Exploring the Nikon D90 13

Exploring the CHAPTER Nikon D90 11 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

his chapter covers the key components of the Nikon In This Chapter D90. These are the features that are most readily acces- T Key components of sible because they’re situated on the outside of the camera: the buttons, knobs, switches, and dials. the D90

If you’re upgrading from another Nikon dSLR, some of this The D90 DX CMOS may seem like review, but there are some new features that sensor you may or may not be aware of, so a quick read-through is a Viewﬁ nder display good idea even if you’re an experienced Nikon dSLR user. Control panel For those of you who are new to the world of dSLRs, this chapter is a great way to become acquainted with some of the terms Shooting Info Display that are used in conjunction with your new camera. ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ So, let’s explore the D90!

Key Components of the D90 If you’ve read the Quick Tour, you should be pretty familiar with the buttons and switches that you need for basic settings. In this section, you look at the camera from all sides and break down the layout so that you know what everything on the camera’s surface does.

This section doesn’tCOPYRIGHTED cover the menus (see Chapter MATERIAL 3), only the exterior controls. Although there are many features you can access with just the push of a button, you can usually change the same setting inside of a menu option. While the D90 doesn’t have the same amount of buttons as some of its bigger siblings in the Nikon line, it does have quite a few of them. Knowing exactly what these buttons do can save you a lot of time and help you to not miss out on getting a shot. 12 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

Top of the camera pressing this button activates the camera’s autofocusing and light The top of the D90 is where you fi nd some meter. When you fully depress this of the most important buttons and dials. button, the shutter is released and This is where you can change the Shooting a photograph is taken. When the mode and press the Shutter Release to take camera has been idle and has gone your photo. Also included in this section is a to sleep, lightly pressing the Shutter brief description of some of the things you Release button wakes up the cam- fi nd on the top of the lens. era. When the image review is on, lightly pressing the Shutter Release Although your lens may vary, most button turns off the LCD and pre- of the features are quite similar pares the camera for another shot. from lens to lens. ✦ On/Off switch/LCD illuminator. ✦ Mode dial. This is an important dial. This switch, which surrounds the Rotating this dial allows you to Shutter Release button, is used to quickly change your Shooting mode. turn the camera on and off . Push You can choose one of the Scene the switch all the way to the left to modes or one of the semiautomatic turn off the camera. Pull the switch modes or you can choose to manu- to the right to turn your camera on. ally set the exposure. This button also has a spring- loaded switch that, when pulled all For more on the Exposure modes, the way to the right, lights up the see Chapter 2. LCD control panel on the top of the camera for viewing in dim light. ✦ Focal plane mark. The focal plane You can also set this momentary mark shows you where the plane switch to light up the LCD control of the image sensor is inside the panel and show the Shooting Info camera. The sensor isn’t exactly Display on the rear LCD in the where the mark is; the sensor is Custom Setting menu (CSM f1). directly behind the lens opening. ✦ When doing certain types of pho- Metering mode button. This but- tography, particularly macro photon is used to choose the Metering tography by using a bellows lens, mode. Press this button and then you need to measure the length of rotate the Main Command dial the bellows from the front element until the desired mode appears on of the lens to the focal plane. This the LCD control panel. You can is where the focal plane mark choose Matrix, Center-weighted, or comes in handy. Spot metering. This button also doubles as one of the two-button ✦ Shutter Release button. In my format buttons. opinion, this is the most important button on the camera. Halfway Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 13

Focal length indicators Metering mode button On/Oﬀ switch/LCD illuminator

Zoom ring Focus ring Shutter Release button

Exposure Compensation button Release mode button

Mode dial Hot shoe Autofocus (AF) mode button

Focal plane mark LCD control panel Image courtesy of Nikon 1.1 Top-of-the-camera controls

Command dial to the right For more on Metering modes, see decreases the exposure, while turn- Chapter 2. ing the dial to the left increases the ✦ Exposure Compensation button. exposure. Pressing this button in conjunction You can reset the camera to its with rotating the Main Command default settings by pressing the dial allows you to modify the expo- Exposure Compensation button sure that’s set by the D90’s light and the AF mode button at the meter or the exposure you set in same time and holding them down Manual mode. Turning the Main for about 2 seconds. 14 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

✦ Release mode button. Pressing the high-end Nikkor AF-S lenses this button and then rotating the that have M/A–A switches, you can Main Command dial changes the manually adjust the focus at any Release mode of the camera. You time. On other lenses — typically can choose from Single Frame, older, low-end AF-S lenses that Continuous Low Speed, have an A-M switch, such as the Continuous High Speed, Self-timer, Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and Delayed Remote, and Quick non-Nikon lenses — you must Remote. In order to use the remote switch the lens to Manual mode or function, you must purchase an disable the focusing mechanism by ML-L3 wireless infrared remote. using the AF/M switch on the camera body. With the kit lens, you ✦ AF (Autofocus) mode button. must switch to Manual mode. Pressing this button and then rotating the Main Command dial allows Rotating the focus ring while the you to choose the AF mode. Your lens is set to Autofocus can dam- choices are AF-A, AF-S, or AF-C. age your lens and/or camera.

