Nikon D3200 Digital Field Guide E-Book

Alan Hess

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Digital Field Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 384

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

A colorful, portable guide to all the features of Nikon's D3200 dSLR The Nikon D3200 dSLR camera is packed with fabulous features like a 24-megapixel sensor, full HD video capability with fulltime autofocus, and 4 frames-per-second continuous shooting mode. This full-color guide provides instructions for all the buttons, dials, modes, and menus plus a refresher course in photography basics. It illustrates the essentials of lighting, composition, and exposure with plenty of examples, and author Alan Hess, veteran concert photographer, even includes professional tips on improving portraits, candids, sports and travel photos, and much more. Sized to fit in a camera bag, the book includes a bonus gray and color checker card to help dSLR newcomers capture perfect white balance and color every time. * Nikon's exciting D3200 dSLR offers a 24-megapixel sensor, full HD (1080p) video recording with fulltime autofocus and 4 fps high-speed continuous shooting mode, and a host of other features * This full-color guide, in a portable 6 x 9-inch trim explains all the camera's settings, buttons, menus, and modes with step-by-step directions * Explains how to choose lenses, adjust white balance, use autofocus, and manage exposure * Author and professional photographer Alan Hess provides advice on improving your candids, portraits, sports and travel photos, macro photography, and more, with exquisite examples * Includes a gray and color checker card to help you achieve perfect color Nikon D3200 Digital Field Guide is your new Nikon's best friend. Take it everywhere you take your camera and have expert advice at your fingertips.

Leseprobe

Nikon® D3200™ Digital Field Guide

Table of Contents

Quick Tour

Getting Started

Setting the exposure mode

Focusing

Playback

Downloading Images

Chapter 1: Exploring the Nikon D3200

Key Camera Controls

The top of the camera

The back of the camera

The front of the camera

The left side of the camera

The right side of the camera

The bottom of the camera

The Viewfinder Display

The Information Display

The Guide Mode

The Shoot guide

The View/delete guide

The Set-up guide

Chapter 2: The Nikon D3200 Essentials

Exposure Modes

Scene Modes

Portrait

Landscape

Child

Sports

Close-up

Night Portrait

The Picture Control System

Working with Focus and AF area modes

How autofocus works for still images and video

Focus modes

AF area modes

Live View

Release Modes

Flash Modes

Setting the White Balance

Setting the ISO

Auto ISO

Noise reduction

File Types

RAW files

JPEGs

Chapter 3: Setting Up the Nikon D3200

The Playback Menu

Delete

Playback folder

Playback display options

Image review

Rotate tall

Slide show

DPOF print order

The Shooting Menu

Reset Shooting menu

Set Picture Control

Image quality

Image size

White balance

ISO sensitivity settings

Active D-Lighting

Auto distortion control

Color space

Noise reduction

AF-area modes

The built-in AF-assist Illuminator

Metering modes

Movie settings

Flash control for built-in flash

The Setup Menu

Reset setup options

Format memory card

Monitor brightness

Auto info display

Clean image sensor

Lock mirror up for cleaning

Video mode

HDMI

Flicker reduction

Time zone and date

Language

Image comment

Auto image rotation

Image Dust Off ref photo

Auto off timers

Self-timer

Remote on duration

Beep

Rangefinder

File number sequence

Buttons

Slot empty release

Print date

Storage folder

GPS

Firmware version

Chapter 4: Lenses and Accessories

Lens Basics

Nikon lens codes

Focal lengths

Aperture and depth of field

Vibration Reduction

Focusing motors

Lens Compatibility

The DX Crop Factor

Prime versus Zoom Lenses

Understanding prime lenses

Understanding zoom lenses

Picking the Right Lens

The Nikon Creative Lighting System

Available flashes

The Close-up Speedlight System

Using multiple flashes

Microphones

The built-in microphone

Stereo microphones

Shotgun microphones

Lavalier microphones

The WU-1a Wireless adapter

Chapter 5: All About Lighting

The Importance of Light

The Quality of Light

The Direction of Light

The Intensity of Light

Types of Light

Natural light

Continuous light

Flash basics

Measuring Light

Light meters

Metering modes

Chapter 6: Exposure and Composition

Exposure Basics

Shutter speed

Aperture

ISO

Equivalent exposures

Exposure compensation

Exposure for video

Composition

Rule of Thirds

Leading lines

Keeping it simple

Tips

Composition and video

Chapter 7: The Live View Mode and Video Basics

The Live View Mode

Focus modes and autofocus areas

Taking still photos

Video

Shooting video

Types of video

Frame rate

Shutter speed

Setting up to shoot video

Sound

Recording video

Playing back video

Chapter 8: Using the Nikon D3200

Abstract Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Action and Sports Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Concert Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Landscape and Nature Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Macro Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Night and Low-light Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Portrait Photography

