Table of Contents
Preface xiii
Introduction xv
Chapter 1 Thinking Outside the Box 1
First Things First 2
In the Box 2
Optional and Non-Optional Add-Ons 4
Initial Setup 7
Mastering the Multi Selector and Command Dials 8
Setting the Clock 11
Battery Included 11
Final Steps 13
Chapter 2 Nikon D780 Quick Start 17
Choosing a Release Mode 17
Selecting an Exposure Mode 19
Choosing a Metering Mode 21
Choosing a Focus Mode 22
Choosing the Focus Area Mode 24
Other Settings 25
Adjusting White Balance and ISO 25
Using the Self-Timer 26
Reviewing the Images You've Taken 26
Transferring Photos to Your Computer- 27
Changing Default Settings 28
Resetting the Nikon D780 28
Recommended Default Changes 31
Shooting Tips 32
Photo Shooting Menu Recommendations 33
Custom Setting Menu Recommendations 33
Chapter 3 Nikon D780 Roadmap 39
Nikon D780: Full Frontal 40
The Nikon D780's Business End 45
Playing Back Images 50
Zooming the Nikon D780 Playback Display 51
Viewing Thumbnails 52
Working with Calendar View 54
Using the Photo Data Displays 55
Going Topside 58
Lens Components 61
Underneath Your Nikon D780 63
Looking Inside the Viewfinder 64
What's the Fuss about BSI? 66
Chapter 4 Nailing the Right Exposure 69
Getting a Handle on Exposure 69
Equivalent Exposure 72
How the D780 Calculates Exposure 74
Correctly Exposed 74
Overexposed 75
Underexposed 75
Choosing a Metering Method 77
Matrix Metering 78
Center-Weighted Metering 80
Spot Metering 81
Highlight-Weighted Metering 83
Choosing an Exposure Method 84
Aperture-Priority 84
Shutter-Priority 86
Program Mode 89
Manual Exposure 90
Adjusting Exposure with ISO Settings 91
Dealing with Noise 93
Bracketing 94
More on Bracketing 95
White Balance Bracketing 96
ADL Bracketing 97
Working with HDR 98
Auto HDR 98
Bracketing and Merge to HDR 100
Fixing Exposures with Histograms 103
Tonal Range 104
Histogram Basics 105
Understanding Histograms 107
Fine-Tuning Exposure 111
Chapter 5 Mastering the Mysteries of Autofocus 113
How Focus Works 113
Contrast Detection 115
Phase Detection 116
Improved Cross-Type Focus Point 119
Coverage Area 121
Adding Circles of Confusion 122
Autofocus with the Nikon D780 (Viewfinder Mode) 123
Autofocus Point Selection Overview 125
Choosing Autofocus Area Mode 126
Store by Orientation 130
Autofocus Mode and Priority 131
Autofocus Mode 131
Locking Focus 133
Autofocus with the Nikon D780 (Live View/Movie Modes) 134
Choosing Autofocus Area Mode (Live View/Movies) 135
Face/Eye Detection 138
Manual Focus 139
Autofocus Settings Summary 141
Trap (Auto) Focus 142
Back Button Focus 144
Activating Back Button Focus 146
Fine-Tuning the Focus of Your Lenses 146
Lens Tune-up Options 147
Manual Adjustment 147
Automatic Fine Tuning 153
Chapter 6 Advanced Features 155
Continuous Shooting 155
Super Speed 158
A Tiny Slice of Time 159
Working with Short Exposures 161
Long Exposures 164
Ways to Take Long Exposures 164
Working with Long Exposures 166
Delayed Exposures 168
Self-Timer 168
Interval/Time-Lapse Photography 169
Using Interval Photography 172
Star Trails 175
Time-Lapse Movies 177
Multiple Exposures 178
Focus Shift Shooting 182
Digitizing Negatives and Slides 186
Connecting to Your Smart Device or Computer 190
Linking Camera to Smart Device 191
Using the SnapBridge App 194
Camera Screen 195
Other Connection Options 199
Chapter 7 Working with Lenses 201
Sensor Sensibilities 201
What Lenses Can You Use? 204
Ingredients of Nikon's Alphanumeric Soup 204
Zoom or Prime? 207
Categories of Lenses 209
Using Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom Lenses 209
