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David Busch's Nikon D3400 Guide to Digital SLR Photography

Book Description

David Busch's Nikon D3400 Guide to Digital Photography is your all-in-one comprehensive resource and reference for the Nikon D3400 camera, the most advanced entry-level dSLR that the company has ever offered. Taking and sharing pictures is easier than ever, thanks to the D3400’s enhanced Guide Mode and SnapBridge Bluetooth Low Energy wireless link between the D3400 and your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet.. This 24-megapixel camera offers Full HD 1080p video, continuous shooting at up to 5 frames per second, and enhanced battery life of up to 1200 shots per charge. With this book in hand, you can fine tune your camera skills as you explore the world of digital photography, develop your creativity, and take great photographs with your D3400. Filled with detailed how-to steps and full-color illustrations, David Busch's Nikon D3400 Guide to Digital Photography covers all the camera's features in depth, from taking your first photos through advanced details of setup, exposure, lens selection, lighting, and more, and relates each feature to specific photographic techniques and situations. Also included is the handy visual guide to the D3400, with close-up photos and descriptions of the camera's essential features and controls. Learn when to use each option and, more importantly, when not to use them, by following the author’s recommended settings for every menu entry. With best-selling photographer and mentor David Busch as your guide, you'll quickly have full creative mastery of your camera’s capabilities, whether you're shooting on the job, as an advanced enthusiast, or are just out for fun. Start building your knowledge and confidence, while bringing your vision to light with the Nikon D3400 today.

