Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays. You may find it helpful to bookmark this section and refer to it as you read through the rest of the manual.

Camera Body

1

T button

2 Release mode dial lock release
3 Release mode dial
4 Eyelet for camera strap
5

U button

6

I button

7

Y button

8 Stereo microphone
9 Movie-record button
10 Power switch
11 Shutter-release button
12

E button

13

S/Q button

14 Control panel
15 Diopter adjustment control
16 Focal plane mark (E)
17 Accessory shoe (for optional flash unit)

1 Self-timer lamp
2 Meter coupling lever
3

BKT button

4 Flash sync terminal cover
5 Ten-pin remote terminal cover
6 Audio connector cover
7 USB connector cover
8 HDMI connector cover
9 AF-mode button
10 Focus-mode selector
11 Lens release button
12 Lens mounting mark
13 Mirror
14 Flash sync terminal
15 Ten-pin remote terminal
16 Headphone connector
17 Connector for external microphone
18 USB connector
19 HDMI connector
20 Body cap

1 Sub-command dial
2

Pv button

3 Fn1 button
4 Battery-chamber cover latch
5 Battery-chamber cover
6 Lens mount
7 CPU contacts
8 Contact cover for optional MB-D18 multi-power battery pack
9 Tripod socket
10 Power connector cover

1 Viewfinder
2 Eyepiece shutter lever
3

O/Q button

4

K button

5 G button
6

L/Z/Q button

7

X button

8

W/M button

9 J button
10 Fn2 button
11 Tilting monitor
12 Viewfinder eyepiece
13 Speaker
14 Sub-selector
15 AF-ON button
16 Main command dial
17 Multi selector
18 Focus selector lock
19 Memory card slot cover
20

R button

21 Live view selector
22

a button

23

i button

24 Memory card access lamp

Close the Connector Cover

Close the connector cover when the connectors are not in use. Foreign matter in the connectors can interfere with data transfer.

The Speaker

Do not place the speaker in close proximity to magnetic devices. Failure to observe this precaution could affect the data recorded on the magnetic devices.

The Control Panel

The control panel shows a variety of camera settings when the camera is on. The items shown here appear the first time the camera is turned on; information on other settings can be found in the relevant sections of this manual.

1 Exposure mode
2 Photo shooting menu bank
3 Shutter speed
4 Battery indicator
5 Aperture (f-number)
6 XQD card icon
7 SD card icon
8 Number of exposures remaining
9 AF-area mode
10 Autofocus mode
11 White balance
12 Image size (JPEG and TIFF images)
13 Image quality
14 B (“clock not set”) indicator
15 Metering

The B (“clock not set”) Indicator

The camera clock is powered by an independent, rechargeable power source, which is charged as necessary when the main battery is installed or the camera is powered by an optional power connector and AC adapter (0 Other Accessories). Two days of charging will power the clock for about three months. If the B icon flashes in the control panel, the clock has been reset and the date and time recorded with any new photographs will not be correct. Set the clock to the correct time and date using the Time zone and date > Date and time option in the setup menu (0 Time Zone and Date).

LCD Illuminators

Rotating the power switch toward D activates the backlights for the buttons and control panel, making it easier to use the camera in the dark. After the power switch is released, the backlights will remain lit for a few seconds while the standby timer is active or until the shutter is released or the power switch is rotated toward D again.

Power switch

The Control Panel and Viewfinder Displays

The brightness of the control panel and viewfinder displays varies with temperature, and the response times of the displays may drop at low temperatures. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.

The Viewfinder Display

1 Roll indicator 1, 2
2 AF area brackets
3 Framing grid (displayed when On is selected for Custom Setting d9, Viewfinder grid display)
4 Focus points
5 Pitch indicator 1, 3
6 Flicker detection
7 Focus indicator
8 Metering
9 Autoexposure (AE) lock
10 Shutter speed lock icon
11

Shutter speed

Autofocus mode

12 Aperture lock icon
13

Aperture (f-number)

Aperture (number of stops)

14 Exposure mode
15 Flash compensation indicator
16 Exposure compensation indicator
17

ISO sensitivity indicator

Auto ISO sensitivity indicator

18

ISO sensitivity

Preset white balance recording indicator

Active D-Lighting amount

AF-area mode

19 “k” (appears when memory remains for over 1000 exposures)
20 Flash-ready indicator 4
21 FV lock indicator
22 Flash sync indicator
23 Aperture stop indicator
24

Exposure indicator

Exposure compensation display

25 Low battery warning
26

Exposure/flash bracketing indicator

WB bracketing indicator

ADL bracketing indicator

27

Number of exposures remaining

Number of shots remaining before memory buffer fills

Exposure compensation value

Flash compensation value

PC mode indicator

Can be displayed by pressing a button to which Viewfinder virtual horizon has been assigned using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment, 0 Custom control assignment).

