7 Tips and Tricks for Nikon Cameras

Michael Zhang

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Photographer Steve Perry‘s most popular video ever was his “7 Useful Camera Tricks for Nikon Shooters.” Now he’s back again with 7 more camera tricks that can help improve your shooting style and workflow.

Here’s a rundown of the 7 tips (watch the video below for a closer look at each one):

Tip #1: Save Your Settings

Many Nikon cameras allow you to save your camera settings. There’s a “Save/Load Settings” option in the menu system. Save your main camera settings to your memory card and then load them again whenever needed (e.g. after sending in your camera for repairs). This could also be a useful way to share one camera between multiple people or copy settings from one camera to another (of the same model).

Tip #2: Rename Your Files

If you have multiple cameras, filenames between the cameras can conflict. You can change the default prefix of “DSC” to anything you wish through the File Naming option in the Photo Shooting menu.

Tip #3: Viewfinder Level

You can set your camera so that pushing your joystick activates the artificial horizon in your viewfinder. This shows you if your camera is tilted one way or another, helping you properly level your shot without taking your eyes off your subject. Setup depends on which camera model you have (watch the video to see the different methods).

Tip #4: High Speed Flash Sync

The Auto FP setting in Nikon DSLRs allows you to use shutter speeds faster than the normal sync speed on supported flash units (with a diminished flash range). You’ll find this option in the Custom Setting menu under Bracketing/Flash.

Tip #5: Easy ISO and Easy Exposure Compensation

If you want an easy way to adjust ISO and exposure without having to “press buttons and spin dials at the same time.” On some Nikon models, you can set things so that a simple turn of the main command dial will instantly change your ISO or exposure adjustment. Watch the video to see the methods for turning this on depending on which camera you have.

Tip #6: Viewfinder Grid

When you turn on Viewfinder Grid, your viewfinder goes from the standard simple view to having a grid overlay.

Turn this on in your Custom Settings menu. Enter Shooting/Display and select the Viewfinder grid display option.

Tip #7: Exposure Delay Mode

If you don’t have a cable shutter release, you can set a short delay between when you press the shutter and when the photo is snapped.

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If you missed Perry’s first 7 Nikon camera tips, be sure to check them out here. You can also find more of his videos on his YouTube and website.