Avoiding Potential Wide-Angle Problems 211
Using Telephoto and Tele-Zoom Lenses 212
Avoiding Telephoto Lens Problems 214
Telephotos and Bokeh 215
Nikon's Lens Roundup 216
The Magic Three 216
Wide Angles 223
Telephoto Lenses 228
Macro Lenses 237
Chapter 8 Making Light Work for You 239
Continuous Lighting Basics 243
Living with Color Temperature 244
Daylight 246
Incandescent/Tungsten/Halogen Light 247
Fluorescent Light/LEDs 248
Other Lighting Accessories 250
Chapter 9 Electronic Flash with the Nikon D780 255
Electronic Flash Basics 255
The Moment of Exposure 257
A Tale of Two Exposures 260
Measuring Exposure 263
Guide Numbers 265
Choosing a Flash Sync Mode 265
Ghost Images 266
High-Speed Sync 269
Using External Flash 271
Using Flash Exposure Compensation 272
Specifying Flash Shutter Speed 273
Previewing Your Flash Effect 274
Flash Control 274
Working with Nikon Flash External Units 275
Nikon SB-300 275
Nikon SB-400 275
Nikon SB-500 275
Nikon SB-700 276
Nikon SB-R200 276
Nikon SB-910 277
Nikon SB-5000 278
Light Modifiers 279
Using Zoom Heads 280
Flash Modes 280
Repeating Flash 282
Chapter 10 Wireless and Multiple Flash 283
Elements of Wireless Flash 285
Master Flash 285
Remote Flashes 287
Channels 288
Groups 288
Lighting Ratios 289
Setting Your Master Flash 291
Setting Commander Mode for the SB-5000 291
Setting Commander Modes for the SB-910 or SB-900 295
Setting Commander Modes for the SB-700 297
Setting Commander Modes for the SB-500 297
Setting Remote Modes 298
Radio Control 299
Chapter 11 Payback, Photo Shooting, and Movie Shooting Menus 301
Anatomy of the Nikon D780's Menus 302
Playback Menu Options 303
Delete 303
Playback Folder 305
Playback Display Options 306
Copy Image(s) 306
Image Review 308
After Delete 309
Rotate Tall 309
Slide Show 310
Rating 311
Photo Shooting Menu Options 312
Reset Photo Shooting Menu 313
Storage Folder 313
File Naming 316
Role Played by Card in Slot 2 317
Image Area 320
Image Quality 321
Image Size 325
NEF (RAW) Recording 326
ISO Sensitivity Settings 328
White Balance 330
Set Picture Control 334
Manage Picture Control 342
Color Space 343
Active D-Lighting 346
Long Exposure NR 348
High ISO NR 349
Vignette Control 350
Diffraction Compensation 351
Auto Distortion Control 353
Flicker Reduction 353
Flash Control 354
Auto Bracketing 354
Multiple Exposure 355
HDR (High Dynamic Range) 356
Interval Timer Shooting 356
Time-Lapse Movie 357
Focus Shift Shooting 358
Silent Live View Photography 359
Movie Shooting Menu 359
Reset Movie Shooting Menu 359
File Naming 360
Destination 360
Image Area 361
Frame Size/Frame Rate 362
Movie Quality 362
Movie File Type 362
ISO Sensitivity Settings 362
White Balance 363
Set Picture Control 363
Manage Picture Control 364
Active D-Lighting 364
High ISO NR 364
Diffraction Compensation 365
Flicker Reduction 365
Electronic VR 365
Microphone Sensitivity 366
Attenuator 366
Frequency Response 366
Wind Noise Reduction 366
Headphone Volume 366
Timecode 367
Chapter 12 The Custom Settings Menu 369
Custom Settings Menu Layout 369
Reset Custom Settings 370
a Autofocus 374
a1 AF-C Priority Selection 375
a2 AF-S Priority Selection 375
a3 Focus Tracking with Lock-on 376
a4 3D-Tracking Face-Detection 376
a5 Auto-Area AF Face/Eye Detection 377
a6 Focus Points Used 377
a7 Store Points by Orientation 378
a8 AF Activation 378
a9 Focus Point Wrap-Around 379
a10 Focus Point Options 379
a11 Low-Light AF 380
a12 Manual Focus Ring in AF Mode 381
b Metering/Exposure 382
b1 EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl 382
b2 Easy Exposure Compensation 382
b3 Matrix Metering 383
