8. D850
Announced in August 2017 the D850 was the successor to the D810. It features a 45MP FX CMOS sensor. It has the Nikon Multi-CAM 20K autofocus sensor module with 153 focus points and 99 cross-type points. 15 of those work up to F8. It is a expensive professional camera that will put your lens to the test and is not easy to master.
8.1 Basic Settings
Image Quality: JPG Fine P88
RAW format can be used for more control in editing your image. But if you l want to learn your camera I would suggest JPG, as the faults you made in using it will be more obvious. Because of that you should use RAW whenever it really counts.
Image Size: L P91
Image Area: FX P83
Focus Mode: AF-C Continuous Servo AF P99
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic Area AF P100
D9 or D21 for airliners, d72 or D153 for airshows.
Release Mode: CL P113
You can use CH at airshows. CL is usually good enough for airliners.
ISO Sensitivity: 100 or 200 P119
Up to ISO 3200 should work on a D850. (with some editing)
Metering Mode: Center weighted P124
Centre weighted still is the safer and more predictable than Matrix Metering..
Exposure mode: P* or A P126
P* is reliable, but due to the high quality the D850 demands from the lens, I find A set to F8 preferable, especially as the low noise of the sensor allows you to up the ISO. S or M as needed.
White Balance: Natural Light Auto P156
Auto works well too and works fine under artificial light as well.
Nikon Picture controls: Standard P175
Sharpening set to 3. Everything else to 0.
Active D-Lighting: OFF P180
High Dynamic Range: OFF P182
Vignette Control: Normal – OFF for RAW P253
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do vignetting correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For the jpeg shooters, I recommend using “normal”.
Auto Distortion Control: OFF P253
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do distortion correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For JPG shooters I also prefer “off” as it is saver to do this correction in editing.
Long Exposure NR: OFF P253
Color Space: sRGB P253
8.2 Custom Settings
AF-C Priority Selection: Focus P260
AF-S Priority Selection: Focus P260
AF point selection: 55 P261
Center Weighted Area: 15mm P263
CL Shooting Mode Speed: 3 FPS P264
Viewfinder Grid Display: On P265
Assign FN1 Button: Matrix Metering P268
Assign FN1 Button + thumb wheel: Switch between FX and DX mode P268
Assign FN2 Button: My Menue P268
Assign AE-L / AF-L Button: AE lock only P268
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7. D5600
Announced in November 2016 the D5600 was the successor to the D5500. It features a 24MP CMOS sensor. It has the Nikon Multi-CAM 4800DX autofocus sensor module with 39 focus points and 9 central cross-type points. It is an affordable, compact and light camera.
Settings for the D5600 can be used on the D5500 and earlier cameras.
7.1 Basic Settings
Image Quality: JPG Fine P98
RAW format can be used for more control in editing your image. But if you l want to learn your camera I would suggest JPG, as the faults you made in using it will be more obvious. Because of that you should use RAW whenever it really counts.
Image Size: L P100
Focus Mode: AF-C Continuous Servo AF P83
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic Area AF P86
D9 for airliners, d21 or D51 for airshows.
Release Mode: Continuous Low P75
You can use CH at airshows. CL is usually good enough for airliners.
ISO Sensitivity: 200 P107
Up to ISO 400 should work on a D5600.
Metering Mode: Center weighted P105
Centre weighted still is the safer and more predictable than Matrix Metering..
Exposure mode: P* or A P118
P* is reliable, but due to the high quality the D800 demands from the lens, I find A set to F8 preferable, especially as the low noise of the sensor allows you to up the ISO. S or M as needed.
White Balance: Auto P140
Auto works well under natural light.
Nikon Picture controls: Standard P130
Sharpening set to 4.
Active D-Lighting: OFF P136
High Dynamic Range: OFF P138
Vignette Control: Normal – OFF for RAW P231
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do vignetting correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For the jpeg shooters, I recommend using “normal”.
Auto Distortion Control: OFF P232
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do distortion correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For JPG shooters I also prefer “off” as it is saver to do this correction in editing.
Long Exposure NR: OFF P231
Color Space: sRGB P230
Long Exp. NR: Off P230
High ISO NR: Normal or Low P231
7.2 Custom Settings
AF-C Priority Selection: Focus P235
AF point selection: 39 P236
Viewfinder Grid Display: On P243
Assign FN Button: ISO P255
Assign AE-L / AF-L Button: AE lock only P254
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6. D7200
Announced in March 2015 the D7200 was the successor to the D7100 and seen as the replacement for the D300 until the D500 arrived. It features a 24MP CMOS sensor. It has the Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, 51 focus points.
Settings for the D7200 can be used on the D7000, D7100, D750.
