Download Nikon D2X Digital Camera

V1.03
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... 3
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ABOUT THIS EBOOK......................................................................................... 4
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NOTE ON THE FIRST EDITION ......................................................................... 8
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................... 9
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INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 17
DEBUNKING MYTHS ....................................................................... 20
TIMELINE ......................................................................................... 23
CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS BOOK .............................................. 24
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D2X BASICS ..................................................................................................... 26
D2X DESIGN ................................................................................... 26
D2X CONTROLS ............................................................................. 34
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Front View............................................................................... 34
Top View.................................................................................. 35
Back View ................................................................................ 36
Side View................................................................................. 38
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D2X DISPLAYS ................................................................................ 38
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D2x Top LCD........................................................................... 39
D2x Back LCD ......................................................................... 41
D2x Color LCD ....................................................................... 41
D2x Viewfinder....................................................................... 42
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THE D2X’S SENSOR ......................................................................... 46
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Sensor Filtration ............................................................................. 56
Sensors and Light Alignment....................................................... 61
Sensor Longevity ............................................................................ 62
Sensor Wrap-up.............................................................................. 63
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35mm Film or Digital? ........................................................... 66
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POWER ........................................................................................... 70
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Changing Batteries ................................................................ 71
Battery Storage ....................................................................... 73
Clock Battery .......................................................................... 74
Alternate Power Sources...................................................... 75
Battery Life .............................................................................. 76
Battery Notes .......................................................................... 81
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IMAGE STORAGE ............................................................................. 83
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CompactFlash......................................................................... 85
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Solid-State CompactFlash ............................................................ 85
Microdrives...................................................................................... 88
Using CompactFlash...................................................................... 92
Nikon-Approved Cards................................................................. 95
How Much Card? ........................................................................... 95
CompactFlash Troubleshooting ................................................. 96
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Image Formats...................................................................... 100
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Pixels ............................................................................................... 102
JPEG ................................................................................................. 104
TIFF Format .................................................................................... 118
NEF Format..................................................................................... 120
EXIF .................................................................................................. 134
IPTC ................................................................................................. 138
DPOF and PictBridge................................................................... 138
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File Names and Folders ...................................................... 139
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Folders ............................................................................................ 140
File Names...................................................................................... 145
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CAMERA SETUP ............................................................................. 155
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The SET UP Menu ................................................................ 155
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Date, Time, and Language .......................................................... 159
Programming a Comment.......................................................... 166
LCD Brightness Setting ............................................................... 169
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Image Quality ....................................................................... 171
Viewfinder Adjustment ...................................................... 176
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Focus Screens ............................................................................... 177
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Resetting the Camera.......................................................... 179
