Nikon Camera D5200 Reference Manual

							
54
❚❚Other Settings
* Focus point not displayed if  e (Auto-area AF ) is selected for AF-area mode.
OptionDefault0
Release mode m , w Continuous H
29
Other shooting modes Single frame
Focus point
*Center 38
AE/AF lock hold Shooting modes other 
than  i and  j Off 166
Flexible program P Off 56
Multiple exposure Multiple exposure modeP ,  S,  A , M Off 73
Special effects mode
gVividness 0
114
Outlines 0
( Orientation Landscape
115
Width Normal
3 Color Off
116
Color range 3
OptionDefault0 
						

							
55
P, S, A, and M Modes
P,  S,  A , and  M modes offer different degrees of control over shutter 
speed and aperture:
Shutter Speed and Aperture
ModeDescription 
PProgrammed auto 
( 0 56) Camera sets shutter speed and aperture for optimal exposure. 
Recommended for snapshots and in other situations in which 
there is little time to adjust camera settings.
SShutter-priority auto 
(
0 57) User chooses shutter speed; camera selects aperture for best 
results.
 Use to freeze or blur motion.
AAperture-priority auto 
(
0 58) User chooses aperture; camera selects shutter speed for best 
results. Use to blur background or bring both foreground and 
background into focus.
MManual ( 059) User controls both shutter speed and aperture. Set shutter speed 
to “Bulb” or “Time” for long time-exposures.
DLens Aperture Rings
When using a CPU lens equipped with an aperture ring ( 0200), lock the aperture ring at the 
minimum aperture (highest f-number).
 Type G lenses are not equipped with an aperture 
ring.
AShutter Speed and Aperture
The same exposure can be achieved with different combinations of shutter speed and 
aperture.
 Fast shutter speeds and large apertures freeze moving objects and soften 
background details, while slow shutter speeds and small apertures blur moving objects and 
bring out background details.
Fast shutter speed  (
1/1600s) Slow shutter speed 
(1 s) Large aperture (f/5.6) Small aperture (f/22)
(Remember, the higher the f-number, the  smaller the aperture.)
Shutter speedAperture 
						

							
56
Mode P (Programmed Auto)
In this mode, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture for 
optimal exposure in most situations.
 This mode is recommended for snapshots and 
other situations in which you want to leave the camera in charge of shutter speed 
and aperture.
 To take photographs in programmed auto:
1Rotate the mode dial to  P.
2Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
AFlexible Program
In mode  P, different combinations of shutter speed 
and aperture can be selected by rotating the 
command dial (“flexible program”).
 Rotate the dial to 
the right for large apertures (low f-numbers) that 
blur background details or fast shutter speeds that 
“freeze” motion.
 Rotate the dial to the left for small 
apertures (high f-numbers)  that increase depth of 
field or slow shutter speeds that blur motion.
 All 
combinations produce the same exposure.
 While flexible program is in effect, a  U (R ) 
indicator appears in the viewfinder and information display.
 To restore default shutter speed 
and aperture settings, rotate the command dial until the indicator is no longer displayed, 
choose another mode, or turn the camera off.
ASee Also
See page 223 for information on the built-in exposure program.
Mode dial
Command dial 
						

							
57
Mode S (Shutter-Priority Auto)
In shutter-priority auto, you choose the shutter speed while the camera 
automatically selects the aperture that  will produce the optimal exposure.
 Use slow 
shutter speeds to suggest motion by blurring  moving subjects, fast shutter speeds to 
“freeze” motion.
To take photographs in shutter-priority auto:
1Rotate the mode dial to  S.
2Choose a shutter speed.
Shutter speed is shown in the viewfinder 
and information display.
 Rotate the 
command dial to choose the desired shutter 
speed from values between 30 s and 
1/4000s.
3Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
Fast shutter speed (1/1600s) Slow shutter speed (1 s)
Mode dial
Command dial 
						

							
58
Mode A (Aperture-Priority Auto)
In aperture-priority auto, you choose the aperture while the camera automatically 
selects the shutter speed that will produce the optimal exposure.
 Large apertures 
(low f-numbers) reduce depth of field, blurring objects behind and in front of the 
main subject.
 Small apertures (high f-numbers) increa se depth of field, bringing out 
details in the background and foreground.
 Short field depths are generally used in 
portraits to blur background details, long field depths in landscape photographs to 
bring the foreground and background into focus.
To take photographs in aperture-priority auto:
1Rotate the mode dial to  A.
2Choose an aperture.
Aperture is shown in the viewfinder and 
information display.
 Rotate the command 
dial to choose the desired aperture from 
values between the minimum and 
maximum for the lens.
3Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
Large aperture (f/5.6) Small aperture (f/22)
Mode dial
Command dial 
						

