Nikon D780 Reference guide

DIGITAL CAMERA

Reference Manual

En

• Read this manual thoroughly before using the camera.

• To ensure proper use of the camera, be sure to read

“For Your Safety” (page xxxviii).

• After reading this manual, keep it in a readily accessible

place for future reference.

ii

Be sure all items listed here were included with your camera.

•

Memory cards are sold separately.

•

Purchasers of the lens kit option should confirm that the

package also includes a lens (manuals for the lens may also be

provided).

D780 Model Name: N1722

Package Contents

❏

Camera

❏

BF-1B body cap

❏

DK-31 rubber eyecup

(comes attached to

camera)

❏

EN-EL15b rechargeable

Li-ion battery with terminal

cover

❏

MH-25a battery charger

(comes with either an AC

wall adapter or power

cable of a type and shape

that varies with the country

or region of sale)

❏

DK-5 eyepiece cap

❏

UC-E24 USB cable

❏

AN-DC21 strap

❏

Warranty

❏

User’s Manual

iii

D

The Nikon Download Center

Visit the Nikon download center to download firmware

updates, ViewNX-i and other Nikon software, and manuals

for Nikon products including cameras, NIKKOR lenses, and

flash units.

https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/

iv

❚❚

Symbols

The following symbols and conventions are employed in this

manual. Use them to help locate the information you need.

❚❚

Conventions

•

This camera uses SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards, referred

to throughout this manual as “memory cards”.

•

Throughout this manual, battery chargers are referred to as

“battery chargers” or “chargers”.

•

Throughout this manual, smartphones and tablets are referred

to as “smart devices”.

•

Throughout this manual, the term “default settings” is used to

refer to the settings in effect at shipment. The explanations in

this manual assume that default settings are used.

A

For Your Safety

“For Your Safety” contains important safety instructions. Be sure to read

them before using the camera. For more information, see “For Your

Safety” (

0

xxxviii).

About This Manual

D

This icon marks notes, information that should be read before

using this product.

A

This icon marks tips, additional information you may find helpful

when using this product.

0

This icon marks references to other sections in this manual.

v

Package Contents ................................................................................... ii

About This Manual................................................................................. iv

Menu List.............................................................................................. xxxii

For Your Safety............................................................................... xxxviii

Notices .................................................................................................... xliv

Getting to Know the Camera 1

Parts of the Camera ................................................................................ 1

Camera Body...................................................................... 1

The Power Switch............................................................. 7

The Control Panel............................................................. 8

The Viewfinder .................................................................. 9

The Live View Displays (Photos/Movies)................ 12

Touch Controls................................................................ 14

First Steps 21

Readying the Camera .......................................................................... 21

Attaching the Strap ....................................................... 21

Charging the Battery..................................................... 22

Inserting the Battery...................................................... 24

Attaching a Lens ............................................................. 25

Inserting Memory Cards............................................... 27

Camera Setup .................................................................. 30

Table of Contents

vi

The Battery Level and Number of Exposures Remaining ....... 33

Battery Level..................................................................... 33

Memory Card Indicators and

Number of Exposures Remaining ........................ 34

Basic Photography and Playback 36

Taking Photographs (

b

Mode)........................................................ 36

Framing Photographs in the Viewfinder

(Viewfinder Photography) ...................................... 36

Framing Photographs in the Monitor

(Live View) .................................................................... 40

Recording Movies (

b

Mode)............................................................. 45

Taking Photos During Filming................................... 50

Playback.................................................................................................... 51

Viewing Movies............................................................... 53

Deleting Unwanted Pictures ...................................... 56

Camera Controls 57

The

G

Button ..................................................................................... 57

Using the Menus............................................................. 58

The

i

Button (the

i

Menu) ................................................................ 63

The Still Photography

i

Menu................................... 65

The Movie

i

Menu ......................................................... 66

The Playback

i

Menu.................................................... 67

vii

The

R

Button......................................................................................... 68

Viewfinder Photography............................................. 68

Live View Photography................................................ 69

The Mode Dial........................................................................................ 71

Using the Mode Dial ..................................................... 72

The Release Mode Dial........................................................................ 73

