Nikon D5100 User manual

Nikon
DIGITAL CAMERA
!C)C:}
Reference Manual

To display the Custom Settings menu, press MENUand select the _ (Custom Settings
menu) tab.
MENUbutton
Custom Settings are used to customize camera settings CustomSetting groups
to suit individual preferences.
Main menu
Reset Custom
settings (__3157)
156

The following Custom Settings are available:
a Autofocus
e Bracketing/flash
f Controls
166
#_ ......l....... 166
Note:Depending on camera settings,some itemsmay be grayed out and unavailable.For
informationon the optionsavailablein each shooting mode, see page 216.
Select Yes to restore Custom Settings to their default values.
157

When AF-Cis selected for viewfinder photography (_ 39), this option controls
whether photographs can be taken whenever the shutter-release button is pressed
(release priority) or only when the camera is in focus (focus priority).
Option'°_......... Description
Release Photos can be taken whenever the shutter-release button ispressed.
_'"'] Focus Photos can only be taken once the camera hasfocused.
Choose whether the built-in AF-assist illuminator lights to assist _\t
the focus operation when lighting is poor.
_-_O_p'tio°n°T_i_:!_7: ................ Description
available when both of the following conditions are met:
1. AF-Sis selected for focus mode (_ 39) or single-servo autofocus is selected
On when the viewfinder is used in AF-Amode.
2. Ira] (Auto-area AF) is chosen for AF-area mode (_ 42), or an option other than
Ira] is chosen and the center focus point is selected.
The AF-assist illuminator does not light to assist the focus operation. The camera
Off may not be able to focus using autofocus when lighting is poor.
[] See Also
See page 41 for information on using the AF-assist illuminator. Information on the shooting
modes in which AF-assist is available may be found on page 216. See page 201 for
restrictions on the lenses that can be used with AF assist.
158

Choose On to use the exposure indicator to determine whether the camera is
correctly focused in manual focus mode (_ 65; note that this function is not available
in shooting mode M,when the exposure indicator instead shows whether the subject
is correctly exposed).
Indicator Description Indicator Description
Camera in focus.
Focus point is slightlyin
front of subject.
Focus point is well in
front of subject.
Focus point is slightly
behind subject.
Focus point is well
behind subject.
Camera can not
determine correct
focus.
[] Using the Rangefinder
The rangefinder requires a lens with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster and is not
available in live view. The desired results may not be achieved in situations in which the
camera would be unable to focus using autofocus (_ 40).
Select the increments used when making adjustments to
shutter speed, aperture, exposure and flash compensation, and
bracketing.
At the default setting of Off, exposure only locks when the AE-L/
AF-/button is pressed. If On is selected, exposure will also lock
when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
159

Thisoptiondetermineshowlongthemonitorremainsonifnooperationsare
performedduringmenudisplayandplayback(Playback/menus),while
photographsaredisplayedinthemonitoraftershooting(Imagereview),andduring
liveview(Liveview),andhowlongtheexposuremeters,viewfinder,andinformation
displayremainonwhennooperationsareperformed(Autometer-off). Choose
shorter auto-off delays to reduce the drain on the battery.
_-_::'-O_ptio°n-'7-"::_I Description(alltimesareapproximate)
SHORTShort
NORMNormal 4 s 3 mJn. 4 s
LONGLong 20 s 4 s 3 min. 8s
I min. 20s I0 min. I min.
_Custom Make separate adjustments to the Playback/menus, Image review, Live view, and Auto meter-off timers. When settings are complete, highlight Done and
press _).
[] Auto off Timers
The monitor and viewfinder will not turn off automatically when the camera is connected to
a computer or printer via USB.
Choose the length of the shutter release delay and the number
of shots taken.
•Self-timerdelay:Choose the length of the shutter-release delay.
Numberofshots:Press • and • to choose the number of shots
taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed (if a
value other than 1is selected, shots will be taken at 3 s
intervals).
160

Choose how long the camera will remain before cancelling the
currently selected remote control release mode and restoring
the previously selected release mode (_ 37). Choose shorter
times for longer battery life.
Choose the pitch (High or Low) of the beep that sounds when the camera focuses
using single-servo AF (AF-Sor when single-servo AF is selected for AF-A;_ 39), when
focus locks in live view, while the release timer is counting down in self-timer and
delayed remote release modes (_ 37), and when a photograph is taken in quick-
response remote mode (_ 37). Select Off to prevent the beep from sounding. Note
that a beep will not sound in quiet-shutter release mode (mode 1-_;_ 35).
The current setting is shown in the information display: .1_is
displayed when the beep is on, (_ when it is off.
Select On to display ISO sensitivity in the viewfinder in place of
the number of exposures remaining.
161

