Innholdsfortegnelse for The Nikon Camera Book 5th Edition i The Nikon Camera Book

Photography is one of the most popular pastimes in the world, and with Nikon leading the way in terms of technology and innovation, it’s no wonder that its cameras are trusted by so many photographers. Although many other brands try to nibble at the market share, year on year Nikon remains a heavyweight contender, with a catalogue of cameras ranging from point-and-shoot compacts to professional DSLRs, so you can find the right camera. The Nikon Camera Book is the ultimate guide to getting the most from your Nikon, and in this Fifth Edition, we will show you everything you need to know about your model. From the newest cameras and lenses on the market, to the accessories that’ll make your life easier, you’ll discover which one suits your needs best.…

SRP: £2,399/$3,300 (body only) As the successor to the best selling D800 and D800E, the Nikon D810 is hyped on highend specs ideal for serious shooters, and the camera takes its place as the high resolution option in the Nikon DSLR lineup. It features a 36.3MP FXformat CMOS sensor without an Optical Low Pass Filter for particularly sharp and detailed still imaging. With the addition of the EXPEED 4 Image Processor, performance speed is increased compared to the EXPEED 3 and noise is effectively reduced. The D810’s ISO range starts at ISO 64 for cleaner, better-defined images. You can shoot at up to ISO 12800, or extend the range from 32 to 51200 ISO (equivalent). The level of detail and sharpness, the wide dynamic range and rich tonality in nearly…

SRP: £1,269/$2,000 (body only) Within a few months of the D600’s launch, a number of users began reporting that marks appeared at the edges of their images. After investigation it became apparent that the D600’s shutter mechanism was faulty. As a result, the early D610 upgrade was announced. On the surface, it’s hard to distinguish the D610 from its predecessor and few changes were made. The D610’s new shutter does offer 6fps high-speed shooting, as opposed to 5.5fps, and there’s an all-new Quiet Continuous mode, capable of capturing up to 3fps. Nikon also made improvements to the Auto White Balance in the upgraded model, which means the D610 is more accurate when shooting under a range of lighting conditions. Some may be sad to see no Wi-Fihas been added, though.…

SRP: £640/$900 (body only) The Nikon D5500 is the company’s higher entry-level camera, sitting above the D3300. It shares many of the same features as its beginner brethren, but offers users the opportunity to add on extras for its slightly higher cost. To start with it comes with a 1037k-dot touch screen that’s vari-angle, helping you shoot from unusual perspectives. As well as using touch controls to operate the camera, traditional buttons are still there; it is, however, a streamlined camera aimed at beginners, so the back isn’t too cluttered up by physical dials - most of the controls can be accessed by tapping the i button. It’s a small camera, so perfect for those not looking for anything too bulky; it weighs just 420g (body only), yet Nikon has…

£1,049/$1,150 (with 10-30mm lens, viewfinder and grip) The Nikon 1 V3 is another CSC in the line-up that features high-end functions in a small body. It’s slightly bigger than the J5 but shares the same sized one-inch sensor, but at a slightly reduced 18.4MP. As with the J5, there’s no optical low pass filter to get sharper results and it uses an Advanced Hybrid AF which has 171 AF points with 105 phase detection AF points for quick focusing. Unlike the J5, however, it comes with a hotshoe so you can add on purchasable accessories such as an external flash or viewfinder. Of course there’s still a built-in flash and you can opt to use the LCD display for framing, but it’s nice to have the option. The screen can…

SRP: £500/$600 The Nikon Coolpix P900 has a huge 83x optical zoom, which at the time of its release was a world first. That’s a whopping 24-2000mm reach in 35mm terms, meaning that you can shoot sweeping wide landscapes or zoom in on intricate details. This can be digitally expanded to 166x using the Dynamic Fine Zoom, giving you a 4000mm reach in 35mm terms. When using the longer focal lengths, naturally camera shake is going to be an issue. Nikon has tried to combat this by featuring vibration reduction to help you when you’re shooting handheld, which is said to give you a five-stop shutter speed advantage. As well as a huge zoom, this camera offers a back-illuminated 16MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and manual controls. Weirdly for a camera…

