3, shutter speed determines the duration of the exposure. Like the ISO dial, the Shutter Speed dial sports a lock button. In this case, you don’t need to press the button to choose values ranging from the red 4 (4 seconds) to 4000 (1/4000 second). You only need to use the unlock button to access other settings (1/3 step, X, and so on). Chapter 3 provides a tutorial on using the dial and other ways to set the shutter speed.
Photo/Video selector switch: Use this switch to tell the camera whether you want to shoot photos or videos. For photos, rotate the switch so that the black selector line is aligned with the still-camera symbol, as shown in Figure 1-8. For video, align the mark with the video-camera symbol.
Control panel: This tiny display doesn’t really control anything; rather, it shows the current aperture setting, which is stated in terms of f-stops. Chapter 3 helps you understand this exposure setting. If no value appears, the camera is in power-saving mode, which shuts down this display and others. Press the shutter button halfway and release it, and the f-stop setting should appear. In some cases, the display shows data other than the f-stop, which I point out as necessary in later chapters.
On/Off switch: Okay, I'm pretty sure you already figured out what this switch does. But you may be unaware that the camera has an automatic power-saving feature that puts the monitor and other battery-sucking parts to sleep if you don’t press any buttons for a certain period, fooling you into thinking that you turned off the camera. Wake the camera from its slumber by pressing the shutter button halfway and releasing it or by pressing any other button.
Shutter button: When you press this button to take a picture, it’s critical to take a two-stage approach: Press and hold the button halfway down to initiate autofocusing. When focus is set, press the button the rest of the way to take the picture. If you’re using autoexposure, your half-press also launches that process, but at the camera’s default settings, exposure is adjusted up to the time you press the button all the way.
Exposure Compensation dial: Exposure Compensation is another exposure feature you can explore in Chapter 3. Spoiler alert: If you use any Shooting mode except M (manual exposure) and your picture comes out too dark, choosing a positive Exposure Compensation value should produce a brighter picture on your next shot. Choosing a negative value should produce a darker shot. I say should because in some situations, the feature can’t accomplish this exposure change.The mark that indicates the current setting is the black mark to the left of the dial. In the figure, the selected value is 0, for no adjustment to exposure. This dial has no lock, so be careful not to inadvertently rotate the dial off your selected setting.
Record button: After moving the Photo/Video selector switch to the video position, press this button to start and stop recording. When the switch is set to the photo position, you can press the button to hide data that appears in the displays. Press again to bring the data back. This feature assumes that you stick with the default photo-shooting role assigned to the button; Chapter 10 explains how you can change the button function from the default.
Diopter adjustment dial: Use this control to adjust the viewfinder focus to your eyesight as outlined at the start of this chapter.
Focal plane mark: Should you need to know the exact distance between your subject and the camera, the focal plane indicator is the key. This mark indicates the plane at which light coming through the lens is focused onto the image sensor. Basing your measurement on this mark produces the most accurate camera-to-subject distance.
Front-of-the-camera features
Figure 1-9 provides a guide to the following features:
Sub-command dial: This dial is the counterpart to the Main command dial on the back of the camera. As with the Main command dial, you rotate this one to select certain settings.
Microphone: Almost hidden under the Nikon logo, two holes lead to the built-in microphone. Chapter 7 details microphone settings.
AF-assist/Red-Eye Reduction/Self-timer lamp: In dim lighting, a beam of light shoots from this lamp to help the autofocus system find its target. When you use flash and set the Flash mode to Red-Eye Reduction, the lamp lights before the flash fires. The lamp also blinks to serve as a countdown timer when you set the Release mode to Self-Timer. Chapter 3 covers flash photography; Chapter 2 details Release modes.
Function (Fn) button: By default, pressing the button during shooting gives you quick access to the White Balance setting, a color control you can read about in Chapter 5. You can change the action that the button performs; Chapter 10 shows you how.
Lens-release button: Press this button to release the lens or FTZ lens adapter so that you can remove it from the camera.
FIGURE 1-9: You can set the Function (Fn) button to perform various tasks.
Hidden connections
Lift the rubber cover up and away from the side of the camera to expose the following connection ports, labeled in Figure 1-10:
HDMI connector: You can connect your camera to an HDTV so that you can view your photos and movies on the TV. You need to purchase a cable that has a regular HDMI plug at one end and a Type D HDMI plug at the other. The Type D plug goes into the camera. Chapter 10 has details on settings related to connecting via HDMI.
USB connector: You can connect your camera via a USB cable to your computer, to the optional AC-power adapter, and to certain portable power bricks. (Check the camera’s user manual for information on compatible power bricks).Note these important details about the USB port:The camera’s USB port requires a cable that has a USB-C plug at one end. The type of plug you need at the other end depends on the USB port on the device you want to connect. Older devices usually have USB-A ports; newer devices typically offer USB-C.By default, the camera draws power from your computer when the two are connected. To put a stop to that, open the Setup menu and turn off USB Power Delivery. Just remember to turn the option back on if you want to later use the AC adapter or a power brick to charge the battery.When the battery is charging via the USB port, a light near the CHG (charge) label glows. The light turns off when the battery is fully charged. I labeled the light in Figure 1-10.
Microphone jack: If you don’t want to use the camera’s built-in microphone, you can plug in an external wired mike here. The microphone must connect via a mini-pin plug (3.5mm diameter).
