Nikon® D3000: Digital Field Guide

Nikon® D3000: Digital Field Guide

Released December 2009
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470582077

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Book description

A beautifully illustrated guide to the Nikon D3000 camera

What do you need to take amazing photographs with your new Nikon D3000? This Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide has all the answers. This full-color guide, perfectly sized to fit in your camera bag, not only explains all essential controls, features, and functions, it also goes well beyond the basics to give you a photography refresher on lighting, composition, exposure, and more. You'll find step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions and full-color images of menu screens. Even better, it also offers tips and tricks to help you take your best shots, whether you're shooting portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, or macro photography.

  • Shows you how to get the very most out of your new Nikon D3000 digital camera

  • Discusses in detail all the essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D3000

  • Provides step-by-step instructions and full-color images of each menu screen

  • Explains not only how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and other settings, it explains when and why you should adjust these settings

  • Gives you a thorough digital photography refresher on lighting and composition

  • Shares valuable tips and tricks to help you capture amazing shots

  • Shows you topic-specific secrets to capturing portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, macro photography, and others

Now that you have a Nikon D3000, make sure you have a copy of the Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. About the D3000
  6. Quick Tour
    1. Selecting a Shooting Mode
    2. Focusing
    3. Playback
    4. Downloading
  7. 1. Exploring the Nikon D3000
    1. 1.1. Key Components of the D3000
      1. 1.1.1. Top of the camera
      2. 1.1.2. Back of the camera
      3. 1.1.3. Front of the camera
        1. 1.1.3.1. Right side
        2. 1.1.3.2. Left side
        3. 1.1.3.3. Bottom
    2. 1.2. Viewfinder Display
    3. 1.3. Information Display
  8. 2. Nikon D3000 Essentials
    1. 2.1. Exposure Modes
      1. 2.1.1. Auto modes
        1. 2.1.1.1. Auto
        2. 2.1.1.2. Auto (flash off)
      2. 2.1.2. Advanced scene modes
        1. 2.1.2.1. Portrait
        2. 2.1.2.2. Landscape
        3. 2.1.2.3. Child
        4. 2.1.2.4. Sports
        5. 2.1.2.5. Close Up
        6. 2.1.2.6. Night Portrait
      3. 2.1.3. Programmed Auto
      4. 2.1.4. Aperture Priority
      5. 2.1.5. Shutter Priority
      6. 2.1.6. Manual
    2. 2.2. Metering Modes
      1. 2.2.1. Matrix
      2. 2.2.2. Center-weighted
      3. 2.2.3. Spot
    3. 2.3. Autofocus Modes
      1. 2.3.1. Continuous
      2. 2.3.2. Single
      3. 2.3.3. Auto
      4. 2.3.4. Manual
    4. 2.4. AF Area Modes
    5. 2.5. Single-point AF mode
      1. 2.5.1. Dynamic-area AF mode
      2. 2.5.2. 3D-tracking mode
      3. 2.5.3. Auto-area AF
    6. 2.6. ISO Sensitivity
      1. 2.6.1. Auto ISO
      2. 2.6.2. Noise reduction
        1. 2.6.2.1. Long exposure NR
        2. 2.6.2.2. High ISO NR
    7. 2.7. White Balance
      1. 2.7.1. What is Kelvin?
      2. 2.7.2. White balance settings
    8. 2.8. Picture Controls
      1. 2.8.1. Original Picture Controls
      2. 2.8.2. Custom Picture Controls
    9. 2.9. Understanding JPEG Compression
      1. 2.9.1. Image size
      2. 2.9.2. Image quality
    10. 2.10. NEF or RAW Flexibility
  9. 3. Exploring the Nikon D3000 Menus
    1. 3.1. Playback Menu
      1. 3.1.1. Delete
      2. 3.1.2. Playback folder
      3. 3.1.3. Display mode
      4. 3.1.4. Image review
      5. 3.1.5. Rotate tall
      6. 3.1.6. Slide show
      7. 3.1.7. Print set (DPOF)
      8. 3.1.8. Stop motion movie
    2. 3.2. Shooting Menu
