Nikon D5000 Modes & Menus

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Nikon D5000 Modes and Menus

Nikon D5000 Capture Modes

The mode dial on the right side of the Nikon D5000's top panel provides access to its various exposure modes, the same arrangement of Auto, three semi-auto, and one Manual as found on all Nikon DSLRs, but with a total of seven Scene modes (which Nikon calls "Vari-Programs"), plus a Scene setting that accesses an additional 13 scene modes not on the dial. Here's a list of what's available:

Auto: The camera sets everything. Used for snapshots or users who just don't want to be bothered with the details. The AF-assist light will come on if needed, and the camera selects the AF point covering the closest subject.
Program: Puts the camera in charge of aperture and shutter speed, though all remaining camera settings are available. You can vary the combination of aperture and shutter speed the camera has selected by rotating the Command Dial.
Shutter Priority: The user controls shutter speed, from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds, while the camera sets the aperture value.
Aperture Priority: The opposite of Shutter Priority mode, this mode lets the user control the aperture, while the camera sets the shutter speed.
Manual: Gives the user complete control over the exposure (both shutter and aperture settings), and provides access to the camera's Bulb shutter setting for exposures longer than 30 seconds.
Night Portrait: Uses slow shutter speed with flash, balancing the two so that night portraits look natural even with flash. Closest-subject AF is used. Use a tripod to avoid blurring.
Close up: Reds and greens are pumped up, camera selects center focus point, but other points can be chosen with the Multi-Selector. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim; tripod use is recommended.
Sports: Uses higher shutter speeds, camera switches to continuous focus while the shutter button is held down halfway, tracking the subject in the center focus area. If the subject leaves the central AF area, the camera will follow it and judge focus from the other focus areas. The beginning AF area can be chosen with the Multi-selector. Both flash and AF illuminator are turned off and will not fire.
Child: This mode boosts sharpness and saturation for clothing and background details, but renders skin tones soft and natural-looking. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim.
Landscape: Boosts color saturation, contrast, and sharpening for city and forest landscape shots. Closest-focus AF is used, and the flash and AF-assist light are turned off in this mode.
Portrait: Adjusts the lens aperture to soften background details to help the main subject stand out more clearly. Sharpness and color saturation are moderated somewhat, to give softer, more natural-looking skin tones. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim.
Scene: The D5000 is the first Nikon DSLR with additional scene modes that aren't accessed by a dedicated positions on the mode dial. A total of 13 new scene modes can be accessed using the command dial when the mode dial is set to Scene. They are: Night Landscape, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Pet Portraits, Blossom, Autumn Colors, Food, Silhouette, High Key, and Low Key.
Auto (Flash Off): In this mode, exposure is automatic but the flash is disabled, and the camera will vary the ISO up to a maximum of 3,200, to capture images using available light. The AF-assist light will come on if needed, and the camera selects the AF point with the closest subject. This mode is great for museums and other places where flash isn't permitted, more natural-looking indoor shots, etc.

Nikon D5000 Menus

The menu system on the Nikon D5000 follows that of other recent Nikons SLRs like the D60 and D90. Pressing the Menu button provides access to the camera's full menu system. See the tables below for details.

Playback Menu:

Playback Menu Options
Top-Level Selection	Second-Level	Third-Level	Notes
Delete	- Selected - Select Date - All	- Selected Image - All pictures	Deletes pictures from the camera memory card. Hidden and protected images will not be deleted.
Playback Folder	- D5000 - All - Current		Select a folder for playback.
Display Mode	- Done - Highlights - RGB histogram - Data		Allows you to select what shooting information is displayed with the picture during playback.
Image Review	- On - Off		Lets you choose to see the image right after shooting it or not.
Rotate Tall	- On - Off		Allows pictures that were shot in portrait orientation to be rotated correctly on the LCD monitor.
Slide Show	- Start	- OK	Allows you to create a slide show of existing pictures with your choice of interval between pictures. Hidden pictures will not be displayed.
Slide Show	- Frame interval	- 2 s - 3 s - 5 s - 10 s
Print Set (DPOF)	- Select/set	- Select image screen	Allows you to select which pictures to print on a DPOF compatible printer.
Print Set (DPOF)	- Deselect all?	- Remove print marking from all images? - Yes - No

Shooting Menu:

