Nikon D780 For Dummies

Doug Sahlin is a skilled multi-media producer. He has helped others gain mastery in photography and web design as the author of multiple books, including Canon EOS 7D For Dummies and Digital Landscape & Nature Photography For Dummies.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond This Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started With the Nikon D780 5

Chapter 1: Exploring the Nikon D780’s Controls 7

Exploring the Top of Your Camera 8

Exploring the Back of Your Camera 10

Exploring the Front of Your Camera 12

Exploring the Bottom of Your Camera 14

Chapter 2: Setting Up the Nikon D780 15

Customizing the Default Settings 16

Setting the date and time 16

Setting the monitor off delay 18

Working with the Tilting Monitor 20

Using the Control Panel 23

Using the Viewfinder 25

Decoding what you see in the viewfinder 25

Adjusting viewfinder clarity 28

Introducing the i Menu 29

Pressing the Info Button 29

Chapter 3: Working with Nikon D780 Peripherals 31

Working with Lenses 32

Attaching a lens 32

Removing a lens 33

Using a vibration reduction lens 34

Using a zoom lens 35

Using a lens hood 36

Working with Memory Cards 36

Formatting a memory card 38

Removing a memory card 40

Taking Care of Your Camera Battery 40

Cleaning the Sensor 42

Cleaning your sensor on command 42

Cleaning your sensor manually 43

Modifying sensor cleaning 45

Keeping your sensor clean 47

Accessorizing Your Nikon D780 49

Nikon accessories 49

Third-party accessories 50

Video accessories 53

Keeping the Camera Body Clean 54

Chapter 4: Automatically Capturing Great Photographs 55

Ordering from Your Camera Menu 56

Using the multi selector 56

Using the keyboard 57

Using the menu 57

Taking Your First Picture 60

Choosing a Picture Control 63

Creating images with a Picture Control 65

Modifying a Picture Control 66

Creating a custom Picture Control 68

Saving and sharing custom Picture Controls 70

Understanding Exposure and Focal Length 72

Focusing on Your Subject 75

Focusing on an off-center subject 75

Focusing manually 76

Using the Self-Timer 77

Chapter 5: Specifying Image Size and Quality 79

Understanding Image Size and Quality 80

Specifying Image Format, Size, and Quality 81

Choosing an Image Area 85

Specifying a Bit Depth 88

Comparing Image Formats and File Sizes 90

Managing Image Files 92

Creating folders 92

Setting file numbering 94

Naming images 95

Chapter 6: Using the Tilting Monitor 97

Using the Playback i Menu 98

Reviewing Images and Movies 98

Enabling image review 98

Reviewing an image 99

Reviewing a movie 100

Choosing image display options 101

Using the histogram 102

Rotating vertical images 103

Setting image review options 104

Rating images and movies 105

Reviewing Images with Touch Controls 106

Setting up touch controls 106

Flicking through images 108

Changing the Brightness of the Tilting Monitor 110

Deleting Images 111

Protecting Images 112

Viewing Images as a Slide Show 113

Viewing Images on a TV Monitor 115

Introducing Live View 116

Part 2: Taking Control of Your Nikon D780 117

Chapter 7: Creating Images with Live View 119

Using Live View to Create Images 120

Choosing a Live View AF-Area Mode 121

Using the Live View Framing Grid 122

Using the Live View i Menu 123

Creating Pictures with Touch Controls 126

Making Live View Work for You 126

Displaying shooting information 127

Using zoom preview 128

Exploring other useful live view options 129

Chapter 8: Recording Movies with Live View 131

Making Movies with Your Camera 131

Recording movies 132

Displaying video shooting information 133

Using the movie i menu 134

Changing video dimensions and frame rate 135

Choosing the movie quality 137

Choosing the movie file format 138

Changing audio recording options 139

Choosing a Picture Control 141

Reducing flicker 142

Using Active D-Lighting 143

Making the Best Movies You Can 144

Chapter 9: Getting the Most from Your Camera 145