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Resetting Basic Settings .............................................................. 179
Resetting Other Settings ............................................................ 180
Resetting Custom Settings ......................................................... 181
The Last Resort Reset................................................................... 181
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Firmware Version................................................................. 182
Setting Up Wireless Transmission.................................... 185
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CAMERA AND SHOOTING CONTROLS....................................................... 209
METERING AND EXPOSURE ............................................................ 209
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Metering Modes .................................................................. 209
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Matrix .............................................................................................. 209
Center-weighted .......................................................................... 213
Spot ................................................................................................. 214
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Lock Button........................................................................... 216
Metering with Digital Requires Care ............................... 217
Options for Evaluating Exposure ...................................... 221
Exposure Modes .................................................................. 225
ISO Sensitivity ...................................................................... 228
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Noise Reduction Settings ........................................................... 236
Auto ISO......................................................................................... 240
How ISO Values are Created..................................................... 242
ISO Operating Suggestions ....................................................... 242
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Exposure Bracketing............................................................ 245
Exposure Compensation .................................................... 252
White Balance....................................................................... 254
Changing Color Characteristics........................................ 274
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Tone Compensation.................................................................... 274
Hue .................................................................................................. 277
Color Space and Color Mode.................................................... 280
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Setting Tone, Hue, Color Space, and Color Mode ............... 281
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LENSES AND FOCUSING.............................................................................. 283
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The Autofocus System ........................................................ 286
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Single Servo versus Continuous Servo Autofocus ............... 288
Autofocus Area Modes ............................................................... 291
Autofocus Summary .................................................................... 293
Trap Autofocus ............................................................................. 294
Autofocus Assist ........................................................................... 295
Lock-On.......................................................................................... 295
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Manual Focus ....................................................................... 296
Sharpening............................................................................ 297
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SHOOTING CONTROLS ................................................................ 306
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Shutter Releases................................................................... 306
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Shutter Lag..................................................................................... 307
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Frame Advance..................................................................... 309
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Hi-speed Crop............................................................................... 312
Frame Advance Troubleshooting ............................................. 314
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Self Timer .............................................................................. 315
Interval Shooting ................................................................. 317
Multiple Exposures and Overlays..................................... 323
Remote Control ................................................................... 331
Depth of Field Preview ....................................................... 331
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18mm Lens ..................................................................................... 333
20mm Lens ..................................................................................... 334
24mm Lens ..................................................................................... 334
28mm Lens ..................................................................................... 334
35mm Lens ..................................................................................... 335
50mm Lens ..................................................................................... 335
70mm Lens ..................................................................................... 335
Diffraction...................................................................................... 337
Other DOF Theories.................................................................... 337
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D2x Menus ............................................................................ 339
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PLAYBACK menu (² tab)........................................................... 340
SHOOTING menu (õ camera tab)............................................ 342
CSM (custom settings) menu ( pencil tab)......................... 348
SET UP menu (Ø wrench icon) .................................................. 349
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Recent Settings menu (folder tab)............................................ 353