Shooting Menu Options
Top-Level Selection	Second-Level	Third-Level	Notes
Scene Mode	- Night Landscape - Party/Indoor - Beach/Snow - Sunset - Dusk/Dawn - Pet Portrait - Candlelight - Blossom - Autumn Colors - Food - Silhouette - High Key - Low Key		Sets the default for the Scene position on the mode dial. New selection can be made by turning the command dial when SCENEis selected on the mode dial.
Set Picture Control	- Standard - Neutral - Vivid - Monochrome - Portrait - Landscape	- Quick Adjust - Sharpening - Contrast - Brightness - Saturation - Hue	Set the picture control option for various levels of sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue. Not all options are available for all modes.
Manage Picture Control	- Save/edit - Rename - Delete - Load/save		You can define and manage your own custom Picture Control settings.
Active Folder	- New folder number - Select folder	- 100-999 - 101D5000	Choose the active folder name where your images will be stored.
Image Quality	- NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine - NEF (RAW) + JPEG normal - NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic - NEF (RAW) - JPEG fine - JPEG normal - JPEG basic		Choose the type of still image file you want to capture.
Image Size	- Large (4288x2848; 12.2M) - Medium (3216x2136; 6.9M) - Small (2114x1424; 3.1M)		Choose the still image size you want to capture.
White Balance	- Auto - Incandescent - Fluorescent - Direct Sunlight - Flash - Cloudy - Shade - Preset manual	- 2D fine-tuning adjustment screen	Adjusts the white balance to match the conditions you are shooting in.
ISO Sensitivity Settings	- ISO sensitivity	- LO 1 - LO 0.7 - LO 0.3 - 200 - 250 - 320 - 400 - 500 - 640 - 800 - 1000 - 1250 - 1600 - 2000 - 2500 - 3200 - HI 0.3 - HI 0.7 - HI 1	Select the current ISOsensitivity.
	- ISO Sensitivity auto control	- On - Off	Enables Auto ISO.
	- Maximum sensitivity	- 400 - 800 - 1600 - 3200 - Hi 1	Sets the maximum ISO to be selected automatically.
	- Minimum shutter speed	- 1/2000 s - 1/1600 s - 1/1250 s - 1/1000 s - 1/800 s - 1/640 s - 1/500 s - 1/400 s - 1/320 s - 1/250 s - 1/200 s - 1/160 s - 1/125 s - 1/100 s - 1/80 s - 1/60 s - 1/50 s - 1/40 s - 1/30 s - 1/15 s - 1/8 s - 1/4 s - 1/2 s - 1 s	Sets the minimum shutter speed to be maintained in Auto ISO mode.
Active D-Lighting	- Auto - Extra High - High - Normal - Low - Off		Helps preserve the details in shadows and highlights.
Auto Distortion Control	- On - Off		Automatically corrects barrel and pincushion distortion for most Nikkor D and G lenses.
Color Space	- sRGB - Adobe		Sets the color space.
Long Exp. NR	- On - Off		Turns on the dark-frame subtraction noise reduction when using long exposures (slower than 8s).
High ISO NR	- High - Normal - Low - Off		Controls high ISOnoise reduction when using ISOs of 800 or higher.
Active Folder	- Select folder - New - Rename - Delete		Choose the active folder name where your images will be stored.
Movie Settings	- Quality	- 1280x820 (16:9) - 640x424 (3:2) - 320x216 (3:2)	Selects D-Movie settings.
Movie Settings	- Sound	- On - Off	Selects D-Movie settings.
Interval Timer Shooting	- Choose start time		Allows you to set the start time, the interval between shots and the number of shots to capture.
Interval Timer Shooting	- Now - Start time	- Start time - Interval - Select intvls X no. of shots - On - Off

Custom Settings Menu:

