Table of Contents
Introduction xiii About the Digital Field Guide xiv
CHAPTER 1 Exploring the Nikon D5300 1
Key Components of the D5300 2
The top of the camera 2
The back of the camera 4
The front of the camera 7
The left side of the camera 8
The Viewfinder Display 10
The Information Display 14
CHAPTER 2 Nikon D5300 Essentials 21
Exposure Modes 22
Automatic modes 22
Programmed auto mode 23
Aperture-priority auto mode 24
Shutter-priority auto mode 25
Manual mode 26
Scene modes 27
Special Effects Modes 33
Night Vision 33
Color Sketch 34
Toy Camera effect 34
Miniature Effect 35
Selective Color 37
Silhouette 38
High Key 38
Low Key 38
HDR Painting 39
Metering Modes 40
Matrix metering mode 40
Center-weighted metering mode 41
Spot metering mode 42
Autofocus 42
Phase detection 42
Contrast detection 43
Focus Modes 43
Auto Servo AF mode 44
Continuous Servo AF mode 44
Single Servo AF mode 44
Manual focus mode 45
Autofocus Area Modes 45
Auto-area AF mode 46
Single-point AF mode 46
Dynamic-area AF mode 47
Release Modes 48
ISO Sensitivity 50
Auto ISO 50
Noise reduction 51
White Balance 53
The Kelvin scale 53
White balance settings 53
Picture Controls 55
File Formats, Size, and Compression 62
NEF (RAW) 63
JPEG 63
Image size 65
Image quality 66
Wi-Fi 67
GPS 69
CHAPTER 3 Setting up the Nikon D5300 71
The Playback Menu 72
Delete 72
Playback folder 73
Playback display options 74
Image review 75
Rotate tall 75
Slide show 75
DPOF print order 76
Rating 77
Select to send to smart device 77
The Shooting Menu 78
Reset shooting menu 78
Storage folder 78
Image quality 79
Image size 80
NEF (RAW) recording 80
White balance 82
Set Picture Control 84
Manage Picture Control 84
Auto distortion control 86
Color space 86
Active D-Lighting 87
High Dynamic Range 87
Long exposure NR 88
High ISO NR 88
ISO sensitivity settings 89
Release Mode 89
Multiple exposure 89
Interval timer shooting 90
Movie settings 91
The Custom Setting Menu 92
Reset custom settings 92
Custom Setting menu a: Autofocus 92
Custom Setting menu b: Exposure 94
Custom Setting menu c: Timers/AE lock 94
Custom Setting menu d: Shooting/display 96
Custom Setting menu e: Bracketing/fl ash 97
Custom Setting menu f: Controls 98
The Setup Menu 100
Format memory card 100
Monitor brightness 101
Info display format 101
Auto info display 101
Clean image sensor 102
Lock mirror up for cleaning 102
Image Dust Off ref photo 103
Flicker reduction 104
Time zone and date 104
Language 104
Auto image rotation 104
Image comment 104
Location data 105
Video mode 105
HDMI 106
Remote control 106
Wi-Fi 107
Eye-Fi upload 107
Conformity marking 107
Firmware version 107
The Retouch Menu 107
D-Lighting 109
Red-eye correction 109
Trim 110
Monochrome 110
Filter effects 111
Color balance 112
Image overlay 112
NEF (RAW) processing 113
Resize 114
Quick retouch 115
Straighten 115
Distortion control 116
Fisheye 116
Color outline 116
Color sketch 116
Perspective control 116
Miniature effect 117
Selective color 117
Edit movie 118
Recent Settings / My Menu 118
CHAPTER 4 Selecting and Using Lenses with the Nikon D5300 121
Deciphering Nikon Lens Codes 122
Lens Compatibility 123
The DX Crop Factor 125
Third-Party Lenses 127
Types of Lenses 129
Wide-angle lenses 129
Standard zoom lenses 133
Telephoto lenses 135
Close-up/Macro lenses 137
Fisheye lenses 139
CHAPTER 5 Controlling Exposure 141
Defining Exposure 142
ISO 143
Shutter speed 144
Aperture or f-stop 147
Fine-Tuning Your Exposure 150
Exposure compensation 150
Using histograms 151
CHAPTER 6 Working with Light 157
Lighting Essentials 158
The quality of light 158
Lighting direction 160
Natural Light 163
Continuous Light 165
The D5300 Built-in Flash 166
Built-in flash exposure modes 167
Flash sync modes 168
Flash Compensation 171
Light Modifiers 172
CHAPTER 7 Working with the Live View and Video Modes 175
Live View Mode 176
Focus modes 177
AF-area modes 178
Using Live View mode 180
Shooting and Editing Video 184
Frame size and frame rate 187
In-camera video editing 188
CHAPTER 8 Real-World Applications 191
Abstract Photography 192
Equipment 193
Technique 193
Action and Sports Photography 194
Equipment 195
Technique 196
Concert and Live Music Photography 198
Equipment 200
Technique 201
Macro Photography 203
Equipment 204
Technique 206
Nature and Landscape Photography 208
Equipment 209
Technique 210
Night and Low-light Photography 211
Equipment 212
Technique 214
Portrait Photography 216
Equipment 217
Technique 218
Still-life, Product, and Food Photography 220
Equipment 221
Technique 222
Street Photography 225
Equipment 225
Technique 227
CHAPTER 9 After Capture 231
Viewing Your Images 232
Downloading Your Images 234
File Management and Workflow 235
Folder structure 236
Editing 236
Filenames and metadata 237
Tonal Adjustments and Color Corrections 238
Sharing Your Images Using Wi-Fi 242
APPENDIX A General Composition Tips 245
APPENDIX B Accessories 251
Glossary 255
Index 263
