Nikon D300 Complete Manual page 670

especially if you adjust the exposure later in post-
processing. Note that you can check channels individually
on the D300, so there's no excuse for blowing a channel,
either. However, to keep from doing so when you're
shooting NEF, you should also set the proper white
balance setting (the histograms are calculated from the
embedded JPEG, which means that the white balance data
is reflected in the histogram!).
• Keep the sensor clean. Even with Photoshop's Healing
Tool or Capture NX's Dust Off function, you'll still end up
spending some time cleaning up dust bunnies in large
bright areas of images shot at small apertures. Plenty of
quick and good cleaning options exist now, so use one
regularly, such as the SensorBrush. See my Web site for
more (http://www.bythom.com/cleaning.htm). Also see
the section on cleaning the sensor that comes later in this
eBook (see page <692>).
• Shoot at the lowest ISO you can, and use Long exp. NR
(noise reduction; on the SHOOTING menu) on exposures
over 8 seconds. (This form of noise reduction does not
lower detail.) Once noise is recorded in an image, getting
it out is difficult at best, impossible at worst. ISO 200 is
where you want to be as often as possible—at this value
the D300's images are nearly noise free and have a great
deal of detail and clarity. If you shoot at high ISO values
you have to make a choice: detail or not. Turning on High
ISO NR (noise reduction) will cause loss of some detail in
JPEG images, though the noise will be better controlled.
• Watch your focus. If you intend to print at sizes larger
than 8x10" (~ISO A4), you should realize that depth of
field on a D300 is a bit smaller than for the same focal
length, focus distance, and aperture combination on a
35mm or FX body (see "Depth of Field Preview" on page
<407>). Most of us who shoot NEF set Sharpening (in
our Picture Control) to 5 or 6 on our D300's. This allows
us to use the D300's excellent thumbnail zoom capability
to examine and better evaluate focus. If you leave your
sharpening value set lower, the slight graininess of the
Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300
V1.02
Page 670