Nikon D810 Manual: A Comprehensive Guide
Welcome! This guide details the Nikon D810, a high-resolution DSLR, succeeding the D800 series, offering a 36-megapixel sensor for exceptional image quality.
The Nikon D810 represents a significant advancement in full-frame DSLR technology, building upon the legacy of the acclaimed D800 and D800E models. This camera is designed for professionals and serious enthusiasts demanding exceptional image quality and performance.
Featuring a newly developed 36.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor, the D810 delivers stunning detail and dynamic range. It’s a tool crafted for those who prioritize resolution and clarity in their photography. This manual will guide you through every aspect of utilizing its capabilities.
Key Features and Specifications
The Nikon D810 boasts a 36.3MP FX-format CMOS sensor, offering incredible detail without an optical low-pass filter. It captures images at up to 5 frames per second, expandable to 7 fps with the optional battery grip.
Its ISO range extends from 64 to 12800, expandable to 32-51200. The camera features a 3.2-inch tilting LCD screen and full 1080p HD video recording. Robust build quality and extensive customization options complete this powerful package.
Understanding the Camera Body
The Nikon D810’s body is constructed with a magnesium alloy, ensuring durability and weather sealing for challenging shooting conditions. It provides a comfortable grip and intuitive control layout. Key areas include the front and rear panels, housing essential buttons and ports.
The top panel hosts the mode dial, shutter button, and LCD display for quick access to settings. Familiarizing yourself with these elements is crucial for efficient operation and maximizing the camera’s potential.
Front and Rear Panel Overview
The front panel features the lens mount, autofocus-assist illuminator, and depth-of-field preview button. These components are vital for achieving sharp and accurately focused images. On the rear, you’ll find the LCD screen, control dials, and various buttons for menu navigation and image playback.
Essential ports like HDMI, USB, and microphone jacks are also located here. Understanding the function of each element allows for streamlined workflow and efficient camera operation during shoots.
Top Panel Controls and Functions
The top panel houses crucial controls for immediate adjustments. These include the main command dial for changing settings like aperture and shutter speed, the exposure compensation dial, and the on/off switch with shutter release.
Additionally, you’ll find the mode dial for selecting shooting modes, the BKT button for bracketing, and the depth-of-field preview button. Mastering these controls enables quick and intuitive camera operation in diverse shooting scenarios.
Setting Up the Nikon D810
Initial setup is crucial for optimal performance. Begin by inserting a compatible memory card and a fully charged battery. Power on the camera and follow the on-screen prompts to set the language, date, and time.
Next, configure your shooting preferences, including image quality and size. Familiarize yourself with the menu system for customizing settings to match your shooting style and desired outcomes. Proper setup ensures a smooth and efficient workflow.
Initial Camera Setup
Begin by inserting a compatible memory card and a fully charged battery into the Nikon D810. Power on the camera and immediately follow the on-screen instructions. These prompts guide you through essential settings like language selection, date, and accurate time configuration.
Confirm your time zone and enable auto date/time if desired. This initial setup establishes the foundation for all subsequent camera operations, ensuring correct metadata tagging for your images.
Menu Navigation and Customization
Access the Nikon D810’s menu system by pressing the ‘Menu’ button. It’s organized into several tabs: Shooting, Display, Setup, Custom Settings, and Retouch. Utilize the multi-selector and rear dial to navigate efficiently.
The ‘Custom Settings’ menu is crucial for tailoring the D810 to your shooting style. Here, you can personalize autofocus behavior, metering options, and button assignments, optimizing workflow and enhancing overall control.
Shooting Modes Explained
The Nikon D810 offers a versatile range of shooting modes to suit various skill levels and photographic scenarios. These modes grant differing levels of control over camera settings, impacting image creation.
From fully automatic options for beginners to manual control for experienced photographers, the D810 adapts to your needs. Understanding each mode – Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual – is key to unlocking the camera’s full potential and achieving desired results.
