Nikon D300 User manual

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Table of Contents
Buttons and Dials...................................... 3
The Command Dials.................................. 6
Release Mode .......................................... 11
Using the Flash........................................ 12
Live View.................................................. 14
gHand-Held...................................................... 14
hTripod............................................................... 16
Picture Controls ...................................... 18
Custom Picture Controls................................ 20
The Fn Button.......................................... 22
Guides and Tips....................................... 23
Help ....................................................................... 23
Formatting Memory Cards............................ 23
Two-Button Reset:
Restoring Default Settings........................ 23
Menu Guide ............................................. 24
DPLAYBACK MENU........................................ 24
CSHOOTING MENU....................................... 25
ACUSTOM SETTING MENU......................... 28
BSETUP MENU ................................................. 37
NRETOUCH MENU.......................................... 40
OMY MENU........................................................ 40

3
Buttons and Dials
Depth-of-field preview button
Preview depth of field.
Focus-mode selector
Modes S and C (autofocus)
The camera focuses using autofocus (AF) when shutter-release
button is pressed halfway.
In mode S(single-servo AF), focus locks
when the camera focuses.
In mode C(continuous-servo AF), the
camera continues to adjust focus until the shutter is released
(pg. 28).
Mode M (manual)
Focus is adjusted manually using the lens focusing ring.

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Buttons and Dials
K(playback) button
View photographs in the monitor (pg. 24).
R(info) button
Display the focus point, shutter
speed, and other shooting
information in the monitor (pg. 33).
AF-area mode selector
Choose how the camera selects the focus point for
autofocus.
HAuto-area AF
The camera automatically detects the subject and selects the
focus point.
IDynamic-area AF
The user selects the focus point with the multi selector (if focus
selection is locked, rotate the focus selector lock to I). If the
subject briefly leaves the selected focus point in focus mode C
(pg. 3), the camera will focus based on information from
surrounding focus points (pg. 28).
KSingle-area AF (default)
The user selects the focus point with the multi selector (if focus
selection is locked, rotate the focus selector lock to I); the
camera focuses on the subject in the selected focus point only.
Focus point
X(playback zoom in)/
W(thumbnail/playback zoom out) button
During playback, press the Xbutton to zoom in. When the
image is zoomed in, press the Wbutton to zoom out.

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Metering selector
Rotate the metering selector to choose a
metering method.
ZCenter-weighted (pg. 30)
Assigns the greatest weight to the center
of the frame.
aMatrix
Meters most of the frame.
bSpot
Meters the selected focus point.
Diopter adjustment control
Rotate until the display in the
viewfinder is in focus.
O(delete) button
(pg. 24)

6
The Command Dials
The settings that can be adjusted by pressing a button and
rotating a command dial are listed below.
Main command
dial
Sub-command
dial
Control Panel

7
Adjust flash
compensation
Choose flash mode
Select bracketing
exposure increment
Activate or cancel
bracketing/select
number of shots in
bracketing sequence

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The Command Dials
Choose an image
size*
Set image quality*
Fine-tune white
balance*/Set color
temperature*/Choose
a white balance
preset*
Choose a white
balance setting*
Set ISO sensitivity*

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* Can also be adjusted from the shooting menu (pg. 25).
Choose the
exposure mode
eProgrammed Auto
fShutter-Priority Auto
gAperture-Priority Auto
hManual
Set exposure
compensation

The Command Dials
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Once the exposure mode has been selected, the following
settings can be adjusted by rotating the command dials (pg.
9).
e
Choose a
combination of
aperture and
shutter speed
fChoose a shutter
speed
gChoose an aperture
hChoose an aperture
hChoose a shutter
speed

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Release Mode
Choose from the following six release
modes. To choose a release mode, press
the release mode dial lock release and
rotate the release mode dial.
Mode Description
Single frame
One photograph is taken each
time the shutter-release button
is pressed.
Continuous
low speed
The camera takes photographs
at a slow rate while the shutter-
release button is pressed.
Continuous
high speed
The camera takes photographs
at a fast rate while the shutter-
release button is pressed.
Live view Frame photographs in the
monitor (pg. 14).
Self-timer Take pictures with the self-
timer.
Mirror up Raise the mirror before taking
photographs.

