Nikon D300 User manual

Nikon
DIGITAL CAMERA
Userls Manual

Where to Find It
Find what you're looking for from:
Know what you want to do but don't know the function name? Find it
from the "question and answer" index.
Find items by function or menu name.
AbriefgUide forthose
who want to get started taking pictures right away.
Search by key word.
If awarning is displayed in the viewfinder or monitor, find the solution
here.
Camera behaving unexpectedly? Find the solution here.
Digitutor
Digitutor, aseries of "watch and learn" manuals in movieform, is available
from the following website:
http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html

Package Contents
Be sure all items listed here were included with your camera.
Memory cards aresoldseparately.
•D300 digital camera (pg. 3)
•Body cap (pp. 34, 367)
•BM-8
LCD monitor cover (pg. 19)
•
DK-S eyepiece cap (pg. 20)
•
EN-EL3e rechargeable Li-ion battery with terminal cover (pp. 30,
32)
•MH-18a
quick charger with power cable (pg. 30)
•
UC-E4 USB cable (pp. 224, 232)
•
EG-D1 00 video cable (pg. 242)
•AN-D300 strap (pg.
19)
•Warranty
• User's Manual (this guide)
•QuickGuide
•Software Installation Guide
•Software Suite CD-ROM
•Registration card
(U. S. A. only)

..
II
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.
BThis icon marks notes; information that should be read before
using the camera.
Menu items, options, and messages displayed in the camera monitor
are shown in brackets ([ J).
&Trademark Information
Macintosh, Mac as, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple
Inc. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are either registered
trademarks, ortrademarks
of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries. CompactFlash
is atrademark of SanDisk
Corporation. Microdrive
is atrademark of Hitachi Global Storage
Technologies in the United States and other countries. All othertrade
names mentioned in this manual orthe other documentation provided
with your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.

ID):i()()
;a Introduction
•
IZI Tutorial
•
~ Image Recording Options
•
III Focus
•
II Release Mode
•
IE ISO Sensitivity
•
m Exposure
•
lEl White Balance
•
Ifi) Image Enhancement
•
o Flash Photography
•
r3 Other Shooting Options
•
iii More About Playback
•
_ Connections
•
Iii] Menu Guide
•
~ Technical Notes
•
III

Q&Alndex
Find what you're looking for using this II ques tion and answer"
index.
II New Features
371
327
270
79
148
168
Seepage
59
Key phrase
AF fine tune
3D-tracking
Active D-Lighting
14-bit
NEF (RAW)
................................................................................
Question
How do Itake high-quality NEF (RAW)
photos?
•• ._ •• _ •••• v_~ •••••• ~....... • •••••••••••• ~ ••. __ 0. , •• ._
Can I use the monitor as aviewfinder? Live view
......................................................······························c.·,·······<,··········· :
Can Icontrol how photos are prc)cesse~a7 Picture Controls
~-- .. . ', , ..
How do Ipreserve details in shadows a
highlights?
.. - .. -_ _-,_ _ .. ~ _ _ .
How do Ifocus on erratically moving
subjects?
Can Iadjust focus separately for different
lenses?
...... ~ _.; ~ .. _ ~ + .
How do Iremove dust the 1r\\A.'_n.:>cc Cleaning the low-pass
filter protecting the image sensor? filter
II Camera Setup
Question Key phrase
Seepage
How do Ifocus the v;evvfinder? Viewfinder focus 43
How
do Ikeep the monitor from turning
Monitor off delay 280
off?
How
do Ikeep the shutter speed and Auto meter
off 46,279
aperture displays from
turning off?
......_ ............................. ·_····"·v···,,,··
.
IV

Question
Key phrase
See page
How do Iset the clock?
How do Iset the clock for daylight
savings time? World
time
36,316
How do Ichange time zones when I
travel?
How do Iadjust monitor brightness for
LCD brightness 313
menus
or playback?
How do Irestore default settings?
Two-button reset
•
184
How do Irestore shooting menu Reset shooting menu •
defaults? 257
How do Irestore Custom Setting
Reset custom settings 266
defaults?
How do Ichange the self-timer delay? mer delay 280
How do I turn the speaker Beep
281
Can Ireverse the electronic analog ·
Reverse indicators
311
exposure display?
Can Idisplay the menus in a different
Language 316
language?
Can I save menu settings fo use on aSave/load settings 325
different
0300 camera?
II Menus and Displays
Question
Key phrase See page
H d It· r -~:~~
ow 0ge more IIIIUlllldllUII on aHelp
29
menu?
How do Iuse the menus? Using
th menus 24
What dthese indicators mean? Viewfinder, control
What
illlUlllldliun is in th ::ihuudng panel, shooting
8, 10, 12
information display? information display
What does this warning mean? Error messages and 388
displays
How much charge does the battery have Battery level 44
left? I
v

