Nikon D5200 For Dummies E-Book

Julie Adair King

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Seitenzahl: 511

Beschreibung

Invaluable photography advice for D5200 beginners The Nikon D5200 is one of Nikon's most advanced cameras offered in the entry-level line of dSLRs. This book goes beyond the user's manual to deliver a helpful introduction to the basic photo skills needed in order to get great shots from the D5200. Assuming no prior dSLR knowledge, veteran author Julie Adair King offers you a tour of the camera body with this full-color book as she presents you with a hands-on how-to on all the features of the D5200. Packed with pics, this fun and friendly guide offers unique inspiration for capturing your own memorable images. * Helps you get an accurate feel for the camera, shooting in Auto mode, and managing playback options * Walks you through adjusting settings to get better results from exposure, lighting, focus, and color * Includes a full chapter on video mode * Addresses sending images to a computer for organizing, editing, and sharing * Demonstrates how to put the pieces together to get better portraits, action shots, and outdoor shots in any sort of light. * Shares tips on the most common edits needed to improve shots Featuring an abundance of useful tips, this helpful guide encourages you to take control of your Nikon 5200 to get the photos you want.

Leseprobe

Nikon® D5200™ For Dummies®

Published byJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.111 River StreetHoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013933955

ISBN 978-1-118-53047-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-53058-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-53060-3  (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-53061-0 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Author

Julie Adair King is the author of many books about digital photography and imaging, including the best-selling Digital Photography For Dummies. Her most recent titles include a series of For Dummies guides to popular digital SLR cameras, including the Nikon D600, D3200, D7000, D5100, and D300s. Other works include Digital Photography Before & After Makeovers, Digital Photo Projects For Dummies, Julie King’s Everyday Photoshop For Photographers, Julie King’s Everyday Photoshop Elements, and Shoot Like a Pro!: Digital Photography Techniques. When not writing, King teaches digital photography at such locations as the Palm Beach Photographic Centre. A native of Ohio and graduate of Purdue University, she resides in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Author’s Acknowledgments

I am deeply grateful for the chance to work once again with the wonderful publishing team at John Wiley and Sons. Kim Darosett, Jennifer Webb, Steve Hayes, Virginia Sanders, and Katie Crocker are just some of the talented editors and designers who helped make this book possible. And finally, I am also indebted to technical editor Dave Hall, without whose insights and expertise this book would not have been the same.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We're proud of this book; please send us your comments at http://dummies.custhelp.com. For other comments, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax [phone].

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions and Editorial

Senior Project Editor: Kim Darosett

Executive Editor: Steven Hayes

Copy Editor: Virginia Sanders

Technical Editor: David Hall

Editorial Manager: Leah Michael

Editorial Assistant: Annie Sullivan

Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case

Cover Photo: © Slobodan Vasic / iStockphoto; camera image courtesy of Julie Adair King

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Katherine Crocker

Layout and Graphics: Carrie A. Cesavice, Jennifer Creasey, Joyce Haughey

Proofreaders: Lauren Mandelbaum, Penny L. Stuart

Indexer: Steve Rath

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Kathleen Nebenhaus, Vice President and Executive Publisher

Composition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Nikon D5200 For Dummies®

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/nikond5200 to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Quick Look at What’s Ahead

Icons and Other Stuff to Note

eCheat Sheet

Practice, Be Patient, and Have Fun!

Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps

Chapter 1: Getting the Lay of the Land

Looking at Lenses

Choosing a lens

Attaching and removing lenses

Choosing a focusing method (auto or manual)

Zooming in and out

Using a VR (Vibration Reduction) lens

Adjusting the Viewfinder to Your Eyesight

Using the Articulating Monitor

Working with Memory Cards

Exploring External Camera Controls

Topside controls

Back-of-the-body controls

Front-left buttons

Hidden connections

Ordering from Camera Menus

Displaying Help Screens

Viewing Picture Settings

Adjusting Settings via the Information Display

Taking a Few Critical Setup Steps

Setup menu options

Custom Setting options

Restoring Default Settings

Chapter 2: Choosing Basic Picture Settings

Choosing an Exposure Mode

Choosing the Release Mode

Single Frame and Quiet Shutter Release modes

Continuous (burst mode) shooting

Self-timer shooting

Wireless remote-control modes

Investigating other shutter-release options

Choosing the Right Quality Settings

Diagnosing picture-quality problems

Considering image size: How many pixels are enough?