Auto Modes: Convenience and Ease of Use
Nikon D810’s Auto modes prioritize simplicity, ideal for beginners or quick snapshots. Scene modes, like Portrait, Landscape, and Sports, automatically optimize settings for specific subjects. Auto mode intelligently selects settings based on detected conditions, ensuring well-exposed images with minimal effort.
While convenient, these modes offer limited creative control. They are perfect for everyday photography when speed and ease of use are paramount, but for artistic vision, exploring other modes is recommended.
Aperture Priority (A) Mode
Aperture Priority (A) mode on the Nikon D810 allows you to control the lens aperture, influencing depth of field and bokeh. You select the f-stop, and the camera automatically determines the appropriate shutter speed for correct exposure.
Lower f-numbers (e.g., f/2.8) create shallow depth of field, ideal for portraits, while higher f-numbers (e.g;, f/16) maximize depth of field for landscapes. Mastering this mode unlocks creative control over image aesthetics.
Shutter Priority (S) Mode
Shutter Priority (S) mode on the Nikon D810 grants control over shutter speed, freezing motion or creating motion blur. The camera automatically adjusts the aperture to achieve proper exposure based on your chosen shutter speed.
Fast shutter speeds (e.g., 1/1000s) are perfect for capturing fast-moving subjects, while slow shutter speeds (e.g., 1/30s) can blur motion, conveying a sense of speed or movement. This mode is crucial for action and creative effects;
Manual (M) Mode: Full Control
Manual (M) mode on the Nikon D810 provides complete creative control, allowing independent adjustment of both shutter speed and aperture. This mode requires a solid understanding of the exposure triangle – aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Photographers utilize M mode for precise exposure control, especially in challenging lighting conditions. It’s ideal for situations where automatic modes struggle, offering consistent results and artistic vision. Mastering M mode unlocks the D810’s full potential.
Focusing System and Techniques
The Nikon D810 boasts a sophisticated autofocus (AF) system with 51 focus points, ensuring sharp images even with fast-moving subjects. Understanding AF modes – Single-servo (AF-S), Continuous-servo (AF-C), and Auto-servo (AF-A) – is crucial.
Dynamic-area AF and 3D-tracking are powerful options for tracking subjects. However, precise manual focus is also achievable, utilizing the camera’s bright viewfinder and focus confirmation features for critical sharpness.
Autofocus Modes and Settings
Nikon D810’s autofocus system offers diverse modes. AF-S is ideal for stationary subjects, locking focus when the shutter button is half-pressed. AF-C continuously tracks moving subjects, adjusting focus as needed. AF-A automatically switches between AF-S and AF-C.
Explore focus area modes: Single-point AF for precision, Dynamic-area AF for tracking, and 3D-tracking for complex movement. Customize AF sensitivity to match shooting conditions for optimal performance.
Manual Focus Operation
Achieving precise focus manually on the Nikon D810 is straightforward. Switch the focus mode on the lens to ‘M’. Utilize the viewfinder and focus ring to sharpen the image. Enable focus peaking in the menu for visual aid, highlighting in-focus areas.
Magnify the image using live view for critical focus. Fine-tune adjustments for demanding shots. Remember, manual focus excels in low light or when autofocus struggles with specific subjects.
Image Quality and Settings
The Nikon D810 boasts exceptional image quality thanks to its 36-megapixel sensor. Explore resolution options – Large, Medium, and Small – within the menu. Adjust image size for desired file dimensions and storage capacity.
Mastering white balance is crucial; choose presets or custom settings for accurate colors. Experiment with Picture Control settings (Standard, Neutral, Vivid, etc.) to tailor image aesthetics directly in-camera, influencing contrast and saturation.
Resolution and Image Size Options
The D810 offers versatile resolution choices. Select Large for maximum detail (36.3MP), ideal for large prints and extensive cropping. Medium provides a balance between quality and file size, suitable for most online uses. Small is efficient for quick sharing and storage.
Within each resolution, choose image sizes (e.g., FX, 1.2x, DX) impacting the field of view. FX utilizes the full sensor width, while DX crops the image, effectively increasing reach.