Battery info
Cleaning
the camera
File
number sequence
370
283
322
Question
",' ,_, ., w'_, 'w._ · .. _'., .. ,_ .. __ .. _'. " .. " ' '.'w.... ,~._ w'.·, · ··,4,., __ .' ,..
How do I get more information about
battery?
..................................." · .. •• ..· · .. c···· •w .. • _ •• , •••• , .••• , , ;........ ' .
How do Ikeep the Ie number from
being reset when Iinsert a
new memory
card? .',.., ".. "
How do Ireset file numbering to zero?
",, __ ,'" ..... _ .... __ ._.,, __ , __ •.. _ .. ,... '.",,"H' •••• _. ,,_~ .... _ .... _
How do Iclean the camera or lens?
II Taking Photographs
74
98
61
108
56,60
." .•• y .
76,282
91
96
See page
45
Shooting speed
Self-timer
mode
ISO sensitivity
:
Release mode
,remaining
llmage quality and size
How do Ifreeze or blur moving objects?
....... - - --........•................. -.- ...................•.......
Question Key phrase
How many more shots can Itake with this Number exposures
card?
How
do Itake bigger photographs?
•• " ••••••••••••••• _. ~ •••••••• '_"._._._,_.~ __ ._, __ ••• ..- ••• - ••••• " ',~~w- • __ ~· - •• ".
How can I get more photos on the
memory card?
.........................
Can Icontrol how the camera focuses? Autofocus
. . . - - .. - - .
How do Itake a lot of photographs
quickly?
.... ,._ ... _._. __ .... -N~',. Y~'WV_'
Can Ichange the frame advance rate?
Can Ishoot aself-portrait?
..... - _-- -.
Can Itake pictures under low light
without the flash?
....................................... ,.............. ", , ", , , , ..
Can the ISO sensitivity Ichoose be ISO sensitivity auto
adjusted
to ensure optimal exposure? control
•• "'~~ .••••.. ~ __ ~_. , ._.~~. __ • ·· .. n __ ~~_'~._ •• _._._ •• •• ~. , , -. ,w , ••• " _ _" _-. ~,,_ .. __ . .• __
Exposure mode 5
(shutter-priority auto)
How
do Iblur background details or keep Exposure
mode A
both foreground and background in 109
focus? (aperture-priority auto)
.... , _...... , , , , , , , ,, , , ,.
.
VI

Question
Key phrase See page
Can Iset both shutterspeed and aperture Exposure
mode 11
111
manually? (manual)
Can Imake fJhUlU::> brigh or darker?
.•........................•.....• y." ............
Exposure compensation 116
•• ~~< •• " •• ~ •••• " .... ', ••••••••••••• " •••• ~ •.••• ""---. •••.•.•• , •• ,,, •••••••
'.
,--
How do Imake a time exposure? Long time-exposures 113
Can Ivary exposure or fI, ;h level Exposure and flash 119,298
automatically over aseries of photos? bracketing
Can Icreate multiple copies of a photo
White balance 123,298
using different white balance settings? bracketing
.. , .••..... , •.•..•••..• ·······.····,,·· __ ·'v··.· .. ··············•· •••• v .. ,~ •••. ~ •• ·,.. >_· .... ·_.·._ •• ·- •• "w .. '"' .••••.••.•.•••. , ...... _ ...... , .. ~._.~.~~.~~ .•. " .............
....,...... _~._.~"'- ...... ~'.~ ., .... -, ......
_._ ... _........ '~
How do Iadjust white balance? White balance 127
:h afl
;h?
~' .. , ~,,~ .. ~_.
.... " .. ,-.-
Can Itake pictures Flash photography,flash 173
mode, red-eye
....... _--_ •.. .-' ...•...
How can Ireduce "red-eye"? 176
reduction
·····.A.· __ •
············~·_·· .. ·.··_·._v
............ '" ....... ~ ... ···,,············ __ ··_······· .. ·······~·"'_·,,···,·w··_· .. ·.......• ······················w·" " ... "....,.............
-- '"
. ....... _~--~---~~---._._.-~. ..
How can Irecord multiple shots as a
Multiple exposure 186
single photograph?
Can Ipick the standard exposure level? Fine
tune optimal
277
exposure
How can Ireduce blur? Exposure delay
mode
285
Can the flash hused at shutter speeds
Flash sync speed 288
faster than 11250 s?
.... .. d.·."_·..... -. ......
II Viewing Photographs
Question
Key phrase See page
Can I view my photographs on the
Camera playback 206
camera?
Can I view more information about
Photo info 208
photos?
Why
do parts of my photos blink? •Photo info, highlights 209,250
..
VII