Shooting with Two Cards 145

Understanding Metering 147

Understanding how exposure works in the camera 147

Choosing a metering mode 148

Using the Still Photography i Menu 149

Choosing an Exposure Mode 152

Using programmed auto (P) mode 152

Using aperture-priority auto (A) mode 154

Using shutter-priority auto (S) mode 157

Using manual (M) mode 159

Introducing EFCT mode 160

Creating Long Exposures Using Manual Mode 161

Shooting long exposures 161

Enabling long-exposure noise reduction 163

Modifying Camera Exposure 164

Using exposure compensation 165

Bracketing exposure 166

Locking focus and exposure 167

Choosing a Shutter-Release Mode 168

Chapter 10: Using Advanced Camera Features 171

Leveling Your Images with the Viewfinder Virtual Horizon 171

Enabling the virtual horizon in the viewfinder 172

Using the virtual horizon when shooting in live view 173

Using the Fn Button 174

Tailoring Autofocus to Your Shooting Style 174

Choosing an autofocus mode 175

Choosing an AF-area mode 176

Using the AF-ON button for back-button focus 177

Shooting with a single autofocus point 179

Setting the ISO Sensitivity 180

Enabling auto ISO sensitivity control 181

Extending the ISO range 181

Enabling high ISO noise reduction 183

Using Auto Distortion Control 184

Using Wi-Fi 185

Enabling Wi-Fi 185

Uploading images via Wi-Fi 188

Using airplane mode 189

Using Bluetooth 190

Pairing with a remote device 191

Controlling your camera remotely with SnapBridge 193

Chapter 11: Shooting Like a Pro 195

Specifying the Color Space 196

Setting White Balance 197

Specifying color temperature 198

Creating a custom white balance 199

Bracketing white balance 200

Enabling Flicker Reduction 201

Creating a Multiple-Exposure Image 203

Shifting Focus 207

Retouching Images 210

Controlling Light with Flash 213

Using a flash unit 213

Choosing the flash mode 214

Using flash compensation 216

Bracketing flash 217

Part 3: Applying Your Skills 219

Chapter 12: Creating Special Effects and Other Delights 221

Creating Images Using EFCT Mode 222

Using the EFCT modes 223

Creating an EFCT image and a RAW negative 228

Creating special effects movies 229

Creating a Sequence of Images 230

Creating Slow-Motion Movies 230

Creating Dynamic Images with Active D-Lighting 233

Creating High Dynamic Range (HDR) Images 237

Creating an HDR image 238

Saving bracketed HDR images as RAW files 240

Creating a Time-Lapse Movie 241

Interval Shooting 243

Chapter 13: Honing Your Skills 247

Shooting Special Events: Birthdays, Weddings, and More 247

Setting the camera 248

Photographing the event 249

Photographing the Landscape 251

Setting the camera 252

Turning your lens on the landscape 253

Creating Portraits 256

Setting the camera 256

Creating a portrait 256

Capturing Sporting Events 258

Setting the camera 259

Capturing the event .260

Photographing Nature and Wildlife 261

Setting the camera 261

Capturing compelling images of nature and wildlife 262

Shooting Macro Photography 264

Setting the camera 265

Taking the picture 266

Part 4: The Part of Tens 269

Chapter 14: Ten Tips and Tricks 271

Creating Custom User Settings 272

Resetting Default User Settings 274

Creating a Custom Menu 275

Customizing Your Camera 276

Creating a Makeshift Tripod 278

Working with Adobe Lightroom Classic 279

Compiling Focus Shift Images in Adobe Photoshop 281

Adding Copyright Information and Author Name to the Camera 283

Using the Nikon Download Center 285

Getting Help 285

Chapter 15: Ten Ways to Create Pixel-Perfect Images 287

Enhancing Your Creativity 287

Composing Your Images 289

Being in the Moment 292

Practicing ’til Your Images Are Pixel-Perfect 292

Becoming a Student of Photography 293

Never Leaving Home without a Camera 294

Waiting for the Light 294

Defining Your Goals 295

Finding Your Center of Interest 295

Locating the Best Vantage Point 296

Thinking about What Else Is in the Picture 297

Index 299