David Busch's Nikon Z50 Guide to Digital Photography

David Busch's Nikon Z50 Guide to Digital Photography

by David D. Busch
Released March 2020
Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
ISBN: 9781681986289

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Book description

David Busch's Nikon Z50 Guide to Digital Photography is your all-in-one comprehensive resource and reference for getting the most out of your Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera. Nikon’s first APS-C format mirrorless model is compact, weighs just 14 ounces, and is very affordable, making it the perfect camera for budding photo enthusiasts. It’s built around a 21-megapixel sensor that offers excellent image quality and is sensitive enough for low light shooting. With a 209-point phase-detect autofocus system covering more than 85 percent of the frame, the Z50 can shoot sports and action at up to 11 frames per second, with lightning fast focus. The Z50 can capture both 4K and Full HD movies, too, and the flip-down rear LCD is ideal for selfies and vlogging. With this book in hand, you’ll master all the camera’s impressive features, and fine tune your camera skills as develop your creativity taking great photographs with your new Z50. Filled with detailed how-to steps and full-color illustrations, David Busch's Nikon Z50 Guide to Digital Photography covers all the camera's capabilities in depth, from taking your first photos through advanced details of setup, exposure, lens selection, lighting, and more, and relates each feature to specific photographic techniques and situations. Also included is the handy visual guide to the Z50, with close-up photos and descriptions of the camera's essential features and controls. Learn when to use each option and, more importantly, when not to use them, by following the author’s recommended settings for every menu entry. With best-selling photographer and mentor David Busch as your guide, you'll quickly have full creative mastery of your camera’s capabilities, whether you're shooting on the job, as an advanced enthusiast, or are just out for fun. Start building your knowledge and confidence, while bringing your vision to light with the Nikon Z50 today.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. About the Author
  7. Contents
  8. Preface
  9. Introduction
  10. Chapter 1 Thinking Outside the Box
    1. First Things First
      1. In the Box
      2. Optional and Non-Optional Add-Ons
    2. Initial Setup
      1. Mastering the Multi Selector and Command Dials
      2. Setting the Clock
      3. Battery Included
      4. Final Steps
  11. Chapter 2 Nikon Z50 Quick Start
    1. Selecting an Exposure Mode
    2. Choosing a Metering Mode
    3. Choosing a Focus Mode
    4. Choosing the Focus Area Mode
    5. Selecting a Release Mode
    6. Adjusting White Balance and ISO
    7. Reviewing the Images You’ve Taken
    8. Transferring Photos to Your Computer
    9. Changing Default Settings
      1. Resetting the Nikon Z50
      2. Recommended Default Changes
    10. Shooting Tips
      1. Photo Shooting Menu Recommendations
      2. Custom Setting Menu Recommendations
  12. Chapter 3 Nikon Z50 Roadmap
    1. Using Cross-References
    2. Nikon Z50: Up Front
    3. The Nikon Z50’s Business End
      1. Top of Back Panel
      2. Taking Selfies
      3. Making Settings
    4. Playing Back Images
      1. Zooming the Nikon Z50 Playback Display
      2. Viewing Thumbnails
      3. Using the Photo Data Displays
    5. The Viewfinder/Monitor Displays
    6. Going Topside
    7. Lens Components
    8. Underneath Your Nikon Z50
  13. Chapter 4 Nailing the Right Exposure
    1. Getting a Handle on Exposure
      1. Equivalent Exposure
    2. How the Z50 Calculates Exposure
      1. Correctly Exposed
      2. Overexposed
      3. Underexposed
      4. Metering Mid-Tones
    3. Choosing a Metering Method
      1. Matrix Metering
      2. Center-weighted Metering
      3. Spot Metering
      4. Highlight-weighted Metering
    4. Choosing an Exposure Method
      1. Aperture-Priority
      2. Shutter-Priority
      3. Program Mode
      4. Manual Exposure
    5. Adjusting Exposure with ISO Settings
      1. Dealing with Noise
    6. Bracketing
      1. White Balance Bracketing
      2. ADL Bracketing
    7. Working with HDR
      1. Auto HDR
      2. Bracketing and Merge to HDR
    8. Fixing Exposures with Histograms
      1. Tonal Range
      2. Histogram Basics
      3. Understanding Histograms
