D7100 optimal menu settings

mlcinema

Senior Member
Hello Everyone,

I love my new D7100. My very first Nikon, and it's amazing!

My question is...is there an optimal way to set the camera settings? These menus items are much different than what I am used to.

​Thank you.
 
Re: New D7100 owner with a Question

There really is no one best way. how you set it up depends on how and what you are shooting.

I would suggest sitting down with the manual and reading it and as you are reading look at each one of the settings and see what it does and then decide what is best for you.

There are hundreds of people here and every one of them has their on "best" way.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Re: New D7100 owner with a Question

My question is...is there an optimal way to set the camera settings?
Nope... All those options are gateways to the flexibility and creative control you paid for when buying a D7100. You might want to start with one of the programmed modes, like Aperture Priority for example, to kind of simplify things while you're learning your way around the camera.
 
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mlcinema

Senior Member
Re: New D7100 owner with a Question

There really is no one best way. how you set it up depends on how and what you are shooting.

I would suggest sitting down with the manual and reading it and as you are reading look at each one of the settings and see what it does and then decide what is best for you.

There are hundreds of people here and every one of them has their on "best" way.


Makes since. Thank you.
 

mlcinema

Senior Member
Re: New D7100 owner with a Question

Nope... All those options are gateways to the flexibility and creative control you paid for when buying a D7100. You might want to start with one of the programmed modes, like Aperture Priority for example, to kind of simplify things while you're learning your way around the camera.

I am currently learning the camera using Aperture Priority. I guess I'll have to go through the settings and see what they all do.

​Thank you.
 

bigal1000

Senior Member
Hi, I could tell you how I set my 7100,but I doubt it would work for you as others have stated you need to do your own settings as you learn to use the camera and what you shoot,this can't really be answered by anyone,but you,good luck as you move on.
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
There are some video's on youtube you can watch to give you some ideas, but ultimately some ( or all ) of the settings they recommend may not be right for you. but it will give you somewhere to start.
​You can always reset to the default settings if things dont work out.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I Forgot to Mention Sharpening...

Come to think of it there is one setting I suggest. Go to...

Shooting Menu (camera icon)
Set Picture Control (I use Standard here but pick your poison)
Right-arrow one click, using the directional buttons surrounding the "OK" button

From this menu, drop down to the "Sharpening" setting and bump it up to +7. For whatever reason Nikon seems to set this option really low, like -2 or -3, as the default. If you haven't changed it, that's where the setting will be. You can try using other settings here but the +7 setting seems to do a really nice job; there was a noticeable difference in image quality once I made this adjustment.

I don't adjust anything else in this menu; the Sharpness setting is the only one I feel needs help.
 

mlcinema

Senior Member
Re: I Forgot to Mention Sharpening...

Come to think of it there is one setting I suggest. Go to...

Shooting Menu (camera icon)
Set Picture Control (I use Standard here but pick your poison)
Right-arrow one click, using the directional buttons surrounding the "OK" button

From this menu, drop down to the "Sharpening" setting and bump it up to +7. For whatever reason Nikon seems to set this option really low, like -2 or -3, as the default. If you haven't changed it, that's where the setting will be. You can try using other settings here but the +7 setting seems to do a really nice job; there was a noticeable difference in image quality once I made this adjustment.

I don't adjust anything else in this menu; the Sharpness setting is the only one I feel needs help.


OK. Let me take a look at this. Thank you.
 

12blackgt

Banned
And don't take anybody's word as fact. What they say is what applies in their world under their circumstances. I was recently at Talladega photographing cars going by at 190 mph. I was photographing at 1/8000 shutter speed and the photos came out amazing. Yet a bunch of people on here told me I was overkilling the shutter speed. For stop action if you don't use 1/8000 shutter speed on a car travelling at 190 mph when do you use it?
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
... I was photographing at 1/8000 shutter speed and the photos came out amazing. Yet a bunch of people on here told me I was overkilling the shutter speed. For stop action if you don't use 1/8000 shutter speed on a car traveling at 190 mph when do you use it?
Over kill... on the... shutter... speed...

*think*think*think*

This concept makes no sense to me.
 

12blackgt

Banned
I don't know either? The setting is there so why not use it? Check out the attached stop action. Just for experimentation I backed off a bit to 1/6400. I'm not an expert on war bird aviation, but I'd say those props are turning about 2500 to 3000 rpm.

props.jpg
 
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bigal1000

Senior Member
And don't take anybody's word as fact. What they say is what applies in their world under their circumstances. I was recently at Talladega photographing cars going by at 190 mph. I was photographing at 1/8000 shutter speed and the photos came out amazing. Yet a bunch of people on here told me I was overkilling the shutter speed. For stop action if you don't use 1/8000 shutter speed on a car travelling at 190 mph when do you use it?

You start out by saying "and don't take anybodys word as fact" then you go on telling the op how and when to use 1/8000 is that a fact?
 

12blackgt

Banned
No not "how and when" because that is opinion, but as I said the FACT is that 1/8000 shutter speed will stop motion. CASE IN POINT the picture I linked! The OP can take it for what it's worth, but you need to read with less attitude!
 

Epoc

Senior Member
@12blackgt: Great aviation shots look best with blurred props. It gives a feeling of motion. No way your getting those with that shutter speed. Great Motorsport shots have blurred wheels again showing motion, frozen wheel shots look like the vehicle is parked. No way your getting blur with your shutter speeds. Panning gives great results also. Experiment dude, you'll be amazed!! ;)

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1369056758.986417.jpg
 

12blackgt

Banned
Ian I disagree. I much prefer the stop action. I think it's cool to see what the crews have written on the tires as well as what brand they are running. Not to mention see when fire is spit out of the exhaust pipes as well as detail on the driver's helmet all while going by in excess of 150 mph. Oh . . .. and on prop aircraft I also like seeing the pitch on the prop while at speed. Can't do any of that with blur!
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
I think what we are seeing is a difference of opinion based on what the Photographer is looking to achieve, neither one is right or wrong....

Total stop action does render wheels and props frozen in time... If that is what you want ... bump that SS way up! If you want to get a feel for the motion, panning, blurred wheels etc tend to do that more than frozen..

Both have a purpose and should be determined by the Photographer and what he is trying to achieve and/or the audience he targets..

Happy Shooting!

Pat in NH
 
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