Nikon D600 Experience
7
and AF-Area Mode (lock focus on the center of the flower), the exposure metering mode
(properly expose the petals), the aperture setting (the out-of-focus background), the
shutter speed (freezing the motion of the flower from the wind), the ISO (bright day) and
the white balance (sunny day). Taking control of all of these functions and settings will
enable you to consistently create the dramatic and compelling images you envision.
Learning to use and get the most out of an advanced digital SLR (dSLR) camera like
the D600 takes time, practice, patience, mistakes, and experimentation. If you have
upgraded from a previous dSLR such as the D7000, D90, or D300 (or one of their
predecessors), or from the D5100 or D3100 to the D600, you are in for a treat. Its full-
frame sensor will allow “uncropped” performance of your FX lenses while delivering
extremely high quality images. Its additional features and capabilities will more easily
help you to successfully capture scenes and situations that you may have been limited
in consistently attaining before. Its sophisticated and accurate autofocus system
coupled with its fast continuous shooting speed, plus its exposure metering system and
high ISO capabilities will help you get sharp images of subjects and moments that
previously you may have missed, especially in lower light situations.
If you are relatively new to dSLR photography and are still in the process of learning all
the controls of a dSLR and the exposure concepts of digital photography, you have
perhaps jumped right into the proverbial deep end of the pool by choosing the advanced
D600! But don’t worry, this book will help guide you through its features, controls, and
capabilities. Be sure to take it slowly and patiently as you learn the features and
concepts that I will explain. With practice and experience you will soon be shooting with
confidence and can begin to take advantage of the camera’s more advanced functions.
Even if you are an intermediate photographer, don’t expect to just pick up all the new
information at once, in one or two readings of a single book. (In fact, you wouldn’t want
to, as the never ending journey of learning and mastering photography is a big part of
what it’s all about!) Try not to become frustrated if you don’t quite understand something
or aren’t always getting the results you desire. Instead learn the controls, functions,
settings, and concepts bit by bit, try them out in real life shooting situations, and return
to this guide, the Nikon D600 User’s Manual, and other photography books to address
questions and problems you encounter. Continue to learn and to photograph often and
it should all begin to come together, sometimes slowly and sometimes in rapid bursts of
discovery and understanding.
1.2 Using This Guide
There are many different ways to use a dSLR camera and its controls to capture
images, and many diverse situations in which photographers work. I’m going to
concentrate on the techniques that I believe are the most practical, useful, and effective
for the majority of enthusiast photographers using the D600. The settings and
techniques I discuss can apply to various types of photography including general
photography, action, portrait, and travel photography. Once you have a firm grasp of the
controls, settings, and basic techniques you will have the tools and knowledge to
address different issues, specialized situations, and challenging scenes. I encourage