White Balance Control
Accurate color rendition relies on proper white balance. The D810 offers Auto White Balance (AWB) for convenience, but custom settings yield superior results. Presets include Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, and Incandescent. For precise control, use the Custom White Balance feature, metering a neutral gray card;
Fine-tuning is possible via the Kelvin temperature scale, allowing adjustments for subtle color shifts. Saving preferred settings as User Presets streamlines workflow for consistent results.
Picture Control Settings
Nikon’s Picture Control system shapes image characteristics directly in-camera. Standard, Neutral, Vivid, and Monochrome presets offer distinct starting points for your creative vision. Each control adjusts sharpness, contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue.
Customize these presets or create User Defined settings for personalized looks. Picture Control significantly impacts JPEG files; applying them to RAW images is non-destructive during post-processing, offering flexibility.
Video Recording Capabilities
The Nikon D810 excels in video, offering Full HD 1080p recording at up to 60 frames per second for smooth motion. It supports various frame rates – 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, and 60p – catering to diverse filmmaking needs. Clean HDMI output enables external recording for professional workflows.
Manual exposure control provides cinematic depth of field and precise adjustments. The camera’s high resolution translates to detailed, high-quality video footage, ideal for storytelling.
Video Resolution and Frame Rates
The Nikon D810 records Full HD video at 1920×1080 pixels, delivering sharp and detailed footage. Frame rate options are extensive, including 24p for a cinematic look, 25p and 30p for standard broadcast, and 50p/60p for slow-motion effects.
These varied frame rates allow creative flexibility. The camera supports uncompressed HDMI output, enabling external recorders to capture even higher quality video. Choosing the correct frame rate depends on the desired aesthetic and playback environment.
Audio Recording Options
The Nikon D810 features a built-in stereo microphone for capturing sound alongside your videos. However, for professional-quality audio, an external microphone is highly recommended. The camera offers a standard 3.5mm microphone jack, allowing connection of various external mics.
Manual audio level control is available, ensuring optimal sound recording. Users can monitor audio levels via the camera’s headphone jack. Wind noise reduction is crucial when shooting outdoors, necessitating a windscreen or ‘deadcat’ accessory for clear audio.
Advanced Features
The Nikon D810 boasts several advanced capabilities beyond standard photography. Time-lapse photography is easily achieved using the built-in intervalometer, creating stunning visuals from extended shooting sessions. Multiple Exposure mode allows blending two or more images into a single, artistic composition.
Focus peaking assists with precise manual focusing, highlighting in-focus areas. The camera also supports in-camera raw processing for quick edits on the go. These features unlock creative potential, offering experienced photographers expanded control.
Time-Lapse Photography
The Nikon D810 simplifies time-lapse creation with its integrated intervalometer. This feature automatically captures images at pre-set intervals, ranging from seconds to hours. Define the interval, total shots, and start delay directly within the camera menu.
Combine these images using editing software to produce captivating time-lapse videos. Ideal for capturing cloud movements, sunrises, or long-term events, this feature expands your creative storytelling possibilities, offering a unique perspective.
Multiple Exposure Mode
The Nikon D810’s Multiple Exposure mode allows you to creatively combine two or more images into a single photograph. Choose from averaging, additive, lighten, darken, or replacement blending modes to achieve diverse artistic effects. You can review each exposure before finalizing the composite image.
This mode is perfect for surreal or abstract photography. Experiment with different settings and subjects to create unique and visually striking images, pushing the boundaries of your photographic expression.
Connectivity and Transferring Images
The Nikon D810 offers several options for transferring your high-resolution images. Connect directly to a computer via USB for a reliable and efficient transfer. Alternatively, explore wireless transfer options using Nikon’s optional wireless transmitter, WT-5.
This allows for convenient image sharing without physical cables. Ensure you have the necessary software installed on your computer for seamless image importing and organization. Regularly back up your images to prevent data loss.
Connecting to a Computer
To connect your Nikon D810 to a computer, use the supplied USB cable. Ensure the camera is powered off before connecting. Once connected, power on the camera and select ‘USB’ as the connection type in the camera’s menu.