252
250
251
249
250
221
220
248
See page
222
..... - .:,.., .
Slide show
Protect
.Playback zoom
Key phrase
:Deleting individual
,photos
Delete
Question
...................................... ---.--- _-.- , .. -.-_ ..
Can I view photos as they are taken?
..... __ ~ ... .. ""·v ...... "'_. __ ~ ...... ~ .. " ~ .... ,,.y, ... ._, ... _~. y--.
Is there an automatic playback ("slide
show") option?
How do Itell where the camera focused?
••••••••• , •• ~ ••••••••••• '.'''''' ·A~ .. ··.. • " , _. • •
Can Idelete several photos at once?
. ~....... . ~ .. " ~ _-._-_ ~_ ~ -.-.- .. ~ ".
Can Izoom in on pictures to make sure
they're in focus?
......... .. .. .. ".. .. .... _.- ....
Can I protect photos from accidental
deletion?
................................................... ~-.- - -.y ..
Can Ihide selected photos? Hide image
........................
How do Itell if parts of myphotos may be Display mode:
overexposed? :highlights
Display mode: focus
point
Image review
How do I get rid of an unwanted photo?
II Retouching Photographs
-----.~y~---
Question Key phrase Seepage
How do Ibring out details in shaduw:)7 D-Lighting 334
,
............................. ~ ..........".............................. ,.... ---~ ............ _- .. ... - .... _-- ........... ..................... ~ ................... ~ ...•... _....
._ .. - ..
Can I get rid of red eye? Red-eye correction 335
Can Icrop photographs on the camera? Trim ,336
.......
. ................................
Can Icreate a monochrome copy of a
Monochrome
337
photograph?
_A _~_ • ... J_____ ·_~ •• _· _______ ,_v .. ·, .... ,_,~_ ..
Filter effeLl:>
~-~--~.~~"
Can Icreate acopy with different colors? 338
.- ~.,_.,,_ ,·~··, ___ · ..... ~·""'~. ____ y·"·.....,... A· __ .y·~_r·._
Can Iuse the camera to create JPEG
Color balance 338
copies of NEF (RAW) photographs?
.................. -..........- ...........
..........................- .......... - ..........
Can Ioverlay two photos to make asingle Image overlay 339
image?
viii

II Viewing or Printing Photographs on Other Devices
Question
Key phrase
See page
Can I view my photos on TV?
Tt:~v-~.;)~o" playback 242
Can I view my photos in High Definition? HDMI 244
How do Icopy photos to my computer? Connecting
to a224
computer
How do I print photographs? Printing photographs 230
-~,~-~._. ..._-- ........... _-~--~-----~-- .
Can I print photos without acomputer? Printing via
USB
231
Can I print the date on my photographs? Time stamp 234
How do Iorder professional prints? Print set
(DPOF) 240
II Optional Accessories
369
364
H··········rApprovedmem·() ryH'H"
cards
What
memory cards can I use?
~=--~-~_~,~~~~:_-~~~:~~.~~~~~~~~~~!~~~~~.-=~:"=:~'~:~:~=~~'.::·::~~=J=·~~"~::~~=~ey'p~~~!~:.:~_:~~-~::_~.~-_=I~~_!~.!~~?~:~
What optional flash units (Speedlights) . . 357
,Optional flash units
can I
use?
... ,,+"'~.~-~._._._ , .. - -
"wh"at"iens'es'''can fuseT······· .. ·,,·.·······.··,,· .. · .. ----·.;-·C·oin pa'tT5Te lenses····"········ 350
.~ ~_~.~_.·'A~· .••_ _~~._.~_~<.,_~ .. ·_ __ •. "._~. __ '" ..•' __ ~_"_ ~_. __ ,~ .. ~,, .• _., __ ,_ .. +".Y"'_.,.~~~ ,.~~~, .. _ .. ,Y.','=~nA.~.~ . ..,. "N.,.,.~~.w,~_ ,~." .....,........,."' '" _,...,.'"'.w~~_. __ A ~._, ,.¥~, .•.. " ~~"~".,
What AC adapters, remote cords, and
viewfinder accessories are available for • Other accessories
my camera?
..............................................................................................
What software is available for my
camera?
Other accessories
367
.
IX

