Nikon D50 User Manual

Nikon d50: users manual

Hide thumbs Also See for D50:

Repair manual (99 pages)

Specifications (2 pages)

Features & comparison chart (1 page)

Table Of Contents

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

Table of Contents

Quick Links

Summary of Contents for Nikon D50

Page 1 The Nikon Guide to Digital Photography with the DIGITAL CAMERA...
Page 2: About This Manual
About This Manual The topics in this manual are arranged in order from easy to advanced. These chapters cover all you need to know for simple, “point-and-shoot” photography Introduction (pages 1–13) Learn the names of camera parts and ready the camera for use. Tutorial: Photography and Playback (pages 14–24) The basic operations involved in taking photographs and playing them back.
Page 3 Introduction Tutorial Photography and Playback Reference More on Photography More on Playback Setup Basic Camera Settings: The Setup Menu Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu Playback Options: The Playback Menu Custom Settings: The Custom Settings Menu Technical Notes...
Page 4: For Your Safety
For Your Safety To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to oth- ers, read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this equipment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the product will read them.
Page 5 Use appropriate cables When connecting cables to the in put and output jacks, use only the ca bles pro vid ed or sold by Nikon for the pur pose, to main tain com pli ance with prod uct reg u la tions.
Page 6: Notices
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help. • Nikon will not be held liable for any damages resulting from the use of this product. • While every effort has been made to...
Page 7 Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. PictBridge is a trademark. All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are trademarks or regis- tered trademarks of their respective holders.
Page 8: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents For Your Safety... Notices ... Introduction... Getting to Know the Camera... First Steps ... Attaching a Lens ... Charging and Inserting the Battery... Basic Setup ... 10 Inserting Memory Cards ... 11 Adjusting Viewﬁ nder Focus ... 13 Tutorial: Photography and Playback ...
Page 9 Viewing Photographs on a Computer ... 59 Printing Photographs ... 62 Setup... 68 Basic Camera Settings... 68 Format ... 68 CSM/Setup Menu ... 69 Date ... 69 LCD Brightness ... 69 Video Mode ... 69 Language (LANG)... 70 Image Comment ... 70 USB ...
Page 10 (FAQs), and gen er al advice on digital imaging and pho- tog ra phy. Ad di tion al information may be available from the Nikon rep re sen ta tive in your area. See the URL below for contact in for ma tion: http://nikonimaging.com/...
Page 11: Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon D50 single-lens reﬂ ex (SLR) digital camera with interchangeable lenses. This manual has been written to help you enjoy taking pictures with your Nikon digital camera. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it handy when using the product. The docu- mentation for this product also includes the manuals listed below.
Page 12: Getting To Know The Camera
Getting to Know the Camera Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and dis- plays. You may ﬁ nd it helpful to bookmark this section and refer to it as you read through the rest of the manual. Camera Body Accessory shoe: AF-assist illuminator:...
Page 13 Camera Body (continued) Viewﬁ nder eyepiece: (shooting mode) button: [Reset button: (playback) button: 24, 51 (menu) button: (thumbnail) button: [ISO (sensitivity) button: (help / protect) button: 26, 56 [WB (white balance) button: (enter) button: [QUAL (image quality / size) button: [ (playback zoom) button: Reset switch:...
Page 14: Control Panel
Control Panel Shutter speed ...40–45 Exposure compensation value ... 47 Flash compensation value ... 38 Sensitivity (ISO equivalency) ... 39 Sensitivity (ISO) indicator... 39 Auto sensitivity indicator... 91, 92 Battery indicator ... 14 Flash sync mode ... 36 Image quality... 31 Image size ...
Page 15 The Viewﬁ nder Display Reference circle for center-weighted metering... 96 Focus brackets (focus areas) ... 16, 33 “No memory card” warning .. 11, 123 Battery indicator ... 14 Focus indicator ... 17, 35, 123 Focus area ... 16, 33 AF-area mode ... 89 Flash value (FV) lock...
Page 16: The Mode Dial
The Mode Dial The D50 offers a choice of the following eleven shooting modes: Advanced Modes (Exposure Modes) Select these modes for full control over camera settings, in- cluding shutter speed and aperture. P: Programmed auto ( A: Aperture-priority auto (...
Page 17: First Steps
First Steps Attaching a Lens Care should be taken to prevent dust from entering the camera when the lens is removed. Turn the camera off and remove the body cap. Remove the rear lens cap from the lens. Keep ing the mounting index on the lens aligned with the mounting index on the cam era body, position the lens in the cam- era’s bayonet mount.
Page 18: Charging And Inserting The Battery
The supplied power cable is intended solely for use with the MH-18a and is for domestic use only. It may be necessary to purchase another cable for use abroad; consult with a local Nikon-authorized retailer or service representative.
Page 19 Insert the battery 2.1 After conﬁ rming that the camera is off, open the battery chamber cover. 2.2 Insert a fully charged battery as shown at right. Close the battery chamber cover. Removing the Battery Turn the camera off before removing the battery. Replace the terminal cover when the battery is not in use.
Page 20: Basic Setup