							
59
Mode M (Manual)
In manual mode, you control both shutter speed and aperture. To take photographs 
in manual mode:
1Rotate the mode dial to  M.
2Choose aperture and shutter speed.
Checking the exposure indicator (see  below), adjust shutter speed and 
aperture.
 Shutter speed is selected by rotati ng the command dial: choose from 
values between 30 s and 1/4000s or select “Bulb” or “Time” to hold the shutter 
open indefinitely for a long time-exposure ( 060).
 Aperture is selected by 
rotating the command dial while keeping the  E (N ) button pressed: choose 
from values between the minimum and maximum for the lens.
 Shutter speed 
and aperture are shown in the vie wfinder and information display.
3Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.
Shutter speed Aperture
Command  dial E
 (N ) button Command 
dial
AThe Exposure Indicator
If a CPU lens is attached ( 0199) and a shutter speed other than “Bulb” or “Time” is selected, 
the exposure indicator in the viewfinder and information display shows whether the 
photograph would be under- or over-exposed  at current settings (the display varies 
depending on the options selected for Custom Settings b1,  EV steps for exposure cntrl and 
f5,  Reverse indicators ; 0 159, 166).
 If the limits of the exposure metering or live view 
exposure control system are exceeded, the indicator will flash.
Optimal exposureUnderexposed by 1/3EVOverexposed by over 2 EV
Mode dial 
						

							
60
❚❚Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only)
Select the following shutter speeds for long time-
exposures of moving lights, the stars, night 
scenery, or fireworks.
• Bulb ( A ): The shutter remains open while 
the shutter-release button is held down.
 To  
prevent blur, use a tripod, optional WR-R10 and 
WR-T10 wireless remote controllers, or an 
optional MC-DC2 remote cord ( 0210).
 The 
shutter-release button s on the WR-T10 and 
MC-DC2 perform the same role as the camera 
shutter-release button.
• Time ( &): Requires an optional ML-L3 remote 
control ( 0210).
 Start the exposure by pressing the ML-L3 shutter-release button. 
The shutter remains open for  30 minutes or until the button is pressed a second 
time.
1Ready the camera.
Mount the camera on a tripod or place it on a stable, level surface. To prevent 
light entering via the viewfinder interfer ing with exposure, remove the rubber 
eyecup and cover the viewfinder with the supplied DK-5 eyepiece cap ( 032).
 
To prevent loss of power before the exposure is complete, use a fully charged 
EN-EL14 battery or an optional EH-5b AC adapter and EP-5A power connector.
 
Note that noise (bright spots, randomly -spaced bright pixels, or fog) may be 
present in long exposures;  before shooting, choose On for  Long exposure NR  
in the shooting menu ( 0153).
2Rotate the mode dial to  M.
3Choose a shutter speed.
Rotate the command dial to choose a 
shutter speed of Bulb ( A).
 For a shutter 
speed of “Time” ( &), select a remote control 
release mode ( 031) after choosing the 
shutter speed.
Length of exposure: 35 s Aperture: f/25
Mode dial
Command dial 
						

							
61
4Open the shutter.
Bulb: After focusing, press the shutter-release button on the camera or optional 
remote cord all the way down.
 Keep the shutter-release button pressed until 
the exposure is complete.
Time : Press the ML-L3 shutter-release button all the way down.
5Close the shutter.
Bulb: Take your finger off the shutter-release button.
Time : Press the ML-L3 shutter-release button all the way down.
 Shooting ends 
automatically after 30 minutes. 
						

							
62
Exposure
Metering
Choose how the camera sets exposure in P,  S,  A , and  M modes (in other modes, the 
camera selects the metering method automatically).
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 metering options.
Highlight the current metering method in the 
information display and press  J.
3Choose a metering method.
Highlight an option and press  J. To  r e t u r n  t o  
shooting mode, press the shutter-release button 
halfway.
MethodDescription
LMatrix 
metering Produces natural results in most situations.
 Camera uses 2016-pixel RGB sensor 
to meter a wide area of the frame and set exposure according to tone 
distribution, color, composition,  and, with type G or D lenses (0200), distance 
information (3D color matrix metering II; with other CPU lenses, the camera uses 
color matrix metering II; which does  not include 3D distance information).
M
Center-
weighted 
meteringCamera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area. Classic 
meter for portraits; recommended when using filters with an exposure factor 
(filter factor) over 1×.
NSpot 
metering Camera meters current focus point; use to meter off-center subjects (if 
eAuto-
area AF  is selected for AF-area mode du ring viewfinder photography as 
described on page 36, camera will meter center focus point). Ensures that 
subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or 
darker.
P  button Information display 
						

							
63
Autoexposure Lock
Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using M(Center-weighted 
metering ) and N(Spot metering ) to meter exposure; note th at autoexposure lock is 
not available in  i or  j mode.
1Meter exposure.
Position the subject in the center of the frame 
(center-weighted metering) or the selected focus 
point (spot metering) and press the shutter-
release button halfway to set focus and meter 
exposure.
 Check that the in-focus indicator ( I) 
appears in the viewfinder.
2Lock exposure.
With the shutter-release button pressed halfway ( q) and 
the subject positioned in  the focus point, press the  A (L ) 
button ( w) to lock exposure.
While exposure lock is in effect, an  AE-L indicator will 
appear in the viewfinder.
3Recompose the photograph.
Keeping the  A (L ) button pressed, recompose 
the photograph and shoot.
AAutoexposure Lock
If  On  is selected for Custom Setting c1 ( Shutter-release 
button AE-L ; 0 159), exposure will lock when the shutter-
release button is pressed halfway.
 For information on 
changing the role of the  AE-L/AF-L button, see Custom Setting f2 
( Assign AE-L/AF-L button ; 0 166).
Shutter-release 
button
A  (L ) button