Nikon Camera D3300 Reference Manual

							
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The self-timer can be used for self
-portraits or group shots that 
include the photographer. Before proceeding, mount the 
camera on a tripod or place it on a stable, level surface.
1
Press the  I (E /# ) button.
2
Select  E (Self-timer ) 
mode.
Highlight  E (Self-timer ) 
and press  J.
3
Frame the photograph.Self-Timer Mode
I  (E /# ) button 
						

							
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4
Take the photograph.
Press the shutter-release 
button halfway to focus, 
and then press the button 
the rest of the way down.
 
The self-timer lamp will 
start to flash and a beep will 
begin to sound.
 Two seconds before the photo is taken, the 
lamp will stop flashing and the beeping will become more 
rapid.
 The shutter will be released ten seconds after the timer 
starts.
Note that the timer may not start or a photograph may not be 
taken if the camera is unable to focus or in other situations in 
which the shutter can not be released.
 To stop the timer 
without taking a photograph, turn the camera off. 
						

							
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A
Cover the Viewfinder
To prevent light entering via the  viewfinder from appearing in the 
photograph or interfering with exposure, we recommend that you 
cover the viewfinder with your hand or other objects such as an 
optional eyepiece cap ( 0307) when taking pictures without your eye 
to the viewfinder. To attach the cap, remove the rubber eyecup ( q) 
and insert the cap as shown ( w).AUsing the Built-in Flash 
Before taking a photograph with the flash in modes that require the 
flash to be raised manually, press the  M (Y ) button to raise the flash 
and wait for the  M indicator to be displayed in the viewfinder ( 031).
 
Shooting will be interrupted if the flas h is raised after the self-timer has 
started.AThe Setup Menu Self-Timer Option
For information on choosing the duration of the self-timer and the 
number of shots taken, see the  Self-timer option in the setup menu 
( 0 246).
Rubber eyecup Eyepiece cap 
						

							
74More on Photography This section describes the focus options available when 
photographs are framed in the viewfinder.
 Focus can be 
adjusted automatically or manually (see “Choosing How the 
Camera Focuses: Focus Mode,” below).
 The user can also select 
the focus point for automatic or manual focus ( 080) or use 
focus lock to focus to recompose photographs after focusing 
( 0 81).
Choosing How the Camera Focuses:
 Focus Mode
Choose from the following focus modes.
 Note that  AF-S and  AF-C 
are available only in modes  P,  S,  A , and  M.
Focus (Viewfinder Photography)
Option
Description 
AF-A Auto-servo AF Camera automatically selects single-servo 
autofocus if subject is stationary, continuous-
servo autofocus if subject is moving.
 Shutter 
can only be released if camera is able to focus.
AF-S Single-servo AF For stationary subjects.
 Focus locks when 
shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
 
Shutter can only be released if camera is able 
to focus.
AF-C Continuous-
servo AF For moving subjects.
 Camera focuses 
continuously while shu tter-release button is 
pressed halfway.
 Shutter can only be released 
if camera is able to focus.
MF Manual focus Focus manually (083). 
						

							
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1
Display focus mode 
options.
Press the  P button, then 
highlight the current focus 
mode in the information 
display and press  J.
2
Choose a focus mode.
Highlight a focus mode and 
press  J.
APredictive Focus Tracking
In  AF-C  mode or when continuous-ser vo autofocus is selected in AF-A 
mode, the camera will initiate predictive focus tracking if the subject 
moves toward the camera while the shutter-release button is pressed 
halfway.
 This allows the camera to tr ack focus while attempting to 
predict where the subject will be  when the shutter is released.
DContinuous-Servo Autofocus
In  AF-C  mode or when continuous-ser vo autofocus is selected in AF-A 
mode, the camera gives higher priority to focus response (has a wider 
focus range) than in  AF-S mode, and the shutter may be released before 
the in-focus indicator is displayed.
P  button 
						

							
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Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus does not perform well un der the conditions listed below.
 