Shooting indoors

Shooting outdoors

Photographing children

Choosing the right focal length

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Travel Photography

Inspiration

Practice

Tips

Chapter 9: Viewing and Editing In-camera

Viewing Your Images

On the camera

Connecting to a standard TV

The HDMI HDTV connection

Viewing images on a smart device

Downloading Your Images

Editing in the Retouch Menu

D-Lighting

Red-Eye Reduction

Trim

Monochrome

Filter effects

Color balance

Image overlay

NEF processing

Resize

Quick retouch

Straighten

Distortion control

Fisheye

Color outline

Color sketch

Perspective control

Miniature effect

Selective color

Edit movie

Printing from the camera

Appendix A: Postproduction

Nikon software

iPhoto

Photoshop Elements

Nikon software

iMovie

Premiere Elements

Appendix B: Accessories

Tripod heads

Tripod legs

Materials

Monopods

Appendix C: How to Use the Gray Card and Color Checker

Glossary

Nikon® D3200™ Digital Field Guide

Alan Hess

Nikon® D3200™ Digital Field Guide

Published byJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.10475 Crosspoint BoulevardIndianapolis, IN 46256www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-1-118-43822-0

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Trademarks: Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Nikon and D3200 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nikon, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

About the Author

Alan Hess is a San Diego-based commercial photographer specializing in concert and live-event photography. He is the author of ten books, including Exposure Digital Field Guide, Composition Digital Field Guide, iPad Fully Loaded, All Access: Your Backstage Pass to Concert Photography, and Night and Low-Light Photography Photo Workshop, all of which are also available from Wiley.

Alan has also been part of the Photoshop World Instructor Dream Team since 2009, where he teaches about concert photography. You can find Alan at www.alanhessphotography.com, where he writes a semi-regular blog, or on Twitter at ShotLivePhoto.

Credits

Acquisitions Editor

Courtney Allen

Project Editor

Amanda Gambill

Technical Editor

George Maginnis

Senior Copy Editor

Kim Heusel

Editorial Director

Robyn Siesky

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Barry Pruett

Senior Project Coordinator

Kristie Rees

Graphics and Production Specialists

Andrea Hornberger

Christin Swinford

Quality Control Technician

John Greenough

Proofreading

Susan Hobbs

Indexing

Potomac Indexing, LLC

For Nadra.

Acknowledgments

I must thank my family and friends for putting up with me during the crazy writing schedule, and for always letting me point a camera at them, usually at an inconvenient time. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to everyone at Wiley for your hard work and dedication to this project. Writing a book is more of a team effort than many people realize, and I have been lucky enough to have a great team: Courtney, Amanda, George, and everyone at Wiley, I could not do this without you.

Thanks to Rodney, Kasey, and Kaitlin for being such great subjects.

All of the dogs photographed in this book were rescued from animal shelters, and some of them are still looking for their forever homes. Thanks to Boxers N Birds Animal Rescue for all that it does.

To my wife, who supports my crazy writing schedule, and doesn’t mind when I turn the living room or kitchen into a makeshift studio to photograph a candle or two; I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I could not do this without your love and encouragement.

Introduction

The Nikon D3200 is amazing. It’s a camera designed for the photographer who is just starting out with a digital single-lens reflex camera (dSLR). But Nikon has packed this camera with the latest, greatest technology. It packs a huge new, Nikon-designed 24.2 megapixel sensor that shoots both great stills, and full HD video into a compact camera body.

The Nikon D3200 is a major update to the D3100 with a brand-new image-processing engine, the EXPEED 3. This is the same image-processing engine that comes in the Nikon D4, the top-end Nikon professional camera. This processing engine creates photos with great color, and produces low-noise images at high resolutions. The D3200 can photograph using ISO settings ranging from 100 to 6400, and can be pushed to Hi-1 (ISO 12800 equivalent), which allows great images to be taken in low light without a flash.

The purpose of this Digital Field Guide is to help you get the most out of this camera. It starts with a Quick Tour, which is designed to get you out and about capturing images without too much reading. Chapter 1 covers all of the external controls on the D3200 (and there are quite few of them). Many of the buttons and dials have different functions depending on which mode the camera is in. Chapter 1 also covers what is displayed when you look through the viewfinder, the information display, and the Guide mode. Chapter 2 covers the exposure, scene, and focus modes, as well as other important settings on the D3200, including the ISO and white balance settings.