Basic Setup The ﬁ rst time the camera is turned on, the language selection dialog shown in Step 1 will be displayed in the monitor. Follow the steps below to choose a language and set the time and date. Display language-selection dialog. Display DATE menu.
Page 21: Inserting Memory Cards
Inserting Memory Cards The camera stores pictures on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (available separately). Insert a memory card 1.1 Before inserting or removing memory cards, turn the camera off and open the card slot cover. 1.2 Slide the memory card in as shown at right until it clicks into place.
Page 22 Format the memory card Formatting memory cards permanently deletes all photographs and other data they may contain. Be sure all data you wish to keep have been copied to another storage device before formatting the card. Highlight Yes. Monitor turns off when formatting is complete. Formatting Memory Cards Use the camera Format option to format memory cards.
Page 23: Adjusting Viewﬁ Nder Focus
Adjusting Viewﬁ nder Focus Photographs are framed in the viewﬁ nder. Before shooting, make sure that the display in the viewﬁ nder is in clear focus. Remove the lens cap and turn the camera Slide the diopter adjustment control up and down until the focus brackets are in sharp fo- cus.
Page 24: Tutorial: Photography And Playback
Photography and Playback Taking Photographs in This section describes how to take pictures in ic, “point-and-shoot” mode in which the majority of settings are controlled by the camera in response to shooting conditions. Turn the camera on 1.1 Remove the lens cap and turn the camera on.
Page 25 Select mode and adjust camera settings 2.1 Rotate the mode dial to 2.2 Rotate the focus-mode selector to AF (autofocus). 2.3 Slide the lens A-M mode switch to A (autofocus). See the lens manual for details. Illustrations In illustrations throughout this manual, indicators in the control panel and viewﬁ nder are relevant to the explanation in accompanying text are shown in black.
Page 26 Frame a photograph 3.1 Hold the camera as shown. Holding the Camera Hold the handgrip in your right hand and cradle the cam era body or lens with your left. Keep your elbows propped lightly against your torso for support. 3.2 Frame a photo in the viewﬁ...
Page 27 Focus and shoot 4.1 Press the shutter-release button halfway. The camera will automatically select the focus area containing the subject closest to the camera and focus on this subject. When the focus operation is complete, the selected focus area will be highlight- ed, a beep will sound, and the in-focus indicator (●) will appear in the view- ﬁ...
Page 28 The Built-in Flash If additional lighting is required for correct exposure in mode, the built-in ﬂ ash will pop up automatically when the shutter-release is pressed halfway. Subjects outside the range of the ﬂ ash (0.6–7.5 m / 2´–24´7˝) may not be properly lit. Remove lens hoods when using the ﬂ...
Page 29: Digital Vari-Programs
Digital Vari-Programs In addition to , the D50 offers a choice of six Digital Vari-Program modes. Selecting a program automatically optimizes settings to suit the selected scene, making creative photography as easy as rotating the mode dial. Mode Portrait For portraits.
Page 30 Landscape: Capturing Nature’s Majesty Use for vivid landscape shots that enhance out- lines, colors, and contrast in such subjects as skyscapes and forests. • Camera selects focus area containing subject closest to camera. • Built-in ﬂ ash and AF-assist illuminator turn off automatically.
Page 31: Choosing A Shooting Mode
Choosing a Shooting Mode Shooting mode determines how the camera takes pho to graphs: one at a time or continuously while the shutter-release button is held down. Mode Single frame Camera takes one photograph each time shutter-release button (default) is pressed. Continuous Camera records photographs at rate of up to about 2.5 frames (burst mode)
Page 32: Using The Self-Timer Or Remote Control
Using the Self-timer or Remote Control The self-timer or optional ML-L3 remote control can be used for photo- graphs in which you wish to appear yourself. To use the self-timer: Mount the camera on a tripod (recommend- ed) or place the camera on a stable, level sur face.
Page 33 Take the photograph. Self-timer: Press the shutter-release button all the way down to start the self-timer. The self-tim er lamp (AF-assist lamp) will blink for about eight seconds. The lamp stops blinking two seconds before the pho- tograph is taken and remains lit until the shutter is released. Remote control: From a distance of 5 m (16´) or less, point the remote control at the in- frared receiver on the front of the camera...
Page 34: Basic Playback
Basic Playback Photographs are displayed automatically after shooting. If no photograph is displayed in the monitor, the most recent picture can be viewed by pressing the can be displayed by rotating the command dial or pressing the multi selector left or right. To end playback and return to shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway.
Page 35: Reference
This section builds on the Tutorial to cover more advanced shooting and playback options. Adjust image quality and size according to how the picture will be used Choose the focus area or focus manually Take photographs where lighting is poor Let the camera choose shutter speed and aperture Freeze or blur motion...
Page 36: Using Camera Menus
Using Camera Menus Most shooting, playback, and setup options can be accessed from the camera menus. To view the menus, press the Choose from play- back, shooting, Cus- Settings, setup menus (see below) This icon indicates that help is avail- able for current menu item.
Page 37: Navigating The Menus