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Error Messages ..................................................................... 354
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IMAGE REVIEW AND PLAYBACK ................................................................ 360
IMAGE REVIEW .............................................................................. 360
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Image Review Options ....................................................... 361
Rotating Images ................................................................... 369
Voice Annotation................................................................. 370
The PLAYBACK Menu ......................................................... 375
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Deleting Images............................................................................ 376
Dealing with Folders.................................................................... 379
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Slide shows.................................................................................... 383
Hiding Images ............................................................................... 386
Printing Images ............................................................................. 388
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Television Playback ............................................................. 397
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CONNECTING TO A GPS .............................................................. 400
CONNECTING TO A COMPUTER .................................................... 401
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CUSTOM SETTINGS ...................................................................................... 405
CUSTOM SETTING #C CUSTOM SETTINGS BANK (BANK SELECT) .. 410
CUSTOM SETTING #R CUSTOM SETTINGS RESET (MENU RESET)... 414
CUSTOM SETTING #A1 CONTINUOUS SERVO AF PRIORITY (AF-C
PRIORITY SELECTION) ................................................................... 417
CUSTOM SETTING #A2 SINGLE SERVO AF PRIORITY (AF-S PRIORITY
SELECTION)................................................................................... 419
CUSTOM SETTING #A3 GROUP AUTOFOCUS PATTERN (PATTERN
SELECTION IN GROUP DYNAMIC AF) ........................................... 420
CUSTOM SETTING #A4 DISABLE FOCUS LOCK-ON (FOCUS TRACKING
WITH LOCK-ON) .......................................................................... 424
CUSTOM SETTING #A5 INITIATING AUTOFOCUS (AF ACTIVATION) 425
CUSTOM SETTING #A6 FOCUS AREA ILLUMINATION (FOCUS AREA
ILLUMINATION) ............................................................................ 426
CUSTOM SETTING #A7 FOCUS AREA SELECTION WRAP (FOCUS AREA
SELECT)......................................................................................... 429
CUSTOM SETTING #A8 VERTICAL GRIP AF-ON OPTIONS (VERTICAL
AF-ON BUTTON FUNCTION)....................................................... 429
CUSTOM SETTING #B1 AUTOMATIC ISO SETTING (ISO AUTO
CONTROL).................................................................................... 431
CUSTOM SETTING #B2 ISO INCREMENT (ISO STEP VALUE) ........ 434
CUSTOM SETTING #B3 EXPOSURE CONTROL INCREMENT (EV STEPS
FOR EXPOSURE CONTROL) ........................................................... 434
CUSTOM SETTING #B4 EXPOSURE COMPENSATION INCREMENT (EV
STEPS FOR EXPOSURE COMPENSATION) ....................................... 435
CUSTOM SETTING #B5 EXPOSURE COMPENSATION CONTROL (EASY
EXPOSURE COMPENSATION) ........................................................ 436
CUSTOM SETTING #B6 CENTER-WEIGHT CIRCLE SIZE (CENTER WEIGHT
AREA)............................................................................................ 438
CUSTOM SETTING #B7 METER COMPENSATION (FINE TUNE OPTIMAL
EXPOSURE).................................................................................... 439
CUSTOM SETTING #C1 AE LOCK BEHAVIOR (AE LOCK BUTTONS) 441
CUSTOM SETTING #C2 AE-LOCK BUTTON USE (ASSIGNMENT OF AEL/AF-L BUTTON) .......................................................................... 442
CUSTOM SETTING #C3 METER/CAMERA ACTIVE TIME (METER-OFF
DELAY).......................................................................................... 444
CUSTOM SETTING #C4 SELF TIMER DELAY SETTING (SELF-TIMER DELAY)
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CUSTOM SETTING #C5 COLOR LCD ACTIVE TIME (MONITOR OFF
DELAY).......................................................................................... 446
CUSTOM SETTING #D1 CONTINUOUS LOW SHOOTING SPEED (CLMODE SHOOTING SPEED) ............................................................ 447
CUSTOM SETTING #D2 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHOTS (MAX NO. OF
SHOTS TAKEN IN CONTINUOUS SHOOTING)................................. 449
CUSTOM SETTING #D3 SHUTTER DELAY (EXPOSURE DELAY MODE) 450
CUSTOM SETTING #D4 FILE NUMBER SEQUENCE (FILE NUMBER
SEQUENCE)................................................................................... 451
CUSTOM SETTING #D5 EXTENDED INFORMATION CHOICE (CONTROL
PANEL/VIEWFINDER DISPLAY) ....................................................... 452
CUSTOM SETTING #D6 LCD ILLUMINATION CONTROL (LCD
ILLUMINATION) ............................................................................ 453
CUSTOM SETTING #E1 FLASH TOP SYNC SPEED (FLASH SYNC SPEED)
..................................................................................................... 455
CUSTOM SETTING #E2 FLASH SHUTTER SPEED BARRIER (FLASH SHUTTER
SPEED) .......................................................................................... 456
CUSTOM SETTING #E3 AUTO APERTURE FLASH MODE (AA FLASH
MODE) ......................................................................................... 457
CUSTOM SETTING #E4 DOF TRIGGERS MODELING FLASH (PREVIEW
BUTTON ACTIVATES MODELING FLASH)....................................... 458
CUSTOM SETTING #E5 EXPOSURE BRACKETING METHOD (AUTO
BRACKETING SET) ......................................................................... 459
CUSTOM SETTING #E6 MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE BRACKETING (AUTO
BRACKETING IN M EXPOSURE MODE)........................................... 461
CUSTOM SETTING #E7 BRACKETING ORDER (AUTO BRACKETING
ORDER) ........................................................................................ 462
CUSTOM SETTING #E8 BRACKETING SELECTION CONTROL (AUTO
BRACKETING SELECTION METHOD) .............................................. 463
CUSTOM SETTING #F1 DIRECTION PAD CENTER BUTTON (MULTI
SELECTOR CENTER BUTTON)......................................................... 464
CUSTOM SETTING #F2 ADDITIONAL DIRECTION PAD CONTROL
(WHEN MULTI SELECTOR IS PRESSED) .......................................... 467
CUSTOM SETTING #F3 DIRECTION PAD SCROLLING DURING PLAYBACK
(ROLE OF MULTI SELECTOR IN FULL-FRAME PLAYBACK) ............... 468
CUSTOM SETTING #F4 FUNC BUTTON SETTING (ASSIGN FUNC.
