Nikon D5100 User manual

Nikon
DIGITAL CAMERA
!C)C:}
Reference Manual

Metering
Choose how the camera sets exposure in P,S,A,and Mmodes (in other modes, the
camera selects the metering method automatically).
_-_:i'_M°eth_od°°_'u'_" Description .........
[] Matrix
metering
Center-
[] weighted
metering
[] Spot
metering
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 (_ 198), distance
information (3D color matrix metering II; with other CPU lenses, the camera uses
color matrix metering II,which does not include 3D distance 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 lx.
Camera meters current focus point; use to meter off-center subjects (if[i] Auto-
area AF is selected for AF-area mode during viewfinder photography as
described on page 42, camera will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject
will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the ,B, button.
Press the ,B, button again to place the cursor in the information display.
2
3
Information display ,B, button
Display metering options.
Highlight the current metering method in the
information display and press _).
Choose a metering method.
Highlight an option and press _). To return to
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button
halfway.
68

Autoexposure Lock
Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using _ (Center-weighted
metering) and G3(Spot metering) to meter exposure; note that autoexposure lock is
not available in _o or _ mode.
Meter exposure.
Position the subject in the center of the frame
(center-weighted metering) or the selected
focus point (spot metering) and press the
shutter-release button halfway to set focus and
meter exposure. Check that the in-focus
indicator (0) appears in the viewfinder.
2Lock exposure.
With the shutter-release button pressed halfway and the
subject positioned in the focus point, press the AE-L/AF-L
button to lock exposure.
[] Autoexposure Lock
If On is selected for Custom Setting cl (Shutter-release
button AE-L; _ 159), 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; _ 166).
While exposure lock is in effect, an AE-Lindicator will
appear in the viewfinder.
Shutter-release
button
AE-L/AF-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:
Mode Setting
Programmed auto Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; _ 62)
Shutter-priority auto Shutter speed
Aperture-priority auto Aperture
The metering method itself can not be changed while exposure lock isin effect.
69

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
F_ (Center-weighted metering) or _ (Spot metering) (_ 68). Choose from values
between -5 EV(underexposure) and +5 EV(overexposure) in increments of 1/3EV. In
general, positive values make the subject brighter while negative values make it
darker.
-1 EV No exposure compensation +1EV
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the ,B, button.
Press the ,B, button again to place the cursor in the information display.
_;_t [8271 ,B,button
Information display
2Display exposure compensation options.
Highlight exposure compensation in the
information display and press _).
3Choose a value.
Highlight a value and press _). To return to
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button
halfway.
Normal exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to _+0.Exposure
compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off, but is reset if you select
another mode after choosing [_.
7O

[] 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 (EM steps for exposure cntrl., _ 159). For
information on automatically varying exposure over a series of shots, see page 88.
71

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.
Choose from values between -3 EV(darker) and 4-1EV (brighter) in increments of
1/3EV_in general, positive values make the subject brighter while negative values
make it darker.
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the ,B, button.
Press the ,B, button again to place the cursor in the information display.
_!,_ [8271 ,B,button
Information display
2Display flash compensation options.
Highlight flash compensation in the information
display and press _).
3Choose a value.
Highlight a value and press _). To return to
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button
halfway.
Normal flash output can be restored by setting flash compensation to _+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 +1EV
[] Optional Flash Units
Flash compensation is also available with optional flash units that support the Nikon
Creative Lighting System (CLS; see page 203). The SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 also
allow flash compensation to be set using the controls on the flash unit. The flash
compensation selected with the optional flash unit is added to the flash compensation
selected with the camera.
[] See Also
For information on choosing the size of the increments available for flash compensation, see
Custom Setting bl (EV steps for exposure cntrl., _ 159).
73