Your computer should recognize the D810 as a mass storage device. You can then easily copy images and videos to your computer. Disconnect safely by ejecting the device from your operating system before powering off the camera.
Using Wireless Transfer Options
The Nikon D810 doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi, but wireless transfer is achievable with compatible accessories. The optional WT-5A Wireless Transmitter attaches to the camera, enabling transfer to smartphones or computers via a wireless network.
Install Nikon’s Wireless Mobile Utility app on your smartphone. Configure the WT-5A and connect to your network. Then, easily browse and download images directly to your mobile device for quick sharing and editing.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Encountering problems? Common issues with the Nikon D810 include focusing inaccuracies and unexpected image quality. For focusing problems, ensure proper autofocus settings are selected for your shooting situation and lens. Clean the autofocus sensor if necessary.
Image quality concerns often stem from incorrect settings like white balance or picture control. Review these settings and experiment to achieve desired results. Check your ISO and aperture for optimal performance.
Focusing Problems
If your Nikon D810 struggles to achieve sharp focus, first verify the correct autofocus mode is selected – Single-servo (AF-S) for static subjects, and Continuous-servo (AF-C) for moving ones. Ensure the focus point is positioned directly on your intended subject.
Clean the autofocus sensor carefully. Incorrect lens compatibility or a dirty lens element can also cause issues. Try a different lens to isolate the problem.
Image Quality Concerns
Addressing image quality issues on your Nikon D810 starts with verifying your Picture Control settings – Standard, Neutral, Vivid, etc. – to match your desired aesthetic. Check your white balance setting to ensure accurate color rendition under different lighting conditions.
Confirm you’re shooting in RAW format for maximum editing flexibility. Also, ensure your lens is clean and sharp, as lens quality significantly impacts overall image clarity.
Maintaining Your Nikon D810
Proper maintenance ensures your Nikon D810’s longevity. Regularly clean the sensor using a blower or sensor cleaning kit to remove dust. Gently wipe the exterior with a soft, dry cloth. Store the camera in a dry, cool place, ideally in a camera bag.
Periodically check for and install available firmware updates via Nikon’s website to optimize performance and address potential bugs. Handle the camera with care to avoid physical damage.
Cleaning and Storage
To preserve your Nikon D810, regular cleaning is vital. Use a blower to remove dust from the sensor and body. Gently wipe surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners.
Store the camera in a cool, dry environment, preferably within a protective camera bag. Remove the battery for extended storage periods. Protect the lens and body from moisture and extreme temperatures to prevent damage.
Firmware Updates
Maintaining the latest firmware ensures optimal Nikon D810 performance and compatibility. Regularly check the Nikon website for available updates. Download the firmware and follow the provided instructions carefully for installation.
Typically, this involves transferring the file to a memory card and executing it through the camera’s setup menu. Never interrupt the update process, as this could damage the camera. Updates often include bug fixes and new features.
Accessories for the Nikon D810
Enhance your Nikon D810 experience with compatible accessories! A wide range of Nikon lenses unlocks diverse photographic possibilities, from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto wildlife shots. Consider additional batteries for extended shooting sessions, especially during travel or demanding projects.
Power options include genuine Nikon chargers and alternative power solutions. Other useful accessories include memory card readers, remote releases, and protective filters to safeguard your lens.
Lenses and Lens Compatibility
The Nikon D810 utilizes Nikon’s F-mount, ensuring compatibility with a vast selection of Nikkor lenses – both current and legacy. This includes FX-format lenses designed for full-frame sensors, as well as DX-format lenses, though with a 1.5x crop factor.
Third-party lens options from manufacturers like Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss are also generally compatible. Always verify compatibility before purchasing, especially with older lenses, to ensure full functionality.
Batteries and Power Options
The Nikon D810 is powered by the EN-EL15 battery, providing substantial shooting capacity. Battery life varies depending on usage, but approximately 600 shots are achievable on a full charge. A battery grip, the MB-D12, is available as an accessory,
allowing for dual battery usage, extending shooting time significantly. The camera can also be powered via AC adapter with the optional EH-5b power supply, useful for extended studio work.