The camera has a full menu system that allows you to set everything on it. Chapter 3 covers the Playback, Shooting, Custom Setting, and Setup menus. This is a great chapter to refer to when setting up your camera for the first time, or when you want to change any of the settings.

The Nikon D3200 is part of the whole Nikon system, and Chapter 4 covers lenses, flashes, microphones and the new wireless adapter. Photography is all about capturing light, and no Digital Field Guide would be complete without a discussion about it. The direction of light, its quality, and how to measure it in a scene are all covered in Chapter 5. The basics of exposure (including aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings) and composition (including Rule of Thirds and Leading lines) are covered in Chapter 6.

One of the most exciting advances in photography is the ability to shoot full HD video. Chapter 7 covers the Live View function of the D3200 and, not only how to shoot still images with it, but also the very cool video-recording options. The different focus modes available in Live View are also covered.

Chapter 8 helps you use your D3200 in a variety of photo situations, including when taking abstract images, action and sports photography, and much more. Each situation is explored, and most include sample photos, along with the shooting data.

The Nikon D3200 has an impressive Retouch menu and can be connected to a variety of output devices. Chapter 9 covers viewing your images on the camera or a television, as well as the retouching capabilities.

This book also has three appendices. The first covers postproduction, including how to use some of the most popular photo-editing software packages and your choices for video editing. The second appendix covers the accessories available for the Nikon D3200, including remote releases, video accessories, tripods, and more. The print version of this book comes with a gray card and color checker, and Appendix C covers how to use these correctly to get the best color and exposure.

As the name implies, this book is designed to be taken with you when you are out in the field photographing. It is meant to be marked up and highlighted—and go ahead and dog ear a page or two. It fits in your camera bag, so you can pull it out to check a setting, or just to review a subject.

Quick Tour

If you get as excited as I do when getting a new camera, then this is the section for you. The Quick Tour is designed to get you and your new camera out and photographing quickly by giving you just the basics. If you’ve already used a dSLR, then just consider this a quick review. If this is your first camera with interchangeable lenses, then consider this section an overview so you can get started right away (assuming you have already unpacked the camera and read the camera manual). With the freshly charged battery inserted, a lens attached, and the memory card formatted, just turn the page and get ready to start taking great photos with your new Nikon D3200.

With the Nikon D3200, you can start capturing great images almost instantly.

Getting Started

The Nikon D3200 is an entry-level dSLR. So, while it is really easy for a beginner to pick up and get great shots, it has enough features and controls to keep any photographer satisfied. Once the basic setup is complete, turn the camera on by rotating the On/Off switch to the right. Now, it’s time to set the exposure mode, focus on your subject, and get shooting.

NOTE The camera does not work without a memory card. There is no built-in memory as there is on some point-and-shoot cameras.

Setting the exposure mode

When starting out, the first thing to do is to set the exposure mode to Automatic () by using the Mode dial on the top right of the camera. Rotate the dial until the word Auto is lined up with the white marker, as shown in Figure QT.2. In this mode, the camera uses the built-in light meter to read the light in the scene, and sets the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. The camera even raises the built-in flash automatically if it believes that more light is needed to create a proper exposure. This mode turns all of the controls over to the camera, essentially turning it into a point-and-shoot.

QT.1 Using Auto mode and the kit lens allowed me to focus more on the flower than on the camera controls. Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 second, ISO 200.

QT.2 The Mode dial showing the camera set to the Auto mode.

CROSS REF For more information on exposure modes, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, see Chapter 2.

If you want to take a photo without using the flash, then turn the Mode dial to Auto flash off mode (). In this exposure mode, the camera still has full control over the exposure settings, but it does not use the flash, even in low light. When the scene is dark, the camera uses slower shutter speeds, wider apertures, and higher ISO settings to get a proper exposure. However, when shutter speeds drop too low to freeze the action, you end up with blurry images. I recommend using Automatic mode () when you start out, unless using a flash will disturb your subject or you’re in a location where flash photography is not allowed.