BUTTON) ...................................................................................... 469
CUSTOM SETTING #F5 COMMAND DIAL FUNCTIONS (COMMAND
DIALS) ........................................................................................... 471
CUSTOM SETTING #F6 PRESSING OR HOLDING BUTTONS (SETTING
METHOD FOR BUTTONS AND DIALS) ........................................... 474
CUSTOM SETTING #F7 LOCK CAMERA WITH NO COMPACTFLASH
(DISABLE SHUTTER IF NO CF CARD) ............................................ 475
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WIRELESS FILE TRANSMISSION................................................................. 477
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WIRELESS NETWORKS ................................................................... 477
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Using the WT-1 or WT-2 to Transfer Images................... 485
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USING FLASH ................................................................................................ 488
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What Happens When Flash is Used ................................. 488
Flash Basics ........................................................................... 489
Digital Flash Differences .................................................... 490
More Hidden Flash “Gotchas”.......................................... 492
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Allowable Apertures in Program Mode .................................. 492
D2x Flash Head Focal Length Settings..................................... 493
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Flash Modes.......................................................................... 493
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i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash.............................................................. 494
Standard TTL.................................................................................. 495
FP TTL .............................................................................................. 496
Summary of i-TTL Flash Modes ................................................. 497
Non-TTL Flash Modes.................................................................. 497
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Setting Flash Options.......................................................... 501
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Flash Option Interactions........................................................... 503
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Flash Exposure Compensation.......................................... 503
Controlled, Repeatable Flash Results .............................. 506
Third Party Flash Units ........................................................ 509
Studio Flash........................................................................... 510
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EXTERNAL FLASH MODELS FOR THE D2X ....................................... 510
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SB-28/SB-28DX ...................................................................... 510
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Specifications ................................................................................ 510
To Set TTL Flash (requires SB-28DX) ........................................ 511
To Set Auto Aperture Flash (SB-28DX only) ........................... 512
To Set Manual Flash (SB-28 or SB-28DX) ................................. 513
To Set Repeating Flash ................................................................ 514
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation ..................................... 517
To Set Red-Eye Reduction .......................................................... 518
SB-28 and SB-28DX Notes........................................................... 518
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SB-29/SB-29s.......................................................................... 520
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Specifications ................................................................................ 520
To Set Manual Flash Exposure................................................... 521
SB-29 Flash Durations.................................................................. 522
Using the Modeling Light........................................................... 522
Using the Focus Illuminator ...................................................... 522
SB-29 Notes.................................................................................... 523
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SB-50DX ................................................................................. 524
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Specifications ................................................................................ 524
To Set TTL Flash ............................................................................ 525
To Set Manual Flash..................................................................... 526
To Manually Set the Zoom Head .............................................. 528
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation ..................................... 528
To Set Red-Eye Reduction .......................................................... 529
Using the SB-50DX in Wireless Mode...................................... 529
SB-50DX Notes .............................................................................. 530
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SB-80DX ................................................................................. 532
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Specifications ................................................................................ 532
To Set TTL Flash ............................................................................ 533
To Set Auto Aperture Flash ........................................................ 534
To Set Manual Flash..................................................................... 535
To Set Repeating Flash ................................................................ 536
To Manually Set the Zoom Head .............................................. 538
To Set the Distance Scale to Feet or Meters .......................... 539
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation ..................................... 539
To Set Red-Eye Reduction .......................................................... 540
SB-80DX Notes .............................................................................. 540
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SB-600..................................................................................... 542
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Specifications ................................................................................ 542
To Set TTL Flash ............................................................................ 542
SB-600 Usable Apertures and Flash Range in TTL mode ..... 544
To Set Manual Flash..................................................................... 544
To Manually Set the Zoom Head .............................................. 545
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation ..................................... 546
To Set Red-Eye Reduction .......................................................... 547
