Nikon D6 User manual

DIGITAL CAMERA
Reference Manual
En
• Read this manual thoroughly before using the camera.
• To ensure proper use of the camera, be sure to read
“For Your Safety” (page xli).
• After reading this manual, keep it in a readily accessible
place for future reference.

ii Package Contents
Be sure all items listed here were included with your camera.
Memory cards are sold separately.
D6 Model Name: N1823
Package Contents
❏Camera
❏BF-1B body cap
❏BS-3 accessory shoe cover
(01066)
❏EN-EL18c rechargeable
Li-ion battery with terminal
cover
❏MH-26a battery charger
with power cable and two
contact protectors (shape
of power cable depends on
country or region of sale)
❏HDMI/USB cable clip
(01068)
❏UC-E24 USB cable
❏AN-DC22 strap
❏Warranty
❏User’s Manual

iii
Package Contents
DThe Nikon Download Center
Visit the Nikon download center to download firmware
updates, ViewNX-i and other Nikon software, and manuals
for Nikon products including cameras, NIKKOR lenses, and
flash units.
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/

iv About This Manual
❚❚ Symbols
The following symbols and conventions are employed in this
manual. Use them to help locate the information you need.
❚❚ Conventions
•This camera uses CFexpress (Type B) and XQD memory cards.
Throughout this manual, CFexpress and XQD memory cards
are generally referred to as “memory cards”. The terms
“CFexpress cards” and “XQD cards” are however used where
necessary to distinguish between the two types.
•Throughout this manual, battery chargers are referred to as
“battery chargers” or “chargers”.
•Throughout this manual, smartphones and tablets are referred
to as “smart devices”.
•Throughout this manual, the term “default settings” is used to
refer to the settings in effect at shipment. The explanations in
this manual assume that default settings are used.
About This Manual
DThis icon marks notes, information that should be read before
using this product.
AThis icon marks tips, additional information you may find helpful
when using this product.
0This icon marks references to other sections in this manual.

v
About This Manual
AFor Your Safety
“For Your Safety” contains important safety instructions. Be sure to read
them before using the camera. For more information, see “For Your
Safety” (0xli).

vi Table of Contents
Package Contents ................................................................................... ii
About This Manual................................................................................. iv
Menu List.............................................................................................. xxxv
For Your Safety....................................................................................... xli
Notices .................................................................................................... xlix
Getting to Know the Camera 1
Parts of the Camera ................................................................................ 1
Camera Body...................................................................... 1
The Power Switch............................................................. 8
The Top Control Panel.................................................... 9
The Rear Control Panel................................................. 11
The Viewfinder ................................................................ 12
The Live View Displays (Photos/Movies)................ 15
Touch Controls................................................................ 18
Table of Contents

vii
Table of Contents
First Steps 27
Readying the Camera.......................................................................... 27
Attaching the Strap....................................................... 27
Charging the Battery .................................................... 28
Inserting the Battery ..................................................... 32
Attaching a Lens............................................................. 35
Inserting Memory Cards.............................................. 38
Camera Setup.................................................................. 43
The Battery Level and Number of Exposures Remaining....... 47
Battery Level.................................................................... 47
Memory Card Indicators and Number of
Exposures Remaining .............................................. 48
Basic Photography and Playback 50
Taking Photographs ............................................................................ 50
Framing Photographs in the Viewfinder
(Viewfinder Photography)...................................... 50
Framing Photographs in the Monitor
(Live View).................................................................... 55
Recording Movies................................................................................. 63
Taking Photos During Filming .................................. 70
Playback ................................................................................................... 71
Viewing Movies .............................................................. 73
Deleting Unwanted Pictures...................................... 76