    9. Fine-Tuning Exposure
  14. Chapter 5 Mastering the Mysteries of Focus
    1. How Focus Works
      1. Contrast Detection
      2. Phase Detection
      3. Depth-of-field
      4. Using Autofocus with the Nikon Z50
      5. Autofocus vs. Manual Focus
      6. Bringing the Z50’s AF System into Focus
    2. Focus Mode and Priority
      1. Autofocus Mode
    3. Choosing an Autofocus Area Mode
      1. Face Detection and Subject Tracking
      2. Face Detection
      3. Subject Tracking
    4. Manual Focus
    5. Back Button Focus
      1. Activating Back Button Focus
    6. Fine-Tuning the Focus of Your Lenses
    7. Lens Tune-up Options
      1. Evaluating Current Focus
      2. Changing the Fine-Tuning Setting
      3. Setting the Default Value
  15. Chapter 6 Advanced Techniques
    1. Continuous Shooting
    2. A Tiny Slice of Time
      1. Working with Short Exposures
    3. Long Exposures
      1. Three Ways to Take Long Exposures
      2. Working with Long Exposures
    4. Delayed Exposures
      1. Self-Timer
      2. Interval/Time-Lapse Photography
      3. Using Interval Photography
      4. Time-Lapse Movies
      5. Multiple Exposures
      6. Overlay Shooting
    5. Connecting Your Z50
      1. Introduction to Wi-Fi/Computer Connections
    6. Using SnapBridge
      1. Using the SnapBridge App
  16. Chapter 7 Focus on Lenses
    1. Sensor Sensibilities
    2. Choosing Native Z-mount Lenses
      1. Better Lenses with Z-mount?
      2. The “Kit” DX Lenses
      3. Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S
      4. Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S
      5. Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S
      6. Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8 S
      7. Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 S
      8. Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 S
      9. Nikkor Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct
      10. Another Prime and Versatile Zoom
    3. Using the FTZ Adapter
    4. Ingredients of Nikon’s Alphanumeric Soup
    5. Zoom or Prime?
    6. Categories of Lenses
    7. Using Wide-Angle and Wide-Zoom Lenses
      1. Avoiding Potential Wide-Angle Problems
    8. Using Telephoto and Tele-Zoom Lenses
      1. Avoiding Telephoto Lens Problems
      2. Telephotos and Bokeh
  17. Chapter 8 Mastering Light
    1. Light That’s Available
    2. Continuous Lighting Basics
      1. Living with Color Temperature
      2. Daylight
      3. Incandescent/Tungsten/Halogen Light
      4. Fluorescent Light/LEDs
    3. Electronic Flash Basics
      1. The Moment of Exposure
      2. A Tale of Two Exposures
      3. Measuring Exposure
      4. Guide Numbers
    4. Choosing a Flash Sync Mode
      1. Ghost Images
    5. High-Speed Sync
    6. Using Internal and External Flash
      1. Using Flash Exposure Compensation
      2. Specifying Flash Shutter Speed
      3. Flash Control
    7. Working with Nikon Flash External Units
      1. Nikon SB-300
      2. Nikon SB-400
      3. Nikon SB-500
      4. Nikon SB-700
      5. Nikon SB-R200
      6. Nikon SB-910
      7. Nikon SB-5000
    8. Elements of Wireless Flash
      1. Master Flash
      2. Remote Flashes
      3. Channels
      4. Groups
  18. Chapter 9 Playback, Photo Shooting, and Movie Shooting Menus
    1. Anatomy of the Nikon Z50’s Menus
    2. Playback Menu Options
      1. Delete
      2. Playback Folder
      3. Playback Display Options
      4. Image Review
      5. After Delete
      6. Rotate Tall
      7. Slide Show
      8. Rating
    3. Photo Shooting Menu Options
      1. Reset Photo Shooting Menu
      2. Storage Folder
      3. File Naming
      4. Choose Image Area
      5. Image Quality
      6. Image Size
      7. NEF (RAW) Recording
      8. ISO Sensitivity Settings
      9. White Balance
      10. Set Picture Control
      11. Manage Picture Control
      12. Color Space
      13. Active D-Lighting
      14. Long Exposure NR
      15. High ISO NR
      16. Vignette Control
      17. Diffraction Compensation
      18. Auto Distortion Control
      19. Flicker Reduction Shooting
      20. Metering
      21. Flash Control
      22. Flash Mode
      23. Flash Compensation
      24. Release Mode
      25. Focus Mode
      26. AF-Area Mode
      27. Optical VR
      28. Auto Bracketing
      29. Multiple Exposure
      30. HDR (High Dynamic Range)
      31. Interval Timer Shooting
      32. Time-Lapse Movie
      33. Silent Photography
    4. Movie Shooting Menu