Buying a Nikon camera is an investment, whether it’s a small compact camera for snapping holidays and events or a bigger DSLR model for professional purposes. When it comes to adding accessories to your camera, the choices are so vast and stretch from gizmos and gadgets that are fun play with to more serious pieces of kit such as tripods and cleaning equipment. Chances are if you’re passionate about photography your kit wish is never-ending. You’ll aim to build as many options as possible to help you shoot better images and use different techniques to create standout shots. We’ve compiled a list of essential accessories that marry perfectly with your Nikon camera and explain a little about how they’ll help you. We start by looking at bags and cases to…

Getting a strap for your camera is just as essential to protecting it as the correct bag. Besides protection they are also vital to allowing you to shoot comfortably and take your camera around with you while having your hands free to perform other tasks such as changing lenses. There are hundreds of straps on the market that you can choose from, some built to be practical and others to make a statement. Before choosing a strap, decide what the most important factors are for you. If you own a compact, a small hand strap or neck strap will do the trick for keeping your camera handy and safe. For DSLR users there may be more to consider. Those operating a heavy camera may want extra padding to stay comfortable…

The more you clean and maintain your gear the longer it lasts and the better it performs. Cleaning products need not be complicated and if you do it regularly you’ll avoid having to do any heavy-duty maintenance. Keeping your lenses, viewfinder and sensor clean is vital to keeping your camera working well and producing good images. But making sure there’s no dirt on the body of the camera that can slip into the SD card slot or battery chamber is just as important. If you take due care that your camera doesn’t get dirty then cleaning becomes easier too. Always replace lens caps as soon as you can and never leave your camera body exposed without a lens on or a cap to protect it. If you’ve been on a…

You don’t have to put your camera away after the sun has gone down; using your Night scene mode, it’s still possible to capture some great low-light images. Some Nikon camera models will feature a standard Night scene mode on the dial; however, others can offer much more specific night modes, including Night Portrait and Night Landscape. You can use the Night Portrait mode to photograph your subject in low light using the built-in flash. The Night Portrait mode will slow down your shutter speed so that once the flash has illuminated the model’s face, the camera can still record ambient light in the background. You need to make sure your model is stationary throughout the duration of the exposure to get blur-free shots. The Night Landscape mode, on the…

It’s difficult to get sharp and focused shots of kids while they’re playing, but by using the specialist Child scene mode, it’s possible. Unlike Portrait mode, the Child scene mode is designed to freeze action but still promises to deliver flattering portrait results at the same time. Using this mode, the camera will automatically select faster shutter speeds, which are ideal for capturing energetic kids and adults. Switch to Child scene mode icon to photograph children’s parties or play dates at the park. Activities that involve a lot of movement, however, will require Sports scene mode, as it’s capable of higher shutter speeds, which are necessary for fast-paced action shots. As the Child scene mode is an extension of Portrait, you’ll find it also has a flattering effect on your…

Works best with Nikon D4S “Just by changing your own viewpoint, you can completely change the appearance of the photo” Composition is the way you organise the different elements on the scene in front of the camera. It’s tempting to imagine that the world is just the way it is, and all you can do is just turn up, point the camera and take the picture, but there’s a lot more to it than that. In the real world it’s usually not possible to move objects around to fit your ideas – but you generally don’t need to. Just by changing your own viewpoint, and sometimes the focal length of the lens you’re using, you can completely change the appearance of the photo and the objects within it. Composition in…

SWITCH TO MANUAL Putting your speedlight into manual mode is usually just a case of pressing a button on the back of the unit. You can then select the power output for the flash – in this example it’s set to 1/4 power REMOTE MODE There’s probably not a lot of point in using manual mode if you are going to photograph using your speedlight on-camera. Modern speedlights allow you to use them as remote off-camera units OFF-CAMERA FLASH CONTROL If you’re going to use your speedlight remotely in manual mode, it makes perfect sense to be able to control and adjust it from the comfort of your camera…

Works best with Nikon 1 J5 As the landscape is one of the most accessible subjects, you would think this would make it easy to capture. However, unlike studio photographers who can control their own lighting, for landscape photographers it’s a slightly different story. We work with natural light and in the UK this can be unpredictable at the best of times. We have to measure and cope with a changing light in all its various forms – side lighting, back lighting, sunsets, sunrises, into the light, harsh light, diffused light... the list goes on and the various techniques for capturing each prefecty first time around aren’t at all simple. Add to this other elements such as cloud cover, the seasons, the Sun’s position and you start to get an…

