2. D780 Online Manual
  3. Camera Controls
  4. The S (Q) Button

The S (Q) Button

Use the S (Q) button to adjust the camera’s sensitivity to light (ISO sensitivity). The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing faster shutter speeds or smaller apertures. You also have the option of enabling auto ISO sensitivity control, which automatically adjusts sensitivity if optimal exposure cannot be achieved at the setting selected by the user.

Adjusting ISO Sensitivity

Hold the S (Q) button and rotate the main command dial.

  • Choose from values of from ISO 100 to 51200. Settings of from about 0.3 to 1 EV below ISO 100 and 0.3 to 2 EV above ISO 51200 are also available.

  • In addition to settings of from ISO 100 to 51200, b and all EFCT modes other than j also offer an X ([Auto]) option. When X is selected, the camera adjusts ISO sensitivity automatically.

High ISO Sensitivities

The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing pictures to be taken when lighting is poor and helping prevent blur when the subject is in motion. Note, however, that the higher the sensitivity, the more likely the image is to be affected by “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Enabling Auto ISO Sensitivity Control

In P, S, A, and M modes, you can hold the S (Q) button and rotate the sub-command dial to choose whether the camera will automatically adjust ISO sensitivity if the desired exposure cannot be achieved at the value selected by the user.

  • When auto ISO sensitivity control is enabled, ISO AUTO indicators will appear in the control panel and viewfinder. When these indicators are lit (not flashing), pictures will be taken at the sensitivity selected for [ISO sensitivity]. When sensitivity is altered from the value selected by the user, the ISO AUTO indicators will flash and the altered value will be shown in the displays.

Maximum Sensitivity

In modes P, S, A, and M, you can select an upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control to prevent ISO sensitivity being raised too high. The maximum ISO sensitivity can be selected using the [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO sensitivity control] > [Maximum sensitivity] item in the photo shooting menu.