Choosing a Release Mode........................................... 73

The Focus-Mode Selector .................................................................. 75

The AF-Mode Button ........................................................................... 76

Choosing an AF Mode.................................................. 77

Choosing an AF-Area Mode....................................... 78

The AF-ON Button ................................................................................ 82

The

A

Button ......................................................................................... 82

Exposure (AE) Lock........................................................ 83

Focus Lock........................................................................ 83

Locking Focus and Exposure..................................... 83

The

Q

/

g

(

U

) Button ....................................................................... 86

Adjusting White Balance............................................. 86

The

S

(

Q

) Button............................................................................ 91

Adjusting ISO Sensitivity............................................. 91

Enabling Auto ISO Sensitivity Control.................... 93

viii

The

E

Button .......................................................................................... 94

Adjusting Exposure Compensation......................... 94

The

X

(

T

) Button ........................................................................... 95

Adjusting Image Quality.............................................. 95

Choosing an Image Size............................................... 97

The

W

(

Y

) Button ............................................................................... 99

Choosing a Metering Option ..................................... 99

The

N

(

Y

) Button.............................................................................. 101

Choosing a Flash Mode............................................. 101

Adjusting Flash Compensation.............................. 103

The BKT Button ................................................................................... 104

The Pv Button ...................................................................................... 105

The Fn Button...................................................................................... 106

Shooting Settings 107

Choosing a Shooting Mode............................................................ 107

Shooting in Modes P, S, A, and M.......................... 109

User Settings: U1 and U2 Modes ........................... 115

Using Special Effects Modes.................................... 119

Image Recording Options (Image Area, Quality,

and Size)............................................................................................ 129

Adjusting Image Area Settings............................... 129

Adjusting Image Quality........................................... 134

Choosing an Image Size............................................ 137

ix

Choosing How the Camera Focuses (Focus) ............................ 139

Choosing a Focus Mode............................................ 139

Autofocus Mode........................................................... 140

AF-Area Mode ............................................................... 145

Focus Point Selection................................................. 159

Manual Focus ................................................................ 162

Exposure-Related Settings (Metering and

Exposure Compensation)............................................................ 166

Choosing How the Camera Sets Exposure ......... 166

Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only).................. 170

Autoexposure Lock ..................................................... 173

Exposure Compensation........................................... 175

Choosing the Operation Performed When the Shutter Is

Released (Release Mode)............................................................. 178

Choosing a Release Mode Such as Single-Frame,

Continuous, or Quiet Shutter-Release............. 178

Self-Timer Mode (

E

) ................................................... 183

Mirror up Mode (Mup) ............................................... 185

Adjusting the Camera’s Sensitivity to Light

(ISO Sensitivity) ............................................................................... 187

ISO Sensitivity................................................................ 187

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control..................................... 190

x

Achieving Natural Colors with Different Light Sources

(White Balance)............................................................................... 195

White Balance............................................................... 195

Fine-Tuning White Balance...................................... 200

Choosing a Color Temperature.............................. 204

Preset Manual ............................................................... 209

Varying Exposure or White Balance over a Series of

Photographs (Bracketing)........................................................... 224

Bracketing ...................................................................... 225

Exposure and Flash Bracketing .............................. 226

White Balance Bracketing ........................................ 232

ADL Bracketing............................................................. 238

Image Processing (Picture Controls) ........................................... 243

Selecting a Picture Control ...................................... 243

Modifying Picture Controls...................................... 245

Creating Custom Picture Controls ........................ 250

Preserving Detail in Highlights and Shadows

(Active D-Lighting and HDR) ..................................................... 254

Active D-Lighting ........................................................ 254

High Dynamic Range (HDR)..................................... 256

xi

Options for Movie Recording and Editing 262

Image Area: Choosing a Movie Crop ........................................... 262

Frame Size/Frame Rate and Movie Quality ............................... 264

Slow-Motion Movies.......................................................................... 266

Points to Note When Recording Movies .................................... 268

Editing Movies ..................................................................................... 271

Trimming Movies......................................................... 272

Saving Selected Frames............................................. 277

Adding Indices to Movies ......................................... 278

Other Shooting Options 279

Using Two Memory Cards................................................................ 279

