Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond This Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part 1: Getting Started With the Nikon D780 5
Chapter 1: Exploring the Nikon D780's Controls 7
Exploring the Top of Your Camera 8
Exploring the Back of Your Camera 10
Exploring the Front of Your Camera 12
Exploring the Bottom of Your Camera 14
Chapter 2: Setting Up the Nikon D780 15
Customizing the Default Settings 16
Setting the date and time 16
Setting the monitor off delay 18
Working with the Tilting Monitor 20
Using the Control Panel 23
Using the Viewfinder 25
Decoding what you see in the viewfinder 25
Adjusting viewfinder clarity 28
Introducing the i Menu 29
Pressing the Info Button 29
Chapter 3: Working with Nikon D780 Peripherals 31
Working with Lenses 32
Attaching a lens 32
Removing a lens 33
Using a vibration reduction lens 34
Using a zoom lens 35
Using a lens hood 36
Working with Memory Cards 36
Formatting a memory card 38
Removing a memory card 40
Taking Care of Your Camera Battery 40
Cleaning the Sensor 42
Cleaning your sensor on command 42
Cleaning your sensor manually 43
Modifying sensor cleaning 45
Keeping your sensor clean 47
Accessorizing Your Nikon D780 49
Nikon accessories 49
Third-party accessories 50
Video accessories 53
Keeping the Camera Body Clean 54
Chapter 4: Automatically Capturing Great Photographs 55
Ordering from Your Camera Menu 56
Using the multi selector 56
Using the keyboard 57
Using the menu 57
Taking Your First Picture 60
Choosing a Picture Control 63
Creating images with a Picture Control 65
Modifying a Picture Control 66
Creating a custom Picture Control 68
Saving and sharing custom Picture Controls 70
Understanding Exposure and Focal Length 72
Focusing on Your Subject 75
Focusing on an off-center subject 75
Focusing manually 76
Using the Self-Timer 77
Chapter 5: Specifying Image Size and Quality 79
Understanding Image Size and Quality 80
Specifying Image Format, Size, and Quality 81
Choosing an Image Area 85
Specifying a Bit Depth 88
Comparing Image Formats and File Sizes 90
Managing Image Files 92
Creating folders 92
Setting file numbering 94
Naming images 95
Chapter 6: Using the Tilting Monitor 97
Using the Playback i Menu 98
Reviewing Images and Movies 98
Enabling image review 98
Reviewing an image 99
Reviewing a movie 100
Choosing image display options 101
Using the histogram 102
Rotating vertical images 103
Setting image review options 104
Rating images and movies 105
Reviewing Images with Touch Controls 106
Setting up touch controls 106
Flicking through images 108
Changing the Brightness of the Tilting Monitor 110
Deleting Images 111
Protecting Images 112
Viewing Images as a Slide Show 113
Viewing Images on a TV Monitor 115
Introducing Live View 116
Part 2: Taking Control of Your Nikon D780 117
Chapter 7: Creating Images with Live View 119
Using Live View to Create Images 120
Choosing a Live View AF-Area Mode 121
Using the Live View Framing Grid 122
Using the Live View i Menu 123
Creating Pictures with Touch Controls 126
Making Live View Work for You 126
Displaying shooting information 127
Using zoom preview 128
Exploring other useful live view options 129
Chapter 8: Recording Movies with Live View 131
Making Movies with Your Camera 131
Recording movies 132
Displaying video shooting information 133
Using the movie i menu 134
Changing video dimensions and frame rate 135
Choosing the movie quality 137
Choosing the movie file format 138
Changing audio recording options 139
Choosing a Picture Control 141
Reducing flicker 142
Using Active D-Lighting 143
Making the Best Movies You Can 144
Chapter 9: Getting the Most from Your Camera 145
Shooting with Two Cards 145
Understanding Metering 147
Understanding how exposure works in the camera 147