For more on the ML-L3 wireless ✦ Zoom ring. Rotating the zoom ring infrared remote, see Appendix A. For allows you to change the focal more on AF modes, see Chapter 2. length of the lens. Prime lenses don’t have a zoom ring. ✦ LCD control panel. This monochrome LCD panel displays camera ✦ Focal length indicators. These settings. This feature is covered numbers indicate to which focal later in this chapter. length in millimeters your lens is zoomed. ✦ Hot shoe. This is where an accessory fl ash is attached to the camera For more on lenses, see Chapter 4. body. The hot shoe has an electronic contact that tells the fl ash to fi re when the shutter is released. Back of the camera There are also a number of other electronic contacts that allow the The back of the camera is where you fi nd camera to communicate with the the buttons that mainly control playback fl ash to enable the automated fea- and menu options, although there are a few tures of a dedicated fl ash unit, such buttons that control some of the shooting as Nikon’s brand-new SB-900 functions. Speedlight. Most of the buttons have more than one ✦ Focus ring. Rotating the focus ring function — a lot of them are used in con- enables you to manually focus the junction with the Main Command dial or camera. With some lenses, such as Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 15 the Multi-selector. You also fi nd several key ✦ Viewfi nder. This is what you look features on the back of the camera, includ- through to compose your photo- ing the all-important viewfi nder and LCD: graphs. Light coming through the lens is refl ected through a pen- ✦ LCD. This is the most obvious fea- taprism, which enables you to see ture on the back of the camera. exactly what you’re shooting (as This 3-inch, 920,000-dot liquid opposed to a rangefi nder camera, crystal display (LCD) screen is a which gives you an approximate very bright, high-resolution screen view). Around the viewfi nder is a that’s the same as the higher-end rubber eyepiece that serves to give D3, D700, and D300 Nikon cam- you a softer place to rest your eye eras. The LCD is where you review and to block any extra light from your images after shooting. The entering the viewfi nder as you Shooting Info Display also appears compose and shoot your images. here, and this is where you view all the menus.

Diopter adjustment control Delete button Viewﬁnder AE-L/AF-L

Main Command dial

Playback button Live View button

Menu button Multi-selector White Balance/ OK button Help/Protect ISO/Thumbnail/ Zoom Out button

Quality/Zoom In button LCD Information button Memory card access lamp Focus selector lock Image courtesy of Nikon 1.2 Back-of-the-camera controls 16 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

✦ Diopter adjustment control. Just to the right of the viewfi nder is the Setting the AE-L/AF-L button to AE diopter adjustment control. Use Lock (hold) when shooting video allows you to lock the exposure so this control to adjust the viewfi nder that the video doesn’t fl uctuate lens to suit your individual vision between light and dark when fi lm- diff erences (not everyone’s eyesight ing in a setting with areas that have is the same). To adjust this, look high contrast between the highlights through the viewfi nder and then and shadows, such as with spot- rotate the diopter control until the lights at a performance or under dappled sunlight. viewfi nder information is sharp. You can also press the Shutter ✦ Live View (Lv) button. Pressing Release button halfway to focus on this button activates the Live View something. If what you see in the function. Pressing the button a sec- viewfi nder isn’t quite sharp, rotate ond time disables Live View and the diopter control up or down returns the camera to the standard until everything appears in focus. Shooting mode. ✦ AE-L/AF-L. The Autoexposure/ ✦ Multi-selector. The Multi-selector Autofocus Lock button is used to also serves a few diff erent pur- lock the Autoexposure (AE) and poses. In Playback mode, the Multi- Autofocus (AF). You can also cus- selector is used to scroll through tomize the button to lock only the the photographs you’ve taken, and AE or only the AF. It can also be set it can also be used to view image to lock the exposure with a single information, such as histograms press and reset with a second press and shooting settings. When in cer- (AE Lock (hold)). You can set the tain Shooting modes, the Multi- button to initiate AF (AF-On) and to selector can be used to change the lock the fl ash exposure value (FV active focus point when in Single Lock). This can be set using CSM f4. Point or Dynamic Area AF mode. For more on customizing the AE-L/ You also use the Multi-selector to AF-L button, see Chapter 3. navigate the camera’s menus. ✦ ✦ OK button. When in Menu mode, Main Command dial. This dial is press this button to select the used to change a variety of settings menu item that’s highlighted. When depending on which button you Live View is activated, pressing this press in conjunction with it. By button starts recording video by default, it’s used to change the using D-Movie mode. shutter speed when in Shutter Priority and Manual modes. It’s also For more on D-Movie mode, see used to adjust exposure compensa- Chapter 7. tion as well as change the Release, AF, and Flash modes. ✦ Focus selector lock. This switch allows you to lock the selected focus area so that it can’t be accidentally changed. Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 17

✦ Information (info) button. ✦ Playback button. Pressing this but- Pressing this button causes the ton displays the most recently Shooting Info Display to appear. taken photograph. You can also This shows some camera settings, view other pictures by pressing the such as aperture, shutter speed, Multi-selector left or right. and others. Pressing the Shutter ✦ Menu button. Press this button to Release button lightly returns you access the D90 menu options. to the default Shooting mode. There are a number of diff erent Press this button again while view- menus, including Playback, ing the Shooting Info Display to Shooting, Custom Setting, Setup, enter the Quick Settings Display, Retouch, and Recent Settings/My which allows you to quickly access Menu. Use the Multi-selector to some commonly used features. The choose the menu you want to Shooting Info Display and Quick view. Settings Display are discussed later in this chapter. ✦ White Balance/Help/Protect. This button has the icon of a key and ✦ Memory card access lamp. When question mark on it. Above it is WB. this light is blinking, the camera is This button actually has a few diff er- transferring data to the memory ent uses. When in Shooting mode, card. Under no circumstances press this button and then rotate should the memory card be the Main Command dial to change removed when this is lit. This can the white balance (WB) setting. damage your camera or the card Rotating the Sub-command dial and will almost certainly result in a allows you to fi ne-tune the current loss of images. WB setting, making it warmer or ✦ Delete button. When reviewing cooler. The WB setting can only be your pictures, if you fi nd some that changed when using the M, A, S, you don’t want to keep, you can and P settings. When in Playback delete them by pressing the button mode, this button is used to lock an marked with a trash can icon. To image to prevent it from accidentally prevent accidental deletion of being erased. When viewing the images, the camera displays a dia- image you want to protect, simply log box asking you to confi rm that press this button. A small key icon is you want to erase the picture. Press displayed in the upper right-hand the Delete button a second time to corner of images that are protected. permanently erase the image. When viewing the menu options or when the camera is set to a Scene You can format the SD card by mode, pressing this button displays pressing the Metering mode button a help screen that explains the func- and the Delete button at the same tions of that particular menu option time and holding them down for about 2 seconds then release the or Scene mode. buttons and press them again. 18 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