Focusing

With your new Nikon D3200 set to Automatic mode (), all you have to do is focus. Raise the camera to your eye and look through the viewfinder. Press the shutter-release button halfway to activate the autofocus. Once the camera achieves focus, a red bracket in the viewfinder briefly lights up. This is the autofocus point that the camera is currently using and the spot on which the camera attempts to focus. There is also an audible beep when focus is achieved, and the in-focus display is shown in the bottom-left corner of the viewfinder. If the camera is not focusing, check the lens and make sure that the A/M (Autofocus/Manual) button is set to A. Once the camera locks the focus on the subject, press the shutter-release button all the way to take the photo.

QT.3 The camera has 11 focus points that can be seen through the viewfinder. Here, those in red are locked onto the subject.

NOTE The camera focuses on the subjects closest to it when it is set to Automatic mode ().

Playback

After you have taken a few photos, you can review them on the camera using the large, 3-inch LCD screen on the back of the camera. The camera’s default setting is to display each image for a few seconds right after it is taken. When you want to see the images again, just press the Playback button () located at the top-left corner of the D3200’s back, and the most recent image that you took is displayed on the screen. You can scroll through all of the images on the camera’s memory card by using the multi-selector on the back of the camera. Press the multi-selector right () to scroll through the images in the order in which they were taken, or you can press the multi-selector left () to scroll through the images in the reverse order. The camera displays the image along with the name, date, time, and resolution.

As you review your images, if you want to delete any of the photos, you can simply press the Delete button () at the lower right of the camera’s back. However, unless an image is completely out of focus or just really bad, it is best to wait and delete images after you see them on a much bigger screen (like your computer). If you are positive an image is not a keeper, while it is on the screen, press the Delete button (). When the camera asks for confirmation, press the Delete button () again to permanently delete the image.

QT.4 The back of the camera showing the last image taken with the photo data on the bottom.

The following options are also available when viewing your photos on the back of the camera:

▶ Playback zoom in (). Press the Playback zoom in button () to zoom in to your image, and check the sharpness and detail. Every time you press the button, you zoom further into the photo. You can then move around inside the image using the multi-selector. This option is useful for making sure that you get the most important part of the photograph in focus.

▶ Playback zoom out/Thumbnail button (). When you press the Playback zoom out/Thumbnail button (), you can view the images stored on the memory card with 4, 9, or 72 images displayed on the screen. Each time you press the button, it shows you more thumbnails. This allows you to quickly scroll through the images to find the one that you want to check. When you are in the thumbnail view you can navigate using the multi-selector to select the image you want to see, and then press the OK button () to have the selected image fill the screen. In the thumbnail view, the selected image has a yellow border. You can also press the Playback zoom in button () to take you out of the thumbnail view.

▶ AE-L/AF-L ()/Protect () button. If there are images that you want to make sure aren’t deleted inadvertently, you can use the AE-L/AF-L ()/Protect () button to prevent an image from being deleted. Press the button once when the image you want to protect is on the screen so it cannot be deleted when the Delete button () is pressed. A small protect icon () appears on the top left of the image on the screen.

CAUTION All images, including protected images, are deleted when formatting the memory card.

Downloading Images

Once the memory card is full of images, or you want to edit your images on a computer, you need to connect the camera to a computer and download the files. The Nikon D3200 has some image editing capabilities built in to it, but if you do all of your editing in the camera, at some point you will still run out of space on the memory card and need to download the photos to free up space. There are two ways to download photos from your camera to the computer: Use the supplied USB cable and connect the camera directly to the computer, or use a card reader connected to the computer.

CROSS REF The Nikon D3200 built-in image-editing capabilities are covered in Chapter 9.

To use the camera and the supplied USB cable to download your photos, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the camera. Make sure that the camera is turned off before connecting it to a computer directly to avoid damaging the camera or computer.

2. Open the rubber cover on the left side of the camera to expose the USB port. The USB port is the second one from the top, just under the microphone jack.

3. Connect the camera to the computer. Plug the supplied USB cable into an open USB port on your computer and the USB port on the camera, as shown in Figure QT.5

QT.5 The supplied USB cord connecting the Nikon D3200 to a laptop computer.

4. Turn the camera on. Once the computer and camera are both turned on, the computer should recognize the camera as a storage device and allow you to copy the image files from the camera to the computer. You can also use applications such as iPhoto, Nikon Transfer, Photo Mechanics, or Adobe Bridge to transfer the files.

5. Disconnect the camera. When you finish with the image transfer, disconnect your camera from the computer the same way you would disconnect any other external device.

To download the photos using a dedicated memory card reader, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the camera.

2. Eject the memory card. Make sure the memory card access lamp (the little green light next to the memory card access door) isn’t blinking before removing the memory card. Open the memory card door and press down on the memory card to eject it.

