Nikon 25498B User Manual
Technical GuideTechnical Guide
Introduction
Introduction i
Shooting Techniques
1
Quick Tips 1
The D800E
15
This “Technical Guide” details the principal techniques used
to create two of the more technically advanced photographs
in the D800/D800E catalog. Enjoy this opportunity to admire
the skills of professional photographers who have mastered
the D800/D800E.
While its high pixel count of 36 megapixels gives the D800/
D800E resolution unrivalled by previous digital SLR cameras,
a side e ect is that bokeh and blur are made that much more
obvious. Realizing the full potential of a camera with over
30 million pixels involves a thorough appreciation of bokeh
and blur, careful selection of settings and of tools (such as
lenses and tripods), and working with the best possible subjects.
Table of Contents
Introduction iii
Shooting Techniques
Static Subjects ...........................................................................1
Lesson 1: Use a Tripod .................................................................. 2
•
Lesson 2: Use Live View ............................................................... 3
•
Lesson 3: Don’t Stop Aperture Down Too Far ...................... 5
•
Same Shot, No Live View ............................................................. 6
•
Portrait Subjects........................................................................7
Lesson 1: Choose the Right Focus Settings .......................... 8
•
Lesson 2: Choose the Right Exposure Settings ................... 9
•
Learning from Failure: Same Shot, Di erent Focus ......... 10
•
Quick Tips 111
1. High ISO Sensitivity ........................................................... 11
2. Auto ISO Sensitivity Control ............................................12
3. Improving Optical Performance ..................................... 13
4. Backlit Portraits .................................................................. 14
The D800E
1. High Resolution Images with the D800E ....................... 15
2. Adjusting Aperture for Visually Complex Subjects .....16
3. Color Artifacts and Moiré ................................................. 17
15
1
ii
Shooting Techniques
Static Subjects
—Keeping Blur to a Minimum—
1
Shooting Techniques Static Subjects
At the high resolutions o ered by the D800/D800E, even the
slightest camera motion can result in blur. The technique revealed in this section minimizes blur through a combination
of live view photography and a tripod.
Technical Data
■ Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 14–24 mm f/2.8G ED ■ Exposure mode:
Manual ■ Shutter speed: 1 s ■ Aperture: f/8 ■ White balance:
Choose color temp. (5000 K) ■ ISO sensitivity: 100 ■ Picture con-
trol: Standard
Note: This photo was shot in 14-bit NEF (RAW) and processed
using Capture NX 2.
Photo © Benjamin Anthony Monn
Lesson 1: Use a Tripod
Use a tripod to reduce blur when
photographing static subjects. It
should be as sturdy as possible;
avoid extending the legs or center
column farther than necessary. A
large head helps keep the camera
steady.
Tripod Mode
Some lenses, such as the AF-S
NIKKOR 200–400 mm f/4G ED
VR II, o er vibration reduction
with a TRIPOD option that is particularly e ective in reducing blur
at shutter speeds of ⁄–1 s and is
generally recommended when
the camera is mounted on a tripod. NORMAL is however preferred
if the tripod head is not xed or
you are using a monopod.
2
Shooting Techniques Static Subjects
Lesson 2: Use Live View
Live view can be used to improve focus and prevent blur.
Live View Photography
Rotate the live view selector to C and press a to raise the
mirror and display the view through the lens in the monitor.
Live view selector a button
Why Use Live View?
1. The mirror is raised prior to shooting, reducing blur.
At the high resolutions o ered by the D800/D800E, even the
slap of the mirror can sometimes be enough to blur photographs. In live view, the mirror is raised well before the shutter
is released, helping keep blur to a minimum.
Reducing Blur During View nder Photography
If you have trouble seeing the display in the monitor outdoors or in bright ambient light, you can use mirror-up
mode to reduce blur while framing photographs in the
view nder. Press the release mode dial lock release and rotate the release mode dial to MUP.
After focusing, press the shutter-release button all the way
down once to raise the mirror and again to release the shutter. An optional remote cord can be used to prevent the
camera moving when you press the shutter-release button,
or you can select an option other than O for Custom Set-
ting d4 (Exposure delay mode) to delay shutter release until about 1–3 s after the button is pressed. Use of a tripod is
recommended.
3
Shooting Techniques Static Subjects
Why Use Live View?
2. You can focus anywhere in the frame.
In live view, you can use the multi selector to
position the focus point anywhere in the frame,
regardless of the options selected for AF/MF and
autofocus.
The ability to position the focus point anywhere in the monitor’s angle of view greatly increases the range of locations on
which the camera can focus.
In autofocus mode, you can focus on the subject in the selected focus point by pressing the shutter-release button halfway
or pressing the B button. In manual focus mode, focus can
be adjusted by rotating the lens focus ring.
Why Use Live View?
3. You can zoom in for precise focus.
Press the X button to magnify the
view in the monitor by up to 23×
for precise focus during live view.
You will nd this particularly effective with manual focus.
X button
A navigation window will appear
in a gray frame at the bottom of
the display. Use the multi selector
to scroll to areas of the frame not
visible in the monitor.
Navigation window
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