Nikon D90 - Digital Camera SLR User manual

Advanced Digital Imagery System (ADIS)
Nikon D90 Camera Kit
-Checklist and Operations Manual-
V1.3
October 22, 2010
National Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
Advanced Technology Group

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1.0 Equipment Pre-Mission Check
1.1 Open the ruggedized camera case and verify the following items are enclosed:
Nikon D90 camera with attached Sigma 18-200 mm stabilized lens, Nikon MB-
D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack, UV optical filter/lens protector and lens cap.
Sandisk (or equivalent) 8 GB SDHC memory card (may be stored in camera).
Nikon quick charger
2 –Rechargeable camera batteries (one stored in the camera multi-power pack)
6 AA battery fixture for use with the D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack (back-up
camera power module)
Nikon GP-1 GPS
Nikon GP-1 to D90 camera cable (one end plugged into GP-1)
Camera to computer cable
Camera to TV video cable (used to view photos on a television set)
Garmin eTrex H GPS with 2 AA batteries
Cable pair for connecting Garmin eTrex to the Nikon D90 camera
Cable pair for connecting Garmin eTrex to a computer
Satechi TR-M Timer Remote Control with 2 AAA batteries
Instruction manuals for the camera, GP-1 GPS, Garmin eTrex H and TR-M
Remote Control
Spare AA and AAA batteries
A cable is also enclosed that is used to connect the GP-1 GPS to a Nikon D200
camera. This cable is not for use with the D90 system.
Photos on next page help with identification of components

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Photos of equipment located in the D90 System Case
D90 camera with attachments Battery pack note: lens shield not used

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Photos of equipment located in the D90 System Case
AA batteries Satechi Timer Remote with AAA batteries
An inexpensive tripod or monopod is not included in the D90 Kit provided by
National Headquarters. Local purchase is recommended.
MonoPod (used to support camera during certain types of photo missions)

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1.2 Charge Camera Batteries
Plug in each battery pack, one at a time, and bring the batteries to full
charge. The indicator light will flash during charging. When fully
charged, the light will illuminate continuously.
1.3 Check Garmin eTrex GPS for battery condition
The Garmin eTrex H is used to record a mission track log. A track log is required in
order to determine aircraft direction, from which camera direction is determined. The
eTrex also serves as a back-up GPS in the event the Nikon GP-1 GPS proves unable to
remain locked onto the GPS satellite network which might happen when a mission is
flown in mountainous terrain.
The Garmin eTrex GPS requires two AA batteries. Install as follows:
Remove the battery cover located on the back of the eTrex. Battery is replaced by turning
the metal fastener on the back of the unit counter clockwise 90 degrees and then
removing the back cover. Install 2AA batteries. Replace cover.
Turn on the Garmin etrex GPS
[right side second button from top].
Push Page button [top button right
side] until the Menu screen appears.
At the bottom of the screen there is a
battery indicator- it should be grayed
in. If not more than 50% grayed in,
replace battery. When done, push
Power button until the unit turns off.
[right side, second button from top].
1.4 Nikon D90 Camera Pre-mission Initiation
Verify the camera is turned off

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Install memory card (card may already be in the camera)
by opening the door located on the right side of the
camera and gentally pushing the card in until it clicks in
place. A light located on the back-right of the camera
will briefly illuminate to confirm the card is seated. The
card can be removed by pushing the card in
and it will pop out. One 8 GB card is
furnished with the system. Local purchase
of additional cards is recommended.
Set the lens autofocus switch to AF
Set the camera autofocus switch to AF
Just to the left of the camera AF switch is the lens optical
stabilizer switch (OS). Place this switch to ON.
Rotate mode switch to “auto-no-flash”. The Mode
switch is located on the top-left side of the camera.
“auto-no-flash” is reached by setting the Mode dial to
“Auto” (green camera symbol) and then moving the
Mode dial one notch counter-clockwise. Auto-no-flash
assures the flash will not automatically pop up and
contact the hot-shoe mounted GP-1 GPS module if a
low light condition is encountered.
Set the focus selector switch to L