✦ ISO/Thumbnail/Zoom Out button. Depending on how much you’ve When the camera is in Shooting zoomed in, you may have to press mode, pressing this button allows the Zoom Out button multiple you to manually adjust the ISO sen- times. sitivity. When using a Scene mode in which the Auto ISO function is set, using this option allows you to Front of the camera override the Auto ISO setting. In The front of the D90 (lens facing you) is Playback mode, pressing this but- where you fi nd the buttons to quickly adjust ton allows you to go from full- frame playback (or viewing the the fl ash settings, bracketing, and some whole image) to viewing thumb- focusing options, and with certain lenses, nails. You can view either four, you fi nd some buttons that control focusing nine, or 72 thumbnails on a page. and Vibration Reduction (VR). Pressing this button a fourth time shows a calendar view that displays Right front images taken on a specifi c day. ✦ Flash pop-up button/Flash mode When you’re zoomed into an image button/Flash Exposure during playback or Live View, this Compensation button. Press this button allows you to zoom out. button to open and activate the ✦ Quality (QUAL)/Zoom In button. built-in Speedlight when in M, A, S, When in Shooting mode, press this or P mode. Rotate the Main button and then rotate the Main Command dial to change the Flash Command dial to change the mode, and rotate the Sub- image quality and JPEG compres- command dial to adjust the Flash sion. You can choose from RAW, Exposure Compensation (FEC) but- fi ne, normal, or basic JPEG or RAW ton. When using Scene modes, this + fi ne, normal, or basic JPEG. button functions diff erently for dif- Rotating the Sub-command dial ferent modes. allows you to choose the size of your JPEG fi les: Large, Medium, or For more on Scene modes, see Chapter 2. Small. When reviewing your images, you can press the Zoom In ✦ Bracketing (BKT) button. This but- button to get a closer look at the ton allows you to activate exposure details of your image. This is a bracketing. Pressing this button and handy feature for checking the then rotating the Main Command sharpness and focus of your shot. dial, you can set the number of When zoomed in, use the Multi- bracketed exposures. You can selector to navigate around within bracket up to three frames. The the image. To view your other choices are 3 frames (metered, images at the same zoom ratio, you over, under), –2 (metered, under), can rotate the Main Command dial. and +2 (metered, over). Pressing To return to full-frame playback, this button and then rotating the press the Zoom Out button. Sub-command dial allows you to Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 19

choose the exposure value increment ✦ Lens Release button. This button (EV). These are adjusted in 1/3-stop disengages the locking mechanism increments from 0.3 EV to 2.0 EV. of the lens, allowing you to rotate and remove the lens from the lens For more information on bracketing, mount. see Chapter 5. ✦ Lens Focus mode selector. This ✦ Microphone. This built-in con- switch is used to quickly choose denser microphone allows you to between using the lens in Auto or record sound when shooting video. Manual mode. Not all lenses are equipped with these switches. ✦ Infrared receiver. This allows you to wirelessly control the Shutter Release by using the optional ML-L3 wireless infrared remote.

Microphone Flash pop-up button/Flash mode button/ Flash Exposure Compensation button Infrared receiver

Bracketing button

Lens Release button

Lens Focus mode selector Focus mode selector

Vibration Reduction switch Image courtesy of Nikon 1.3 Front-right camera controls 20 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

✦ VR switch. This allows you to turn pictures in low-light situations. the Vibration Reduction (VR) on or Although not as versatile as one of off (if your lens is VR-equipped). the external Nikon Speedlights, When shooting in bright light with such as the SB-900, SB-800, or fast shutter speeds or using a tripod, SB-600, the built-in fl ash can be it’s best to turn the VR off to reduce used very eff ectively and is great for battery consumption. snapshots. You can also use the built-in fl ash as the commander for ✦ Focus mode selector. This switch wireless remote fl ash. is used to choose between using the lens in Auto or Manual mode. For more on using fl ash, see You also use this switch if a lens Chapter 6. doesn’t have its own switch, such as a non-AF-S lens. ✦ AF-assist illuminator. This is an LED (light-emitting diode) that Left front shines on the subject to help the ✦ Built-in fl ash. This is a handy fea- camera focus when the lighting is ture that allows you to take sharp

AF-assist illuminator Built-in ﬂash Sub-command dial

Function button Depth of Field Preview button Image courtesy of Nikon 1.4 Left-front camera controls Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 21

