Nikon Camera D610 Users Manual

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Basic Photography and Playback
This section describes how to take photographs in i (auto) mode, an 
automatic “point-and-shoot” mode in which the majority of settings 
are controlled by the camera in response to shooting conditions, and 
in which the flash will fire automati cally if the subject is poorly lit.
 To  
take photographs with the flash  off while leaving the camera in 
control of other settings, rotate the mode dial to  j to select auto (flash off ) mode.
Step 1: Turn the Camera On
1Tu rn  t he  came ra o n.
Remove the lens cap and turn the camera on. The control panel will turn on and 
the display in the viewfinder will light.
2Check the battery level.
Check the battery level in th e control panel or viewfinder.
“Point-and-Shoot” Photography 
(i and  j Modes)
Control panel*Viewfinder*Description
L — Battery fully charged.
K —
Battery partially discharged.
J —
I —
H dLow battery.
 Charge battery or ready spare battery.
H
(flashes) d
 
(flashes) Shutter release disabled.
 Charge or exchange battery.
* No icon displayed when camera is powered by optional EP-5B power connector and  EH-5b AC adapter.
 V  appears in information display.
AImage Sensor Cleaning
The camera vibrates the low-pass filter covering the image sensor to remove dust when the 
camera is turned on or off ( 0301). 
						

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3Check the number of exposures 
remaining.
The control panel and viewfinder show the 
number of photographs that can be taken at 
current settings (values over 1,000 are rounded 
down to the nearest hundred; e.g., values 
between 2,000 and 2,099 are shown as 2.0 K).
 If two memory cards are inserted, 
the displays show the space available on the card in Slot 1 ( 030).
 When the 
number of exposures remaining reaches  A, the number will flash,  n or j  
will flash in the shutter-speed displays, and the icon for the affected card will 
flash.
 Insert another memory card ( 029) or delete some photos ( 047, 189).
Step 2: Select i or j Mode
To shoot where use of a flash is prohibited, 
photograph infants, or capture natural lighting under 
low light conditions, rotate the mode dial to  j.
 
Otherwise, rotate the mode dial to  i.
j  mode i mode
ACamera Off Display
If the camera is turned off with a battery and memory card 
inserted, the memory card icon and number of exposures 
remaining will be displayed (some memory cards may in 
rare cases only display this information when the camera is 
on).
Mode dial
Control panel 
						

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Step 3: Frame the Photograph
1Ready the camera.
When framing photographs in the viewfinder, 
hold the handgrip in your right hand and cradle 
the camera body or lens with your left.
 Keep 
your elbows propped lightly against your torso 
for support and place one foot half a pace ahead 
of the other to keep your upper body stable.
 
When framing photographs in portrait (tall) 
orientation, hold the camera as shown in the 
bottom of the three illustrations at right.
In  j mode, shutter speeds slow when lighting is 
poor; use of a tripod is recommended.
2Frame the photograph.
Frame a photograph in the viewfinder with the 
main subject in the AF area brackets.
AUsing a Zoom Lens
Use the zoom ring to zoom in on the subject so that it fills a 
larger area of the frame, or zoom out to increase the area 
visible in the final photograph (select longer focal lengths 
on the lens focal length scale to zoom in, shorter focal 
lengths to zoom out).
AF area brackets
Zoom in
Zoom out
Zoom ring 
						

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Step 4: Focus
1Press the shutter-release button halfway.
Press the shutter-release button halfway to 
focus.
 The active focus point will be displayed. If 
the subject is poorly lit, the flash may pop up and 
the AF-assist illuminator may light.
2Check the indicators in the viewfinder.
When the focus operation is complete, the in-
focus indicator ( I) will appear in the viewfinder.
While the shutter-release button is pr essed halfway, the number of exposures 
that can be stored in the memory buffer (“ t”;  0 84) will be displayed in the 
viewfinder.
Step 5: Shoot
Smoothly press the shutter-re lease button the rest of 
the way down to release the shutter and record the 
photograph.
 The memory card access lamp next to 
the memory card slot cover will light while the 
photograph is being recorded to the memory card.
 Do 
not eject the memory card or remove or disconnect the 
power source until the lamp has gone out and recording 
is complete .
In-focus 
indicator
Description
I Subject in focus.
2 4 Focus point is between camera and subject.
2 4 Focus point is behind subject.
24
(flashes) Camera unable to focus using autofocus.
 
See page 98.
Focus point
In-focus 
indicator Buffer 
capacity
Memory card access 
lamp 
						

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AThe Shutter-Release Button
The camera has a two-stage shutter-release button.
 The camera focuses when the shutter-
release button is pressed halfway.
 To take the photograph, press the shutter-release button 
the rest of the way down.
Focus: press halfway Shoot: press all the way down
AThe Standby Timer
The viewfinder and the control panel shutter speed  and aperture displays will turn off if no 
operations are performed for about 6 seconds, reducing the drain on the battery.
 Press the 
shutter-release button halfway to reactivate the display.
 The length of time before the 
standby timer expires automatically can be  selected using Custom Setting c2 (Standby 
timer , 0 227).
Exposure meters on Exposure  meters off Exposure meters on
AThe Built-in Flash
If additional lighting is required for correct exposure in  i mode, the 
built-in flash will pop up automatically when the shutter-release 
button is pressed halfway.
 If the flash is raised, photographs can only 
be taken when the flash-ready indicator ( M) is displayed.
 If the flash-
ready indicator is not displayed, the flash is charging; remove your 
finger briefly from the shutter-release button and try again.
To save power when the flash is not in use, press it gently downward 
until the latch clicks into place. 
						

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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 selecting a mode, framing a picture, 
and shooting as desc ribed on pages 35–39.
❚❚h  Mode
To view the currently selected scene, rotate the mode dial to  h and press the  R 
button.
 To choose another scene, rotate the main command dial.
Mode dial
Main command dial Monitor
Portrait Landscape Child Sports Close up Night 
portrait Night 
landscape
klpmnor
Party/indoor Beach/snow Sunset Dusk/d awn Pet portrait Candlelight Blossom
stuvw x y
Autumn 
colors Food Silhouette High key Low key
z0123 
						

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❚❚Scene Modes
kPor trait
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.
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.
 
To take a sequence of shots, select 
continuous release mode ( 06, 83). 
						

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nClose Up
Use for close-up shots of flowers, insects, 
and other small objects (a macro lens can 
be used to focus at very close ranges).
 
Use of a tripod is recommended to 
prevent blur.
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 
when lighting is poor.
rNight Landscape
Reduce noise and unnatural 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 sunlight 
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 pr event 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 flash can also be used ( 0143).