Nikon D5000 User manual

DIG ITAL CAM ERA
User's Manual

Metering
Choose how the camera sets exposure in P,S,A,and Mmodes (in other modes, the
camera selects the metering method automatically).
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.
Press the 41, button to place the cursor in the information display.
[] button Information display @button
2
3
Display metering options.
Highlight the current metering method in the
information display and press _).
Choose a metering method.
Highlight one of the following options and press
@.
[] Matrix
Center-
[] weighted
[] Spot
Produces natural results in most situations. Camera uses 420-pixel RGB
sensor to meter a wide area of the frame and set exposure according to
tone distribution, color, composition, and, with type G or D lenses
(_ 194), range information (3D color matrix metering II;with other CPU
lenses, camera uses color matrix metering II, which does not include 3D
range information).
Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area.
Classic meter for portraits; recommended when using filters with an
exposure factor (filter factor) over 1x.
Camera meters current focus point; use to meter off-center subjects (if
Auto-area is selected for AF-area mode as described on page 56, camera
will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject will be correctly
exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.
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Autoexposure Lock
Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after metering exposure:
Select center-weighted (r_) or spot (Fq) metering
(_ 88).
Matrix metering (_) will not produce the desired results.
2Lock 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 AE-L/AF-Lbutton to lock focus
and exposure.
While exposure lock is in effect, an AE-Lindicator will
appear in the viewfinder.
Shutter-release
button
AE-UAF-Lbutton
3Recompose the photograph.
Keeping the AE-L/AF-Lbutton pressed,recompose the photograph and shoot.
[] Adjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture
While exposure lock is in effect, the following settings can be adjusted without altering the
metered value for exposure:
_=--'="i="i_:- M0deSetting
Programmed auto Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; _ 81)
Shutter-priority auto Shutter speed
Aperture-priority auto Aperture
The metering method itself can not be changed while exposure lock is in effect.
[] See Also
If On is selected for Custom Setting cl (Shutter-release button AE-L, _ 156), exposure will
lock when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. For information on changing the
role of the AE-L/AF-Lbutton, see Custom Setting f2 (Assign AE-L/AF-L button, _ 164).
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Exposure Compensation
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 (_ 88).
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.
Press the ,n, button to place the cursor in the information display.
[] button Information display ,B,button
2
3
Display exposure compensation options.
Highlight exposure compensation in the
information display and press _).
Choose a value.
Highlight a value and press _). Exposure
compensation can be set to values between
-5 EV(underexposure) and +5 EV(overexposure)
in increments of 1/3EV. In general, choose
positive values to make the subject brighter,
negative values to make it darker.
-I EV +I EV
No exposurecompensation
Normal exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to _+0.Exposure
compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off.
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[] The [] Button
Exposure compensation can also be
set by pressing the [] button and
rotating the command dial. The
selected value isshown in the
viewfinder and information display.
[] button Command dial
-0.3 EV +2 EV
[] 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 background exposure and flash
level.
[] See Also
For information on choosing the size of the increments available for exposure
compensation, see Custom Setting bl (EV steps for exposure cntrl., _ 156). For
information on automatically varying exposure over a series of photographs to "bracket" a
selected exposure compensation value, see "Bracketing" (_ 103).
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Flash Compensation
Flash compensation is used to alter flash output from the level suggested by the
camera, 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.
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.
Press the ,1t, button to place the cursor in the information display.
[] button Information display ,I], button
2Display flash compensation options.
Highlight flash compensation in the information
display and press _).
3Choose a value.
Highlight a value and press _). Flash
compensation can be set to values between
-3 EV(darker) and +1 EV(brighter) in increments
of 1/3 EV. In general, choose positive values to
make the subject brighter, negative values to
make it darker.
Normal flash output can be restored by setting flash compensation to _+0.0. Flash
compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off.
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[] The I_ (_) and [] Buttons
Flash compensation can also be set by
rotating the command dial while
pressing the I_ (_) and [] buttons.
The selected value is shown in the
viewfinder and information display.
I_ (_ ) button [] button Command dial
-0.3 EV +I EV
[] Optional Flash Units
Flash compensation is also available with an optional SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, or
SB-R200 flash units.
[] Exposure Increments
For information on choosing the size of the increments available when setting flash
compensation, see Custom Setting bl (EV steps for exposure cntrl., _ 156).
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Active D-Lighting
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 (1_;_ 88).
2
3
Active D-Ligh ting: OFFOff Active D-Lighting: -_ A Auto
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.
Press the 4]_button to place the cursor in the information display.
[] button Information display ,I], button
Display Active D-Lighting options.
Highlight Active D-Lighting in the information
display and press _).
Choose an option.
Highlight -_[_AAuto, -_[_H÷Extra high, -_[_HHigh,
_i NNormal, ._ L Low, or OFFOff and press _).
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i_ Active D-Lighting
Noise (graininess, banding, and mottling) may appear in photographs taken with Active
D-Lighting at high ISO sensitivities. If center-weighted or spot metering is selected, settings
other than OFFOff are equivalent to -_[_NNormal. In mode M, an Active D-Lighting setting of
•_6A Auto is equivalent to -_[_NNormal.
_I_ "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 (_ 174)
optimizes dynamic range in images after shooting.
[] The Shooting Menu
Active D-Lighting can also be adjusted using the Active D-Lighting
option in the shooting menu (_ 148).
[] See Also
For information on using the Fn (_) button and command dial to
select Active D-Lighting, see page 163. For information on
automatically varying Active D-Lighting over two photographs
(one with Active D-Lighting off, the second with the current setting
for Active-D-Lighting), see page 103.
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White balance ensures that colors are unaffected by the color of the light source.
Auto white balance is recommended for most light sources; in P,S,A,and Mmodes,
other values can be selected if necessary according to the type of source:
Place the cursor in the information display.
if shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the [] button.
Press the ,I], button to place the cursor in the information display.
[] button Information display ,I], button
2
3
Display white balance options.
Highlight the current white balance setting in
the information display and press _).
Choose a white balance option.
Highlight one of the following options and press
@.
AUTOAuto _Directsunlight
_ Incandescent _ Flash
Fluorescent(_ 97) ._- Cloudy
_,. Shade
PREPresetmanual(_ 99)
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