NOTE Using a card reader saves battery power because the camera does not have to be turned on.

3. Insert the memory card into the card reader attached to your computer. The computer then recognizes the memory card as a storage device and you can now transfer the files to the computer. You can also use programs such as iPhoto, Nikon Transfer, Photo Mechanics, or Adobe Bridge to transfer the files from the memory card to the computer.

4.When you finish transferring the images, eject the card from the computer and put it back in the camera.

QT.6 An SD memory card inserted into a Hoodman Raw Steel card reader, and connected to a laptop computer.

TIP Once your download is complete and your photos are safely transferred to the computer, format the memory card in the camera so it is always ready to save more photos.

Chapter 1: Exploring the Nikon D3200

The Nikon D3200 is an amazing piece of machinery. It has features and specifications that surpass the top-end professional camera models released just a few years ago. Whether this is your first dSLR or you have been shooting with one for a while, being comfortable with the location and functions of all the controls on the Nikon D3200 enables you to capture any scene as it happens.

This chapter covers all of the buttons, levers, switches, and controls on the outside of the camera. It also explains the information displayed when you look though the viewfinder, as well as that displayed on the rear LCD screen when the Info () or Information Edit () buttons are pressed. This chapter also covers the Guide mode () feature that is designed to be a guide to taking photos and the camera’s functionality.

Even when it’s set to one of the auto modes, you can get outstanding photos with the D3200.

Key Camera Controls

The best thing you can do with your new camera is familiarize yourself with the location of all of its controls. The following sections identify and explain the controls, buttons, levers, and switches located on the outside of the camera.

The top of the camera

The top of the Nikon D3200 is home to two of the most important controls on the camera: The Mode dial and the shutter-release button. The top of the camera is also where the On/Off switch and the dedicated Movie-record button are located, as shown in Figure 1.1.

1.1 The Nikon D3200 viewed from above.

Here are the controls on the top of the D3200:

▶ Focus ring. The focus ring on the lens allows you to adjust the focus manually by rotating the lens to the left or right when the camera is set to Manual focus mode ().

▶ Zoom ring. This ring on the lens allows you to change the focal length of zoom lenses, like the kit lens. You just rotate the ring to the left or right to zoom in or out.

▶ Focal length indicator. These markings show what focal length the lens is set to. For example, in Figure 1.1 the focal length was set at 24mm.

▶ On/Off switch. You have to turn the camera on for it to work and you do it here. Rotate the switch to the right to turn it on and to the left to turn it off.

▶ Shutter-release button. This is the most important button on the camera. Not only does it activate the autofocus and built-in light meter when pressed halfway, but when pressed all of the way, it causes the reflex mirror to move up and out of the way, the shutter to open, and the photo to be recorded. Pressing the shutter-release button lightly also wakes up the camera if it hasn’t been used for a while and has gone to sleep. When the camera is in Playback mode () or the Info display is active, lightly pressing the shutter-release button turns the display off.

▶ Movie-record button. When the Live View mode () is activated, press this button to record a movie. Press it a second time to stop recording.

▶ Exposure Compensation ()/Aperture ()/Flash Exposure Compensation () button. This button adjusts the exposure by increasing or decreasing the exposure compensation. Press the Exposure Compensation button () while rotating the Main Command dial to the right to increase the exposure. Rotate the dial to the left to decrease the exposure. When the Mode dial is set to Manual mode (), this button acts as an Aperture button () and adjusts the aperture when the button is pressed while the Command dial is rotated. When this button is held down at the same time that the Flash Exposure Compensation button () is, and the Command dial is rotated, the Flash Exposure Compensation is adjusted.

▶ Strap eyelets. This is where you attach the supplied strap (or any camera strap) to the camera.

▶ Info button (). Pressing this brings up the info display on the LCD screen. This is covered in much greater detail later in this chapter.

▶ Mode dial. The Mode dial is where you select the exposure mode. It has 13 modes, as shown in Figure 1.2. You can set the exposure mode by turning the dial to one of the following settings:

1.2 The Nikon D3200 Mode dial in detail.

• Auto mode (). This mode leaves the controls to the camera and turns your dSLR into a point-and-shoot. The flash fires if the camera believes the extra light is necessary.

• Auto flash off mode (). This mode leaves the control of the settings to the camera, turning your dSLR into a point and shoot. In low light, the flash does not fire.

• Portrait mode (). This mode is ideal for taking photos of people in bright light.

