Mastering the Nikon D810

Foreword

Through the past 12 Mastering the Nikon DSLR books authored by Nikonian Darrell Young (known to us as Digital Darrell), we have been delighted to witness an amazing evolution in the author’s steadfast devotion to perfecting his craft, ever since becoming Founding Member of the Nikonians Writers Guild almost 15 years ago.

The new Nikon D810 is a world-standard-setting camera, like its predecessors the D800 and D800E. In addition to the many published official changes, the D810 has more upgrades internally than most readers will expect, with many new menu items and various improvements to previous camera systems. The D810 is one of the most flexible digital cameras ever made, with plenty of pixels for cropping capability in the medium-format range (36 MP), a fast enough frame rate for action photography (5–7 fps), and a deep feature set that makes it superior to other cameras for almost any type of personal, artistic, and commercial photography.

As engineers add and perfect features, each new camera introduced in the Nikon digital single-lens reflex inventory has exponentially become harder to describe in an easy-going and simple-to-understand manner. Yet Darrell has proven equal to the task by spending significant time with each camera in real-life photographic situations, discovering the unique personality of each new Nikon, and by adjusting his descriptive writing style to fit the needs of the reader. Camera complexity vanishes as the reader begins to understand each feature well and is able use his or her new Nikon to make superior images.

Before writing each book, Darrell’s first step is to read the user’s manual. Once he grasps the concepts and basic directions available through the manual, he takes those same concepts and directions into the field. He makes sure he understands how each feature works for basic photography and how it can be applied to specialty applications such as landscapes, weddings, events, and portraits. Once satisfied that he has mastered each new feature, he then translates his experience into a simple-to-understand sequence of profusely illustrated steps, and then goes on to recommend the best initial settings and shooting techniques to match. As you read the chapters that follow, you will be the beneficiary of his diligence and painstaking attention to detail.

This joint venture between nikonians.org and Rocky Nook has developed a strong following in the camera instruction genre, and Darrell’s fastidious attention to detail has been the key ingredient in that trend.

We are proud to include his impressive credentials and body of work in the ever-growing and never-ending resources for our community, such as the forums, The Nikonian eZine, Nikonians Academy Workshops, Nikonians News Blog, Nikonians podcasts, and our Wiki. Our community continues to grow as we now surpass 500,000 members on record.

Nikonians, now in its 14th year, has earned a worldwide reputation as a friendly, reliable, informative, and passionate Nikon® user’s community, thanks in great measure to members like our own Digital Darrell, who have taken time to share the results of their experiences with Nikon imaging equipment. Nikonians, where photographers of all skill levels share, learn, and inspire.

Enjoy this book, the Nikonians community, and your Nikon.

J. Ramón Palacios (jrp) and Bo Stahlbrandt (bgs)

Nikonians Founders

www.nikonians.org

P.S. At the end of the Table of Contents you will find a 50% discount voucher for a one-year nikonians.org Gold membership. Use it. You will discover why members say, A Nikonians membership, the best investment ever made after my camera.Enjoy this book, the Nikonians community, and your Nikons.

1 Camera Setup and Control Reference

Elmer the Juvenile Blue Grosbeak © Jackie Donaldson (bhpr)

Congratulations! You’ve purchased, or are about to purchase, Nikon’s professional-level, smaller-bodied, full-frame (FX) format camera: the Nikon D810.

While no digital camera is inexpensive, the D810 provides passionate photographers with a professional-level camera with medium-format resolution at an attractive price. It is weather and dust sealed with a magnesium-alloy body and frame and a rubberized coating that makes it strong and reliable for years of faithful service.

The 36.3-megapixel imaging sensor and supporting Nikon Scene Recognition System (SRS) allow you to take complete creative control of the scene in front of your lens.

The camera has advanced firmware that does things like automatic chromatic aberration reduction and full color optimization via selectable Picture Controls, which allow you to create the best pictures you’ve ever made.

This book will explore your incredibly feature-rich camera in great detail, using everyday language. We’ll cover virtually every button, dial, switch, and setting, giving you how, when, and why information so that you can become a master of your new, powerful imaging instrument. Your passion for excellent photography can be fully expressed with your Nikon D810. Let’s take control of it!

Figure 1.0 – Nikon D810 with AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8G ED VR lens

Medium-Format Resolution Sensor

In the olden days, pre-2002, I loved medium-format cameras. You would often find me in Great Smoky Mountains National Park lugging around a heavy Mamiya RB-67 Pro SD medium-format camera, which gave me a large 6×7 cm Provia F transparency. As film started fading away and digital photography rose supreme in most people’s eyes, true medium format went away for the everyday photographer. Sure, one could buy a nice Hasselblad digital medium format for $20,000, but few could afford that level of camera.

