Digital Resources from michaelschwarz.com
D3 Camera Settings used by Michael Schwarz
These are my personal opinions and preferences only. They are not authorized by Nikon
in any way. Your experiences and opinions may differ.
NOTE: These setting are always subject to change.

Workshop Information
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PLAYBACK MENU

Playback Folder- all

Display Mode- check highlight only

Image Review- off

After Delete- show next

Rotate Tall- off

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SHOOTING MENU

File Naming- something that identifies you or the camera.

Slot 2- Varies depending on situation. All 3 options can be valid but I usually shoot overflow or backup.

Image Quality- Your choice JPG Fine or Raw preferred.

Image Size- Large

Image Area- Auto DX Crop on

JPEG Compression- Optimal

NEF Recording- 14-bit, lossless compressed.

White Balance- appropriate for your shooting situation.

Set Picture Control- Standard, with Saturation dialed down one increment for shoooting people. Vivid for shooting landscapes.

Color Space- AdobeRGB. sRGB if large amounts of prints from commercial lab are to be made.

Active D-Lighting- Off unless needed.

Vignette Control- off, except with 70-200mm, then on.

Long Exp NR- Off unless needed shooting in contrasty situations. Then low or normal.

High ISO NR- Normal

ISO Sensitivity- As low as practical. Excellent quality achievable up to 4000. Usable up to 6400.

Live view mode- handheld

Multiple exposure- off

Interval timer shooting- off

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SETUP MENU

LCD Brightness-0

Video Mode- NTSC

HDMI-auto

Image Comment-on add your name here

Auto Image Rotation-on

Voice Memo- manual

Voice Memo Overwrite- off

Voice Memo Button- press and hold

Audio Output- via speaker

USB-MTP/PTP

Image Authentication-off

Copyright information- Input your name and copyright date.

Firmware Version- check nikonusa.com for current firmware.

 

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RETOUCH MENU- use to your heart's content.

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MY MENU- set up the menu items you use the most. These are the items in my, my menu.

Battery Info

Set Picture Control

Active D-Lighting

Shooting Info Display

JPEG Compression

Slot 2

 

CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU

AF-C Priority- Release

AF-S Priority- Focus

Dynamic AF Area-51

Focus Tracking with lock-on-normal

AF Activation-off (AF-on only)

Focus point illumination-on/on/ normal

Focus point wrap around-off

AF point selection-AF51

AF-On button- af on

ISO step value- 1/3

EV steps- 1/3

EV comp/fine tune- 1/3

Easy expsoure com.- off

Center-weighted area- 12mm

Fine tune optimal exposure-no

Shutter release AE-L-off

Auto meter off- 8secs

Self-timer delay- 10secs

Monitor off delay- 20 secs

Beep -OFF!

Shooting speed- high 9fps, low 4fps

Max continuous release- 130

File Number Sequence- ON!

Control panel/viewfinder- rear control iso, viewfinder frame count

Shooting info display- Auto

LCD illumination-off

Exposure delay mode- off

Flash sync speed -1/250 auto fp

Flash shutter speed- 1/30

 

Modeling Flash- off

Auto Bracketin Set- AE

Auto Bracketing Mode M- flash/speed

Bracketing order- under>mtr>over

Multi selector center button- shooting mode:select center focus point. Playback mode- zoom on/off medium magnification.

Multi selector-off do nothing

Photo info/playback- off, info up/down, playback left/right

Assign Function Button- Func button press-spot metering. Func button+dials-choose image area.

Assign Preview Button- Preview button press-virtual horizon. Preview+command-none.

Assign AE-L/AF-L- AE-L/AF-L button-AE/AF lock. AE-L/AF-L+command dials- none.

Customize Command dials- reverse rotaion and change main/sub: off. Aperture setting on: sub-command dial. Menus and playback on.

Release button to use dial- off

No Memory Card-lock

Reverse Indicators- minus on left, plus on right.

 

 

 

All information copyright Michael A. Schwarz Photography www.michaelschwarz.com