Nikon D7000 tips

[Grandpaw]

Additional AUTO ISO information

In tip #20 I talked about setting the Auto ISO up so that it would only go up to a level that you find acceptable and not go beyond. I also talked about setting the minimum shutter speed. This tip is to give you some additional information concerning these settings.

Additional information you might find useful.

The default for the highest Auto ISO is 6400 if you do not go in and choose to lower this in the menus. If you are in "P" mode or Program mode, the camera will have control over the shutter speed and the Aperture or "F" stop being used. If you are using "A" or Aperture mode, which I use a lot, the camera will control the shutter speed and you will have the control over the aperture or "F" stop. In either one of these modes if your camera reaches the maximum ISO that you have set and still cannot get enough light the camera will actually override the minimum shutter speed and go lower to be able to get enough light to get the picture. You need to be aware of this because there is a potential of going to slow a shutter speed and blurring your picture.

There is also one other piece of information that you might find useful. After you set the maximum auto ISO setting that you want you can also pick the minimum ISO that you would like the camera to use. let's say that you have chosen the max AUTO ISO setting to be 3200, you can now go back and choose for example a regular ISO setting of maybe 400. When you do this you camera will shoot everything from a min ISO setting of 400 up to the max setting of the 3200 that was set in our example. Any time you are in AUTO ISO the camera will always try and use the lowest ISO that it has available to get the picture that you are trying to take. Hope you might find this additional information helpful. Jeff

This is a corrected post. In the original post I had written up what "A" and "P" mode do backwards. I made the mistake of trying to write up a tip while keeping track of the storm Isaac on the TV. I just want to give a BIG THANK YOU to Raymond for reading my tips thread and sending me a PM asking about it. I have swapped what the two modes do in the post so that it now reads correctly. Sorry about any confusion about how it was written up. Out of 38,000 views and 69 tips I think that this one is the first one I have had to correct and feel very lucky about that. I knew sooner or later it would probably happen. I read every tip several times and check them before posting so that you can rely on the information to be accurate.

I would like to thank all of the people that take the time to read my tips and also for the many positive E-mails and PM's I receive about them. One more time, thanks to Raymond for asking me about the tip so I could correct the information. Jeff

[Raymond_K]

Hi there Jeff,

Initially, thanks for your comments with respect to my video question (and also to "wfooshee" and "MotorToad" too). I currently "only" have the standard 18 - 105mm that came with the camera and a 50mm f/1.8 that I've started using for portraits but will try them out soon at the studio for her.

Once again, thank you - all of you.

Happy shooting!!!

Raymond

[gobo fongo]

Hello everyone, first of all thank you Jeff for this awesome thread. I’ve found a few great tips that I had overlooked on my camera and I appreciate the time you’ve put into the clear directions.

I’m new to the forum (just found it), I’ve been taking pictures for a long time, and bought a D7000 a little over a year ago for a documentary trip to Kerala India in the monsoon season because of it’s superior weather resistance, durability, and video capabilities.

Since then I’ve been using it for more or less equal parts professional photography and video production, so I thought I could shed a little light about the video side of things for people like Raymond, and also offer a few tips of my own if you don’t mind.

First in response to Raymond’s questions:

I'm wondering if you (or any other reader of this forum) could avise with respect to VIDEO recording with the D7000. To be more specific in my case:

I currently had 2 32Gb cards in the camera (they will be empty to start with) and I plan to film at HD(720p) - not 1080.

My very basic questions are:

1). Are you aware of a (more of less) recording time for each card? I know that there's a maximum of 20 mins per "take", but I'm referring to a TOTAL time per card.

2). What really happens when card 1 fills? Is the video actually split between the 2 cards and, if this is the case, is it easy to recover it (I mean, to store it as just 1 video on a PC).

3). As I have to film a dance type show (I mean, with normal theatre lighting but with a lot of movement on the stage - i.e. jumps, leaps, and God knows what else!!), would you still advise to recording simply in live view and "auto"? If not, are there any basic rules to what you would recommend?

The only reason that I've posted this here now as I feel sure that there are many of your readers who, like me, would appreciate guidance on this subject.

Keep up the great work on these hints and tips - for me at least, they are already proving very useful.

Regards to all,

Raymond

1 - Almost 300 minutes or 5 hours. Approximately. Understand that the actual time will vary greatly depending on camera settings, SD cards, and other factors. (a 32 GB card actually holds a little over 29 GB, and 720p @ 30fps records at more or less 100 MB per minute.)

2 - When a card is full the camera will stop recording, when you start again it will record to the other disk.

3 - Jeff is spot on with regard to the autofocus. No offense to Nikon but the live-view / video AF is a joke and all but useless except for very rare circumstances. As (almost) any DSLR videographer will tell you: manual focus, manual focus, and then manual focus. Therein is the main drawback (for me anyway) to DSLR videography, but you’ll learn to deal with it. The main rule for beginners is to focus before your shot and then DO NOT move the camera. If you focus, turn AF off, and then move the camera it’s out of focus again; it’s better to have a series of nice stationary shots than jerky movement and distracting focus problems.

On another note:

Jeff stated in Tip # 63 that when in Manual Mode and with Live View on, you can easily adjust the shutter speed and ISO normally, but not the aperture. This is true and is the subject of maddening frustration for Nikon DSLR videographers, it is an obvious problem on Nikon’s part.

You ARE allowed to adjust the aperture for your videos, but you have to:
Turn off live view
Adjust the aperture normally (with the secondary command wheel by default)
Switch live view back on and it’s changed
That’s it. BE AWARE that under some circumstances you will be able to change the aperture in live view mode, at least as displayed on screen and on the top LCD display, but the aperture WILL NOT actually change EVER with Live View on, it’s lying to you.
This is due to mechanical limitations and unfortunately unlikely to change for Nikon cameras.

[gobo fongo]

And with regard to the D5100 questions, I personally feel that the D3200 is not only an incredible camera that has fixed many issues with the 5100 and 7000, upgraded the megapixels and video capabilities, and comes in red, but it is an excellent value at current prices.

Before buying a D5100 I suggest you compare it closely with the 3200. In my opinion the 3200 is an awesome deal and a better buy.

[Raymond_K]

Hi there "Gobo Fongo",

Thank you so much for your reply and clarifying my questions.

With respect to the total recording time on a 32Gb card, you stated that it would be around 300 mins "and 720p @ 30fps records at more or less 100 MB per minute.)" - I'm presuming that if one records at 1080p @ 25fps (as I understand it's when one records in PAL format (we're here in the UK)), then this would be reduced accordingly??

Also, thank you for mentioning the D3200 but, for the "swivel" screen that the D5100 has, my daughter decided on that model as she found that a very desirable option.

Well, you know how women are!!!

Very best wishes and welcome to the forum. Like yourself, I'm loving it!!

Raymond