En
The Guide to Digital Photography
with the
DIGITAL CAMERA
Product Documentation
The documentation for this product includes the manuals listed below. Please be sure to read all
instructions thoroughly to get the most from your camera.
Fast Track Guide/For Your Safety
In addition to taking first-time users step-by-step through the process of setting up and using the
camera, the Fast Track Guide provides a quick overview of camera settings. For Your Safety, printed on
the reverse of the Fast Track Guide, lists warnings and cautions that should be observed when using
and storing your camera, together with legal information. Please keep this document where all
those who use the product will read it.
Menu Guide
This reference is your guide to camera menus. Keep it handy when you use the camera.
Guide to Digital Photography (this manual)
This manual provides complete operating instructions for your camera.
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Contents
Overview: About This Manual ............................... 1
Tutorial
3
Getting to Know the COOLPIX 880: The Parts
of the Camera and Their Functions ............. 4
Using the Camera Menus ......................................... 12
First Steps:
Getting Ready to Use Your Camera .......... 15
Inserting the Battery .................................................... 15
Inserting the Memory Card ..................................... 18
Choosing a Language ................................................... 20
Setting the Time and Date ........................................ 21
Taking Photographs: The Basics .......................... 23
Getting the Camera Ready for Use (AUTO
Mode) ............................................................................. 23
Framing Photographs ................................................... 26
Focus and Shoot ............................................................ 28
Assisted Creative Photography: Scene Mode . 32
Review and Deletion: Quick Review ................... 39
Putting the Camera Away ......................................... 44
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Where Do I Go from Here? 45
Getting the Most from Digital Images: Your
Camera and Your Computer ............................... 46
Viewing Photos on TV ................................................. 48
Ordering Prints: Digital Print Order Format
(DPOF) .......................................................................... 48
Taking Photographs for E-Mail and the Web ... 49
Taking Photographs for Printing ............................. 50
Reference
Beyond Point and Shoot:
51
Shooting Controls for All Modes ............... 52
Framing Photographs:
Optical and Digital Zoom ..................................... 52
Throwing Light on Your Subject:
The Flash Button ....................................................... 55
Focusing Near and Far:
The Focus-Mode Button ....................................... 58
Delaying Shutter Release: Self-Timer Mode ..... 62
Bright, Dark, and High-Contrast Subjects:
Exposure Compensation ...................................... 64
Choosing a Focus Area:
Manual Focus-Area Selection .............................. 66
Advanced Photography: P, A, M, and CSM ......... 68
Choosing a Mode: P, A, M, or CSM? ...................... 69
Adjusting Exposure: A and M Modes .................. 70
Reacting Faster to Light: Sensitivity (ISO
Equivalency) ................................................................. 74
Focusing at a Preset Distance: Manual Focus .. 76
The Shooting Menu ...................................................... 78
Keeping Colors True:
The White-Balance Menu ................................. 81
Measuring Light: The Metering Menu .............. 85
Making Movies and Taking Photographs in a
Sequence: The Continuous Menu ................ 88
Getting Sharper Photographs:
The BSS Menu........................................................ 92
Contrast, Brightness, and Image Type:
The Image Adjustment Menu ......................... 94
Making Edges More Distinct:
The Image Sharpening Menu .......................... 96
Modifying Sensitivity from a Menu:
The ISO Menu ....................................................... 98
Exposure Options ..................................................... 98
Focus Options ......................................................... 103
Settings for Optional Lens Converters ....... 106
Restoring Default Shooting Settings:
The Reset Menus ............................................... 109
Playing Images Back: Playback Mode ................ 111
Basic Playback ............................................................... 112
Single-Image Playback ........................................... 113
Viewing Multiple Images:
Thumbnail Playback .......................................... 118
Deleting Individual Photographs ..................... 119
The Playback Menu ................................................... 120
Deleting Photographs: The Delete Menu ... 122
Selecting a Folder for Playback:
The Folders Menu ............................................. 126
Automated Playback:
The Slide-Show Menu ..................................... 127
Safeguarding Valuable Images:
The Protect Menu ............................................. 130
Hiding Images During Playback:
The Hide-Image Menu .................................... 131
Preparing Photographs for Printing:
The Print-Set Menu .......................................... 132
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Camera Setup: The Setup Menu ....................... 134
Connections: Connecting Your Camera to a
Computer, TV, or VCR ................................ 162
Connecting to a Television or VCR .................... 162
Connecting to a Computer................................... 164
Using Nikon View Software .............................. 164
Connecting Your Camera to a Computer . 166
Reading Photographs from Memory
Cards ........................................................................ 168
Technical Notes .................................................. 170
Caring for Your Camera .......................................... 170
Optional Accessories ................................................ 172
Troubleshooting ........................................................... 174
Specifications ................................................................. 181
Controlling the (File) Size of Photographs:
Image Quality and Size ........................................ 137
Organizing Your Photographs:
The Folders Menu ................................................. 142
Monitor Options ......................................................... 149
The Auto Off Menu .................................................. 151
File Numbering: The Seq. Numbers Menu .... 153
Formatting Memory Cards:
CF Card Format ..................................................... 154
Storing Camera Settings:
The Controls Menu .............................................. 155
Shutter Release Confirmation and Photo
Information ................................................................ 156
The Date Menu ........................................................... 158
The Video Mode Menu ........................................... 158
The Language Menu .................................................. 159
The Distance Units Menu ...................................... 159
Restoring Default Settings:
The Reset All Menu .............................................. 160
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Overview
About This Manual
Thank you for your purchase of a COOLPIX 880 digital camera. This manual has been written to help
you enjoy taking digital photographs with your COOLPIX 880. As you read through it, you will find
explanations not only of how the camera works but also of why certain features have been included,
and how they may be used to take photographs in many different situations.
The “Tutorial” section gives you enough information for simple “point-and-shoot” photography when
you first start using your camera. This section may be all you need to read if you want to take advantage
of the simplicity and immediacy of digital photography.
Once you have taken a few photographs, “Where Do I Go from Here” outlines how to view them on
a computer or television set and order prints using digital “print orders” that you create with the
camera. It also provides some tips on how to take photographs for electronic distribution and for
printing on a personal color printer.
Finally, the “Reference” section provides a comprehensive guide to all aspects of digital photography
with the COOLPIX 880, including manual control of exposure, tone, sharpness, taking movies, caring for
your camera, and troubleshooting, together with a list of optional accessories.
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To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and conventions are used:
This icon marks cautions, information that
you should read before use to prevent dam-
age to your camera.
This icon marks notes, information that you
should read before using your camera.
This icon marks tips, additional information
you may find helpful when using your
camera.
This icon indicates that more information is
available elsewhere in this manual or in other
documentation.
This icon marks cross-references to the
Guide to Digital Photography (this manual).
The number next to the icon gives the page
on which more information may be found.
This icon marks cross-references to the Fast
Track Guide.
This icon marks cross-references to For Your
Safety.
This icon marks cross-references to the
Menu Guide.
Life-Long Learning
As part of Nikon’s “Life-Long Learning” commitment to ongoing product support and education, con-
tinually-updated information is available on-line at www.nikon-euro.com. Visit this site to keep up-to-
date with the latest product information, tips, answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs), and gen-
eral advice on digital imaging and photography.
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Tutorial
Parts of the COOLPIX 880
Using the Menus
First Steps/Taking Photographs
This section:
• Introduces you to the parts of the COOLPIX 880 and the camera menus
• Takes you step-by-step through the process of setting up your camera
• Outlines the steps involved in taking photographs and playing them back
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