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Nikon D2H Nikon introduces an 8 frame/second speed demon, with WiFi connectivity and an amazing new flash system to boot! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet D2H Photo Gallery! D2H SAMPLE IMAGES! --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results: Overview 13. Test Results: Noise 14. Test Results: Color 15. Test Results: Resolution 16. Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on D2H Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 12/18/2003

Camera Modes and Menus

Playback Mode: Accessed by pressing the Playback button, this mode allows you to review captured images, as well as delete or protect them and set them up for printing.

Record Mode: The camera is automatically in Record mode whenever it's powered on (when reviewing images, touching the shutter button immediately readies the camera to shoot a photo). The following exposure modes are available here (accessed by pressing the Mode button and turning the main Command dial):

• Program AE: Puts the camera in charge of the shutter speed and aperture settings, although you can vary its choices by turning the Command dial. (That is, you can increase or decrease the aperture the camera has chosen, and the camera will vary the shutter speed to maintain the same overall exposure value. Once you've chosen an offset in the aperture/shutter combination, the camera will continue to control the exposure automatically, while maintaining the aperture/shutter bias you've selected.)
• Aperture Priority: Allows you to set the aperture value while the camera automatically selects the appropriate shutter speed.
• Shutter Speed Priority: Allows you to set the shutter speed value while the camera automatically selects the appropriate aperture.
• Manual: Lets you select both the aperture value and shutter speed.

LCD Menu System: The following menus are available in any camera mode, and are called up by pressing the Menu button.

Playback Menu:

• Delete: Deletes selected images or all images from the memory card.
• Playback Folder: Designates which folder to review images from.
  • Named Folder(s): If a folder (or multiple folders) has been created, it appears here.
  • All: Reviews all images on the memory card, regardless of folder.
  • Current: Plays back images in the currently-used folder only.
• Slideshow: Accesses the Slide Show submenu which allows you to view all captured images in a slide show format. Options are:
  • Start: Starts the show.
  • Frame Interval: Sets the time interval between each image (two, three, five, or 10 seconds).
  • Audio Playback: Turns playback of audio clips attached to images in the slideshow on or off.
• Hide Image: Allows selected images to be hidden or revealed during Playback mode operations.
• Print Set: Allows images to be set up for printing using the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format). Options are:
  • Select / Set: Selects individual images to be printed from an index display, and marks them for printing. Once selected, you can specify the number of copies.
  • Deselect All: Removes the print mark from all images. You are prompted to reconfirm before the process is completed.
• Display Mode: Indicates which display modes are available during image playback. Options are Data, Histogram, Highlight, and Focus Area. Options are selected with a checkbox in front of each item.
• Image Review: Turns instant image review on or off. If on, the camera displays each image post-capture for a few seconds on the LCD monitor.
• After Delete: Displays a menu for you to choose what the camera should do after deleting an image. Choices are:
  • Show Next: Shows the image taken immediately after the image that was deleted. If the deleted image was the last one taken, the previous image will be displayed.
  • Show Previous: Shows the image taken immediately before the image that was deleted. If the deleted image was the first one taken, the next image will be displayed.
  • Continue as before: If the user was scrolling through images in the order that they were captured, the image taken immediately after the one that was deleted will be displayed. If the user was scrolling through images in reverse order, the image taken immediately before will be displayed. If the deleted image was the last one taken, the previous image will be displayed. If the deleted image was the first one taken, the next image will be displayed.
  
  

Shooting Menu:

• Shooting Menu Bank: Lets you select from four banks of shooting menu options, meaning you can create up to four custom user settings. You can also choose to rename a menu bank for easy identification. Menu bank names are alphanumeric, allow upper and lower case characters, and can be up to 20 characters long.
• Reset Shooting Menu: Resets the currently-selected menu bank settings to the camera's defaults.
• Active Folder: Selects the folder for storing images. You also have an option to create a new folder. Folder names are in the format "100NCD2H", with the first three digits being selectable anywhere from 100 to 999.
• Image Quality: Offers the following image quality options: NEF (RAW) + JPEG Fine, NEF (RAW) + JPEG Normal, NEF (RAW) + JPEG Basic, NEF (RAW), TIFF (RGB), JPEG Fine, JPEG Normal, and JPEG Basic.
• Image Size: Specifies the image resolution. Choices are Large (2,464 x 1,632 pixels) or Medium (1,840 x 1,224 pixels).
• RAW Compression: Determines whether RAW files are compressed when captured.
• White Balance: Adjusts the camera's color balance to match a variety of light sources. Choices are Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Color Temperature, and Preset (manual setting).
• ISO: Changes the camera's sensitivity setting, with options of 200, 250, 320, 400, 500, 640, 800, 1,000, 1,250, and 1,600. HI-1 (3,200) and HI-2 (6,400) settings are only available with the ISO Auto setting is off in the Custom Settings menu.
  