6.1 Basic Settings
Image Quality: JPG Fine P77
RAW format can be used for more control in editing your image. But if you l want to learn your camera I would suggest JPG, as the faults you made in using it will be more obvious. Because of that you should use RAW whenever it really counts.
Image Size: L P81
Focus Mode: AF-C Continuous Servo AF P83
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic Area AF P86
D9 for airliners, d21 or D51 for airshows.
Release Mode: CL P66
You can use CH at airshows. CL is usually good enough for airliners.
ISO Sensitivity: 200 P99
Up to ISO 1280 should work on a D800.
Metering Mode: Center weighted P105
Centre weighted still is the safer and more predictable than Matrix Metering..
Exposure mode: P* or A P51
P* is reliable, but due to the high quality the D800 demands from the lens, I find A set to F8 preferable, especially as the low noise of the sensor allows you to up the ISO. S or M as needed.
White Balance: Auto P111
Auto works well under natural light.
Nikon Picture controls: Neutral P130
Standard is a bit too sharp and has a picture control setting for clarity of +1. This can cause halos. If you want to use standard for the bit more flashy colours, I would suggest to modify it to. Sharpening +2 and Clarity 0.
Active D-Lighting: OFF P139
High Dynamic Range: OFF P141
Vignette Control: Normal – OFF for RAW P271
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do vignetting correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For the jpeg shooters, I recommend using “normal”.
Auto Distortion Control: OFF P271
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do distortion correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For JPG shooters I also prefer “off” as it is saver to do this correction in editing.
Long Exposure NR: OFF P271
Color Space: sRGB P270
6.2 The Shooting Menu
Long Exp. NR: Off P271
High ISO NR: Normal or Low P271
6.3 Custom Settings
AF-C Priority Selection: Focus P276
AF-S Priority Selection: Focus P276
Focus Tracking with Lock-on: Normal P276
AF point selection: 11 or 51 P277
51 point option can be tried, but for me it takes too long to move the focus point with 51 points selected.
Center Weighted Area: 10mm P278
CL Shooting Mode Speed: 3 FPS P280
Viewfinder Grid Display: On P280
Assign FN Button: Matrix Metering P284
Assign AE-L / AF-L Button: AE lock only P285
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5. D800
Announced in February 2012 the D800 was the high resolution successor to the D700. It features a 36MP CMOS sensor. It has the Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, 51 focus points (including 15 cross-type sensors; f/8 supported by 11 central sensors).
The high resolution FX sensor will be a test for your lens. It also needs very careful handling as even the slightest blur created by the photographer will be visible.
Settings for the D800 can be used on the D750, D610, D800e, D810 and D4 series of cameras.
5.1 Basic Settings
Image Quality: JPG Fine P84
RAW format can be used for more control in editing your image. But if you l want to learn your camera I would suggest JPG, as the faults you made in using it will be more obvious. Because of that you should use RAW whenever it really counts.
Image Size: L P87
Focus Mode: AF-C Continuous Servo AF P91
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic Area AF P93
D9 for airliners, d21 or D51 for airshows.
Release Mode: CL P103
You can use CH at airshows. CL is usually good enough for airliners.
ISO Sensitivity: 200 P109
Up to ISO 1600 should work on a D800.
Metering Mode: Center weighted P115
Centre weighted still is the safer and more predictable than Matrix Metering..
Exposure mode: P* or A P117
P* is reliable, but due to the high quality the D800 demands from the lens, I find A set to F8 preferable, especially as the low noise of the sensor allows you to up the ISO. S or M as needed.
White Balance: Auto P145
Auto works well under natural light.
Nikon Picture controls: Standard P163
Neutral is less contrasty but gives you the largest useable dynamic range and leaves the most options for editing.
Active D-Lighting: OFF P174
High Dynamic Range: OFF P174
Vignette Control: Normal – OFF for RAW P275
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do vignetting correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For the jpeg shooters, I recommend using “normal” or “High”. Make sure that “high” is not over correcting before using it.
Auto Distortion Control: OFF P276
For RAW shooters the use of “off” is recommended as you can do distortion correction in RAW development with most software solutions offering automatic correction for many lenses. For JPG shooters I also prefer “off” as it is saver to do this correction in editing.
Long Exposure NR: OFF P277
Color Space: sRGB P274
Display Mode: Highlights + RGB Histogram P261
5.2 The Shooting Menu
Long Exp. NR: Off P262
High ISO NR: Normal or Low P263
5.3 Custom Settings
AF-C Priority Selection: Focus P281
AF-S Priority Selection: Focus P282
Focus Tracking with Lock-on: Normal P283
AF point selection: 11 or 51 P285
51 point option can be tried, but for me it takes too long to move the focus point with 51 points selected.