The shutter release may be disabled if the camera is unable to focus 
under these conditions, or the in-focus indicator ( I) may be displayed 
and the camera may sound a beep, allowing the shutter to be released 
even when the subject is not in focus.
 In these cases, focus manually 
( 0 83) or use focus lock ( 081) to focus on another subject at the same 
distance and then recompose the photograph.
There is little or no contrast between 
the subject and the background .The focus point contains areas of 
sharply contrasting brightness
.
Example : Subject 
is the same 
color as the 
background. Example
: Subject 
is half in the 
shade.
The focus point contains objects at 
different distances from the camera .Background objects appear larger 
than the subj
ect.
Example : Subject 
is inside a cage. Example
: A 
building is in the 
frame behind 
the subject.
The subject is dominated by regular 
geometric patterns .The subject contains many fine 
details
.
Example : Blinds 
or a row of 
windows in a 
skyscraper. Example
: A field 
of flowers or 
other subjects 
that are small or 
lack variation in 
brightness. 
						

							
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A
The AF-Assist Illuminator 
If the subject is poorly lit, the AF-assist 
illuminator will light automatically to assist 
the autofocus operation when the shutter-
release button is pressed halfway (some 
restrictions apply;  0331).
 Note that the 
illuminator may become hot when used 
multiple times in quick succession and will 
turn off automatically to protect the lamp 
after a period of continuous use.
 Normal 
function will resume  after a brief pause.
AF-assist illuminator 
						

							
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Choosing How the Focus Point Is Selected: AF-Area ModeChoose how the focus point for autofocus is selected.
 Note that 
d  (Dynamic-area AF ) and f(3D-tracking (11 points) ) AF-
area modes are not available when  AF-S is selected for focus 
mode.
Option
Description
c Single-point 
AF  For stationary subjects. 
Focus point is selected 
manually; camera focuses on subject in selected 
focus point only.
d Dynamic-area 
AF For non-stationary subjects. 
In AF-A and AF-C focus 
modes , user selects focus point using multi 
selector ( 080), but camera will focus based on 
information from surrounding focus points if 
subject briefly leaves selected point. 
f 3D-tracking 
(11 points) In AF-A and AF-C focus modes
, user selects focus point 
using multi selector ( 080).
 If subject moves 
after camera has focused, camera uses 3D-
tracking to select new focus point and keep 
focus locked on original subject while shutter-
release button is pressed halfway.
e Auto-area AF Camera automatically detects subject and 
selects focus point. 
						

							
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1
Display AF-area mode 
options.
Press the  P button, then 
highlight the current AF-
area mode in the 
information display and 
press  J.
2
Choose an AF-area mode.
Highlight an option and 
press  J.
AAF-Area Mode
AF-area mode selections made in shooting modes other than  P,  S,  A , or 
M  are reset when another shooting mode is selected.A3D-Tracking (11 Points)
If subject leaves the viewfinder, remove your finger from the shutter-
release button and recompose the ph otograph with the subject in the 
selected focus point. Note that  when the shutter-release button is 
pressed halfway, the colors in the area surrounding the focus point are 
stored in the camera.
 Consequently 3D-tracking may not produce the 
desired results with subjects th at are the same color as the 
background.
P  button 
						

							
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Focus Point SelectionIn manual focus mode or when  autofocus is combined with AF-
area modes other than  e (Auto-area AF ), you can choose from 
11 focus points, making it possible to compose photographs 
with the main subject almost anywhere in the frame.1
Choose an AF-area mode other than 
e  (Auto-area AF ; 
0
78).
2
Return to the shooting display.
Press P to return to the shooting 
display.
3
Select the focus point.
Use the multi selector to 
select the focus point in the 
viewfinder or information 
display while the exposure 
meters are on.
 Press  J to 
select the center focus 
point.
P  buttonFocus point