When a photograph is taken, the camera names the file by adding one to the last file
number used. This option controls whether file numbering continues from the last
number used when a new folder is created, the memory card is formatted, or a new
memor/card is inserted in the camera.
Option
On
Off
Reset
Description
When a new folder is created, the memory card formatted, or a new memory card
inserted in the camera, file numbering continues from the last number used or from
the largest file number in the current folder, whichever is higher. If a photograph is
taken when the current folder contains a photograph numbered 9999, a new folder
will be created automatically and file numbering will begin again from 0001.
File numbering is reset to 0001 when a new folder is created, the memory card is
formatted, or a new memory card is inserted in the camera. Note that a new folder
is created automatically if a photograph is taken when the current folder contains
999 photographs.
Resets the file numbering for On to 0001 and creates a new folder with the next
photograph taken.
i_ File Number Sequence
If the current folder is numbered 999 and contains either 999 photographs or a photograph
numbered 9999, the shutter-release button will be disabled and no further photographs can
be taken. Choose Reset for Custom Setting d3 (File number sequence) and then either
format the current memory card or insert a new memory card.
In situations where the slightest camera movement can blur
pictures, select On to delay shutter release until about 1 s after
the shutter-release button is pressed and the mirror is raised.
162

Choose the date information imprinted on photographs as they are taken.
Option
Off
DATE Date
DATE_Dateand time
Date counter
Description
The time and date do not appear on photographs.
The date or date and time are imprinted on
photographs taken while this option isin ......................................................
effect.
New photos are imprinted with atime stamp showing the number of
days between the date of shooting and a selected date (seebelow).
At settings other than Off, the selected option is indicated by a
icon in the information display.
[] Print Date
The date is recorded in the order selected for Time zone and date (_ 170). The date does
not appear on NEF (RAW) or NEF (RAW)+JPEG images and can not be added to or removed
from existing photos. To print the date of recording on photographs taken with print date
off, select Time stamp in the PictBridge menu (_ 141 ), or select Print date in the DPOF
print order menu to print the date of recording on all pictures in the current DPOF print
order (_ 141).
II DateCounter
Pictures taken while this option is in effect are imprinted with
the number of days remaining until afuture date or the number
of days elapsed since a past date. Use it to track the growth of a
child or count down the days until a birthday or wedding.
Future date (two days remaining) Past date (two days elapsed)
Up to three separate dates can be stored in slots 1,2, and 3. The
first time you use the date counter, you will be prompted to
select adate for slot 1; enter a date using the multi selector and
press _). To change the date or store additional dates, highlight
a slot, press I_, and enter the date. To use the stored date,
highlight the slot and press _).
To choose a date counter format, highlig ht Display options and
press I_to displaythe menu shown at right. Highlight an option
and press _). Highlight Done in the date counter menu and
press _) when settings are complete.
163

Choose the flash mode for the builtqn flash in P,S,A,and M modes.
[] Manual
A _ icon blinks in the viewfinder and information display when
Manual is selected and the flash is raised.
[] The SB-400
When an optional SB-400 flash unit (_ 202) is attached and turned
on, Flash cntrl for built-in flash changes to Optional flash, allowing
the flash control mode for the SB-400 to be selected from TTL and
Manual.
[] Flash Control
The following types of flash control are supported when a CPU lens is used in combination
with the built-in flash or optional SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, and SB-400 flash units.
• i-fTL BalancedFill-Flashfor DigitalSIR:Information from the 420-pixel RGB sensor is used to
adjust flash output for a natural balance between the main subject and the background.
• Standard i-fTL Fill-Flashfor DigitalSIR: Flash output is adjusted for the main subject; the
brightness of the background is not taken into account. Recommended for shots in which
the main subject is emphasized at the expense of background details, or when exposure
compensation is used.
Standard i-TTL flash control is used with spot metering or when selected with the optional
flash unit. i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLRis used in all other cases.
164