dim. The AF-assist illuminator only Sides and bottom lights when in Single Focus mode (AF-S) or Autofocus mode (AF-A) of camera when using the center AF point. The sides and bottom of the camera have When using M, A, S, or P, the places for connecting and inserting things, AF-assist illuminator can be such as cables, batteries, and memory cards. switched on or off in CSM a3. When using a Scene mode, this is set automatically. Right side ✦ Function (Fn) button. This button On the camera’s right side (lens facing you) can be assigned to provide diff er- are the D90’s output terminals. These are ent functions. You can set the but- used to connect your camera to a computer ton to display a framing grid in the or to an external source for viewing your viewfi nder, change the AF Area images directly from the camera. mode, move the focus point to the center, lock the fl ash exposure These terminals are hidden under a plastic value (FV Lock), switch the fl ash cover that helps keep out dust and moisture: off , change Metering modes, access the top My Menu item, or shoot a ✦ DC in. This AC adapter input con- RAW fi le in conjunction with the nection allows you to plug the D90 current JPEG setting. The Function into a standard electrical outlet by (Fn) button can be assigned to a using the Nikon EH-5 or EH-5a specifi c function in CSM f3. AC-to-DC adapter. This allows you to operate the camera without ✦ Depth of Field Preview button. draining your batteries. The AC Also known simply as the Preview adapter is available separately from button, pressing this button stops Nikon. down the aperture of the lens so you can preview how much of the ✦ USB port. This is where the USB subject is in focus. The image in the cable plugs in to attach the camera viewfi nder gets darker as the aper- to your computer to transfer or ture decreases. print images straight from the camera. The USB cable is also used to ✦ Sub-command dial. By default, this connect the camera to the com- dial is used to change the aperture puter when using Nikon’s optional setting. Pressing the WB button and Camera Control Pro 2 software. then rotating this dial fi ne-tunes the current WB setting. When set to PRE ✦ HDMI out. The high-defi nition WB, rotating this dial allows you to video output terminal is used to select from one of the fi ve available connect the camera to a high- custom presets that you can save. defi nition TV (HDTV). The camera is connected with an optional Type C mini-pin HDMI cable that can be purchased at an electronics store. 22 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

DC in

USB port

HDMI out Video-out port Accessory terminal

Image courtesy of Nikon 1.5 The D90’s output terminals

Memory card slot cover

Built-in speaker Image courtesy of Nikon 1.6 Memory card slot cover and speaker Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 23

✦ Video out. This connection, oﬃ cially opens it so you can insert or remove your called standard video output, is used memory card. Also located here is the to connect the camera to a standard speaker that’s used when playing back TV or VCR for viewing your images D-Movie videos. on-screen. The D90 is connected with the EG-D100 video cable that’s supplied with the camera. Bottom The bottom of the camera has a couple of ✦ Accessory terminal. This port is features that are quite important: used to connect the optional Nikon GP-1 GPS unit or the remote ✦ Battery chamber cover. This MC-DC2 cord. covers the chamber that holds the EN-EL3e battery that’s supplied For more on optional accessories, see Appendix A. with your D90. ✦ Tripod socket. This is where you Left side attach a tripod or monopod to help steady your camera. On the left side of the camera (lens facing you) is the memory card slot cover. Sliding this door toward the back of the camera

Battery chamber cover

Tripod socket Image courtesy of Nikon 1.7 The bottom of the D90 24 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90 The D90 CMOS Sensor The imaging sensor is one of the most important parts of the camera and unfortunately also one of the most misunderstood. Not many people understand how these sensors work and what the diff erences are between the two most common types of sensors — CMOS and CCD — so this section sheds some light (no pun intended) on exactly what’s going on when the sensor is exposed. Image courtesy of Nikon 1.8 The D90 12.3-MGP DX-format CMOS The Nikon D90 has a 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor sensor with an integrated dust reduction system. The D90 sensor is an APS-C-sized sensor. APS (Advanced Photo System) is a For more on DX sensor and crop fi lm format that was designed by Kodak to factor, see Chapter 4. make photography easier for amateurs by allowing the photographer to control the image aspect ratio in the camera. The nega- From analog to digital tives were smaller than standard 35mm Believe it or not, digital image sensors are negatives. There were three image sizes that actually analog devices that capture light just × you could choose from: APS-H (30.2mm like emulsion on a piece of fi lm. When the × 16.7mm) 16:9; APS-C (25.1mm 16.7mm) shutter opens, light from the scene that you’re × 3:2; and APS-P (30.2mm 9.5mm) 3:1. The photographing, whether sunlight or fl ash, trav- D90 sensor is actually a bit smaller than the els through the lens and projects (hopefully in × standard APS-C fi lm, being 23.6mm focus) onto the sensor. Each sensor has mil- 15.8mm, but still has the 3:2 aspect ratio. lions of pixels, which act as a receptacle that Nikon refers to this sensor size in its propri- collects individual photons of light. A photon is etary term of DX, so from here on out, I refer a quantum particle of light, which is a form of to the sensor size as DX. electromagnetic radiation. The more photons the pixel collects, the brighter the area is; con- The reason for these smaller DX sensors is versely, if the pixel doesn’t collect a lot of pho- that manufacturing these sensors made from tons, the area is dark. silicon was (and still is to an extent) very expensive, and reducing the size of the for- Each pixel has a photodiode that converts × mat from 36mm 24mm (35mm fi lm size) these photons into minute electrical charges to APS-C allowed camera manufacturers to that the Analog/Digital (A/D) converter produce dSLRs at more aff ordable prices. reads. The A/D converter renders this analog data into digital data that can be utilized by Nikon’s EXPEED imaging processor. Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 25

power than CCD sensors. Multiple channels CMOS versus CCD of sensor data can also be sent out at the About half of Nikon’s dSLRs use Charge same time, so the CMOS sensor can send the Coupled Device (CCD) sensors, although data to the A/D converter much faster. CMOS Nikon appears to be moving away from this chips are also cheaper to manufacture than technology by putting a CMOS sensor in the CCD chips. D90. Although CMOS and CCD sensors do the same job, they do it diff erently, and each type of sensor has its own strengths and Pixels weaknesses. The more pixels the sensor has, the higher the resolution of the sensor. However, pack- CCD ing more pixels onto a sensor means that The name Charge Coupled Device refers to although the resolution is higher, each pixel how the sensor moves the electrical charges becomes less eff ective at gathering light created by the photons that the pixels have because it’s much smaller. A larger pixel is collected. The CCD sensor moves these more eff ective at gathering photons; there- electrical charges from the fi rst row of pixels fore, you get a wider dynamic range and a to a shift register (a digital circuit that allows better signal-to-noise ratio, which means the charges to be shifted down the line). less inherent noise and the ability to achieve From there, the signal is amplifi ed so the a higher ISO sensitivity. A/D converter can read it. The sensor then repeats the processes with each row of pix- Micro-lenses els until every row of pixels on the sensor In addition to having larger pixels to gather has been processed. This is a pretty precise more light, camera manufacturers place method of transfer, but in digital terms, it’s micro-lenses over the pixels. These micro- quite slow. It requires a large amount of lenses collect the light and focus them onto power, relatively speaking, so it uses more the photodiode much the same way the of the camera’s battery, which equals fewer camera lens focuses the image onto the shots per charge. CCD sensors have a higher sensor. By making the micro-lenses larger, signal-to-noise ratio, which makes them less Nikon has decreased the gaps between the prone to high ISO noise than CMOS sensors pixels, which increases the eff ective light and enables them to provide a higher image gathering ability of each one, allowing the quality. camera to produce less noise in the image.