Choosing a metering mode 148
Using the Still Photography i Menu 149
Choosing an Exposure Mode 152
Using programmed auto (P) mode 152
Using aperture-priority auto (A) mode 154
Using shutter-priority auto (S) mode 157
Using manual (M) mode 159
Introducing EFCT mode 160
Creating Long Exposures Using Manual Mode 161
Shooting long exposures 161
Enabling long-exposure noise reduction 163
Modifying Camera Exposure 164
Using exposure compensation 165
Bracketing exposure 166
Locking focus and exposure 167
Choosing a Shutter-Release Mode 168
Chapter 10: Using Advanced Camera Features 171
Leveling Your Images with the Viewfinder Virtual Horizon 171
Enabling the virtual horizon in the viewfinder 172
Using the virtual horizon when shooting in live view 173
Using the Fn Button 174
Tailoring Autofocus to Your Shooting Style 174
Choosing an autofocus mode 175
Choosing an AF-area mode 176
Using the AF-ON button for back-button focus 177
Shooting with a single autofocus point 179
Setting the ISO Sensitivity 180
Enabling auto ISO sensitivity control 181
Extending the ISO range 181
Enabling high ISO noise reduction 183
Using Auto Distortion Control 184
Using Wi-Fi 185
Enabling Wi-Fi 185
Uploading images via Wi-Fi 188
Using airplane mode 189
Using Bluetooth 190
Pairing with a remote device 191
Controlling your camera remotely with SnapBridge 193
Chapter 11: Shooting Like a Pro 195
Specifying the Color Space 196
Setting White Balance 197
Specifying color temperature 198
Creating a custom white balance 199
Bracketing white balance 200
Enabling Flicker Reduction 201
Creating a Multiple-Exposure Image 203
Shifting Focus 207
Retouching Images 210
Controlling Light with Flash 213
Using a flash unit 213
Choosing the flash mode 214
Using flash compensation 216
Bracketing flash 217
Part 3: Applying Your Skills 219
Chapter 12: Creating Special Effects and Other Delights 221
Creating Images Using EFCT Mode 222
Using the EFCT modes 223
Creating an EFCT image and a RAW negative 228
Creating special effects movies 229
Creating a Sequence of Images 230
Creating Slow-Motion Movies 230
Creating Dynamic Images with Active D-Lighting 233
Creating High Dynamic Range (HDR) Images 237
Creating an HDR image 238
Saving bracketed HDR images as RAW files 240
Creating a Time-Lapse Movie 241
Interval Shooting 243
Chapter 13: Honing Your Skills 247
Shooting Special Events: Birthdays, Weddings, and More 247
Setting the camera 248
Photographing the event 249
Photographing the Landscape 251
Setting the camera 252
Turning your lens on the landscape 253
Creating Portraits 256
Setting the camera 256
Creating a portrait 256
Capturing Sporting Events 258
Setting the camera 259
Capturing the event .260
Photographing Nature and Wildlife 261
Setting the camera 261
Capturing compelling images of nature and wildlife 262
Shooting Macro Photography 264
Setting the camera 265
Taking the picture 266
Part 4: The Part of Tens 269
Chapter 14: Ten Tips and Tricks 271
Creating Custom User Settings 272
Resetting Default User Settings 274
Creating a Custom Menu 275
Customizing Your Camera 276
Creating a Makeshift Tripod 278
Working with Adobe Lightroom Classic 279
Compiling Focus Shift Images in Adobe Photoshop 281
Adding Copyright Information and Author Name to the Camera 283
Using the Nikon Download Center 285
Getting Help 285
Chapter 15: Ten Ways to Create Pixel-Perfect Images 287
Enhancing Your Creativity 287
Composing Your Images 289
Being in the Moment 292
Practicing 'til Your Images Are Pixel-Perfect 292
Becoming a Student of Photography 293
Never Leaving Home without a Camera 294
Waiting for the Light 294
Defining Your Goals 295
Finding Your Center of Interest 295
Locating the Best Vantage Point 296
Thinking about What Else Is in the Picture 297
Index 299
