FLASH SYNC MODES
Select these by holding down the flash button on the left side of the flash hump and spinning the rear dial. Your selection is shown on the top LCD in the box with the bolt.

Normal (blank, which is the default): In Program and A exposure modes, the shutter won’t stay open longer than about 1/60 second. You can change this minimum speed in custom function 21, which defaults at about 1/60 second. I forget the exact default because I have mine set to 1/15.

In this mode you won’t get blur indoors, but you may not get more than a very black background either. Choose a longer speed, like 1/8, in CSM 21 to lighten the backgrounds indoors, but watch for motion.

I usually use Normal mode, since if I don’t I can get some scary long exposures if I’m not expecting them in the dark.

Anyone mention optics?
Just about all my best photos have come out of a 6mp Nikon D40. Yes, 6 megapixels is more than enough for great photos if they’re fat and happy pixels. You could double the pixel count and not see the difference. You might see one if you quadruple it – Sony’s new Alpha 900 has a 24mp sensor. Canon’s top model offers 21mp. Both cost thousands of dollars.

More pixels make more work
If the advantages of extra pixels are dubious, their drawbacks are obvious when loading photos on a PC: the files are very large and slow to process. If you’re a dead keen amateur, you may find a major PC hardware upgrade necessary. Big files also take up lots of space on hard drives, with 12mp .jpg shots generating 5-6 mb files. Hard drive capacity is cheap these days but keeping these files backed-up takes time.

Digital-Only Qualities
Up to this point, some of the features we have looked at are uniform characteristics of both digital and film cameras. Now, let’s evaluate what makes dSLRs so wonderful: the digital technology that separates them from traditional film cameras. The LCD screen allows photographers to instantaneously view their work and make adjustments on the fly. Different storage media permits photographer’s to take hundreds of pictures in a single day, without the added expense of film.
The LCD screen is on the back of the camera and shows the photographer a representation of the image they just created, instantly after taking the picture. The size of the LCD is a primary factor in evaluation. Some newer camera models feature “live-view” LCD, which can show the photographer exactly what is coming through the lens before a picture is even taken. Of the four cameras in Figure 1, three have LCD screens of 2.5”, while the Nikon D3 has a 3” screen. None of these models feature “live-view,” which is still a relatively new technology.
A camera’s accepted storage media is the type or brand of memory card that can be used to store pictures. Some memory cards have become standard for many cameras, while other manufacturers prefer to use proprietary storage media. Different memory cards can record images at varying speeds, and hold greater or lesser amounts of data. It is important to know what your camera accepts, so that you can find the best storage media available. A common storage media is the CompactFlash card, which is compatible with all cameras in Figure 1.

Battery Packs

The VG_D70 can operate with one or two battery packs installed. It doesn’t matter if one of the battery packs is not charged. The grip will automatically use the battery with the greater charge.

If two battery packs are desired, simply drop one into the bottom of the grip, so that the battery pack’s metal contacts will touch the exposed springs in the grip. If you install this battery pack incorrectly, nothing will be damaged, but this battery won’t be connected.

If you use one or two packs, one must be placed upright on the grip, and the tethered battery cap dropped over the end of the battery pack. There are contacts in the cap which mate with the battery pack, and the orientation becomes obvious when you handle it.

Discover the joy of Nikon. With ease.

Meet the D5000, a new breed of Nikon digital SLR camera. A wonderful blend of fun, simplicity, and beautiful image quality, the D5000 features an innovative Vari-angle monitor for an exciting new take on photographic expression. Combined with Live View shooting, this monitor gives you the ability to shoot from nearly any angle. And your creativity is not limited to still images — Nikon’s D-Movie function lets you record richly detailed HD movie clips, too. There’s also a dazzling array of shooting features to help you get great pictures, shot-after-shot. Add to this a superb 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor working in tandem with Nikon’s EXPEED image processing system and watch your photos and movie clips come alive with all the stunning beauty for which Nikon is famous.

More ways to view with Live View

This Operating Manual contains the following chapters.

1 Getting Started
This chapter explains what you need to do after purchasing the camera before you start taking pictures. Be sure to read it and follow the instructions.

2 Quick Start
This chapter explains the simplest way to take pictures and play back images. Use it if you wish to start taking pictures or playing back images straightaway.

3 Common Operations
This chapter explains common operations such as the functions of the buttons and how to use the menus. For more details, refer to the respective chapters below.

4 Taking Pictures
This chapter explains the various ways of capturing images and how to set the relevant functions.

5 Playing Back and Deleting Images
This chapter explains how to view still pictures and movies on the camera or on a TV and how to delete images from the camera.