DIGITAL CAMERA User's Manual En Where to Find It Find what you're looking for from: i i i i i The Table of Contents The Q&A Index pp. viii­xiii Find items by function or menu name. pp. iv­vii Know what you want to do but don't know the function name? Find it from the "question and answer" index. The Index Error Messages pp. 276­278 Search by key word. pp. 255­257 If a warning is displayed in the control panel, viewfinder, or monitor, find the solution here. Troubleshooting pp. 250­254 Camera behaving unexpectedly? Find the solution here. A For Your Safety Before using the camera for the first time, read the safety instructions in "For Your Safety" (pg. xiv). Help Use the camera's on-board help feature for help on menu items and other topics. See page 21 for details. Digitutor "Digitutor", a series of "watch and learn" manuals in movie form, is available from the following website: http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html Package Contents Be sure all items listed here were included with your camera. Memory cards are sold separately. D90 digital camera Body cap (pg. 3) (pp. 3, 240) BM-10 LCD monitor DK-5 eyepiece cap cover (pg. 17) (pg. 17) EN-EL3e MH-18a quick AN-DC1 strap charger with power (pg. 17) rechargeable cable (pg. 22) Li-ion battery with terminal cover (pp. 22, 23) BS-1 accessory shoe cover (pg. 233) EG-D2 audio/video UC-E4 USB cable cable (pg. 146) (pp. 149, 151) Warranty User's Manual (this guide) Quick Guide (a guide for first-time users describing the basic steps involved in such tasks taking pictures, copying pictures to a computer, and printing pictures) Software Installation Guide Software Suite CD-ROM Registration card (U. S. A. only) i Symbols and Conventions To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols and conventions are used: D prevent damage to the camera. A camera. This icon marks cautions; information that should be read before use to This icon marks notes; information that should be read before using the Trademark Information Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks, or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The SD logo is a trademark of the SD Card Association. PictBridge and the SDHC logo are trademarks. HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. A ii X Introduction s Basic Photography and Playback h More on Photography (All Modes) t P, S, A, and M Modes I More on Playback Q Connections o The Playback Menu i The Shooting Menu L Custom Settings g The Setup Menu u The Retouch Menu w Recent Settings / v My Menu n Technical Notes iii Q&A Index Find what you're looking for using this "question and answer" index. New Features Question Can I use the monitor as a viewfinder? How do I shoot movies? Can I control how photos are processed? How do I preserve details in shadows and highlights? How do I keep the subject in focus when changing the composition? How do I remove dust from the low-pass filter protecting the image sensor? Key phrase Live view Recording movies Picture Controls Active D-Lighting 3D-tracking Clean Image Sensor See page 43 50 108 119 173 203 Frequently-Asked Questions Question How do I use the menus? How do I get more information on a menu? Can I get quick access to frequently-used settings? Can I get quick access to recently-used settings? What do these indicators mean? What does this warning mean? Key phrase Using the menus Help My Menu Recent settings Control panel, viewfinder Error messages and displays Number of exposures How many more shots can I take with this card? remaining How much charge does the battery have left? Battery level What does "exposure" mean and how does it work? Exposure What do I do with the viewfinder eyepiece cap? Self timer, remote control What optional flash units (Speedlights) can I use? Optional flash units What lenses can I use? Lenses What accessories are available for my camera? Accessories What memory cards can I use? Approved memory cards What software is available for my camera? Accessories Who can I ask to repair or inspect my camera? Servicing the camera How do I clean the camera or lens? Cleaning the camera See page 18 21 225 224 7, 9 255 35 34 79 66, 68 233 228 239 242 240 247 243 iv Camera Setup Question How do I stop parts of my photos from blinking? How do I focus the viewfinder? How do I keep the monitor from turning off? How do I set the clock? How do I set the clock for daylight saving time? How do I change time zones when I travel? How do I adjust monitor brightness? How do I restore default settings? How do I turn off the light on the front of the camera? Can I display a framing grid in the viewfinder? How do I view the control panel in the dark? How do I keep the shutter speed and aperture displays from turning off? How do I change the self timer delay? How do I change the remote delay? How do I keep the camera from beeping? Can I display the menus in a different language? How do I keep the file number from being reset when I insert a new memory card? How do I reset file numbering to 1? Key phrase Photo info, highlights Viewfinder focus Monitor off World time LCD brightness Two-button reset AF-assist illuminator Grid display LCD illuminator Auto meter off Self timer Remote control Beep Language File number sequence See page 131, 163 32 180 204 202 75 174 181 8, 196 35, 179 66, 179 68, 180 180 204 182 v Taking Photographs Question Is there an easy way to take snapshots? Is there an easy way to take more creative shots? Can I take pictures without the flash? How do I bring out a portrait subject? How can I get good landscape shots? How do I take close ups of small objects? How do I "freeze" a moving subject? Can I include night backgrounds in my portraits? How do I take a lot of photographs quickly? Can I shoot a self-portrait? Is there a remote control for this camera? How do I adjust exposure? How do I freeze or blur moving objects? How do I blur background details? Can I make photos brighter or darker? How do I make a time exposure? How do I use the flash? Can the flash fire automatically when needed? How do I keep the flash from firing? How do I prevent red eye? Can I control how the camera focuses? How do I focus on a moving subject? How do I choose where the camera focuses? Can I change the composition