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Install the garmin GP-1 hot-shoe mounted GPS
If the GP-1 cable is not attached to the GPS, do so
by selecting the smaller of the two connector ends
(the end does not have the words Nikon or CA 90
on it) and pushing it into the side of the GP-1
marked “camera” while lining up the arrows on the
GP-1 and cable. Push it in until it snaps into place.
The arrow on the cable will no longer be visible.
Plug the other end of the cable into the camera
GPS port. The arrow on this cable end should be located so that it is visible from the back
of the camera. This connection does not snap into place; just slide it in all the way.
It is recommended the GP-1 cable be left attached at the GP-1 end while in storage.
Install Camera Batteries
The Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack is capable of holding two rechargeable
batteries or six AA batteries. The camera will work properly with only one rechargeable
battery installed. Two batteries give extended operation time. The six AA batteries are
only used if the rechargeable batteries are discharged and there is no electrical power
available to operate the charger, or if time is limited to allow for recharge.
The camera battery door is located on the back of the camera at the bottom. Flip out the
latch and rotate it counter clockwise to open the door. Gentally press the white tab to the
outside of the pack and then insert the battery as shown. To remove a battery, press the
associated white tab to the outside of the pack and the battery will pop out.
If the AA battery accessory is used, install the six batteries while observing proper
polarity. The accessory will move the white tabs as required.

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Remove Lens Cap
Turn on the camera
Check Batteries
Note: the battery symbol above shows the status of the battery in use. When two batteries
are installed it is better to follow the procedure below to check battery status.
Press the “Info” button to turn on the Monitor.
The following will show on the Monitor. Both batteries are shown;
the active battery (chosen by the camera) and the standby battery.
Reset the Camera
Press the +/- and AF buttons. Hold them pressed for
four seconds. The two buttons have green dots next to
them. The Control Panel Display will flash to confirm
reset has been completed.
Control Panel Display
Clear the memory card
Press the Menu button to bring up the Menu
Display on the Monitor.
The Menu Display is navigated by pressing the
up, down, left and right arrows on the Multi
Selector. The Multi Selector also has an “OK”
button located in its center.

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Press the left arrow key on the Multi Selector in order to
navigate the various Menu
screens. Press the up and
down keys to find the “Play
Back” menu. Press the right
key and then the up and/or
down keys to select the
Delete Menu. Press the right
key to select the Delete Page
and then move the up and/or
down keys to select All All. Push the right key and then the up
and/or down key to select “Yes” on the Delete All screen and
then push the OK button. All images on the memory card will
be erased.
Set the sensitivity of the imaging receptor by adjusting it’s ISO value.
Press the Menu Button to bring
up the Menu Screen. Press the
left arrow key on the Multi
Selector in order to navigate the
various Menu screens. Press the
up and down keys to find the
“Shooting Menu”. Press the right
key and then the up and/or down
keys to select ISO sensitivity setting. Press the right key to go to the ISO selection screen.
Press the up and/or down keys to select the ISO value; a setting of 800 is suggested for
aerial photography. Click OK.
Check Camera Settings
Press the Info button to bring up the Monitor Screen. The screen should look similar the
one shown here.
Automatic Mode No Flash
Battery Condition
Large Picture Size
JPEG Setting to JPEG Normal
GPS Active and Locked onto the Network
ISO Set to 800
Memory capable of storing 2100 photos (2.1K)

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1.5 Photo Check
The following is best done outside. Take both the
camera and eTrex GPS.
Take a photo of anything; scenery, airplane,
automobile, people, hanger…etc. Hold the shutter
button down half way for a second to allow the lens
to auto-focus. Press the shutter button all the way
down to take the photo.
Check the results.
Press the Playback button.
The picture will appear on the Monitor.
The photo should be sharp and properly exposed.
Push the Multi Selector “up” button to see the shooting
data display. The display shows the f-stop, shutter
speed, ISO value, lens focal length and an icon
confirming the camera is set to the auto mode with no
flash.
Press the Multi Selector “up” button one more time to
view the latitude, longitude, altitude, and time and date.
Presence of this data shows that the GP-1 GPS is working
correctly. Note that altitude is in meters.
Delete the Photo
Press the Delete Button twice to delete the photo just
taken.
1.6 Synchronize the eTrex and Camera Clocks and clear the Track Log
The track log recorded by the eTrex GPS will be coordinated with camera photographs
during post-processing of mission data. The coordination is done by matching photo time
and eTrex GPS time.