Despite the myriad of different filters and effects available in software, there is still nothing as yet to match what the simple polarising filter can do. This is because the filter physically affects the light entering the camera. Yes, there are software effects that can replicate the filter’s effects and there are the Saturation and Vibrance sliders, but a polariser is the one filter that every photographer should have. There are three types of polariser available. The first is simply a sheet of polarising gel, which can be cut by hand and held in front of the lens or mounted in a handmade gel holder. You can also buy these from manufacturers, however they aren’t very durable and can cause flare problems. There is also the most common type, consisting…

How many times have you taken a quick snapshot of a beautiful landscape scene, only to find you are left with a bleached-out scene with no detail or colour? Unlike our eyes, which can instantly adjust to around 24 stops in light difference, the camera cannot record anywhere near this amount of variation in one frame. This is where the simple graduated grey filter comes into play. It bridges the gap in exposure difference between a bright and dark subject, balancing exposure. Graduated filters come in two types: circular screwon filters and resin oblong filters that slide into a filter holder attached to the lens. Although screw-on grads are in principle the same as the system type, they are more restrictive – to move the graduation line means moving the…

MIX UP YOUR ANGLES For any photographer it’s almost instinctive when taking a photo to ensure that the frame is kept as level as possible. However, tilting the lens to one side can be used as a creative tool to add a touch of quirkiness to an image. Any avid portrait photographer will tell you that one of the first rules of portraiture is to ensure that you use a mid to long-range telephoto lens. Especially when capturing close-up headshots, a 85mm lens or longer is usual choice. The reason behind this is simple: a telephoto lens allows the photographer to capture a narrower and greatly magnified field of view, which means that it generates much less distortion. With less distortion you’ll be able to capture a more accurate portrait,…

Well-lit woodland scenes are a wonder to behold and when captured with the right atmosphere they become a magical place. By their nature however, they’re fairly chaotic, with dark canopy layers contrasting against bright sunlight through the trees, causing some challenges as far as exposure is concerned. Avoid strong sunlight by shooting in the early morning, when the low-angled Sun will illuminate the trunks and produce long, dramatic shadows. Backlighting works particularly well for forest scenes, and enables you to focus on the shape of the trees only, capturing the woodland as a beautiful silhouette. If the Sun does cause lens flare, try to reposition yourself so that it’s hidden behind a tree trunk. Though they might look bleak, overcast conditions are a blessing for dense woodland, yielding light that’s…

GUARD YOUR KIT Keep an eye on the front lens element when shooting in fog, and wipe away any moisture from the lens and body itself with a microfibre cloth. Invest in reusable silica gel sachets to absorb moisture. Most typical landscape shots are bathed in the warm, golden glow of sunlight found during the golden hours, but there’s a wealth of opportunities to be had in cloudy conditions too. Heading out on a gloomy day not only makes the most of your shooting time, but also challenges you to work with the elements to your advantage. Cloud cover acts as a huge natural softbox for the Sun and means that while the light hitting your landscape is evenly dispersed, the contrast will also be lowered. If you feel there’s…

Although many brands try to nibble at the camera market share, Nikon remains one of the biggest contenders. Nikon has strategically launched an impressive array of shooters that cover every portion of the market to fulfil the needs of every target demographic. Nikon’s D series DSLRs have become a popular choice for anyone from the enthusiastic novice to the seasoned photography professional. Time after time, consumers choose Nikon for its reputation for reliability, accessibility, high performance, superb functionality, impressive features and, ultimately, incredible image quality. The company has come a long way since it launched the first professional DSLR, the D1, in conjunction with NASA, but it has continued to build a tradition as a name photographers can trust. Today the company retail dozens of models, all exhibiting a variety…

