Nikon D800E User manual

Nikon
DIGITAL CAMERA
User's Manual

To determine how the
camera sets shutter
speed and aperture
when adjusting
exposure, press the MODE
(_0_)button and rotate
the main command dial
until the desired option
appears in the control
panel.
MODE(_0_) button
Main command dial
[] Lens Types
When using a CPU lens equipped with an aperture ring (_ 373), lock
the aperture ring at the minimum aperture (highest f-number). Type G
lenses are not equipped with an aperture ring.
Non-CPU lenses can only be used in exposure mode/t (aperture-priority
auto) and _ (manual). In other modes, exposure mode/t is
automatically selected when a non-CPU lens is attached (_ 371,374).
The exposure mode indicator (P or,_q)will blink in the control panel and
A will be displayed in the viewfinden
[] Depth-of-Field Preview
To preview the effects of aperture, press and
hold the depth-of-field preview button. The lens
will be stopped down to the aperture value
selected by the camera (modes Pand 5) or the
value chosen by the user (modes/t and _),
allowing depth of field to be previewed in the
viewfinden
[] Custom Setting e4--Modeling Flash
This setting controls whether the built-in flash and optional flash units
such as the SB-91 O,SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 (_ 381) will
emit a modeling flash when the depth-of-field preview button is
3ressed. See page 307 for more information.
Depth-of-field
preview button
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P: Programmed Auto
In this mode, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and
aperture according to a built-in program to ensure optimal
exposure in most situations. This mode is recommended for
snapshots and other situations in which you want to leave the
camera in charge of shutter speed and aperture.
[] Flexible Program
In exposure mode P, different combinations of
shutter speed and aperture can be selected by
rotating the main command dial while the
exposure meters are on ("flexible program").
Rotate the dial to the right for large apertures
(small f-numbers) that blur background details
or fast shutter speeds that "freeze" motion.
Rotate the dial to the left for small apertures
(large f-numbers) that increase depth of field or
slow shutter speeds that blur motion. All
combinations produce the same exposure.
While flexible program is in effect, an asterisk
(":_") appears in the control panel. To restore
Main command dial
default shutter speed and aperture settings, rotate the dial until the
asterisk is no longer displayed, choose another mode, or turn the
camera off.
[] See Also
See page 411 for information on the built-in exposure program. For
information on activating the exposure meters, see "Auto Meter Off" on
page 42.
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.c,:Shutter-Priority Auto
In shutter-priority auto, you choose the shutter speed while the
camera automatically selects the aperture that will produce the
optimal exposure. Use slow shutter speeds to suggest motion by
blurring moving objects, fast shutter speeds to "freeze" motion.
Fast shutter speed (1/1,6oos) Slow shutter speed (1/6 s)
To choose a shutter
speed, rotate the main
command dial while
the exposure meters
are on. Shutter speed
can be setto"x 25o"or
to values between 30 s
and 1/8,000s.
(_ 126).
Main command dial
Shutter speed can be locked at the selected setting
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R: Aperture-Priority Auto
In aperture-priority auto, you choose the aperture while the camera
automatically selects the shutter speed that will produce the
optimal exposure. Large apertures (low f-numbers) increase flash
range (_ 187) and reduce depth of field, blurring objects behind
and in front of the main subject. Small apertures (high f-numbers)
increase depth of field, bringing out details in the background and
foreground. Short field depths are generally used in portraits to
blur background details, long field depths in landscape
photographs to bring the foreground and background into focus.
Small aperture (f/36)
To choose an aperture
between the minimum
and maximum values
for the lens, rotate the
sub-command dial
while the exposure
meters are on. Aperture
Large aperture (f/2.8)
5._
Sub-command dial
can be locked at the selected setting (_ 126).
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[] Non-CPU Lenses (_ 371,374)
Use the lens aperture ring to adjust aperture.
If the maximum aperture of the lens has been
specified using the Non-CPU lens data item
in setup menu (_ 213) when a non-CPU lens is
attached, the current f-number will be
displayed in the viewfinder and control panel,
rounded to the nearest full stop. Otherwise
the aperture displays will show only the
number of stops (_F, with maximum aperture displayed as _FS) and the
f-number must be read from the lens aperture ring.
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ri: Manual
In manual exposure mode, you control both shutter speed and
aperture. While the exposure meters are on, rotate the main
command dial to choose a shutter speed, and the sub-command
dial to set aperture. Shutter speed can be set to "x 25o" or to
values between 30 s and 1/8,000s, or the shutter can be held open
indefinitely for a long time-exposure (b,_,,'_b, _ 124). Aperture
can be set to values between the minimum and maximum values
for the lens. Use the exposure indicators to check exposure.
Aperture
Shutter
speed
Sub-command dial 2
Main command dial
Shutter speed and aperture can be locked at the selected
setting (_ 126).
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[] AFMicro NIKKORLenses
Providedthat an externalexposure meteris used,the exposure ratio need
only be taken into account when the lens aperture ring is usedto set
aperture.
[] Exposure Indicators
The exposure indicatorsin the viewfinder and control panel show
whether the photograph would be under- or over-exposed at current
settings. Depending on the option chosen for Custom Setting b2 (EV
steps for exposure cntrl, _ 287),the amount of under- or over-
exposure is shown in increments ofl/3 EV,1/2EV,or 1EV. Ifthe limits of
the exposure metering system are exceeded, the exposure indicators
and the shutter speed (modes Pand FI)and/or aperture (modes Pand
5) displays will flash.
[] See Also
For information reversing the exposure indicators so that negative
values are displayed on the right and positive values on the left, see
Custom Setting f12 (Reverse indicators, _ 319).
123

Atashutterspeedofb,_,Lb, the shutter will remain open while the
shutter-release button is held down. Use for long time-exposure
photographs of moving lights, the stars, night scenery, or
fireworks. A tripod and optional remote cord (_ 390) are
recommended to prevent blur.
Shutter speed: 35 s; aperture: f/2S
1 Ready the camera.
Mount the camera on a tripod or place it on a stable, level
surface. If you are using an optional remote cord, attach it to
the camera.
[] Long Time-Exposures
Close the viewfinder eyepiece shutter to prevent light entering via
the viewfinder from appearing in the photograph or interfering
with exposure. Nikon recommends using a fully charged EN-EL15
battery or an optional EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5B power
connector to prevent loss of power while the shutter is open. Note
that noise (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels or fog) may
be present in long exposures; before shooting, choose On for the
Long exposure NR option in the shooting menu (_ 277).
124

2Select exposure
mode M.
Press the MODE(_0_)
button and rotate
the main command
dial until/I is
displayed in the
control panel.
MODE(_0_) button
Main command dial
3Choose a shutter speed.
4
5
While the exposure meters are on, rotate
the main command dial until "bu Lb"
appears in the shutter-speed displays.
The exposure indicators do not appear
when "bu Lb" is selected.
Press the shutter-release button all the way down.
Press the shutter-release button on the camera or remote cord
all the way down. The shutter will remain open while the
shutter-release button is pressed.
Release the shutter-release button.
Remove your finger from the shutter-release button to record
the photograph.
125