Nikon CoolPix 880Advanced features, and "Assisted Creative Photography" in a compact 3.3 megapixel package!<<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & MenusReview First Posted: 8/26/2000 |
Camera Modes and Menus
Setup Mode: Accessed by turning the mode dial to the "Setup" position, this mode instantly calls up the Setup menu, which controls the camera's basic settings. Below are the available menu options:
Image Quality: Sets the image compression level to Hi (uncompressed Tiff) or Fine, Normal or Basic JPEG settings.
- Image Size: Adjusts the pixel size of the image to Full (2048 x 1536), XGA (1024 x 768) or VGA (640 x 480).
- Folders: Lets you manage the image storage folders on the CompactFlash card, with a sub-menu of options:
- Options:
- New: Creates a new storage folder.
- Rename: Renames a previously created storage folder.
- Delete: Deletes specified folders.
- Nikon: This is the default image storage folder. If new storage folders are created, their names will also be displayed in this sub-menu, allowing you to choose specific folders to save images in.
- Options:
- Monitor Options: Displays the following sub-menu of monitor adjustments:
- Display Mode:
- Monitor On: Turns the LCD on at start up and displays images after shooting.
- Review Only: Sets the LCD monitor to review images after shooting but turns off the image composition display.
- Preview Only: Activates the LCD monitor when the camera is powered on, but does not provide a review of captured images.
- Monitor Off: Deactivates the LCD monitor at all times.
- Brightness: Adjusts the LCD monitor's brightness.
- Hue: Allows you to manually adjust the LCD monitor hue, using a standard image. (We'd like to see this option allow for a user-provided reference image.)
- Display Mode:
- Auto Off: Sets the camera to automatically shut down after 30 seconds or after one, five or 30 minutes.
- Sequential Numbers: Turns the camera's sequential file numbering system on or off, or resets file numbering.
- CF Card Format: Formats the CompactFlash card and erases all files (even protected ones).
Controls: Lets you choose which controls remain set after the camera is powered off.
- Pic. Data / Confirm: This setting allows you to turn the shot confirmation function on or off, as well as whether or not to save a text file of the image information with each image.
- Date: Sets the camera's date and time.
- Video Mode: Assigns the camera's video output signal to NTSC or PAL.
- Language: Changes the camera's menu language to German, English, French or Japanese.
- Distance Units: Tells the camera's manual focus feature to report distances in Meters or Feet.
- Reset All: Resets all the Setup menu settings to the factory defaults.
Custom Mode: This mode is marked on the mode dial by the letters "CSM," and lets you establish custom shooting modes for specific shooting situations. You have control over aperture and shutter speed, and all of the camera's exposure variables. Pressing the menu button brings up the Record menu, the same menu offered in the Manual, Aperture Priority and Programmed exposure modes, listed in detail below under the "Programmed" section.
Manual Mode: Noted on the mode dial with the letter "M," this mode gives you control over both aperture and shutter speed, as well as all of the other exposure variables that the Coolpix 880 has to offer. See the Programmed section below for the detailed listing of the settings menu for this mode.
Aperture Priority Mode: In this mode, marked on the mode dial with an "A," you have control over the lens aperture setting while the camera selects the appropriate shutter speed. As with the Custom and Manual exposure modes, you have control over the remaining exposure options, with the same menu options detailed under the Programmed mode listing below.
Programmed Mode: The letter "P" indicates this mode on the mode dial, in which the user has control over the majority of the camera's exposure options with the exception of aperture and shutter speed. This mode shares the same settings menu with the Custom, Manual and Aperture Priority modes, and offers the following options:
White Balance: Sets the white value to match a variety of light sources, including Automatic, Preset (manual), Fine, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy and Speedlight (flash).
- Metering: Changes the camera's metering system to Matrix, Spot, Center-Weighted or Spot AF Area.
- Continuous: Adjusts the camera's capture mode for multiple and sequence shooting, with the following choices:
- Single: Shoots a single frame with each press of the shutter button.
- Continuous: Records approximately three shots every two seconds as long as the shutter button is held down.
- Multi-Shot 16: The camera records 16 thumbnail images and combines them into one 2048 x 1536 image.
- VGA Sequence: The camera takes a series of 640 x 480 images at approximately two frames per second as long as the shutter button is pressed.
- Ultra HS: Shoots 70 photographs at the 320 x 240 size (QVGA) with each press of the shutter button, capturing approximately 30 frames per second.
- Movie: Records up to 40 seconds of moving images without sound, depending on memory card space.
- Best Shot Selector: Activates the Best Shot Selector function, which takes a series of photographs and then chooses the sharpest image to save to the memory card.
- Lens: Lets you specify which lens attachment is being used with the camera.
- Image Adjustment: Alters the appearance of the image, with these settings:
- Auto: The camera automatically judges lightness, darkness and contrast.
- Normal: Applies the standard brightness and contrast adjustments.
- More Contrast: Raises the contrast of the image.
- Less Contrast: Lowers the image contrast.
- Lighten Image: Lightens the image slightly.
- Darken Image: Slightly darkens the image.
- Black and White: Sets the camera for monochromatic shooting.