Functions as a pitch indicator when camera is rotated to take pictures in “tall” (portrait) orientation.

Functions as a roll indicator when camera is rotated to take pictures in “tall” (portrait) orientation.

Displayed when an optional flash unit is attached (0 Using a Flash). The flash-ready indicator lights when the flash is charged.

Note: Display shown with all indicators lit for illustrative purposes.

No Battery

When the battery is totally exhausted or no battery is inserted, the display in the viewfinder will dim. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction. The viewfinder display will return to normal when a fully-charged battery is inserted.

The Diopter Adjustment Control

Lift the diopter adjustment control and rotate it until the viewfinder display, focus points, and AF area brackets are in sharp focus. When operating the control with your eye to the viewfinder, be careful not to put your fingers or fingernails in your eye. Push the diopter adjustment control back in once you have adjusted focus to your satisfaction.

Viewfinder not in focus

Viewfinder in focus

Diopter-Adjustment Viewfinder Lenses

Corrective lenses (available separately; 0 Other Accessories) can be used to further adjust viewfinder diopter. Before attaching a diopter-adjustment viewfinder lens, remove the DK-17F viewfinder eyepiece by closing the viewfinder shutter to release the eyepiece lock () and then grasping the eyepiece lightly between your finger and thumb and unscrewing it as shown ().

Using the Tilting Monitor

The monitor can be angled and rotated as shown below.


Normal use: The monitor is normally used in storage position.


Low-angle shots: Tilt the monitor up to take shots in live view with the camera held low.


High-angle shots: Tilt the monitor down to take shots in live view with the camera held high.

Using the Monitor

Rotate the monitor gently, stopping when you feel resistance. Do not use force. Failure to observe these precautions could damage the camera or monitor. If the camera is mounted on a tripod, care should be taken to ensure that the monitor does not contact the tripod.

Do not lift or carry the camera by the monitor. Failure to observe this precaution could damage the camera. If the monitor is not being used to take photographs, return it to the storage position.

Do not touch the area to the rear of the monitor or allow liquid to contact the inner surface. Failure to observe these precautions could cause product malfunction.

Be particularly careful not to touch this area.

Using the Touch Screen

The touch-sensitive monitor supports the following operations:


Flick

Flick a finger a short distance left or right across the monitor.


Slide

Slide a finger over the monitor.


Stretch/Pinch

Place two fingers on the monitor and move them apart or pinch them together.

Using the Touch Screen

During playback (0 Using the Touch Screen), the touch screen can be used to:

  • View other images
  • Zoom in or out
  • View thumbnails
  • View movies

During live view, the touch screen can be used to take pictures (touch shutter; 0 Touch Photography (Touch Shutter)) or to measure a value for spot white balance (0 Live View (Spot White Balance)). The touch screen can also be used for typing (0 Text Entry) or navigating the menus (0 Using the Touch Screen).

The Touch Screen

The touch screen responds to static electricity and may not respond when covered with third-party protective films or when touched with fingernails or gloved hands. Do not use excessive force or touch the screen with sharp objects.

Using the Touch Screen

The touch screen may not respond as expected if you attempt to operate it while leaving your palm or another finger resting on it in second location. It may not recognize other gestures if your touch is too soft, your fingers are moved too quickly or too short a distance or do not remain in contact with the screen, or if the movement of the two fingers in a pinch or stretch is not correctly coordinated.

Enabling or Disabling Touch Controls

Touch controls can be enabled or disabled using the Touch controls option in the setup menu (0 Touch Controls).

See Also

For information on choosing the direction you flick your finger to view other images in full-frame playback, see B > Touch controls (0 Touch Controls).