Table of Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Introduction
  3. Chapter 1 Thinking Outside the Box
    1. In a Hurry?
    2. First Things First
    3. Initial Setup
      1. Mastering the Multi Selector
      2. Setting the Clock
      3. Battery Included
      4. Final Steps
  4. Chapter 2 Nikon D3400 Quick Start
    1. Using the Information Edit Display
    2. Choosing a Release Mode
    3. Selecting a Shooting Mode
      1. Choosing a Scene Mode
      2. Choosing an Advanced Mode
    4. Choosing a Metering Mode
    5. Choosing Focus Modes
      1. Choosing Autofocus-Area Mode
      2. Choosing Focus Mode
    6. Adjusting White Balance and ISO
    7. Reviewing the Images You’ve Taken
    8. Using the Built-in Flash
    9. Transferring Photos to Your Computer
    10. Using the Guide Mode
      1. Shoot Options
      2. View/Delete Options
      3. Retouch Options
      4. Set Up Options
  5. Chapter 3 Nikon D3400 Roadmap
    1. Nikon D3400: Front View
    2. The Nikon D3400’s Business End
    3. Playing Back Images
      1. Zooming the Nikon D3400 Playback Display
      2. Viewing Thumbnails
      3. Working with Calendar View
      4. Working with Photo Information
    4. Shooting Information Display/Information Edit Screen
    5. Going Topside
    6. Lens Components
    7. Underneath Your Nikon D3400
    8. Looking Inside the Viewfinder
  6. Chapter 4 Playback and Shooting Menus
    1. Anatomy of the Nikon D3400’s Menus
    2. Playback Menu Options
      1. Delete
      2. Playback Folder
      3. Playback Display Options
      4. Image Review
      5. Auto Image Rotation
      6. Rotate Tall
      7. Slide Show
      8. Rating
      9. Select to Send to Smart Device
    3. Shooting Menu Options
      1. Reset Shooting Menu
      2. Image Quality
      3. Image Size
      4. ISO Sensitivity Settings
      5. White Balance
      6. Set Picture Control
      7. Color Space
      8. Active D-Lighting
      9. Noise Reduction
      10. Vignette Control
      11. Auto Distortion Control
      12. Focus Mode
      13. AF-Area Mode
      14. Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator
      15. Metering
      16. Flash Cntrl for Built-In Flash/Optional Flash
      17. Movie Settings
  7. Chapter 5 Setup, Retouch, and Recent Settings Menus
    1. Setup Menu Options
      1. Reset Setup Options
      2. Format Memory Card
      3. Date Stamp
      4. Time Zone and Date
      5. Language
      6. Monitor Brightness
      7. Info Display Format
      8. Auto Info Display
      9. Auto Off Timers
      10. Self-Timer
      11. Remote On Duration (ML-L3)
      12. Lock Mirror Up for Cleaning
      13. Image Dust Off Ref Photo
      14. Image Comment
      15. Copyright Information
      16. Beep
      17. Flicker Reduction
      18. Buttons
      19. Rangefinder
      20. Manual Focus Ring in AF Mode
      21. File Number Sequence
      22. Storage Folder
      23. File Naming
      24. HDMI
      25. Location Data
      26. Airplane Mode
      27. Connect to Smart Device
      28. Send to Smart Device (Auto)
      29. Bluetooth
      30. Eye-Fi Upload
      31. Conformity Marking
      32. Slot Empty Release Lock
      33. Reset All Settings
      34. Firmware Version
    2. Retouch Menu Options
      1. NEF (RAW) Processing
      2. Trim
      3. Resize
      4. D-Lighting
      5. Quick Retouch
      6. Red-Eye Correction
      7. Straighten
      8. Distortion Control
      9. Perspective Control
      10. Fisheye
      11. Filter Effects
      12. Monochrome
      13. Image Overlay
      14. Color Outline
      15. Photo Illustration
      16. Color Sketch
      17. Miniature Effect
      18. Selective Color
      19. Painting
      20. Edit Movie
      21. Side-by-Side Comparison
    3. Using Recent Settings
  8. Chapter 6 Nailing the Right Exposure
    1. Getting a Handle on Exposure
    2. How the D3400 Calculates Exposure
      1. Correctly Exposed
      2. Overexposed
      3. Underexposed
    3. Choosing a Metering Method
      1. Matrix Metering
      2. Center-Weighted Metering
      3. Spot Metering
    4. Choosing an Exposure Method
      1. Aperture-Priority
      2. Shutter-Priority
      3. Program Mode
      4. Manual Exposure
    5. Using Scene Modes
    6. Using Special Effects Modes
    7. Adjusting Exposure with ISO Settings
      1. Dealing with Noise
    8. Fixing Exposures with Histograms
    9. Bracketing
      1. Bracketing and Merge to HDR
  9. Chapter 7 Mastering the Mysteries of Autofocus
    1. How Focus Works
      1. Phase Detection
      2. Contrast Detection
      3. Locking in Focus
      4. Focus Modes
      5. Adding Circles of Confusion
    2. Using Autofocus with the Nikon D3400
    3. Your Autofocus Mode Options
      1. Autofocus Mode
      2. Autofocus Area
    4. Focusing in Live View
      1. Focus Mode
      2. Focus Area
  10. Chapter 8 Movie Making with the Nikon D3400
    1. Working with Live View
      1. Fun with Live View
      2. Beginning Live View
      3. Shooting in Live View
    2. Shooting Movies with the D3400
      1. Movie Exposure
      2. Viewing Your Movies
      3. Editing Your Movies
    3. Some Fundamentals
    4. Tips for Shooting Better Video
      1. Lens Craft
      2. Audio
      3. Keep Things Stable and on the Level
      4. Shooting Script
      5. Storyboards
      6. Storytelling in Video
      7. Composition
      8. Lighting for Video
  11. Chapter 9 Advanced Shooting Tips for Your Nikon D3400
    1. Continuous Shooting
    2. Exploring Ultra-Fast Exposures
    3. Long Exposures
      1. Three Ways to Take Long Exposures
      2. Working with Long Exposures
    4. Using SnapBridge
  12. Chapter 10 Working with Lenses
    1. Sensor Sensibilities
      1. Crop or Not?
    2. Your First Lens
      1. Buy Now, Expand Later
      2. Your Best Do-Everything Option?
    3. What Lenses Can You Use?
    4. Ingredients of Nikon’s Alphanumeric Soup
    5. What Lenses Can Do for You
      1. Zoom or Prime?
    6. Categories of Lenses
    7. Using Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom Lenses
      1. Avoiding Potential Wide-Angle Problems
    8. Using Telephoto and Tele-Zoom Lenses
      1. Avoiding Telephoto Lens Problems
      2. Telephotos and Bokeh
    9. Add-ons and Special Features
      1. Lens Hoods
      2. Telephoto Converters
      3. Macro Focusing
      4. Vibration Reduction
  13. Chapter 11 Making Light Work for You
    1. Continuous Illumination versus Electronic Flash
    2. Continuous Lighting Basics
      1. Daylight
      2. Incandescent/Tungsten Light
      3. Fluorescent Light/Other Light Sources
      4. Adjusting White Balance
    3. Electronic Flash Basics
      1. How Electronic Flash Works
      2. Determining Exposure
      3. Guide Numbers
      4. Flash Control
      5. Flash Metering Mode
      6. Choosing a Flash Sync Mode
    4. A Typical Electronic Flash Sequence
    5. Working with Nikon Flash Units
      1. Nikon D3400 Built-in Flash
    6. Nikon Add-On Flash Units
      1. Nikon SB-300
      2. Nikon SB-400
      3. Nikon SB-500
      4. Nikon SB-700
      5. Nikon SB-R200
      6. Nikon SB-910/900
      7. SB-5000
    7. Working with Wireless Commander Mode
    8. Connecting External Flash
    9. More Advanced Lighting Techniques
      1. Diffusing and Softening the Light
  14. Chapter 12 Troubleshooting and Prevention
    1. Battery Powered
    2. Updating Your Firmware
      1. How It Works
      2. Why Two Firmware Modules?
      3. Getting Ready
      4. Updating from a Card Reader
      5. Updating with a USB Connection
      6. Starting the Update
    3. Protecting Your LCD
    4. Troubleshooting Memory Cards
      1. All Your Eggs in One Basket?
      2. What Can Go Wrong?
      3. What Can You Do?
      4. Preventive Measures
    5. Cleaning Your Sensor
      1. Dust the FAQs, Ma’am
      2. Identifying and Dealing with Dust
      3. Avoiding Dust
      4. Sensor Cleaning