SB-600 Notes.................................................................................. 547
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SB-800..................................................................................... 548
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Specifications ................................................................................ 549
To Set TTL Flash ............................................................................ 550
SB-800 Usable Apertures and Flash Range in TTL mode ..... 551
To Set Auto Aperture Flash ........................................................ 551
To Set Manual Flash..................................................................... 552
To Set Repeating Flash ................................................................ 554
To Manually Set the Zoom Head .............................................. 556
To Set the Distance Scale to Feet or Meters .......................... 557
To Set Flash Exposure Compensation ..................................... 557
To Set Red-Eye Reduction .......................................................... 558
SB-800 Notes.................................................................................. 558
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Flash Troubleshooting ........................................................ 560
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USING A D2X IN THE FIELD.......................................................................... 562
THE “ROUTINE”............................................................................ 562
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General Settings You Make Once .................................... 562
Things To Do Before You Head Out on a Shoot ........... 562
Check Each Time You Turn the Camera ON .................. 564
Settings You Change Rarely (and then only for a reason) 565
Settings You Change Often ............................................... 566
Things To Do After Each Shooting Session..................... 567
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KEEPING TRACK OF BATTERIES....................................................... 568
TEMPERATURE CONSIDERATIONS.................................................. 569
FOCAL LENGTH LIMITATIONS ....................................................... 570
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Panoramas............................................................................. 575
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MAINTAINING IMAGE QUALITY .................................................... 576
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How to Interpret Histograms ............................................ 578
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Dealing with JPEG ................................................................ 581
Custom Curves..................................................................... 583
sRGB Versus Adobe RGB.................................................... 586
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SPECIAL LIGHTING ISSUES ............................................................. 589
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UV and Infrared ................................................................... 589
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Ultraviolet ...................................................................................... 589
Infrared........................................................................................... 590
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Shooting Under Fluorescent Lighting ............................. 592
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OTHER FIELD SHOOTING ISSUES .................................................. 594
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Keeping the sensor Clean .................................................. 594
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Toppling a Myth ........................................................................... 599
Worst Case Scenario ................................................................... 599
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Camera Doesn’t Write to Card.......................................... 600
Tough Subjects (Color and Moiré)................................... 602
Humidity................................................................................ 604
White Balance Settings ....................................................... 605
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WORKING WITH D2X IMAGES...................................................................... 610
D2X-RELATED SOFTWARE .............................................................. 610
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Nikon PictureProject........................................................... 611
Nikon View ........................................................................... 626
Nikon Capture...................................................................... 643
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Controlling the Camera .............................................................. 644
Manipulating Images................................................................... 654
One Image Processed by Capture............................................ 679
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Photoshop NEF Filter........................................................... 687
Color Profiles and Color Spaces....................................... 690
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Output on Commercial Printers ............................................... 698
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Manipulating Levels and Curves....................................... 699
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Digital Workflow .......................................................................... 701
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Other Useful Software........................................................ 705
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NEF Converters ............................................................................. 706
Image Editors................................................................................. 710
Catalog Programs ......................................................................... 713
Other Manipulation Tools ......................................................... 720
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PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS ................................................................. 723
A WORD ABOUT COMPUTERS ..................................................... 724
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ACCESSORIES............................................................................................... 729
LENS COMPATIBILITY .................................................................... 734
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SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................................... 738
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GETTING SERVICE ........................................................................................ 741
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ....................................................................... 746
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