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
1_ (Matrix metering; _ 68).
2
Active D-Lighting: OFFOff Active D-Lighting: -_6AAuto
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the ,I], button.
Press the ,1!, button again to place the cursor in the information display.
_ i AF-L
_Se [8271 ,B,button
Information display
Display Active D-Lighting options.
Highlight Active D-Lighting in the information
display and press _).
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3Choose an option.
Highlight -_6AAuto, -_6H* Extra high, -_6H High,
NNormal, ¢6 L Low, or OFFOff and press _). If
-_6AAuto is selected, the camera will
automatically adjust Active D-Lighting
according to shooting conditions. To return to
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway.
_I_ Active D-Lighting
Noise (randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines) may appear in photographs taken with
Active D-Lighting. Uneven shading may be visible with some subjects. Active D-Lighting
can not be used at ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 or above. A setting of -_6AAuto is equivalent to
¢6NNormal in mode Mor when center-weighted or spot metering is used.
[] "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 (_ 178)
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 (_ 151).
[] See Also
For information on automatically varying Active D-Lighting over a series of shots, see page
88. For information on using the Fn button and command dial to turn Active D-Lighting on
and off, see page 165.
75

High Dynamic Range (HDR)
High Dynamic Range (HDR) combines two exposures to form a single image that
captures a wide range of tones from shadows to highlights, even with high-contrast
subjects. HDR is most effective when used with _ (Matrix metering) (_ 68; with
other metering methods, an exposure differential of Auto is equivalent to about
2 EV). It can not be used to record NEF (RAW) images. The flash can not be used
while HDR is in effect.
First exposure (darker)
÷
2
Second exposure (brighter)
Select HDR (High Dynamic Range).
Press the MENUbutton to display the menus.
Highlight HDR (High Dynamic Range) in
the shooting menu and press I_.
Combined HDR image
MENUbutton
Enable HDR.
Highlight HDRmode and press I_.
Theoptions shown at right will be displayed.
Highlight On and press _).
Hdr will be displayed in the viewfinder. ®
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3Choose the exposure differential.
To choose the difference in exposure
between the two shots, highlight Exposure
differential and press I_.
The options shown at right will be displayed.
Highlight an option and press _). Choose
higher values for high-contrast subjects, but
note that choosing a value higher than
required may not produce the desired
results; if Auto is selected, the camera will
automatically adjust exposure to suit the scene.
4Choose the amount of smoothing.
To choose how much the boundaries
between the two images are smoothed,
highlight Smoothing and press I_.
The options shown at right will be displayed.
Highlight an option and press _). Higher
values produce a smoother composite
image.
5Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
The camera takes two exposures when the shutter-release button is pressed all
the way down. "uoo''Hdr" will be displayed in the viewfinder while the images
are combined; no photographs can be taken until recording is complete. HDR
turns off automatically after the photograph is taken ; to turn off HDR before
shooting, rotate the mode dial to a setting other than RS,A,or M.
Framing HDR Photographs
The edges of the image may be cropped out. The desired results may not be achieved if the
camera or subject move during shooting. Use of a tripod is recommended. Depending on
the scene, shadows may appear around bright objects or halos may appear around dark
objects; this effect can be reduced by adjusting the amount of smoothing.
[] See Also
For information on using the Fn button to choose an HDR mode, see page 165.
77