Now, with the exciting Nikon D810 camera, Nikon has returned medium-format resolution to the everyday photographer who wants it. No longer will we have to find a lab to process our 120 film, be forced to lug around huge medium-format film bodies, and have to settle for standard-size digital images.

At 36.3-megapixel resolution, the D810 moves soundly into medium-format territory. What’s the difference between the D810 and a much more expensive true medium-format camera back? Although the D810 provides similar resolution, the imaging sensor on some medium-format cameras can be twice the size of the D810’s, at 36.7×46.1 mm compared to the D810’s 35.9×24.0 mm CMOS (FX) sensor (figure 1.1).

Figure 1.1 – Nikon D810’s 36.3-Megapixel Imaging Sensor (FX) 35.9×24.0 mm

Obviously, the larger medium-format camera backs will have larger pixels, providing better light-gathering capability and less noise. However, the cost entry point for most medium-format digital camera backs is around $10,000 and goes up very quickly with the number of megapixels. For about one-third of the lowest medium-format back price for a new D810, I’m inclined to tolerate a little more noise in higher ISO shots. However, the Nikon D810 has excellent noise control, even better than its predecessor, the Nikon D700, and that camera is well known for its excellent, low-noise images.

With the new D810, you can make an image with 36 megapixels (7360×4912 pixels). Do you realize the camera creates a 16×24-inch (40×60 cm) native print at 300 dpi (using FX format)? With careful post-processing and enlargement, the images can be made, as National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg says, as large as a house!

Imagine the expansive landscape shots with the massive detail that comes with the resolution of the D810. Imagine being able to make large portraits to hang on your wall. Think of how your clients will enjoy the various crops you’ll be able to make from the huge image file. Consider the extra income from stock photography you’ll gain from the larger pictures.

Medium-format resolution has distinct advantages, with only the disadvantage of having to store the much larger images. Of course, you could use the DX mode in the D810 for smaller image size and still have images of comparable size to the 16 megapixel Nikon D7000. Such flexibility!

Figure 1.2 – Back of Nikon D810

The Nikon D810 is indeed a camera that sets new standards other manufacturers will have to scramble to approach. Nikon can at times seem slow about bringing out new technology, but when it does, nothing else on the market even comes close.

This camera is a very mature high-definition (HD) imaging device designed to provide years of usage; you can put your money into better lenses instead of a new camera. Few photographers will need more power than the Nikon D810 can deliver. With this camera, you are well equipped for years to come.

Now, let’s start learning about this powerful, medium-format, high-definition, single-lens reflex (HD-SLR) camera!

How to Use This Book

The upcoming sections and chapters are best read with your camera in hand, ready for configuration. There are literally hundreds of things to configure on this advanced HD-SLR. In this chapter, I’ll give new D810 users a place to start. Later, as you progress through this book, we’ll look at all the buttons, switches, dials, and menu settings in detail. That will allow you to fully master the operation of your Nikon D810.

There is a chapter or section for each menu in the camera. Plus, there is additional information on how to put it all together in chapters like Metering, Exposure Modes, and Histogram; White Balance; Autofocus, AF-Area, and Release Modes; and Movie Live View. Because the Nikon D810 is a camera for advanced users, this book assumes you have knowledge of basic things like depth of field, lens focal length, and angle of view and how the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity control exposure. If you need brushing up on those subjects, may I please refer you to one of my other books, Beyond Point-and-Shoot. It assumes absolutely no previous knowledge of photography and covers the basics for new users of DSLR cameras. You can find out more about Beyond Point-and-Shoot at my website:

http://www.PictureAndPen.com/BeyondPS

If you would like to contact me directly to comment on the book, ask questions, or report errata, please use the contact link at my website, www.PictureAndPen.com.

You can also join my Facebook group, Master Your Nikon, and my Google+ group, Nikon Digital Camera & Photo Enthusiasts (NDCPE), at the following web addresses:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MasterYourNikon/

https://plus.google.com/communities/110426867121786060811

You will find a series of downloadable resources for this book, along with any errata, at the two following websites:

http://www.Nikonians.org/NikonD810

http://rockynook.com/NikonD810

For excellent support of your new Nikon D810 and other Nikon equipment, be sure to stop by and visit with the fine members of www.Nikonians.org, the best Nikon users’ community on the web, full of friendly and knowledgeable world class photographers. There is a voucher with a 50% discount on a Nikonians Gold Membership in the front of this book. Use the code to start or renew your Nikonians membership.