Choose the setting (exposure, white balance, or Active D-Lighting) varied when
bracketing is in effect (P,S,A,and Mmodes only; _ 88).
Choose the role played by the Fn(_) button. If an item marked
with an asterisk ("_") is selected, a white-on-black icon
corresponding to the item will appear in the information display
(Fnis displayed when Release mode is selected).
Fnbutton
Option
_) Self-timer
Release
mode_
QUALImage
quality/size_
ISOIso
sensitivity*
WB White
balance_
•_1_ Active
D-Lighting*
HDRHDRmode
+i-_ +NEF(RAW)
BKT
Description
Press the Fn (_) button to toggle self-timer mode on and off (_ 38).
Press the Fn (_) button and rotate the command dial to select the release
mode (_ 35).
Press the Fn(_) button and rotate the command dial to select image quality
and size (_ 47).
Press the Fn(_) button and rotate the command dial to select ISO sensitivity
(_ 54).
Press the Fn(_) button and rotate the command dial to select white balance
(P,S,A,and Mmodes only; _ 81).
Press the Fn (_) button and rotate the command dial to select Active
D-Lighting (P,S,A,and Mmodes only; _ 74).
Press the Fn(_) button to toggle HDR (high dynamic range) on or off (P,S,A,
and Mmodes only; _ 76). HDR ends when a picture is taken or the Fn (_)
button is pressed again.
If image quality is set to JPEG fine, JPEG normal, or JPEG basic, "RAW" will
appear in the information display and an NEF (RAW) copy will be recorded
with the next picture taken after the Fn(_) button is pressed. To exit without
recording an NEF (RAW) copy, press the Fn(_) button again.This option has
no effect when Night vision, Color sketch, Miniature effect, or Selective
color isselected in special effects mode.
Press the Fn (_) button and rotate the command dial to choose the
Auto _ bracketing increment (exposure and white balance bracketing) or to turn
bracketing ADL bracketing on or off (P,S,A,and Mmodes only; _ 88).
165

Choose the role played by the AE-L/AF-Lbutton.
_-_!_-O_ption-_- .... Description ...................................................
I_] AE/AF Focus and exposure lock while the AE-L/AF-Lbutton is
lock )ressed.
!_1 AElock Exposure locks while the AE-L/AF-Lbutton is pressed.
only
t_i AFlock Focus locks while the AE-L/AF-Lbutton is pressed.
only Exposure locks when the AE-L/AF-Lbutton ispressed, and
_.. AElock remains locked until the button is pressed a second time
-"_),Hold,__ or the exposure meters turn off.
The AE-L/AF-Lbutton initiates autofocus. The shutter-
AF-ON release button can not be used to focus.
Select Yes to reverse the rotation of the command dial.
AE-L/AF-Lbutton
Selecting Enable release allows the shutter to be released when no memory card is
inserted, although no pictures will be recorded (they will however be displayed in the
monitor in demo mode). If Release locked is selected, the shutter-release button is
only enabled when a memory card is inserted in the camera.
At the default setting of ._... •o .... (+o-), the exposure indicators in the
II _!t IIIIIIII IIII | 111111tl IIIII_
viewfinder and information display are displayed with positive values on the left and
negative values on the right. Select .... o,., ._ (-o+) to display negative
4 IIt! J IIt0tl § It 1111II IH D- n
values on the left and positive values on the right.
166

To display the setup menu, press MENUand select the y (setup menu) tab.
MENUbutton
The setup menu contains the following options:
Option .... [C' Default Option l=_7=Defau°it= -_l_=_ ='
!22
.... 0 1168 Daylightsavingtime Off !170
Infodisplayformat GrapNdblack !168 Language2-- .........
Autoinfodisplay On 1170 Imagecomment
Cleanimagesensor Autoimagerotation On l 172
Cleanat startup/shutd°wn Cleanatstartup& _210 ImageDustOffref ph°t°shutdown 6PS -- 1172-
Lockmirrorupforcleaning1-- !212 Enable [17a
Videomode2-- I170 mera clock Yes
HDMI Eye-Fiupload3 Enable _5_
Auto Firmwareversion -- / 175
On
Flickerreduction2
1 Not available when battery is low.
2 Default varies with country of purchase.
3 Only available when compatible Eye-Fi memory card is inserted (_ 175).
Note: Depending on camera settings, some items may be grayed out and unavailable.
167

