En
The Nikon Guide to Digital Photography
with the
DIGITAL CAMERA
Trademark Information
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. CompactFlash is a trademark of
SanDisk Corporation. Lexar Media is a trademark Lexar Media Corporation. Microdrive is a registered trademark of
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies in the United States and / or other countries. Adobe and Acrobat are registered
Apical Limited.
trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. PictBridge is a trademark. D-Lighting technology is provided by
All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Symbols and Conventions
To make it easier to fi nd the information
you need, the following symbols and con-
ventions are used:
This icon marks cautions, informa-
tion that should be read before use
to prevent damage to the camera.
This icon marks notes, information
that should be read before using
the camera.
This icon marks tips, additional
information that may be helpful
when using the camera.
This icon indicates that more infor-
mation is available elsewhere in this
manual or in the Quick Start Guide.
Introduction
First Steps
Basic Photography
Scene Mode
More on Photography
Movies
More on Playback
The Shooting Menu
The Playback Menu
The Setup Menu
Technical Notes
i
For Your Safety
To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to others,
read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this equip-
ment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the product
will read them.
The consequences that could result from failure to observe the precautions
listed in this section are indicated by the following symbol:
This icon marks warnings, information that should be read before using this
Nikon product to prevent possible injury.
WARNINGS
Do not look at the sun through the view-
fi nder
Viewing the sun or other strong light
source through the viewfi nder could
cause permanent visual impairment.
Turn off immediately in the event of
malfunction
Should you notice smoke or an unusual
smell coming from the camera, bat-
tery charger, or AC adapter (available
separately), unplug the battery charger
or AC adapter and remove the battery
immediately, taking care to avoid burns.
Continued operation could result in
injury. After removing or disconnecting
the power source, take the equipment
to a Nikon-authorized service represen-
tative for inspection.
Do not use the camera or battery charger
in the presence of fl ammable gas
Do not use electronic equipment in the
presence of fl ammable gas, as this could
result in explosion or fi re.
Observe caution when using the camera
strap
Never place the strap around the neck
of an infant or child.
Keep out of reach of children
Particular care should be taken to pre-
vent infants from putting the batteries
or other small parts into their mouths.
ii
Do not disassemble
Touching the internal parts of the cam-
era or battery charger could result in in-
jury. Repairs should be performed only
by qualifi ed technicians. Should the
camera or battery charger break open
as the result of a fall or other accident,
take the product to a Nikon-authorized
service representative for
inspection
after unplugging the product and / or
removing the battery.
Observe the following precautions when
handling the battery charger
• Keep dry. Failure to observe this precau-
tion could result in fi re or electric shock.
• Dust on or near the metal parts of the
plug should be removed with a dry
cloth. Continued use could result in
fi re.
• Do not handle the power cable or go
near the battery charger during thun-
derstorms. Failure to observe this pre-
caution could result in electric shock.
• Do not damage, modify, forcibly tug or
bend the power cable, place it under
heavy objects, or expose it to heat or
fl ame. Should the insulation be dam-
aged and the wires become exposed,
take it to a Nikon-authorized service
representative for inspection. Failure to
observe these precautions could result in
fi re or electric shock.
• Do not handle the plug or battery char-
ger with wet hands. Failure to observe
this precaution could result in electric
shock.
Observe proper precautions when han-
dling batteries
Batteries may leak or explode if improp-
erly handled. Observe the following
precautions when handling batteries for
use in this product:
• Before replacing the battery, turn the
product off. If you are using an AC
adapter, be sure it is unplugged.
• Use only rechargeable Nikon EN-EL7
lithium-ion batteries (supplied).
• When inserting the battery, do not at-
tempt to insert it upside down or back-
wards.
• Do not short or disassemble batteries.
• Do not expose batteries to fl ame or to
excessive heat.
• Do not immerse in or expose to water.
• Replace the terminal cover when trans-
porting the battery. Do not transport or
store with metal objects such as neck-
laces or hairpins.
• Batteries are prone to leakage when
fully discharged. To avoid damage to
the product, be sure to remove the bat-
tery when no charge remains.
• The battery may be hot to the touch im-
mediately after use or after the product
has been used on battery power for an
extended period. Before removing the
battery, turn the camera off and allow
the battery to cool.
• Discontinue use immediately should you
notice any change in the battery, such as
discoloration or deformation.
Use appropriate cables
When connecting cables to the input
and output jacks, use only the cables
provided or sold by Nikon for the pur-
pose, to maintain compliance with
product regulations.
Removing memory cards
Memory cards may become hot during
use. Observe due caution when remov-
ing memory cards from the camera.
Handle moving parts with care
Be careful that your fi ngers or other
objects are not pinched by the lens or
other moving parts.
CD-ROMs
The CD-ROMs supplied with this device
should not be played back on audio CD
equipment. Playing CD-ROMs on an
audio CD player could cause hearing
loss or damage the equipment.
Observe caution when operating the
fl ash
Using the fl ash close to your subject’s
eyes could cause temporary visual
impairment. Particular care should
be observed if photographing infants,
when the fl ash should be no less than
one meter (39˝) from the subject.
When using the viewfi nder
When operating the diopter adjustment
control with your eye to the viewfi nder,
care should be taken to not put your
fi nger in your eye accidentally.
