Two questions regarding operation of my new D7100

I just about finished reading David Busch's book on using the D7100 and I feel comfortable with all the settings and customizing for my use. I do have two questions though:

1) In his book (p. 311), he talks about using the virtual horizon in a 3D fashion (tilt, pitch, roll etc). He shows a virtual horizon picture of the viewfinder (although it looks like the live view to me)which would work in 3D (sideways tilt, and front to back tilt). I have tried every setting I can think of and all I can ever get is a horizon showing if the camera is tilted clockwise or counterclockwise along an horizontal axis running from front to back of the camera. I can get this to work if holding the camera horizontally or vertically (but I don't get both indicators at once, only the one on the bottom of the screen whether I am holding it vertically or horizontally). He indicates you can have a virtual horizon displayed that would show rolling motions forward or backward along a horizontal axis running from left to right on the camera. Is this actually possible or is it a misprint in the book?? It would be a nice feature for me since the bubble levels on my tripod are horrible and difficult to adjust.

2) What is the X250 setting just past BULB (or whatever you set you flash sync speed at, ie. X320) for in M and S mode. When I am in M or S modes I am usually much closer to the 1/250 on my control wheel than going way over past BULB to the X250 setting. Why is this there?? Can't I just use 1/250 when using a flash or increase to over 1/320 to start using auto FP on my SU-700??

Thanks for any help!!

John

I can try and answer 1) Busch's Field Guide book says,"Press the Fn button to view or hide the verticle horizon indicators that appear in the image area in the bottom and side of the viewfinder frame. When the camera is held in horizontal orientation, the scale at the bottom shows the degree of roll around the lens axis. With the camera in a verticle (portrait) orientation, the scale appears at the top or bottom of the frame (depending on which way you rotated the camera)."

That's about all the enlightment I can give. Hope it sheds some light. Good luck with the D7100.

The virtual horizon only works when the camera is aimed ~>60° towards the horizon. Aim it too high or too low and it's not accurate.

I use the Virtual Horizon often when shooting. But only for left and right rolling which I'm sure that's all it's capable of doing. Not sure why a system would incorporate forward and backward tilt. How many people shoot a scene with the camera positioned level on all axis. Nobody. Are you wanting for the system to work this way or just wondering how it works being it's mentioned?

FastGlass said:

I use the Virtual Horizon often when shooting. But only for left and right rolling which I'm sure that's all it's capable of doing. Not sure why a system would incorporate forward and backward tilt. How many people shoot a scene with the camera positioned level on all axis. Nobody. Are you wanting for the system to work this way or just wondering how it works being it's mentioned?

Click to expand...

I do many times when shooting panos. This prevents keystoning and makes it much easier to stitch. The D600 has a 2-axis VH.

Revet said:

2) What is the X250 setting just past BULB (or whatever you set you flash sync speed at, ie. X320) for in M and S mode. When I am in M or S modes I am usually much closer to the 1/250 on my control wheel than going way over past BULB to the X250 setting. Why is this there?? Can't I just use 1/250 when using a flash or increase to over 1/320 to start using auto FP on my SU-700??

Click to expand...

It is only X250 if you have 1/250 set as the sync speed in menu E1. It changes values.

This X shutter speed position uses the E1 sync speed (regardless if using flash or not).

Now in fact, the hardware sync speed is always 1/250 second, but the E1 menu simply lets us set a slower maximum speed with flash. Why we would, I dunno. E1 is NOT the shutter speed used, regular automation or Manual controls that. E1 is merely a Maximum limit with flash. (E1 also can enable Auto FP, different subject). But when we are setting shutter speed, this X position uses E1.

My thinking is that the only reason for this X position on the shutter speed dial is that it is long way back from 30 seconds to 1/250 second, so this is a speedy shortcut.

FastGlass said:

I use the Virtual Horizon often when shooting. But only for left and right rolling which I'm sure that's all it's capable of doing. Not sure why a system would incorporate forward and backward tilt. How many people shoot a scene with the camera positioned level on all axis. Nobody. Are you wanting for the system to work this way or just wondering how it works being it's mentioned?

Click to expand...

When I shoot with the wides, I very often use it to position the cam correctly. It saves me the trouble of having to fix distortion in post. If I start tilting the wide up or down, strange things happen. I do not always desire that.

FastGlass said:

I use the Virtual Horizon often when shooting. But only for left and right rolling which I'm sure that's all it's capable of doing. Not sure why a system would incorporate forward and backward tilt. How many people shoot a scene with the camera positioned level on all axis. Nobody. Are you wanting for the system to work this way or just wondering how it works being it's mentioned?

Click to expand...

Mostly just want to know if it works like it mentions. I mostly use lightroom to correct my screw ups but I guess it would be nice to get it right in the camera to reduce post processing.

sonicbuffalo said:

I can try and answer 1) Busch's Field Guide book says,"Press the Fn button to view or hide the verticle horizon indicators that appear in the image area in the bottom and side of the viewfinder frame. When the camera is held in horizontal orientation, the scale at the bottom shows the degree of roll around the lens axis. With the camera in a verticle (portrait) orientation, the scale appears at the top or bottom of the frame (depending on which way you rotated the camera)."

That's about all the enlightment I can give. Hope it sheds some light. Good luck with the D7100.

Click to expand...

Since you quoted from the book, look at page 311. Does that picture not show a horizon that works in 3D (side to side roll and front to back roll)?? Is that a mistake in the book?? I can't get my d7100 to give me that view no matter what I do. If anyone else has the book feel free to chime in

WayneF said:

It is only X250 if you have 1/250 set as the sync speed in menu E1. It changes values.

This X shutter speed position uses the E1 sync speed (regardless if using flash or not).

Now in fact, the hardware sync speed is always 1/250 second, but the E1 menu simply lets us set a slower maximum speed with flash. Why we would, I dunno. E1 is NOT the shutter speed used, regular automation or Manual controls that. E1 is merely a Maximum limit with flash. (E1 also can enable Auto FP, different subject). But when we are setting shutter speed, this X position uses E1.

My thinking is that the only reason for this X position on the shutter speed dial is that it is long way back from 30 seconds to 1/250 second, so this is a speedy shortcut.

Click to expand...

Thanks Wayne, I guess when I am going to use flash I am normally a lot closer to the 1/250 setting on the dial than the X250 (or what ever the E1 setting is) but who knows, maybe one day I will be doing long exposures and decide I want to throw and flash on to take some indoor flash shots.

Revet said:

Since you quoted from the book, look at page 311. Does that picture not show a horizon that works in 3D (side to side roll and front to back roll)?? Is that a mistake in the book?? I can't get my d7100 to give me that view no matter what I do. If anyone else has the book feel free to chime in

Click to expand...

I don't have the full book. I have David Busch's 'Field Guide' to the Nikon D7100. It's a smaller version, and doesn't show the VH.