Center Weighted Area: 12mm P289
CL Shooting Mode Speed: 2-3 FPS P293
Viewfinder Grid Display: On P295
Assign FN Button: Matrix Metering P311
FN button + command dials: Choose image area P314
Assign AE-L / AF-L Button: AE lock only P307
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4. D300
Announced in August 2007 the D300 was the next upgrade in the Nikon line of semi-professional DSLR cameras after the D200. It features a 12MP CMOS sensor. The focus system has been improved. It now has the 51 point (11 cross-type) CAM3500DX AF system, which is a big step up from the D200 and leaves no comparison to the old D100. It is the same AF system as sued in the Nikon D3 professional camera. The switch to the CMOS type sensor has greatly improved the high ISO quality of the camera.
Settings for the D300(D300S) can be used on the D700, D90, D5000 and D3 series of cameras.
4.1 Basic Settings
Image Quality: JPG Fine P56
RAW format can be used for more control in editing your image. But if you lwant to learn your camera I would suggest RAW, as the faults you made in using it will be more obvious. Because of that you should use RAW whenever it really counts.
Image Size: L P60
Focus Mode: AF-C Continuous Servo AF P62
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic Area AF P64
Release Mode: CL P74
You can use CH at airshows. CL is usually good enough for airliners.
ISO Sensitivity: 200 P96
Up to ISO 400 should work on a D300. Going below ISO200 is not recommended.
Metering Mode: Center weighted P102
The improved 3D Matrix Metering of the D300 does a very good job for spotting. Even in high contrast scenes and low contrast scenes. It makes sense to use, but centre weighted still is the safer and more predictable bet.
Exposure mode: P* P104
You can use S and A mode when you want. M only makes sense for night shots or static subjects.
White Balance: Auto P127
Auto works well under natural light.
Nikon Picture controls: neutral P150
Neutral is less contrasty but gives you the largest useable dynamic range and leaves the most options for editing. You can down load picture control settings at the Nikon website, which make the camera record the pictures like a D2X.
Active D-Lighting: OFF P167
For RAW shooters the use of “Low” is recommended, as you can not turn the function on when you took the pic with ADL off. However you can turn ADL off, when you took the picture with ADL set to “Low”. For the jpeg shooters, I strongly recommend turning this option off, as the function can create halos. It often looks like an overuse of the shadow and highlight tool in Adobe Photoshop, especially if you take a photo of a bright white aircraft against a dark blue sky and in other high contrast scenes.
Color Space: sRGB P169
4.2 The Playback Menu
Display Mode: Highlights + RGB Histogram P250
4.3 The Shooting Menu
Long Exp. NR: Off P262
High ISO NR:
Normal or Low P263
4.4 Custom Settings
AF-C Priority Selection: Focus P267
AF-S Priority Selection: Focus P268
Dynamic Area AF: 21 points P269
I would recommend using 51 points for airshows and 21 points for airliners.
Focus Tracking with Lock-on:
NormalP270
AF point selection: 11 P272
51 point option can be tried, but for me it takes too long to move the focus point with 51 points selected.
Center Weighted Area: 10mm P277
Viewfinder Grid Display: On P281
CL Shooting Mode Speed: 3 FPS P282
Assign FUNC Button: Matrix Metering P303
Assign AE-L / AF-L Button: AE lock only P307
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3. D200
The Nikon D200 replaced the D100 in Nov. 2005, It has a magnesium alloy body, which is weather sealed. The sensor is a 10MP CCD: The AF has been improved to the CAM 100 with more focus points and much better accuracy. In addition, the matrix metering mode is now capable to recognize colours and uses a 1005 segment sensor to find the exposure.
Settings for the D200 might be useful for D80, D90, D60 and D40X as well.
3.1 Basic Settings
Shooting Mode: CL P26
I would use CH only for airshows. For normal airliners CL set to 3 fps is enough.
Image Quality: JPEG Fine P28 P129
RAW format can be used for more control in editing your image. But if you lwant to learn your camera I would suggest RAW, as the faults you made in using it will be more obvious. Because of that you should use RAW whenever it really counts.
ISO Sensitivity: 200 P33
You can go down to 100 if the weather allows. I would not go over 320, as the noise becomes a problem at 400 and above,.
White Balance: Auto P35 P129
The automatic white balance has been much improved compared to the D100, Under natural light "Auto" will work just fine most of the time.
Optimizing Images: NormalP45 P129
Color Space: sRGB P50 P129
Focus Mode: Continuous Servo AF-C P51
AF Area Mode: Dynamic area AF P54
Metering: Centre weighted P61
Exposure mode: P* or A P62
You can use S mode when you want and know what you are do. M only makes sense for night shots or static subjects.
3.2 The Shooting Menu
I have only listed points that are not covered in the Basic Settings part of this guide.