Nikon User’s Manual Page References

Since many people appreciate additional reference points for research, I’ve included appropriate Nikon User’s Manual page references under the subheadings throughout the book. Using these references is entirely optional and not necessary for complete understanding of your camera. However, many people, myself included, enjoy having a different perspective on things they are studying, especially when the subject is as complex as an HD-SLR.

Colors and Wording Legend

Throughout the book, you’ll notice that in the numbered, step-by-step instructions there are colored terms as well as terms that are displayed in italic font.

Blue is used to refer to the camera’s physical features.

Green is for functions and settings displayed on the camera’s LCD screens.

Italic is for textual prompts seen on the camera’s LCD screens.

Italic or bold italic is also used on select occasions for special emphasis.

Here is a sample paragraph with the colors and italic font in use:

Press the MENU button to reach the Setup Menu and then scroll to the Format memory card option by pressing the down arrow on the Multi selector. You will see the following message: All images on Memory card will be deleted. OK? Select Yes and then press the OK button. Please make sure you’ve transferred all your images first!

What’s in the Box?

The golden box containing the highly desirable Nikon D810 and accessories contains a total of 14 items in the American version. There may be slight differences in versions from other countries, but this will give you a good idea of what should be in your camera box.

Following is a list of each item shown in figure 1.3:

English User’s Manual and Quick Guide

Spanish User’s Manual and Quick Guide

The Golden Box from Nikon

Nikon D810 camera body

View NX 2 installer CD

BF-1B body cap

EN-EL15 Li-ion battery with terminal cover

UC-E22 USB cable (USB 3.0)

AN-DC12 neck strap labeled Nikon D810

BM-12 monitor cover

USB cable clip for tethering

HDMI cable clip for tethering

AC wall adapter (for battery charger) *

AC wire (for battery charger) *

MH-25a battery charger

Warranty registration card (not shown)

Figure 1.3 – Nikon D810 box contents

* Your camera will include either the AC wall adapter (13) or the AC wire (14) for your region’s power outlet type, but probably not both. This varies with the country and region.

Initial Hardware Considerations for New Users

Although the D810 is a camera for enthusiasts and professionals, some new DSLR users have purchased a D810 as their first digital single lens reflex (DSLR) or HD-SLR camera. New users may not know how to attach and remove a lens, insert or charge the battery, and format and insert memory cards. The majority of this book’s readers, however, already know how to perform these tasks. I do not want to ask a more experienced DSLR user to read over the basics of DSLR use in this advanced book, so I’ve created a PDF document called Initial Hardware Considerations for New Users, which you can download from either of these websites:

http://www.Nikonians.org/NikonD810

http://rockynook.com/NikonD810

The document explains the basic information you will need to get started using your new camera. There are also other articles of interest to new Nikon D810 users on these web pages. To use these documents, you’ll need Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at www.adobe.com.

Initial Camera Setup

This section is devoted to the first-time use and configuration of the camera. There are five specific settings you should configure when you first turn on the camera, before you shoot any pictures. I’ll walk you through the settings. Later chapters will cover virtually all camera settings in detail.

When you first insert the battery into a factory-fresh Nikon D810, you may notice the word CLOCK flashing on the camera’s upper Control panel and rear Monitor, if you press the info button. If you don’t see CLOCK flashing, then your camera may have already been set up for initial use.

You may want to go through these steps even if the camera has been in use previously. That way you can make sure the initial settings are best for you.

Setting the Camera’s Language – Step 1

The D810 is multilingual, or multinational. As partially shown in figure 1.4, the menus can be displayed in 36 languages. Most likely the camera will already be configured to the language spoken in your area because various world distributors ship their cameras somewhat preconfigured. However, you may want to check and make sure.

Figure 1.4 – Selecting a Language setting

Here are the steps to select your language:

Select Language from the Setup Menu and scroll to the right (figure 1.4, screen 1).

Use the Multi selector to scroll up or down until your language is highlighted (figure 1.4, screen 2). It may already be selected if your camera was set up by your distributor.

Press the OK button to select your language.

Next, let’s move to the second screen in the setup series, the Setup Menu > Time zone and date screen.