  
  
• Image Sharpening: Controls the level of in-camera sharpening applied to captured images. Options are Auto, Normal, Low, Medium Low, Medium High, High, and None.
• Tone Compensation: Adjusts the level of contrast to Auto, Normal, Less Contrast, More Contrast, or Custom (lets you load a preset tone curve from a computer).
• Color Mode: Assigns the color mode to I (sRGB), II (Adobe RGB), or III (sRGB). Of the sRGB modes, the I mode is intended for Portrait shots, and the III mode is for nature or landscape shots.
• Hue: Adjusts the hue saturation from -9 to +9 degrees, in three-degree units.
• Interval Timer Shooting: Activates the Interval shooting mode, letting you set the start and end times for the series, the number of shots, and the interval period.
• Non-CPU Lens Data: Lets you set the focal length and maximum aperture of non-CPU lenses, so that they will work with color matrix metering, aperture value display, and balanced fill flash settings. Focal length options are three broad ranges of 6-48mmm, 50-180mm, and 200-4000mm. Maximum aperture values range from f/1.2 to f/22, as well as "NA".

Custom Settings Menu:
Each option accesses a sub-menu of color-coded and numbered options pertaining to a specific subject. The initial screen (shown at right) provides an index into the various groups of sub-menus. Once you're into the second level of the menu system though, you can scroll smoothly through all the entries, regardless of what group they belong to. The color-coding seen in the index screen carries through to the various individual options, making it easy to know where you are in the menu structure at all times. In the description of the various functions below, I've inserted a screen shot corresponding to each of the major menu sections.

• Bank Select: Selects the bank for which Custom Settings are to be adjusted.
• Menu Reset: Resets the Custom Settings in the current bank.
  
  
  
• Autofocus:
  • a1 - AF-C Mode Priority: In AF-C mode, give priority to Release Button or Focus. Designates whether photos can be taken whenever the Shutter button is pressed (Release Priority) or when the image is in focus (Focus setting).
  • a2 - AF-S Mode Priority: Similar to above but in AF-S mode, gives priority to Release Button or Focus.
  • a3 - Group Dynamic AF: Controls how focus areas are grouped. Options are Pattern 1 or 2.
  • a4 - AF Activation: Controls whether both the Shutter and AF-On buttons determine focus, or only the AF-On buttons determine focus.
  • a5 - Focus Area Illumination: Controls when the focus areas are illuminated in Manual and Continuous AF modes. The When Selected option determines how long the active focus frame is displayed when selected (either 0.2 or 1 second).
  • a6 - Focus Area: Designates whether the focus area display wraps or not during manual selection.
  • a7 - Vertical AF-On: Assigns specific functions to the vertical AF-On button. Choices are: AF-On + Focus Area (default), AF-On, AE/AF-L + Focus Area, AE/AF-L, or Focus Area only.
    
    
    
• Metering / Exposure:
  • b1 - ISO Auto: Activates the Auto ISO option, which disables the HI-1 and HI-2 ISO boost modes.
  • b2 - ISO Step Value: Designates the step size of the ISO setting, with choices of one-third, one-half, or one EV unit.
  • b3 - EV Step: Assigns the EV step size for shutter speed, aperture, and bracketing. Options are one-third, one-half, or one EV unit.
  • b4 - Exposure Compensation EV: As with the above settings, controls the step size for Exposure Compensation. Choices are one-third, one-half, or one EV unit.
  • b5 - Exposure Compensation: Controls whether the EV button is needed to set the exposure compensation. If set to Off, the exposure is adjustable by simply turning the Command dial.
  • b6 - Center Weight: Specifies the diameter of the metering area for Center-Weighted metering mode. Choices are 6, 8, 10, or 13mm, or Average.
    