Custom Menu Options
Top-Level Selection	Second-Level	Third-Level	Notes
Reset Custom Settings	- Yes - No		Restores custom settings to their default values.
A- Autofocus	- a1 AF-area Mode	- Single point - Dynamic area - Auto-area - 3D-tracking (11 points)	Sets the AF-area mode.
	- a2 Built-in AF-assist Illuminator	- On - Off	Enables the built-in AF illuminator.
	- a3 Live View Autofocus	- Face priority - Wide area - Normal area - Subject tracking	Selects the AF mode for use during Live View.
	- a4 Rangefinder	- On - Off	Enables the focus rangefinder feature, where the analog exposure scale in the viewfinder indicates correct manual focus.
B- Exposure	- b1 EV steps for exposure cntrl.	- 1/3 step - 1/2 step	Adjusts the step size for exposure control.
C- Timers/AE Lock	- c1 Shutter-release button AE-L	- On - Off	When Off, exposure will only lock with AE/AF-L button. When On, exposure will also lock when Shutter button is half-pressed.
	- c2 Auto off Timers	- Short - Normal - Long - Custom	Determines how long the various displays and metering remain active when no operations are performed. See manual for details.
	- c3 Self-timer	- Self Timer delay (2, 5, 10 or 20s) - Number of shots (1 to 9)	Sets the Self-timer delay and number of shots. If more than 1, shots will be taken at 3s intervals.
	- c4 Remote on Duration	- 1 s - 5 s - 10 s - 15 s	Sets how long camera will wait for a signal from wireless remote before cancelling remote mode.
D- Shooting/Display	- d1 Beep	- High - Low - Off	Sets volume of the "beep".
	- d2 Viewfinder Grid Display	- On - Off	Enables viewfinder grid.
	- d3 ISO Display	- On - Off	Enables ISOdisplay in the viewfinder (instead of frame count).
	- d4 File Number Sequence	- On - Off - Reset	Controls whether file numbering continues from the last number when a new folder is created, the memory card is formatted or a new card is inserted.
	- d5 Exposure Delay Mode	- On - Off	When On, delays shutter release about 1 second after shutter button is pressed and mirror is raised, to reduce blur from mirror slap.
	- d6 Date Imprint	- Off - Date - Date and time - Date counter	Enables Date/Time imprinting on JPEGs. Date counter mode imprints the number of days to/from one of 3 selected dates.
	- d7 Live View Display Options	- Done - Show indicators - Hide indicators - Framing grid - Show shooting info	Selects the info to be overlaid in Live View mode.
E- Bracketing/Flash	- e1 Flash cntrl for built-in flash	- TTL - Manual	Sets the flash mode. Manual sets flash power between Full and 1/32.
E- Bracketing/Flash	- e2 Auto bracketing set	- Exposure - Active D-Lighting - WB bracketing	Selects what parameter is bracketed in Auto bracketing mode.
F- Controls	- f1 Assign Self-Timer/Fn. Button	- Self-timer - Release mode - Image quality/size - ISO sensitivity - White balance - Active D-Lighting - + NEF (RAW) - Auto bracketing	Assigns function to the Self-Timer/Fn. button.
	- f2 Assign AE-L/AF-L button	- AE/AF lock - AE lock only - AF lock only - AE lock (hold) - AF-ON	Selects behavior of the AE-L/AF-L button.
	- f3 Reverse Dial Rotation	- Yes - No	Reverses direction of command dial operation.
	- f4 No Memory Card?	- Lock Release Locked - OK Enable Release	Determines if shutter can be released without a card installed.
	- f5 Reverse Indicators	- + 0 - display - - 0 + display	Reverses direction of analog exposure scale.

Setup Menu:

Setup Menu Options
Top-Level Selection	Second-Level	Third-Level	Notes
Format Memory Card	- Yes - No		Formats camera memory card.
LCD Brightness	- -3/+3 adjustment		Adjusts LCD brightness darker or lighter 3 arbitrary units each way.
Info Display Format	- Auto/scene modes - P,S,A, and M modes	- Classic (Blue, Black, Orange) - Graphic (Green, Black, Brown)	You can select Classic or Graphic or different exposure modes, and you can select the color.
Auto Information Display	- Auto/scene modes - P,S,A and M modes	- On - Off	When On, LCD will display Info after shutter button is pressed halfway.
Info Wrap-around	- On - Off		When On, the cursor will wrap-around.
Clean Image Sensor	- Clean Now	- Cleaning activated	Cleans dust from the image sensor.
Clean Image Sensor	- Clean at startup/shutdown	- Clean at startup - Clean at shutdown - Clean at startup and shutdown - Cleaning off	Cleans dust from the image sensor.
Lock Mirror Up for Cleaning	- Start OK		This locks the mirror up to allow manual cleaning of the imaging sensor.
Video Mode	- NTSC - PAL		Selects the video output mode for display on a TV
HDMI	- Auto - 480P (progressive) - 576P (progressive) - 720P (progressive) - 1080I(interlaced)		High Definition Multimedia Interface. Allows pictures to be played back on High Definition TVs and monitors with the appropriate cable (not supplied)
World Time	- Time zone	- Graphical time zone selector	Selects the time zone and date format that you want to use and sets the camera to use Daylight Savings time or not
	- Date and time	- YMD and HMS
	- Date format	- YMD,MDY,DMY
	- Daylight saving time	- On - Off
Language	- Danish - German - English - Spanish - Finnish - French - Italian - English - Dutch - Norwegian - Polish - Portuguese - Russian - Swedish - Traditional Chinese - Simplified Chinese - Japanese - Korean		Selects the language that the camera will use
Image Comment	- Done	- OK	Allows text comments to be added to a picture.
	- Input comment	- Data entry screen
	- Attach comment	- Set
Auto Image Rotation	- On - Off		Decides if the camera will automatically orient your picture properly for viewing during playback
Image Dust Off Ref Photo	- Start - Clean sensor then start	- Take photo of bright featureless white object 10cm from lens. Focus will be set to infinity	Captures the reference data used to filter out dust electronically
GPS	- Auto Meter off	- Enable - Disable	When a GPS unit is connected to the camera it can record latitude, longitude, altitude, time and heading information. See manual for specific GPS units the camera has been tested with
GPS	- Position
Eye-Fi Upload	- Enable - Disable		Enables wireless uploading of images. Displayed only when Eye-Fi card is installed.
Firmware Version	- A	-Version	Displays which firmware versions are installed.
	- B	-Version
	- L	-Version

