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Exploring the
Nikon D90
T
his chapter covers the key components of the Nikon
D90. These are the features that are most readily acces-
sible because they're situated on the outside of the camera:
the buttons, knobs, switches, and dials.
If you're upgrading from another Nikon dSLR, some of this
may seem like review, but there are some new features that
you may or may not be aware of, so a quick read-through is a
good idea even if you're an experienced Nikon dSLR user.
For those of you who are new to the world of dSLRs, this chap-
ter is a great way to become acquainted with some of the terms
that are used in conjunction with your new camera.
So, let's explore the D90!
Key Components of the D90
If you've read the Quick Tour, you should be pretty familiar
with the buttons and switches that you need for basic set-
tings. In this section, you look at the camera from all sides and
break down the layout so that you know what everything on
the camera's surface does.
This section doesn't cover the menus (see Chapter 3), only
the exterior controls. Although there are many features you
can access with just the push of a button, you can usually
change the same setting inside of a menu option. While the
D90 doesn't have the same amount of buttons as some of its
bigger siblings in the Nikon line, it does have quite a few of
them. Knowing exactly what these buttons do can save you a
lot of time and help you to not miss out on getting a shot.
1
1
C H A P T E R
In This Chapter
Key components of
the D90
The D90 DX CMOS
sensor
Viewfi nder display
Control panel
Shooting Info Display
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Related Manuals for Nikon D90
Summary of Contents for Nikon D90
- Page 1 While the D90 doesn’t have the same amount of buttons as some of its bigger siblings in the Nikon line, it does have quite a few of them.
-
Page 2: Top Of The Camera
Top of the camera pressing this button activates the camera’s autofocusing and light The top of the D90 is where you fi nd some meter. When you fully depress this of the most important buttons and dials. button, the shutter is released and This is where you can change the Shooting a photograph is taken. - Page 3 Exposure Compensation button sure that’s set by the D90’s light and the AF mode button at the same time and holding them down meter or the exposure you set in for about 2 seconds.
-
Page 4: Back Of The Camera
Part I Using the Nikon D90 Release mode button. Pressing the high-end Nikkor AF-S lenses this button and then rotating the that have M/A–A switches, you can Main Command dial changes the manually adjust the focus at any Release mode of the camera. You time. - Page 5 D3, D700, and D300 Nikon cam- and to block any extra light from eras. The LCD is where you review entering the viewfi...
- Page 6 Part I Using the Nikon D90 Diopter adjustment control. Just Setting the AE-L/AF-L button to AE to the right of the viewfi nder is the Lock (hold) when shooting video diopter adjustment control. Use allows you to lock the exposure so this control to adjust the viewfi...
- Page 7 Multi-selector left or right. and others. Pressing the Shutter Menu button. Press this button to Release button lightly returns you access the D90 menu options. to the default Shooting mode. There are a number of diff erent Press this button again while view-...
- Page 8 Front of the camera set, using this option allows you to override the Auto ISO setting. In The front of the D90 (lens facing you) is Playback mode, pressing this but- where you fi nd the buttons to quickly adjust ton allows you to go from full- the fl...
- Page 9 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D90 choose the exposure value increment Lens Release button. This button (EV). These are adjusted in 1/3-stop disengages the locking mechanism increments from 0.3 EV to 2.0 EV. of the lens, allowing you to rotate...
- Page 10 Part I Using the Nikon D90 VR switch. This allows you to turn pictures in low-light situations. the Vibration Reduction (VR) on or Although not as versatile as one of off (if your lens is VR-equipped). the external Nikon Speedlights,...
- Page 11 On the camera’s right side (lens facing you) Function (Fn) button. This button are the D90’s output terminals. These are can be assigned to provide diff er- used to connect your camera to a computer ent functions. You can set the but-...
- Page 12 Part I Using the Nikon D90 DC in USB port HDMI out Video-out port Accessory terminal Image courtesy of Nikon The D90’s output terminals Memory card slot cover Built-in speaker Image courtesy of Nikon Memory card slot cover and speaker...