Setting the Camera’s Time Zone – Step 2

This is an easy screen to use as long as you can recognize the area of the world in which you live. Use the map shown in figure 1.5 to find your area, then select it.

Figure 1.5 – Selecting a Time zone setting

Here are the steps to select the correct Time zone setting for your location:

Select Time zone and date from the Setup Menu and scroll to the right (figure 1.5, screen 1).

Select Time zone from the Time zone and date screen and scroll to the right (figure 1.5, screen 2).

You’ll now see the Time zone screen with yellow arrows pointing to the left and right on either side of the small black and gray world map. With the Multi selector, scroll to the left or right until your world location is highlighted in yellow. You will see either a vertical yellow strip with red dots or a tiny yellow outline with a red dot. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the currently selected time zone. Mine is set to New York, Toronto, Lima (UTC-5), as shown in figure 1.5, screen 3.

Press the OK button, and your Time zone setting will be locked in place.

Ok, let’s examine the third screen in the series, the Date and time screen.

Setting the Camera’s Date and Time – Step 3

This screen allows you to put in the current date and time. It is in year, month, day (Y, M, D) and hour, minute, second (H, M, S) format. Once you’ve configured this function, check to see if the blinking CLOCK notice has gone away from the top Control panel and Info screen.

Figure 1.6 – Selecting a Date and time setting

Here are the steps to configure the Date and time setting:

Select Time zone and date from the Setup Menu and scroll to the right (figure 1.6, screen 1).

Select Date and time from the Time zone and date screen and scroll to the right (figure 1.6, screen 2).

Using the Multi selector, scroll to the left or right to select the date and time sections. Scroll up or down to set the values for each one (figure 1.6, screen 3). A 24-hour clock is used for the time values (see page 325 for a 12- to 24-hour conversion chart).

Press the OK button when you’ve finished inputting the Date and time.

Next, we’ll consider the fourth step in the series, setting the camera’s date format.

Setting the Camera’s Date Format – Step 4

The English-speaking world uses various date formats. The Nikon D810 allows you to choose from the most common ones. There are three date formats you can select:

• Y/M/D – Year/Month/Day (2015/12/31)

• M/D/Y – Month/Day/Year (12/31/2015)

• D/M/Y – Day/Month/Year (31/12/2015)

Figure 1.7 – Selecting a Date format setting

American residents usually select the M/D/Y (Month/Day/Year) format. However, you may prefer a different format. Here are the steps to select the date format you like best:

Select Time zone and date from the Setup Menu and scroll to the right (figure 1.7, screen 1).

Select Date format from the Time zone and date screen and scroll to the right (figure 1.7, screen 2).

Using the Multi selector, scroll up or down to the position of the date format you prefer (figure 1.7, screen 3). I chose M/D/Y.

Press the OK button to select the format.

Now, let’s configure the last screen in our series, and your camera will be ready to use.

Setting the Camera’s Daylight Saving Time – Step 5

Many areas of the United States observe daylight saving time. In the springtime, many American residents set their clocks forward by one hour on a specified day each year. Then in the fall they set it back, leading to the clever saying, spring forward and fall back.

You can use the Daylight saving time setting to adjust the time on your D810’s clock forward or back by one hour, according to whether daylight saving time is currently in effect in your area.

Figure 1.8 – Selecting a Daylight saving time setting

To enable or disable Daylight saving time, follow these steps:

Select Time zone and date from the Setup Menu and scroll to the right (figure 1.8, image 1).

Select Daylight saving time from the Time zone and date screen and scroll to the right (figure 1.8, image 2).

There are only two selections: On or Off (figure 1.8, image 3). If daylight saving time is in effect in your area (spring and summer in most areas of the United States), select On. When daylight saving time ends, you will need to manually change this setting to Off (via the Setup Menu) to adjust the clock back by one hour.

Press the OK button to select your choice.

This is not an automatic function in the Nikon D810 camera; it simply allows you to adjust the camera’s clock quickly by selecting On or Off. Therefore, you must remember to return to this setting whenever daylight saving time begins and ends. When you change the clocks in your home, it’s a great time to change the clock in your camera as well. If you don’t, your images will have metadata reflecting a time that is off by one hour for half the year!

In the next section, Control Location Reference, we will take a look at each of the buttons, dials, and switches on the camera to see what each control is named and where it is located.

Control Location Reference

Following are the locations and names of all the controls mentioned in this book. You may want to place a bookmark here so you can refer back to this control location reference list when an unfamiliar control name is mentioned in the book. This list covers 70 separate external camera controls, showing their locations and Nikon-supplied names.