SRP: £3,000/$3,800 (body only) The Nikon D810A takes everything that’s so great about the D810 and tailors it towards astrophotography, helping you to capture great shots of the cosmos easily. Featuring a redesigned infrared cut filter, the D810A is four times more sensitive to the deep red light from the H-alpha spectral line. This means that the true colours of nebula that emit a hydrogen-alpha wavelength can be recorded straight from the camera. This isn’t the only thing that helps out astrophotographers, as it also comes with a handy long-exposure manual mode too. Using this option you can set up to 900 second exposures to capture the night. You can also set a preview for shutter speeds over 30 seconds to help you focus and adjust the composition using live…

SRP: £2,049/$2,750 (body only) The Nikon DF stands out from Nikon’s DSLR range with its pronounced retro stylings. This is a model designed for the photographer who wants to return to the roots of film photography, but retain the high-end advantages the digital world has to offer. Its angular body is Nikon’s smallest FX camera at just 710g, and it features metal dials that control ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, exposure mode and release mode. It can be a lot to get used to if you’re not familiar with this type of system, but it offers precision, allowing you to slow the process down and take more control. Its build incorporates magnesium alloy so it feels rugged and is also dust and weather resistant. There’s also a large and bright…

SRP: £489/$650 (with 18-55mm VR lens) The first thing that strikes you about the D3300 is how compact it is – it isn’t far off the size of some Micro Four Thirds cameras. Inside, however, it packs a 24.2MP DX sensor and EXPEED 4 processing engine, which delivers impressive image quality in addition to Full HD movie footage at up to 60fps. One of the biggest changes from the D3200, however, is the removal of the low pass filter, which is used to control anti-aliasing issues. Removal of this filter enables more detail to be captured and is something that we had only seen higher end DSLRs like the D800 before. The 11-point Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module does a good job of picking fast and accurate focus in most…

£340/$450 (with 11-27.5mm lens) The S2 is the entry-level option in the Nikon 1 series, offering a stripped back design aimed at those upgrading from a compact. The look is stylish and fun, coming in four colours: black, white, yellow, red. It is made from plastic with a smoothfinish and it weighs a slight 190g with a slim 29.4mm profile. The controls are minimalist, as there’s no mode dial; instead you use the F button to bring up controls on screen. The fairly low-res LCD screen is fixed and doesn’t have touch-screen controls and there’s no viewfinder or optional add-on. While it also doesn’t feature built-in Wi-Fi, there an optional WU-1a Wireless mobile adaptor available, however. The 14.2MP CMOS sensor has no optical low pass filter for sharper shots and…

SRP: £280/$350 The Nikon Coolpix AW130 is a tough camera that is built to last. It’s waterproof up to 30m, shock proof to 2m, dustproof and cold resistant up to -10°C. So whether you want to take it with you when you’re snorkelling, skiing or put it in the hands of your kids, this is a model built to withstand all of your action and adventure. The body comes in black, yellow, orange, blue or camouflage and has a small rubberised grip on the front to help you keep a strong hold of it. The button layout is very simple, as is the menu system, and there’s even Action Control where you flick the camera up or down to scroll through the options before pressing the button to make your…

For action and wildlife photography it is essential to be at the heart of the action. But this is not always physically possible, so a zoom or telephoto lens is the next best thing. Most photographers wanting to get up close will use a camera with a crop factor as it makes a difference to the length of the lens; for example, a 200mm lens on a 1.6x crop becomes 320mm. There are other aspects to be aware of with a longer lens, as the more you zoom in the more you will have to compensate with the shutter speed. A monopod can be a good accessory to have to hand as it provides the user with flexibility, yet it still adds that extra bit of support. Most zoom lenses…

Tripods are an essential piece of equipment to keep your images straight and let you play around with creative effects. Even the steadiest of hands can’t produce clear long exposures free from camera shake so if you want to add a professional edge to your work then get one. Weight and stability are the two major concerns when buying a tripod. You’ll probably have to carry your tripod a fair amount so you want it to be light, at the same time you want to be able to take the weight of your camera and not tip over from a gust of wind. When selecting a model check whether it comes with the right attachment for your camera and if it comes with a head. Professional tripods are often sold…