- Image Sharpening: Adjusts the image sharpness to Auto, High, Normal, Low or Off.
Quality: Displays a sub-menu for image quality and size settings:
- Image Quality: Sets the compression level to Hi (uncompressed TIFF) or Fine, Normal or Basic JPEG settings.
- Image Size: Sets the image size to Full (2048 x 1536), XGA (1024 x 768) or VGA (640 x 480).
- ISO: Sets the camera's sensitivity to Auto, 100, 200 or 400 ISO equivalents.
- Exposure Options: Calls up the following sub-menu of options:
- Exposure Mode: Sets the exposure mode to Programmed, Aperture Priority or Manual.
- AE Lock: Turns the AE Lock function on or off.
- Auto Bracketing: Activates the auto bracketing function, which takes a series of five images at different exposure compensation levels from -0.7 EV to +0.7 EV. (Successive presses of the shutter button captures images and cycles to the next exposure compensation setting automatically.)
- Exposure Compensation: Adjusts the exposure compensation from -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 1/3 EV increments.
- Focus: Displays the following focus sub-menu:
- AF Area Mode: Sets the camera's focusing control:
- Auto: The camera bases focus on the subject closest to one of five focus target marks.
- Manual: Lets the user choose one of the five focus target areas.
- Off: Returns the camera to autofocus, basing the focus on the center of the image.
- Autofocus Mode:
- Continuous AF: The camera constantly sets focus, even as the camera is moving.
- Single AF: The camera only sets focus when the shutter button is halfway pressed.
- Focus Confirmation:
- MF: Objects that are in focus will be sharply outlined in the LCD monitor when manual focus is in use.
- On: Focused objects will be sharply outlined in all focus modes.
- Off: No indication of the focus will be provided.
- AF Area Mode: Sets the camera's focusing control:
- Folders: Lets you manage the image storage folders on the CompactFlash card, with a sub-menu of options:
- Options:
- New: Creates a new storage folder.
- Rename: Renames a previously created storage folder.
- Delete: Deletes specified folders.
- Nikon: This is the default image storage folder. Once new storage folders are created, their names will also be displayed in this sub-menu, allowing you to choose specific folders to save images in.
- Options:
- CF Card Format: Formats the CompactFlash card and erases all files (even protected images).
- Clear Settings: Clears all the exposure settings to their defaults.
Scene Mode: This mode is marked on the mode dial simply with the word "Scene," and allows you to choose between a series of preset shooting modes for specific shooting situations. The camera controls all the exposure settings, with the exception of the flash and exposure compensation (depending on the preset selected). Pressing the Menu button displays the following settings menu:
Portrait: Adjusts the camera's exposure settings for taking portraits by decreasing the depth of field, so that the subject is the primary focus. Additionally, the AF Area mode is set to Manual, so that the focus target area can be chosen with the rocker toggle button.
- Party / Indoor: Sets the camera for shooting indoor events, allowing some ambient light into the image to capture background details.
- Night Portrait: Combines a Redeye Reduction flash with a slow shutter speed (as in the Slow Sync flash mode) to capture subjects with dark backgrounds.
- Beach / Snow: Increases the shutter speed to capture bright scenes including sunny lakes and oceans, in addition to beaches and snowfields.
- Landscape: Sets the focus at infinity for capturing broad scenery and enhances the contrast.
- Sunset: Adjusts the camera to capture the vivid colors of sunsets and sunrises, emphasizing the reds.
- Night Landscape: Alters the Landscape setting for night subjects by slowing down the shutter speed (tripod recommended).
- Fireworks Show: Decreases the camera's response time to the shutter button, to quickly capture fireworks.
- Sparkler: Utilizes the Redeye Reduction and Slow Sync flash modes with a slower shutter speed to capture more ambient light when shooting sparkler or candlelit scenes (tripod recommended).
- Copy: Sets up the camera for capturing text or drawings.
- Backlit: Adjusts the exposure for backlit subjects, to bring out more of the details in the shadow areas.
Full Auto Mode: In this mode, the camera has total control over the exposure, with the exception of the flash and exposure compensation settings. Full Auto mode is marked on the mode dial with a green camera symbol and the word "Auto." There is no settings menu for this mode.
Playback Mode: Noted on the mode dial with the traditional green playback symbol, this mode allows you to review captured images and movies, as well as manage them. You can also view up to nine thumbnail images on a screen at one time and enlarge captured images for a close-up view. The Menu button pulls up the following Playback settings menu:
- Delete: Allows you to delete the Selected Image, All Images, Folder or Print Set.
- Folders: Lets you choose which folder to view.
- Slide Show: Plays back all captured images in a folder automatically, with a frame interval of two, three, five or 10 seconds.
- Protect: Displays a six image thumbnail display and allows you to choose which images to write protect.
- Hide Image: Pulls up the same six image display and gives you the option to hide certain images from view.
- Print Set: In the same six image display, you can select which images you want to print and mark them for printing on a DPOF compatible device.
- Auto Off: Changes the Auto Off setting for the Playback mode to the Same as Record Mode or to 30 seconds or one, five or 30 minutes.
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