Nikon Camera D7100 Users Manual

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Exposure
Choose how the camera sets exposure in P,  S,  A , and  M modes (in other modes, the 
camera selects the metering method automatically).
To choose a metering option, 
press the  Z (Q ) button and 
rotate the main command dial 
until the desired setting is 
displayed in the control panel.
Metering
OptionDescription
a Matrix
: Produces natural results in most situations.
 Camera meters a wide area of the 
frame and set exposure according to tone di stribution, color, composition, and, with 
type G or D lenses ( 0296), distance information (3D color matrix metering II; with 
other CPU lenses, camera uses color matrix  metering II, which does not include 3D 
distance information).
 With non-CPU lenses, camera uses color matrix metering if focal 
length and maximum aperture are specified using  Non-CPU lens data option in setup 
menu ( 0150); otherwise camera uses center-weighted metering.
Z Center-weighted
: Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area 
(if CPU lens is attached, size of area can be selected using Custom Setting b4,  Center-
weighted area , 0 236; if non-CPU lens is attached, area is 8 mm in diameter).
 Classic 
meter for portraits; recommended when using  filters with an exposure factor (filter 
factor) over 1×.
*
b Spot
: Camera meters circle 3.5 mm (0.14 in.) in diameter (approximately 2.5% of frame).
 
Circle is centered on current focus point, making it possible to meter off-center subjects 
(if non-CPU lens is used or if auto-area AF  is in effect, camera will meter center focus 
point).
 Ensures that subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much 
brighter or darker.*
* For improved precision with non-CPU lenses, specify lens focal length and maximum 
aperture in  Non-CPU lens data  menu (0150).
ASee Also
For information on making separate adjustme nts to optimal exposure for each metering 
method, see Custom Setting b5 ( Fine-tune optimal exposure, 0 236).
(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)
Z (Q ) button Main command
dialControl panel 
						

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Autoexposure Lock
Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using center-weighted 
metering and spot metering to meter exposure. Note that matrix metering will not 
produce the desired results.
1Lock exposure.
Position the subject in the selected focus point 
and press the shutter-release button halfway.
 
With the shutter-release button pressed halfway 
and the subject positioned in the focus point, 
press the  AAE-L/AF-L  button to lock exposure (if 
you are using autofocus, focus will also lock; 
confirm that the in-focus indicator ( I) appears 
in the vie wfinder).
While exposure lock is in effect, an  f indicator 
will appear in the viewfinder.
2Recompose the photograph.
Keeping the  AAE-L/AF-L  button pressed, 
recompose the photograph and shoot.
Shutter-release button
A AE-L/AF-L  button 
						

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AMetered Area
In spot metering, exposure will be locked at the value metered in a 3.5-mm (0.14 in.) circle 
centered on the selected focus point. In cent er-weighted metering, exposure will be locked 
at the value metered in a 8-mm circle in the center of the viewfinder.
AAdjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture
While exposure lock is in effect, the following  settings can be adjusted without altering the 
metered value for exposure:
ModeSetting
P Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program;  048)
S Shutter speed
A Aperture
The new values can be confirmed in the viewfinder and control panel.
 Note that metering 
can not be changed while exposure lock is in effect.
ASee Also
If  On  is selected for Custom Setting c1 ( Shutter-release button AE-L, 0 236), exposure will 
lock when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
 For information on changing the 
role of the  AAE-L/AF-L  button, see Custom Setting f4 ( Assign AE-L/AF-L button, 0 256). 
						

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Exposure Compensation
Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the 
camera, making pictures brighter or darker.
 It is most effective when used with 
center-weighted or spot metering ( 083).
 Choose from values between –5 EV 
(underexposure) and +5 EV (overexposure) in increments of 1/3EV. In general, 
positive values make the subject brighter  while negative values make it darker.
To choose a value for exposure compensation, press the  E 
button and rotate the main command dial until the desired 
value is displayed in the control panel or viewfinder.
At values other than ±0.0, the 0 at the center of the exposure 
indicators will flash (modes  P,  S , and  A only) and a  E icon will be 
displayed in the control panel and viewfinder after you release 
the  E button.
 The current value for exposure compensation 
can be confirmed in the exposu re indicator by pressing the E 
button.
Normal exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to ±0.
 Exposure 
compensation is not reset when the camera is  turned off, but is reset if you select 
another mode after choosing  %.
–1 EV No exposure compensation +1 EV
±0 EV
( E  button pressed) –0.3 EV +2.0 EV
(P, S, A, M and %
 Modes Only)
E button
Main command dia
l 
						

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AMode M
In mode  M, exposure compensation affects only the exposure indicator; shutter speed and 
aperture do not change.
AUsing a Flash
When a flash is used, exposure compensation affects both flash level and exposure, altering 
the brightness of both the main subject and the background. Custom Setting e4 ( Exposure 
comp. for flash , 0 250) can be used to restrict the effe cts of exposure compensation to the 
background only.
ASee Also
For information on choosing the size of the increments available for exposure 
compensation, see Custom Setting b2 ( EV steps for exposure cntrl, 0 234).
 For 
information on making adjustments to expo sure compensation without pressing the E 
button, see Custom Setting b3 ( Easy exposure compensation, 0 235).
 For information on 
automatically varying exposure, flash level, white balance, or Active D-Lighting, see page 
133. 
						

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White Balance
White balance ensures that colors are unaffected by the color of the light source. In 
modes other than  P,  S,  A , and  M, white balance is set automatically by the camera.
 
