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P, S, A, and M Modes

P, S, A, and M modes give you varying degrees of control over shutter speed and aperture.

Mode P: Program AE

Let the camera choose shutter speed and aperture for optimal exposure. Other values that produce the same exposure can be selected with program shift.

  1. Slide the STILL/MOVIE mode switch to STILL.

  2. Rotate the mode dial to P.

    P will appear in the display.

If the subject is outside the metering range of the camera, the shutter speed and aperture displays will show “–––”.

Rotate the mode dial only after pressing the dial lock release to release the dial.

Program Shift

If desired, you can rotate the rear command dial to select other combinations of shutter speed and aperture without altering exposure (program shift).

Shutter speed

Aperture

Program shift is not available in any of the following circumstances:

  • When TTL is selected for FFLASH SETTING > FLASH FUNCTION SETTING
  • When an auto option is selected for HIMAGE QUALITY SETTING > DYNAMIC RANGE
  • In movie mode

To cancel program shift, turn the camera off.

Mode S: Shutter-Priority AE

Choose a shutter speed and let the camera adjust aperture for optimal exposure.

  1. Slide the STILL/MOVIE mode switch to STILL.

  2. Rotate the mode dial to S.

    S will appear in the display.

  3. Rotate the rear command dial to choose the shutter speed.

If the correct exposure cannot be achieved at the selected shutter speed, aperture will be displayed in red.

If the subject is outside the metering range of the camera, the aperture display will show “–––”.

Rotate the mode dial only after pressing the dial lock release to release the dial.

Shutter speed can be adjusted while the shutter button is pressed halfway.

At shutter speeds slower than 1 second, a count-down timer will be displayed while the exposure is in progress.

To reduce “noise” (mottling) in long time-exposures, select ON for H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > LONG EXPOSURE NR. Note that this may increase the time needed to record images after shooting.

The picture will go out of focus if the camera is moved during a long time-exposure; use of a tripod is recommended.

Mode A: Aperture-Priority AE

Choose an aperture and let the camera adjust shutter speed for optimal exposure.

  1. Slide the STILL/MOVIE mode switch to STILL.

  2. Rotate the mode dial to A.

    A will appear in the display.

  3. Rotate the lens aperture ring to choose an aperture.

    If the lens is not equipped with an aperture ring, aperture can be adjusted using the front command dial on the camera.

    If the lens is equipped with an aperture ring with an “A” or “C” position, the front command dial can be used to adjust aperture when the aperture ring is rotated to A or C.

    The roles played by the front command dial can be changed using D BUTTON/DIAL SETTING > COMMAND DIAL SETTING.

If the correct exposure cannot be achieved at the selected aperture, shutter speed will be displayed in red.

If the subject is outside the metering range of the camera, the shutter speed display will show “– – –”.

Rotate the mode dial only after pressing the dial lock release to release the dial.

Aperture can be adjusted even while the shutter button is pressed halfway.

Previewing Depth of Field

When PREVIEW DEPTH OF FIELD is assigned to a function button, pressing the button displays a L icon and stops aperture down to the selected setting, allowing depth of field to be previewed in the display.

Mode M: Manual Exposure

In manual mode, the user controls both shutter speed and aperture. Shots can be deliberately overexposed (brighter) or underexposed (darker), opening the door for a variety of individual creative expression. The amount the picture would be under- or over-exposed at current settings is shown by the exposure indicator; adjust shutter speed and aperture until the desired exposure is reached.

  1. Slide the STILL/MOVIE mode switch to STILL.

  2. Rotate the mode dial to M.

    M will appear in the display.

  3. Rotate the rear command dial to choose a shutter speed and the lens aperture ring to choose the aperture.

    The manual exposure display includes an exposure indicator that shows the amount the picture would be under- or over-exposed at current settings.

    If the lens is not equipped with an aperture ring, aperture can be adjusted using the front command dial on the camera.

    If the lens is equipped with an aperture ring with an “A” or “C” position, the front command dial can be used to adjust aperture when the aperture ring is rotated to A or C.

    The roles played by the front command dial can be changed using D BUTTON/DIAL SETTING > COMMAND DIAL SETTING.