CMOS Interpreting color Just like a CCD sensor, a CMOS (Comple- The light-sensitive pixels on the sensor only mentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) sensor measure the brightness in relation to how has millions of pixels and photodiodes. With many photons it has gathered, so the basic the CMOS sensor, each pixel has its own image captured is, in eff ect, black and white. amplifi er, and each pixel converts the charge To determine color information, the pixels to voltage on the spot. It’s much more effi - are covered with red-, green-, or blue-colored cient to transfer voltage than it is to transfer a fi lters. These fi lters are arranged in a Bayer charge; therefore, CMOS sensors use less 26 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90 pattern. (Dr. Bryce Bayer was a scientist at that the focus point is only shown Kodak who developed this pattern.) The full-time when in the Single or Bayer pattern lays the fi lters out in an array Dynamic AF setting. When the cam- that consists of 50% green, 25% blue, and era is set to Auto Area AF, the focus 25% red. The green fi lters are luminance- point isn’t shown until the Shutter sensitive (brightness) elements, and the red Release button is half-pressed and and blue fi lters are chrominance-sensitive focus is achieved. (color) elements. Twice as many green fi lters ✦ Framing grid. When this option is are used to simulate human eyesight, given turned on in the Custom Setting that our eyes are more sensitive to green menu (CSM d2), you see a grid dis- than to red or blue. played in the viewing area. This is to help with composition. Use the The camera determines the colors in the grid to help line up elements of image by a process called demosaicing. In your composition to ensure that demosaicing, the camera interpolates the things are straight (or not). red, green, and blue data for each pixel by ✦ 8mm [center-weighted] reference using information from adjacent pixels. circle. These curves located at the Interpolation is a mathematical process in top and bottom of the AF Area which sets of known data are used to deter- brackets give you an idea of how mine new data points. (I like to call it an much of an area of the frame is educated guess.) used for Center-weighted metering. The curves show you an area of When shooting NEF fi les, the RAW 8mm, which is the default circle converter handles the demosaicing. size for Center-weighted metering. Note that although you can change the size of the area for Center- weighted metering (CSM b3), this Viewfi nder Display display doesn’t change. When looking through the viewfi nder, you ✦ Black and White indicator. This see a lot of useful information about the icon appears when the Picture photo you’re composing. Most of the infor- Control is set to monochrome (MC). mation is also displayed in the LCD screen on the top of the camera, but it’s less handy For more on Picture Controls, see on top when you’re composing a shot. Chapter 2. ✦ Here’s a complete list of all the information Battery indicator. This icon you get from the viewfi nder display: appears when the battery charge is getting low. When this icon is blink- ✦ Focus points. The fi rst thing you’re ing, the battery has been depleted likely to notice when looking and you can’t take any more pic- through the viewfi nder is a small tures until the battery has been bracket near the center of the frame. charged and replaced or a charged This is your active focus point. Note backup battery is installed. Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 27

Framing grid 8mm [center-weighted] reference circle

No memory card warning Focus points

Battery Battery indicator indicator Black and White indicator B/W WB bracketing indicator

WB-BKT FV lock indicator

Focus indicator FEC Auto ISO sensitivity Bracketing indicator ISO compensation indicator AE Lock indicator indicator sensitivity Thousands Shutter speed display Light indicator indicator meter Flash-ready Aperture/f-stop display indicator Exposure Remaining compensation exposures indicator 1.9 The viewﬁ nder display. Note that this ﬁ gure displays all possible focus points. Only the active focus points are visible in actual shooting conditions.

✦ No memory card warning. This Below the actual image portion of the view- icon fl ashes when there’s no mem- fi nder display is a black bar with LCD readouts ory card inserted in the camera. on it. Not only do you fi nd your shooting information here, but depending on your chosen The Black and White indicator, low settings, other useful indicators also appear battery indicator, and memory card warning can be turned off by using here. From left to right, these items are: CSM d4. ✦ Focus indicator. This is a green dot that lets you know if the camera detects that the scene is in focus. 28 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