• Landscape mode (). This mode is best suited for photos of landscapes. The built-in flash is not available.

• Child mode (). Use this mode when taking photos of children

• Sports mode (). This mode is best suited for taking photos of sports or fast-moving subjects.

• Close-up mode (). Use this mode for taking close-up photos.

• Night portrait mode (). Use this mode when taking photos of people at night or in situations where there is little available light.

• Manual mode (). Use this mode to set the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO yourself.

• Aperture-priority auto mode (). In this mode, you set the aperture and the camera uses the information from the built-in light meter to set the shutter speed and, possibly, the ISO.

• Shutter-priority auto mode (). In this mode, you set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture based on the built-in light meter readings.

• Programmed auto mode (). In this mode, the camera sets both the shutter speed and aperture based on the built-in light meter reading. However, you can override the camera’s choices by rotating the Main Command dial (located on the back of the camera).

• Guide mode (). This starts the Guide mode () which walks you through the controls of your camera and a variety of photographic situations. This mode is covered in more detail later in this chapter.

CROSS REF Exposure modes are covered in greater detail in Chapter 2.

▶ Hot shoe cover. This cover slides into the hot shoe to protect the electrical contacts when the camera is not in use. The D3200 ships with this cover in place, and it must be removed before a speedlight or any other accessory can be used in the hot shoe.

▶ Hot shoe. This is where external flashes (speedlights) and other accessories are attached to the camera. Electrical contacts in the hot shoe enable the camera to control attached speedlights and other accessories. This is also where accessories like the ME-1 microphone can be attached to the camera.

▶ Focal plane indicator. This mark on the camera shows the exact placement of the sensor in the camera. It allows you to measure the exact distance from the sensor to the subject, which is especially useful for macro photography.

▶ Speaker. The built-in speaker plays back the sound when reviewing recorded movies and emits a double beep when the camera has achieved focus.

The back of the camera

The back of the camera is dominated by the bright, 3-inch LCD screen. It is surrounded by some of the most often used controls, including the multi-selector, which enables you to easily navigate through the menu system and controls the focus points. The back of the camera is also where the viewfinder and the Command dial are located. By rotating the Command dial, you control many functions of the D3200—the functions change depending on the mode.

1.3 The back of the Nikon D3200.

Here is what you find on the back of your D3200:

▶ Viewfinder. The viewfinder is what you traditionally look through to compose your photographs. It shows you the view in front of the camera as seen through the attached lens. This allows you to accurately compose your images, as what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what is recorded when you press the shutter-release button all of the way. The viewfinder display also shows you a lot of information, which I cover later in this chapter.

▶ Diopter adjustment control. Not everyone’s eyesight is equal, so this control allows you to adjust the focus in the viewfinder to suit your eyesight. Adjusting the Diopter is easy and should be done before taking any photos. Just look through the viewfinder, and then press the shutter-release button halfway to activate the autofocus. Once the camera achieves focus, look to see if the image in the viewfinder is in focus for you. If it is, then you are good to go. If it isn’t, rotate the diopter adjustment control until the image is in sharp focus.

▶ AE-L/AF-L ()/Protect () button. The Auto-exposure/Autofocus lock button () is used to lock the exposure and the focus, allowing the camera to be moved and the scene recomposed, without changing the focus or the exposure settings. When the camera is in Playback mode (), this button acts as the Protect button () which, when pressed, protects the displayed image from deletion.

▶ Command dial. This dial changes various settings on your camera, depending on which button is pressed at the same time the dial is rotated. It is also the dial used to change the exposure settings, depending on the exposure mode. In the default, out-of-the-box settings, the Command dial changes the shutter speed when the camera is in the Shutter-priority auto () or Manual () modes. The Command dial changes the aperture when the camera is in Aperture-priority auto mode (). It also changes the aperture in Manual () mode when used in conjunction with the Exposure Compensation ()/Aperture () button.

▶ Live View button (). Pressing the Live View button () turns on the Live View mode (). You then see on the LCD screen what will be captured by the camera when the shutter-release button is pressed or a video recording is started.

▶ Multi-selector. The multi-selector has different functions, depending on the mode of the camera.You navigate through the camera menus by pressing the multi-selector left (), right (), up (), and down (). When in Playback mode (), the multi-selector allows you to navigate among the images. You can also use it to move the focus point when the AF area mode is set to any mode other than Auto-area AF ().

▶ OK button (). This button, like many others, has more than one function. When the camera is in Playback mode (), the OK button () opens the Retouch menu () for the selected image. When navigating through menus, pressing the OK button () selects the highlighted menu choice.