Rotate the mode dial only after pressing the dial lock release to release the dial.

BULB

Select a shutter speed of BULB for long time-exposures in which you open and close the shutter manually. Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent the camera moving during the exposure.

  1. Set shutter speed to BULB.

  2. Press the shutter button all the way down.

    • The shutter will remain open for up to 60 minutes while the shutter button is pressed.
    • The display shows the time elapsed since the exposure started.
    • Releasing the shutter button closes the shutter, ending the exposure. Processing will begin, and the camera will display the processing time remaining.

Selecting an aperture of A fixes shutter speed at 30 s.

To reduce “noise” (mottling) in long time-exposures, select ON for H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > LONG EXPOSURE NR. Note that this may increase the time needed to record images after shooting.

Using a Remote Release

A remote release can be used for long time-exposures. When using an optional RR-100 remote release or an electronic release from third-party suppliers, connect it to the camera’s remote release connector.

Exposure Preview

To preview exposure in the LCD monitor, select PREVIEW EXP./WB for DSCREEN SET-UP > PREVIEW EXP./WB IN MANUAL MODE.

PREVIEW EXP./WB

PREVIEW WB or OFF

Select an option other than PREVIEW EXP./WB when using the flash or on other occasions on which exposure may change when the picture is taken.

Custom Modes

Rotate the mode dial to any of modes C1 (CUSTOM 1) through C6 (CUSTOM 6) to take pictures using previously-saved shooting menu settings. Settings can be saved or edited using H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING.

Saving Current Settings

Save current settings in a custom settings bank.

  1. Select H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING in the shooting menu and press MENU/OK.

  2. Highlight a destination bank for current settings (C1 through C6) and press MENU/OK.

  3. Highlight SAVE CURRENT SETTINGS and press MENU/OK.

  4. Highlight OK and press MENU/OK.

    Current settings will be saved to the selected bank.

Editing Custom Settings

Edit existing custom settings banks.

  1. Select H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING in the shooting menu and press MENU/OK.

  2. Highlight the desired custom settings bank and press MENU/OK.

  3. Highlight EDIT/CHECK and press MENU/OK.

  4. The camera will display a list of shooting menu items; highlight an item you wish to edit and press MENU/OK.

    Adjust the selected item as desired.

  5. Press MENU/OK to save the changes and return to the shooting menu list.

    Adjust additional items as desired.

    If DISABLE is selected for H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > AUTO UPDATE CUSTOM SETTING, red dots will appear next to the edited items but the changes will not be saved automatically.

    • To save the changes for selected items, highlight the items in the list and press Q.
    • To save changes for all items, return to Step 3 and select SAVE THE CHANGES. To cancel all changes and restore the previous settings, select RESET THE CHANGES.
    • If you copy an item marked by a red dot, the item will be copied with the changes intact.

Copying Custom Settings

Copy custom settings from one bank to another, overwriting the settings in the destination bank. If the source bank has been renamed, the name will also be copied to the destination bank.

  1. Select H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING in the shooting menu and press MENU/OK.

  2. Highlight the source bank and press MENU/OK.

  3. Highlight COPY and press MENU/OK.

  4. Highlight the destination bank (C1 through C6) and press MENU/OK.

    A confirmation dialog will be displayed.

    Any changes to custom settings in the destination bank will be overwritten.

  5. Highlight OK and press MENU/OK.

    The selected settings will be copied to the destination bank, overwriting any existing settings.

Resetting Custom Settings

Reset selected custom settings banks.

  1. Select H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING in the shooting menu and press MENU/OK.

  2. Highlight the desired custom settings bank and press MENU/OK.

  3. Highlight RESET CUSTOM SETTING and press MENU/OK.

    A confirmation dialog will be displayed.

  4. Highlight OK and press MENU/OK.

    The selected bank will be reset.

Renaming Custom Settings Banks

Rename selected custom settings banks.

  1. Select H IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING in the shooting menu and press MENU/OK.

  2. Highlight the desired custom settings bank and press MENU/OK.

  3. Highlight EDIT CUSTOM NAME and press MENU/OK.

  4. Enter a new name for the custom settings bank and select SET.

    The selected bank will be renamed.