Deleting Copies ............................................................ 281

Two-Button Reset: Restoring Default Settings......................... 282

Settings Accessible from the Photo Shooting

Menu............................................................................ 282

Settings Accessible from the Movie Shooting

Menu............................................................................ 284

Other Settings............................................................... 285

xii

Combining Multiple Exposures in a Single Photo

(Multiple Exposure)....................................................................... 287

Multiple Exposure Options ...................................... 287

Creating a Multiple Exposure.................................. 290

Using the

i

Button...................................................... 296

Ending Multiple Exposures ...................................... 297

Taking Photos at a Set Interval (Interval Timer Shooting)... 298

Interval Timer Shooting Options ........................... 298

Interval-Timer Photography.................................... 303

Pausing Interval-Timer Photography................... 312

Resuming Interval-Timer Photography............... 313

Ending Interval-Timer Photography..................... 314

Creating a Movie from Photos (Time-Lapse Movie) .............. 315

Time-Lapse Movie Options...................................... 315

Recording Time-Lapse Movies ............................... 318

Varying Focus over a Series of Photos (Focus Shift

Shooting).......................................................................................... 328

Focus Shift Shooting Options ................................. 329

Focus-Shift Photography.......................................... 331

The Electronic Shutter (Silent Live View Photography) ....... 340

Photographing Film Negatives (Negative Digitizer) ............. 343

Customizing the

i

Menu: Customize

i

Menu....................... 347

xiii

Using Non-CPU Lenses (Non-CPU Lens Data) .......................... 349

Entering Lens Data ...................................................... 351

Recalling Non-CPU Lens Data ................................. 352

Playback 353

Viewing Pictures.................................................................................. 353

Full-Frame Playback.................................................... 353

Thumbnail Playback ................................................... 354

Calendar Playback ....................................................... 355

Playback Controls ........................................................ 356

Using the Touch Screen............................................. 358

The

i

Button.................................................................. 361

Photo Information.............................................................................. 366

File Information ............................................................ 367

Exposure Data............................................................... 368

Highlights ....................................................................... 368

RGB Histogram.............................................................. 369

Shooting Data ............................................................... 371

Location Data ................................................................ 373

Overview Data .............................................................. 374

Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom......................................... 376

Playback Zoom ............................................................. 376

Protecting Photographs from Deletion...................................... 378

Rating Pictures..................................................................................... 380

xiv

Selecting Pictures for Upload ........................................................ 381

Deleting Pictures ................................................................................ 383

During Playback........................................................... 383

The Playback Menu..................................................... 385

Connecting to Computers and TVs 389

Connecting to Computers .............................................................. 389

Connecting via USB .................................................... 389

Wireless Networks (Wi-Fi)......................................... 394

Connecting to HDMI Devices......................................................... 396

Connecting to HDMI TVs .......................................... 397

Connecting to HDMI Recorders ............................. 397

Network Connections 402

Camera and Network System Chart ............................................ 402

Connecting to Smart Devices ........................................................ 403

The SnapBridge App .................................................. 403

What SnapBridge Can Do for You ......................... 404

Wireless Connections................................................. 405

Connecting via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Mode) ....................... 406

Connecting via Bluetooth ........................................ 415

xv

Connecting to Computers via Wi-Fi............................................. 430

What Wi-Fi Can Do for You....................................... 430

The Wireless Transmitter Utility.............................. 430

Infrastructure and Access-Point Modes............... 431

Connecting in Access-Point Mode ........................ 433

Connecting in Infrastructure Mode....................... 439

Uploading Pictures...................................................... 447

Disconnecting and Reconnecting ......................... 451

Connecting to Networks Using the WT-7 .................................. 453

The WT-7 ......................................................................... 453

What the WT-7 Can Do for You............................... 454

Connecting Using the WT-7..................................... 456

Troubleshooting Wireless Issues................................................... 457

On-Camera Flash Photography 459

“On-Camera” Versus “Remote” ...................................................... 459

Camera-Mounted Flash Units.................................. 459

Remote Flash Photography ..................................... 459

Using an On-Camera Flash.............................................................. 460

Flash Control Mode............................................................................ 463

Flash Modes.......................................................................................... 465