Table of Contents
Q&A Index iv
For Your Safety xviii
N. .
otlces XXI
Introduction 1
Overview 2
Getting to Know the Camera .3
Camera Body 3
The
Control Panel 8
The Viewfinder Display 10
The Shooting Information Display 12
The Command Dials 14
Quick Start Guide 21
Tutorial
23
x
Camera Menus 24
Using Camera Menus 26
Help 29
First Steps 30
Charge the Battery 30
Insert
the Battery 32
Attach aLens 34
Basic Setup 36
Insert a Memory Card 39
Adjust Viewfinder Focus .43
Basic Photography and Playback 44
Image Recording Options SS
Image QuaI ity 56
Image Size 60

Focus 61
Focus Mode 62
AF-Area Mode 64
Focus Point Selection 66
Focus Lock 68
Manual Focus
71
Release Mode 73
Choosing aRelease Mode 74
Continuous Mode 76
Framing Pictures in the Monitor (Live View) 79
Self-Timer Mode 91
Mirror up Mode 93
ISO Sensitivity 9S
Choosing ISO Sensitivity Manually 96
Auto ISO Sensitivity Control 98
Exposure
101
Metering 102
Exposure Mode 104
P: Programmed Auto 106
5: Shutter-Priority Auto 108
R: Aperture-Priority Auto 109
M: Manual 111
Autoexposure (AE) Lock 114
Exposure Compensation 116
Bracketing 118
.
XI

White Balance
127
White Balance Options 128
Fine-Tuning White Balance
131
Choosing aColor Temperature 135
Preset Manual 136
Image Enhancement 147
Picture Controls 148
Creating Custom Picture Controls 156
Active D-Lighting 167
Color Space 169
Flash Photography 171
The Built-in Flash 172
Using
the Built-in Flash 173
Flash Modes 176
Flash Compensation 178
FV Lock 180
Other Shooting Options
183
..
XII
Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default Settings 184
Multi pie Exposu re 186
Interval Timer Photography 191
Non-CPU Lenses 198
Using a
GPS Unit 201

More About Playback 205
Full-Frame Playback 206
Photo Information 208
Viewing Multiple Images: Thumbnail Playback 218
Taking aCloser Look: Playback Zoom 220
Protecting Photographs
from Deletion 221
Deleting Individual Photographs 222
Connections
223
Connecting to a Computer 224
Direct USB Connection 226
Wireless
and Ethernet Networks 229
Printing Photographs 230
Direct USB Connection 231
Viewing Photographs on TV 242
Standard Definition Devices 242
High-Definition Devices 244
Menu Guide
245
IE The Playback Menu: Managing Images 246
Delete 248
Playback Folder 249
Hide Image 249
Display
Mode 250
Image Review
251
After Delete 251
Rotate Tall 251
Slide Show 252
Print Set (DPOF) 253
XIII

.
XIV
QThe Shooting Menu: Shooting Options 254
Shooting Menu Bank 255
Reset
Shooting Menu 257
Active Folder 258
File
Naming 260
Image Quality 260
Image
Size 260
JPEG Compression 260
NEF (RAW) Recording 261
White Balance 261
Set Picture Control.. 261
Manage Picture Control 261
Color Space 261
Active D-Lig hti ng 261
Long Exp. NR (Long Exposure Noise Reduction) 262
High
ISO NR 263
ISO Sensitivity Settings 263
Live View 263
Multiple Exposure 263
Interval
Timer Shooting 263
&? Custom Settings: Fine-Tuning Camera Settings 264
Custom Setting Bank 266
Reset Custom Settings 266
a: Autofocus 267
a1:
AF-C Priority Selection 267
a2:
AF-S Priority Selection 268
a3: Dynamic
AF Area 269
a4: Focus Tracking with Lock-On 270
as:
AF Activation 271
a6: AF Point Illumination 271
a7: Focus Point Wrap-Around 272
a8: AF point selection 272
a9: Built-in AF-assist illuminator 273
a10: AF-On
for MB-D1 0274
b: Metering/Exposure 275 .
b
1: ISO Sensitivity Step Value 275
b2:
EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl.. 275
b3: Exp Comp/FineTune 275

