Nikon D3000 Digital Camera User Manual

Nikon D3000 Digital Camera

Introduction

Overview

• Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon single-lens reflex (SLR) digital camera. To get the most from your camera, please be sure to read all instructions thoroughly and keep them where they will be read by all who use the product.

Getting to Know Your Camera

• Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays. You may find it helpful to bookmark this section and refer to it as you read through the rest of the manual.

The Camera Body

The Viewfinder

The Information Display

Shooting information, including shutter speed, aperture, and the number of exposures remaining is displayed in the monitor when the Info button is pressed.

Changing Settings in the Information Display

• To change settings for the items listed in the information display, press the Info button. Highlight items using the multi-selector and press Ok button  to view options for the highlighted item. Some items can also be adjusted using the command dial and camera buttons (Page 8).

Turning the Monitor Off

• To clear information from the display, press the Info button again. Note that the monitor turns off automatically while the shutter release is pressed or if no operations are performed for 8 s (the default value). The information display can be restored by pressing the Info button.

The Power Switch

• Rotate the power switch as shown to turn the camera on.
• Rotate the power switch as shown to turn the camera off.

Camera Menus

• Most shooting, playback, and setup options can be accessed from the camera menus. To view the menus, press the MENU button.

Using Camera Menus

• The multi-selector and Ok buttons are used to navigate the camera menus.

First Steps

Charge the Battery

The camera is powered by an EN-EL9a rechargeable Li-ion battery (supplied). To maximize shooting time, charge the battery in the supplied MH-23 quick charger before use. About one hour and forty minutes are required to fully recharge the battery when no charge remains.

1. Plug the charger in
   Insert the AC adapter plug into the battery charger and plug the power cable into an electrical outlet.
2. Remove the terminal cover.
   Remove the terminal cover from the battery.
3. Insert the battery.
   Insert the battery as shown in the illustration on the charger. The CHARGElamp will blink while the battery charges.
4. Remove the battery when charging is complete
   Charging is complete when the CHARGE lamp stops blinking. Remove the battery and unplug the charger.

Attach a Lens

• Care should be taken to prevent dust from entering the camera when the lens is removed. The lens generally used in this manual for illustrative purposes is an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6G VR.

1. Turn the camera off.
2. Remove the rear lens cap and the camera body cap.
3. Attach the lens. Keeping the mounting index on the lens aligned with the mounting index on the camera body, position the lens in the camera’s bayonet mount (1) Being careful not to press the lens release button, rotate the lens counter-clockwise until it clicks into place (2).
   • Slide the A-Mswitch to A (autofocus; if the lens has a M/A-Mswitch, select M/A for autofocus with manual priority)

Detaching the Lens

• Be sure the camera is off when removing or exchanging lenses. To remove the lens, press and hold the lens release button (1) while turning the lens clockwise (2). After removing the lens, replace the lens caps and camera body cap.

Adjust Viewfinder Focus

The camera is equipped with diopter adjustment to accommodate individual differences in vision. Check that the display in the viewfinder is in focus before framing pictures in the viewfinder.

1. Remove the lens cap and turn the camera on.
2. Focus on the viewfinder. Slide the diopter adjustment control up and down until the viewfinder display and focus point are in sharp focus. When operating the control with your eye to the viewfinder, be careful not to put your fingers or fingernails in your eye.

Basic Photography and Playback

Step 1: Turn the Camera On

1. Turn the camera on. Remove the lens cap and turn the camera on. The information display will appear in the monitor.
2. Check the battery level. Check the battery level in the information display or the viewfinder (if the monitor is off, press the Info button to view the information display; if the monitor does not turn on, the battery is exhausted and must be recharged).
3. Check the number of exposures remaining. The information display and viewfinder show the number of photographs that can be stored on the memory card. Check the number of exposures remaining.

Step 2: Select  or Mode

• To shoot where use of a flash is prohibited, photograph infants, or capture natural lighting under low light conditions, rotate the mode dial to  Otherwise, rotate the mode dial to

Step 3: Frame the Photograph

1. Ready the camera. When framing photographs in the viewfinder, hold the handgrip in your right hand and cradle the camera body or lens with your left. Keep your elbows propped lightly against your torso for support and place one foot halfway pace ahead of the other to keep your upper body stable. Hold the camera as shown at right when framing photographs in portrait (tall) orientation.
2. Frame the photograph. Frame a photograph in the viewfinder with the main subject in at least one of the 11 focus points.
   • Using a Zoom Lens
   • Use the zoom ring to zoom in on the subject so that it fills a larger area of the frame, or zoom out to increase the area visible in the final photograph (select longer focal lengths on the lens focal length scale index to zoom in, shorter focal lengths to zoom out).