JJC QUICK RELEASE NECK STRAP NS-J1 (£11/$13) This padded strap gives you more functionality by including a zipped pouch to hold your SD cards or other small items. It also comes with a tripod socket that lets you connect your camera to the tripod without removing the plate, meaning quick transition time between shooting setups. The strap is built to be worn diagonally across your body and the extra material makes it a comfortable wear. You can adjust it to fit properly too. NIKON WRIST STRAP AN-CP19 (£6/$6) This simple and very affordable product is essential to keep your Nikon compact camera safe while shooting. The small loop threads through the small hole on the body of your camera while the bigger loop should always be firmly wrapped around your…

Most cameras work by saving images and video files to a storage device such as an SD or MicroSD card which slot into the camera. These memory cards come in different sizes – the bigger the card the more images you can shoot before you run out of space. It’s not always a great idea to use a huge memory card to store all of your images on, though, as if it corrupts you will have lost the entire shoot. Sometimes it’s better to split a shoot over a series of smaller cards. When you buy your camera the accompanying manual will tell you what type of card fits into the unit. Nikon releases a list of SD cards compatible with various makes of camera too. Check their website to…

Capture vibrant vistas using the Landscape scene mode. Ideal for those who love exploring the outdoors, this setting will make the most of the scene by increasing overall image contrast and colour saturation. You’ll notice in particular that blue and green hues really stand out in this mode, which helps to create a bold, picture-perfect shot. To ensure you get the best exposure in camera, the Landscape scene mode will also select a smaller aperture setting to shoot with, which increases depth of field. This results in the landscape appearing much sharper in the foreground, remaining sharp onto the background. If you’re shooting in bright conditions, you’ll be able photograph with the camera handheld. Low-light landscape scenes that are taken during the golden hours (sunrise and sunset) may require a…

Avoid capturing blurry action shots by freezing it as it unfolds using the dedicated Sport scene mode on your mode dial. You don’t have to shoot just sport with it either; it’s useful for other action packed activities too, and can come in handy if you’re shooting wildlife or pets. Use Sport mode if you’re shooting a local football team, surfers on the beach or kids riding their bikes, and you’re in a better position to be able to capture all the action as it happens. In fact, the Sport scene mode works in a similar way to the Child scene mode, but uses much faster shutter speed settings and disables the use of flash. With faster shutter speeds assured in this mode, you’ll be able to shoot handheld and…

Digital photography has a significant quota of science and technology in its DNA but, despite this, there’s so much about it that’s as subjective, unquantifiable and intangible as any other art form. All the clichés about one person’s art being another person’s trash hold completely true when it comes to photography. This, of course, means that it’s hard to definitively judge photography; what separates a great photo from one that’s merely good? It often comes down to consistent technical proficiency in key areas. When it comes to making an objective judgment of an image, few factors matter more than focusing and its impact on sharpness and clarity. Images that display good focusing technique appear professional and well executed. All too often, photographers assume that the sophisticated cameras and lenses that…

Let’s not forget that photography is a creative process – not does it produce a true representation of a subject, but it’s also used to capture what we have in our minds, whatever the subject. With current software it’s all too easy to create montages and all kinds of creative imagery, but incamera it requires a practical knowledge and forethought. The landscape in particular is restrictive in terms of what you can add to it, unlike studio photography where lighting and effects can be created. With the landscape you get what you’re given, but with filtration you can bend the visual rules. One filter that can do this is the ND (neutral density) filter – a piece of grey resin or glass that holds back light from entering the lens.…

Some photographers shy away from working with children, often because it’s not possible to instruct and direct a child to pose, stand or behave in a certain way, as they can with adults. Despite this widely held view, it can actually be far easier to capture portraits with personality when you are working with younger models, because they usually have fewer inhibitions and are much more likely to be truly spontaneous. The trick to having a successful portrait session involving children is to make as much of the process feel like play as possible. Studios that specialise in this kind of photography normally ensure that they have a good range of toys and other props on hand that children can interact with and explore. As the photographer, you have to…

Take a quick look at any online photographic community and you’ll quickly see that atmospheric landscapes are one of the most popular and well-received styles. Artistic and painterly vistas aren’t a new way of shooting, but with the advancements of editing software and digital cameras in recent years, it’s now possible to render scenes with all the visual splendour, detail and tone previously reserved for the naked eye. The best results come from shooting during inclement weather, when it’s stormy, misty, changeable and unpredictable, and you should be ready to welcome early starts and damp shooting conditions for the best results. If you’ve got a penchant for scenes that are full of mood, tone and feeling, follow our tips, tricks and advice over the next few pages and become a…

