBN-13 978- 0-321-65943-9
ISBN-10 0-321-65943-0
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed and bound in the United States of America

DEDICATION
For Buck & Sharon
Thanks for being the best parents anyone could ever ask for.
You’re the best!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
You might not know it, but this book is not the book I planned on writing a few short months ago. I was
all set to begin writing about a completely different camera model when Nikon announced the D5000.
After seeing all the great features built into the camera, I knew that I had to make this model the subject
of my next book. As always, the great folks at Peachpit Press were 100% onboard and helped me move
my focus towards writing this book. With the help and guidance of my editor, Ted Waitt, I have been able
to take the thoughts and concepts about this camera and its relationship to the photographic process
and wrap it all up in a neat little package. Of course, there are numerous dedicated folks at Peachpit that
have helped me along the way like production editor Lisa Brazieal, product marketing manager Sara Jane
Todd, director of marketing Scott Cowlin, publisher Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel, and oh so many others in the
Peachpit family who make writing these books a much easier task.
I would also like to thank my friend Rich Harrington for some great advice he gave me about a year ago.
I was hosting a photowalk that Rich was attending, and we were discussing my first book that I was
writing at the time (the first in the Snapshots to Great Shots series). Rich, who is a fantastic author, told
me, “Just write, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Just get the thoughts on paper, and let your publisher
worry about everything else.” It seems so simple, but he was 100% right. That little snippet of advice
has served me well more than once.
Speaking of friends, it’s always great to have a few around to help keep you grounded, and I have many
who have no problems with that. Kevin B., Cyrus B., Russ K., Don S., Mike M., Matt K., Scott K., Kathy S.,
Dave M. (Hey you!), Rafael C., Debbie C., Rick T., Ricky L. (Moo), Ken C., Dan K., Dawn H., Tom M.,
Vinny V., and Pete S. I know I have left out many, and I will feel awful for forgetting once this has gone
to press, but you all know that I cherish our friendship, whether your name is on this page or not.
Finally, I couldn’t complete an acknowledgment section without paying some homage to my wonderful
family. To my sons, Alex and Matt, who not only provide me with inspiration and a neverending supply
of photo opportunities, but also for their support and patience during my writing efforts. They are my
greatest accomplishment and a constant source of joy and pride in my life. With neverending gratitude
for all my brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and all the support they give
me. And last but not least, to my wife, Suzanne, who has been the great love of my life for the past 17
years. She continues to be my greatest inspiration and my biggest supporter, and I could not function
without her.

Contents
INTRODUCTION X
CHAPTER 1: THE D5000 TOP TEN LIST 1
Ten Tips to Make Your Shooting More Productive
Right Out of the Box
Poring Over the Camera 2
Poring Over the Camera 4
1. Charge Your Battery 5
2. Adjust Your Auto Off Timer setting 6
3. Set Your JPEG Image Quality 7
4. Turn Off the Auto ISO Setting 9
5. Set Your Focus Point and Mode 11
6. Set the Correct White Balance 13
7. Set Your Color Space 15
8. Know How to Override Auto Focus 17
9. Review Your Shots 18
10. Hold Your Camera for Proper Shooting 23
Chapter 1 Assignments 25
CHAPTER 2: FIRST THINGS FIRST 27
A Few Things to Know and Do Before You Begin Taking Pictures
Poring Over the Picture 28
Poring Over the Picture 30
Choosing the Right Memory Card 32
Formatting Your Memory Card 32
Updating the D5000’s Firmware 34
Cleaning the Sensor 36
Using the Right Format: RAW vs. JPEG 37
Lenses and Focal Lengths 40
What is Exposure? 46
Motion and Depth of Field 49
Video and the D5000 51
Chapter 2 Assignments 57
CONTENTS v