Step 4: Focus

1. Press the shutter-release button halfway. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus. The camera will select the focus points automatically. If the subject is poorly lit, the flash may pop up and the AF-assist illuminator may light.
2. Check the indicators in the viewfinder. When the focus operation is complete, the selected focus points will be briefly highlighted, a beep will sound, and the in-focus indicator (Black Dot) will appear in the viewfinder.

Step 5: Shoot

• Smoothly press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to release the shutter and record the photograph. The access lamp next to the memory card slot cover will light and the photograph will be displayed in the monitor for a few seconds (the photo will automatically clear from the display when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway). Do not eject the memory card or remove or disconnect the power source until the lamp has gone out and recording is complete.

Creative Photography (Scene Modes)

• The camera offers a choice of”scene” modes. Choosing a scene mode automatically optimizes settings to suit the selected scene, making creative photography as simple as selecting a mode, framing a picture, and shooting as described on pages 25-29.

Scene Modes

• Use for portraits with soft, natural-looking skin tones. If the subject is far from the background or a telephoto lens is used, background details will be softened to lend the composition a sense of depth.
• Use for vivid landscape shots in daylight. The built-in flash and AF-assist illuminator turn off; use of a tripod is recommended to prevent blur when lighting is poor.
• Use for snapshots of children. Clothing and background details are vividly rendered, while skin tones remain soft and natural.
• Use for close-up shots of flowers, insects and other small objects (a macro lens can be used to focus at very close ranges). Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent blur.

GuideMode

The Guide Menu

• The guide menu gives access to a variety of frequently-used and useful functions. The top level of the guide menu is displayed when the mode dial is rotated to GUIDE

Manual Focus

Manual focus can be used when you are not using an AF-S or AF-I lens or when autofocus does not produce the desired results (Page 42).

1. Set the lens focus-mode switch.
   If the lens is equipped with an A-M or M/A-M switch, slide the switch to M.
2. Focus.
   To focus manually, adjust the lens focus ring until the image displayed on the clear matte field in the viewfinder is in focus. Photographs can be taken at any time, even when the image is not in focus.

Image Quality and Size

• Together, image quality and size determine how much space each photograph occupies on the memory card. Larger, higher-quality images can be printed at larger sizes but also require more memory, meaning that fewer such images can be stored on the memory card (Page 177).

Image Quality

Choose a file format and compression ratio (image quality).

1. Place the cursor in the information display. If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the Info button. Press the ,[Info, button to place the cursor in the information display.
2. Display image quality options. Highlight the current image quality in the information display and press Ok
3. Choose a file type. Highlight one of the following options and press Ok

Use the Built-in Flash

• The camera supports a variety of flash modes for photographing poorly lit or backlit subjects.

Using the Built-in Flash: P, S, A, and M Modes

1. Raise the flash. Press the Down Arrow button to raise the flash.
2. Choose a flash mode {Page 59).
3. Take pictures.
   The flash will fire whenever a picture is taken.
   Lowering the Built-in Flash
   To save power when the flash is not in use, press it gently downward until the latch clicks into place.

ISO sensitivity

“ISO sensitivity” is the digital equivalent of film speed. The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing higher shutter speeds or smaller apertures.

1. Place the cursor in the information display. If shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the Info button. Press the ,1t, button to place the cursor in the information display.
2. Display ISO sensitivity options. Highlight the current ISO sensitivity in the information display and press Ok.
3. Choose an ISO sensitivity. Highlight an option and press Ok button. ISO sensitivity can be set between values roughly equivalent to ISO 100 and ISO 1600 in steps equivalent to 1 EV. For special situations, ISO sensitivity can be raised above ISO 1600 by about 1 EV(Hi 1, equivalent to ISO 3200). Auto and scene modes also offer an AUTOoption, which allows the camera to set ISO sensitivity automatically in response to lighting conditions.

• AUTO
  If the mode dial is rotated to P,S,A, or M after AUTOis selected for ISO sensitivity in another mode, the ISO sensitivity last selected in P,S,A, or M mode will be restored.
• Hi 1
  Pictures taken at this setting are more likely to be subject to noise and color distortion.
• The Shooting Menu
  ISO sensitivity can also be adjusted using the ISO sensitivity settings option in the shooting menu (Page 120).

Exposure

Metering

Choose how the camera sets exposure in P,S,A,and M modes (in other modes, the camera selects the metering method automatically).

1. Place the cursor in the information display. if shooting information is not displayed in the monitor, press the Info button. Press the ,i, button to place the cursor in the information display
2. Display metering options. Highlight the current metering method in the information display and press Ok button.
3. Choose a metering method. Highlight one of the following options and press Ok button.

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Nikon D3000 Digital Camera-FAQs