▶ Release mode button (). This button sets which Release mode is used when the shutter-release button is pressed.

CROSS REF The Release mode button () and its other functions are covered in detail in Chapter 2.

▶ Memory card access lamp. This little light blinks when data from the camera is being written to the memory card. It is important that you don’t turn the camera off or remove the memory card when this light is blinking.

▶ Delete button (). In Playback mode (), pressing this displays the delete menu, which allows you to either delete the displayed image (press the Delete button () a second time to do so), or cancel the deletion (press the Playback button () to do so).

▶ LCD screen. The LCD screen takes up most of the back of the Nikon D3200. This 3-inch screen has an impressive resolution of 921,000 dpi (dots per inch). The LCD screen is where you view the menus and current settings, review your images, and view the live feed when using the Live View mode ().

▶ Information Edit button (). Pressing this button shows the information display on the LCD screen. Press it a second time to adjust the settings on your camera.

▶ Playback zoom out/Thumbnail ()/Help () button. This button has three different functions, depending on the mode. When in Playback mode () and zoomed into an image, this button zooms out. When the image is full frame on the back of the camera, press this button to change the view to thumbnail, which allows you to see 4, 9, or 72 images at a time. This way, you can easily search the images on the memory card.

▶ Playback zoom in button (). This button is used to zoom in to images on the LCD screen, allowing you to check the focus and sharpness of an image.

▶ Menu button (). This button activates the camera menu system.

CROSS REF The menu system is covered in detail in Chapter 3.

▶ Playback button (). This button activates the Playback mode (), allowing you to see the photos stored on the memory card.

▶ Infrared (IR) receiver. This enables the optional ML-L3 remote to fire the camera from a distance. There is also an infrared receiver on the front of the camera so that the remote can trigger the camera from either side.

▶ Rubber eyecup. The viewfinder is surrounded by a rubber eyecup that makes putting your eye to the camera more comfortable. The rubber eyecup can be removed by pushing it upward until it slides off the camera.

▶ DK-5 viewfinder cap (not shown). This cap stops any light from entering the viewfinder, which can cause the built-in light meter to give inaccurate results. This is useful when shooting a lot of video or using Live View mode () to take photos.

The front of the camera

The front of the Nikon D3200 has some key controls, including the button that allows you to change lenses. The front of the camera also houses the built-in microphone and a second infrared (IR) receiver.

1.4 The front of the Nikon D3200 with the 18-55mm lens attached.

The front view of the D3200 shows the following:

▶ Built-in flash. The Nikon D3200 has a built-in flash housed on top of the viewfinder. This allows you to take photos in low light without any extra equipment and, while it’s not as versatile or powerful as a speedlight, it is very convenient.

CROSS REF For more information on the built-in flash modes, check out Chapter 2.

▶ Microphone. The built-in microphone records audio when recording video. Its location allows it to record what happens in front of the camera.

CROSS REF You can find more information on microphones in Chapter 4.

▶ Lens release button. Press this button to unlock the lens that is attached to your camera. Once the button is pressed in, rotate the lens to the right and remove it from the camera.

▶ Infrared (IR) receiver. This receiver allows the optional Nikon remote ML-L3 to work with the camera, even when you are in front of the lens. There is also an infrared (IR) receiver on the back of the camera.

▶ AF-assist Illuminator/Self-timer lamp/Red-Eye Reduction lamp. This lamp serves three purposes, depending on what you are doing with the camera. When photographing in low light, it comes on to help the autofocus lock onto the subject. When using the self-timer (), the lamp flashes as it counts down to the photo being taken. When using any of the Red-Eye Reduction modes, it illuminates the subject before the flash fires so that the pupils contract, reducing red-eye.

The left side of the camera

The left side of the camera is where the data connectors and most of the lens controls are located. Here’s what you see when looking at the left side of your camera:

▶ Connector cover. The connectors are protected under this cover. To open it, place your fingernail in the groove at the rear and pull it out from the camera. To close the cover, just press it back into place.

▶ External microphone connector. When using an external microphone, it plugs into the camera here.

▶ USB and A/V connector. The Nikon D3200 comes with two cables that can be plugged in to the micro USB plug on the camera; one is a USB cable that connects the camera to the computer, and the other allows the camera to be connected to a television. Only one cable can be used at a time. This is also where the optional Nikon Wireless Mobile Adapter WU-1a plugs into the camera.