    
    
• Timers / AE&AF Lock:
  • c1 - AE Lock: Controls whether exposure is locked by a press of the AE-L/AF-L button or by either the AE-L/AF-L or Shutter buttons.
  • c2 - AE-L/AF-L: Controls the function of the AE-L/AF-L button. Options are AE/AF Lock, AE Lock Only, AE Lock Hold/Reset (locks when button is pressed and remains locked until pressed again), AE Lock Hold, or AF Lock.
  • c3 - Auto Meter Off: Sets the amount of time that the exposure information is displayed in the control panel on top of the camera. Choices are 4, 6 (default), 8, or 16 seconds, or No Limit.
  • c4 - Self-Timer: Designates the self-timer countdown time as 2, 5, 10 (default), or 20 seconds.
  • c5 - Monitor Off: Controls how long the LCD monitor remains active when no operations are being performed. Options are 10 or 20 seconds, or 1, 5, or 10 minutes.
    
    
    
• Shooting / Display:
  • d1 - Shooting Speed: Controls the shooting speed for Low-Speed Continuous Shooting mode. Choices are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 frames per second.
  • d2 - C-Mode Max Shots: Determines the maximum number of shots in a single burst in either Continuous Shooting modes. The number of frames varies with the quality and resolution settings:
    • Compressed NEF (RAW) + JPEG: 1 - 24 shots
    • Uncompressed NEF (RAW) + JPEG: 1 - 25 shots
    • Compressed NEF (RAW): 1 - 25 shots
    • Uncompressed NEF (RAW): 1 - 26 shots
    • TIFF (RGB): 1 - 35 shots
    • JPEG: 1 - 40 shots
  • d3 - Exposure Delay Mode: If set to On, this delays the shutter release until 0.4 seconds after the Shutter button is pressed. If Off, shutter opens when the Shutter button is pressed.
  • d4 - Long Exposure NR: Controls whether images captured at shutter speeds slower than 1/2 second are processed with Noise Reduction. When enabled, the camera indicates "Job nr" on the displays after taking a long exposure, and remains busy for slightly longer than the length of the original photo (ie. for a 30 second exposure, there would be a period of a little over 30 seconds after the exposure completed before the camera was ready to take another picture, review the last one, etc.)
  • d5 - File Number Sequence: If set to Off, file number starts over at 0001 whenever a card is formatted, new folder created, or a new memory card is inserted. If On, file numbering continues from card to card. The Reset option resets file numbering with each new card, but adds a "1" to the largest number in the folder.
  • d6 - Control Panel / Finder: Controls the level of information displayed in the rear control panel and viewfinder displays. For the rear panel, you can choose either to display ISO sensitivity at all times, or only whilst the ISO button is pressed (at other times the number of exposures remaining would be shown). For the viewfinder display, you can choose to show either the frame count, or the number of exposures remaining.
  • d7 - Illumination: Designates whether the LCD illumination activates with a press of any control button, or just with the Illumination option of the Power switch.
  
  
  
• Bracketing / Flash:
  • e1 - Flash Sync Speed: Controls the flash sync speed setting, from 1/250 to 1/60. Also enables auto FP high-speed sync with the SB-800 Speedlight, using the "1/250 (FP auto)" setting.
  • e2 - Flash Shutter Speed: Sets the slowest shutter speed possible when using a flash in Program AE or Aperture Priority modes. Options range from 1/60 to 30 seconds. In Shutter Priority and Manual modes, shutter speeds with flash can be as slow as 30 seconds regardless of this setting.
  • e3 - AA Flash Mode: Controls whether the flash level is automatically adjusted for aperture when an external exposure meter is used with an SB-80DX or SB-28DX Speedlight.
  • e4 - Modeling Flash: Specifies whether an SB-800 Speedlight emits a modeling flash when the Depth of Field Preview button is pressed.
  • e5 - Auto Bracket Set: Controls what settings are affected by bracketing mode. Choices are AE & Flash Level, AE Only, Flash Only, or White Balance.
  • e6 - Manual Mode Bracketing: If AE & Flash or AE Only modes are selected above, this option controls what settings are adjusted in bracketing mode. Choices are Flash / Speed, Flash / Speed / Aperture, Flash / Aperture, and Flash Only.
  • e7 - Auto Bracketing Order: Determines the order of images taken in Auto Bracketing mode. Either Default/Under/Over or Under/Default/Over.
  • e8 - Auto Bracketing Selection: Controls how the bracketing mode is selected, either Manual or Preset. Manual indicates that pressing the Bracket button and rotating the Command dial selects the number of shots, and turning the Sub-Command dial sets the bracketing increment. Preset indicates that pressing the Bracket button and turning the Command dial turns the mode on and off, and rotating the Sub-Command dial sets both the number of shots and the bracketing increment.
    
