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Technical Guide

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Table of ContentsHighlight-Weighted Metering .......................................... 3WhentoUseHighlight-WeightedMetering..................... 3Split-Screen Display Zoom ................................................ 8TheUsesofSplit-ScreenDisplayZoom.............................. 9AchievingSymmetryinArchitecturalShots...................10PC-ELensesandSplit-ScreenDisplayZoom..................12The Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter ............................ 13UsingtheElectronicFront-CurtainShutter.....................13WhentoUsetheElectronicFront-CurtainShutter.......15

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Highlight-Weighted Metering

Highlight-weightedmeteringisthego-tochoicewhenyouarephotographingaspotlitbrideinherweddingdress,aballerinaonthestage,orwheneveryouarefacedwithun-evenlightingandabackgroundthatismuchdarkerthanthesubject. Toselecthighlight-weightedmetering,keepthecbuttonpressedandrotatethemaincommanddialuntil4isdisplayed.

c button Main command dial Top control panel

When to Use Highlight-Weighted MeteringUse highlight-weighted metering to meter highlightswhenyoursubjectis inmotion,andtometersubjectslitbycoloredlighting.

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Moving Subject, Dark BackgroundChoose highlight-weighted metering to meter highlights.

Althoughspotmeteringtargetsaselectedarea,targetingcanbedifficultwhenyoursubjectisinmotion.Matrixme-teringbalancesexposureovertheentireframe,includingthebackground, andmay consequently leavehighlightsoverexposed, or washed out. In contrast, highlight-weighted metering automatically detects and metershighlights for optimal exposure with less washout (andlessfiddlingwiththecamera).

Matrix metering; exposure mode g; 1/100s; f/5.6

Highlight-weighted metering; exposure mode g; 1/320s; f/5.6

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Moving Subjects in the SpotlightMatrix metering meters exposure over the entire frame, re-ducing the apparent contrast between the subject and the background. The result is spotlit subjects that blend into the scenery. In addition, shifts in the balance of lighting over the frame may result in changes in exposure that require fre-quent adjustments to exposure compensation. Compare this to highlight-weighted metering, which, regardless of the bal-ance of lighting in the frame, consistently matches exposure to the highlights so that spotlit subjects stand out.

Solid Colors, Colored LightingHighlight-weighted metering takes the color of the light source into account to prevent overexposure.

Matrixandspotmeteringtendtowashouthighlightsinsub-jects that are a solid color orlitbycolored lighting, the for-merbecauseitacceptslimitedwashout if it ensures optimalexposure for the entire frame,the latter because it metersonly brightness. Highlight-weightedmetering takes the colorofhighlights intoac-countsothattheyarealwayscorrectlyexposed.

Exposure mode g; 1/200s; f/5.6

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Comparetheeffectsofmatrixandhighlight-weightedme-teringwithdifferentlightsources.



Highlight-weighted meterings first priority is to reducewashout,whichmaymakepicturesseemunderexposed.Useexposurecompensationtoachievethedesiredresult.



Highlight-weighted metering eliminates overexposureeveninhighlightswithastrongcolorcast.

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Highlight-Weighted Metering: Challenging ScenesThe following are situations in which highlight-weighted me-tering should be used only with caution: Dark subject, bright background: Exposure will be adjusted for the background, throwing the main subject into shadow. Highlight-weighted metering can be used for silhouettes, but matrix metering is a better choice if you want exposure optimized for the main subject.


Bright light in frame: The camera may treat the light as a high-light, leaving the main subject underexposed. Compose the shot with the light out of frame or use matrix metering.


Highlight-Weighted Metering and Active D-LightingIf desired, Active D-Lighting can be used with highlight-weighted metering to brighten shadows and reduce contrast.

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Split-Screen Display Zoom

Split-screendisplayzoom,whichshowstwoparallelareasoftheframeside-by-sideatahighzoomratio,canbeusedtoframebuildingsorsimilarobjectsfromthefrontsothatleftandrightsidesaresymmetrical.

Split-screen display zoom is avail-ableduring live viewphotography.PressthebbuttonandselectSplit-screen display zoom. Twoareasoftheframewillbedisplayedside-by-side at a high zoom ratio,with thepositions of the magnified areasshowninanavigationwindow.UsetheXandWbuttonstozoominandout,orusetheL(Z/Q)buttontoselectaboxandpress4or2toscrolltheselectedarealeftorright.Pressing1or3scrollsbothareasupordownsimul-taneously.Tofocusonthesubjectatthecenteroftheselectedarea,pressthe shutter-release button halfway.Toexitthesplit-screendisplay,pressthebbutton.

If you reactivate the split-screen display before the standby timer expires, the same areas will be magnified. Zoom is reset when the timer expires or the camera is turned off.