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Using the Flash
Raise the flash.
Press the flash pop-up button.
The built-in flash will pop up
and begin charging.
When the
flash is fully charged, the flash-
ready indicator (c) will light.
Choose a flash mode.
Press the Mbutton and rotate the main command dial
until the desired flash mode icon is displayed in the
control panel.
Flash pop-up button
1
2
Control panelMain command
dial
Mbutton
Display Mode Display Mode
Front-curtain
sync Slow sync
Red-eye
reduction Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye
reduction with
slow sync

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Take pictures.
You should be at least 60cm (2 ft.) from your subject
when using the flash.
If the flash is raised in continuous
low speed (CL) or continuous high speed (CH) release
modes, only one photograph will be taken each time
the shutter-release button is pressed.
To preview the effects of the flash,
press the depth-of-field preview
button. The camera will emit a
modeling preflash (pg. 35).
Lower the flash.
Press the flash gently downward
until it clicks into place.
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4
Flash Sync Speed
If [1/320 s (Auto FP)] is selected for Custom Setting e1 ([Flash
sync speed], pg. 34), the built-in flash and optional SB-800,
SB-600, and SB-R200 flash units can be used at shutter speeds
as fast as 1/320 s.
Shutter speed [Flash sync speed] set to [1/320 s (Auto FP)]
Built-in flash Optional flash unit
1/8,000–1/320 s — Auto FP
1/320–30 s Flash sync

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Live View
gHand-Held
Choose [Hand-held] mode.
Press the release mode dial lock
release and rotate the release mode
dial to a(live view).
In the shooting menu, select [Hand-
held] for [Live view] > [Live view
mode]. The [Release mode] option in
the [Live view] menu can be used to
choose from single frame and
continuous release modes.
Display the view through the lens in the monitor.
Press the shutter-release button all the
way down.
The view through the lens
will be displayed in the monitor.
1
2
Frame the photograph in the monitor.

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Focus.
While framing the photograph in the
monitor, press the shutter-release
button halfway or press one of the
Bbuttons.
The mirror will click down, the monitor
will turn off, and the camera will focus.
Check the composition and shoot.
Release the shutter-release or B
button and check the composition in
the monitor.
Press the shutter-release button all the
way down to shoot.
You will hear two
clicks as the mirror drops into place
and the shutter is released.
3
or
4

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Live View
hTripod
Choose [Tripod] mode.
Press the release mode dial lock
release and rotate the release mode
dial to a(live view).
In the shooting menu, select [Tripod]
for [Live view] > [Live view mode]. The
[Release mode] option in the [Live
view] menu can be used to choose
from single frame and continuous
release modes.
Frame the photograph.
1
2
Frame the photograph in the
viewfinder and press one of the B
buttons to focus.

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Display the view through the lens in the monitor.
Press the shutter-release button all the
way down.
The view through the lens
will be displayed in the monitor.
Focus.
The camera will focus while the B
button is pressed. The view in the
monitor can be magnified to check
focus by pressing the Xbutton. Press
Jto exit zoom.
Check the composition and shoot.
After checking framing and focus,
press the shutter-release button all
the way down to shoot.
You will hear
two clicks as the mirror drops into
place and the shutter is released.
3
4
5

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Picture Controls
Quickly select the final look for your photographs by
choosing a pre-existing Nikon Picture Control from the
Picture Control menu, or make separate detailed
adjustments to individual Picture Control settings.
Nikon Picture Controls
QStandard Standard processing for balanced results.
RNeutral Minimal processing for natural results.
SVivid Pictures are enhanced for a vivid, photoprint
effect.
TMonochrome Take monochrome photographs.

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QStandard
Choose a preset variation on the
selected picture control for balanced
sharpening, contrast, and saturation.
TMonochrome
Choose the tint used in
monochrome photographs.
Create the effect of monochrome
photographs taken with a color
filter.
The Picture Control Grid
Shows contrast and saturation for the
selected Picture Control.
Adjust individual settings manually.
Thumbnail/playback zoom out button

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Picture Controls
Custom Picture Controls
Rename
Rename existing custom Picture Controls.
Load/save
Save custom Picture Controls to the memory card, or
load custom Picture Controls created with ViewNX
(supplied) or Capture NX (available separately).
Delete
Delete custom Picture Controls.
Save/edit
Edit an existing Picture Control and save it as a new,
custom Picture Control.