viii Table of Contents
Uploading Pictures ............................................................................... 77
Uploading Pictures to Smart Devices ..................... 77
Uploading Pictures to a Computer or
FTP Server..................................................................... 77
Camera Controls 80
The GButton ..................................................................................... 80
Using the Menus............................................................. 81
The iButton (the iMenu) ................................................................ 88
The Still Photography iMenu................................... 90
The Movie iMenu ......................................................... 92
The Playback iMenu.................................................... 93
The RButton ......................................................................................... 94
Viewfinder Photography ............................................. 94
Live View Photography ................................................ 95
The Focus-Mode Selector................................................................... 97
The AF-Mode Button............................................................................ 98
Choosing an AF Mode .................................................. 98
Choosing an AF-Area Mode..................................... 101
The AF-ON Button.............................................................................. 107
The IButton.................................................................................. 108
Choosing an Exposure Mode.................................. 108

ix
Table of Contents
The Release Mode Dial and SButton........................................ 109
Choosing a Release Mode......................................... 109
The YButton....................................................................................... 111
Choosing a Metering Option................................... 111
The BKT Button.................................................................................... 113
The S(Q) Button........................................................................... 114
Adjusting ISO Sensitivity........................................... 114
Enabling Auto ISO Sensitivity Control.................. 116
The EButton........................................................................................ 117
Adjusting Exposure Compensation ...................... 117
The TButton................................................................................ 118
Adjusting Image Quality ........................................... 118
Choosing an Image Size ............................................ 120
The UButton .................................................................................... 121
Adjusting White Balance........................................... 121
The g(h/Q) Button...................................................................... 125
Choosing a Picture Control ...................................... 125
The W(N) Button .............................................................................. 131
Choosing a Flash Mode ............................................. 131
Adjusting Flash Compensation .............................. 133
The Pv Button....................................................................................... 134
The Fn1, Fn2, Fn3 (C), and Fn (Vertical) Buttons..................... 135

xTable of Contents
Shooting Settings 136
Image Recording Options (Image Area, Quality,
and Size)............................................................................................ 136
Adjusting Image Area Settings............................... 136
Adjusting Image Quality........................................... 142
Choosing an Image Size............................................ 145
Choosing How the Camera Focuses (Focus)............................ 148
Choosing a Focus Mode............................................ 148
Autofocus Mode .......................................................... 149
AF-Area Mode............................................................... 153
Focus Point Selection................................................. 164
Custom Focus Groups ............................................... 167
Focus Lock ..................................................................... 170
Manual Focus................................................................ 174
Exposure-Related Settings (Metering and Exposure
Compensation)............................................................................... 178
Choosing How the Camera Sets Exposure......... 178
Choosing an Exposure Mode.................................. 182
Long Time-Exposures (Mode M Only) ................. 191
Shutter Speed and Aperture Lock......................... 194
Autoexposure Lock..................................................... 196
Exposure Compensation .......................................... 199

xi
Table of Contents
Choosing the Operation Performed When the
Shutter Is Released (Release Mode)......................................... 203
Choosing a Release Mode Such as
Single-Frame, Continuous, or
Quiet Shutter-Release............................................ 203
Using the Self-Timer (E)............................................ 209
Mirror Up Mode (Mup)............................................... 211
Adjusting the Camera’s Sensitivity to Light
(ISO Sensitivity) ............................................................................... 213
ISO Sensitivity................................................................ 213
Auto ISO Sensitivity Control..................................... 216
Achieving Natural Colors with Different Light Sources
(White Balance)............................................................................... 221
White Balance ............................................................... 221
Fine-Tuning White Balance ...................................... 227
Choosing a Color Temperature .............................. 231
Preset Manual................................................................ 234
Varying Exposure or White Balance over a Series of
Photographs (Bracketing)........................................................... 249
Bracketing....................................................................... 250
Exposure and Flash Bracketing............................... 251
White Balance Bracketing......................................... 259
ADL Bracketing ............................................................. 265

xii Table of Contents
Image Processing (Picture Controls) ........................................... 271
Picture Controls ........................................................... 271
Modifying Picture Controls from the Menus..... 274
Custom Picture Controls........................................... 276
Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows
(Active D-Lighting and HDR) ..................................................... 281
Active D-Lighting ........................................................ 281
High Dynamic Range (HDR)..................................... 283
Movie Recording and Editing 292
Image Area: Choosing a Movie Crop........................................... 292
Frame Size/Frame Rate and Movie Quality............................... 294
The Movie Crop............................................................ 296
Points to Note When Recording Movies.................................... 297
Editing Movies..................................................................................... 300
Trimming Movies......................................................... 301
Saving Selected Frames as JPEG Stills.................. 306
Adding Indices to Movies......................................... 307
Other Shooting Options 308
Using Two Memory Cards............................................................... 308
Deleting Copies............................................................ 311