Choosing a Flash Mode ............................................. 468

xvi

Flash Compensation ......................................................................... 469

Adjusting Flash Compensation.............................. 470

FV Lock................................................................................................... 471

Flash Info for On-Camera Units..................................................... 474

Flash Control Mode Displays................................... 474

Remote Flash Photography 477

What Is Remote Flash Photography?.......................................... 477

Using Remote Flash Units ........................................ 478

Radio AWL............................................................................................. 479

Establishing a Wireless Connection...................... 479

Adjusting Flash Settings ........................................... 484

Adding a Shoe-Mounted Flash Unit ..................... 493

Optical AWL.......................................................................................... 494

Using Optical AWL with the SB-5000 or

SB-500 ......................................................................... 495

Optical/Radio AWL............................................................................. 506

Flash Info for Remote Units ............................................................ 507

Flash Control Mode Displays................................... 507

xvii

Menu Guide 511

Defaults .................................................................................................. 511

Playback Menu Defaults............................................ 511

Photo Shooting Menu Defaults.............................. 512

Movie Shooting Menu Defaults.............................. 516

Custom Settings Menu Defaults............................. 518

Setup Menu Defaults.................................................. 524

D

The Playback Menu: Managing Images................................ 529

Delete ...............................................................................................530

Playback Folder.............................................................................530

Playback Display Options..........................................................531

Copy Image(s)................................................................................532

Copying Pictures.......................................................... 533

Image Review ................................................................................538

After Delete ....................................................................................539

Rotate Tall.......................................................................................540

Slide Show ......................................................................................540

Viewing Slide Shows................................................... 541

Rating ...............................................................................................543

xviii

C

The Photo Shooting Menu: Shooting Options.................. 544

Reset Photo Shooting Menu.................................................... 545

Storage Folder .............................................................................. 545

Renaming Folders ....................................................... 545

Select Folder by Number.......................................... 546

Select Folder from List............................................... 548

File Naming.................................................................................... 550

Role Played by Card in Slot 2................................................... 551

Image Area..................................................................................... 551

Image Quality................................................................................ 551

Image Size ...................................................................................... 551

NEF (RAW) Recording................................................................. 552

NEF (RAW) Compression........................................... 552

NEF (RAW) Bit Depth .................................................. 552

ISO Sensitivity Settings.............................................................. 553

White Balance ............................................................................... 553

Set Picture Control ...................................................................... 553

Manage Picture Control ............................................................ 554

Color Space.................................................................................... 554

Active D-Lighting......................................................................... 555

xix

Long Exposure NR........................................................................556

High ISO NR....................................................................................557

Vignette Control...........................................................................558

Diffraction Compensation ........................................................559

Auto Distortion Control .............................................................560

Flicker Reduction..........................................................................561

Flash Control..................................................................................563

Flash Control Mode..................................................... 564

Wireless Flash Options............................................... 565

Remote Flash Control................................................. 566

Radio Remote Flash Info............................................ 566

Auto Bracketing............................................................................567

Multiple Exposure........................................................................569

HDR (High Dynamic Range) .....................................................569

Interval Timer Shooting.............................................................569

Time-Lapse Movie........................................................................570

Focus Shift Shooting...................................................................570

Silent Live View Photography .................................................570

xx

1

The Movie Shooting Menu: Movie Shooting Options..... 571

Reset Movie Shooting Menu ................................................... 572

File Naming.................................................................................... 572

Destination .................................................................................... 572

Image Area..................................................................................... 573

Auto DX Crop................................................................ 573

Frame Size/Frame Rate.............................................................. 573

Movie Quality................................................................................ 574

Movie File Type ............................................................................ 574

ISO Sensitivity Settings.............................................................. 575

White Balance ............................................................................... 576

Set Picture Control ...................................................................... 577

Manage Picture Control ............................................................ 577

Active D-Lighting......................................................................... 577

High ISO NR ................................................................................... 578

Diffraction Compensation........................................................ 578

Flicker Reduction ......................................................................... 579

Electronic VR.................................................................................. 580

Microphone Sensitivity.............................................................. 581

Attenuator...................................................................................... 582

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Nikon D780 Reference guide

Nikon D780 Reference guide

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