Navigating the Menus To make changes to a menu item, ﬁ rst select the menu from the playback, shooting, Custom Settings, and setup menus (1), then select the menu item (2), and ﬁ nally select an option (3). (1) Choose menu Some menus may contain multiple pages.
Page 38: Making A Selection
Making a Selection The multi selector is used to navigate through the camera menus. Return to previous menu Cancel (can also be per- formed with button) To modify menu settings: Display menus Select menu Position cursor in selected menu Move cursor up Increase number Display sub-menu Make selection (selection...
Page 39 Display options • Menu items that are displayed in gray are not currently available. • When formatting memory cards and in other cases in which user conﬁ rmation is required, a selection can only be made by pressing the this effect will appear in the display. •...
Page 40: Reference: More On Photography
More on Photography Image Quality and Size Controls used: Together, image quality and size determine how much space each pho to - graph occupies on the memory card. Larger, higher quality images look better when printed at a larger size but also require more memory, meaning that fewer such images can be stored on the memory card.
Page 41: Image Quality
NEF (Raw) / NEF + JPEG NEF images can only be viewed using Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (avail- able separately) or PictureProject. When opened on a computer, NEF images are 3,008 × 2,000 pixels in size. When photographs taken at NEF + JPEG Basic are viewed on the camera, only the JPEG image will be displayed.
Page 42: Image Size
Image Size The following options are available: Image size Size L (3008 × 2000) Large 3,008 × 2,000 M (2256 × 1496) S (1504 × 1000) Small 1,504 × 1,000 The current image size setting is displayed in the control panel. The QUAL Button If the monitor is off, image quality and size can be set by pressing the...
Page 43: Choosing The Focus Area
Choosing the Focus Area The D50 offers a choice of ﬁ ve focus areas that together cover a wide area of the frame. By default, the camera selects the focus area automatically or focuses on the subject in the center focus area. The focus area can also be selected manually to allow photographs to be composed with the main subject almost anywhere in the frame.
Page 44 The AF-Assist Illuminator If the subject is poorly lit, the AF-assist illuminator will light to assist the focus operation when the shutter- release button is pressed halfway. The AF-assist illumi- nator is not available in selected for Custom Setting 7 (AF Assist). For the AF-assist illuminator to function correctly, the lens must have a focal length of 24–200 mm and the subject must be in range of the illuminator (0.5–...
Page 45: Manual Focus
Manual Focus Controls used: Focus-mode selector ➤ Lens focus ring Manual focus is available for manual focus lenses or when autofocus does not produce the desired re sults. To focus manually, set the focus-mode selector to M and rotate the lens focus ring until the image displayed on the clear matte ﬁ...
Page 46: Flash Sync Mode
Flash Sync Mode Choose a ﬂ ash sync mode according to shooting conditions. The current ﬂ ash mode is displayed in the control panel as shown below. when the ﬂ ash is off. before ﬂ ash ﬁ res, reducing “red-eye.” AUTO: Auto ﬂ...
Page 47 Choosing a Flash Sync Mode Press the button and rotate the command dial. The current ﬂ ash sync mode is displayed in the control panel. Using the Built-in Flash , and modes: Choose the ﬂ ash sync mode as described on the preceding page. The ﬂ...
Page 48 Flash Compensation (P, S, A, and M Modes Only) Controls used: Flash compensation can be used to increase or reduce ﬂ ash output from the level chosen by the camera’s ﬂ ash control system. Flash output can be increased to make the main subject appear brighter, or reduced to prevent unwanted highlights or reﬂ...
Page 49: Sensitivity (Iso Equivalency)
Sensitivity (ISO Equivalency) Controls used: Photographs taken at slow shutter speeds are prone to blurring. If sensitiv- ity is raised above the default value of ISO 200 equivalent, the same expo- sure can be achieved at faster shutter speeds, preventing blur. Sensitivity can be set to values between ISO 200 and ISO 1600 in steps of 1 EV.
Page 50: P, S, A, And M Modes
P, S, A, and M Modes P, S, A, and M modes offer control over a variety of advanced settings, in- cluding shutter speed, aperture, and white balance. Choosing an Exposure Mode P, S, A, and M modes offer varying degrees of control over shutter speed and aperture.
Page 51 Exposure Exposure controls the brightness of photographs. The same exposure can be achieved with different combinations of shutter speed and aperture, allowing you to blur or freeze motion or control depth of ﬁ eld. The following ﬁ gure shows how shutter speed and aperture affect exposure.
Page 52: P: Programmed Auto
P: Programmed Auto In this mode, the camera sets shutter speed and aperture for optimal ex- posure. This mode is recommended for snapshots and other situations in which little time is available for adjusting camera settings. Rotate the mode dial to P. Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
Page 53: S: Shutter-Priority Auto
S: Shutter-Priority Auto In mode S, you choose the shutter speed while the camera au to mat i cal ly selects the aperture that will produce optimal exposure. Use slow shutter speeds to suggest motion by blurring moving objects, high shutter speeds to “freeze”...
Page 54: A: Aperture-Priority Auto
A: Aperture-Priority Auto In mode A, you choose the aperture while the camera controls shutter speed for optimal exposure. Small apertures (high f/-numbers) increase depth of ﬁ eld, bringing both the main subject and back ground into focus. Large apertures (low f/-num bers) soften background details and let more light into the camera, increasing the range of the ﬂ...