- Page 13 TV or VCR for viewing your images D-Movie videos. on-screen. The D90 is connected with the EG-D100 video cable that’s Bottom supplied with the camera. The bottom of the camera has a couple of Accessory terminal.
- Page 14 3:2; and APS-P (30.2mm × 9.5mm) 3:1. The photographing, whether sunlight or fl ash, trav- D90 sensor is actually a bit smaller than the els through the lens and projects (hopefully in standard APS-C fi lm, being 23.6mm ×...
- Page 15 CMOS sensor can send the Coupled Device (CCD) sensors, although data to the A/D converter much faster. CMOS Nikon appears to be moving away from this chips are also cheaper to manufacture than technology by putting a CMOS sensor in the CCD chips.
-
Page 16: Viewfi Nder Display
Part I Using the Nikon D90 pattern. (Dr. Bryce Bayer was a scientist at that the focus point is only shown full-time when in the Single or Kodak who developed this pattern.) The Dynamic AF setting. When the cam- Bayer pattern lays the fi lters out in an array... - Page 17 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D90 Framing grid 8mm [center-weighted] reference circle No memory card warning Focus points Battery Battery indicator indicator Black and White WB bracketing indicator indicator WB-BKT FV lock indicator ISO sensitivity Focus indicator Bracketing Auto compensation...
- Page 18 ISO settings. Electronic analog exposure dis- ISO sensitivity indicator. This tells play. Although Nikon gives this fea- you what the ISO sensitivity is cur- ture a long and confusing name, in rently set to. simpler terms, this is your light meter.
-
Page 19: Control Panel
Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D90 Compensation or exposure com- • Exposure compensation pensation, the EV number is dis- value. Pressing the Exposure played here. When the camera is Compensation button and then connected to a computer running rotating the Sub-command dial... - Page 20 ISO sensitivity compensation indicator WB fine-tuning indicator Thousands indicator 1.10 Settings on the D90’s LCD Image quality. This displays the K. This appears when the number type of fi le format you’re recording. of remaining exposures exceeds You can shoot RAW or JPEG. When 1000.
- Page 21 Bracketing indicator Flexible Program indicator Metering mode bracketing Bracketing progress Autofocus display indicator indicator + + + + + + + + + Black and White Exposures ISO/Auto Autofocus mode indicator remaining ISO indicator 1.11 Settings on the D90’s LCD...
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Page 22: Shooting Info Display
CSM d3 to icon appears as a P with an asterisk Show ISO sensitivity. When con- only in Programmed Auto (P) nected to a computer running Nikon mode. It indicates you have Camera Control Pro 2, PC appears. changed the default autoexposure ISO/Auto ISO indicator. - Page 23 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D90 This display can show you a lot of informa- modes, such as P, S, A, or M, in tion. To make it easier to decipher, it is bro- which case the display shows the corresponding letter.
- Page 24 Part I Using the Nikon D90 Shutter speed. By default, this set Release mode. This set of icons of numbers shows you the shutter shows which Release mode the speed setting. This set of numbers camera is set to: Single, Continuous also shows myriad other settings Low, or Continuous High.
- Page 25 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D90 AE-L/AF-L button assignment. This this box. Additionally, this option tells you what custom function is shows you if the Speedlight is in assigned to the AE-L/AF-L button. This Through-the-Lens mode (TTL), button can be assigned in CSM f4.
- Page 26 Part I Using the Nikon D90 FEC indicator Multiple exposure indicator Battery indicator Active D-Lighting AC adapter indicator indicator Exposure Auto-bracketing compensation FV Lock indicator indicator indicator 4.5fps ADL-BKT AUTO AUTO AE L AF L AF Area indicator Image comment indicator...
- Page 27 Chapter 1 Exploring the Nikon D90 Image comment indicator. This Image quality. This tells you the icon is shown when the image type and quality of fi le that’s being comment option is enabled. You written to your memory card as you take photos.
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