b4 Center-Weighted Area 383
b5 Fine-Tune Optimal Exposure 384
c Timers/AE Lock 385
c1 Shutter-Release Button AE-L 385
c2 Standby Timer 385
c3 Self-Timer 386
c4 Monitor Off Delay 387
d Shooting/Display 388
d1 CL Mode Shooting Speed 388
d2 Max. Continuous Release 389
d3 Sync. Release Mode Options 390
d4 Exposure Delay Mode 390
d5 Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter 391
d6 Extended Shutter Speeds (Manual Exposure) 391
d7 File Number Sequence 392
d8 Save Original (EFFECTS) 394
d9 Exposure Preview (Live View) 394
d10 Framing Grid Display 395
d11 Peaking Highlights 395
dl2 LCD Illumination 395
d13 Live View in Continuous Mode 396
d14 Optical VR 396
e Bracketing/Flash 396
e1 Flash Sync Speed 396
e2 Flash Shutter Speed 397
e3 Exposure Compensation for Flash 398
e4 Auto Flash ISO Sensitivity Control 398
e5 Modeling Flash 398
e6 Bracketing Order 399
f Controls 399
f1 Customize i Menu 399
f2 Customize i menu (Live View) 401
f3 Custom Controls 401
f4 OK Button 405
f5 Customize Command Dials 405
f6 Release Button to Use Dial 407
f7 Reverse Indicators 407
f8 Illumination Switch 407
g Movie 408
g1 Customize i Menu 408
g2 Custom Controls 408
g3 AF Speed 409
g4 AF Tracking Sensitivity 410
g5 Highlight Display 410
Chapter 13 The Setup Menu, Retouch Menu, and My Menu 413
Setup Menu Options 413
Format Memory Card 414
Save User Settings 414
Reset User Settings 415
Language 415
Time Zone and Date 416
Monitor Brightness 416
Monitor Color Balance 417
Virtual Horizon 417
Information Display 418
AF Fine-Tuning Options 419
Non-CPU Lens Data 419
Clean Image Sensor 420
Lock Mirror Up for Cleaning 421
Image Dust Off Ref Photo 421
Pixel Mapping 422
Image Comment 422
Copyright Information 423
Beep Options 423
Touch Controls 423
HDMI 424
Location Data 425
Wireless Remote (WR) Options 426
Assign Remote (WR) Fn Button 427
Airplane Mode 427
Connect to Smart Device 427
Connect to PC 428
Wireless Transmitter (WT-7) 428
Conformity Marking 428
Battery Info 428
Slot Empty Release Lock 429
Save/Load Menu Settings 429
Reset All Settings 430
Firmware Version 430
Retouch Menu 431
NEF (RAW) Processing 432
Trim 432
Resize 434
D-Lighting 434
Quick Retouch 435
Red-Eye Correction 435
Straighten 436
Distortion Control 436
Perspective Control 436
Monochrome 437
Image Overlay 437
Trim Movie 438
Side-by-Side Comparison 438
Using My Menu/Recent Settings 438
Chapter 14 Capturing Video 441
Quick-Start Checklist 441
Lean, Mean, Movie Machine 443
Capturing Video 444
Slow-Motion Movies 449
Shooting Your Movie 449
Using the i Button 450
Stop That! 451
Viewing Your Movies 453
Trimming Your Movies 453
Saving a Frame 455
Chapter 15 Tips for Shooting Better Video 457
Using an External Recorder 457
Refocusing on Focus 461
Lens Craft 462
Depth-of-Field and Video 462
Zooming and Video 464
Keep Things Stable and on the Level 465
Shooting Script 466
Storyboards 467
Storytelling in Video 467
Composition 468
Lighting for Video 471
Illumination 471
Creative Lighting 472
Lighting Styles 472
Audio 473
Tips for Better Audio 473
External Microphones 475
Special Features 476
Chapter 16 Troubleshooting and Prevention 477
Upgrading Your Firmware 478
How It Works 478
Why Multiple Firmware Modules? 479
Getting Ready 479
Updating from a Card Reader 480
Starting the Update 480
Protecting Your LCD 481
Troubleshooting Memory Cards 482
All Your Eggs in One Basket? 482
Preventive Measures 483
What Can Go Wrong? 484
What Can You Do? 485
Cleaning Your Sensor 486
Dust the FAQs, Ma'am 487
Identifying and Dealing with Dust 489
Avoiding Dust 489
Sensor Cleaning 491
Index 495
