Nikon. The name has been associated with top-flight photography equipment for generations. And the introduction of the D300s has only enriched Nikon’s well-deserved reputation, offering all the control a photographer could want — and then some. In fact, this camera offers so many features that sorting them all out can be more than a little confusing, especially if you’re new to digital photography, SLR photography, or both.
Therein lies the point of Nikon D300s: Through this topic, you can discover not just what each bell and whistle on your camera does, but also when, where, why, and how to put it to best use. And unlike many photography topics, this one doesn’t require any previous knowledge of photography or digital imaging to make sense of things. In classic style, everything is explained in easy-to-understand language, with lots of illustrations to help clear up any confusion.
In short, what you have in your hands is the paperback version of an in-depth photography workshop tailored specifically to your Nikon picture-taking powerhouse.
The following sections offer brief previews of each part. If you’re eager to find details on a specific topic, the index shows you exactly where to look.
Part I: Fast Track to Super Snaps
Part I contains four chapters that help you get up and running.
Chapter 1, “Getting the Lay of the Land,” offers a tour of the external controls on your camera, shows you how to navigate camera menus to access internal options, and walks you through initial camera setup and customization steps.
Chapter 2, “Fast and Easy: (Almost) Automatic Photography with the D300s,” explains how to enjoy something close to point-and-shoot simplicity by using the programmed autoexposure mode. It also covers such basics as selecting the Release mode and enabling flash.
Chapter 3, “Controlling Picture Quality and Size,” introduces you to two critical camera settings: Image Size and Image Quality, which control resolution (pixel count), file format, file size, and picture quality.
Chapter 4, “Monitor Matters: Picture Playback, Live View, and Movie Recording” offers just what its title implies. Look here to find out how to review and erase photos, take pictures in Live View mode, and record and edit HD movies.
Part II: Taking Creative Control
The chapters in this part help you unleash the full creative power of your camera.
Chapter 5, “Getting Creative with Exposure and Lighting,” covers the all-important topic of exposure, starting with a review of the basics and then detailing every exposure option from metering modes to flash modes.
Chapter 6, “Manipulating Focus and Color,” provides help with controlling those aspects of your pictures. Head here for information about your camera’s many autofocusing options, for tips on how to manipulate depth of field, and for details about color controls such as white balance.
Chapter 7, “Putting It All Together,” summarizes all the techniques explained in earlier chapters, providing a quick-reference guide to the camera settings and shooting strategies that produce the best results for specific types of pictures: portraits, action shots, landscape scenes, and close-ups.
Part III: Working with Picture Files
This part of the topic, as its title implies, discusses the often-confusing aspect of moving your pictures from camera to computer and beyond.
Chapter 8, “Downloading, Organizing, and Archiving Your Picture Files,” guides you through the process of transferring pictures from your camera memory card to your computer. Look here, too, for details about using the camera’s built-in tool for processing files that you shoot in the Nikon RAW format (NEF).
Chapter 9, “Printing and Sharing Your Pictures,” helps you turn your digital files into “hard copies” that look as good as those you see on the camera monitor. This chapter also explains how to prepare your pictures for online sharing, create digital slide shows, and, for times when you have the neighbors over, display your pictures and movies on a television screen.
Part IV: The Part of Tens
In famous tradition, the topic concludes with two “top ten” lists containing additional bits of information and advice.
Chapter 10, “Ten More Ways to Customize Your Camera,” details options that let you tweak the behavior of certain camera buttons and dials, set up custom filenaming, and otherwise make the camera bow to your personal preferences.
Chapter 11, “Ten Features to Explore on a Rainy Day,” presents information about some camera features that, while not found on most “Top Ten Reasons I Bought My D300s” lists, are nonetheless interesting, useful on occasion, or a bit of both.