Press• or• tochoosemonitorbrightness.Choosehigher
valuesforincreasedbrightness,lowervaluesforreduced
brightness.
Choosefromthefollowingtwoformatsfortheinformationdisplay(_ 5).
Classic (_ 169) Graphic (_ 5)
2
Select a format.
Highlight an option and press I_.
Select a background color.
Highlight a background color and press _).
Choose from blue, black, or orange (Classic) or
green, black, or brown (Graphic).
168

The "Classic" display is shown below.
2-
3
Shooting mode
_° auto/
19 21 22
45
L_ auto (flash off) .............. 26
Scene modes ...................... 30
P,S,A, and Mmodes ........... 61
Special effects mode ....... 11S
Help icon ........................ 11,224
Flash mode ............................. 51
Flash compensation ............. 72
Exposure compensation ...... 70
Picture Control ...................... 91
Image quality ......................... 47
Image size ............................... 49
White balance ........................ 81
ISO sensitivity ........................ 54
Release mode ........................ 35
Focus mode ................... 39, 100
AF-area mode ............... 42, 101
Metering .................................. 68
25 26 27 28 29 30
Active D-Lighting .................. 74
Bracketing increment ........... 89
Manual flash indicator ........164
Flash compensation indicator
for optional flash units....20S
Print date indicator ............. 163
Bracketing indicator ............. 89
ADL bracketing amount .....90
Shutter speed .................. 63, 65
Exposure indicator ................ 65
Exposure compensation
indicator ............................... 71
Bracketing progress
indicator ............................... 90
Aperture (f-number) ......64, 65
Auto ISO sensitivity
indicator ............................. 1SS
HDR indicator ......................... 76
23
-24
31
Auto-area AF indicator ........ 42
3D-tracking indicator ........... 42
Focus point ............................. 43
Eye-Fi connection
indicator ............................. 175
"Beep" indicator .................. 161
Battery indicator .................... 25
GPS connection
indicator ............................. 174
Number of exposures
remaining ............................ 25
White balance recording
indicator .............................. 85
Capture mode indicator .... 138
Multiple exposure
indicator ............................... 79
[] Rotating the Camera
When the camera is rotated 90 °, shooting information rotates to match
camera orientation.
169

If On is selected, the information display will appear after the shutter-release button
is pressed halfway; if image review (_ 150) is off, it will also be displayed immediately
after shooting. Choose On if you find yourself frequently referring to the information
display during shooting. If Off is selected, the information display can be viewed by
pressing the _[I,button.
When connecting the camera to a television or VCR, be sure the camera video mode
matches the device video standard (NTSC or PAL).
Reduce flicker and banding when shooting under fluorescent or mercury-vapor
lighting during live view or movie recording. Choose a frequency which matches
that of the local AC power supply.
[] Flicker Reduction
If you are unsure as to the frequency of the local power supply, test both options and choose
the one that produces the best results. Flicker reduction may not produce the desired results
ifthe subject isvery bright, in which case you should select mode Aor Mand choose a smaller
aperture (larger f-number) before starting live view.
Change time zones, set the camera clock, choose the date
display order, and turn daylight saving time on or off.
_-_i'_"i-(J_i)tion-'_'_'I_'I" :" Description i_'_:=
Choose a time zone. The camera clock is automatically set to the time in the
Time zone new time zone.
Date and time Set the camera clock (_ 19).
Date format Choose the order in which the day, month, and year are displayed.
Daylight Turn daylight saving time on or off. The camera clock will automatically be
saving time advanced or set back one hour. The default setting is Off.
170

Choose a language for camera menus and messages. The following options are
available:
(:e_tina Czech
Dansk Danish
Deutsch German
English English
EspaSol Spanish
Fran_ais French
Indonesia Indonesian
Italiano Italian
Nederlands Dutch
Norsk Norwegian
Polski Polish
Portugu_s Portuguese
PyccK_ Russian
Suomi Finnish
Svenska Swedish
T_rk_e Turkish
_ Arabic
Traditional
q_Z(_) Chinese
Simplified
_(_) Chinese
E3_ Japanese
_ Korean
_q_q_ Thai
Add a comment to new photographs as they are taken. Comments can be viewed as
metadata in ViewNX 2 (supplied) or Capture NX 2 (available separately; _ 206). The
comment is also visible on the shooting data page in the photo information display
(_ 127).
•Done:Save changes and return to the setup menu.
• Input comment:Input a comment as described on page 96. Comments can be up to
36 characters long.
•Attachcomment:Select this option to attach the comment to all
subsequent photographs..attach comment can be turned
on and off by highlighting it and pressing I_.
171