Retouch Menu:

Retouch Menu Options
Top-Level Selection	Second-Level	Third-Level	Notes
D-Lighting	- Picture selection	- Normal - High - Low	Adjusts the D-Lighting to brighten shadows and reduce highlights.
Red-Eye Correction	- Picture selection		Allows you to remove Red-eye from your pictures. I
Trim	- Picture selection	- Trim screen	Allows you to crop a picture.
Monochrome	- Black-and-white - Sepia - Cyanotype	- Selection screen	Allows you to copy pictures to black and white, sepia or cyanotype.
Filter Effects	- Skylight - Warm Filter - Red Intensifier - Green Intensifier - Blue Intensifier - Cross Screen - Soft	- Selection screen	Selects the filter effect to be added to the selected image.
Color Balance	- Selection window	- Adjustment screen	Allows you to fine-tune the color balance via the adjustment window.
Small Picture	- 640 x 480 - 320 x 240 - 160 x 120	- Selection screen	Create a small copy of the selected image.
Image Overlay	- Selection window	- Image overlay screen	Allows you to take 2 RAW images and combine them into a third picture.
NEF (RAW) Processing	- Selection window	- Image quality - Image size - White balance - Exposure compensation - Picture Control	Create JPEG copies of NEF files.
Quick Retouch	- Selection window	- Adjust amount	Enhances saturation and contrast.
Straighten	- Selection window	- Adjust amount (Image shown with grid overlay)	Adjust the tilt of an image by +/- 5 degrees in 0.25 degree steps.
Distortion Control	- Selection window	- Auto - Manual (adjust amount)	Corrects for barrel or pincushion distortion. Auto is only for Nikkor D- and G-type lenses only.
Fisheye	- Selection window	- Adjust amount	Creates a copy of the image with adjustable fisheye effect.
Color Outline	- Selection window		Creates a copy with only the outlines of an image showing.
Perspective Control	- Selection window	- Adjust amount in X or Y direction ( Image shown with grid overlay)	Corrects for perspective distortion in copy of an image.
Stop-Motion Movie	- Frame Size	- 640 x 480 - 320 x 240 - 160 x 120	You can create stop-motion movies from still images you have captured.
	- Frame Rate	- 15 fps - 10 fps - 6 fps - 3 fps
	- Create Movie	- Starting image - End image - Save - Edit
Side-By-Side Comparison	- Select a picture, press OK	- Comparison screen	This option lets you compare your retouched image with your original image.

Recent Settings or My Menu:

Recent Settings or My Menu mode can be selected. Recent Settings automatically adds 20 of the most recently used settings to this menu, while My Menu mode lets you define and order what appears on this menu. The screenshot below shows Recent Settings mode.

My Menu Options
Top-Level Selection	Second-Level	Third-Level	Notes
Add Items	- Select Item - Done	Select the item(s) you wish to add, then select Done.	This lets you add options to create a customized list of options.
Remove Items	- Select Item - Done	Select the item(s) you wish to delete, then select Done to delete.	This lets you remove options to create a customized list of options.
Rank Items	- Menu of items - Move - OK	Select item and move it using Up or Down on the multi-selector.	This lets you rank options to create a customized list of options.
Choose Tab	- MyMenu - Recent Settings		Selects between My Menu and Recent Settings mode.