Page 55: M: Manual
M: Manual In mode M, the user controls both shutter speed and aperture. Shut ter speed can be set to values between 30 s and ¼ held open indeﬁ nitely for a long time-exposure ( set to val ues between the minimum and maximum values for the lens. Rotate the mode dial to M.
Page 56 (maximum 30 minutes). Nikon recommends using a fully-charged battery or an optional EH-5 AC adapter to prevent loss of power while the shutter is open. Note that if the shutter is open for more than approximately 1 s at any setting, “noise”...
Page 57: Exposure Compensation (P, S, A, And M Modes Only)
Exposure Compensation (P, S, A, and M Modes Only) Controls used: To obtain the desired results with certain subject compositions, it may be nec es sary to use ex po sure compensation to alter exposure from the val ue sug gest ed by the cam era. As a rule of thumb, positive compensation may be needed when the main sub ject is dark er than the background, negative val ues when the main sub ject is bright er than the background.
Page 58: Optimizing Images
Optimizing Images Controls used: The options in the Optimize Image menu control sharpening, contrast, saturation, and hue. Option Normal Recommended for most situations. (default) Enhances saturation, contrast, and sharpness to produce vivid Vivid images with vibrant reds, greens, and blues. Sharper Sharpens outlines.
Page 59: White Balance
Fluorescent Use under ﬂ uorescent lighting. Dir. sunlight Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight. Flash Use with the built-in ﬂ ash or optional Nikon ﬂ ash units. Cloudy Use in daylight under overcast skies. Shade Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.
Page 60: Restoring Default Settings
Restoring Default Settings The camera settings listed below can be re stored to default values by holding the tons down together for more than two seconds (these but tons are marked by a green dot). The monitor will turn off brieﬂ y while these settings are reset.
Page 61: Reference: More On Playback
Reference: More on Playback Viewing Photographs Photographs can be viewed in the monitor one at a time (“single-image playback”) or in “contact sheets” of up to nine images (“thumbnail play- back”). Single-Image Playback Press the button to view the most recent photograph in the monitor.
Page 62: Photo Information
Photo Information Photo in for ma tion is su per im posed on images displayed in single-im age play back. multi-se lec tor up or down to cycle through photo in for ma tion as follows: File Information ↔ Shoot- ing Data Page 1 ↔...
Page 63 Highlights Protect status... 56 Image high lights (brightest areas of image) are marked by a ﬂ ashing border. Frame number / total number of images Histogram Protect status... 56 Frame number / total number of images Histogram showing the dis tri bu tion of tones in the im age.
Page 64 Viewing Multiple Images: Thumbnail Playback To display images in “con tact sheets” of four or nine images, press the playback. The fol low ing operations can be per- formed while thumb nails are displayed: View additional pages of photos Change num- ber of images displayed Highlight...
Page 65 Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom Press the button to zoom in on the im age displayed in single-image playback or on the im- age currently highlighted in thumbnail playback. The following operations can be performed while zoom is in effect: Change zoom ratio / navigate to other areas...
Page 66: Protecting Photographs From Deletion
Protecting Photographs from Deletion In full-frame, zoom, and thumbnail playback, the protect pho to graphs from ac ci den tal deletion. Protected ﬁ les can not be deleted using the and have DOS “read-only” status when viewed on a Windows computer. Note that pro tect ed im ag es will be de let ed when the mem o ry card is for- matted ( 68).
Page 67: Deleting Individual Photographs
Deleting Individual Photographs To delete a photograph displayed in single-image playback, or the pho- to graph highlighted in thumbnail playback, press the de let ed, photographs can not be recovered. Display the image in full-frame playback or highlight it in the thumb- nail list.
Page 68: Viewing Photographs On Tv
Viewing Photographs on TV The supplied video cable can be used to connect the camera to a tele vi sion or VCR for playback or recording. Select the appropriate video mode from the Video Mode menu ( Turn the camera off. Always turn the cam- era off before connecting or disconnecting the video cable.
Page 69: Viewing Photographs On A Computer
Be sure to select Mass Storage before reconnecting the camera. Nikon Capture 4 Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (available separate- ly) can be used to control the camera from a computer and supports batch processing and more advanced im- age editing options.
Page 70 Connecting the USB Cable Turn the computer on and wait for it to start up. Turn the camera off and connect the supplied USB cable as shown. Do not use force or at- tempt to insert the connectors at an angle. Connect the camera directly to the comput- er;...
Page 71 Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) In My Computer, click with the right mouse but- ton on the removable disk corresponding to the camera and select Eject from the menu that ap- pears. Macintosh Drag the camera volume (“NIKON D50”) into the Trash.
Page 72: Printing Photographs