I have also created a document titled Control Function Reference that you can download from either of the following websites:

http://www.Nikonians.org/NikonD810

http://rockynook.com/NikonD810

The Control Function Reference provides a deeper discussion of each button, dial, and switch on the camera.

Figure 1.9 – Back of camera

Back of Camera (figure 1.9)

Accessory shoe (hot shoe)

Eyepiece shutter lever

Delete/Format button

Playback button

Viewfinder

MENU button

Protect/Picture Control/Help button

Playback zoom in button

Thumbnail/Playback zoom out button

OK button

Monitor

button

info button

Memory card access lamp

Live view button

Live view selector

Memory card slot cover

Speaker

Focus selector lock

Multi selector center button

Multi selector

Main command dial

AF-ON button

AE-L/AF-L button

Diopter adjustment control

Figure 1.10 – Top of camera

Top of Camera (figure 1.10)

Release mode dial lock release button

QUAL button (image quality and size)

WB button (white balance)

ISO button (ISO sensitivity)

Release mode dial

Metering button

Control panel

MODE/Format button (exposure modes)

Movie-record button

Exposure compensation button

Shutter-release button

Power and backlight switch

Figure 1.11 – Front of camera

Front of Camera (figure 1.11)

Built-in flash (closed)

AF-assist illuminator

Sub-command dial

Depth-of-field preview button

Fn (function) button

Lens mount (F-mount)

Screwdriver AF lens focus driver

Reflex mirror (shutter, sensor is behind)

Meter coupling lever

Mounting index (lens)

Focus-mode selector switch

AF-mode button

Lens release button

10-pin remote terminal cover

Flash sync terminal cover

Flash mode/compensation button

Stereo microphone

BKT button (bracketing)

Flash pop-up button

CPU contacts (body to lens)

Figure 1.12 – Camera connectors under the Connector cover

External Connectors (figure 1.12)

USB cable clamp mount hole

HDMI cable clamp mount hole

HDMI mini-pin connector (Type C)

USB connector (USB 3.0)

Connector for external microphone

Headphone connector

Figure 1.13 – Bottom of camera

Bottom of Camera (figure 1.13)

Power connector cover

Battery-chamber cover latch

Battery-chamber cover

Compliance and information plate

Contact cover for optional MB-D12 battery pack

Tripod socket

Camera ID, battery info, and serial number plate

For a deeper discussion of each button, dial, and switch on the camera, download the bonus Control Function Reference document from either of the following websites:

http://www.Nikonians.org/NikonD810

http://rockynook.com/NikonD810

The Control Function Reference follows the same numbering pattern as the Control Location Reference (this section).

Using the Nikon D810 Menu System

The next several chapters will consider the camera menu subsystems. The D810’s menu system consists of six menus, as shown in figure 1.14.

There are literally hundreds of configuration options in these six menus. Additionally, there is a seventh menu (not shown in figure 1.14) called Recent Settings. My Menu is the default final menu in the camera, and you can toggle between My Menu and the Recent Settings menu by selecting it under My Menu > Choose tab or Recent Settings > Choose tab. We’ll discuss these two final menus and why they work this way in the chapter titled My Menu and Recent Settings. The Recent Settings menu always contains the last 20 functions you’ve adjusted on your camera, while My Menu lets you place your favorite, most-configured menu selections under your own custom menu.

Figure 1.14 – Six primary menu systems in the Nikon D810

In case you’ve never used a Nikon DSLR before, you enter the menu system by pressing the MENU button next to the top left of the camera’s Monitor. As you scroll up and down on the toolbar at the left of each menu you will scroll through the six available menus.

Author’s Conclusions

This first chapter helped you get your camera ready for initial use. It also provided camera control descriptions, locations, and references like few other books on the market. With this book you have a complete reference for your Nikon D810 camera.

We’ll examine each setting on each menu, starting now. Do you have your camera near you? You’ll need it to test the numerous ways each function can be configured. You’ll learn and remember the functions much better if you take the time to adjust your camera while you are reading.

Congratulations on purchasing one of the most powerful Nikons this author has ever seen. Let’s get down to examining its details!

2 Playback Menu

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies on a Burnt Log © Richard Higgins (HigginsR1)

The Nikon D810 has a big 3.2-inch high-resolution OLED Monitor, which you can use to examine in great detail the images you have taken. You can zoom in past the 100 percent pixel-peeping level to make sure an image is sharp enough. You can view, copy, delete, and hide images and examine detailed shooting information on each picture. You can even use the Monitor to view a slide show or output the show to a much larger HDMI device, such as a television (HDTV).