Understanding Image Quality options (JPEG or Raw)

My take: Choose JPEG Fine or Raw (NEF)

Setting Image Size and Quality

Chapter 3: Taking Great Pictures, Automatically

Setting Up for Automatic Success

As Easy As It Gets: Auto and Auto Flash Off

Taking Advantage of Scene Modes

Choosing a Scene mode

Checking out the Scene modes

Chapter 4: Exploring Live View Photography and Movie Making

Using Your Monitor as a Viewfinder

Live View safety tips

Customizing the Live View display

Focusing in Live View Mode

Choosing a Focus mode

Selecting a focusing target (AF-area mode)

Choosing the right focusing pairs

Autofocusing in Live View mode

Manual focusing in Live View mode

Shooting Still Pictures in Live View Mode

Shooting Movies

Choosing the video mode (NTSC or PAL)

Setting video quality (frame size, frame rate, and bit rate)

Controlling audio

Manipulating movie exposure

Reviewing a few final recording options

Recording a movie

Screening Your Movies

Trimming Movies

Saving a Movie Frame as a Still Image

Part II: Working with Picture Files

Chapter 5: Playback Mode: Viewing, Erasing, and Protecting Photos

Customizing Basic Playback Options

Adjusting playback timing

Adjusting and disabling instant image review

Enabling automatic picture rotation

Viewing Images in Playback Mode

Viewing multiple images at a time (thumbnails view)

Displaying photos in Calendar view

Choosing which images to view

Zooming in for a closer view

Viewing Picture Data

File Information mode

Highlights display mode

RGB Histogram mode

Shooting Data display mode

Overview mode

Deleting Photos

Deleting images one at a time

Deleting all photos

Deleting a batch of selected photos

Protecting Photos

Creating a Digital Slide Show

Viewing Your Photos on a Television

Chapter 6: Downloading, Printing, and Sharing Your Photos

Choosing the Right Photo Software

Three free photo programs

Advanced photo programs

Sending Pictures to the Computer

Connecting the camera and computer for picture download

Starting the transfer process

Downloading using ViewNX 2

Processing Raw (NEF) Files

Processing Raw images in the camera

Processing Raw files in ViewNX 2

Planning for Perfect Prints

Check the pixel count before you print

Allow for different print proportions

Get print and monitor colors in sync

Preparing Pictures for E-Mail and Online Sharing

Prepping online photos using ViewNX 2

Resizing pictures from the Retouch menu

Part III: Taking Creative Control

Chapter 7: Getting Creative with Exposure and Lighting

Introducing the Exposure Trio: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO

Understanding exposure-setting side effects

Doing the exposure balancing act

Exploring the Advanced Exposure Modes

Reading (And Adjusting) the Meter

Setting Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO

Adjusting aperture and shutter speed

Controlling ISO

Choosing an Exposure Metering Mode

Sorting through Your Camera’s Exposure-Correction Tools

Applying Exposure Compensation

Using autoexposure lock

Expanding tonal range

Investigating Advanced Flash Options

Choosing the right Flash mode

Adjusting flash output

Controlling flash output manually

Bracketing Exposures

Chapter 8: Manipulating Focus and Color

Mastering the Autofocusing System

Changing the Focus mode setting

Choosing an AF-area mode: One focus point or many?