Photographs taken while On is selected contain information on camera orientation,
allowing them to be rotated automatically during playback or when viewed in
ViewNX 2 or Capture NX 2 (available separately; _ 206). The following orientations
are recorded:
Landscape (wide) orienta tion D
Camerarotated 90°clockwise Camerarotated 90°
counterclockwise
Camera orientation is not recorded when Off is selected. Choose this option when
panning or taking photographs with the lens pointing up or down.
[I_ Auto Image Rotation
In continuous release mode (_ 35), the orientation recorded for the first shot applies to all
photographs in the same burst, even if camera orientation is changed during shooting.
[] Rotate Tall
To automatically rotate "tall" (portrait-orientation) photographs for display during playback,
select On for the Rotate tall option in the playback menu (_ 150).
Acquire reference data for the Image Dust Off option in Capture NX 2 (available
separately; for more information, see the Capture NX 2 manual).
Image Dust Off ref photo is available only when aCPU lens is mounted on the
camera. A lens with a focal length of at least 50 mm is recommended. When using a
zoom lens, zoom all the way in.
Choose a start option.
Highlight one of the following options and press
_). To exit without acquiring image dust off
data, press MENU.
172

Start:The message shown at right will be
displayed and "rEF" will appear in the
viewfinder.
Cleansensorandthen start:Select this option to
clean the image sensor before starting. The
message shown at right will be displayed and
"rEF" will appear in the viewfinder when
cleaning is complete.
_I_ Image Sensor Cleaning
Dust off reference data recorded before image sensor cleaning is performed can not
be used with photographs taken after image sensor cleaning is performed. Select
Clean sensor and then start only if the dust off reference data will not be used with
existing photographs.
2Frame a featureless white object in the viewfindero
With the lens about ten centimeters (four inches) from a well-lit, featureless
white object, frame the object so that it fills the viewfinder and then press the
shutter-release button halfway.
In autofocus mode, focus will automatically be set to infinity; in manual focus
mode, set focus to infinity manually.
3Acquire dust off reference data.
Pressthe shutter-release button the rest of the way down to acquire image Dust
Off reference data. The monitor turns off when the shutter-release button is
pressed. Note that noise reduction will be performed if the subject is poorly lit,
increasing recording times.
Ifthe reference object is too bright or too dark,
the camera may be unable to acquire Image Dust
Off reference data and the message shown at
right will be displayed. Choose another reference
object and repeat the process from step 1.
_I_ Image Dust Off Reference Data
The same reference data can be used for photographs
taken with different lenses or at different apertures.
Reference images can not be viewed using computer
imaging software. A grid pattern is displayed when
reference images are viewed on the camera.
173

This item is used to adjust settings for optional GP-1 GPS units. The GP-1 can be
connected to the camera's accessory terminal (_ 207) using the cable supplied with
the GP-1, allowing information on the camera's current position to be recorded when
photographs are taken (turn the camera off before connecting the GP-1; for more
information, see the GP-1 manual).
The GPS menu contains the options listed below.
•Auto meter-off: Choose whether the exposure meters turn off automatically when
the GP-1 is attached.
Option Description
Exposure meters turn off automatically if no operations are performed for the
time selected for Custom Setting c2 (Auto off timers, _ 160; to allow the camera
Enable time to acquire GPS data, the delay is extended by up to one minute after
exposure meters are activated or the camera is turned on). This reduces the drain
on the battery.
Disable Exposure meters do not turn off while the GP-1 is connected.
•Position:This item is only available if the GP-1 is connected,
when it displays the current latitude, longitude, altitude, and
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as reported by the GP-1.
•UseGPStosetcameraclock:Select Yes to synchronize the camera clock with the time
reported by the GPS device.
[] Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
UTC data is provided by the GPS device and is independent of the camera clock.
[] The _Icon
Connection status is shown by the _ icon:
• l'_'_l(static): Camera has established communication with GP-1.
Photo information for pictures taken while this icon is displayed
include an additional page of GPS data (_ 128).
• _ (flashing): The GP-1 is searching for a signal. Pictures taken while
the icon is flashing do not include GPS data. _s_
•Noicon: No new GPS data have been received from the GP-1 for at least two seconds.
Pictures taken when the _ icon is not displayed do not include GPS data.
I827]
174