The Playback Menu has everything you need to control your camera’s image playback and copying and printing functions. You’ll be taking thousands of pictures and will view most of them on the Monitor; therefore, it is a good idea to learn to use the Playback Menu well.

By now you may have quite a few pictures on your camera’s memory card. Let’s consider how you can best view, move, and print those images using the Playback Menu. The Playback functions are as follows:

• Delete – Allows you to delete all or selected images from your camera’s memory card(s).

• Playback folder – Allows you to set which image folders your camera will display if you have multiple folders on the camera’s memory card(s).

• Hide image – Lets you conceal images so they won’t be displayed on the camera’s Monitor.

• Playback display options – Controls how many informational screens the camera will display for each image.

• Copy image(s) – Gives you functions to copy images between the two memory cards.

• Image review – Turns the camera’s post-shot automatic image review on or off.

• After delete – Determines which image is displayed next when you delete an image from a memory card.

• Rotate tall – Allows you to choose whether portrait-orientation images (vertical) are displayed in an upright position or lying on their side on the horizontal Monitor.

• Slide show – Allows you to display all the images on your camera’s memory card(s) in a sequential display, like the slide shows of olden days (pre-2002). No projector required.

• DPOF print order – Lets you print your images directly from a PictBridge-compatible printer without using a computer—either by using digital print order format (DPOF) directly from a memory card or by connecting a USB cable to the camera.

Now, let’s examine each of these settings in detail, with full explanations on how, why, and when to configure each item.

Technical OLED Monitor Information

As mentioned previously, the D810 has a 3.2-inch Monitor with enough resolution, size, and viewing angle to allow you to really enjoy using it for previewing images. It has VGA resolution (640×480), based on a 1,229,000-dot, or 1.2M-dot, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel. The bottom line is that this 3.2-inch screen has amazing clarity for your image previewing needs. You can zoom in for review up to 46x for Large (L) images, 34x for Medium (M) images, and 22x for Small (S) images. That’s zooming in to pixel-peeping levels.

Now, if you want to get technical, here’s the extra geek stuff:

If anything you read says the OLED Monitor has 1,229,000 pixels of resolution the writer is uninformed. Nikon lists the resolution as 1.2M dots, not pixels. Technically, an individual pixel on your D810’s Monitor is a combination of four color dots—red, green, blue, and white (RGBW). The four dots are blended together to provide shades of color and are equal to one pixel. This means the Monitor is limited to one-fourth of 1,229,000 dots, or 307,250 pixels of real image resolution. The VGA standard has 307,200 pixels (640×480), so the D810’s Monitor has VGA resolution.

The white dot color used on the D810 Monitor is an added feature that many camera monitors do not have. This extra white dot color allows the Monitor to have better contrast and more accurate color. The D810 Monitor isn’t any higher in resolution than that of its predecessors, the Nikon D800 and D800E, which also have VGA resolution but are limited to RGB colors, with no extra white dots. The D800 and D800E cameras have 921,000 red, green, and blue dots, which when divided by three (one-third) equals 307,000 pixels, or basically the same resolution as the D810.

Which Memory Card and Folder?

Before we get into the individual functions on the Playback Menu, there is something you need to understand that will help you avoid confusion as you use your camera’s menu functions. Because the D810 has multiple memory cards (playback slots) and image folders (playback folders), you will need a good way to know which memory card and folder contain a particular image. The information in this section explains how the camera informs you of where a highlighted image is stored.

The D810 has multiple card slots, so many functions can affect multiple memory cards when Playback Menu > Playback folder > All is selected (see the upcoming section, Playback Folder).

How can you tell which memory card and folder is being affected by the current function? As an example, I am using the first setting on the Playback Menu, the Delete image function. However, this concept of card slots (i.e., CF and SD) and folders (e.g., 100ND810 and 101ND810) applies to many functions in this camera. You can use this knowledge as you work your way through the entire book.

Figure 2.0A – Active memory card slot

Notice in figure 2.0A that there are two tiny memory card symbols above the image thumbnails (see arrows). Each card slot is labeled. One is CF and the other is SD. If your camera has only one card inserted, the other card will be grayed out.

As you use various functions that affect displayed images, the memory card symbol will be underlined for the card containing the image you are modifying, and the playback folder name will be displayed to the right of the card slot name (red arrows in figure 2.0A). In figure 2.0A, it is apparent that there are two memory cards in use because neither card is grayed out. The selected card is highlighted in yellow and the other card is white.