1.5 The left side of the Nikon D3200.

▶ HDMI connector. This mini-pin connector allows the camera to be hooked up to an HD television using the optional HDMI cable. This allows you to playback the content of your camera on an HDTV

▶ Accessory terminal. This plug allows the optional Nikon MC-DC2 remote cord and GP-1 GPS units to be attached to the camera.

▶ Vibration Reduction (VR) switch (). This switch on the lens turns the Vibration Reduction on or off. It allows the photographer to use slower shutter speeds and avoid camera shake.

CROSS REF For more information about Vibration Reduction (VR), see Chapter 4.

▶ Autofocus (AF)/Manual focus (MF) switch. This switch on the lens switches between autofocus (AF) and manual focus (MF). Most of the time, you will use the autofocus mode. However, in situations in which the built-in autofocus has difficulty achieving focus, switching to manual focus allows you to manually focus the lens. Manual focus is usually necessary when shooting scenes with very low contrast or in very dark environments.

▶ Mounting mark. Align this mark with the one on a lens to mount it correctly.

▶ Function button (). The Function button () can be customized to access a variety of controls, and is set to adjust the ISO as the camera default. You can change it using the Button menu setting in the Setup menu (). Your choices are: Image quality/size, ISO sensitivity, White balance, and Active D-Lighting.

▶ Flash mode ()/Flash Exposure Compensation () button. This button controls the built-in flash modes. It also adjusts the Flash Exposure Compensation (that is, the power of the flash) when used in conjunction with the Exposure Compensation button (), located on top of the camera.

The right side of the camera

The right side of the camera is where you grip it. The area under your palm is where the memory card is inserted and the power connector is located.

1.6 The right side of the Nikon D3200.

Here is what you find on the right side of your Nikon D3200:

▶ Memory card slot cover. The memory card cover is opened by sliding it back toward the rear of the camera. It is spring loaded, so once it has been moved back it pops open. To close it, just reverse the process.

▶ Memory card slot. The Nikon D3200 uses SecureDigital (SD) memory cards. They are inserted into the camera here with the label facing toward the back of the camera. The memory card slot is spring loaded, so push the card in until it clicks. To remove the card, press down to release it and it pops out of the slot. The memory card can only be inserted in one way, with the label towards the back of the camera and the contacts towards the front. It should never be forced into the camera.

▶ Power connector cover. There is a little black rubber cover on the bottom edge of the camera, right under the memory card slot cover. This is where the optional EP5 power adapter cord can be plugged in.

The bottom of the camera

The bottom of the D3200 is where the battery goes and a tripod can be attached. It is textured so that when a tripod is attached tightly, the camera does not move. On the bottom of the Nikon D3200, you find the following:

▶ Tripod socket. You can easily attach a tripod or monopod here. Some camera straps also attach here.

▶ Battery chamber cover. This cover protects the battery chamber.

▶ Battery chamber. The battery chamber is where the supplied EN-EL14 battery goes. The battery can only slide in one way and should never be forced.

▶ Battery cover latch. To remove the battery, slide the orange plastic latch toward the back of the camera. This latch keeps the battery in place, even if the battery chamber cover opens inadvertently.

The Viewfinder Display

When you look through the viewfinder, you see not only the scene in front of the camera as it appears through the attached lens, but also a lot of information, such as camera settings and the exposure value. You also see the main area where the focus points appear (shown in Figure 1.7) and the information bar across the bottom, as shown in Figure 1.8.

1.7 The main viewfinder display of the Nikon D3200.

1.8 The information bar across the bottom of the viewfinder display of the Nikon D3200.

The viewfinder displays the following information:

▶ Focus points. There are 11 focus points in the Nikon D3200, and the active points blink red. If none of the focus points is illuminated, press the shutter-release button halfway. You can change which focus point is active with the multi-selector.

▶ Focus indicator. When the camera achieves focus, a green dot appears. If the camera cannot achieve focus, the dot blinks.

▶ Auto exposure Lock indicator. When you press the AE-L/AF-L button (), the Auto-exposure Lock indicator is illuminated.

▶ Flexible Program indicator. When you have adjusted the shutter speed and/or the aperture when in the Programmed auto mode (), this indicator illuminates.

▶ Shutter speed. This shows the selected shutter speed.

▶ Aperture. This shows the selected aperture as an f-stop.

▶ Exposure indicator/Exposure compensation value/Electronic rangefinder. Located at the bottom center of the viewfinder, the built-in light meter display helps you determine if your shot is over- or underexposed.