Choosing the right autofocus combo

Autofocusing with still subjects: AF-S + Single Point

Focusing on moving subjects: AF-C + Dynamic Area

Using autofocus lock

Focusing Manually

Manipulating Depth of Field

Controlling Color

Correcting colors with white balance

Changing the White Balance setting

Fine-tuning White Balance settings

Creating white balance presets

Bracketing white balance

Choosing a Color Space: sRGB versus Adobe RGB

Taking a Quick Look at Picture Controls

Chapter 9: Putting It All Together

Recapping Basic Picture Settings

Shooting Still Portraits

Capturing Action

Capturing Scenic Vistas

Capturing Dynamic Close-Ups

Part IV: The Part of Tens

Chapter 10: Ten Fun (And Practical) Ways to Manipulate Your Photos

Applying the Retouch Menu Filters

Removing Red-Eye

Straightening Tilting Horizon Lines

Removing (Or Creating) Lens Distortion

Correcting Perspective

Cropping (Trimming) Your Photo

Manipulating Exposure and Color

Creating Monochrome Images

Playing with Special Effects

Retouch menu special-effects filters

Shooting in Effects mode

Two Roads to a Multi-Image Exposure

Chapter 11: Ten Special-Purpose Features to Explore on a Rainy Day

Keeping the Image Sensor Clean

Changing the Look of the Information Display

Keeping the Information Display Hidden

Annotate Your Images

Creating Your Own Menu

Creating Custom Image Folders

Changing the Function of the AE-L/AF-L Button

Assigning a Duty to the Function Button

Using the Shutter Button to Lock Exposure and Focus

Reversing the Command Dial Orientation

Cheat Sheet

Introduction

Nikon. The name has been associated with top-flight photography equipment for generations. And the introduction of the D5200 has only enriched Nikon’s well-deserved reputation, offering all the control a die-hard photography enthusiast could want while at the same time providing easy-to-use, point-and-shoot features for the beginner.

In fact, the D5200 offers so many features that sorting them all out can be more than a little confusing, especially if you’re new to digital photography, SLR photography, or both. For starters, you may not even be sure what SLRmeans or how it affects your picture-taking, let alone have a clue as to all the other techie terms you encounter in your camera manual — resolution, aperture, white balance, and so on. And if you’re like many people, you may be so overwhelmed by all the controls on your camera that you haven’t yet ventured beyond fully automatic picture-taking mode. Which is a shame because it’s sort of like buying a Porsche and never actually taking it on the road.

Therein lies the point of Nikon D5200 For Dummies. Through this book, you can discover not just what each bell and whistle on your camera does, but also when, where, why, and how to put it to best use. Unlike many photography books, this one doesn’t require any previous knowledge of photography or digital imaging to make sense of things, either. In classic For Dummies style, everything is explained in easy-to-understand language, with lots of illustrations to help clear up any confusion.

In short, what you have in your hands is the paperback version of an in-depth photography workshop tailored specifically to your Nikon picture-taking powerhouse.

A Quick Look at What’s Ahead

This book is organized into four parts, each devoted to a different aspect of using your camera. Although chapters flow in a sequence that’s designed to take you from absolute beginner to experienced user, I’ve also tried to make each chapter as self-standing as possible so that you can explore the topics that interest you in any order you please.

Here’s a brief preview of what you can find in each part of the book:

Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps: Part I contains four chapters to help you get up and running. Chapter 1 offers a tour of the external controls on your camera, shows you how to navigate camera menus to access internal options, and walks you through initial camera setup. Chapter 2 explains basic picture-taking options, such as shutter-release mode and Image Quality settings, and Chapter 3 shows you how to use the camera’s fully automatic exposure modes. Chapter 4 explains the ins and outs of using Live View, the feature that lets you compose pictures on the monitor, and also covers movie recording.

Part II: Working with Picture Files: This part offers two chapters, both dedicated to after-the-shot topics. Chapter 5 explains how to review your pictures on the camera monitor, delete unwanted images, and protect your favorites from accidental erasure. Chapter 6 offers a look at some photo software options — including Nikon ViewNX 2, which ships free with your camera — and then guides you through the process of downloading pictures to your computer and preparing them for printing and online sharing.

Part III: Taking Creative Control: Chapters in this part help you unleash the full creative power of your camera by moving into the advanced shooting modes (P, S, A, and M). Chapter 7 covers the critical topic of exposure, and Chapter 8 explains how to manipulate focus and color. Chapter 9summarizes all the techniques explained in earlier chapters, providing a quick-reference guide to the camera settings and shooting strategies that produce the best results for portraits, action shots, landscape scenes, and close-ups.

Part IV: The Part of Tens: In famous For Dummies tradition, the book concludes with two “top ten” lists containing additional bits of information and advice. Chapter 10 covers the photo-editing and effects tools found on the camera’s Retouch menu and also shows you how to use the Effects exposure mode to add special effects to movies and photos as you record them. Chapter 11 wraps up the book by detailing some camera features that, although not found on most “Top Ten Reasons I Bought My Nikon D5200” lists, are nonetheless interesting, useful on occasion, or a bit of both.

Icons and Other Stuff to Note

If this isn’t your first For Dummies book, you may be familiar with the large, round icons that decorate its margins. If not, here’s your very own icon-decoder ring:

A Tip icon flags information that will save you time, effort, money, or some other valuable resource, including your sanity. Tips also point out techniques that help you get the best results from specific camera features.