(see the PictureProject Reference Manual, on CD). Note that RAW photographs can only be printed by transferring them to a computer and printing them using Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (available separately) or PictureProject. Printing Via Direct USB Connection When the camera is connected to a printer that supports PictBridge ( 128), photographs can be printed directly from the camera.
Page 73 Connecting the Printer Set the USB option in the setup menu to PTP 71). Turn the printer on. Turn the camera off and connect the supplied USB cable as shown. Do not use force or at- tempt to insert the connectors at an angle. Connect the camera directly to the printer;...
Page 74: Printing Pictures One At A Time
Printing Pictures One at a Time To print the photograph selected in the PictBridge playback display, press and release the The menu shown at right will be displayed. Press the multi selector up or down to highlight an op- tion and press to the right to select. Option Print selected picture.
Page 75: Printing Multiple Pictures
Option Menu shown at right will be displayed. Press multi selector up or down to highlight Crop (crop photo for printing) or No Cropping, then press multi se- lector to right. Cropping If Crop is selected, dialog shown at right will be displayed;...
Page 76 Printing Selected Photographs Choosing Print Select in the PictBridge menu (see above) displays the menu shown in Step 1. Scroll through pictures. To display current picture full screen, press button. * To print photos in print order created with Print Set ( PictBridge menu.
Page 77 Print Set The Print Set option in the playback menu is used to create digital “print orders” for PictBridge-compatible printers and devices that support DPOF. Selecting Print Set from the playback menu ( shown in Step 1. Highlight Select / Set. Select pictures and specify number of prints as described in Steps 1–3 on previous page.
Page 78: Setup
Basic Camera Settings The setup menu contains the following options. Option Format CSM/Setup Menu Date LCD Brightness Video Mode Language (LANG) Image Comment Format Formats the memory card. Note that this perma- nently deletes all photographs and any other data the card may contain.
Page 79: Csm/Setup Menu
Custom Settings ( 87) and setup menus ( 68), Detailed to list all options. Date Set the camera clock ( 10). Nikon recommends resetting the clock monthly. LCD Brightness Adjust monitor brightness. Video Mode Before connecting your camera to a video device...
Page 80: Language (Lang)
Com ments can be viewed when the pho to graphs are displayed using PictureProject or Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later. The ﬁ rst twelve let ters of the comment are also visible on the third page of the pho to in for ma tion dis play 52).
Page 81: Usb
For example, if the folder NIKON is selected, pictures in all folders named NIKON (100NIKON, 101NIKON, 102NIKON, etc.) will be visible when Current is selected in the Play- back Fldr menu ( 84).
Page 82 Create a folder with a new name as described in “Naming Folders,” be- low. Rename Rename an existing folder. Select the folder from a list of existing folders and rename it as described in “Naming Folders,” below. Delete Delete all empty folders on the memory card. Naming Folders Keyboard area: Use multi selector to highlight letters, press...
Page 83: File No. Seq
File No. Seq. Choose how the camera names ﬁ les. • Off (default): File numbering is reset to 0001 when a new folder is created, the memory card is formatted, or a new memory card is inserted in the camera. •...
Page 84: Dust Ref Photo
Dust Ref Photo Acquire reference data for the Image Dust Off function in Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (available separately; for more information, see the Nikon Capture 4 User’s Manual). Highlight Yes and press the multi selector to the right.
Page 85: Firmware Ver
( 84) or when viewed in PictureProject or Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (available separately). The following orientations are recorded: Landscape (wide) Camera rotated 90 °...
Page 86: Shooting Options
Shooting Options Adjustments to shooting options are made from the shooting menu ( Option Optimize Image Optimize images for type of scene. Long Exp. NR Reduce noise at slow shutter speeds. Image Quality Choose ﬁ le type and compression ratio. Image Size Choose image size.
Page 87: Color Mode
Choose the amount of contrast. The default set- ting is Auto; a setting of Custom is available to select a user-deﬁ ned tone curve downloaded to the camera using Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (available separately). See the Nikon Cap- ture 4 manual for details.
Page 88: Long Exp. Nr
Hue Adjustment Hue can be adjusted from the default setting of 0 ° in in cre ments of 3 °. Taking red as an example, raising hue introduces a yel low cast, mak ing reds more orange. Low er ing hue in tro duces a blue cast, mak ing reds more pur ple.
Page 89: White Balance
White balance value is copied from photo on memory card (note that Use Photo Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later can be used to adjust white bal- ance of existing pictures if desired). Measuring a Value for White Balance The existing measured value is lost when a new value is measured.
Page 90 Press the shutter-release button halfway to return to shooting mode. Press the (WB) button until a blinking appears in the control panel and viewﬁ nder. Frame the reference object so that it ﬁ lls the viewﬁ nder and press the shutter-release but- ton all the way down.
Page 91 Highlight folder. Highlight photograph. † Images displayed may include those created by other cameras, but only photo- graphs created with D50 can be used as source for preset white balance. Display current source photo. Display folder list. Display images in selected folder.
Page 92: Iso