The three screens in figure 2.0A represent what appears on the Monitor while scrolling through images. Moving from left to right in the three screens, you will notice the playback folder number is different in screens 1 and 2 (red arrows). Screen 1 shows that the SD card has a folder named 100ND810, while screen 2 shows that the SD card has a second folder, named 102ND810. If you look at the highlighted pictures in screens 1 and 2, you will see that folder 100ND810 has 72 pictures and picture 100-72 is selected (figure 2.0A, screen 1). The number 100 represents the folder in use and the number 72 represents the image number in that folder. In the folder named 102ND810 picture 102-1 is selected (figure 2.0A, screen 2). It is apparent there are no more pictures after 102-1 because you don’t see a continuance of the 102 picture count in the next picture; it stops with 102-1 and continues on the next row with 101-1, a different folder. Now, in figure 2.0A, screen 3, you can see that I have switched to the CF card. There is only one playback folder showing and it is named 101ND810.

The camera automatically switches between these cards and folders as you scroll through images if Playback Menu > Playback folder > All is selected. However, if Playback Menu > Playback folder > ND810 or Current is selected, the choice of folders and images may be more limited. See the section called Playback Folder later in this chapter for information on the Playback folder option.

Had there been only one card in the camera, the other card would have been grayed out and not selectable. The memory card containing the currently selected image will always be underlined and highlighted in yellow. As you scroll through the images, notice that the yellow underline and highlighting will jump to whatever card and folder contain the image that is highlighted at that moment.

What if you don’t want to take the time to scroll through hundreds of images trying to determine which playback folder they are in? Fortunately, there is a shortcut for selecting images on only one card or in one playback folder. Again, I am using the Delete function as an example, but this method applies to multiple functions in this book (figure 2.0B).

Figure 2.0B – Choosing a Playback slot and folder

Figure 2.0B shows the method used to choose a playback slot (memory card) and folder. Many functions in the book affect one of the two memory card slots. You can choose which slot is affected by a current function by using the method discussed here. (Be careful! I am using the Delete function as a sample only. We are not currently deleting images, so don’t actually execute this sample Delete function to completion. I will discuss how to delete images in the next section):

Select the Delete function (sample) from the Playback Menu and scroll to the right (figure 2.0B, screen 1).

Choose Selected and scroll to the right (figure 2.0B, screen 2).

While the screen shown in figure 2.0B, screen 3, is on the Monitor, press the Thumbnail/Playback zoom out button.

The menu shown in figure 2.0B, screen 4, will now appear. This Playback slot and folder menu gives you a choice of the active playback slots (memory cards) the camera is currently using. Choose one of the two (SD card slot or CF card slot) and scroll to the right.

Now choose which playback folder you want to use and press the OK button (figure 2.0B, screen 5). Playback folder 102ND810 is selected in figure 2.0B.

You will now note in figure 2.0B, screen 6, that the yellow rectangle is surrounding the first picture in the folder 102ND810 on the CD card. There is only one picture in this folder currently (102-1).

You can use this method anytime you want to drill down into a specific card and folder to use or modify a certain image or images. This method of moving between cards and folders will apply to many functions throughout this book, so always be on the lookout for which memory card and playback folder contain the picture you are working with.

Why am I talking about these two functions at the beginning of the chapter instead of adding them to each individual section? Simply because many functions use this same methodology and there is no point in wasting book space to repeat the same instructions over and over. Just remember, please, that anytime you see a Monitor screen full of images, you can likely press the Thumbnail/Playback zoom out button and open the Playback slot and folder menu to select a particular memory card and folder.

Also, I am putting this information at the beginning of the Playback Menu chapter because it is so closely controlled by the settings of the Playback Menu > Playback folder function. You need to learn this well so that you can use this information as you study this book and when you are using your camera in the field.

Now, let’s examine each of the settings on the Playback Menu in detail.

Delete

(User’s Manual – Page 252)

The Delete function allows you to selectively delete individual images from a group of images in a single folder or multiple folders on your camera’s memory card(s). It also allows you to clear all images in the folders without deleting the folders. This is sort of like a card format that affects only images. However, if you have protected or hidden images, this function will not delete them.

Note: I wish Nikon had chosen to put Playback folder first on the Playback Menu instead of the Delete function. Delete, which is first, does different things according to how you have Playback folder configured. It is really best to understand and configure Playback folder before using the Delete function.

