Mastering the Nikon COOLPIX A by Young, Darrell -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Chapter 1: Basic Camera Setup

Who was the COOLPIX A designed for? First Use of the Camera

Battery and Memory Card Five Steps to Basic Camera Configuration

Step 1: Setting the Language Step 2: Setting the Time Zone Step 3: Setting the Date Format Step 4: Setting Daylight Saving Time Step 5: Setting the Date and Time

Sidebar: 12- to 24-Hour Time Conversion Chart Accessing the Information Display and Menus

Information Display (Quick Menu) Camera Menus

Camera Settings Recommendations

Chapter 2: Live View, Information Display, and Quick Menu

Introduction to the Live View Display

Adjusting the Exposure Controls in the Live View Monitor

Shutter Speed Aperture ISO Sensitivity

Introduction to the Information Display and Quick Menu

Information Display

Shutter Speed Aperture

Quick Menu

Exposure Mode (Mode Dial Setting) Image Quality Image Size White Balance ISO Sensitivity Release Modes Autofocus Modes AF-Area Modes Metering Active D-Lighting Auto Bracketing Set Picture Control Picture Control List Exposure Compensation Flash Compensation Flash Mode List of Flash Modes by Shooting Mode Scene modes: Portrait, Child, Close up, Party/indoor, Pet portrait, and Auto Scene mode: Night portrait Scene mode: Food Shooting mode: Programmed auto (P) and Aperture-priority auto (A) Shooting mode: Shutter-priority auto (S) and Manual (M) Selecting a Flash Mode

Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 3: Playback Menu

Playback Menu Function List Sidebar: Technical LCD Monitor Information Delete Function

Selected Select Date All

Sidebar: Recovering Deleted Images Playback Folder

Current All

Playback Display Options

None (Image Only) Highlights RGB Histogram Shooting Data

Figure 3.12, image 2 Figure 3.12, image 3 Figure 3.12, image 4

Overview Basic Display Screen

Image Review Sidebar: Are You a Chimper Too? Rotate Tall Sidebar: Rotate Tall versus Auto Image Rotation Slide Show

Exiting a Slide Show

DPOF Print Order

Sidebar: In-Camera Printing: Not for RAW Images DPOF Printing Sidebar: Single DPOF Print Order Only PictBridge Printing

Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 4: Shooting Menu

Shooting Menu Function List User Settings U1 and U2 Configuring the Shooting Menu Reset Shooting Menu Storage Folder

Selecting an Existing Storage Folder Manually Creating a New Storage Folder Renaming an Existing Storage Folder Deleting an Existing Storage Folder

Image Quality

NEF (RAW) Image Quality Format

NEF (RAW) Conversion Software Viewing RAW Files as Thumbnails on Your Computer Nikon Software Included with Your Camera A RAW File Is Not an Image, Yet! NEF (RAW) Positives NEF (RAW) Negatives

JPEG Image Quality Format

JPEG Positives JPEG Negatives

Combined NEF + JPEG Shooting (Two Images at Once) Image Format Recommendations

Image Size White Balance Set Picture Control

Modifying an Existing Picture Control Examining Picture Controls MC Picture Control Filter Effects and Toning

Filter Effects Toning

Picture Control Grid Screen Resetting a Nikon Picture Control

Manage Picture Control

Save/Edit a Custom Picture Control Rename a Custom Picture Control Delete a Custom Picture Control Load/Save a Custom Picture Control

Copy to Camera Delete from Card Copy to Card

Sidebar: Memory Cards and Custom Controls Color Space

Which Color Space Should I Choose?

Sidebar: Which Color Space is Best, Technically? Active D-Lighting Long Exposure NR High ISO NR Sidebar: What is Noise? ISO Sensitivity Settings

Configuring the ISO Sensitivity Settings

ISO Sensitivity Auto Setting Auto ISO Sensitivity Control Maximum Sensitivity Minimum Shutter Speed Auto ISO Sensitivity Control from the Camera’s Perspective When and Why Should I Use Auto ISO Sensitivity Control? Are There Any Drawbacks to Using Auto ISO Sensitivity Control?

Sidebar: What is ISO? Release Mode Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator Exposure Comp. for Flash Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash (and Optional Flash) Auto Bracketing Set

Steps to Use AE Bracketing Steps to Use WB Bracketing

What Is Mired?

