The Mode Dial - Nikon D300 User Manual

The Mode Dial

The camera offers a choice of the following modes:
X
❚❚ GUIDE Mode
g (0 27): Take and
view pictures and adjust
settings with the help of
an on-screen guide.
❚❚ Auto Modes
Select these modes for simple, point-and-
shoot photography.
i Auto (0 17): Camera adjusts settings automati-
cally to produce optimal results with "point-and-
shoot" simplicity. Recommended for first-time
users of digital cameras.
j Auto (flash off) (0 17): As above, except that the
flash will not fire even when lighting is poor.
❚❚ Scene Modes
Selecting a scene mode automatically optimizes settings to suit the selected
scene.
k Portrait (0 22): Shoot portraits with back-
ground in soft focus.
l Landscape (0 22): Preserve details in
landscape shots.
p Child (0 23): Create portraits of children.
Clothing and background details are vividly
rendered while skin tones remain soft and
natural.
4
❚❚ P, S, A, and M Modes
Select these modes for full control over camera
settings.
P—Programmed auto:
Camera chooses shutter
speed and aperture, user
controls other settings.
S—Shutter-priority auto:
Choose fast shutter speeds
to freeze action, slow
shutter speeds to suggest
motion by blurring moving
objects.
m Sports (0 23): Freeze motion for dynamic
sports shots.
n Close up (0 23): Take vivid close-ups of
flowers, insects, and other small objects.
o Night portrait (0 23): Shoot portraits
against a dimly-lit backdrop.
A—Aperture-priority auto:
Adjust aperture to soften
background details or
increase depth-of-field to
bring both main subject and
background into focus.
M—Manual: Match shutter
speed and aperture to your
creative intent.