Once you are used to shooting RAW, it’s fair to say that you’ll probably never look back. The level of flexibility that a RAW file offers photographers can never be truly matched by a JPEG file – or even a TIFF file. If you normally shoot in RAW with your DSLR or CSC and find yourself restricted to using JPEG only, such as when using a bridge camera, smartphone or compact, it can be quite frustrating. Some people make an association between RAW capture and a lack of technical craft behind the camera, assuming that RAW exists only to rescue photographers when they are unable to light or meter a scene correctly. However, this isn’t a particularly accurate assessment at all. WHAT IS A RAW FILE? This is the information…

Thanks to the wide range of controls in the most popular RAW processing applications, you can produce an incredible array of different effects from a file, all the while working completely non-destructively, with your original information remaining entirely intact, as Adrian Dewey (www.adriandewey.com) explains. “One of the greatest advantages of RAW is the fact it is non-destructive. All the information is there in the file and you can work on this image until your heart’s content, and if after lots of editing you realise that you haven’t quite got it right, you can open the saved image and work on it again, take it back to the start or tweak any of your processes without any quality loss. A JPEG image loses quality every time you open, edit and re-save.…

SRP: £5,200 / $6,500 (body only) There’s always a lot of excitement with the arrival of a new high-end camera and the Nikon D4S was no exception. People were disappointed when they realised it’s a modest upgrade from the D4 – perhaps the biggest letdown was the continuation of the same 16MP sensor. However, with this upgrade there are subtle changes that improve both performance and image quality. The D4S is a big camera but it feels lighter when you pick it up as it’s so well-balanced. It’s solid and feels as if it could survive a knock or two. On the whole, ergonomics are excellent, with logically laid out controls. The viewfinder is clear and bright and, while large enough, it is smaller than the one on its main…

SRP: £1,799/$2,300 (body only) The D750 brings dazzling image quality, cinematic video capabilities and pro-inspired handling with a tilting LCD and built-in Wi-Fi. Enthusiasts who are upgrading from a DX-format DSLR will marvel at the D750’s excellent full-frame performance. Likewise, pros seeking a secondary camera for fast-paced shoots will appreciate the D750’s familiar handling and speed, yet it comes at a lower price point to the D810. Other elements such as its small and lightweight design make this a versatile camera second camera, or a model really suitable for travel photographers. The tilt-angle screen lets you shoot from more awkward angles, even if the viewfinder will more likely be a pro’s viewing choice. It tilts up 90 degrees and down 75 degrees, allowing more interesting perspectives. Its design includes a…

SRP: £940/$1,200 (body only) Sitting at the top of the DX range, you’ll find the Nikon D7200. This came as an upgrade to the D7100, sharing many of the same features. Its sensor stepped up marginally from 24.1MP to a 24.2MP and still comes without an antialiasing filter for improved sharpness and finer details. Its body design remained the same too, but it’s a design that works well, with a lock button on the mode dial to stop settings being shifted and a useful separate dial for drive modes. The top and rear covers are made from tough magnesium alloy and its textured body is easy to grip, as well as being dust, weather and drop resistant. This tough body comes with a 3.2inch, 1,229kdot LCD screen, which is fixed…

£430/$500 (with 10-30mm lens) If you’re after a good level of control in a truly portable body, the Nikon 1 J5 could well be for you. At just 231g (body only), this camera comes with many manual features to help photographers get the right result, while being small enough to fit into a handbag or large pocket. Nikon has opted for a very infashion retro design for this version, with a plastic construction that still looks the business. To give you quick access to manual settings, the manufacturer has gone with a mode dial on the top plate and dual dials for easy settings changes, giving DSLR users familiar controls. You can, of course, also control the camera through the threeinch touchsensitive screen. This is a 1037Kdot LCD screen that…

SRP: £500/$600 The Nikon Coolpix A sits among the manufacturer’s top-of-the-range compacts, and it’s perfect for those wanting to take control of their settings while still having a fixed lens. It’s ultra-portable at just 299g and its sleek exterior doesn’t have a hand grip so it will happily fit into a jacket pocket. The camera is made of magnesium and aluminium alloy so it feels of a premium quality too. There’s a mode dial on the top for easy control of your settings and the menu is laid out in a logical way for you to navigate around the options easily. There’s also customisable function buttons on the front and back that can be set to control things such as ISO and file formats. The three-inch 921k-dot LCD screen is…

