Nikon D3 In-depth Review: Digital Photography Review

Menus

	The D3's menu system of the same design as the D300, an evolution of a newer cleaner design first seen on the D200. Because of the larger and higher resolution LCD on the D3 (and D300) Nikon has chosen to use a slightly smaller font size which allows each menu page to show eight options (the same as the D2X). Navigation remains the same, the multi-way controller and Enter button. You can also configure the command dials to provide menu navigation.

The D3's menu system of the same design as the D300, an evolution of a newer cleaner design first seen on the D200. Because of the larger and higher resolution LCD on the D3 (and D300) Nikon has chosen to use a slightly smaller font size which allows each menu page to show eight options (the same as the D2X). Navigation remains the same, the multi-way controller and Enter button. You can also configure the command dials to provide menu navigation.

Shooting / CSM menu banks

When working in the Shooting or CSM menus you are in actual fact changing the settings of a 'menu bank'. There are four banks for each of the Shooting and Custom function menus; A to D, each bank can be given a more meaningful label and the currently selected bank letter is indicated on the top control panel for quick reference. This is very useful for quickly switching between a type of shot or situation.

Help pages

The D3 has the same help feature we first saw on the D2X, a setting with available help is indicated by a circular question mark icon (?) at the bottom left of the screen. Press and hold the protect button to display a context sensitive help page.

Playback menu


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Delete	• Selected • All	- Thumbnail selection
Playback folder	• NC_D3 • All • Current
Hide image	• Select / set • Deselect all?	- Thumbnail selection
Display mode *	• Basic photo info Focus point • Detailed photo info Highlights RGB Histogram Data	Allows you to toggle different items of information shown in either basic or detailed photo display modes.
Copy image(s)	• Select image(s) 100NC_D3 Deselect all Select all images Select protected images • Select destination folder Select folder by number Select folder from list • Copy image(s)? Yes No
Image review	• Off • On
After delete	• Show next • Show previous • Continue as before
Rotate tall	• On • Off	When enabled portrait shots appear vertically orientated.
Slide show	• Start • Frame interval 2 sec 3 sec 5 sec 10 sec • Audio playback On Frame interval Length of voice memo Off
Print set (DPOF)	• Select / set • Deselect all?	- Thumbnail selection

Shooting menu

A green superscript one (¹) indicates the default setting.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes / Sub options
Shooting menu bank	• A ¹ • B • C • D • Rename Text entry	Four banks of settings can be memorized and quickly switched, each bank can be labeled (see above).
Reset shooting menu	• Yes • No
Active folder	• New folder number • Select folder	- Create new folder.
File naming	• File naming Text entry	Change name prefix (default DSC).
Slot 2	• Overflow ¹ • Backup • RAW Slot 1 - JPEG Slot 2
Image quality	• NEF (RAW) + JPEG Fine • NEF (RAW) + JPEG Normal • NEF (RAW) + JPEG Basic • NEF (RAW) • TIFF (RGB) • JPEG Fine • JPEG Normal ¹ • JPEG Basic	Select image quality.
Image size	• Large ¹ • Medium • Small	- 4256 x 2832 / 12.1 M - 3184 x 2120 / 6.8 M - 2128 x 1416 / 3.0 M
Image area	• Auto DX crop On ¹ Off • Choose image area FX format (36x24) ¹ DX format (24x16) 5:4 (30x24)
JPEG compression	• Size priority ¹ • Optimal quality
NEF (RAW) recording	• Type Lossless compressed ¹ Compressed Uncompressed • NEF (RAW) bit depth 12-bit ¹ 14-bit	Set the type of compression used in the NEF file as well as the bit-depth recorded. Note that 14-bit NEF files are about 1.3 times larger than 12-bit NEF.
White balance	• Auto ¹ • Incandescent • Fluorescent • Direct Sunlight • Flash • Cloudy • Shade • Choose color temp. • Preset manual	- A-B, G-M grid to fine tune WB - " - " - " - " - " - " - 2500 K - 10000 K - Select / program preset WB
Set Picture Control	• Standard Quick adjust (-2 to +2) Sharpening (A, 0 to 9) Contrast (A, -3 to +3) Brightness (-1 to +1) Saturation (A, -3 to +3) Hue (-3 to +3) • Neutral Quick adjust (-2 to +2) Sharpening (A, 0 to 9) Contrast (A, -3 to +3) Brightness (-1 to +1) Saturation (A, -3 to +3) Hue (-3 to +3) • Vivid Quick adjust (-2 to +2) Sharpening (A, 0 to 9) Contrast (A, -3 to +3) Brightness (-1 to +1) Saturation (A, -3 to +3) Hue (-3 to +3) • Monochrome Sharpening (A, 0 to 9) Contrast (A, -3 to +3) Brightness (-1 to +1) Filter (Off, Y, O, R, G) Toning (10 options) • [custom]	- Default (3, 0, 0, 0, 0) - Default (2, 0, 0, 0, 0) - Default (4, 0, 0, 0, 0) - Default (3, 0, 0, 0, 0)
Manage Picture Control	• Save/edit • Rename • Delete • Load/save	- Create custom Picture Control sets - Load / save from card
Color Space	• sRGB ¹ • Adobe RGB
Active D-Lighting	• High • Normal • Low • Off ¹
Vignette Control *	• High • Normal¹ • Low • Off	New feature applies in-camera masking to reduce corner shading (also tags NEF files for CaptureNX's new vignette correction controls)

Long exp. NR	• On • Off ¹	Enables dark frame subtraction NR for exposures of 1/2 sec or longer.
High ISO NR	• High • Normal • Low • Off ¹
ISO sensitivity settings	• ISO LO 1 LO 0.7 LO 0.3 200 ¹ 250 320 400 500 640 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3200 4000 5000 6400 HI 0.3 HI 0.7 HI 1 HI 2 • ISO sensitivity auto control On / Off ¹ Maximum sensitivity 400 800 1600 3200 6400 ¹ HI 1 HI 2 Minimum shutter speed * 1/4000 - 1 sec	Available sensitivities depend on ISO step custom setting (CSM b2). Full range: LO 1 = ISO 100 to HI 2 = ISO 25600.
Live view	• Live view mode Hand-held Tripod • Release mode Single frame Continuous low-speed Continuous high-speed	- Phase detect AF - Contrast detect AF
Multiple exposure	• Done • Number of shots 2 - 10 • Auto gain On Off	Create a new image from between two and ten exposures.
Interval timer shooting	• Start Now Start time • Interval [hh:mm:ss] • Select Intvl*Shots [000] x [0] = 0001 • Start Off On	Time lapse / interval shooting.

* Changed or added in Firmware v1.1 April 2008