Nikon D2Xs Operation

I found the user interface on the Nikon D2Xs surprisingly straightforward and simple to use, even more so than I did the earlier D2H model. The LCD menu is a five-tab system that divides up functions between Playback, Camera, Custom Settings, and Set-up, with the addition of a Recent Settings menu. This simply lists all of the latest menu items you've accessed for quick changes. While many of the camera's options can be accessed via the excellent "plain English" menu system, all the most common shooting controls are available via the camera's external buttons and knobs. You can also program the operation of some of the buttons, to configure the camera for your particular shooting requirements. As I noted earlier, Nikon makes a big deal of their digital SLR's "cameraness," defined as how well/easily they function as cameras.

The top of the Nikon D2Xs features a large status display panel that reports most of the camera's settings without forcing you to resort to the rear-panel's color LCD screen. The images inset right include a photo of this display panel as it appears on the camera, as well as a graphic illustration showing all segments activated simultaneously.

1	Shutter speed	11	Battery indicator
	Exposure compensation value	12	Frame count
	Number of shots in bracketing sequence	13	"K" (appears when memory remains for over 1000 exposures)
	Number of intervals for interval timer photography	14	FV lock indicator
	Focal length (non-CPU lens)	15	Sync indicator
	ISO Sensitivity	16	Clock battery indicator
	"Busy" indicator	17	GPS connection indicator
2	Shutter-speed lock icon	18	High-speed crop indicator
3	Flexible program indicator	19	Exposure compensation indicator
4	Exposure mode	20	Interval timer indicator
5	Memory card indicator	21	Multiple exposure indicator
6	Focus area	22	Aperture lock icon
	AF-area mode	23	Image comment indicator
7	Flash sync mode	24	Exposure bracketing indicator
8	Number of exposures remaining		White-balance bracketing indicator
	Number of shots remaining before memory buffer fills	25	Electronic analog exposure display
	Capture mode indicator		Exposure compensation
9	Aperture stop indicator		Bracketing progress indicator
10	Aperture (f/-number)		PC mode Indicator
	Aperture (number of stops)
	Bracketing increment
	Number of shots per interval
	Maximum aperture (non-CPU lens)
	PC mode indicator

 

A small rear control panel beneath the LCD monitor works in conjunction with a series of buttons below it, which include Sensitivity, Quality / Size, and White Balance buttons. (As before, the images at right show a photo of the D2X's display panel as it appears on the camera, as well as a schematic illustration with all segments activated.)

1	Custom settings bank	6	"K" (appears when memory remains for over 1000 exposures)
2	"Remaining" indicator		Color temperature indicator
3	Shooting menu settings bank	7	Image quality
4	ISO Sensitivity indicator	8	Image size
	Auto ISO sensitivity indicator	9	White-balance bracketing indicator
5	ISO Sensitivity	10	Voice memo recording indicator (shooting mode)
	ISO Sensitivity (high gain)	11	Voice memo status indicator
	Number of exposures remaining	12	Voice memo recording mode
	Length of voice memo	13	White balance mode
	White balance fine-tuning
	White balance preset number
	Color temperature
	PC mode indicator