Exposure Mode

To determine how the camera sets shutter speed and aperture when adjusting exposure, press the I button and rotate the main command dial until the desired option appears in the control panel.

I button

Main command dial

P: Programmed auto (0 P: Programmed Auto): Camera sets shutter speed and aperture for optimal exposure. Recommended for snapshots and in other situations in which there is little time to adjust camera settings.
S: Shutter-priority auto (0 S: Shutter-Priority Auto): User chooses shutter speed; camera selects aperture for best results. Use to freeze or blur motion.
A: Aperture-priority auto (0 A: Aperture-Priority Auto): User chooses aperture; camera selects shutter speed for best results. Use to blur background or bring both foreground and background into focus.
M: Manual (0 M: Manual): User controls both shutter speed and aperture. Set shutter speed to Bulb (A) or Time (%) for long time-exposures.

Lens Types

When using a CPU lens equipped with an aperture ring (0 Recognizing CPU and Type G, E, and D Lenses), lock the aperture ring at the minimum aperture (highest f-number). Type G and E lenses are not equipped with an aperture ring.

When using non-CPU lenses (0 Non-CPU Lenses), select exposure mode A (aperture-priority auto) or M (manual). In other modes, exposure mode A is automatically selected when a non-CPU lens is attached (0 Compatible Non-CPU Lenses). The exposure mode indicator (P or S) will flash in the control panel and A will be displayed in the viewfinder.

Depth-of-Field Preview

To preview the effects of aperture, press and hold the Pv button. The lens will be stopped down to the aperture value selected by the camera (modes P and S) or the value chosen by the user (modes A and M), allowing depth of field to be previewed in the viewfinder.

Pv button

Custom Setting e5—Modeling Flash

This setting controls whether optional flash units that support the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS; 0 The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)) will emit a modeling flash when the Pv button is pressed.

P: Programmed Auto
S: Shutter-Priority Auto
A: Aperture-Priority Auto
M: Manual

P: Programmed Auto

In this mode, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture according to a built-in program to ensure optimal exposure in most situations.

Flexible Program

In exposure mode P, different combinations of shutter speed and aperture can be selected by rotating the main command dial while the exposure meters are on (“flexible program”). All combinations produce the same exposure. While flexible program is in effect, an asterisk (“U”) appears in the control panel. To restore default shutter speed and aperture settings, rotate the dial until the asterisk is no longer displayed, choose another mode, or turn the camera off.

Main command dial

S: Shutter-Priority Auto

In shutter-priority auto, you choose the shutter speed while the camera automatically selects the aperture that will produce the optimal exposure.

To choose a shutter speed, rotate the main command dial while the exposure meters are on. Shutter speed can be set to “p” or to values between 30 s and 1/8000 s. Shutter speed can be locked at the selected setting (0 Shutter-Speed and Aperture Lock).

Main command dial

A: Aperture-Priority Auto

In aperture-priority auto, you choose the aperture while the camera automatically selects the shutter speed that will produce the optimal exposure.

To choose an aperture between the minimum and maximum values for the lens, rotate the sub-command dial while the exposure meters are on. Aperture can be locked at the selected setting (0 Shutter-Speed and Aperture Lock).

Sub-command dial

Non-CPU Lenses (0 Compatible Non-CPU Lenses)

Use the lens aperture ring to adjust aperture. If the maximum aperture of the lens has been specified using the Non-CPU lens data item in setup menu (0 Non-CPU Lenses) when a non-CPU lens is attached, the current f-number will be displayed in the viewfinder and control panel, rounded to the nearest full stop. Otherwise the aperture displays will show only the number of stops (F, with maximum aperture displayed as FA) and the f-number must be read from the lens aperture ring.

M: Manual

In manual exposure mode, you control both shutter speed and aperture. While the exposure meters are on, rotate the main command dial to choose a shutter speed, and the sub-command dial to set aperture. Shutter speed can be set to “p” or to values between 30 s and 1/8000 s, or the shutter can be held open indefinitely for a long time-exposure (A or %, 0 Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only)). Aperture can be set to values between the minimum and maximum values for the lens. Use the exposure indicators to check exposure.

Aperture

Sub-command dial

Shutter speed

Main command dial

Shutter speed and aperture can be locked at the selected setting (0 Shutter-Speed and Aperture Lock).

AF Micro NIKKOR Lenses

Provided that an external exposure meter is used, the exposure ratio need only be taken into account when the lens aperture ring is used to set aperture.

Exposure Indicators

The exposure indicators in the viewfinder and control panel show whether the photograph would be under- or over-exposed at current settings. Depending on the option chosen for Custom Setting b2 (EV steps for exposure cntrl, 0 EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl), the amount of under- or over-exposure is shown in increments of 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, or 1 EV. If the limits of the exposure metering system are exceeded, the displays will flash.

	Custom Setting b2 set to 1/3 step
	Optimal exposure	Underexposed by 1/3 EV	Overexposed by over 3 EV
Control panel
Viewfinder