Avoid contact with liquid crystal
Should the monitor break, care should
be taken to avoid injury due to broken
glass and to prevent liquid crystal from
the monitor touching the skin or enter-
ing the eyes or mouth.
iii
Notices
• No part of the manuals included with
this product may be reproduced, trans-
mitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval
system, or translated into any language
in any form, by any means, without
Nikon’s prior written permission.
• Nikon reserves the right to change the
specifi cations of the hardware and soft-
ware described in these manuals at any
time and without prior notice.
• Nikon will not be held liable for any
damages resulting from the use of this
product.
• While every effort has been made to
ensure that the information in these
manuals is accurate and complete, we
would appreciate it were you to bring
any errors or omissions to the attention
of the Nikon representative in your area
(address provided separately).
E8800
Notice for customers in the U.S.A.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and found
to comply with the limits for a Class B digi-
tal device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC
rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interfer-
ence to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful in-
terference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encour-
aged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving an-
CAUTIONS
Modifi cations
The FCC requires the user to be notifi ed
that any changes or modifi cations made to
this device that are not expressly approved
by Nikon Corporation may void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
Interface Cables
Use the interface cables sold or provided
by Nikon for your equipment. Using other
interface cables may exceed the limits of
Class B Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Notice for customers in the State of California
WARNING: Handling the cord on this
product will expose you to lead, a chemi-
cal known to the State of California to
cause birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
Nikon Inc.,
1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York
11747-3064, U.S.A. Tel.: 631-547-4200
tenna.
• Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet
on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio / television technician for help.
iv
Notice for customers in Canada
CAUTION
This class B digital apparatus meets all re-
quirements of the Canadian Interference
Causing Equipment Regulations.
ATTENTION
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B res-
pecte toutes les exigences du Règlement
sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction
Note that simply being in possession of material that has been digitally copied or repro-
duced by means of a scanner, digital camera or other device may be punishable by law.
Items prohibited by law from being
copied or reproduced
Do not copy or reproduce paper money,
coins, securities, government bonds, or
local government bonds, even if such
copies or reproductions are stamped
“Sample.”
The copying or reproduction of paper
money, coins, or securities which are
circulated in a foreign country is pro-
hibited.
Unless the prior permission of the gov-
ernment has been obtained, the copy-
ing or reproduction of unused postage
stamps or post cards issued by the
government is prohibited.
The copying or reproduction of stamps
issued by the government and of cer-
tifi ed documents stipulated by law is
prohibited.
Cautions on certain copies and re-
productions
The government has issued cautions on
copies or reproductions of securities is-
sued by private companies (shares, bills,
checks, gift certifi cates, etc.), commuter
passes, or coupon tickets, except when
a minimum of necessary copies are to
be provided for business use by a com-
pany. Also, do not copy or reproduce
passports issued by the government,
licenses issued by public agencies and
private groups, ID cards, and tickets,
such as passes and meal coupons.
Comply with copyright notices
The copying or reproduction of copy-
righted creative works such as books,
music, paintings, woodcut prints, maps,
drawings, movies, and photographs is
governed by national and international
copyright laws. Do not use this product
for the purpose of making illegal copies
or to infringe copyright laws.
v
Table of Contents
ii
For Your Safety.................................................................................................
iv
Notices.............................................................................................................
1
Introduction
2
Parts of the Camera.........................................................................................
4
The Shooting Display (Monitor / Electronic Viewfi nder) ................................
6
The Control Panel............................................................................................
7
The Monitor.....................................................................................................
7
The Shutter-Release Button............................................................................
8
The Mode Dial .................................................................................................
8
The Multi Selector ...........................................................................................
9
First Steps
9
Charging the Battery.......................................................................................
Inserting the Battery ....................................................................................... 10
Inserting Memory Cards.................................................................................. 12
Turning the Camera On .................................................................................. 14
Basic Setup....................................................................................................... 15
Basic Photography
17
Step 1 —Rotate the Mode Dial to
............................................................ 17
Step 2 — Frame the Picture.............................................................................. 18
Step 3 — Focus and Shoot ................................................................................ 20
Step 4 — View the Results (Quick Review / Full-Screen Review) ..................... 23
Scene Mode
26
Taking Pictures for a Panorama......................................................................... 31
More on Photography
33
Image Mode..................................................................................................... 33
Image Quality................................................................................................... 33
Image Size........................................................................................................ 34
Flash Mode....................................................................................................... 37
Focus Mode...................................................................................................... 40
Self-Timer and Remote Control Photography ............................................... 41
Exposure Compensation ................................................................................. 44
Vibration Reduction (VR) ................................................................................ 45
Controlling Exposure: P, S, A, and M Modes .................................................. 46
P: Programmed Auto........................................................................................ 47
S: Shutter-Priority Auto..................................................................................... 48
A: Aperture-Priority Auto.................................................................................. 49
M: Manual ....................................................................................................... 50
Sensitivity (P, S, A, and M Modes Only) .......................................................... 52
White Balance (P, S, A, and M Modes Only) ................................................... 54
Manual Focus (P, S, A, M, and
Modes Only) .............................................. 57
vi