Camera Support: Nikon D7000

Camera Support: Nikon D7000

TUTORIAL VIDEO

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/basics/04/04.htm

When it comes to using any equipment, I always like a thorough understanding of all the buttons and operations of them. I've used cameras, especially DSLRs a lot in the last 3 years of my life, using them during my A-level film studies course, numerous film workshops and when I worked as a full-time technician for the film and media department in my gap year at my local secondary school. Also, my sister tends to let me borrow her Nikon D40X which I have used a lot this term to take photos in my reading week in the Canary Islands. 

However, I've never used the Nikon D7000 nor do I have the most through understanding of all the modes and settings in terms of how to alternate between them and what they're best suited to use, therefore I've used references from the guides given on Study Direct to make a blog of some of the aspects I need to remember most. Most of this blog is copied from http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000/users-guide/controls.htm 

Exposure Modes

P: Professional Automatic Exposure Mode

I use "P," Professional, automatic exposure mode, formerly called "program" back in the 1980s. In this mode the camera chooses the f/stop and shutter speed for you. Done.

The standard combinations are f/4 at 1/60, f/5.6 @ 1/125, f/8 @ 1/250, f/11 @ 1/500, and so forth.

It's easy to get to any aperture or shutter speed you prefer in this mode: simply move the rear dial to shift them! This selects alternate combinations of f/stops and shutter speeds, all of which give exactly the same exposure. Nikon calls this "Program Shift." A *P symbol appears on the top LCD and the rear INFO screen when you've shifted the program.

A shifted combination of settings might use f/4 @ 1/1,000, f/5.6 @ 1/500, or might use f/4 @ 1/2, f/5.6 @ 1 sec, etc. Don't worry, just flick the rear dial until you get the combination you prefer.

Easy ways to return to the standard program combination are to:

1.) Flip to a different mode and back to P, or

2.) Turn the D7000 off and back on, or

3.) Flick the rear dial the same number of clicks back to the original position. The P*symbol goes away when you've returned to the standard combinations.

A, S and M Modes

These modes let you choose a deliberate aperture or shutter speed, or both. I rarely, if ever use these older modes.

In A or S, the camera will automatically pick the other value. I never use these; I shift the program instead.

If you want to set both the hard way, use M, manual, mode.

In A or S mode you can only set one of the two values, because the camera is setting the other one for you.

A Mode: Aperture Priority

In A mode you choose the Aperture, and the D7000 chooses the shutter speed.

S Mode: Shutter Priority

In S mode you set the Shutter, and the D7000 sets the aperture.

If the D7000 runs out of available apertures, you easily can get under or over exposure in S mode: watch that the D7000 can select a correct aperture for your lighting.

M Mode: Manual Exposure

In Manual mode, you have to set everything the hard way.

No one uses this mode except in complex conditions where we need the exposure to stay the same regardless of changes in lignting. Ignore old-timers who tell you you need Manual mode; they say that because that's the only mode cameras had back in the 1950s.

I look at the LCD to check exposure after I shoot a picture. You can use the bar graph in the finder - but why? If you wanted to do that, use another mode and let the D7000 do the setting for you.

The rear dial sets the shutter speed in manual exposure.

The front dial sets the lens aperture in manual exposure.

Firmware Defect: When turned ON, Auto ISO remains active in Manual mode. I always turn off AUTO ISO when I enter Manual Mode, otherwise Auto ISO changes the ISO and ruins whatever you were hoping to accomplish with manual exposure mode.

Exposure Modes for Nikon D40X