Nikon Digital Camera Settings

Many people experience problems with digital photography because they overlooked the set-up of their camera's custom functions which will affect the output from their camera. These settings are my personal preferences and opinions only and serve as a suggested baseline set-up for the different Nikon Cameras I have used. They are not authorized by Nikon in any way and your experiences and opinions may differ.

Please Note: These settings are subject to change with firmware upgrades that Nikon produces for their cameras the settings below assume you have the latest firmware loaded in your camera.

Every Nikon Camera has the following basic set up menus.

Playback Menu – Manages options for storing images on memory cards and image playback

Shooting Menu – Contains advanced shooting options

Custom Settings Menu – CSM controls the fine details of camera controls

Setup Menu – Contains the Basic Camera setup operations

Recent Settings Menu - Which shows the last eight settings the user has changed. Note: Only some of the Pro Cameras have this additional menu.

Nikon D2X - Nikon D2Hs - Nikon D200 - Nikon D80 - Nikon D40 - Nikon D70s - Nikon D50
D70s Wireless Flash Set-Up - Set-Up for older Nikon DSLRS - Nikon Software

Nikon D2X
Playback Menu
Setting
Display Mode
Set to Data, Histogram and RGB Histogram
Image Review
Normally - I leave this off
Rotate Tall
I leave this off
Shooting Menu
Setting
File Naming
I have this set to my initials
Image Quality
NEF+JPEG Fine
Image Size
Large
Hi-Speed Crop
Normally off unless I want 7fps and a 2x field of view factor for my D2X
JPEG Compression
Optimal Quality
RAW Compression
On
White Balance
White Balance Auto, Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
Long Exposure NR
Off unless I am shooting 1/2 second or longer exposures
High ISO NR
Off
ISO
100 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Image Sharpening
Set to None (I prefer to do this in two steps in Photoshop, one to compensate for the Lo Pass Filter and the other depending on the output size)
Tone Compensation
Set to Less contrast
Color Space
AdobeRGB
Color Mode
Mode II but if shooting portraits I will use Mode I (Remember these are color looks)
Custom Settings Menu
Setting
Controls - f7 No CF Card?
On
Set-Up Menu
Setting
Image Comment
Set to ON with "(C) Nick Didlick 2007"
Auto Image Rotation
Set to ON
Recent Settings
Setting
N/A
Displays the last 8 settings you have set-up


Nikon D2Hs
Playback Menu
Setting
Display Mode
Set to Data, Histogram and RGB Histogram
Image Review
Normally - I leave this off
Rotate Tall
I leave this off
Shooting Menu
Setting
File Naming
I have this set to my initials
Image Quality
NEF+JPEG Fine
Image Size
Large
JPEG Compression
Optimal Quality
RAW Compression
On
White Balance
White Balance Cloudy, Auto, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
Long Exposure NR
Off unless I am shooting 1/2 second or longer exposures
ISO
200 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Image Sharpening
Set to None (I prefer to do this in two steps in Photoshop, one to compensate for the Lo Pass Filter and the other depending on the output size)
Tone Compensation
Set to Less contrast
Color Mode
AdobeRGB Mode II
Custom Settings Menu
Setting
ISO Auto - b1
Set to Off
Controls - f7 No CF Card?
On
Set-Up Menu
Setting
Image Comment
Set to ON with "(C) Nick Didlick 2007"
Auto Image Rotation
Set to ON


Nikon D200
Playback Menu
Setting
Display Mode
Set to Data, Histogram and RGB Histogram
Image Review
Normally - I leave this off
Rotate Tall
I leave this off
Shooting Menu
Setting
File Naming
I have this set to my initials
Optimize Image* Custom and follow these next three settings*
Image Sharpening* Set to None (I prefer to do this in two steps in Photoshop, one to compensate for the Lo Pass Filter and the other depending on the output size). Otherwise I set my cameras to normal.
Tone Compensation* Set to Less contrast or normal
Color Mode* Mode II but if shooting portraits I will use Mode I (Remember these are color looks)
Color Space Adobe RGB
Image Quality
NEF+JPEG Fine
Image Size
Large 10m
JPEG Compression
Optimal Quality
RAW Compression
On
White Balance
White Balance Sunny, Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
Long Exposure NR
Off unless I am shooting 1/2 second or longer exposures
High ISO NR
Off
ISO
100 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Custom Settings Menu
Setting
Controls - f7 No CF Card?
On (Lock)
Set-Up Menu
Setting
Image Comment
Set to ON with "(C) Nick Didlick 2007"
Auto Image Rotation
Set to ON
Recent Settings
Setting
N/A
Displays the last 8 settings you have set-up


