Nikon D800 Quick start guide

Technical Guide
Picture Control Edition
En

ii
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Introduction 2
Using Picture Controls 4
Using Picture Controls 4
Preset Picture Controls 6
Preset Picture Controls 6
Modifying Existing Picture Controls 8
Modifying Existing Picture Controls 8
Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images ...9
Matching Settings to Your Subject 12
Matching Settings to Your Subject 12
Food.......................................................................................... 12
• Vivid Food Photos........................................................................12
• Translucent Food Photos ..........................................................14
Portraits ................................................................................... 16
• Adding Depth ...............................................................................16
• Brightening Colors in Fill-Flash Photos................................18
• Emphasizing Shadows...............................................................20
• Bright Lights, Healthy Complexion .......................................22
• High-Contrast Black-and-White..............................................24
Interiors.................................................................................... 26
• Softening Highlights ..................................................................26
• Balancing Interior and Exterior Lighting.............................28
• Giving Interiors a Soft, Fuzzy Feel..........................................30

1
Managing Custom Picture Controls 32
Managing Custom Picture Controls 32
Creating Custom Picture Controls ...................................... 32
Sharing Custom Picture Controls........................................ 34
The Picture Control Utility 36
The Picture Control Utility 36
Creating Custom Picture Controls ..................................... 38
• Level Adjustment.........................................................................40
• Using Custom Tone Curves ......................................................42
Importing and Exporting Custom Picture Controls ........ 44
• Importing Controls to the Picture Control Utility ............44
• Saving Custom Picture Controls to a Memory Card........45

2
Introduction
This D800/D800E Technical Guide, Picture Control Edition helps
those who have mastered the basic techniques described in
the original D800/D800E Technical Guide progress to the next
level: using image enhancement to elevate mere photographs
into works of art. Taking one such image enhancement tech-
nique—Picture Controls—as an example, this guide shows
how professional photographers using the D800/D800E
choose and adapt settings according to the situation.
Available with compatible cameras and software, the exible,
fully customizable Nikon Picture Control image enhancement
system lets all photographers, from beginners to profession-
als, ne-tune color, exposure, and other settings to create
photographs and movies that better reect their artistic and
creative vision. This guide illustrates how Picture Controls can
be customized on the camera or using the Picture Control
Utility, which lets you preview the eects of even the smallest
change to Picture Control parameters.
Featuring the D800/D800E, which is equipped with a Picture
Control button for quick access to Picture Controls, this guide
shows how Picture Controls can be used to enhance movies
and photographs alike. Experience the exibility of an image
enhancement system that can be adapted to your subject
and creative intent.

3
One setting changes the look; changing the look creates new worlds.

4
Using Picture Controls
Users of the D800/D800E can display Picture Control settings
by pressing the L(Z/Q) button. Highlight a Picture Con-
trol and press J.
L(Z/Q) button
Jbutton
Picture Controls can also be ac-
cessed using the Set Picture Control
option in the shooting menu.

5
Picture Controls
To modify tone, hue, and other pa-
rameters (0
8
8), highlight a Picture
Control in the Picture Control list and
press 2.
The Manage Picture Control option in the shooting menu can
be used to save the modied controls (0
32
32) or to copy them to
a memory card for use in other cameras or compatible software
(0
34
34,
44
44).
When the L(Z/Q) button is used
to display Picture Controls in live view,
the eects of the highlighted control
can be previewed in the display.
Picture Controls can also be applied
to movies. Match your choice of Pic-
ture Control to your subject for more
vibrant colors or to add atmosphere
by lming in black and white.

6
Preset Picture Controls
The camera’s preset Picture Controls are described below.
Standard (default)
Description
Description Pictures are processed for balanced sharpness, contrast,
brightness, saturation (vividness), and hue.
Concept
Concept Parameters are tuned for an effect that appeals to most
viewers, regardless of the subject. Vividness is slightly
increased for pictures that can be used “as is”, with no
further processing.
Suggested for
Suggested for Snapshots and other general-purpose pictures.
Neutral
Description
Description Extreme exposure is avoided for clean, natural results.
Concept
Concept Under- and over-exposure are avoided for natural colors
and a rich tone range. Images are softened by keeping
sharpening and contrast low.
Suggested for
Suggested for Photographs that will later be processed or retouched to
create unique images; photos of objects that are mostly
black or white or that have soft outlines.
Vivid
Description
Description Sharpening, contrast, and other settings are enhanced for
vivid, fresh results with good contrast.
Concept
Concept A vivid, photoprint look with heightened sharpening and
contrast that makes the subject stand out.
Suggested for
Suggested for Colorful costumes or street scenes, fresh fruits, floral
arrangements and anywhere you want to emphasize
bright colors or enhance low-contrast subjects.

7
Monochrome
Description
Description Pictures are recorded in monochrome.
Concept
Concept Use Filter effects to reproduce the effects of color filters
when taking pictures in black-and-white, or use Toning
for monochrome pictures in other tints.
Suggested for
Suggested for Portraits, snapshots, landscapes, and any other subject
that can be captured in monochrome.
Portrait
Description
Description Settings are adjusted to enhance the complexion of por-
trait subjects.
Concept
Concept Natural-looking results that brighten and smooth the
complexions of portrait subjects and soften curves.
Sharpening and contrast are reduced slightly for a soft
effect. Background objects and clothing are rendered us-
ing settings similar to the Standard control.
Suggested for
Suggested for Portraits.
Landscape
Description
Description Settings are adjusted to lend vividness and depth to
scenes featuring blue skies and green foliage.
Concept
Concept Mid-tone levels are brought down for a calm, composed
effect, while vividness is restrained for natural-looking re-
sults. Sharpening and contrast are slightly increased.
Suggested for
Suggested for Wooded hills and valleys and other landscapes featuring
blue skies and green foliage, as well as cityscapes and
other scenery.

