Nikon D3400 W User Manual

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Basic Photography and Playback
This section describes how to take 
photographs in i and  j modes.
 i and  j are 
automatic “point-and-shoot” modes in which 
the majority of settings are controlled by the 
camera in response to shooting conditions; the 
only difference between the two is that the 
flash will not fire in  j mode.
1Rotate the mode dial to  i 
or  j.
Photographs can be framed in the 
viewfinder or in the monitor (live 
view).
 To start live view, press the  a 
button.
“Point-and-Shoot” Modes ( iand  j)
Framing pictures in the 
viewfinder Framing pictures in the 
monitor (live view)
Mode dial
a  button 
						

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2Ready the camera.
Viewfinder photography: When framing photographs in the 
viewfinder, hold the handgrip in your right hand and cradle 
the camera body or lens with your left.
 Bring your elbows in 
against the sides of your chest.
Live view : When framing photographs in the monitor, hold the 
handgrip in your right hand and cradle the lens with your left.
AFraming Photographs in Portrait (Tall) Orientation
When framing photographs in portrait (tall) orientation, hold the 
camera as shown below.
Framing photographs in the  viewfinderFraming photographs in the  monitor 
						

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3Frame the photograph.
Viewfinder photography: Frame a 
photograph in the viewfinder with the 
main subject in at least one of the 11 
focus points.
Live view : At default settings, the 
camera automatically detects faces 
and selects the focus point.
 If no face 
is detected, the camera will focus on 
subjects near the center of the frame.
AUsing a Zoom Lens
Before focusing, rotate the zoom ring to 
adjust the focal length and frame the 
photograph. 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).
Focus point
Focus point
Zoom in
Zoom out
Zoom ring 
						

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4Press the shutter-release 
button halfway.
Viewfinder photography: Press 
the shutter-release button 
halfway to focus
 (if the 
subject is poorly lit, the flash 
may pop up and the AF-
assist illuminator may light). 
When the focus operation is complete, a beep will sound (a 
beep may not sound if the subject is moving) and the in-focus 
indicator ( I) will appear in the viewfinder.
Live view : The focus point flashes green 
while the camera focuses.
 If the 
camera is able to focus, the focus 
point will be displayed in green; 
otherwise, the focus point will flash 
red.
In-focus indicatorDescription
I Subject in focus.
I  
(flashes) Camera unable to fo
cus using autofocus.
 See 
page 91.
In-focus indicator 
						

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5Shoot.
Smoothly press the shutter-
release button the rest of 
the way down to take the 
photograph.
 The memory 
card access lamp will light 
and the photograph will be 
displayed in the monitor for 
a few seconds.
 Do not eject 
the memory card or remove 
or disconnect the power 
source until the lamp has 
gone out and recording is 
complete.
To end live view, press the  a button.
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  t a k e  
the photograph, press the shutter-release button the rest of the way 
down.
Focus: press halfwayShoot: press all the  way down
Pressing the shutter-release button  halfway also ends playback and 
readies the camera for immediate use.
Memory card access lamp 
						

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AAutomatic Scene Selection (Scene Auto Selector)
If live view is selected in  i or  j mode, the 
camera will automatically analyze the 
subject and select the appropriate shooting 
mode when the shutter-release button is 
pressed halfway to focus using autofocus.
 The selected mode is shown in the monitor.
cPortraitHuman portrait subjects
dLandscapeLandscapes and cityscapes
eClose upSubjects close to the camera
fNight portraitPortrait subjects framed against a dark 
background
ZAutoSubjects suited to  i or  j mode or that do not 
fall into the categories listed above
bAuto (flash off )
AThe Standby Timer (Viewfinder Photography)
The viewfinder and information display will turn off if no 
operations are performed  for about eight 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 the  Auto off timers option in the 
setup menu ( 071).
Exposure meters offExposure meters on
AThe Count Down Display (Live View)
A count down will be displayed 30 s before live view ends 
automatically (the timer turns red 5 s before the auto off timer expires 
( Auto off timers ; 0 71) or if live view is about to end to protect the 
internal circuits).
 Depending on shooting conditions, the timer may 
appear immediately when live view is selected. 
						

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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.
When the flash is not in use, return it to its 
closed position by pressing it gently 
downward till the latch clicks into place.
ALive View Zoom Preview
To magnify the view in the monitor up to about 8.3 × for precise focus, 
press the  X button.
 While the view through the lens is zoomed in, a 
navigation window will appear in a gray frame at the bottom right 
corner of the display.
 Use the multi selector to scroll to areas of the 
frame not visible in the monitor, or press  W(Q ) to zoom out.
X  button Navigation window 
						

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AShooting in Live View
Although they will not appear in th e final picture, jagged edges, color 
fringing, moiré, and bright spots  may appear in the monitor, while 
bright regions or bands may appear  in some areas with flashing signs 
and other intermittent light sources or if the subject is briefly 
illuminated by a strobe or other bright, momentary light source.
 In 
addition, distortion may occur with moving subjects, particularly if the 
camera is panned horizontally or an object moves horizontally at high 
speed through the frame.
 Flicker and banding visible in the monitor 
under fluorescent, mercury vapor,  or sodium lamps can be reduced 
using  Flicker reduction  (0 71), although they ma y still be visible in 
the final photograph at some shutter speeds.
 Avoid pointing the 
camera at the sun or other strong light sources. Failure to observe this 
precaution could result in damage to the camera’s internal circuitry. Live view ends automatically if  the mode dial is rotated to g or the 
mode dial is rotated from  g to another setting.
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 before taking pictures without your eye to the 
viewfinder. 
						

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Viewing Photographs
Pressing K displays a picture in the monitor.
Press  4 or  2 to view additional pictures.
❚❚ Thumbnail Playback
To display images in “contact sheets” of 
four, nine, or 72 images (thumbnail 
playback), press the  W (Q ) button.
 Use 
the multi selector or command dial to 
highlight images and press  J to display 
the highlighted image full frame.
 Press  X 
to reduce the number of images 
displayed.
K  button
W  (Q ) button 
						

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❚❚Calendar Playback
To view images taken on a selected date 
(calendar playback), press the  W (Q ) 
button when 72 images are displayed.
 
Press the  W (Q ) button to toggle 
between the date list and the list of 
thumbnails for the selected date.
 Use 
the multi selector to highlight dates in 
the date list or to highlight pictures in 
the thumbnail list.
 Press  X when the 
cursor is in the date list to return to 72-
frame playback.
Date list
Thumbnail list