Follow the steps below to record a series of two or three exposures in a single
photograph. Multiple exposures can make use of RAW data from the camera image
sensor to produce colors noticeably superior to those in software-generated
photographic overlays.
II Creatinga Multiple Exposure
Multiple exposures can not be recorded in live view. Exit live view before proceeding.
Note that at default settings, shooting will end and a multiple exposure will be
recorded automatically if no operations are performed for about 30 s.
[] Extended Recording Times
For an interval between exposures of more than 30 s, select On for the Image review
(_ 150) option in the playback menu and extend the monitor-off delay for image review
using Custom Setting c2 (Auto off timers, _ 160). The maximum interval between
exposures is about 30 s longer than the option selected for Custom Setting c2. If no
operations are performed for approximately 30 s after the monitor has turned off during
playback or menu operations, shooting will end and a multiple exposure will be created
from the exposures that have been recorded to that point.
2
Select Multiple exposure.
Press the MENUbutton to display the menus.
Highlight Multiple exposure in the
shooting menu and press I_.
MENUbutton
Enable multiple exposure mode.
Highlight Multiple exposure mode and
press I1_.
The options shown at right will be displayed.
Highlight On and press _).
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3Choose the number of shots.
Highlight Number of shots and press I_.
The dialog shown at right will be displayed.
Press • or • to choose the number of
exposures that will be combined to form a
single photograph and press _).
4Choose the amount of gain.
Highlight Auto gain and press I_.
The following options will be displayed.
Highlight an option and press _).
• On:Gain is adjusted according to number
of exposures actually recorded (gain for
each exposure isset to 1/2for 2 exposures,
1/3for 3 exposures).
Off: Gain is not adjusted when recording multiple exposure. Recommended
if background is dark.
5Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
In continuous release mode (_ 35), the
camera records all exposures in a single
burst; shooting will pause after each
multiple exposure. In self-timer mode, the camera will automatically record the
number of exposures selected in Step 3, regardless of the option selected for
Custom Setting c3 (Self-timer) > Number of shots (_ 160). In other release
modes, one photograph will be taken each time the shutter-release button is
pressed; continue shooting until all exposures have been recorded.
[] The Multiple Exposure Indicator
Progress is shown by the multiple exposure indicator in the
information display.
• Ii (on): Camera ready to record new multiple exposure. Press the
shutter-release button all the way down to begin shooting.
• Ii (blinks): Shooting in progress. [827}
79

I I Interrupting Multiple Exposures
To interrupt a multiple exposure before the specified number of
exposures have been taken, select Off for Multiple exposure >
Multiple exposure mode in the shooting menu. A multiple
exposure will be created from the exposures that have been
recorded to that point. If Auto gain is on, gain will be adjusted
to reflect the number of exposures actually recorded. Note that
shooting will end automatically if:
• The mode dial is rotated to a setting other than P,S,A,or M
• A two-button reset is performed (_ 58)
• The camera is turned off
• The battery is exhausted
• One of the exposures is deleted
i_ Multiple Exposures
Do not remove or replace the memory card while recording a multiple exposure.
The information listed in the playback photo information display (including metering,
exposure, shooting mode, focal length, date of recording and camera orientation) is for the
first shot in the multiple exposure.
8O

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:
Option
AUTOAuto
_Incandescent
Fluorescent
_Directsunlight
Flash
all. Cloudy
• _ Shade
PRE Presetmanual
DescriptionO,_-3_,-o7................_,==_
Automatic white balance adjustment. Recommended in most situations.
Use under incandescent lighting.
Use with the light sources listed on page 82.
Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight.
Use with the flash.
Use in daylight under overcast skies.
Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.
Measure white balance or copy white balance from existing photo (_ 84).
Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the 4], button.
Pressthe 4], button again to place the cursor in the information display.
2
3
Information display ,B, button
Display white balance options.
Highlight the current white balance setting in
the information display and press _).
Choose a white balance option.
Highlight an option and press _). To return to
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button
halfway.
81

[] The Shooting Menu
White balance can be selected using the White balance option in
the shooting menu (_ 151), which also can be used to fine-tune
white balance (_ 83) or measure a value for preset white balance
(_ 84).
The _ Fluorescent option in the White balance menu can be used
to select the light source from the bulb types shown at right.
[] Color Temperature
The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer and other conditions. Color
temperature is an objective measure of the color of a light source, defined with reference to
the temperature to which an object would have to be heated to radiate light in the same
wavelengths. While light sources with a color temperature in the neighborhood of 5,000-
5,500 K appear white, light sources with a lower color temperature, such as incandescent
light bulbs, appear slightly yellow or red. Light sources with a higher color temperature
appear tinged with blue. The camera white balance options are adapted to the following
color temperatures:
•_ (sodium-vapor lamps): 2,700K
• _ (incandescent)/
(warm-white fluorescent): 3,000K
• _ (white fluorescent): 3,700K
• _ (cool-white fluorescent): 4,200K
• _ (day white fluorescent): 5,000K
[] The Fn Button
• -_,'-(direct sunlight): 5,200K
• _ (flash): 5,400K
• ,11,(cloudy):G,O00K
• _ (daylightfluorescent):6,500K
• _ (hightemp. mercury-vapor):7,200K
•f_..-.(shade): 8,000 K
For information on using the Fn button and the command dial for white balance, see page
165.
82