Nikon D80
Playback Menu
 Setting
Rotate Tall
Normally set to OFF
Shooting Menu
 Setting
Optimize Image (Normal)
NORMAL (Unless I want the advanced settings see the frame below)
Optimize Image (Advanced)
CUSTOM and then the following settings
Sharpening
NORMAL
Tone Comensation
Medium Low
Color Mode
Adobe RGB
Long Exposure NR
OFF unless I am shooting 1/2 second or longer exposures
Image Quality
Normally set to JPEG or NEF+JPEG Basic
Image Size
Large
White Balance
White Balance Sunny, Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
ISO
Set to 200 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Custom Settings Menu
 Setting
No CF Card? - 05
Set to LOCK
ISO Auto - 06
Set to OFF
Image Review - 07
Normally - I leave this OFF
Grid Display - 08
ON
Flash Mode - 22
Normally I leave this to TTL unless I want to use a remote flash in Commander mode see below
Set-Up Menu
 Setting
CSM Menu
Set to Detailed
Image Comment
Set to ON with "(C) Nick Didlick 2007"
Auto Image Rotation
Set to ON


Nikon D40
Playback Menu
 Setting
Rotate Tall
Normally set to OFF
Shooting Menu
 Setting
Optimize Image (Normal)
NORMAL (Unless I want the advanced settings see the frame below)
Optimize Image (Advanced)
CUSTOM and then the following settings
Sharpening
NORMAL
Tone Comensation
Set to Medium Low
Color Mode
Adobe RGB
Image Quality
Normally set to JPEG Fine or NEF+JPEG Basic
Image Size
Large
White Balance
White Balance Sunny, Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
ISO
Set to 200 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Custom Settings Menu
 Setting
No SD Card? - 06
Set to LOCK
Image Review - 07
Normally - I leave this OFF
Set-Up Menu
 Setting
CSM Menu
Set to Full
Image Comment
Set to ON with "(C) Nick Didlick 2007"
Auto Image Rotation
Set to ON


Nikon D70s
Playback Menu
 Setting
Rotate Tall
Normally set to OFF
Shooting Menu
 Setting
Optimize Image (Normal)
NORMAL (Unless I want the advanced settings see the frame below)
Optimize Image (Advanced)
CUSTOM and then the following settings
Sharpening
NORMAL
Tone Comensation
Medium Low
Color Mode
Adobe RGB
Long Exposure NR
OFF unless I am shooting 1/2 second or longer exposures
Image Quality
Normally set to JPEG or NEF+JPEG Basic
Image Size
Large
White Balance
White Balance Auto, Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
ISO
Set to 200 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Custom Settings Menu
 Setting
ISO Auto - 05
Set to OFF
No CF Card? - 06
Set to LOCK
Image Review - 07
Normally - I leave this OFF
Grid Display - 08
ON
Flash Mode - 19
Normally I leave this to TTL unless I want to use a remote flash in Commander mode see below
Set-Up Menu
 Setting
CSM Menu
Set to Detailed
Image Comment
Set to ON with my three intials
Image Rotation
Set to ON


Nikon D50
Playback Menu
 Setting
Rotate Tall
Normally set to OFF
Shooting Menu
 Setting
Optimize Image (Normal)
NORMAL (Unless I want the advanced settings see the frame below)
Optimize Image (Advanced)
CUSTOM and then the following settings
Sharpening
NORMAL
Tone Comensation
Set to Medium Low
Color Mode
Adobe RGB
Long Exposure NR
OFF unless I am shooting 1/2 second or longer exposures
Image Quality
Normally set to JPEG or NEF+JPEG Basic
Image Size
Large
White Balance
White Balance Auto, Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset.
ISO
Set to 200 ISO (Unless I need to make the chip more sensitive to light)
Custom Settings Menu
 Setting
No SD Card? - 04
Set to LOCK
Image Review - 05
Normally - I leave this OFF
Set-Up Menu
 Setting
CSM Menu
Set to Detailed
Image Comment
Set to ON with my three intials
Image Rotation
Set to ON


Nikon Wireless TTL Flash

Setting up for wireless flash operation with Nikon D200, D80, D70

On the D70 Press MENU

Highlight CUSTOM FUNCTION, then enter

Highlight COMMANDER MODE, then enter

Highlight TTL, then enter

Press MENU twice to exit

Notes:

Wireless flash doesn’t work in vari-program modes. But it does work in the P, S, A or M. And don’t forget to switch back out of  Commander Mode to TTL when you are done shooting. The flash now needs to be set to CHANNEL 3/GROUP A to communicate with the camera.