Navigation window

Area in focus

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The Uses of Split-Screen Display ZoomYoumaythinkyoureframinganobjectsymmetrically,butifyouzoominyoumaynoticethatthesidesareatdifferentanglestothecameraandtheperspectiveisasymmetrical.

Toframeanobjectdeadonsothatthetwosidesaresym-metricalandthecameraangleontheleftsidemirrorsthaton the right,use thesplit-screendisplay tozoom inandcompareareasfromtheleftandrightsideoftheframe.

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Achieving Symmetry in Architectural ShotsPrecise horizontal symmetry in ar-chitectural shots requires close at-tentiontocameraangle.Usethevir-tualhorizontoadjustrollandpitchandsplit-screendisplayzoomtoro-tate(yaw)thecamerahorizontally.

Pitch Yaw

Roll

Level the camera.Startliveviewphotographyandpress theR button to displaythe virtual horizon, then levelthecamerausingthepitchandroll indicators as a guide. Thecamera is levelwhen both therollreferencelineandthedotinthecenterofthedis-playturngreen.

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Split-Screen Display Zoom

Adjust the camera angle.Usingthesplit-screendisplayasaguide

rotatethecamerahorizontal-lyuntiltheangleontheleftsidemirrorsthatontheright.

Choose On for Custom Setting d7 (Viewfinder grid display) to display grid lines in the viewfinder for reference when composing photographs.

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PC-E Lenses and Split-Screen Display ZoomPC-E perspective control lenses can be shifted or tiltedwithoutanglingthecamera.

Shift: Perspective ControlShift slides the lensparallel toyoursubject without changing camerapitch, reducing the effects of per-spective when tall buildings arephotographed from street level. Ifthe camera is inportrait (tall) ori-entation, split-screen display zoomcan be used to align the top andbottom formore accurateperspec-tivecontrol.

Tilt: Focus ControlTiltallowsyoutoswivelthelenswithoutrotatingthecam-era,givingyoucontroloverwhichpartofthesubjectisinfocus. Whenadjusting tilt, use split-screendisplay zoomforabetterviewoftheareathatisinfocus.

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The Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter

The camera focal-plane shutter is comprisedof two cur-tains: a front curtain that opens to start each exposureandarearcurtainthatclosestoendit.Withtheelectronicfront-curtainshutter,exposureisstartedelectronicallyaf-terthefrontcurtainopens;exposureendswhentherearcurtaincloses.Openingthemechanicalshutterbeforetheexposurestartseliminatesvibrationscausedbytheshut-ter,reducingcamerablur.

Using the Electronic Front-Curtain ShutterFollowthestepsbelowtotakephotoswiththeelectronicfront-curtainshutter.

Enable the electronic front-curtain shutter.Select Enable for Custom Set-tingd5(Electronic front-curtain shutter).

Select mirror-up mode.Pressing the re-leasemode diallock release, ro-tate the releasemodedialtoMup.

Release mode dial

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Raise the mirror.After pressing the shutter-release button halfway toset focusandexposure,press thebutton the restofthewaydowntoraisethemirror.

Take a photograph.Presstheshutter-releasebuttonall thewaydowntotakeaphotographusingtheelectronic front-curtainshutter.Themirrorlowerswhenshootingends.

Use of a tripod is recommended. To prevent blur, use an op-tional wireless remote controller or remote cord and release the shutter a couple of seconds after raising the mirror.

A picture will be taken automatically if no operations are per-formed for 30s after the mirror is raised.

When using the electronic front-curtain shutter with a shifted or tilted PC-E lens, adjust settings for a shutter speed slower than 1/250s. Faster speeds may result in uneven exposure.

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The Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter

When to Use the Electronic Front-Curtain ShutterCamerablurisparticularlyvisiblewhenvibration-sensitiveequipment isused formicroscopephotographyor shotstakenwithatelephotolensorteleconverterathighzoomratios,ascanbeseenbelowinphotostakenwithatripod-mountedAF-SNIKKOR80400mmf/4.55.6GEDVRlens.Usetheelectronicfront-curtainshutterinthesesituationsandforhigh-precisionphotosofdocumentsandthelike.

Exposure mode g; 1/50s; f/11; focal length 195mm

Electronic front-curtain enabled Electronic front-curtain disabled

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Custom Setting d4: Exposure Delay ModeAlthough exposure delay mode can be used to reduce cam-era blur caused by the mirror, it has no effect on camera blur caused by the shutter.

Highlight-Weighted MeteringWhen to Use Highlight-Weighted Metering

Split-Screen Display ZoomThe Uses of Split-Screen Display ZoomAchieving Symmetry in Architectural ShotsPCE Lenses and Split-Screen Display Zoom

The Electronic Front-Curtain ShutterUsing the Electronic Front-Curtain ShutterWhen to Use the Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter

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