Selecting the right lens for the correct subject matter is crucial. Your lens is the eye of your camera and records or captures what it sees. In terms of cost and performance, it usually comes down to the more you spend, the better your results; however, if you’ re just starting out there is no point in splashing out on lots of expensive equipment straight away as you first need to learn the basics of photography and find which genre you wish to pursue. A good lens is pricey; there’s no getting around that fact. The cheaper kit lenses will produce good enough results for beginners, but when you need to take your photography to the next step you will have to invest in a couple of decent lenses. A…

If you’re the adventurous type, then you may find yourself on many big trips to some remote places and you’ll no doubt want to take your Nikon with you. If you’re a travelling photographer then the biggest thing to consider in your kit bag is the weight of your photographic equipment. You may have to compromise on image quality due to practical reasons, as if you’re travelling alone you will soon get annoyed with lugging around two or three heavy lenses. This weight issue will most likely affect photographers with heavy professional DSLR camera bodies such as the D4. For travellers, having the lightest but most versatile lens possible is important, so a large focal range is essential. The best option to consider to take on a trip is just…

Creative photography has become increasingly popular as the digital medium has developed. Effects such as fisheye and lenses like tilt-and-shifts are at the forefront of this advancement. It’s not only the high-street consumer that has become fascinated by the alternative effects, as industry professionals are using them for their advertising and editorial work to try to produce something unique and eye-catching for their clients. Tilt-and-shift lenses work by adjusting the lens’s optical axis and controlling the depth of field. They can be tricky to use, and even professionals have admitted they can have problems with them. Architecture and fine art photographers are the most likely to use this type of lens as it can help correct barrel distortion, which is a common problem with architectural images shot from the ground.…

Keep your kit safe by investing in a suitable bag or case – a dedicated camera bag with protective padding really is a must if you’re spending a lot of money on kit. The range of bags on the market is astounding and you’ll find one to fit your needs whether it’s for adventuring with your camera or making a fashion statement. Quality is the most important factor when choosing a bag; this will be what protects your camera so you should be sure that the materials used are up to standard. Also keep in mind the other gear and accessories you have to carry along with you. If you’re a Nikon DSLR user and you have plenty of lenses and flash accessories then choose a bag that accommodate all…

A remote is an extension of your camera that gives you added functionality by allowing you to control it without physically touching the unit. Remotes are available in two basic options: wired and wireless. Wireless remotes give you more flexibility for being further away from your camera even if there are objects between you and it. The wired options can limit you more but if you plan to use your remote primarily in a studio setup or for landscape photography then this option may suit you perfectly, and they tend to be cheaper too. In its simplest form a remote will release the shutter of your camera when you press the release button. While this is useful when you need to make yourself scarce like when you’re photographing wildlife, it’s…

Your Nikon’s mode dial has something for every photographer. There’s a plethora of modes available, which range from basic auto to full-blown manual control over exposure settings. Whether you’re working with a high-end Nikon compact, CSC or DSLR, most mode dials feature the same selection of options, which means you can follow along with us as we explore what’s on offer. Most mode dials are positioned on top of the camera, although some may be found in the camera’s menu. Your mode dial has an important role to play in the photo-taking process, and can essentially determine how well your shot turns out. To use your mode dial, simply rotate it around to a mode that you’re comfortable shooting in. If you are just starting out, you should select auto,…

Select the Portrait scene mode to shoot flattering photos of your family and friends. You can use it to frame one or more people in the photograph too, provided they are stationary – you’ll need to switch to the Sport or Child scene mode if you’re photographing fast-moving people to avoid blurred results. Using the Portrait scene mode, your camera will determine the correct exposure settings for the shot. The Portrait scene mode is designed to softly blur out the background of your image by using wider aperture settings, which creates an artistic shallow depth of field effect. This is a great way to isolate the person in the photograph, making them the main focus in the frame. The Portrait scene mode also takes care of skin tones, as the…

