DSLR Basic for beginner (Nikon-D90) part 1

Introduction

This will make you to an expert on using the Nikon D90, but this alone won't get great pictures.

To get great photos you still need to get yourself to the right place and point the camera in the right direction at the right time, which is a lot harder than mastering the D90. Technically, lighting and the use or disuse of flash is far more important to artistic synthesis than your choice of camera.

Right out of the box at default settings the D90 does a great job, but you need an eye to "see" the photos before you take them. The D90 is easy to master, but knowing how to make a great picture can take a lifetime. See all the previous links and How to Create a Masterpiece for more.

Once you get the right photo framed in your finder, there are two absolutely critical basic settings, which if set correctly, will give you extraordinary photos. Most people skip this, and are forever cursed with the same results regardless of how much they spend on new cameras.

Getting great photos out of the D90, or any other camera, really only takes these settings and a good eye:

1.) Take a picture. Look at the rear LCD. OK? You're done! If not:

2.) Too light or dark? Change the Exposure Compensation and shoot again. OK? You're done! If not:

3.) Colors not right? Adjust White Balance and try again. OK? You're done! If not:

4.) Contrast, saturation or other fine points not right? Adjust the Picture Controls. OK? GREAT! If not, you're either not at the right place, not at the right time, or looking in the wrong direction. It's never your camera's fault, but only human to blame it.

For more examples of why you'd want to change what settings and why, see my the "teaching" galleries on my Gallery page.

Making a great photo involves knowing what makes a great photo, knowing how to get great exposure, knowing when to use the D90's adjustments, knowing how to get great color, locations, timing, patience and a whole lot more. I cover general photography issues here.

Looking for a specific control? Use my Search page. Be sure to mention the D90 in your search.

Want free live phone support? In the USA, call (800) NIKON-UX, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Below are the basics. Explicit details follow in later pages linked at the bottom.

Most of the settings I'll discuss are locked out in the green AUTO position on the top left mode knob. I don't use this position.

http://www.kenrockwell.com

Nikon D90

Key Features (click to expand)

• Newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with wide ISO sensitivity range with low noise
• EXPEED for smooth tones, rich colors and fine details
• Innovative D-SLR movie function: D-Movie
• Scene Recognition System integrated with Face Detection System
• Easy-to-use Live View mode
• Picture Control System: Customize the visual style of your images
• Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast lighting
• Versatile practical 11-point AF system
• Bright pentaprism viewfinder featuring frame coverage of approx. 96%
• Advanced Scene Modes for superior image quality
• Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus
• Engineered for precision and durability

Technical Specifications (click to expand)

Type of Camera	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Effective Pixels	12.3 million
Image Sensor	Nikon DX format (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CMOS sensor
Image Size (Pixels)	4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S]; D-movie: 1280 x 720 / 24fps, 640 x 424 / 24fps, 320 x 216 / 24fps
Sensitivity	ISO 200 to 3,200 in steps of 1/3 EV, plus HI-0.3, HI-0.5, HI-0.7, HI-1 (ISO 6400); sensitivity decreases approx. LO-0.3, LO-0.5, LO-0.7 and LO-1 (ISO 100)
File Format	NEF (12 bit compressed RAW); JPEG (Baseline-compliant); AVI (Motion JPEG compression format with monaural sound)
Storage Media	SD memory card (SDHC compliant)
Shooting Modes	1) Single frame shooting mode, 2) Continous low shooting mode: 1-4fps, 3) Continous high shooting mode: 4.5fps, 4) Self-timer mode, 5) Delay remote mode, 6) Quick-response remote mode 7) D-Movie
White Balance	Auto (TTL white-balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), 12 manual modes with fine-tuning; color temperature setting; preset white balance; white balance bracketing
LCD Monitor	3.0", 920,000-dot low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD, allows up to 170-degree wide viewing angle
Playback Function	1) Full frame, 2) Thumbnail (4, 9, 72 and calendar), 3) Magnifying playback, 4) movie playback, 5) Pictmotion, 6) Slide show, 7) Histogram indication, 8) Highlights point display, 8) Auto image rotation, 9) Image comment
Delete Function	1) Card format, 2) All frames delete, 3) Selected frames delete
Interface	USB 2.0 (High-speed), GP-1 (GPS Unit)
Picture Angle (in 35mm [135] format equivalent)	Approx. 1.5x lens focal length
Viewfinder	Fixed eye-level pentaprism; built-in diopter adjustment (-2 to +1 m-1)
Focusing Screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark II screen
Viewfinder Frame Coverage/Magnification (with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)	Approx. 96%/ Approx. 0.94x
Autofocus	TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with AF-assist (range approx. 0.5-3m/1ft 8 in. - 9ft 10 in.); Detection range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F)
Focus Modes	1) Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continous-servo AF (AF-C); Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A), 2) Manual focus (M) can be selected from 11 focus area
Exposure Metering System	1) 3D-Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses) performed by 420-segment RGB sensor, 2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8 or 10mm circle in center of frame, 3) Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area
Exposure Metering Range (at normal temperature [68°F/20°C], ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens)	1) 0 to 20 EV (3D-Color Matrix or Center-weighted metering), 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering)
Exposure Control	1) Digital Vari-Program (Auto, Auto [Flash Off], Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close Up, Night Portrait), 2) Programmed Auto [P], 3) Shutter-Priority Auto [S], 4) Aperture Priority Auto [A], 5) Manual [M]
Auto Exposure Bracketing	2 to 3 exposures in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 steps to (+-) 1.0 EV
Maximum Shutter	1/4000
Minimum Shutter	30
Shutter	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter, 30 to 1/4000sec in steps of 1/3 EV plus bulb
Sync Contact	X-contact only; flash synchronization at up to 1/200 sec
Flash Control	1)TTL flash control with 420-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill flash available with SB-900, 800, 600 or 400, 2) Auto aperture available with SB-900, 800 and CPU lens 3) Non-TTL auto available with SB-900, 800, 28, 27 or 22s 4) Range-priority manual available with SB-900, 800.
Flash Sync Modes	1) Auto, 2) Fill-in flash, 3) Red-eye reduction, 4) Red-eye reduction with Slow sync, 5) Slow sync, 6) Rear-curtain sync, 7) Off
Self-Timer	Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 5, 10 or 20 s.
Depth of Field Preview Button	Yes
Remote Control	Via Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 (optional)
GPS	via GP-1 GPS Unit (optional) * This product shall not be exported without authorization from the appropriate governmental authorities.
Supported Languages	Total of 17 languages: Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Power Requirements	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, AC Adapter EH-5a (optional)
Battery Life (on a fully charged battery)	Approx 1,000 shots
Tripod Socket	1/4 in. (ISO1222)
Dimensions	Approx. 132 x 103 x 77mm
Weight (without battery, memory card or body cap)	Approx. 620g
Supplied Accessories (may differ by country or area)	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, USB Cable UC-E4, Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-DC1, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, LCD Monitor Cover BM-10, Software Suite CD-ROM
Other Features	Retouch menu, Info Display on LCD monitor, Intergrated Dust Reductions System, Live view (with face-priority AF), D-Movie

Price: RSP RM 4,688.00 (with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR); RSP RM 3,688 (body only)

Resource : http://www.nikon.com.my/productitem.php?pid=1281-86d7b52026