When focus is achieved, the green ✦ FEC indicator. When this is dis- dot lights up; if the camera isn’t in played, your Flash Exposure focus, no dot is displayed. When Compensation is on. the camera attempts to fi nd focus, ✦ WB bracketing indicator. This icon this indicator blinks. is shown when your auto-bracketing ✦ AE Lock indicator. When this is lit, is set to white balance and bracket- you know that the Autoexposure ing is turned on. You can change Lock button has been pressed. the bracketing set in CSM e4. ✦ FV Lock indicator. When the FV ✦ Bracketing indicator. This icon Lock indicator is on, it means you appears when auto-bracketing is have locked in the fl ash exposure turned on. value. The fl ash value can only be ✦ Exposure compensation indica- locked when the Function (Fn) but- tor. When this appears in the view- ton has been set to do this. fi nder, your camera has exposure ✦ Shutter speed display. This shows compensation activated and you how long your shutter is set to stay may not get a correct exposure. open. ✦ Auto ISO indicator. This is dis- ✦ Aperture/f-stop display. This played when the Automatic ISO shows what your current lens setting is activated to let you know opening setting is. that the camera is controlling the ISO settings. ✦ Electronic analog exposure display. Although Nikon gives this fea- ✦ ISO sensitivity indicator. This tells ture a long and confusing name, in you what the ISO sensitivity is cur- simpler terms, this is your light rently set to. meter. When the bars are in the ✦ Remaining exposures. By default, center, you’re at the proper settings this set of numbers lets you know for good exposure; when the bars how many more exposures can fi t are to the left, you’re underex- on the SD card. The actual number posed; and when the bars are to of exposures may vary according to the right, you’re overexposing your fi le information and compression. image. This feature is especially When the Shutter Release button is handy in getting the proper expo- half-pressed, the display changes to sure when using Manual mode. show how many exposures can fi t When in P, S, and A mode, this in the camera’s buff er before the meter shows you the exposure buff er is full and the frame rate level when exposure compensation slows down. The buff er is in-camera is being applied. RAM that stores your image data ✦ Battery indicator. This icon dis- while the data is being written to plays how much of a charge the memory card. When recording remains in the battery. a WB preset, this fl ashes PRE. When setting Flash Exposure Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 29

Compensation or exposure com- • Exposure compensation pensation, the EV number is dis- value. Pressing the Exposure played here. When the camera is Compensation button and then connected to a computer running rotating the Sub-command dial Camera Control Pro 2, this displays displays the EV compensation PC. This can also be set in CSM d3 number. to default to show the ISO setting. • Flash Exposure Compensation ✦ K. This lets you know that there are value. Pressing the Flash mode more than 1000 exposures remain- button and then rotating the Sub- ing on your memory card. command dial displays the Flash ✦ Flash-ready indicator. When this is Exposure Compensation value. displayed, the fl ash, whether it’s • WB fi ne-tuning. Pressing the the built-in fl ash or an external WB button and then rotating Speedlight attached to the hot the Sub-command dial fi ne- shoe, is fully charged and ready to tunes the white balance setting. fi re at full power. A is warmer, and B is cooler. • Color temperature. When the WB is set to K, the panel displays the color temperature in Control Panel the Kelvin scale when you press The monochrome control panel on top of the WB button. the camera displays some of the same For more on white balance and shooting information that appears in the Kelvin, see Chapter 2. viewfi nder, but there are also some settings that are only displayed here. • WB preset number. When the WB is set to one of the preset This LCD allows you to view and change numbers, pressing the WB but- the settings without looking through the ton displays the preset number viewfi nder. that’s currently being used. ✦ Because there is so much information con- Battery indicator. This display tained in the LCD display, it is broken up shows the charge remaining on the over two fi gures. In fi gure 1.10, you can see active battery. these settings: ✦ Flash mode. These icons denote which Flash mode you’re using. ✦ Shutter speed. By default, this set The Flash modes include Red-Eye of numbers shows you the shutter Reduction, Red-Eye with Slow Sync, speed setting. This set of numbers Slow Sync, Slow/Rear Sync, and also shows myriad other settings Rear-Curtain Sync. depending on which buttons are ✦ Image size. When shooting JPEG or being pressed: RAW + JPEG fi les, this tells you whether you’re recording Large, Medium, or Small fi les. This display is turned off when shooting RAW fi les. 30 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

GPS connection Flash mode Shutter speed F-stop/ indicator Image Color Aperture size Battery indicator temperature number Release mode

+ + + + + + + + + + +

Image quality WB indicator Beep indicator WB fine-tuning ISO sensitivity compensation indicator indicator Thousands indicator 1.10 Settings on the D90’s LCD

✦ Image quality. This displays the ✦ K. This appears when the number type of fi le format you’re recording. of remaining exposures exceeds You can shoot RAW or JPEG. When 1000. This isn’t to be confused with shooting JPEG or RAW + JPEG, it the K that may appear in the WB displays the compression quality: area, which is used to denote the FINE, NORM, or BASIC. Kelvin temperature. ✦ WB fi ne-tuning indicator. When the ✦ Beep indicator. This icon, which white balance fi ne-tuning feature is looks like a musical note, informs activated, these two arrows are dis- you that the camera beeps when played to inform you that the WB is the self-timer is activated or when altered from the default setting. the camera achieves focus when in Single Focus mode. When the ✦ WB indicator. This shows you musical note appears inside a circle which white balance setting is cur- with a slash, the beep function is rently selected. turned off . This can be done in ✦ ISO sensitivity compensation CSM d1. Turning the beep off is indicator. Although Nikon gives usually the fi rst thing I do when I this a lengthy and confusing name, confi gure a new camera. this is basically the last zero in the ✦ GPS connection indicator. This icon ISO sensitivity number. appears in the LCD control panel when a GPS system is connected to the D90’s accessory terminal. Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 31

✦ Release mode. This set of icons ✦ Exposure compensation indica- shows which Release mode the tor. This icon is shown in the con- camera is set to: Single, Continuous trol panel when you press the Low, Continuous High, Self-timer, Exposure Compensation button to Remote, or Delayed Remote. adjust the exposure compensation or when exposure compensation ✦ F-stop/Aperture indicator. At has been applied. default settings, this displays the aperture at which the camera is set. ✦ Bracketing indicator. This indicator appears when auto-bracketing is ✦ Color temperature. This icon, activated. which appears as a K, appears directly after the number when set- ✦ WB bracketing indicator. When ting the white balance by selecting WB bracketing is selected for the a color temperature. Auto bracketing set (CSM e4), the WB icon appears in front of the In ﬁ gure 1.11, you can see these settings: bracketing indicator. ✦ Clock indicator. When this appears ✦ FEC indicator. When this is dis- in the control panel, the camera’s played, your Flash Exposure internal clock needs to be set. Compensation is on.

