Nikon D600 User manual

CHAPTER 1
Exploring the
Nikon D600
This chapter covers the
key components of the
D600, including the buttons,
switches, dials, and knobs.
These are the features you
most need to master
because you will use them
all the time as you modify
settings to adapt to chang-
ing shooting conditions.
The D600 is very similar
to its DX sibling the D7000
and, indeed, was designed
with this camera in mind. If
you’re upgrading to FX from
the D7000, you will feel
instantly at home. If you’re
stepping up from a D5100 or
a D3200, the number of con-
trols may surprise you. If you
are accustomed to using one
of Nikon’s compact pro bod-
ies such as the D300s, D700,
or D800, you will denitely
notice the difference in the
control layout. Getting to know all your camera’s menus, buttons, and
dials allows you to capture your images just as you
envision them.
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COPYRIGHTEDMATERIAL

Nikon D600 Digital Field Guide
2
Key Components of the D600
The exterior controls of the D600 are used to access features that are most commonly
changed. The D600 is a more advanced model than the D3200 and D5100 series, so it
has a lot more buttons and dials to allow you to change your settings more quickly,
which is a good thing. On the other hand, the D600 has much fewer buttons than the
higher-end cameras, so a lot of the buttons perform double or even triple duty, depend-
ing on what mode the camera is in.
The good news is that a number of buttons can be customized so that you can control
the settings that you need to access the most.
Top of the camera
Most of the important buttons are on the top of the D600. This makes it easier to nd
them, especially when you have your eye to the viewnder. This is where you nd the
dials to change the shooting modes as well as the all-important shutter-release button
and the relatively new Movie record button.
▶ Shutter-release button. In my opinion, this is the most important button on the
camera. Pressing this button halfway activates the camera’s autofocus and light
meter. Fully depressing this button releases the shutter and takes a photograph.
When the camera has been idle, and has “gone to sleep,” lightly pressing the
shutter-release button wakes it up. When the image review is on, lightly press-
ing the shutter-release button turns off the LCD and prepares the camera for
another shot.
▶ On/off switch. This switch, located concentric to the shutter-release button, is
used to turn the camera on and off. Push the switch all the way to the left to turn
the camera off; pull the switch to the right to turn the camera on. The on/off
switch also has a spring-loaded momentary switch, which, when pulled to the
far right, turns on the control panel backlight.
▶ Movie record button. When the camera is in Live View movie mode ( ),
pressing this button (which has a simple red dot on it) causes the camera to start
recording video. Pressing it a second time stops the video recording. In Live
View still photography mode ( ) and standard shooting mode or scene modes,
this button has no function at all.
▶ Metering mode button ( ). Pressing this button and rotating the Main
Command dial allows you to change the metering mode among Matrix ( ),
Center-weighted ( ), and Spot metering ( ). This is also one of the buttons
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Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D600
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1
for the two-button formatting option used to format the active memory card.
Press and hold this button in conjunction with the Delete button ( ) until FOR
blinks on the LCD control panel, and then press the buttons in conjunction a
second time to complete formatting. This second button press is required as a
fail-safe against accidental formatting.
▶ Exposure Compensation button ( ). Pressing this button while spinning the
Main Command dial allows you to modify the exposure that is set by the D600’s
light meter when it is set to Programmed auto ( ), Shutter-priority auto ( ), or
Aperture-priority auto mode ( ). Turning the Main Command dial to the right
increases exposure while turning the dial to the left decreases the exposure.
You may also notice a green dot next to this button. Pressing and holding this
button in conjunction with the Zoom out/Thumbnail/ISO button ( ) resets
the camera to the default settings.
NOTE The button serves no function when shooting in automatic or scene
modes.
▶ Mode dial lock release button. Press this button to unlock the Mode dial so
that you can rotate the dial to change the settings.
▶ Mode dial. This is an important dial. Pressing the Mode dial lock release button
and rotating the Mode dial allows you to quickly change your shooting mode.
You can choose the scene mode, one of the semiautomatic modes, or Manual
exposure mode ( ), which lets you pick the exposure settings.
CROSS REF For a detailed description of all the exposure modes, see Chapter 2.
▶ Focal plane mark. The focal plane mark shows you where the plane of the
image sensor is inside the camera. The sensor is directly behind the shutter.
When measuring distance for calculating ash output, you measure the subject-
to-focal-plane distance.
