Nikon D300 User manual

Nikon
DIGITAL CAMERA
)(
User's Manual

Exposure
- Controlling How the Camera Sets Exposure
This section describes the options available to control exposure,
including metering, exposure mode, exposure lock, exposure
com pensation, and bracketing.
Metering ......................................................................... pg. 100
Exposure Mode .............................................................. pg. 102
P: Programmed Auto ...................................................................pg. 104
E_:Shutter-Priority Auto ..............................................................pg. 106
Ft:Aperture-Priority Auto ...........................................................pg. 107
11:Manual .........................................................................................pg. 109
Autoexposure (AE) Lock ............................................... pg. 112
Exposure Compensation .............................................. pg. 114
Bracketing ....................................................................... pg. 116
99

Metering determines how the camera sets exposure. The
following options are available:
Method Description
Recommended in most situations. Camera meters a wide area
of the frame and sets exposure according to distribution of
3D color
matrix II brightness, color, distance, and composition for natural
results.
Camera meters entire frame but assigns
greatest weight to area in center of
_3 frame (defaults to 8-ram circle in center
Center- ofviewfinder; if CPU lens is attached,
weighted area can be selected using Custom
Setting b5, [Center-weighted area],
pg. 277). Classic meter for portraits, i Center weight area 2
Camera meters circle 3 mm (0.12 in.) in
diameter (approximately 2% of frame).
Circle is centered on current focus
point, making it possible to meter off-
_3 center subjects (if non-CPU lens is used
Spot or if Auto-area AF is in effect (pg. 64),
camera will meter center focus point). Spot metering
Ensures that subject will be correctly area 2
exposed, even when background is
much brighter or darker, i
I For improved precision with non-CPU lenses, specify lens focal length and
maximum aperture in [Non-CPU lens data] menu (pg. 197).
2 Metered area is not actually displayed in viewfinder.
100

To choose a metering method,
rotate the metering selector until
the desired mode is displayed.
Metering selector
%
%
[] 3D Color Matrix II Metering
In matrix metering, exposure is set using a 1,005-segment RGB sensor.
Use a type G or D lens for results that include range information (3D color
matrix metering II;see page 352 for information on lens types). With other
CPU lenses, 3D range information is not included (color matrix metering
II). Color matrix metering is available when focal length and maximum
aperture of non-CPU lens are specified using [Non-CPU lens data] item in
setup menu (see page 197; center-weighted metering is used if focal
length or aperture is not specified).
[] See Also
For information on choosing the size of the area assigned the greatest
weight in center-weighted metering, see Custom Setting b5 ([Center-
weighted area], pg. 277). For information on making separate
adjustments to optimal exposure for each metering method, see Custom
Setting b6 ([Fine tune optimal exposure], pg. 277). 101

Exposure mode determines how the camera sets shutter speed
and aperture when adjusting exposure. Four modes are available:
programmed auto (P), shutter-priority auto (,S), aperture-priority
auto (sq),and manual (M).
Mode Description
Programmed
Pauto
(pg. 104)
Shutter-priority
.5 auto
(pg. 106)
Aperture-
priority auto
(pg. 107)
Manual
!I (pg. 109)
Camera sets shutter speed and aperture for
optimal exposure. Recommended for snapshots
and in other situations in which there is little time
to adjust camera settings.
User chooses shutter speed; camera selects
aperture for best results. Use to freeze or blur
motion.
User chooses aperture; camera selects shutter
speed for best results. Use to blur background for
portraits or bring both foreground and
background into focus for landscape shots.
User controls both shutter speed and aperture.
Set shutter speed to "bu I_b" for long time-
exposures.
[] LensTypes
When using a CPUlensequipped with an aperture ring (pg. 352), lock the
aperture ring at the minimum aperture (highest f-number). Type Glenses
are not equipped with an aperture ring.
Non-CPU lenses can only be used in exposure mode A (aperture-priority
auto) and !I (manual). In other modes, exposure mode A is automatically
selected when a non-CPU lens is attached. The exposure mode indicator
(P or .S)in the control panel will blink and A will be displayed in the
viewfinden
102