Exposure compensation indicator FEC indicator

Clock indicator Multiple exposure indicator

Flexible Program indicator Bracketing indicator

Metering mode WB bracketing Bracketing progress Autofocus display indicator indicator

++++ + +++++ + + + ++++ +

Autofocus mode Black and White Exposures ISO/Auto indicator remaining ISO indicator 1.11 Settings on the D90’s LCD 32 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

✦ Flexible Program indicator. This meter is active by setting CSM d3 to icon appears as a P with an asterisk Show ISO sensitivity. When con- only in Programmed Auto (P) nected to a computer running Nikon mode. It indicates you have Camera Control Pro 2, PC appears. changed the default autoexposure ✦ ISO/Auto ISO indicator. ISO is dis- set by the camera to better suit played when the ISO setting your creative needs. appears on the control panel. If the For more on Flexible Program camera is set to Auto ISO, the word mode, see Chapter 2. AUTO appears after ISO. ✦ Bracketing progress indicator. ✦ Metering mode. This shows you This icon shows you how many which Metering mode the camera frames remain in your bracketing is currently set to: Matrix, Center- sequence. weighted, or Spot. ✦ Multiple exposure indicator. This ✦ Autofocus display. This shows you icon indicates the camera is set to which AF Area mode the camera is record multiple exposures. set to and displays the active focus point when in Single Point AF or 3D Tracking mode. ✦ Autofocus mode. This tells you Shooting Info which of the camera’s autofocus modes are in use (Single [AF-S], Display Continuous [AF-C], or Autofocus The Shooting Info Display shows some of [AF-A]). The camera chooses the same shooting information that appears between AF-S or AF-C by determin- ing the subject. in the viewﬁ nder, but there are also some settings that are only displayed here. When ✦ Black and White indicator. This icon this is displayed on the LCD, you can view (B/W) appears when the Picture and change the settings without looking Control is set to monochrome. through the viewﬁ nder. To view this screen, ✦ Exposures remaining. This displays simply press the Information (info) button the number of exposures remaining near the right side of the LCD. The informa- on your SD card. Half-pressing the tion remains on display until no buttons Shutter Release button to focus have been pushed for about 8 seconds or changes the display to show the until the Shutter Release button is pressed. remaining shots in the camera’s buf- fer. In preset WB, the icon PRE This display shows you almost everything appears when the camera is ready you need to know about your camera set- to set a custom WB. You can set tings. This display comes in handy when the your camera to display the ISO set- camera is set up on a tripod or if your eyes ting in this area when the light aren’t very good and you have trouble see- ing the LCD control panel. Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 33

This display can show you a lot of informa- modes, such as P, S, A, or M, in tion. To make it easier to decipher, it is bro- which case the display shows the ken up over two ﬁ gures. In ﬁ gure 1.12, you corresponding letter. This display see these settings: changes when the Mode dial is rotated. ✦ Shooting mode. This displays the ✦ Flexible Program indicator. This Shooting mode that your camera is asterisk appears when using currently set to. This can be one of Programmed Auto mode and you the Scene modes, in which case tweak the settings for the metered the display is the appropriate icon exposure. or one of the semiautomatic

Continuous shooting Self-timer/ Metering mode display speed Remote Flexible program indicator Light meter F-stop/ Release mode Shooting Aperture mode Shutter speed indicator

4.5fps

R ADL-BKT L

TTL RPT AUTO

+ + + S + + + + + + + +

AE L AE NR OFF ISO NR N AUTO SD Fn L AF L AF

High ISO Picture Function AE-L/AF-L noise reduction Control button button indicator indicator assignment assignment Long Exposure Active D-Lighting Thousands indicator noise reduction indicator indicator Beep indicator

Flash mode indicator White balance settings ISO sensitivity indicator 1.12 Settings on the Shooting Info Display 34 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

✦ Shutter speed. By default, this set ✦ Release mode. This set of icons of numbers shows you the shutter shows which Release mode the speed setting. This set of numbers camera is set to: Single, Continuous also shows myriad other settings Low, or Continuous High. depending on which buttons are ✦ Continuous shooting speed. This pressed: displays the continuous shooting • Exposure compensation value. speed in frames per second (fps). Press the Exposure Compensation ✦ Self-timer/Remote. These icons button to display the EV compen- can show separately or together. sation number then rotate the When both icons are lit, the camera main command dial to adjust. is in Delayed Remote mode. • FEC value. Press the Flash ✦ ISO sensitivity indicator. This mode button to display the FEC appears above the ISO sensitivity number then rotate the sub- setting number. When Auto ISO is command dial to adjust. activated, AUTO appears after ISO. • WB fi ne-tuning. Pressing the ✦ Beep indicator. This icon, which WB button and then rotating looks like a musical note, informs the Sub-command dial fi ne- you that the camera beeps when tunes the white balance setting. the self-timer is activated or when A is warmer, and B is cooler. the camera achieves focus when in • Color temperature. When the Single Focus mode. When the WB is set to K, the panel dis- musical note appears inside a circle plays the color temperature in with a slash, the beep function is the Kelvin scale when you press turned off . This can be done in the WB button. CSM d1. Turning the beep off is usually the fi rst the thing I do when ✦ F-stop/Aperture indicator. At I confi gure a new camera. default settings, this displays the aperture at which the camera is set. ✦ K. This appears when the number This indicator also displays auto- of remaining exposures exceeds bracketing compensation incre- 1000. This isn’t to be confused with ments. The exposure bracketing the K that may appear in the WB can be adjusted to over- and area, which is used to denote the underexpose in 1/3-stop incre- Kelvin temperature. ments. When the Function (Fn) ✦ White balance settings. These button is set to auto-bracketing, the icons indicate which WB setting the number of exposure value (EV) camera is set to. A set of opposing stops is displayed in this area. The arrows appears if the WB setting choices are 0.3, 0.7, or 1.0 EV. The has been modifi ed by applying WB auto-bracketing can also be fi ne-tuning. adjusted; the settings are 1, 2, or 3. Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 35