▶ Hot shoe. This is where you attach an accessory ash to the camera body. The
hot shoe has an electronic contact that tells the ash to re when the shutter is
released. A number of other electronic contacts allow the camera to communi-
cate with the ash, enabling the automated features of a dedicated ash unit
such as the SB-700.
▶ Control panel. This LCD panel displays numerous controls and settings. The
control panel is covered in depth later in the chapter.
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Nikon D600 Digital Field Guide
4
Image courtesy of Nikon, Inc.
1.1 Top-of-the-camera controls
On the kit lens, you nd four key features:
▶ Focus ring. Rotating the focus ring allows you to focus the lens manually. The
location of the focus ring varies by lens. With old AF (non AF-S) lenses, and even
older manual-focus lenses, you turn the ring to focus the lens. Newer AF-S
lenses, such as the kit lens, have a switch labeled A and M. Select M before
attempting to manually focus. If you don’t switch it over rst, you can damage
the lens. Some higher-end AF-S lenses have a switch labeled A/M and M. With
these lenses set to the A/M position, you can manually override the autofocus at
any time without damaging the lens.
▶ Focus distance scale. This window displays the approximate focus distance in
both metric and imperial measurements.
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Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D600
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CROSS REF For more information on lenses and compatibility, see Chapter 4.
▶ Zoom ring. Rotating the zoom ring allows you to change the focal length of the
lens. Prime lenses do not have a zoom ring.
▶ Focal length indicators. These numbers indicate which focal length in millime-
ters your lens is zoomed to.
Back of the camera
The back of the camera is where you nd the buttons that mainly control playback and
menu options, although a few buttons control some of the shooting functions. Most
of the buttons have more than one function — a lot of them are used in conjunction
with the Main Command dial or the multi-selector. On the back of the camera, you
also nd several key features, including the all-important LCD and viewnder.
▶ Release mode dial. Although technically the Release mode dial is located on
the top of the camera, on recent Nikon cameras the release modes are easier to
view from the rear of the camera. The release mode controls how the shutter is
released when you press the shutter-release button. Press the Release mode
dial lock release and rotate the Release mode dial to change the settings. There
are seven modes:
• Single frame ( ). This mode allows you take a single photograph with each
press of the shutter-release button. The camera does not re multiple
frames when the button is held down.
• Continuous low speed ( ). When you’re using this release mode, press-
ing and holding the shutter-release button allows the camera to shoot mul-
tiple frames at low speed. You can set the frame rate for this release mode
in Custom Settings menu d5 ( d5). You can select from 1 to 5 fps.
• Continuous high speed ( ). When you use this release mode, pressing and
holding the shutter-release button allows the camera to shoot multiple frames
at high speed. The camera shoots at the maximum frame rate of 5.5 fps.
NOTE The actual maximum frame rate depends on the shutter speed, buffer,
and memory card speed.
• Quiet shutter-release ( ). This mode allows you to control the release of
the reex mirror. When you press the shutter-release button, the reex mirror
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Nikon D600 Digital Field Guide
6
stays up until you release the button. This allows you to take pictures more
quietly by moving to a different area or covering up the camera before you
release the shutter-release button, allowing the mirror to reset.
• Self-timer ( ). This mode activates the self-timer that allows a delay
between the time you press the shutter-release button and the shutter is
released. You can set the timer in the Remote control mode ( ) in the
Shooting menu ( ).
• Remote control ( ). This mode allows you to use the optional ML-L3
wireless remote to release the shutter. You can change the settings in the
Remote control mode in the menu.
• Mirror up ( ). This mode raises the reex mirror with one press of the
shutter-release button and releases the shutter and resets the mirror with a
second press of the button. You can use this mode to minimize camera
shake from mirror movement when shooting long exposures on a tripod or
when using a long telephoto lens.
▶ LCD monitor. This is the most prominent feature on the back of the camera.
This 3-inch, 921,000-dot liquid crystal display (LCD) is a very bright, high-resolution
screen. The LCD is where you view all your current camera settings and review
your images after shooting, and it displays the video feed for Live View and
video recording.
▶ Viewnder. This is what you look through to compose your photographs. Light
coming through the lens is channeled through a ve-sided reective prism
(called a pentaprism), enabling you to see exactly what you’re shooting. The rub-
ber eyepiece around the viewnder gives you a softer place to rest your eye and
blocks any extra light from entering the viewnder as you compose and shoot
your images.