8
Modifying Existing Picture Controls
Existing Picture Controls can be modied to suit the scene
or your creative intent. Choose Quick adjust for a balanced
combination of settings or adjust each parameter manually.
1Select a Picture Control.
Highlight a Picture Control
in the Picture Control list and
press 2.
2Adjust settings.
Press 1or 3to highlight set-
tings and press 4or 2to ad-
just. Repeat until all settings
have been adjusted, or select
Quick adjust to choose from
preset combinations. Default
settings can be restored by
pressing the O(Q) button.
3Press J.

9
Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images
Quick Adjust
Quick Adjust Adjust the effect of the selected Picture Control by
applying simultaneous adjustments to sharpening,
contrast, and saturation. Not available with Neutral,
Monochrome, or custom Picture Controls.
Quick adjust: –2 Quick adjust: +2
Sharpening
Sharpening Control the sharpness of outlines. The higher the value,
the greater the sharpening.
Sharpening: 0 Sharpening: 9
Contrast
Contrast Adjust contrast. Choose negative values for softer con-
trast, positive values to preserve details in low-contrast
subjects.
Contrast: –3 Contrast: +3

10
Modifying Existing Picture Controls
Modifying Existing Picture Controls
Brightness
Brightness Adjust brightness without affecting exposure.
Brightness: –1 Brightness: +1
Non-monochrome Picture Controls only
Non-monochrome Picture Controls only
Saturation
Saturation Control the vividness of colors. Lower values reduce
saturation, while higher values increase it.
Saturation: –3 Saturation: +3
Hue
Hue Choose negative values to make reds more purple,
blues more green, and greens more yellow, positive
values to make reds more orange, greens more blue,
and blues more purple.
Hue: –3 Hue: +3

11
Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images
Modifying Picture Control Parameters: Sample Images
Monochrome Picture Controls only
Monochrome Picture Controls only
Filter
Filter
eects
eects
Simulate the effect of color filters when shooting in
monochrome.
Filter effect: OFF Filter effect: R
Toning
Toning Choose a tint for monochrome pictures.
Tint: Sepia Tint: Green
Hue: The Color Wheel
The hue parameter can be visualized as
a color wheel. Choosing lower values
rotates the wheel counterclockwise, so
that the hues at the top of the wheel
are replaced by their neighbors to the
right. Choosing higher values rotates
the wheel clockwise, so that the hues
at the top of the wheel are replaced by
their neighbors to the left.

12
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Choose and modify Picture Controls according to your goals
and creative intent.
Food
Shoot stimulating, delicious-looking pictures of food.
Vivid Food Photos
Selecting Vivid and adjusting contrast makes the roast and
side dishes more vivid and appealing.
■Lens: AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED ■Exposure
mode: Manual (⁄ s, f/11) ■White balance: Direct sunlight
Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us-
ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi

13
The photo on the previous
page was taken using the Vivid
Picture Control with Contrast
set to –1 to make the meat ap-
pear less greasy.
“Vivid” Versus “Standard”
While Standard produces bal-
anced results, Vivid makes the
food look freshly served.
Quick Tip
Greens That Pop
Standard Landscape
The Landscape Picture Control vividly renders dishes that fea-
ture vegetables and other green items.

14
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Translucent Food Photos
The Vivid control can be modied for a translucent eect.
■Lens: AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED ■Exposure mode:
Manual (¼ s, f/11) ■White balance: Direct sunlight
Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us-
ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Noriko Yamaguchi
Contrast and brightness raised
to make glass appear more
transparent.
Redness increased to bring out
colors in salmon and shrimp.

15
Food
Food
The photo on the previous
page was taken using the Vivid
Picture Control with Contrast,
Brightness, and Saturation set
to +1 and Hue to –1 to suppress
the blue cast from natural light
and bring out the red foods on
the plate.
The Modied Versus the Unmodied Picture Control
Although the results still reect
the photographer’s original in-
tent, under some lighting con-
ditions the picture will have a
blue cast that makes red foods
appear more subdued.
Quick Tip
Creating an Ascetic Eect
Vivid Neutral
If Vivid makes food look rich, selecting Neutral before shooting
can lend dishes a certain Spartan appeal.

16
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Portraits
Improve your portraits with Picture Controls.
Adding Depth
A slight increase in
sharpening adds
depth by heighten-
ing the dierences
between in- and
out-of-focus areas.
Sharpening in-
creases separation
between subject
and background.
■Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G ■Exposure mode: Manual (⁄ s,
f/4.5) ■White balance: Direct sunlight
Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us-
ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri

17
Portraits
Portraits
The photo on the previous page
was taken using the Portrait Picture
Control with Sharpening set to 4.
Other parameters are left at default
values for a soft eect.
The Modied Versus the Unmodied Picture Control
Unmodied Picture Control Modied Picture Control
The modied Picture Control sharpens outlines in eyelashes,
hair, and other ne details, preventing the subject appearing
at and two-dimensional.

18
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Matching Settings to Your Subject
Brightening Colors in Fill-Flash Photos
When using a ll-ash in daylight, increase Saturation to
avoid washed out colors in areas lit by the ash.
Sky is a beautiful
clear blue.
More depth visible
in shaded, underex-
posed areas of turf.
■Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G ■Exposure mode: Manual (½ s,
f/14) ■White balance: Direct sunlight
Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed us-
ing Capture NX 2. Photo © Daisuke Kumakiri