      1. 3.2.1. Reset shooting options
      2. 3.2.2. Set Picture Control
      3. 3.2.3. Image quality
      4. 3.2.4. Image size
      5. 3.2.5. White balance
        1. 3.2.5.1. Using standard WB settings
        2. 3.2.5.2. Preset white balance
          1. 3.2.5.2.1. Direct measurement
          2. 3.2.5.2.2. Copy white balance from existing photograph
      6. 3.2.6. ISO sensitivity settings
      7. 3.2.7. Active D-Lighting
      8. 3.2.8. Color space
      9. 3.2.9. Noise reduction
      10. 3.2.10. Release mode
      11. 3.2.11. Focus mode
      12. 3.2.12. AF-area mode
      13. 3.2.13. AF-assist
      14. 3.2.14. Metering
      15. 3.2.15. Built-in flash
    3. 3.3. Setup Menu
      1. 3.3.1. Reset setup options
      2. 3.3.2. Format memory card
      3. 3.3.3. LCD brightness
      4. 3.3.4. Info display format
      5. 3.3.5. Auto info display
      6. 3.3.6. Clean image sensor
      7. 3.3.7. Mirror Lock-up
      8. 3.3.8. Video mode
      9. 3.3.9. Time zone and date
      10. 3.3.10. Language
      11. 3.3.11. Image comment
      12. 3.3.12. Auto image rotation
      13. 3.3.13. Dust Off ref photo
      14. 3.3.14. Auto off timers
      15. 3.3.15. Self-timer delay
      16. 3.3.16. Remote on duration
      17. 3.3.17. Beep
      18. 3.3.18. Viewfinder options
      19. 3.3.19. File number sequence
      20. 3.3.20. Buttons
      21. 3.3.21. No memory card
      22. 3.3.22. Date imprint
      23. 3.3.23. Active folder
      24. 3.3.24. Firmware version
    4. 3.4. Retouch Menu
  10. 4. Essential Photography Concepts
    1. 4.1. Understanding Exposure
      1. 4.1.1. Shutter speed
      2. 4.1.2. ISO
      3. 4.1.3. Aperture
    2. 4.2. Fine-Tuning Your Exposure
      1. 4.2.1. Exposure compensation
      2. 4.2.2. Histograms
      3. 4.2.3. Bracketing
    3. 4.3. Understanding Depth of Field
    4. 4.4. Rules of Composition
      1. 4.4.1. Keep it simple
      2. 4.4.2. Rule of Thirds
      3. 4.4.3. Leading lines and S-curves
      4. 4.4.4. Helpful hints
  11. 5. Selecting and Using Lenses
    1. 5.1. Nikon Lens Compatibility
    2. 5.2. Deciphering Nikon's Lens Codes
    3. 5.3. DX Crop Factor
    4. 5.4. Detachable Lenses
    5. 5.5. Kit Lenses
    6. 5.6. Zoom Lenses versus Prime Lenses
      1. 5.6.1. Understanding zoom lenses
        1. 5.6.1.1. Variable aperture
        2. 5.6.1.2. Depth of field
        3. 5.6.1.3. Quality
      2. 5.6.2. Understanding prime lenses
    7. 5.7. Wide-angle and Ultrawide-angle Lenses
      1. 5.7.1. When to use a wide-angle lens
      2. 5.7.2. Understanding limitations
    8. 5.8. Standard or Midrange Lenses
    9. 5.9. Telephoto Lenses
    10. 5.10. Macro Lenses
    11. 5.11. Fisheye Lenses
    12. 5.12. Using Vibration Reduction Lenses
    13. 5.13. Third-party Lenses
  12. 6. Working with Light
    1. 6.1. Natural Light
    2. 6.2. D3000 Flash Basics
      1. 6.2.1. Achieving proper exposures
        1. 6.2.1.1. Guide Number
        2. 6.2.1.2. Aperture
        3. 6.2.1.3. Distance
        4. 6.2.1.4. GN / Distance = Aperture
      2. 6.2.2. Flash exposure modes
        1. 6.2.2.1. i-TTL
        2. 6.2.2.2. Manual
      3. 6.2.3. Flash sync modes
        1. 6.2.3.1. Sync speed
        2. 6.2.3.2. Front-curtain sync
        3. 6.2.3.3. Red-eye reduction
        4. 6.2.3.4. Slow sync
        5. 6.2.3.5. Rear-curtain sync
      4. 6.2.4. Flash Exposure Compensation
      5. 6.2.5. Fill flash
      6. 6.2.6. Diffusers
      7. 6.2.7. Bounce flash
    3. 6.3. Nikon Creative Lighting System Basics
      1. 6.3.1. Understanding the Creative Lighting System
      2. 6.3.2. Speedlights
        1. 6.3.2.1. SB-900
        2. 6.3.2.2. SB-800
        3. 6.3.2.3. SB-600
        4. 6.3.2.4. SB-400
        5. 6.3.2.5. SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander
    4. 6.4. Continuous Lighting
      1. 6.4.1. Incandescent and halogen
      2. 6.4.2. Fluorescent
    5. 6.5. Light Modifiers
      1. 6.5.1. Umbrellas
      2. 6.5.2. Softboxes