    
    
    
• Controls:
  • f1 - Center Button: Determines what functions are available by pressing the center of the Four-Way Arrow pad. Options are divided into Shooting Mode and Playback Mode groups. In Shooting Mode, choices are Center AF Area, Illuminate AF Area, and Not Used. In Playback mode, options are Thumbnail On/Off, Histogram On/Off, and Zoom On/Off.
  • f2 - Multi-Selector: Controls the function of the Four-Way Arrow pad in Shooting mode. Options are Do Nothing, Reset Monitor Off Delay, and Initiate Auto Focus.
  • f3 - PhotoInfo/Playback: Controls the role of the Four-Way Arrow pad in Playback mode. Off sets the left and right keys to scroll through information screens, while the up and down arrows scroll through captured images. On sets the keys in the reverse.
  • f4 - Function Button: Assigns functions to the Function button. Choices are FV Lock, FV Lock/Lens Data, AE-L/AF-L, One Stop Speed / Aperture, Flash Off, Bracketing Burst, Matrix Metering, Center-Weighted Metering, and Spot Metering.
  • f5 - Command Dials: Designates the direction and functions of the command dials.
  • f6 - Buttons and Dials: Designates whether changes that require a control button and command dial are made while holding the button down and turning the dial, or with a press of the button followed (within 20 seconds) by a turn of the dial.
  • f7 - No CF Card?: Specifies whether the shutter can be released without a CF card.
    
    

Setup Menu:

• Format: Formats the memory card, erasing all images on the card, even write-protected ones.
• LCD Brightness: Controls the brightness of the LCD display, with 5 steps (-2 to +2) available.
• Mirror Lock - Up: Locks the mirror in the up position so that the CCD can be cleaned (only functions when the camera is on AC power).
• Video Mode: Assigns the Video Out signal to PAL (with reduced resolution) or NTSC.
• Date: Sets the camera’s internal calendar and clock.
• Language: Sets the LCD menu language to one of six languages.
• Image Comment: Lets you add a small comment (up to 36 alphanumeric characters max.) to accompany images as they are captured.
• Auto image rotation: Enables or disables the D2H's orientation sensor. When enabled, a tag is recorded in the file header that allows Nikon View and Nikon Capture to automatically display images in their correct orientations.
  
  
  
• Voice Memo: Determines whether the Voice Memo option automatically enables after each image, or only when the Voice Memo button is pressed.
• Voice Memo Protect: Activates write-protection for the last voice memo recorded, preventing it from being erased or overwritten.
• Voice Memo Button: Designates whether the Voice Memo button must be held down during recording, or pressed once to start and again to stop.
  
  
• Audio Output: Determines whether audio plays through the camera's speaker, or via an A/V connection to a television set. You can also turn this function off.
• USB: Chooses either Mass Storage Class or PTP-compliant USB.
• Dust Off Ref Photo: If activated, this option acquires data for the Image Dust Off function in Nikon Capture software, which removes distracting dust from images.
• Battery Info: Displays the battery information for the EN-EL4 rechargeable battery.
• Wireless LAN: Sets up the camera to work with the optional wireless transmitter accessory, for wireless transmission of files to a computer.
• Firmware Version: (This menu item is just off the end of the menu screen shown above. I chose not to include another screen shot just for the sake of this one item...) Displays the firmware version of the camera.