Auto white balance is recommended for most light sources in  P,  S , A , and  M modes, but 
other values can be selected if necessa ry according to the type of source:
White balance is set by pressing 
the  L (U ) button and rotating 
the main command dial until the 
desired setting is displayed in the 
control panel.
OptionColor temp.* Description
v Auto
3500–
8000 K White balance is adjusted automatically. For best 
results, use type G or D lens. If built-in or optional 
flash fires, results are adjusted for flash.
Normal
Keep warm lighting colors
J Incandescent 3000 K Use under incandescent lighting.
I Fluorescent Use with:
Sodium-vapor lamps 2700 K•Sodium-vapor lighting (found in sports venues).
Warm-white fluorescent 3000 K•Warm-white fluorescent lights.
White fluorescent 3700 K•White fluorescent lights.
Cool-white fluorescent 4200 K•Cool-white fluorescent lights.
Day white fluorescent 5000 K•Daylight white fluorescent lights.
Daylight fluorescent 6500 K•Daylight fluorescent lights.
High temp. mercury-vapor 7200 K•
High color temperature light sources (e.g. 
mercury-vapor lamps).
H Direct sunlight 5200 K Use with subjects lit by direct sunlight.
N Flash 5400 K Use with built-in or optional flash.
G Cloudy 6000 K Use in daylight under overcast skies.
M Shade 8000 K Use in daylight with subjects in the shade.
K Choose color temp. 2500–
10000 K Choose color temperature from list of values 
(
0 94).
L Preset manual —Use subject, light source, or existing photograph as 
reference for white balance (
095).
* All values are approximate and do no t reflect fine-tuning (if applicable).
(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)
L (U ) button Main command
dialControl panel 
						

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AThe Shooting Menu
White balance can also be adjusted using the  White balance 
option in the shooting menu ( 0224), which also ca n be used to 
fine-tune white balance ( 091) or measure a value for preset white 
balance ( 095).
 The  Auto  option in the  White balance  menu offers 
a choice of  Normal and Keep warm lighting colors , which 
preserves the warm colors produced by incandescent lighting, 
while the  IFluorescent  option can be used to select the light 
source from the bulb types.
AStudio Flash Lighting
Auto white balance may not produce the desired results with large studio flash units.
 Use 
preset white balance or set white balance to  Flash and use fine tuning to adjust white 
balance.
AColor Temperature
The perceived color of a light source varies with the viewer and other conditions.
 Color 
temperature is an objective measure of the color of a light source, defined with reference to 
the temperature to which an object would have to be heated to radiate light in the same 
wavelengths.
 While light sources with a color temp erature in the neighborhood of 5000–
5500 K appear white, light sources with a lowe r color temperature, such as incandescent 
light bulbs, appear slightly yellow or red.
 Light sources with a higher color temperature 
appear tinged with blue.
 The camera white balance options are adapted to the following 
color temperatures (all figures are approximate):
• I (sodium-vapor lamps):  2700 K
• J  (incandescent)/
I (warm-white fluorescent):  3000 K
• I (white fluorescent):  3700 K
• I (cool-white fluorescent):  4200 K
• I (day white fluorescent):  5000 K•
H  (direct sunlight):  5200 K
• N (flash):  5400 K
• G  (cloudy):  6000 K
• I (daylight fluorescent):  6500 K
• I (high temp. mercury-vapor):  7200 K
• M  (shade):  8000 K
ASee Also
When  WB bracketing  is selected for Custom Setting e6 ( Auto bracketing set, 0 251), the 
camera will create several images each time the shutter is released.
 White balance will be 
varied with each image, “bracketing” the value currently selected for white balance ( 0137). 
						

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Fine-Tuning White Balance
White balance can be “fine-tuned” to compensate for variations in the color of the 
light source or to introduce a deliberate color cast into an image.
 White balance is 
fine-tuned using the  White balance option in the shooting menu or by pressing the 
L  (U ) button and rotating the sub-command dial.
❚❚The White Balance Menu
1Select a white balance option in the 
shooting menu.
To display the menus, press the  G button. 
Select  White balance  in the shooting menu, 
then highlight a white balance option and 
press 2.
 If an option other than  Auto, 
Fluorescent , Choose color temp. , or Preset 
manual  is selected, proceed to Step 2.
 If Auto , Fluorescent , or Choose color 
temp.  is selected, highlight the desired setting and press  2.
 For information on 
fine-tuning preset white balance, see page 101.
2Fine tune white balance.
Use the multi selector to fine-tune white 
balance.
 White balance can be fine-tuned 
on the amber (A)–blue (B) axis and the green 
(G)–magenta (M) axis.
 The horizontal 
(amber-blue) axis corresponds to color 
temperature, with each increment 
equivalent to about 5 mired ( 093).
 The 
vertical (green-magenta) axis has the similar effects to the corresponding  color 
c ompensation (CC) filters.
G  button
Coordinates
Adjustmen
t
Increase green
Increase magenta
 Increase blue Increase amber
Green (G)
Magenta (M)
Blue (B)Amber (A) 
						

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3Press J.
Press  J to save settings and return to the 
shooting menu.
 If white balance has been 
fine-tuned, an asterisk (“ E”) will be displayed 
in the control panel.
❚❚ The  L  (U ) Button
At settings other than  K (Choose color temp. ) and 
L  (Preset manual ), the L (U ) button can be 
used to fine-tune white balance on the amber (A)–
blue (B) axis ( 091; to fine-tune white balance when 
K  or  L  is selected, use the shooting menu as 
described on page 91).
 Six settings in both directions 
are available; each increment is equivalent to about 5 
mired ( 093).
 Press the  L (U ) button and rotate 
the sub-command dial until the desired value is 
displayed in the control panel.
 Rotating the sub-
command dial to the left increases the amount of 
amber (A).
 Rotating the sub-command dial to the 
right increases the am ount of blue (B).
 At settings 
other than 0, an asterisk (“ E”) appears in the control 
panel.
L  (U ) button Sub-command
dial
Control panel