      1. Reset Movie Shooting Menu
      2. File Naming
      3. Frame Size/Frame Rate
      4. Movie Quality
      5. Movie File Type
      6. ISO Sensitivity Settings
      7. White Balance
      8. Set Picture Control
      9. Manage Picture Control
      10. Active D-Lighting
      11. High ISO NR
      12. Vignette Control
      13. Diffraction Compensation
      14. Auto Distortion Control
      15. Flicker Reduction
      16. Metering
      17. Release Mode (Save Frame)
      18. Focus Mode
      19. AF-Area Mode
      20. Optical VR
      21. Electronic VR
      22. Microphone Sensitivity
      23. Attenuator
      24. Frequency Response
      25. Wind Noise Reduction
  19. Chapter 10 The Custom Settings Menu
    1. Custom Settings Menu Layout
    2. Reset Custom Settings
    3. a. Autofocus
      1. a1 AF-C Priority Selection
      2. a2 Auto-Area AF Face/Eye Detection
      3. a3 Focus Points Used
      4. a4 AF Activation
      5. a5 Focus Point Wrap-Around
      6. a6 Focus Point Options
      7. a7 Low-Light AF
      8. a8 Built-in AF-Assist Illuminator
      9. a9 Manual Focus Ring in AF Mode
    4. b. Metering/Exposure
      1. b1 EV Steps for Exposure Cntrl.
      2. b2 Easy Exposure Compensation
      3. b3 Center-Weighted Area
      4. b4 Fine-Tune Optimal Exposure
    5. c. Timers/AE Lock
      1. c1 Shutter-Release Button AE-L
      2. c2 Self-Timer
      3. c3 Power Off Delay
    6. d. Shooting/Display
      1. d1 CL Mode Shooting Speed
      2. d2 Max. Continuous Release
      3. d3 Exposure Delay Mode
      4. d4 Shutter Type
      5. d5 Limit Selectable Image Area
      6. d6 File Number Sequence
      7. d7 Apply Settings to Live View
      8. d8 Framing Grid Display
      9. d9 Peaking Highlights
      10. d10 View All in Continuous Mode
    7. e. Bracketing/Flash
      1. e1 Flash Sync Speed
      2. e2 Flash Shutter Speed
      3. e3 Exposure Compensation for Flash
      4. e4 Auto Flash ISO Sensitivity Control
      5. e5 Bracketing Order
    8. f. Controls
      1. f1 Customize i Menu
      2. f2 Custom Controls (Shooting)
      3. f3 Custom Controls (Playback)
      4. f4 Customize Command Dials
      5. f5 Release Button to Use Dial
      6. f6 Reverse Indicators
    9. g. Movie
      1. g1 Customize i Menu
      2. g2 Custom Controls
      3. g3 AF Speed
      4. g4 AF Tracking Sensitivity
      5. g5 Highlight Display
  20. Chapter 11 The Setup Menu, Retouch Menu, and My Menu
    1. Setup Menu Options
      1. Format Memory Card
      2. Save User Settings
      3. Reset User Settings
      4. Language
      5. Time Zone and Date
      6. Monitor Brightness
      7. Viewfinder Brightness
      8. Viewfinder Color Balance
      9. Information Display
      10. AF Fine-Tune
      11. Image Dust Off Ref Photo
      12. Image Comment
      13. Copyright Information
      14. Beep Options
      15. Touch Controls
      16. Self-Portrait Mode
      17. HDMI
      18. Location Data Display
      19. Airplane Mode
      20. Connect to Smart Device
      21. Connect to PC
      22. Wireless Remote (ML-L7) Options
      23. Conformity Marking
      24. Energy Saving
      25. Slot Empty Release Lock
      26. Reset All Settings
      27. Firmware Version
    2. Retouch Menu
      1. NEF (RAW) Processing
      2. Trim
      3. Resize
      4. D-Lighting
      5. Quick Retouch
      6. Red-Eye Correction
      7. Straighten
      8. Distortion Control
      9. Perspective Control
      10. Image Overlay
      11. Trim Movie
      12. Side-by-Side Comparison
    3. Using My Menu
  21. Chapter 12 Capturing Video with the Z50
    1. Quick Start Checklist
    2. Lean, Mean, Movie Machine
    3. Capturing Video
      1. Slow-Motion Movies
    4. Shooting Your Movie
    5. Using the i Button
    6. Stop That!
    7. Viewing Your Movies
    8. Trimming Your Movies
      1. Saving a Frame
    9. Tips for Shooting Better Video
      1. Refocusing on Focus
      2. Lens Craft
    10. Zooming and Video
    11. Keeping Things Stable and on the Level
    12. Shooting Script
      1. Storyboards
    13. Storytelling in Video
    14. Composition
    15. Lighting for Video
      1. Illumination
      2. Creative Lighting
      3. Lighting Styles
    16. Audio
      1. Tips for Better Audio
      2. External Microphones
      3. Special Features

Product information

  • Title: David Busch's Nikon Z50 Guide to Digital Photography
  • Author(s): David D. Busch
  • Release date: March 2020
  • Publisher(s): Rocky Nook
  • ISBN: 9781681986289