To choose the exposure mode, press the IVlODE
button and rotate the main command dial
until the desired mode is displayed in the
control panel or viewfinder.
MODEbutton
Main 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 Pand .5) or the value
chosen by the user (modes .qand !I), allowing
depth of field to be previewed in the viewfinder.
Preview button
[] Custom Setting e4--Modeling Flash
This setting controls whether the built-in flash and the SB-900, SB-800,
SB-600, SB-R200, and other optional flash units that support the Creative
Lighting System (CLS; see page 357) will emit a modeling flash when the
depth-of-field preview button is pressed. See page 297 for more
information.
[] See Also
See page 96 for information on auto ISO sensitivity control. For
information on using the [Long exp. NR] option in the shooting menu for
reducing noise at slow shutter speeds, see page 262. For information on
choosing the size of the increments available for shutter speed and
aperture, see Custom Setting b2 ([EV steps for exposure cntrl.], pg. 275).
For information on changing the roles of the main and sub-command
dials, see Custom Setting f7 ([Customize command dials] > [Change main/
sub], pg. 307). 103

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. To take
photographs in programmed auto:
1MODEbutton
Select exposure mode P.
Press the MODEbutton and rotate the
main command dial until Pisdisplayed
in the viewfinder and control panel.
|Main command dial
2Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
Shutter speed: 1/320 S
Aperture: f/9
104

[] Flexible Program
In exposure mode P, different combinations of
shutter speed and aperture can be selected by
rotating the main command dial ("flexible
program"). Rotate the command dial to the right
for large apertures (small f-numbers) that blur
background details or fast shutter speeds that
"freeze" motion. Rotate the command dial to the Main command dial
left for small apertures (large f-numbers) that
increase depth of field or slow shutter speeds that
urmotioncom inationsoro ucetho me
exposure. While flexible program isin effect, an
asterisk ("*") appears in the control panel. To [_ [restore default shutter speed and aperture C • _A IS_{_]
settings, rotate the command dial until the
asterisk is no longer displayed, choose another mode, or turn the camera
off.
Shutter speed: 1/2,500 S Shutter speed: 1/60 S
Aperture: f/2.8 Aperture: f/22
[] See Also
See page 407 for information on the built-in exposure program.
105

.'3: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. To take photographs in shutter-priority auto:
1Select exposure mode MODEbutton
S.
Press the MODEbutton and
rotate the main command
dial until ,.qis displayed in
the viewfinder and
control panel. Main command dial
125 F5.6 }
2Choose a shutter speed.
Rotate the main command dial to
choose the desired shutter speed.
Shutter speed can be set to "x 2So" or
to values between 30 s (3o") and
1/8,000s (Booo). Use slow shutter speeds to suggest motion by
blurring moving objects, high shutter speeds to "freeze"
motion.
Slow shutter speed (I/6 S)Fast shutter speed (1/1,600 S)
3Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
[] See Also
See page 393 for information on what to do if flashing "_,u [b" indicator
appears in the shutter-speed displays.
106

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. To take photographs in aperture-priority auto:
1Select exposure MODEbutton
mode A.
Press the MODEbutton
and rotate the main
command dial until ,qis
displayed in the
viewfinder and control
panel.
/
Main command dial
F5.6 ]
2
Choose an aperture. __
Rotate the sub- __-_%7_
command dial to _ _ I_ '----" _"_I
choose the desired /' _°;_...... [_C. _ [5_] J
aperture from values _ _ I_J
between the minimum Sub-command dial
and maximum for the
lens. Small apertures (high f-numbers) increase depth of field
(see page 103), bringing both foreground and background
into focus. Large apertures (low f-numbers) soften
background details in portraits or other compositions that
emphasize the main subject.
Small aperture (f/36) Large aperture (f/2.8)
107