When you see this icon, look alive. It indicates a potential danger zone that can result in much wailing and teeth-gnashing if ignored. In other words, this is stuff that you really don’t want to learn the hard way.

Lots of information in this book is of a technical nature — digital photography is a technical animal, after all. But if I present a detail that is useful mainly for impressing your technology-geek friends, I mark it with this icon.

I apply this icon either to introduce information that is especially worth storing in your brain’s long-term memory or to remind you of a fact that may have been displaced from that memory by some other pressing fact.

Additionally, I need to point out these extra details that will help you use this book:

Other margin art: Replicas of some of your camera’s buttons and onscreen symbols also appear in the margins of some paragraphs. I include these to provide a quick reminder of the appearance of the button or feature being discussed.

Software menu commands: In sections that cover software, a series of words connected by an arrow indicates commands that you choose from the program menus. For example, if a step tells you to “Choose File⇒Convert Files,” click the File menu to unfurl it and then click the Convert Files command on the menu.

eCheat Sheet

As a little added bonus, you can find an electronic version of the famous For Dummies eCheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/nikond5200. The eCheat Sheet contains a quick-reference guide to all the buttons, dials, switches, and exposure modes on your camera. Log on, print it out, and tuck it in your camera bag for times when you don't want to carry this book with you.

Practice, Be Patient, and Have Fun!

To wrap up this preamble, I want to stress that if you initially think that digital photography is too confusing or too technical for you, you’re in very good company. Everyone finds this stuff a little mind-boggling at first. So take it slowly, experimenting with just one or two new camera settings or techniques at first. Then, each time you go on a photo outing, make it a point to add one or two more shooting skills to your repertoire.

I know that it’s hard to believe when you’re just starting out, but it really won’t be long before everything starts to come together. With some time, patience, and practice, you’ll soon wield your camera like a pro, dialing in the necessary settings to capture your creative vision almost instinctively.

So without further ado, I invite you to grab your camera, a cup of whatever it is you prefer to sip while you read, and start exploring the rest of this book. Your D5200 is the perfect partner for your photographic journey, and I thank you for allowing me, through this book, to serve as your tour guide.

Occasionally, Wiley's technology books are updated. If this book has technical updates, they'll be posted at www.dummies.com/go/nikond5200updates.

Part I

Fast Track to Super Snaps

\Visit www.dummies.com for more great For Dummies content online.

In this part . . .

Get familiar with the basics of using your camera, from attaching lenses to using the Information display.

Find out how to select the shutter-release mode, exposure mode, picture resolution, and file type (JPEG or Raw).

Discover tips for getting good results in the automatic exposure modes.

Start taking creative control by stepping up to Scene modes.

Switch to Live View mode to compose pictures using the monitor.

Record, play, and trim digital movies.

1

Getting the Lay of the Land

In This Chapter

Familiarizing yourself with the lens, viewfinder, and monitor

Working with memory cards

Exploring external controls and menus

Viewing and adjusting camera settings

Customizing basic operations

Restoring the camera’s default settings

If you’re like me, shooting for the first time with a camera as sophisticated as the Nikon D5200 produces a blend of excitement and anxiety. On one hand, you can’t wait to start using your new equipment, but on the other, you’re a little intimidated by all its buttons, dials, and menu options.

Well, fear not: This chapter provides the information you need to start getting comfortable with your D5200. Along with an introduction to the camera’s external features, including its fancy articulating monitor, I offer details about working with lenses and memory cards, viewing and adjusting camera settings, and choosing basic camera setup options.

Looking at Lenses

One of the biggest differences between a digital point-and-shoot camera and a dSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera is the lens. With a dSLR, you can change lenses to suit different photographic needs, going from an extreme close-up lens to a super-long telephoto, for example. In addition, a dSLR lens has a focusing ring that gives you the option of focusing manually instead of relying on the camera’s autofocus mechanism.

I don’t have room in this book to go into detail about the science of lenses, nor do I think that an in-depth knowledge of the subject is terribly important to your photographic success. But the next few sections offer advice that may help when you’re shopping for lenses, figuring out whether the lenses you inherited from Uncle Ted or found on eBay will work with your D5200, and taking the steps involved in actually mounting and using a lens.