TAKING A PICTURE
Following are the basic techniques. For more information and advanced photography please study the Nikon® D7000 instruction manual.
NOTE * Refer to the shooting tips section below for useful tips on custom settings of the Nikon® D7000 camera for underwater photography
1.
Rotate the exposure mode knob (key # 9) and select the desired exposure mode, the chosen mode will appears on both the Viewfinder
(key# 29) and rear LCD window if using the INFO option. Exposure Mode options in sequence are: Programmed Auto (P), Shutter Priority Auto (S),
Aperture Priority Auto (A) or Manual Exposure (M), U1 and U2 custom mode can also be programmed with the user personal settings.
* Full auto mode and scenes mode are not really useful in underwater photography, most popular choice are either full manual or aperture priority.
2.
Control of Exposure Compensation (key# 39) is achieved by the lever to engage compensation function, select proper parameter by using
either the sub or main command knobs.
Note:
When using strobes, it is recommended that the camera be used only in Single Frame Motor Drive or there is the possibility that the
camera will fire before the flash or strobe can recycle.
3.
Push the Metering Pattern button (key# 22) and select the metering pattern you wish to use: 3D Matrix, Center-Weighted or Spot, from the
rear LCD panel.
4.
Pull the Shutter Release Lever partially back. This will activate the camera’s meter and autofocus system.
5.
If using manual focus use the Focus Knob (key # 11) on the housing or on the flat port to focus.
6.
If using the Manual mode adjust the Main Command Knob (key # 3) and/or sub-command (key # 2) to set the shutter speed and aperture.
7.
Pull the Shutter Release Lever (key # 1) the rest of the way until the camera fires.
Shooting tip:
The Nikon D7000 Digital camera is loaded with interesting options in the Custom Setting Menu that are very helpful to the underwater photographer, listed
below are some of the most useful ones:
1)
In the Custom Setting Menu it is possible to program the ON/OFF/Illuminator switch of the camera to activate the INFO function and view the
complete shooting data on the rear LCD, you still maintain the usual info button access in the rear, but obliviously, given the convenient location
of ON/OFF lever it will be easier to reach and tap it with your index finger than it would reaching the INFO button on the back of the housing.
The ON/OFF lever (key # 3) on the AD7000 housing has been extended to take full advantage of this feature. To program, from the CSM menu,
f1 Switch, from this menu select the option with the light bulb symbol and Information display, press OK to accept.
2)
The lever on the rear right hand side of the housing is used normally to access the AE-L/AF-L button, it is possible to modify its original purpose
to other functions, among interesting options it can be set up; to AF-ON to activate the focusing independently from the shutter release, to lock
the flash exposure for users of optically triggered strobes), or simply lock the focus (AF-L) without locking the exposure. Go to the CSM menu
and choose f5 and select one of the available options.
3)
The housing mechanical linkages invert the rotations of the command and sub command controls, in normal situation, photographers will rotate
the controls outwards with their finger to raise the shutter speed or stop down the lens, to reestablish this natural feel when using the housing
controls, it is a simple procedure to invert them. Go to the CSM menu, select “f6, Customize Command Dials”, select “Reverse Rotation”, select
“Yes” and confirm by pressing the OK button, you now have the knobs rotating in the same direction as the camera would out of the housing.
4)
The Command and Sub Command dials can also be inverted, the front one becoming the shutter speed, the rear one being transformed in the
aperture controls, this feature can be useful for manual strobe shooters, you can change the lens aperture with your thumb while taking picture
continuously with your index, to do so, go to the CSM menu, select “f6, Customize Command Dials”, select “Change Main/Sub”, select ON and
confirm with by pressing the OK button. You now have control of the aperture on the rear knob and shutter speed on the front one.
5)
One very well hidden, but so very useful, custom function is the ability to modify the behavior of the camera push buttons, by default, when one
chooses to change a setting related to a button, one has to keep pressing said button, rotate one of the two command dials and then let go of
the button, using the f7 custom function will let you press on the button once and this one will stay engaged until you either press on it again,
or gently tap the shutter release to turn it off. Changing setting on the camera itself is a simple procedure, not so when the camera is inserted
into an underwater housing, then that can quickly becomes awkward especially with a housing loaded with strobes at the end of lengthy strobe
arms. To engage this feature, go to CSM menu; select “f7 Release Button To Use Dial”, press OK button to accept. This is one of the most
useful features of the CSM repertoire.
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