▶ Diopter adjustment control. Just to the right of the viewnder (hidden behind
the eyecup) is the diopter adjustment control. Use this control to adjust the
viewnder lens to suit your individual vision strength (not everyone’s eyesight is
the same). To adjust this control, look through the viewnder, and press the
shutter-release button halfway to focus on something. If what you see in the
viewnder isn’t quite sharp, slide the diopter adjustment control up or down
until everything appears in focus. The manual warns you not to put your nger or
ngernail in your eye. I agree that this might not be a good idea.
▶ AE-L/AF-L button ( ). The Autoexposure/Autofocus Lock button is used to
lock the Autoexposure (AE) and Autofocus (AF). You can customize this button
in the Custom Settings menu ( f5) to provide AE/AF Lock, AE Lock only, AE
Lock (hold), AF Lock only, or AF-ON. AE Lock (hold) locks the exposure with one
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Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D600
7
1
press of the shutter-release button; the exposure is locked until you press the
button again. AF-ON engages the AF in the same way that half-pressing the
shutter-release button does, but it disengages the shutter-release button from
any AF functions. You can also set the button to FV Lock when using the built-in
ash or an accessory Speedlight.
▶ Main Command dial. You use this dial to change a variety of settings, depend-
ing on which button you are using with it. By default, it is used to change the
shutter speed when the camera is in , , and Manual exposure mode ( ). It is
also used to adjust exposure compensation and change the ash mode.
▶ Multi-selector. The multi-selector is another button that serves a few different
purposes. In Playback mode, you use it to scroll through the photographs you’ve
taken, and you can also use it to view image information such as histograms and
shooting settings. When the D600 is in Single-point AF ( ) or Dynamic-area AF
mode ( ), you can use the multi-selector to change the active focus point. And
you can use the multi-selector to navigate through the menu options.
▶ OK button ( ). When the D600 is in the Menu mode ( ), you press the
button to select the menu item that is highlighted. In Playback mode ( ),
pressing brings up the Retouch menu ( ) options. In shooting mode, you
can set to a couple of different functions using f1, Select center focus
point, Highlight active focus point, or you can disable by selecting Not used.
▶ Focus selector lock. This switch, located concentric to the multi-selector, locks
the focus point so that it cannot be moved with the multi-selector.
▶ Ambient light sensor. This sensor detects the luminosity of the ambient light
so that the monitor brightness can be automatically adjusted.
▶ Live View button/Live View selector. With the introduction of the D800,
Nikon added this switch, which makes it much more convenient to use the Live
View settings. Simply pressing the Live View button ( ) activates the Live View
option, and ipping the switch allows you to choose between shooting stills ( )
or video ( ).
▶ Memory card access lamp. This light blinks when the memory card is in use.
Under no circumstances should you remove the card when this light is on or
blinking. You could damage your card or camera and lose any information in the
camera’s buffer. If the buffer is full when you switch the camera off, the camera
will stay powered on and this lamp will continue blinking until the data nishes
transferring from the buffer to the memory card.
▶ Info button ( ). Pressing this button displays the shooting information on the
monitor. Press this button twice to adjust settings in the menu.
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Nikon D600 Digital Field Guide
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▶ Speaker. This small speaker enables you to hear the audio recorded with the
video you have shot. I must admit that the delity of the speaker isn’t that great,
and it’s quite hard to get an accurate representation of what the sound is going
to be like when it is played back through your TV or computer speakers.
▶ Rear infrared sensor. This picks up the infrared signal from the optional wire-
less remote, the ML-L3.
Image courtesy of Nikon, Inc.
1.2 Back-of-the-camera controls
▶ Playback button ( ). Pressing this button activates Playback mode and by
default displays the most recently taken photograph. You can also view other
pictures by pressing the multi-selector left and right.
▶ Delete button ( ). If you are reviewing your pictures and nd some that you
don’t want to keep, you can delete them by pressing this button. To prevent
you from accidentally deleting images, the camera displays a dialog box asking
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Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D600
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you to conrm that you want to erase the picture. Press a second time to
permanently erase the image. This is also one of the buttons for the two-button
formatting option used to format the active memory card. Press and hold this
button in conjunction with the button until FOR blinks on the LCD control
panel, and then press the buttons in conjunction a second time to complete for-
matting. As mentioned previously, this second button press is required as a fail-
safe against accidental formatting.