✦ AE-L/AF-L button assignment. This this box. Additionally, this option tells you what custom function is shows you if the Speedlight is in assigned to the AE-L/AF-L button. This Through-the-Lens mode (TTL), button can be assigned in CSM f4. Repeating Flash mode (RPT), or Commander mode (CMD). ✦ Function button assignment. This tells you what custom function is For more on Flash modes and assigned to the Function (Fn) but- Speedlights, see Chapter 6. ton. This button can be assigned in CSM f3. ✦ Electronic analog exposure dis- ✦ Picture Control indicator. This icon play. As discussed previously, this shows which Picture Control set- is your light meter. When the bars ting is activated. are in the center, you’re at the proper settings for a good exposure For more on Picture Controls, see for your photograph; when the bars Chapter 2. are to the left, your image will be overexposed; when the bars are to ✦ Active D-Lighting indicator. This the right, your image will be under- icon alerts you to the status of the exposed. This is displayed full-time Active D-Lighting option. The set- when the camera is set to M mode. tings are Auto, High (H), Normal When in P, S, or A or one of the (N), Low (L), and Off . Scene modes, this is only displayed when the current settings will ✦ High ISO noise reduction indica- cause an under- or overexposure. tor. This lets you know if Long When in Auto mode, if the camera Exposure NR is being applied. The can’t achieve a proper setting, this settings are High (H), Normal (N), simply blinks. Low (L), or Off . ✦ Long Exposure Noise Reduction In fi gure 1.13, you see these settings: (NR) indicator. This lets you know ✦ AC adapter indicator. When the if Long Exposure NR is activated. optional EH-5a AC adapter is ✦ Metering mode display. This dis- attached, this icon is displayed. play shows which Metering mode ✦ FV Lock indicator. This icon is you’re in: Matrix, Center-weighted, shown when the FV Lock is acti- or Spot. vated. The FV Lock can be assigned ✦ Flash mode indicator. This area to the Function (Fn) or AE-L/AF-L shows you the Flash mode the button. camera is using. This option is ✦ FEC indicator. When this is dis- shown only when the built-in fl ash played, your Flash Exposure is raised or an accessory Speedlight Compensation is on. Adjust the FEC is attached. When an accessory by pressing the Flash mode button Speedlight is attached, an icon is and then rotating the Sub- displayed in the top-right corner of command dial. 36 Part I ✦ Using the Nikon D90

Battery indicator FEC indicator Multiple exposure indicator Active D-Lighting AC adapter indicator Exposure indicator compensation Auto-bracketing FV Lock indicator indicator indicator

4.5fps

R ADL-BKT L

TTL RPT AUTO

+ + + S + + + + + + + +

AE L AE NR OFF ISO NR N AUTO SD Fn L AF L AF

AF Area indicator Image comment indicator

Clock indicator Autofocus mode

Image quality GPS connection indicator Exposures remaining

Image size ISO sensitivity indicator 1.13 Additional settings on the Shooting Info Display

✦ Exposure compensation indicator. ✦ Auto-bracketing indicator. When When this appears in the Shooting in Autoexposure mode or Flash Info Display, your camera has expo- Bracketing mode, this appears on sure compensation activated. This the control panel; when using WB aﬀ ects your exposure. Adjust the bracketing, a WB icon also appears exposure compensation by press- above the icon. When using Active ing the Exposure Compensation D-Lighting (AD-L) bracketing, you button and then rotating the Main see an ADL icon in conjunction Command dial. with BKT. You set auto-bracketing in CSM e4. ✦ Multiple exposure indicator. This icon informs you that the camera is ✦ Active D-Lighting indicator. This set to record multiple exposures. icon alerts you to the status of the You can set multiple exposures in Active D-Lighting option. The set- the Shooting menu. tings are Auto, Extra High (H*), High (H), Normal (N), Low (L), and Oﬀ . Chapter 1 ✦ Exploring the Nikon D90 37

✦ Image comment indicator. This ✦ Image quality. This tells you the icon is shown when the image type and quality of ﬁ le that’s being comment option is enabled. You written to your memory card as you can add an image comment in the take photos. The options are RAW, Setup menu. RAW + JPEG, and JPEG. JPEG and RAW + JPEG compression options ✦ Autofocus mode. This shows you (quality) are Fine, Normal, and the AF mode that the camera is Basic. Change this by pressing the currently set to. The choices are Quality (QUAL) button and then Auto AF (AF-A), Single (AF-S), and rotating the Main Command dial. Continuous (AF-C). ✦ Image size. This tells you the reso- ✦ ISO sensitivity indicator. These lution size of the ﬁ le when saving numbers indicate the ISO sensitivity to JPEG or Large (L), Medium (M), settings. or Small (S). Change this setting by ✦ Exposures remaining. This number pressing the Quality (QUAL) button indicates the approximate amount and then rotating the Sub- of exposures you can store on your command dial. memory card. ✦ Clock indicator. This icon appears ✦ GPS connection indicator. When if the camera’s internal clock hasn’t the optional GPS unit (GPS-1) is been set. You can set the clock in attached, this icon appears. the Setup menu by selecting World time. ✦ AF Area indicator. This shows which AF Area mode the camera is ✦ Battery indicator. This is where set to. Information includes 3D you can check the power levels of Tracking, Wide Area Center AF your camera’s batteries. When the Point, Auto Area, and Single AF optional MB-D80 grip is attached Point. by using two EN-EL3e batteries, two battery icons are shown.