There are two selections on the Delete screen: Selected and All. Let’s consider each of them.

Selected

You can use the Selected method to delete individual images on the camera’s memory card. This function does not delete all images at once, unless you want to take the time to mark each image for deletion individually. Deleting all images at once is done with the All method (next subsection). Figure 2.1A shows the menu screens you’ll use to control the Delete function for selected images.

Notice in screen 3 of figure 2.1A that there is a list of images (and possibly videos), each with a number in its lower-right corner. These numbers run in sequence from 1 to however many images you have in your current image folder, or on the entire memory card. The number of images shown on the Monitor will vary according to how you have the Playback folder settings configured. (See the next section of this chapter, Playback Folder.)

Figure 2.1A – Delete menu screens for the Selected option

If you have Playback folder set to Current, the camera will show you only the images found in your current playback folder. If you have Playback folder set to ND810, the camera will display all the images created by the D810 in any folder on your camera’s memory cards. If Playback folder is set to All, the camera will display all images on both cards, whether they were created by the D810 or another Nikon camera. The safest setting when deleting images is to use Playback Menu > Playback folder > All.

Here are the steps to delete one or more images with the Selected method. These steps will work however you have Playback Menu > Playback folder configured; however, you will be limited in the number of images you can see to delete when you are using the Playback Menu > Playback folder > Current setting.

Select the Delete function from the Playback Menu and scroll to the right (figure 2.1A, screen 1).

Choose Selected and scroll to the right (figure 2.1A, screen 2).

Locate the images for deletion with the Multi selector and then press the Multi selector center button. This button will mark or unmark images for deletion. It toggles a small trash can symbol on and off on the top right of the selected image (red arrow in figure 2.1A, screen 3). Only one image is selected, number 100-1. However, you can select as many images as you want by highlighting them with the yellow box and pressing the Multi selector center button.

Select the images you want to throw away and then press the OK button. A screen will appear asking you to confirm the deletion of the images you have selected (figure 2.1A, screen 4).

To finish deleting the images, select Yes and press the OK button. To cancel, select No and press the OK button (figure 2.1A, screen 5).

A final screen will appear briefly with the word Done over a grayed-out Playback Menu and then the camera will return to the normal Playback Menu.

While you are selecting or deselecting images to delete, you can press the Playback zoom in button to see a larger version of the currently selected image. This lets you examine the image in more detail to see if you really want to delete it. You can also use the Thumbnail/Playback zoom out button to open the Playback slot and folder menu, allowing you to select a particular memory card and folder (as discussed at the beginning of this chapter).

Now let’s discuss how you can delete all images from a memory card without removing the folders on it.

All

This option is like a formatting a card, except that it will not delete folders, only images (figure 2.1B). As mentioned previously, it will not delete protected or hidden images, either. Using this option is a quick way to format your card while maintaining your favorite folder structure.

Here are the steps to delete all images on the card (or in the current folder):

Select the Delete function from the Playback Menu and scroll to the right (figure 2.1B, screen 1).

Choose All and scroll to the right (figure 2.1B, screen 2).

Select the slot from which to delete images. You can select either SD card slot or CF card slot (figure 2.1B, screen 3). If there is a memory card missing from one of the slots, it will be grayed out and unavailable. Press the OK button to choose the slot.

A screen will appear asking you to confirm the deletion of all images. All means what it says, as step 5 more deeply discusses. Read it carefully! You must understand that how you have the Playback folder option (the next function in the Playback Menu) configured affects how many images will be deleted. See the next section of this chapter, Playback Folder, for information on the Playback folder option.

Figure 2.1B – Delete menu screens for the All option

Choose Yes from the next screen with the big red exclamation point and dire warning of imminent deletion (figure 2.1B, image 5). Be very careful from this point forward! If you have Playback folder set to ND810, the camera will delete all images in every folder that was created by the D810, and the warning will say, All images will be deleted. OK?, followed by ND810. If you have Playback folder set to Current, the camera will delete only the images in the folder that is currently in use, and the warning will say, All images will be deleted. OK?, followed by Current. If you have Playback folder set to All, the camera will delete all images in all folders, and the warning will say, All images in all folders will be deleted. OK? The camera is prepared to delete every image in every folder (created by any camera) on the selected memory card if Playback Menu > Playback folder > All is selected.

When you select Yes and press the OK button, a final screen with the word Done will pop up briefly, informing you that the deed has been accomplished (figure 2.1B, screen 6).