See “Sensitivity (ISO Equivalency)” ( 39) for more information.
Page 93: Playback Options
Playback Options Adjustments to playback options are made from the playback menu ( back menu is only displayed when a memory card is inserted. Option Delete Delete all or selected photos. Playback Fldr Choose folder for playback. Rotate Tall Rotate portrait (“tall”) orientation photos for playback. Slide Show Play photos back in automatic slide show.
Page 94: Delete
Delete Choose from: Option Selected Delete selected photos. Delete all photos. Note that photographs marked with an are protected and can not be deleted ( More time may be required if the number of pho- tographs to be deleted is very large. Playback Fldr Choose the folder from which photographs will be played back.
Page 95: Slide Show
Slide Show View photographs in an automated slide show (see “Playback Fldr” for information on choosing the folder from which photographs will be played back; 84). Start Start the slide show. The following operations can be performed during a slide show: Go forward or back one frame View photo info...
Page 96: Print Set
Small Picture During playback, small copies are indicated by a gray border. Copies can only be created if sufﬁ cient memory is available. Small copies may not display or transfer correctly when viewed on other models of Nikon camera.
Page 97: Custom Settings
Custom Settings Custom Settings are used to customize camera settings to suit individual preferences. Option R Menu Reset 1 Beep 2 Autofocus 3 AF-Area Mode To display the following options, select Detailed for the CSM/Setup Menu option in the setup menu ( Option 7 AF Assist 8 AF Area Illm...
Page 98 1: Beep At the default setting of On, a beep will sound while the release timer is running in self-timer and delayed remote modes ( is taken in quick-response remote mode ( when the camera has focused in single-servo AF ( 88).
Page 99 3: AF-Area Mode Choose how the camera focuses in autofocus mode. Option Single User selects focus area manually ( Area in selected focus area only. Use for stationary subjects. User selects focus area manually ( Dynamic from multiple focus areas to de ter mine focus. If sub ject leaves se- Area lected focus area even brieﬂ...
Page 100 4: No SD Card? At the default setting of Release Locked, the shutter-release button is only enabled when a memory card is inserted. Choose Enable Re- lease to enable the shutter-release button when no memory card is inserted. Photographs will be displayed in the monitor but will not saved.
Page 101 8: AF Area Illm At the default setting of Auto, the active focus area will be highlighted in red in the viewﬁ nder as needed to establish contrast with the back- ground. The active focus area will not light if Off is selected;...
Page 102 10: ISO Auto At the default setting of Off, sensitivity (ISO equivalency) will remain ﬁ xed at the value selected by the user ( 39). If On is selected, the camera will automatically choose a sensitivity between ISO 200 and 1600 if optimal exposure can not be achieved at current settings.
Page 103 12: BKT Set In P, S, A, and M modes, the camera offers the following bracketing options: Option Off (default) No bracketing performed. Camera varies exposure and ﬂ ash level over three shots, “bracket- AE & Flash ing” optimal exposure value. Camera creates three images each time shutter is released, “bracket- ing”...
Page 104 Take a series of three photographs. ﬁ rst photograph will be taken at optimal exposure, the second will be underexposed by the selected exposure increment, and the third overexposed by the same amount. A segment will disappear from the bracketing progress indicator after each shot.
Page 105 White Balance Bracketing Highlight WB Bracketing and press the multi selector to the right. Highlight a bracketing increment and press the multi selector to the right. Press the shutter-release button halfway to exit to shooting mode. The display shown at right will appear in the control panel and viewﬁ...
Page 106 13: Metering In P, S, A, and M modes, metering determines how the camera sets exposure. Option Camera meters wide area of frame and instantly sets exposure Matrix based on composition, distance, shading, and color. (default) natural-looking results in almost any situation. Center- Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center.
Page 107 Autoexposure Lock If the subject is not in the metered area when center-weighted or spot metering is used, exposure will be based on lighting conditions in the back- ground, and the main subject may not be correctly exposed. This can be prevented using autoexposure lock: Rotate the mode dial to P, S, or A and select center-weight ed or spot metering (exposure lock has no effect in mode M).
Page 108 14: AE-L/AF-L Choose the function performed by the AE-L/AF-L button. Option AE/AF Lock (default) AE Lock Only Pressing button locks exposure only ( AF Lock Only Pressing button locks focus only ( AE Lock Hold AF-ON FV Lock FV Lock This feature is used to recompose photographs without changing the me- tered ﬂ...
Page 109 Conﬁ rm that the ﬂ ash-ready indicator is displayed in the viewﬁ nder and press the AE-L/AF-L button. The built-in ﬂ ash will emit a low-intensity pulse to determine the appro- priate ﬂ ash level. Flash output will be locked at this level and an EL icon will be displayed in the viewﬁ...
Page 110 17: Monitor Off Choose how long the monitor will remain on when no operations are performed. The default setting is 20 s. 18: Meter Off Choose how long the camera continues to meter exposure when no operations are performed. The default setting is 8 s. When the exposure me- ter turns off, the viewﬁ...
Page 111: Technical Notes