after focusing? Can I create a multiple exposure? How do I improve image quality? How do I take bigger photographs? How can I get more photos on the memory card? Can I take photos at a reduced size for e-mail? Key phrase See page Auto mode 34 Scene modes 41 j mode 34 Flash mode 71 ISO sensitivity 74 Portrait mode 41 Landscape mode 41 Close-up mode 42 Sports mode 42 Night portrait mode 42 Release mode 64 Self timer 66 Remote control 68 P, S, A, and M modes 78 Mode S (shutter-priority auto) 81 Mode A (aperture-priority 82 auto) Exposure compensation 90 Long time-exposures 85 Flash photography 70 Flash mode Red-eye reduction Autofocus Autofocus mode Focus point Focus lock Multiple exposure Image quality and size 70 71 54 54 56 57 121 62, 63 vi Viewing and Retouching Photographs Question Can I view my photographs on the camera? Can I view more information about photos? How do I get rid of an unwanted photo? Can I delete several photos at once? Can I zoom in on pictures to make sure they're in focus? Can I protect photos from accidental deletion? Is there an automatic playback ("slide show") option? Can I view my photos on TV? Can I view my photos in High Definition? How do I copy photos to my computer? How do I print photographs? Can I print photos without a computer? Can I print the date on my photographs? How do I order professional prints? How do I bring out details in shadows? Can I get rid of red eye? Can I crop photographs on the camera? Can I create a monochrome copy of a photograph? Can I create a copy with different colors? How do I adjust existing colors? Can I make a small copy of a photograph? Can I overlay two photos to make a single image? Can I use the camera to create JPEG copies of NEF (RAW) photographs? Is there a quick way to retouch photographs? Can I straighten photographs? How do I reduce distortion? Can I create the effect of a fisheye lens? Can I compare retouched copies with the originals? Key phrase Camera playback Photo info Deleting individual photos Delete Playback zoom Protect Pictmotion Slide show Television playback HDMI Connecting to a computer Printing photographs Printing via USB Time stamp, DPOF Print set (DPOF) D-Lighting Red-eye correction Trim Monochrome Filter effects Color balance Small picture Image overlay NEF (RAW) processing Quick retouch Straighten Distortion control Fisheye Side-by-side comparison See page 48, 128 129 49, 140, 162 162 138 139 141, 143 146 147 148 150 151 152, 155 157 212 212 213 214 215 216 216 218 220 221 221 222 222 223 vii Table of Contents Q&A Index ................................................................................................................................... iv For Your Safety ........................................................................................................................ xiv Notices........................................................................................................................................ xvi Introduction 1 Overview....................................................................................................................................... 2 Getting to Know the Camera................................................................................................. 3 The Camera Body ......................................................................................................................3 The Mode Dial.............................................................................................................................6 The Control Panel......................................................................................................................7 The Viewfinder............................................................................................................................9 The Shooting Information Display ................................................................................... 10 The Command Dials .............................................................................................................. 13 Attaching the AN-DC1 Camera Strap.............................................................................. 17 The BM-10 Monitor Cover ................................................................................................... 17 The DK-21 Viewfinder Eyepiece Cup............................................................................... 17 Camera Menus..........................................................................................................................18 Using Camera Menus ............................................................................................................ 19 Help ............................................................................................................................................. 21 First Steps ...................................................................................................................................22 Charge the Battery ................................................................................................................. 22 Insert the Battery .................................................................................................................... 23 Attach a Lens............................................................................................................................ 25 Basic Setup................................................................................................................................ 27 Inserting Memory Cards....................................................................................................... 29 Adjust Viewfinder Focus ...................................................................................................... 32 Basic Photography and Playback 33 "Point-and-Shoot" Photography (i and j Modes)...................................................34 Step 1: Turn the Camera On................................................................................................ 34 Step 2: Choose Shooting and Focus Modes ................................................................. 36 Step 3: Check Camera Settings.................................................................. ...