▶ Menu button ( ). Press this button to access the D600 menu options.
There are a number of different menus, including Playback ( ), Shooting ( ),
Custom Settings ( ), and Retouch ( ). Use the multi-selector to choose the
menu you want to view and press to enter the specic menu screen.
▶ Retouch/Picture Control button ( ). Pressing this button in Shooting mode
allows you to select and adjust the Picture Controls ( ). When the camera is in
Playback mode, pressing this button brings up the Retouch menu ( ) options or
the Movie editing options if a video is selected during playback.
▶ Help/Protect/White balance button ( ). Pressing this button and rotat-
ing the Main Command dial allows you to change the white balance (WB) set-
tings when in Shooting mode. Rotating the Sub-command dial allows you to
ne-tune the selected WB setting by adding blue or amber to make the image
cooler or warmer, respectively. You can add blue (b1–b6) by rotating the dial to
the right and amber (a1–a6) by rotating to the left. When you’re viewing the
Information display and a question mark appears or when you’re scrolling
through the menu options and a question mark appears in the lower-left corner,
you can press this button to get more information. When the D600 is in Playback
mode, press this button to protect (lock) the image from accidentally being
deleted. Press it again to unlock it.
▶ Zoom in/QUAL button ( ). When the D600 is in Shooting mode, pressing
this button and rotating the command dials allows you to quickly change the
image quality and size settings. Rotating the Main Command dial allows you to
choose a format (RAW, JPEG, or RAW+JPEG) as well as the JPEG compression
(Basic, Normal, Fine). Rotating the Sub-command dial allows you to choose the
JPEG size but has no effect when the quality is set to RAW. When reviewing
your images or using the option, you can press the button to get a
closer look at the details of your image. This is a handy feature for checking the
sharpness and focus of your shot. When you are zoomed in, use the multi-selector
to navigate around within the image. To view your other images at the same
zoom ratio, you can rotate the Main Command dial. To return to full-frame play-
back, press the Zoom out button ( ). You may have to press multiple
times, depending on how much you have zoomed in.
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Nikon D600 Digital Field Guide
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▶ Zoom out/Thumbnail/ISO button ( ). In Shooting mode, pressing this
button and rotating the Main Command dial allows you to change the ISO set-
tings. In Playback mode, pressing this button allows you to go from full-frame
playback (or viewing the whole image) to viewing thumbnails. The thumbnails
can be displayed as 4, 9, or 72 images on a page. You can also view images by
calendar date. When you’re viewing the menu options, pressing this button dis-
plays a help screen that explains the functions of that particular menu option.
This button also allows you to zoom out after you have zoomed in on a particular
image. Pressing and holding this button in conjunction with the button resets
the camera to the default settings.
Front of the camera
The front of the D600 (with the lens facing you) is where you nd the buttons to
quickly adjust the ash settings as well as some camera-focusing options, and with
certain lenses, you will also nd some buttons that control focusing and Vibration
Reduction (VR).
▶ Sub-command dial. The Sub-command dial is used to adjust a number of differ-
ent things, but by default, it’s used to change the aperture setting in , , and
exposure modes. It also changes various settings when used with other buttons.
▶ AF-assist illuminator. This is an LED that shines on the subject to help the
camera focus when the lighting is dim. The AF-assist illuminator only lights up
when in Single-servo AF mode ( ) or Full-time-servo mode ( ) and the cen-
ter AF point is selected. This LED also lights up when you set the camera to
Red-Eye Reduction mode ( ) using the camera’s built-in ash.
▶ Built-in ash. This handy feature allows you to take sharp pictures in low-light
situations. Although not as versatile as one of the external Nikon Speedlights,
such as the SB-600 or SB-400, the built-in ash can be used very effectively and
is great for snapshots. I highly recommend getting a pop-up ash diffuser if you
plan on using it often. You can also use it to control off-camera Speedlights,
which is a great option that isn’t included on some of Nikon’s lower-end models.
▶ Preview button. By default, this button stops down the aperture to the current
setting (the lens aperture stays wide open until the shutter is released) so that
you can see in real time what the depth of eld will look like. It’s a customizable
button that you can change to a number of different settings. You can set the
button to quickly change the image quality, ISO sensitivity, white balance, or
Active D-Lighting settings via the Info display. Pressing the Preview button and
rotating the Command dial changes the settings. You can change the setting
options in f3.
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