Steps to Use ADL Bracketing

Canceling a Bracketing Session

Interval Timer Shooting Movie Settings Sidebar: Video Compression Type and Audio Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 5: Setup Menu

Setup Menu Function List Format Memory Card Save User Settings

Items that can be saved Items that cannot be saved

Reset User Settings Monitor Brightness Photo Info HDMI

Output Resolution Device Control

Flicker Reduction Time Zone and Date

Time Zone Date and Time Date Format Daylight Saving Time

Language Image Comment Auto Image Rotation Self-Timer Auto Off Timer Image Review Time Sidebar: What is Chimping? Remote On Duration (ML-L3) Beep Shutter Sound File Number Sequence MF Distance Indicator Units Reverse Indicators Assign Fn1 Button

Assignable function list

Assign ISO/Fn2 Button

Assignable function list

Reverse Dial Rotation Slot Empty Release Lock GPS

Using a GPS Unit with Your COOLPIX A Preparing the Camera for GPS Usage

Auto Off Position Use GPS to Set Camera Clock Using the GPS Unit

Eye-Fi Upload

Enabling Eye-Fi Uploads on the COOLPIX A

Firmware Version Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 6: Retouch Menu

Retouch Functions List Retouched File Numbering Accessing the Retouch Functions: Two Methods Playback Retouching Sidebar: Limitations on Previously Retouched Images Using Retouch Menu Items Directly

D-Lighting Red-Eye Correction Trim Monochrome Filter Effects

Skylight Filter Effect Warm Filter Effect Red Intensifier Filter Effect Green Intensifier Filter Effect Blue Intensifier Filter Effect Cross Screen Filter Effect Soft Filter Effect

Color Balance Image Overlay NEF (RAW) Processing Resize Quick Retouch Straighten Fisheye Color Outline Color Sketch Perspective Control Miniature Effect Selective Color Edit Movie

Choose Start Point and Choose End Point Save Selected Frame

Side-by-Side Comparison

Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 7: My Menu and Recent Settings

What’s the Difference between My Menu and Recent Settings? My Menu

Add Items Remove Items Rank Items Choose Tab

Recent Settings Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 8: Autofocus, AF-Area, and Release Modes

Examining the Modes

Autofocus modes AF-area modes Release modes

Section 1: Autofocus Modes

Single-Servo AF (AF-S) Full-Time-Servo AF (AF-F)

Section 2: AF-Area Modes

Face-Priority AF Wide-Area AF Normal-Area AF Subject-Tracking AF

Section 3: Release Modes

Single Frame (S) Release Mode Continuous Release Mode Self-Timer Release Mode Delayed Remote (ML-L3) Release Mode Quick-Response (ML-L3) Release Mode Movie Recording Release Mode

Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 9: Metering, Exposure Modes, and Histogram

Section 1: Metering

Matrix Metering Center-Weighted Metering

Where’s the Circle?

Spot Metering

Section 2: Exposure Modes

Programmed Auto (P) Mode

Get Down, Grandpa! Beware the Extra Clicks

Shutter-Priority Auto (S) Mode

Watch Out for Camera Shake!

Aperture-Priority Auto (A) Mode Manual (M) Mode Auto Exposure Mode Scene Modes

Portrait Scene Mode Landscape Scene Mode Child Scene Mode Sports Scene Mode Close Up Scene Mode Night Portrait Scene Mode Night Landscape Scene Mode Party/Indoor Scene Mode Beach/Snow Scene Mode Sunset Scene Mode Dusk/Dawn Scene Mode Pet Portrait Scene Mode Candlelight Scene Mode Blossom Scene Mode Autumn Colors Scene Mode Food Scene Mode Silhouette Scene Mode High Key Scene Mode Low Key Scene Mode Using the Help System in Scene Modes

U1 and U2 User Settings

Items that can be saved Items that cannot be saved

Section 3: Histogram

Understanding the Histogram

Light Range Histogram Shape Luminance Histogram Differences The Histogram Represents a JPEG Image How Does the Eye React to Light Values? Computer Adjustment of Images (Postprocessing)

Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 10: White Balance

How Does White Balance Work? Sidebar: White Balance Fundamentals Color Temperature Sidebar: Understanding Mired Manual White Balance Using the Shooting Menu Selecting a White Balance from the Quick Menu Auto White Balance

Using Auto WB (Auto1 and Auto2)

Measuring Ambient Light Using PRE

Using the WB from a Previously Captured Image

Fine-Tuning White Balance Should I Worry about White Balance if I Shoot in RAW Mode? White Balance Tips and Tricks Author’s Conclusions

Chapter 11: Creating HD Videos

Understanding COOLPIX A Video Standard Containers and Their Formats Basic HD Video Information

Progressive versus Interlaced Limitations of Capturing Videos in Movie Mode Avoiding the Jellywobble Effect

Movie Live View Screens

Understanding the Movie Recording Controls

Preparing to Make Movies

Camera Setup for Making Movies

Quick Menu Settings Shooting Menu Settings Setup Menu Settings External Camera Control Settings

Special Considerations for Movie Recording

Choosing a White Balance

Doing a PRE Reading for White Balance in Live View

Choosing an ISO Sensitivity Selecting Movie Recording Mode Selecting an Autofocus Mode Choosing an AF-Area Mode Set Picture Control Exposure Compensation Frame Size/Frame Rate and Quality

Video File Format Why Different Frame Rates?

Movie Quality

Recording a Video with Your COOLPIX A Displaying Movies

Displaying a Movie on the Camera Monitor Displaying a Movie on an HDTV

Author’s Conclusions Thank you!

Appendix Camera Control Reference

Front of camera (figure A.1) Rear of camera (figure A.2) Top of camera (figure A.3) Bottom of camera (figure A.4) Connector covers and contents (figure A.5)

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