b4: Easy Exposure Compensation 276
b5: Center-Weighted Area 277
b6: Fine Tune Optimal Exposure 277
c: Timers/ AE Lock 279
c1: Shutter-Release Button AE-L 279
c2:
Auto Meter-off Delay 279
c3: Self-Timer Delay 280
c4:
Monitor off Delay 280
d: Shooting/Display
281
d 1: Beep 281
d2: Viewfinder Grid Display 281
d3: Viewfinder Warning Display 282
d4:
CL Mode Shooting Speed 282
d5: Max. Continuous Release 282
d6: File
Number Sequence 283
d7: Shooting Info Display 284
d8:
LCD Illumination 285
d9: Exposure Delay
Mode 285
d10: MB-D10 BatteryType 285
d11: Battery Order 287
e: Bracketing/Flash 288
e1: Flash Sync Speed 288
e2: Flash Shutter Speed
291
e3: Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash 291
e4: Modeling Flash 298
e5:
Auto Bracketing Set 298
e6:
Auto Bracketing (Mode M) 299
e7: Bracketing Order 300
f: Controls 301
f1: Multi Selector Center Button 301
f2: Multi Selector 302
f3: Photo Info/Playback 302
f4: Assign
FUNC. Button 303
f5: Assign Preview Button .306
f6: Assign AE-L/AF-L
Button .307
f7: Customize Command Dials 308
f8: Release Button
to Use Dial 309
f9: No
Memory Card? 310
flO: Reverse Indicators .311
xv

.
XVI
yThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup 312
Format MemoryCard 313
LCD Brightness 313
Clean Image Sensor 314
Lock Mirror
up for Cleaning 314
Video
Mode 314
HDMI 315
World Time 316
Language 316
Image
Comment 317
Auto Image Rotation 318
USB 319
Dust
off Ref Photo 319
Battery Info 322
Wireless Transmitter 323
Image Authentication 324
Save/Load Settings 325
GPS 326
Non-CPU Lens Data 327
AF Fine Tune 327
Firmware Version 328
IQj The Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies 329
D-Lighting 334
Red-Eye Correction 335
Trim 336
Monochrome 337
Filter Effects 338
Color Balance 338
Image Overlay 339
Side-by-Side Comparison 342
~ My Menu: Creating aCustom Menu 344

Technical Notes
349
Compatible Lenses 350
Optional Flash Units (Speedlights) 357
Othe rAccessories 364
Caring
for the Camera 370
Storage 370
Cleaning 370
The Low-Pass Filter
371
IIClean Now
ll
371
IIClean at Startup/Shutdown" 372
Manual Cleaning 374
Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions 377
Troubleshooting 381
Error Messages 388
Appendix 396
Specifications 406
Index 416
..
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:
!~ .. . _. . .- . ...
ill If\. This icon marks warnings. To prevent possible injury, read all
I ~ warnings before using this Nikon product.
Ii
1<--
II WARNINGS
6 Keep the sun out of the frame
Keep the sun well out of theframe
when shooting backlit subjects.
Sunlightfocused intothe camera
when the
sun is in or close to the
frame could
cause afire.
6 Do not look atthe sun through the
viewfinder
Viewing the sun or other strong
light source through the
viewfinder could
cause
permanent visual impairment.
& Using the viewfinder diopter control
When operating the viewfinder
dioptercontrol with your
eye to
the viewfinder, care should be
taken
not to put your finger in
your
eye accidentally.
XVIII
& 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 aNikon-
authorized service center for
inspection.
& Do not disassemble
Touching the product's 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 afall or other accident, remove
the battery and/or
AC adapter
and then take the product
to a
Nikon-authorized service center
for inspection.