Setting the Nikon SB-600 Flash as a remote flash for the D200, D80, D70

With the Flash on press and hold the ZOOM and the “-“

Press either the ZOOM or MODE button to select ON

Press and hold the ZOOM and the “-“

Press MODE and select CH 3 using the “+/-“

Press Mode and select GROUP A using the “+/-“

Notes: Reverse steps and highlight OFF to return to normal TTL operation

Setting the Nikon SB-800 Flash as a remote flash for the D200, D80, D70

With the unit on, press and hold the “SEL” (in the center)

Press “SEL”, this should highlight a box on the left

Using the “-“ scroll down to the highlight REMOTE

Press and hold SEL, unit in remote mode

Press SEL, and select CH 3

Press SEL, and select Group A

Notes: Reverse steps and highlight OFF to return to normal TTL operation

Using the SB-800 in Commander iTTL Mode with a D2 Series Cameras

The D2H should be set to Commander Mode and the on camera flash should be activated.

Flash will be set in CH 1 and Group C


Older Nikon DSLR Models

Nikon D1X

Playback Menu

- Display Mode set to display Histogram

Shooting Menu

- Image Quality - JPEG Fine or NEF depending on the assignment.

- Resolution - Large
- White Balance - Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset, (Occasionally I will use Auto White Balance in outdoors). I use others but start and learn these and then move on.

- ISO - 200 ISO unless there is a reason to change it.

Custom Settings Menu

F23 - Image Sharpening - Low)
F24 - Tone Compensation - Less Contrast
F27 – Display Mode – Histogram

F28 – NEF (RAW) Image Save – Uncompressed

F32 – Color Mode II (Adobe RGB)

F34 – No CF Card? - On

Setup Menu

- Date set to the current Date and Time

- LCD Brightness set to 3

- Date set to the current Date and Time

Nikon D100

Playback Menu

- Display Mode set to display Histogram

Shooting Menu

- Image Quality - JPEG Fine or NEF depending on the assignment.

- Resolution – Large

- White Balance - Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset, (Occasionally I will use Auto White Balance in outdoors). I use others but start and learn these and then move on.

- ISO - 200 ISO unless there is a reason to change it.

- Image Sharpening – Normal or Auto
- Tone Compensation - Less Contrast

- Color Mode II (Adobe RGB)

Custom Settings Menu

2 - No CF Card – On

3 - ISO Auto - Off
4 - Long Exposure NR - Off until I get to 1/2 second exposures

Setup Menu

         - LCD Brightness set to 0

- Date set to the current Date and Time

Nikon D1H

Playback Menu

- Display Mode set to display Histogram

Shooting Menu

- Image Quality - JPEG Fine or NEF depending on the assignment.

- White Balance - Cloudy, Incandescent or Custom Preset, (Occasionally I will use Auto White Balance in outdoors). I use others but start and learn these and then move on.

- ISO - 200 ISO unless there is a reason to change it.

Custom Settings Menu

F23 - Image Sharpening - Low)
F24 - Tone Compensation - Less Contrast
F27 – Display Mode – Histogram

F28 – NEF (RAW) Image Save – Uncompressed

F32 – Color Mode II (Adobe RGB)

F34 – No CF Card? - On

Setup Menu

- Date set to the current Date and Time

- LCD Brightness set to 3

Nikon D1

(Shoots only in NTSC Color Mode)

The Nikon D1 has a completely different way of choosing the menus. Please refer to your instruction manual for details on selecting and setting these menus.

Function # - Setting # - Description of Setting

0-A - Custom Set - A

1-2 - Image Status - Record and Review Enabled

2-3 - EV Steps - 1/3 stops

3-0 - Bracketing - Default

4-0 - AutoFocus activation - Shutter Release

5-0 - Anti-Vibration mode - disabled

6-0 - Focus area selection - default

7-1 - AE Lock via shutter release

8-0 - Mirror down position

9-1 - Single Servo AF closest subject - disabled

10-1 - Continuous Servo AF closest subject - disabled

11-AS - Auto Exposure Bracketing - Flash and Auto Exposure

12-0 - Cmd Dial Functions - default

13-0 - Exposure Compensation settings - default

14-8 - Center Weighted Metering - 8mm

15-8 - Time Delay meter off - 8 seconds

16-10 - Self Timer duration - 10 seconds

17-0 - LCD Illumination - Switch

18-0 - LCD Monitor auto power off - 20 seconds

19-1 - Aperture setting during zoom - Fixed

20-0 - Self Timer Indicator - disabled

21-0 - AE/AF Lock button - Locks AE/AF

22-0 - Aperture Selection - Sub Cmd Dial

23-3 - Sharpening - None

24-1 - Tone Compensation - Normal

25-CH - Shooting Speed - 4.5 fps

26-21 - Max number of shots - 21 Shots

27-0 - LCD Monitor Display Image Only

28-0 - Save RAW Images - Not Available

29-1 - Auto File numbering - default

30-C - Shooting PC Mode - continuous

31-0 - Sensitivity up - disabled