      3. 6.5.3. Diffusion panels
      4. 6.5.4. Reflectors
  13. 7. Real World Applications
    1. 7.1. Abstract Photography
      1. 7.1.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.1.2. Abstract photography practice
      3. 7.1.3. Abstract photography tips
    2. 7.2. Action and Sports Photography
      1. 7.2.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.2.2. Action and sports photography practice
      3. 7.2.3. Action and sports photography tips
    3. 7.3. Architectural Photography
      1. 7.3.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.3.2. Architectural photography practice
      3. 7.3.3. Architectural photography tips
    4. 7.4. Concert Photography
      1. 7.4.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.4.2. Concert photography practice
      3. 7.4.3. Concert photography tips
    5. 7.5. Flower and Plant Photography
      1. 7.5.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.5.2. Flower and plant photography practice
      3. 7.5.3. Flower and plant photography tips
    6. 7.6. Landscape Photography
      1. 7.6.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.6.2. Landscape photography practice
      3. 7.6.3. Landscape photography tips
    7. 7.7. Macro Photography
      1. 7.7.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.7.2. Macro photography practice
      3. 7.7.3. Macro photography tips
    8. 7.8. Night and Low-Light Photography
      1. 7.8.1. Inspiration
      2. 7.8.2. Night and low-light photography practice
      3. 7.8.3. Night and low-light photography tips
    9. 7.9. Portrait Photography
      1. 7.9.1. Indoor
      2. 7.9.2. Outdoor
      3. 7.9.3. Portrait photography practice
      4. 7.9.4. Portrait photography tips
  14. 8. Viewing, Downloading, and In-camera Editing
    1. 8.1. Viewing Your Images
    2. 8.2. Downloading Images
    3. 8.3. The Retouch Menu
    4. 8.4. Retouch Menu Options
      1. 8.4.1. D-Lighting
      2. 8.4.2. Red-eye correction
      3. 8.4.3. Trim
      4. 8.4.4. Monochrome
      5. 8.4.5. Filter effects
      6. 8.4.6. Color balance
      7. 8.4.7. Small picture
      8. 8.4.8. Image overlay
      9. 8.4.9. NEF (RAW) processing
      10. 8.4.10. Quick retouch
      11. 8.4.11. Color outline
      12. 8.4.12. Miniature effect
      13. 8.4.13. Stop-motion movie
      14. 8.4.14. Side by side comparison
  15. A. Accessories
    1. A.1. ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control
    2. A.2. Tripods
      1. A.2.1. When to use a tripod
      2. A.2.2. Which tripod is right for you?
    3. A.3. Camera Bags and Cases
  16. B. Resources
    1. B.1. Informational Web Sites
      1. B.1.1.
        1. B.1.1.1. Nikonusa.com
        2. B.1.1.2. Nikonians.org
        3. B.1.1.3. Photo.net
        4. B.1.1.4. J. Dennis Thomas' Digital Field Guide Companion
    2. B.2. Workshops
      1. B.2.1.
        1. B.2.1.1. Ansel Adams Gallery Workshops
        2. B.2.1.2. Brooks Institute Weekend Workshops
        3. B.2.1.3. Great American Photography Workshops
        4. B.2.1.4. Mentor Series Worldwide Photo Treks
        5. B.2.1.5. Photo Quest Adventures
        6. B.2.1.6. Summit Series of Photography Workshops
        7. B.2.1.7. Santa Fe Photographic Workshops
        8. B.2.1.8. Nikon School & Workshops
    3. B.3. Online Photography Magazines and Other Photo-Related Sites
      1. B.3.1.
        1. B.3.1.1. Digital Photographer
        2. B.3.1.2. Digital Photo Pro
        3. B.3.1.3. Flickr
        4. B.3.1.4. Outdoor Photographer
        5. B.3.1.5. Photo District News
        6. B.3.1.6. Popular Photography & Imaging
        7. B.3.1.7. Shutterbug
  17. C. How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker
    1. C.1. The Gray Card
    2. C.2. The Color Checker
  18. GLOSSARY

Product information

  • Title: Nikon® D3000: Digital Field Guide
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: December 2009
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470582077