Nikon Camera D5200 Reference Manual

							
24
Creative Photography (Scene Modes)
The camera offers a choice of “scene” modes. Choosing a scene mode 
automatically optimizes settings to  suit the selected scene, making 
creative photography as simple as se lecting a mode, framing a picture, 
and shooting as desc ribed on pages 21–23.
The Mode Dial
The following scenes can be selected with the mode 
dial:
kPortrait
Use for portraits with soft, natural-looking 
skin tones.
 If the subject is far from the 
background or a telephoto lens is used, 
background details will be softened to 
lend the composition a sense of depth.
lLandscape
Use for vivid landscape shots in daylight. 
The built-in flash and AF-assist illuminator 
turn off; use of a tripod is recommended to 
prevent blur when lighting is poor.
Mode dial 
						

							
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pChild
Use for snapshots of children. Clothing 
and background details are vividly 
rendered, while skin tones remain soft and 
natural.
mSports
Fast shutter speeds freeze motion for 
dynamic sports shots in which the main 
subject stands out clearly.
 The built-in 
flash and AF-assist illuminator turn off.
nClose up
Use for close-up shots of flowers, insects, 
and other small objects (a macro lens can 
be used to focus at ver y close ranges).
 Use 
of a tripod is recommended to prevent 
blur. 
						

							
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Other Scenes
The following scenes can be selected by rotating the mode dial to h and rotating 
the command dial until the desired scene appears in the monitor.
Mode dial Command dial Monitor
oNight Portrait
Use for a natural balance between the 
main subject and the background in 
portraits taken under low light.
 Use of a 
tripod is recommended to prevent blur.
rNight Landscape
Reduce noise and unna tural colors when 
photographing night landscapes, 
including street lighting and neon signs.
 
The built-in flash and AF-assist illuminator 
turn off; use of a tripod is recommended 
to prevent blur.
sParty/Indoor
Capture the effects of indoor background 
lighting.
 Use for parties and other indoor 
scenes. 
						

							
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tBeach/Snow
Capture the brightness of sunlit expanses 
of water, snow, or sand.
 The built-in flash 
and AF-assist illuminator turn off.
uSunset
Preserves the deep hues seen in sunsets 
and sunrises.
 The built-in flash and AF-
assist illuminator turn off; use of a tripod is 
recommended to prevent blur when 
lighting is poor.
vDusk/Dawn
Preserves the colors seen in the weak 
natural light before dawn or after sunset.
 
The built-in flash and AF-assist illuminator 
turn off; use of a tripod is recommended 
to prevent blur when lighting is poor.
wPet Portrait
Use for portraits of active pets. The AF-
assist illuminator turns off. 
						

							
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xCandlelight
For photographs taken by candlelight. 
The built-in flash turns off; use of a tripod 
is recommended to prevent blur when 
lighting is poor.
yBlossom
Use for fields of flowers, orchards in 
bloom, and other landscapes featuring 
expanses of blossoms.
 The built-in flash 
turns off; use of a tripod is recommended 
to prevent blur when lighting is poor.
zAutumn Colors
Captures the brilliant reds and yellows in 
autumn leaves.
 The built-in flash turns off; 
use of a tripod is recommended to prevent 
blur when lighting is poor.
0Food
Use for vivid photographs of food. Use of 
a tripod is recommended to prevent blur; 
the built-in flash can also be used ( 045). 
						

							
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More on Photography (All Modes)
Choose from the following release modes:
1Press I (E /# ).
A list of release mode options will be 
displayed.
2Choose a release mode.
Highlight a release mode and press  J to return 
to the information display.
 Photographs can be 
taken immediately.
Single-Frame, Continuous, Self-timer, 
Remote, and Quiet Release Modes
ModeDescription
8Single frame : Camera takes one photograph each time shutter-release button is pressed.
! Continuous L (continuous low speed)
: The camera takes photographs at about 3 frames per 
second (fps) while the shutte r-release button is pressed.
9 Continuous H (continuous high speed)
: The camera takes photographs at about 5 fps while 
the shutter-release button is pressed.
ESelf-timer : Use self-timer for self-portraits or to reduce blurring caused by camera shake 
( 0 31).
Delayed remote (ML-L3) : Shutter is released 2 s after shutter-release button on optional 
ML-L3 ( 0210) remote control is pressed ( 031).
#Quick-response remote (ML-L3) : Shutter is released when shutter-release button on optional 
ML-L3 ( 0210) remote control is pressed ( 031).
J
Quiet shutter release : As for single frame, except that mirror does not click back into place 
while shutter-release button is  fully pressed, allowing user to control timing of click 
made by mirror, which is also quieter than in single frame mode.
 Also, beep does not 
sound when camera focuses, keeping no ise to a minimum in quiet surroundings.
I (E /# ) button 
						

							
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A The Memory Buffer
The camera is equipped with a memory buffer  for temporary storage, allowing shooting to 
continue while photographs are being saved to the memory card.
 Up to 100 photographs 
can be taken in succession; note, however, that frame rate will drop when the buffer is full.
While photographs are being recorded to the memory card, the memory card access lamp 
will light ( 022).
 Depending on the battery level and the number of the images in the 
buffer, recording may take from a few seconds to a few minutes.
 Do not remove the memory 
card or remove or disconnect the power  source until the access lamp has gone out.
 If the camera 
is switched off while data remain in the buffer , the power will not turn off until all images in 
the buffer have been recorded.
 If the battery is exhausted while images remain in the buffer, 
the shutter release will be disabled and the images transferred to the memory card.
AContinuous Release Modes
Continuous release modes can not be used with the built-in flash; rotate the mode dial to  j 
( 0 21) or turn the flash off ( 045–47).
 For information on the number of photographs that 
can be taken in a single burst, see page 241.
ABuffer Size
The approximate number of images that can be stored in the 
memory buffer at current settings is shown in the viewfinder 
exposure-count display while the shutter-release button is pressed.
 The illustration shows 
the display when space remains in the buffer for about 17 pictures.
AThe Shooting Menu
The release mode can also be selected using the  Release mode 
option in the shooting menu ( 0150). 
						