Works best with Nikon D4S “Everything we see contains varying levels of light intensity... A good photograph renders the scene balanced, as it appears to the eye” With Nikon camera technology breaking boundaries as the digital revolution advances, photography is looking like a complicated ship to steer. Camera controls are becoming so sophisticated that as the manuals get thicker, the technological soup seems harder and harder to wade through. Camera metering, its modes, functions and subjectivity can be just as confusing, so just how do you learn to read the light? Everything we see contains varying levels of light intensity. From bright light streaming through a window to the dark shadow tones in a room corner, a good photograph renders the scene balanced, as it appears to the eye. All…

Works best with Nikon SB-910 Speedlight For a long time, the general rule of thumb for many photographers – both amateur and professional – was that, unless you were talking about heavy-duty, professional flash units, artificial light was bad news. Magazines and books would routinely advise their readers that the best policy was to use natural light wherever possible and avoid using a hotshoe flash. So, what changed? The answer is twofold. Firstly, as the 20th Century became the 21st, the range of off-camera, wireless flash-triggering options available to photographers using a speedlight flash unit grew exponentially. Secondly, at around the same time, digital capture made itself available to consumers. Wireless radio triggers allowed photographers to position hotshoe flash units off camera, knowing that they could be reliably fired in…

It’s often said that beauty is only skin deep and that it’s what’s on the inside that truly matters. If you know what you are doing with lighting and you have a physically attractive subject to photograph, then there’s a good chance that you will be able to produce a technically successful portrait – but what about capturing an image that says something about the essence of the person themselves and who they really are? This places more demand on both your photographic proficiency and your people skills – it’s easier said than done. There are ways of working that make your chances of capturing a sense of someone’s personality much more likely. Over the next few pages, you’ll discover how to capture striking portraits with personality, guiding you through…

The most successful atmospheric landscapes rely on heavy use of contrast, as well as deliberate yet subtle underexposure. Landscape photography is a natural progression from traditional fine-art painting, so it helps to understand some basic lighting theory used by legendary artists like Leonardo Da Vinci. The term Chiaroscuro has been around since the days of Renaissance painting, is Italian in origin, and literally means light-dark. In paintings, it describes the tonal contrasts, which are used to model and portray the volumes of the subjects depicted. The term has recently made its way into the world of photography and describes the interplay of light across a landscape to draw the viewer’s attention to the three-dimensional nature of the subjects. Ansel Adams made use of the Chiaroscuro technique in active weather and…

Shooting in foggy and misty conditions is a surefire way to add intrigue to imagery when exposed effectively, but getting your timing right is easier said than done. Although these conditions appear throughout the year, the density of droplets depends on the air currents and temperature being just right. Aim to head out when the temperature differences between night and day are more extreme, during the late evening or early the following morning. Try to head to a body of water such as local river or pond, or better still the coast, where cool sea air will meet warmer air on land. When you do set up, find a high vantage point to shoot from, for example a cliff top. Your choice of kit will depend entirely on the scene…

Works best with AF-S NIKKOR 24-70 mm F/2.8G Photography has long been thought of as being all about capturing a moment. The photographer’s job is to recognise – or create – that moment and produce a still image that encapsulates it. Before digital photography, being a photographer was, for many people, all about the moment when you press the shutter button. Further manipulation of the final image was limited to those who had access to a traditional wet darkroom and, to a large extent, the notion of photography as something that mostly happens ‘in the moment’ has endured. As a general rule, photographers like things to be as good as they possibly can be. Many photographers will happily attest that they are perfectionists who can’t rest until they have got…

To err is human; even the very best photographers are going to get it wrong from time to time and either under or overexpose. In the old days, photographers would either hope to be able to rescue such mistakes at the film-processing and printing stage or would simply have to accept defeat. In these digital days, it’s very possible to rescue a problematic exposure using the Exposure, Highlights and Shadows sliders in Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom, Capture One Pro or DxO OpticsPro. Overexposure Overexposed In this JPEG file, the highlight detail has been lost because the image has been overexposed by using too long a shutter speed. Highlights recovered Fortunately, a RAW file was recorded alongside the JPEG, enabling the highlights to be recovered effectively. Underexposure Underexposed In this JPEG…