CHAPTER 3: THE AUTO MODES 59
Get Shooting with the Automatic Camera Modes
Poring Over the Picture 60
Poring Over the Picture 62
Auto Mode 64
Portrait Mode 65
Landscape Mode 66
Close-up Mode 67
Sports Mode 69
Night Portrait Mode 70
Child Mode 71
Flash Off Mode 72
Scene Modes 73
Why You May Never Want to Use the Auto Modes Again 78
Chapter 3 Assignments 80
CHAPTER 4: THE PROFESSIONAL MODES 83
Taking Your Photography to the Next Level
Poring Over the Picture 84
Poring Over the Picture 86
P: Program Mode 88
S: Shutter Priority Mode 91
A: Aperture Priority Mode 95
M: Manual Mode 100
How I Shoot: A Closer Look at the Camera Settings I Use 103
Chapter 4 Assignments 107
CHAPTER 5: MOVING TARGET 111
The Tricks to Shooting Sports and More
Poring Over the Picture 112
Poring Over the Picture 114
Stop Right There! 116
Using Shutter Priority (S) Mode to Stop Motion 119
Using Aperture Priority (A) Mode to Isolate Your Subject 122
The ISO Sensitivity Auto Control Trick 123
Keep Them in Focus with Continuous-Servo Focus
and AF Focus Point Selection 125
Stop and Go with 3D-Tracking AF 127
vi NIKON D5000: FROM SNAPSHOTS TO GREAT SHOTS

Manual Focus for Anticipated Action 128
Keeping Up with the Continuous Shooting Mode 130
A Sense of Motion 132
Tips for Shooting Action 135
Chapter 5 Assignments 138
CHAPTER 6: SAY CHEESE! 141
Settings and Features to Make Great Portraits
Poring Over the Picture 142
Poring Over the Picture 144
Automatic Portrait Mode 146
Using Aperture Priority Mode 146
Metering Modes for Portraits 150
Using the AE-L (Auto Exposure Lock) Feature 151
Focusing: The Eyes Have It 152
Classic Black and White Portraits 154
The Portrait Picture Control for Better Skin Tones 157
Detect Faces with Live View 159
Use Fill Flash for Reducing Shadows 160
Portraits on the Move 163
Tips for Shooting Better Portraits 165
Chapter 6 Assignments 173
CHAPTER 7: LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY 175
Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get the Most Out of Your
Landscape Photography
Poring Over the Picture 176
Poring Over the Picture 178
Sharp and in Focus: Using Tripods 180
Selecting the Proper ISO 182
Using Noise Reduction 184
Selecting a White Balance 185
Using the Landscape Picture Control 188
Taming Bright Skies with Exposure Compensation 190
Shooting Beautiful Black and White Landscapes 192
The Golden Light 194
Where to Focus 196
Easier Focusing 198
CONTENTS vii

Making Water Fluid 200
Directing the Viewer: A Word About Composition 203
Advanced Techniques to Explore 208
Chapter 7 Assignments 216
CHAPTER 8: MOOD LIGHTING 219
Shooting When the Lights Get Low
Poring Over the Picture 220
Poring Over the Picture 222
Raising the ISO: The Simple Solution 224
Using Very High ISOs 226
Stabilizing the Situation 227
Focusing in Low Light 229
Shooting Long Exposures 232
Using the Built-In Flash 233
Compensating for the Flash Exposure 237
Reducing Red-Eye 238
Rear Curtain Sync 240
Flash and Glass 244
A Few Words about External Flash 244
Chapter 8 Assignments 245
CHAPTER 9: CREATIVE COMPOSITIONS 249
Improve Your Pictures with Sound Compositional Elements
Depth of Field 254
Angles 256
Point of View 257
Patterns 259
Color 259
Contrast 261
Leading Lines 262
Splitting the Frame 264
Frames within Frames 264
Chapter 9 Assignments 266
viii NIKON D5000: FROM SNAPSHOTS TO GREAT SHOTS

CHAPTER 10: ADVANCED TECHNIQUES 269
Impress Your Family and Friends
Poring Over the Picture 270
Poring Over the Picture 272
Spot Meter for More Exposure Control 274
Manual Mode 277
Avoiding Lens Flare 279
Bracketing Exposures 280
Macro Photography 283
Active D-Lighting 284
The My Menu Setting 286
Conclusion 288
Chapter 10 Assignments 289
INDEX 292
CONTENTS ix