Fine-Tuning White Balance
White balance can be "fine tuned" to compensate for variations in the color of the
light source or to introduce a deliberate color cast into an image. White balance is
fine tuned using the White balance option in the shooting menu.
Display white balance options.
To display the menus, press the MENUbutton.
Highlight White balance in the shooting
menu and press I_ to display white balance
options. MENUbutton
2Select a white balance option.
Highlight an option other than Preset
manual and press I_ (if Fluorescent is
selected, highlight a lighting type and press
I_). The fine-tuning options shown at right
will be displayed. Fine-tuning is not
available with Preset manual white balance.
3Fine tune white balance.
Use the multi selector to fine-tune white
balance.
Coordinates
Adjustment
Increasegreen
Increase Increase
blue amber
Increasemagenta
[] White Balance Fine Tuning
The colors on the fine-tuning axes are relative, not absolute. For example, moving the
cursor to B(blue) when a "warm" setting such as _i_ (incandescent) is selected will
make photographs slightly "colder" but will not actually make them blue.
4Save changes and exit. _-_,
Press _).
83

Preset Manual
Preset manual is used to record and recall custom white balance settings for shooting
under mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a strong color cast. Two
methods are available for setting preset white balance:
II MeasuringaValueforPresetWhiteBalance
1Light a reference object.
Place a neutral gray or white object under the lighting that will be used in the
final photograph.
2Display white balance options.
Todisplay the menus, press the MENUbutton.
Highlight White balance in the shooting
menu and press I_ to display white balance
options. MENUbutton
3Select Preset manual.
Highlight Presetmanual and press I_.
4Select Measure.
Highlight Measure and press _). The menu
shown at right will be displayed; highlight
Yes and press _).
The message shown at right will be
displayed before the camera enters preset
measurement mode.
84

When the camera is ready to measure white
balance, aflashing PRE(_-,-,=)will appear in
the viewfinder and information display.
5
6
Measure white balance.
Before the indicators stop flashing, frame the
reference object so that it fills the viewfinder
and press the shutter-release button all the
way down. No photograph will be recorded;
white balance can be measured accurately
even when the camera is not in focus.
Check the results.
Ifthe camera was able to measure a value for
white balance, the message shown at right
will be displayed and Gd will flash in the
viewfinder for about eight seconds before
the camera returns to shooting mode. To
return to shooting mode immediately, press
the shutter-release button halfway.
If lighting is too dark or too bright, the
camera may be unable to measure white
balance. A message will appear in the
information display and a flashing no ud
will appear in the viewfinder for about eight
seconds. Return to Step 4 and measure
white balance again. /1_, ",,
85

11_ Measuring Preset White Balance
If no operations are performed while the displays are flashing, direct measurement mode
will end when the exposure meters turn off. The auto meter-off delay can be changed using
Custom Setting c2 (Auto off timers; _ 160). The default setting is eight seconds.
11_ Preset White Balance
The camera can store only one value for preset white balance at a time; the existing value will
be replaced when a new value is measured. Note that exposure is automatically increased
by 1 EV when measuring white balance; when shooting in mode M,adjust exposure so that
the exposure indicator shows _+0(_ 65).
[] Other Methods for Measuring Preset White Balance
To enter preset measurement mode (see above) after selecting preset white balance in the
information display (_ 81), press _) for afew seconds. If white balance has been assigned to
the Fnbutton (_ 165) and preset white balance selected by pressing the Fnbutton and
rotating the command dial, the camera will also enter preset measurement mode if the Fn
button is pressed for a few seconds.
[] Studio Settings
In studio settings, a standard gray panel can be used as a reference object when measuring
preset white balance.
86