NIKON D5000 Fun Guide

 

This is going to be a different camera user guide. It aims to be fun and enjoyable rather than being technical and detailed. So please enjoy!

 

Out Of The Box

 

If the camera you are holding has a lens already attached to the body, it may be the lens that came with the camera as a kit. If you are opening the boxes for the first time, attach the lens that came with the camera.

 

Attaching The Lens

1.    Turn the camera OFF.

2.    Remove the protective cover cap from the camera body.

3.    Hold the lens with your left hand.

4.    Hold the camera with your right hand.

5.    Align the Mounting Index (white dots) of the lens and to the camera body.

6.    Press the lens release button while attaching the lens.

7.    Twist the lens counter clockwise until your feel a click confirming that the lens have attached properly. Do not use force attaching the lens. Doing so may damage the mounting bracket and CPU contacts.

 

If you had just purchased the D5000 brand new and just opened the box, here's what you do:

1.    Charge the battery supplied with the camera. Assemble the battery charger by plugging all the wire components.

2.    Insert an SD memory card to the camera.

3.    Install a fully charged battery to the D5000.

4.    Turn ON the camera by flicking the switch around the shutter button.

5.    A menu to set the time and date will appear. Set the time and date. Don't worry if the default language is different than yours, you can change this later. Press the OK button using your right thumb.

6.    A menu to set the Language will appear. Set the default language.

 

Using The LCD Monitor

 

The camera comes out of the box with the monitor facing the camera body to protect it from damage. Before setting the monitor facing out, it is advisable to cover the monitor with protective film. This film sheet protection can be purchased from Camera shops and Computer suppliers.

 

 

Check The Camera Settings

 

If the D5000 came brand new out of the box, it would be on default values set by the camera manufacturer. If you are using a used camera or have used it for a while, set the values to the original setting by reseting the camera. This is how to reset the camera to the original values:

1.    Turn the camera ON.

2.    Press both the Info button and the i button at the same time, and HOLD for at least two seconds. The camera will reset to original values.

Both these buttons will have a GREEN DOT beside them.

 

Using The Camera NOW!

Can't wait?

No time for other info?

Just turn your MODE dial to Auto (green colored camera).

 

Then start shooting by aiming the camera to your subject and start pressing the shutter button. That's the great fun of digital cameras. You don't waste shots, just opportunities. Any unwanted pictures can just be deleted.

 

Checking What You Photographed

 

Press the playback button (top left with right pointing arrow) to see  the shots you just made. Scroll through the last few shots by clicking the selector button (OK button) left or right. Clicking the selector button up or down will display technical details on the image.

 

If you accidentally clicked the up/down choices, choose the display with the minimum of clutter on the up/down menu, then continue on clicking left to right.

To display new images on the monitor automatically after shooting, without having to press the playback (right pointing arrow) every time, here's what you do:

1.    Press the MENU button.

2.    Scroll to the top left with the playback (right pointing arrow) button.

3.    Right click the selector and scroll down to IMAGE REVIEW.

4.    Right click on this and choose ON.

Images will automatically be shown on the monitor every time a picture is taken.

 

Zooming In On Your Pictures

 

You can zoom in on your pictures to check details of your images:

1.    Press the playback button.

2.    Choose the image by clicking the selector left or right.

3.    Click on the Zoom In button. ( magnifying glass icon ). Keep on clicking to increase the zoom in.

4.    To Zoom Out, click on the button on top of the Zoom In button.

 

 

Deleting Your Images

 

If you want to permanently delete some images:

1.    Press the Playback button.

2.    Choose the images by scrolling through by clicking the selector button left or right.

3.    Press the Delete button (upper left) to delete the image.

 

 

 

Chapter 2: How To  Autofocus

The lens that comes with the camera has the Autofocus switch set to the default setting A which means the Autofocus function of the lens is enabled. Some lenses have the label M/A which means you can override the Autofocus by grabbling the focus ring on the lens barrel and adjusting focus manually. If the switch is set to M, the lens will NOT autofocus. Focusing will have to be done manually by using the focus ring on the lens barrel. Be sure to always set this switch to A or M/A.

 

There are two easy ways to use AUTOFOCUS:

1.    Let the camera choose the focus points for you.

2.     You choose the focus point by taking control over the camera.

When you are in AUTO on the Mode Dial, the camera will try to choose what it thinks is the best focus points for the shot. There are eleven (11) focus points displayed on the Viewfinder and they are arrayed like that shown below:

 

 

Let The Camera Choose The Focus Points

1.    Press the shutter release halfway to activate Autofocus and Metering.

2.    The camera will show the focus points it has chosen for you by highlighting the focus points with rectangular boxes that will blink once in red. If enabled, a high pitched BEEP will also confirm that AF points have been chosen.

3.    The subjects within the rectangular boxes will be in best focus while the rest of the picture will not be.

4.    If you are happy with the choice made by the camera, press the shutter fully and take the photo.

5.    If you wanted a different subject to be in focus but the camera did not choose it, just release the shutter from halfway and recompose again, repeat from step 1.

 

The left image shows the camera choosing to focus on far away subjects. By recomposing and repeating the AF process, it has shifted to subjects more closer to the photographer.

 

You still decide in the final moment what subject will be in focus before taking the shot.

 

The camera has chosen AF points which are not your best choice. By repeating the process of Autofocus, it then chooses the AF points you like and you take the shot.

 

 

 

You Choose The Focus Points By Taking Control

Everybody wants to take control. Whether it's taking over the world, a country, a government or your spouse. Everybody wants to rule the world.

It's the same with any equipment such as a camera. You want to take control.

After using the AUTO mode for a while, creativity takes over and you would want to explore the other features of the camera.

To choose your own focus points, here's what to do:

1.    Turn the Mode Dial to P which means Program Mode.

2.    Press the MENU button

3.    Go to CUSTOM SETTING MENU (red pencil)

4.    Right click on the OK selector and choose: a.Autofocus

5.    Right click to choose: a1 AF-area mode

6.    Right click and choose: Single point

7.    Press OK or right click the OK selector.

8.    Look at the viewfinder.

9.    You will find one Autofocus Box in the middle of the screen highlighting one of the 11 AF points. Move this Autofocus Box around the 11 AF points by using the OK selector. Practice by moving it side to side and up or down.

10.  This is now your Autofocus Box.

11.  Wherever you place this AF Box on any of the 11 AF points, the camera will focus on that point.

12.  The easiest method is to always place the AF Box on the middle AF point. This was how the viewfinder of manual focus film cameras of old used to be designed. There was only one Focus Indicator and it was in the middle of the frame.

13.  When the camera is static and in a tripod, such as in Architecture, real estate and product photography where the camera needs to be in a fixed position, you can move the AF Box around the 11 AF points by using the OK selector.

 

Using Single Point Autofocus

How to use the Single Point Autofocus feature

1.    Set the AF Box on the middle of the frame using the OK selector.

2.    Choose the subject to be in focus.

3.    Target the subject with the AF Box.

4.    Press the shutter button Halfway. The camera will confirm AF has been achieved by the AF Box blinking RED and if enabled, the camera will confirm with a BEEP.

5.    Press the shutter fully to take the photo.

6.    You can be more creative by keeping the shutter pressed halfway and recomposing the frame to place the subject off center. As long as the shutter remains pressed halfway, the Focus and Metering will be locked on the subject. Press the shutter fully to take the photo.

 

 

Next Chapter: Making Movies With The Nikon D5000

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Making Movies with The Nikon D5000