Image Size: Large P130
JPEG Compression: Optimal Quality P130
RAW Compression: Comp RAW P130
Long Exp NR: Off P131
High ISO NR: Low P131
3.3 Custom Settings
AF-C Mode Priority Selection: Focus P148
AF-S Mode priority Selection: Focus P148
Focus Tracking with Lock-on: NormalP150
Center Weighted Area: 10mm P155
Assignment of AE-L/AF-L Button: AE Lock only P157
Viewfinder Grid Display: On P158
CL Mode Shooting Speed: 3FPS P158
Assign Func Button: Matrix Metering P170
Very handy to quickly switch metering modes.
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2. D100
The D100 was the first affordable semi-professional Nikon DSLR. It features a 6MP CCD sensor and is based on the F80 film body. It features the CAM900 auto focus module, which offers 5 AF sensors (one cross-type).
Recommendations for the D100 could be useful for the D70, D70s, D50 and D40.
2.1 Basic settings
Shooting Mode: Continuous P41
Image Quality and Size: JPEG fine (or RAW if you want to use RAW) P43 P136
ISO: 200 – whenever possible P48 P139
Compared to today’s standards the D100 is noisy, so I do not recommend going much higher then ISO 200, if you are planning on up-loading your shots to the aviation photo databases on the net.
White balance: Auto -2 or Cloudy -1 P50 P138
The automatic White Balance of the D100 is known for its green colour cast. It is recommended to use a warmer setting than usual to counter this. Taking a PRESET WB is a good idea under difficult light conditions, as is shooting RAW under such conditions.
Image Sharpening: NormalP58 P140
Tone Compensation: NormalP59 P141
Colour Mode: sRGB P60 P142
Hue Adjustment: 0 P62 P143
Focus Mode: C P63
AF Area Mode: Dynamic Area AF P65
Metering: Centre weighted P75
Exposure Mode: P* works good and can an alternative to A and S P76
2.2 Custom Settings Menu
EV Step: 1/3 P151
AE-L / AF-L: AE-L Lock only P154
Grid Display: On P157
Dyn. AF AF-C: Select AF Area P157
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1. Introduction
This guide is meant as a basic guideline for in camera settings that I found useful on Nikon DSLRs listed, when using them for spotting. The settings are focused on the jpg shooter. For the RAW shooter many things are not as important, as the settings can be altered in the editing of the RAW file.
While I only used the the cameras listed many tips could be useful on other Nikon DSLR cameras of the same generation.
Behind each recommended setting you will find the page of the cameras manual where you will find more about that setting and how to change it.
If you have a non US manual for your camera, you can download the
US version at https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/index.html so you can compare the pages listed here to the manual in your language.
PXX is the page in the manual.
1.1 Understanding P* mode (for all cameras)
Many experienced photographers will tell you that you should never let the camera take control of the exposure, which is basically correct, however Nikon offers a good compromise between control and safety with the P* mode.
P* allows you to customize the P (Program mode) by rotating the main command dial. You can set it to use to use faster shutter speeds or small apertures. The good think about that option is that the reaction to changing light conditions is instant. So a suddenly moving in cloud or a dark coloured aircraft do not need any manual influence by the user. The camera will adjust shutter speed and aperture as needed. With P or A mode one setting is fixed. The camera changes shutter speed and aperture, but also considers if you wanted a faster shutter speed.
Say we are starting at ISO 200, 1/1000th and F8 suddenly a cloud moves in.
P* would adjust to 1/800 and F7.1
A would adjust to 1/640 (or lower) and F8
S Would adjust to 1/1000th and F6.3
For spotting I recommend the following settings:
D100: 2 clicks to the right (towards faster shutter speed)
D200/D7200/D5600: 3-4 clicks to the right (2-3 for a VR lens)
D300: 3-4 clicks to the right (2-3 for a VR lens)
D800/850: 4 clicks to the right (3 for VR lenses)
for newer VRII lenses use the lower number of clicks
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Recommendations for in-camera settings for aviation photography - Nikon DSLRs
Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Understanding P* mode (for all cameras)
2. D100
2.1 Basic settings
2.2 Custom Settings Menu
3. D200
3.1 Basic Settings
3.2 The Shooting Menu
3.3 Custom Settings
4. D300
4.1 Basic Settings
4.2 The Playback Menu
4.3 The Shooting Menu
4.4 Custom Settings
5. D800
5.1 Basic Settings
5.2 The Shooting Menu
5.3 Custom Settings
6. D7200
6.1 Basic Settings
6.2 The Shooting Menu
6.3 Custom Settings
7. D5600
7.1 Basic Settings
7.2 The Shooting Menu
8. D850
8.1 Basic Settings
8.2 The Shooting MenuAttached FilesLast edited by seahawk; 2022-07-03, 16:07.Tags: None
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