Nikon D780 For Dummies

Doug Sahlin

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781119716426
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Informatik
• Subtopic: Digitale Medien

Join the photographers who turn to the For Dummies series for useful guidance

Nikon D780 For Dummies provides Nikon D780 users and owners with in-depth knowledge and practical advice abouthow toget great shots with their powerful camera. Written by professional photographer Doug Sahlin, thisbookgivesquick and convenient answers to Nikon D780 users' most frequent and pressing questions.

Nikon D780 For Dummies coversthe topics you'll need toget started withyour new D780 camera. The bookincludesclear guidance on topics like:

· Exploring the Nikon D780 body

· Getting to know the settings options

· Seeing results from auto modes

· Taking control of exposure

· Looking into lens options

· Usingthe flash effectively

Written in the straightforward and pragmatic style known and loved by For Dummies readers around the world, Nikon D780 For Dummies is perfect for people just starting outwith digital SLR photographyas well as those who know their way around a camera.

Part 1

Getting Started with the Nikon D780

IN THIS PART …

Get to know the lay of the land and become familiar with the controls of your Nikon D780.

Learn how to set up your Nikon D780.

Accessorize your Nikon D780.

Find out how to take great pictures automatically.

Specify image size and format.

Master the camera’s tilting monitor.

Chapter 1

Exploring the Nikon D780’s Controls

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting familiar with camera controls

Looking at your camera from the top, bottom, front, and back

The Nikon D780, which evolved from the Nikon D750 that was introduced in late 2014, is a full-frame camera that captures stunning 24.5-megapixel images. It has all the latest bells and whistles Nikon has to offer on a full-frame digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. It’s a technological marvel that enables you to take great pictures and capture high-definition (HD) video. The camera has a new processor and an advanced, highly customizable 51-point autofocus system that gives you the ability to capture great images in low light and at a blindingly fast speed of up to 12 frames per second, which is ideal for action photography. You can also create high dynamic range (HDR) images and use the interval timer to create time-lapse movies. This camera features a viewfinder that shows you 100 percent of what the lens captures at a magnification of 0.70x — what you see is what you get. The camera also features a virtual horizon, which enables you to capture images that are perfectly level.

The learning curve with all these bells and whistles may seem a little steep, but don’t worry — I’m an experienced professional photographer, and I take pride in understanding how a camera works and how to get the most from any camera. In this chapter, I introduce you to the Nikon D780’s controls and help you get the lay of the land, so to speak.

Exploring the Top of Your Camera

The top of the camera is where you find the controls you use most when taking pictures. This is where you change settings like ISO (how sensitive the sensor is to light) and shutter speed, choose a shooting mode, and press the shutter button to take a picture.

ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization, but all you really need to know is that, on your camera, it controls how sensitive the camera’s sensor is to light.

You can do lots of other things from the top of the camera, which, in my humble opinion, is the most important real estate on the camera, with the possible exception of the lens. I suggest you get to know the controls on the top of your camera intimately, like the back of your hand. Many photographers, including me, make it a point to memorize where the controls are and access them without taking an eye off the viewfinder.

Here’s what you find on the top of the camera (see Figure 1-1):

• Release mode dial lock release: Press the button to unlock the release mode dial.
• Release mode dial: Rotate this dial to choose whether pressing the shutter button captures a single image or a sequence or images. (Turn to Chapter 9 for more on the shutter release modes.)
• Mode dial lock release: Pushing this button enables you to change from one shooting mode to another. When in the upright and locked position, it’s not possible to accidentally change shooting modes in the heat of battle.
• Mode dial: You use this dial to specify which shooting mode the camera uses to take the picture. (For more on how to use this dial to choose specific shooting modes, turn to Chapter 9; for more on how to choose optimal settings for specific picture-taking situations, turn to Chapter 13.)
• Accessory shoe: Slide a flash unit that’s compatible with the Nikon D780 into this slot (also sometimes known as a hot shoe). The contacts in the accessory shoe communicate between the camera and the flash unit. (For more on flash photography, turn to Chapter 11.)
• Sub-command dial: This dial is used in conjunction with menu commands and other buttons to specify settings.
• Power switch: Turn this switch one notch to power the camera on, and turn it a second notch to turn on the LCD illuminator.

  

  FIGURE 1-1: The top of the Nikon D780.

• Shutter-release button: This button pre-focuses the camera and takes a picture. (Turn to Chapter 2 for more information.)
• Movie-record button: Press this button to start recording video. (For more on how to use this button with other features to capture videos, turn to Chapter 8.)
• ISO button: Use this button in conjunction with the main command dial to choose the ISO sensitivity of the camera’s sensor. (For more on setting the ISO, turn to Chapter 10.)
• Exposure compensation button: Use the button in conjunction with the main command dial to increase or decrease the exposure. (See Chapter 9 for more information on using this feature.)
• Control panel: This panel shows you all the current settings. (Turn to Chapter 2 for more on how to read the information on the control panel.)
• Focal plane mark: Used w...