Technical Notes Camera Settings The following table lists the settings that can be adjusted in each mode. Optimize Image ( Long Exp. NR ( Image Quality ( Image Size ( White Balance ( ISO ( Shooting mode ( Flexible program ( Autoexposure lock ( Exposure compensation ( Flash sync mode (...
Page 112 The following defaults are restored when a two-button reset is performed: Optimize Image ( Image Quality ( Image Size ( White Balance ( ISO ( Shooting mode ( Focus area ( Focus lock ( Flexible program ( Autoexposure lock ( Exposure compensation ( Flash sync mode ( 6: Flash Level (...
Page 113 Factory defaults for other menu options are listed below. These settings are not affected by two-button resets or Custom Setting R (Menu Reset). Shooting menu Long Exp. NR ( Playback Fldr ( Playback menu Rotate Tall ( CSM/Setup Menu ( LCD Brightness ( Video Mode ( Language (LANG) (...
Page 114: Optional Accessories
Use Only Nikon Brand Ac ces so ries Only Nikon brand ac ces so ries cer ti ﬁ ed by Nikon spe ciﬁ cal ly for use with your Nikon dig i tal cam era are engineered and proven to op er ate with in its op er a tion al and safety requirements.
Page 115 CPU lenses (particularly type G and D lenses) are recommended for use with the D50 (note that IX Nikkor CPU lenses can not be used). CPU lenses can be iden ti ﬁ ed by the presence of CPU contacts. Type G lenses have no aperture ring and are marked with a “G”...
Page 116: Camera Setting
The following lenses can be used with the D50: Lens/accessory Type G or D AF Nikkor PC-Micro Nikkor 85 mm f/2.8D AF-S / AF-I Teleconverter Other AF Nikkor (except lenses for F3AF) AI-P Nikkor AI-modiﬁ ed, AI-, AI-S, or Series E Nikkor Medical Nikkor 120 mm f/4 Reﬂ...
Page 117 • AF-S VR ED 70–200 mm f/2.8G • AF ED 80–200 mm f/2.8D • AF-S VR ED 200–400 mm f/4G • AF-S VR 300 mm f/2.8G be used with the D50: • 200–600 mm f/9.5 (serial numbers 280001–300490) • Lenses for the F3AF (80 mm f/2.8, 200 mm f/3.5, TC-16 Teleconverter)
Page 118: Using The Built-In Flash
Using the Built-in Flash The built-in ﬂ ash can be used with any CPU lens with a focal length of 18–300 mm. Note that the ﬂ ash may be unable to light the entire subject if the following lenses are not used at or above the minimum ranges given below: AF-S DX ED 12–24 mm f/4G AF-S ED 17–35 mm f/2.8D AF-S DX IF ED 17–55 mm f/2.8G...
Page 119 ﬂ ash. Be fore us ing a Nikon Speed light not listed in this sec- tion, con tact a Nikon-au tho rized ser vice rep re sen ta tive for more information.
Page 120 The following features are available with SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights: Flash mode/feature i-TTL Auto aperture Non-TTL auto Range-priority manual Repeating ﬂ ash REAR Rear-curtain sync Red-eye reduction Flash Color Information Communication FV lock AF-assist for multi-area AF Auto zoom ISO Auto (Custom Setting 10) 1 Available only with CPU lenses (IX Nikkor lenses excluded).
Page 121 Repeating ﬂ ash REAR Rear-curtain sync 1 When an SB-27 is mounted on the D50, the ﬂ ash mode is automatically set to TTL, and the shutter-release will be disabled. Set the SB-27 to A (non-TTL auto ﬂ ash). 2 Autofocus is only avail able with AF-Mi cro lenses (60 mm, 105 mm, 200 mm, or 70–180 mm).
Page 122 Refer to the Speedlight manual for detailed instructions. If the Speedlight supports the Creative Lighting System, refer to the section on CLS-compatible digital SLR cam- eras. The D50 is not included in the “digital SLR” category in the SB-80DX, SB-28DX, and SB-50DX manuals.
Page 123: Other Accessories
Other Accessories At the time of writing, the following accessories were available for the D50. Contact your retailer or local Nikon representative for details. ♦ EN-EL3 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery: Additional EN-EL3 batteries are Batteries/ Chargers/ available from local retailers and Nikon service representatives.
Page 124: Approved Memory Cards
Use Nikon ﬁ lters; other ﬁ lters may interfere with au to fo cus or elec tron ic range ﬁ nd ing. • The D50 can not be used with linear polarizing ﬁ lters. Use the C-PL circular polarizing ﬁ lter instead.
Page 125: Caring For The Camera
Caring for the Camera Storage When the camera will not be used for an extended period, remove the battery, and store the battery in a cool, dry area with the terminal cover in place. To pre vent mold or mil dew, store the cam era in a dry, well-ven ti lat ed area.
Page 126 The Low-Pass Filter The image sensor that acts as the cam era’s picture element is ﬁ tted with a low-pass ﬁ lter to prevent moiré. Al though this ﬁ lter prevents foreign ob- jects from adhering directly to the image sensor, under certain con di tions dirt or dust on the ﬁ...
Page 127 Replace the lens or body cap. Servicing the Camera and Accessories The D50 is a precision device and requires regular servicing. Nikon recommends that the camera be inspected by the original retailer or Nikon service representative once every one to two years, and that it be serviced once every three to ﬁ ve years (note that fees apply to these services).
Page 128 Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions Do not drop The product may malfunction if sub ject ed to strong shocks or vi bra tion. Keep dry This product is not waterproof, and may mal func tion if im mersed in wa ter or ex- posed to high levels of hu mid i ty.
Page 129 a des ic cant. Do not, how ev er, store the cam era case in a plas tic bag, as this may cause the ma te ri al to de te ri o rate. Note that des ic cant grad u al ly los es its ca pac i ty to ab sorb mois ture and should be re placed at reg u lar in ter vals.
Page 130: Troubleshooting
(see right) and then reset the camera clock to the correct date and time ( con tin ued mal func tion, con tact your re tail er or Nikon rep re sen ta tive.
