Nikon D300 User Manual page 215

This is the answer to our question in the last section about
what happens when there is not enough light and the camera
has maxed out the
you've selected a
below the Minimum shutter speed
sensitivity ISO number has been reached and the light is still
too low for a good exposure.
In other words, in
priority auto exposure modes, if you get into low light and try
to take pictures, the camera will try to keep the
sensitivity as low as possible until the shutter speed drops to
your selected
selected Minimum shutter speed
in Figure 3-52, image 3—the
up to your selected
400 shown in Figure
Once the camera hits the
still isn't enough light for a good exposure, it won't keep
raising the ISO
below your selected
the 1/30s shown in
if the light gets that low, your camera can go all the way
down to a shutter speed of 30 seconds to get a good exposure.
You better be on a tripod and have a static subject with
shutter speeds that low.
Look at the Minimum shutter speed
speed, after which you'll put your camera on a tripod. Most
people can handhold a camera down to about
careful, and maybe
themselves. Below that, it's blur city for your images. It's
even worse with telephoto lenses. Camera movement is
Maximum sensitivity
Minimum shutter
P – Programmed auto
Minimum shutter
ISO sensitivity
Maximum sensitivity
3-52, image 2.
Maximum sensitivity
sensitivity. Instead, the camera will now go
Minimum shutter
Figure 3-52, image 3. Be careful, because
1/30s if they're extra careful and brace
215
level. Even though
speed, the camera will go
when the
or
speed. Once it hits the
value—like the
will begin to rise
value, like the ISO
speed, dropping below
value as the lowest "safe"
1/60s
Maximum
A – Aperture
ISO
1/30S shown
value, if there
if they are