2. D780 Online Manual
  3. Basic Photography and Playback
  4. Taking Photographs (b Mode)

Taking Photographs (b Mode)

Select b (auto) mode for simple “point-and-shoot” photography. Photographs can be framed in the viewfinder (viewfinder photography) or in the monitor (live view photography).

Framing Photographs in the Viewfinder (Viewfinder Photography)

  1. Pressing the mode dial lock release on top of the camera, rotate the mode dial to b.

  2. Ready the camera.

    Holding the handgrip in your right hand and cradling the camera body or lens with your left, bring your elbows in against the sides of your chest.

  3. Frame the photograph.

    • Frame a photograph in the viewfinder.

    • Position the main subject in the AF‑area brackets.

  4. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus.

    • The in-focus indicator (I) will appear in the viewfinder when the focus operation is complete.

      Viewfinder display

      Description

      (steady)

      The subject is in focus.

      (steady)

      The focus point is in front of the subject.

      (steady)

      The focus point is behind the subject.

      (flashes)

      The camera is unable to focus using autofocus.

    • The active focus point is displayed in the viewfinder.

  5. Smoothly press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to take the photograph.

    The memory card access lamp will light while the photograph is being recorded. Do not eject the memory card or remove or disconnect the power source until the lamp has gone out and recording is complete.

The Standby Timer (Viewfinder Photography)

The camera uses a standby timer to help reduce the drain on the battery. The timer starts when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway and expires if no operations are performed for about 6 seconds. The viewfinder display and some indicators in the control panel turn off when the timer expires. To restart the timer and restore the displays, press the shutter-release button halfway a second time. The length of time before the standby timer expires can be adjusted using Custom Setting c2 [Standby timer].

Standby timer on

Standby timer off

Framing Photographs in the Monitor (Live View)

  1. Pressing the mode dial lock release on top of the camera, rotate the mode dial to b.
  2. Rotate the live view selector to C (live view photography).
  3. Press the a button.

    The mirror will be raised and live view will start. The viewfinder will go dark and the view through the lens will be displayed in the monitor.

  4. Ready the camera.

    Hold the handgrip securely in your right hand and cradle the camera body or lens with your left.

  5. Frame the photograph.

    • Position the subject near the center of the frame.

    • At default settings, the camera automatically detects portrait subjects and positions the focus point over their faces or eyes.

  6. Press the shutter-release button halfway to focus.

    If the camera is able to focus, the focus point will be displayed in green. If the camera is unable to focus, for example because the subject is too close to the camera, the focus area will flash red.

  7. Press the shutter-release button the rest of the way down to take the photograph.

    The monitor turns off during shooting.

  8. Press the a button to exit live view.
Shooting in Live View

  • Although these effects are not visible in the final pictures, during live view you may notice that:

    • Moving objects in the display appear distorted (individual subjects such as trains or cars moving at high speed through the frame may be distorted, or the entire frame may appear distorted when the camera is panned horizontally)

    • Jagged edges, color fringing, moiré, and bright spots are present in the display

    • Bright regions or bands may appear in scenes lit by flashing signs and other intermittent light sources or when the subject is briefly illuminated by a strobe or other bright, momentary light source

  • Flicker and banding visible in the monitor under fluorescent, mercury vapor, or sodium lamps can be reduced using the [Flicker reduction] item in the movie shooting menu, although they may still be visible in photographs taken at some shutter speeds.

  • To prevent light entering via the viewfinder from interfering with photographs or exposure, we recommend that you cover the viewfinder with the supplied eyepiece cap (Cover the Viewfinder).

  • When shooting in live view, avoid pointing the camera at the sun or other bright light sources. Failure to observe this precaution could result in damage to the camera’s internal circuitry.

  • Regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting c2 [Standby timer], the standby timer will not expire during live view.

The Count Down Display

A count down will appear in the top left corner of the display approximately 30 s before live view ends automatically.

  • If the timer has been triggered by Custom Setting c4 [Monitor off delay], the count down will be displayed in black starting 30 s before the timer expires, switching to red when there are only 5 s to go. If [No limit] is selected for [Monitor off delay] > [Live view], the camera may nevertheless terminate live view as necessary to protect its internal circuits from high temperatures and the like.

  • A count down will be displayed in red starting 30 s before the camera shuts down to protect its internal circuits. Depending on shooting conditions, the timer may appear immediately when live view is selected.

Exposure Preview (Lv)

When [On] is selected for Custom Setting d9 [Exposure preview (Lv)], exposure can be previewed in the monitor during live view photography. You may find this useful when using exposure compensation or shooting in mode M.

Touch Controls

Touch controls can be used in place of the shutter-release button to focus and take pictures during live view photography ( Touch Controls ).