Page 131 Problem Shutter release is disabled (con- tinued). No photo taken when remote con- trol shutter release is pressed. Can not select focus area. AF-assist illuminator does not light. Slow shutter speeds not available. Flash raised (P, S, A, and M modes) Focus does not lock when shutter- release button is pressed halfway.
Page 132 • Memory card is full: delete photos. • Memory card is locked. Set USB to PTP. Photo is a RAW (NEF) image. Use Picture Project or Nikon Capture 4 version 4.3 or later (available separately) to print photo. Choose correct video mode. Set USB to PTP.
Page 133: Camera Error Messages And Displays
Camera Error Messages and Displays This section lists the indicators and error messages that appear in the viewﬁ nder, control panel, and monitor when there is a problem with the camera. Indicator Control View- panel ﬁ nder Low battery. Battery exhausted. (blinks) (blinks) Camera can not detect bat- (blinks)
Page 134 Change ﬂ ash mode setting on optional Speedlight. Change shutter speed or select mode M. Change shutter speed or select mode M. Release shutter. If error per- sists or appears frequently, consult with Nikon-au tho rized service representative. —...
Page 135 CAN NOT BE (blinks) USED • Unable to create new folder • Card has not been format- ted for use in D50. CARD IS NOT Memory card has not been FORMATTED (blinks) formatted for use in D50. FOLDER • Memory card contains no CONTAINS images.
Page 136: Appendix
Appendix Memory Card Capacity and Image Quality/Size The following table shows the approximate number of pictures that can be stored on a 256 MB card at different image quality and size settings. Image quality NEF (Raw) JPEG Fine JPEG Normal JPEG Basic NEF+JPEG Basic 1 All ﬁ...
Page 137 Exposure Program (Mode P) The exposure program for mode P is shown in the fol low ing graph: F (lens focal length) 55 F F Œ 135 mm The maximum and minimum values for EV vary with sen si tiv i ty (ISO equivalency); the above graph assumes a sen si tiv i ty of ISO 200 equivalent.
Page 138: Supported Standards
Exif version 2.21: The D50 supports Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) ver sion 2.21, a stan dard that al lows in for ma tion stored with pho to graphs to be used for optimal color re pro duc tion when im ag es are output on Exif-compliant print ers.
Page 139: Speciﬁ Cations
23.7 × 15.6 mm; total pixels: 6.24 million Image size (pixels) • 3008 × 2000 (Large) • 1504 × 1000 (Small) Lens mount Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts) Compatible lenses Type G or D AF Nikkor All functions supported Micro Nikkor 85 mm All functions supported except autofocus and some expo- f/2.8D...
Page 140 Shutter Speed Sensitivity White balance Bracketing TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module with AF-assist illuminator (range approximately 0.5–3.0 m / 1´8˝–9´10˝) –1 – +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20 °C/68 °F) Single-area AF, dynamic-area AF, dynamic-area AF with...
Page 141 Flash compensation –3 – +1 EV in increments of Accessory shoe Standard ISO hot-shoe contact with safety lock Nikon Creative Supports Flash Color Information Communication and FV Lighting System lock with built-in Speedlight, SB-800, and SB-600. SB-800 and 600 also support Advanced Wireless Lighting.
Page 142 20 °C (68 °F). • Nikon reserves the right to change the speciﬁ cations of the hardware and software described this manual at any time and without prior notice. Nikon will not be held liable for damages that may result from any mistakes that this manual may con- tain.
Page 143 MH-18a Quick Charger Rated input AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz Rated output DC 8.4 V/900 mA Supported batteries EN-EL3 rechargeable Li-ion batteries Charging time Approximately 120 min Operating temperature 0 – +40 °C (+32 – 104 °F) Length of cord Approximately 1800 mm (5´11˝) Dimensions (W ×...
Page 144 Attachment diameter Dimensions (W × H × D) Weight Lens hoods Type G CPU AF-S DX Nikkor zoom lens with Nikon mount Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras 18–55 mm 1:3.5–5.6 7 elements in 5 groups, including 1 ED glass element and...
Page 145 Battery Life The number of shots that can be taken with a fully-charged EN-EL3 battery (1400 mAh) varies with the con di tion of the batteries, temperature, and how the camera is used. The following measurements were performed at a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F).
Page 146: Index
Index Symbols . See Exposure compensa- tion . See Flash compensation . See Flash ready indicator . See FV lock . See Mode, Digital Vari-Program . See Remote control . See Self-timer . See Shooting mode A. See Mode Advanced Wireless Lighting, 110 AE-L/AF-L, 98 AE Lock, 99 AF.
Page 147 Monitor, 115 auto off, 100 Monitor Off, 100 NEF, 31–32. See also Im age Qual i ty; RAW Nikon Capture 4, 31, 59, 114 Noise, 46 reduction, 78 NORMAL. See Image Quality NO SD Card?, 90 Optimize Image, 48, 76 P.
Page 148 No reproduction in any form of this manual, in whole or in part (except for brief quotation in critical articles or reviews), may be made without written authorization from NIKON CORPORATION. Printed in Japan SB5E01100201(11) 6MBA4211-02...

This manual is also suitable for:

25233 - d50 6.1mp digital slr camera 541535241 - d50 6.1mp digital slr camera 541535258 - d50 6.1mp digital slr camera

Nikon D50 User Manual

Introduction

Tutorial: Photography and Playback

Reference

Reference: more on Photography

Reference: more on Playback

Setup

Technical Notes

Appendix

Quick Links

Related Manuals for Nikon D50

Summary of Contents for Nikon D50

This manual is also suitable for:

Table of Contents