Photographer Steve Perry has shared some great tricks for Nikon shooters before. They help you customize your camera, and it looks like many of you liked the first video. Steve has now published another set of Nikon camera tricks that will make shooting more efficient and enjoyable. So grab your Nikon, and try out the customization tips from the video below.
Before we move on, note that these options aren’t available on the D3xxx series of Nikon cameras. However, the majority of other models should offer you these settings.
1. Save your settings
If for any reason you need to reset your Nikon camera, you’ll lose all the settings. But, most Nikon cameras let you save settings to the SD card so you can get them back.
Insert an SD card and format it in case there aren’t photos you’d like to keep. Then, go to the Setup menu and scroll all the way down to Save/load settings. Click on it and then click Save settings. This will instantly save them to your memory card. Now, if you need to reset the camera (or you accidentally mess up the settings), you’ll be able to bring them back. Again, go to Save/load settings and then click Load settings.
Keep in mind thought that not all settings will be saved, and it depends on the camera body. However, you’ll get the majority of them back and it will save you a lot of time. It’s also useful if you have two same camera bodies, so you can transfer settings from one onto the other just by loading them from your memory card.
2. Rename your files
Nikon names all files starting with DSC, and in some cases, it can be a problem. If you use more than one body, you’ll have files with duplicate names. So, if you’d like to have different file names for different Nikon cameras, here’s what to do:
Go to Photo shooting menu > File naming. You’ll get an input screen that will allow you to choose file names for your camera. From here on, the camera will use the file name you determined as a prefix to all photos you shoot with it.
3. Viewfinder level
There’s an option on Nikon cameras to activate a horizon line by pushing the joystick. It helps you keep the horizon straight and it’s a quick and easy way to access this handy tool.
The setup differs depending on the camera model. For the cameras issued before 2016, go to Custom setting menu > Controls > Assign preview button > Viewfinder virtual horizon. Hit OK and you’re all set.
On newer Nikon bodies, go to Custom setting menu > Controls > Custom control assignment and assign the Viewfinder virtual horizon to the button you choose.
4. High speed flash sync
Most Nikon bodies have Auto FP option that lets you shoot above the maximum sync speed (which is typically 1/250s). It works with most lash units, both Nikon’s and third-party ones. Steve points out, however, that your flash range will get diminished, so this works best for closer subjects. And here’s how to set it up:
Go to Custom setting menu > Bracketing/Flash > Flash sync speed and choose 1/250s (Auto FP) or 1/320s (Auto FP). Now you can crank up the shutter speed and make it as fast as you need.
5. Easy ISO and Easy Exposure Compensation
If you’d like to change ISO or exposure compensation without having to press the button and turn the dial, the Majority of Nikon bodies allow you to do it. Some cameras offer only one of these options, while the others let you set up both. However, the easy ISO is no longer very common, so your camera might not have it.
In case your Nikon does have this option, here’s how to set it up: go to Custom setting menu > Shooting/Display > Easy ISO or ISO Display and adjustment. Turn the Easy ISO on and that’s it.
If you’d rather turn on the Easy exposure compensation (or that’s the only option your camera supports) go to Custom setting menu > Metering/exposure > Easy exposure compensation and turn it on.
Now, if you use the camera in Aperture priority mode, turning the dial on the back will change the ISO or exposure compensation. For Program or Shutter priority mode, use the dial on the front. Note that these won’t work in Manual mode because you need those dials to adjust aperture and shutter speed. Still, it can speed you up a bit if you use Aperture priority, Shutter priority or Program mode.
6. Viewfinder grid
The viewfinder grid can be a handy tool to help you compose the shot or keep the horizon straight. To turn it on, go to Custom setting menu > Shooting/Display > Viewfinder grid display, and turn the grid on. Note that it doesn’t work with the Viewfinder level, so when you turn this option on, the grid will disappear. You’ll get it back when you turn the Viewfinder level off.
7. Exposure delay mode
This feature is handy if you don’t have a cable release or a remote control around, and you want to minimize the camera shake at longer exposures. To set it up, go to Custom setting menu > Shooting/Display > Exposure delay mode. On the next screen, you can choose the duration of the exposure delay, usually between 0.2 s and 3 s. An extra tip – the longer the lens, the longer the delay should be. I’d like to add a note that on Nikon D7000 you don’t get to choose the duration of the delay, there’s just a choice between “on” and “off.”
So there you have it, seven more Nikon camera features you can customize and make your camera more suitable for your own needs. Of course, you may have already set up some of these, but I do hope you’ve discovered something new and that you’ll find these useful.
FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!