xiii
Table of Contents
Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default Settings......................... 312
Photo Shooting Menu................................................ 313
Movie Shooting Menu ............................................... 315
Other Settings............................................................... 316
Combining Multiple Exposures in a Single Photo
(Multiple Exposure) ....................................................................... 318
Multiple Exposure Options....................................... 318
Creating a Multiple Exposure .................................. 321
Using the iButton ...................................................... 329
Ending Multiple Exposures....................................... 330
Taking Photos at a Set Interval (Interval Timer Shooting) ... 331
Interval Timer Shooting Options............................ 331
Interval-Timer Photography .................................... 336
Pausing Interval-Timer Photography ................... 345
Resuming Interval Timer Shooting........................ 346
Ending Interval Timer Shooting ............................. 347
Creating a Movie from Photos (Time-Lapse Movie)............... 348
Time-Lapse Movie Options ...................................... 348
Recording Time-Lapse Movies................................ 350
Varying Focus over a Series of Photos
(Focus Shift Shooting) .................................................................. 360
Focus Shift Shooting Options.................................. 360
Focus Shift Photography........................................... 363

xiv Table of Contents
The Electronic Shutter (Silent Live View Photography) ....... 374
Customizing the iMenus: Customize iMenu ..................... 377
Using Non-CPU Lenses (Non-CPU Lens Data).......................... 379
Entering Lens Data...................................................... 381
Recalling Non-CPU Lens Data................................. 383
Location Data ...................................................................................... 384
Location Data Options............................................... 384
Playback 390
Viewing Pictures ................................................................................. 390
Full-Frame Playback ................................................... 390
Thumbnail Playback................................................... 391
Playback Controls........................................................ 392
Playback Touch Controls .......................................... 395
The iButton ................................................................. 399
Photo Information ............................................................................. 405
File Information............................................................ 406
Exposure Data............................................................... 407
Highlights....................................................................... 407
RGB Histogram ............................................................. 408
Shooting Data............................................................... 410
Overview......................................................................... 416
Playback Zoom.................................................................................... 418
Using Playback Zoom ................................................ 419

xv
Table of Contents
Protecting Pictures from Deletion................................................ 421
Rating Pictures..................................................................................... 423
Selecting Pictures for Upload......................................................... 425
Filtered Playback................................................................................. 427
[Filtered Playback Criteria]........................................ 427
Deleting Pictures................................................................................. 429
Using the Delete Button............................................ 429
Deleting Multiple Pictures........................................ 431
Voice Memos 436
Recording Voice Memos .................................................................. 436
During Playback ........................................................... 436
During Shooting........................................................... 438
Playing Voice Memos ........................................................................ 443
Deleting Voice Memos............................................... 444
Connecting to Computers and TVs 445
Connecting to Computers............................................................... 445
Connecting via USB..................................................... 445
Ethernet and Wireless Networks (Wi-Fi) .............. 451
Connecting to HDMI Devices ......................................................... 453
TVs..................................................................................... 454
Recorders........................................................................ 454

xvi Table of Contents
Built-in Wireless 457
Camera and Network System Chart ............................................ 457
Connecting to Smart Devices ........................................................ 458
The SnapBridge App .................................................. 458
What SnapBridge Can Do for You ......................... 459
Wireless Connections................................................. 460
Connecting via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Mode) ....................... 461
Connecting via Bluetooth ........................................ 469
Connecting to Computers via Wi-Fi ............................................ 485
What Wi-Fi Can Do for You ...................................... 485
The Wireless Transmitter Utility ............................. 485
Infrastructure and Access-Point Modes .............. 486
Connecting in Access-Point Mode........................ 488
Connecting in Infrastructure Mode ...................... 494
Uploading Pictures ..................................................... 503
Disconnecting and Reconnecting......................... 510
Troubleshooting Built-in Wi-Fi ...................................................... 512