							
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Self-Timer and Remote Control Modes
The self-timer and optional ML-L3 remote control (0210) allow the photographer to 
be at a distance from the camera when a photo is taken.
1Mount the camera on a tripod.
Mount the camera on a tripod or place  the camera on a stable, level surface.
2Select a release mode.
Select E (Self-timer ),   (Delayed remote 
(ML-L3) ), or # ( Quick-response remote 
(ML-L3) ) mode ( 029; note that if no 
operations are performed for about a 
minute after a remote control mode is 
selected, the camera will automatically 
return to single frame, continuo us, or quiet shutter-release mode).
3Frame the photograph.
Remote control mode: Check focus by pressing the  shutter-release button halfway. 
No photograph will be taken even if the button is pressed all the way down.
4Ta k e  t h e  p h o t o g r a p h .
Self-timer mode: 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.
Remote control mode : From a distance of 5 m (16 ft) or less, 
aim the transmitter on the ML-L3 at either of the infrared 
receivers on the camera ( 01, 2) and press the ML-L3 
shutter-release button.
 In delayed remote mode , the self-
timer lamp will light for about two seconds before the 
shutter is released.
 In quick-response remote mode , the self-
timer lamp will flash after the shutter has been released.
Note that the timer may not start or a phot ograph may not be taken if the camera is 
unable to focus or in other situations in which the shutter can not be released.
 
Turning the camera off cancels self-timer and remote control release modes and 
restores single frame, continuous, or quiet shutter-release mode.
I  (E /# ) button 
						

							
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❚❚Using Optional WR-R10 an d WR-T10 Wireless Remote Controllers (0210)
When a WR-T10 is used in combination with 
a WR-R10, the shutter- release button on the 
WR-T10 performs the same functions as the 
camera shutter-release button, allowing 
wireless remote control continuous and 
self-timer photography. For more 
information, see the manual provided with 
the WR-R10/WR-T10.
DBefore Using the ML-L3 Remote Control
Before using the ML-L3 for the first time, remove the clear plastic battery-insulator sheet.
DRemote Control Photography
In quick-response (ML-L3) or delayed remote  (ML-L3) release mode, the camera responds 
only to the shutter-release button on the ML-L3 remote control.
 Choose a different release 
mode when using WR-R10/WR-T10 wireless remote controllers.
ACover the Viewfinder
When taking photos without your eye to the 
viewfinder, remove the DK-20 rubber eyecup 
( q ) and insert the supplied DK-5 eyepiece cap 
as shown ( w).
 This prevents light entering via 
the viewfinder interfering with exposure.
 Hold 
the camera firmly when removing the rubber 
eyecup.
DUsing the Built-in Flash 
Before taking a photograph with the flash in  P,  S,  A , M , or  0 mode, press the  M (Y ) button to 
raise the flash and wait for the  M indicator to be displayed in the viewfinder ( 023).
 Shooting 
will be interrupted if the flash is raised while  a remote control mode is in effect or after the 
self-timer has started.
 If the flash is required, the camera will only respond to the ML-L3 
shutter-release button once the flash has charged.
 In auto, scene, and special effects modes 
in which the flash pops up automatically, the flash will begin charging when a remote 
control mode is selected; once the flash is charge d,  i t  wi l l au tom at i c al ly  pop  up and  fi re  wh e n 
required.
In flash modes that support red-eye reduction, the red-eye reduction lamp will light for 
about one second before the shutter is released in quick-response remote mode.
 In delayed 
remote mode, the self-timer lamp will light for two seconds, followed by the red-eye 
reduction lamp which lights for one second before the shutter is released.
ASee Also
For information on choosing the duration of th e self-timer and the number of shots taken, 
see Custom Setting c3 ( Self-timer; 0 160).
 For information on choosing how long the 
camera will wait for a signal from the remote, see Custom Setting c4 ( Remote on duration 
(ML-L3) ; 0 161).
 For information on controlling the beeps that sound when the self-timer 
and remote control are used, see Custom Setting d1 ( Beep; 0 161).
WR-R10 WR-T10
DK-20 rubber eyecup DK-5 eyepiece cap
qw 
						

							
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Focus
This section describes the focus options available when photographs are framed in 
the viewfinder.
 Focus can be adjusted automatically or manually (see “Focus Mode,” 
below).
 The user can also select the focus po int for automatic or manual focus (038) 
or use focus lock to focus to recompose photographs after focusing ( 038).
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.
1Place the cursor in the information display.
If shooting information is not displayed in 
the monitor, press the  P button.
 Press the 
P  button again to place the cursor in the 
information display.
2Display focus mode options.
Highlight the current  focus mode in the 
information display and press  J.
3Choose a focus mode.
Highlight a focus mode and press  J. To  r e t u r n  t o  
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button 
halfway.
OptionDescription 
AF-A Auto-servo 
AF Camera automatically selects single-servo autofocus if subject is 
stationary, continuous-servo au
tofocus if subject is moving.
 Shutter can 
only be released if camera is able to focus.
AF-S Single-servo 
AF For stationar y 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 shutter-
release button is pressed halfway.
 If subject moves, camera will engage 
predictive focus tracking  to predict final distance to subject and adjust 
focus as necessary ( 034).
 At default settings, shutter can only be 
released if camera is able to focus ( 0157).
MF Manual focus Focus manually ( 040).
P button Information display