xvii
Table of Contents
Ethernet/WT-6 514
Ethernet Connections and the WT-6 ........................................... 514
The Wireless Transmitter Utility.............................. 515
What Ethernet and the WT-6 Can Do for You........................... 516
Upload to FTP Servers or Computers ................... 516
Computer-Based Remote Photography
(Camera Control Mode) ........................................ 517
Browser-Based Remote Photography
(HTTP Server Mode)................................................ 517
Camera-Based Remote Photography
(Synchronized Release)......................................... 518
Clock Synchronization (Synchronize Date
and Time) ................................................................... 518
Connecting an Ethernet Cable or WT-6...................................... 520
Connecting an Ethernet Cable................................ 520
Attaching the WT-6..................................................... 521
Creating a Network Profile (Ethernet)......................................... 522
Image Transfer and Camera Control Modes...... 523
HTTP Server Mode ....................................................... 531
FTP Upload Mode ........................................................ 536

xviii Table of Contents
Creating Network Profiles (WT-6)................................................. 544
WT-6 Wireless Connection Options...................... 545
Image Transfer and Camera Control Modes...... 546
HTTP Server Mode....................................................... 560
FTP Upload Mode........................................................ 571
Upload to Computers and FTP Servers ...................................... 585
Connecting to a Computer or FTP Server........... 585
Camera Control................................................................................... 595
The [Wired LAN/WT] Status Display...................... 598
HTTP Server .......................................................................................... 601
The [Wired LAN/WT] Status Display...................... 607
Computer, Android, and iPad Web Browsers.... 610
iPhone Web Browsers................................................ 622
Synchronized Release....................................................................... 628
About Synchronized Release .................................. 628
Using Synchronized Release ................................... 629
Synchronizing Camera Clocks ....................................................... 633
Ethernet/Wireless Transmitter Troubleshooting.................... 636
Problems and Solutions............................................ 636
Error Codes .................................................................... 638

xix
Table of Contents
On-Camera Flash Photography 640
“On-Camera” Versus “Remote” ...................................................... 640
Camera-Mounted Flash Units.................................. 640
Remote Flash Photography ..................................... 640
Using an On-Camera Flash.............................................................. 641
Flash Control Mode............................................................................ 645
Flash Modes.......................................................................................... 648
Choosing a Flash Mode ............................................. 651
Flash Compensation.......................................................................... 653
Adjusting Flash Compensation .............................. 653
FV Lock ................................................................................................... 655
Flash Info for On-Camera Units ..................................................... 659
Flash Control Mode Displays ................................... 660
Remote Flash Photography 663
What Is Remote Flash Photography?........................................... 663
Using Remote Flash Units......................................... 664
Radio AWL ............................................................................................. 665
Establishing a Wireless Connection ...................... 665
Remote Flash Photography ..................................... 670
Adding a Shoe-Mounted Flash Unit...................... 679
Optical AWL .......................................................................................... 680
Using Optical AWL with the SB-5000
or SB-500 .................................................................... 681

xx Table of Contents
Optical/Radio AWL............................................................................. 694
Flash Info for Remote Units ............................................................ 695
Flash Control Mode Displays................................... 695
Menu Guide 698
Defaults.................................................................................................. 698
Playback Menu Defaults ........................................... 698
Photo Shooting Menu Defaults.............................. 700
Movie Shooting Menu Defaults ............................. 707
Custom Settings Menu Defaults ............................ 709
Setup Menu Defaults ................................................. 722
DThe Playback Menu: Managing Images............................... 730
Delete............................................................................................... 731
Playback Folder ............................................................................ 732
Playback Display Options ......................................................... 733
Delete Images from Both Slots............................................... 734
Dual-Format Recording PB Slot.............................................. 735
Filtered Playback Criteria .......................................................... 735
Image Review................................................................................ 735
After Delete.................................................................................... 736
After Burst, Show ......................................................................... 737
Rotate Tall....................................................................................... 738