Nikon D3S Review: 11. Menus: Digital Photography Review

Menus (contd.)

The camera's custom settings are split into six alphabetical color coded categories, this makes it easier to remember a specific option and quicker to enter the custom settings menu at the correct position. You can still scroll through all custom settings options as one big menu if you wish. Note that on this menu an asterisk (*) next to a custom setting means that it has been changed to something other than the camera default. A green superscript one (¹) indicates the default setting.

Custom Settings Menu (a: Autofocus)


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
a1 AF-C priority selection	• Release ¹ • Release + focus • Focus	Defines if focus lock is required before shutter can be released.
a2 AF-S priority selection	• Release • Focus ¹
a3 Dynamic AF area	• 9 points ¹ • 21 points • 51 points • 51 points (3D-tracking)
a4 Focus tracking with lock-on	• Long • Normal ¹ • Short • Off	Controls how focusing is affected by subject distance changing and how quickly the system should react.
a5 AF activation	• Shutter / AF-ON ¹ • AF-ON Only
a6 Focus point illumination	• Manual focus mode On ¹ Off • Continuous mode On ¹ Off • Focus point illlumination * +2 Extra High +1 High 0 Normal ¹ -1 Low
a7 Focus point wrap-around	• Wrap • No wrap ¹
a8 AF point selection	• 51 points ¹ • 11 points
a9 AF-ON button	• AF-ON ¹ • AE/AF-L lock • AE lock only • AE lock (reset on rel.) • AE lock (hold) • AF lock only	Customize the function of the AF-ON button.
a10 Vertical AF-ON button	• Same as AF-ON • AF-ON ¹ • AE/AF-L lock • AE lock only • AE lock (reset on rel.) • AE lock (hold) • AF lock only	Customize the function of the AF-ON button on the vertical grip.

Custom Settings Menu (b: Metering / exposure)


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
b1 ISO sensitivity step value	• 1/3 step ¹ • 1/2 step • 1 step	Set the steps used for selection of ISO sensitivity.
b2 EV steps for exposure ctl.	• 1/3 step ¹ • 1/2 step • 1 step
b3 EV steps for exposure compensation	• 1/3 step ¹ • 1/2 step • 1 step
b4 Easy exposure compens.	• On (Auto reset) • On • Off ¹	Enables 'Easy Exposure Compensation' which can be accessed by turning the rear control dial.
b5 Center weight area	• 8 mm • 12 mm ¹ • 15 mm • 20 mm • Average
b6 Fine tune optimal exposure	• Yes Matrix metering Center-weighted Spot metering • No ¹	Allows you to fine tune (bias) metered exposure values in the range of -1.0 EV to +1.0 EV in 1/6 EV steps.

Custom Settings Menu (c: Timers / AE Lock)


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
c1 Shutter-release butt. AE-L	• On • Off ¹	Define lock AE during shutter release half-press.
c2 Auto meter-off delay	• 4 s • 6 s ¹ • 8 s • 16 s • 30 s • 1 min • 5 min • 10 min • 30 min • No Limit
c3 Self-timer delay	• 2 s • 5 s • 10 s ¹ • 20 s
c4 Monitor off delay	• 10 s • 20 s ¹ • 1 m • 5 m • 10 m

Custom Settings Menu (d: Shooting / display)


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
d1 Beep	• High • Low • Off ¹
d2 Shooting speed	• Continuous high-speed 11 fps 10 fps 9 fps ¹ • Continuous low-speed 9 fps 8 fps 7 fps 6 fps 5 fps ¹ 4 fps 3 fps 2 fps 1 fps	Define shooting speed for the two continuous drive modes.
d3 Max continuous release	• 1 - 130	Maximum shots in a burst.
d4 File Number Sequence	• On ¹ • Off • Reset
d5 Control panel/viewfinder	• Rear control panel ISO sensitivity ¹ Exposures remaining • Viewfinder display Frame count ¹ Exposures remaining
d6 Information display	• Auto ¹ • Manual Dark on light Light on dark	Defines if shooting info display should automatically change color in dark
d7 Screen tips	• On ¹ • Off	Displays explanatory text alongside some menu options
d7 LCD illumination	• On • Off ¹	When on any button will light the control panel.
d8 Exposure delay mode	• On • Off ¹	Shutter release is delayed 1.0 sec to avoid vibration.

Custom Settings Menu (e: Bracketing / flash)


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
e1 Flash sync speed	• 1/320 (Auto FP) • 1/250 (Auto FP) • 1/250 ¹ • 1/200 • 1/160 • 1/125 • 1/100 • 1/80 • 1/60
e2 Flash shutter speed	• 1/60 s ¹ • 1/30 s • 1/15 s • 1/8 s • 1/4 s • 1/2 s • 1 s • 2 s • 4 s • 8 s • 15 s • 30 s	Slowest flash shutter speed.
e3 Modeling flash	• On ¹ • Off	DOF preview button.
e4 Auto bracketing set	• AE & Flash ¹ • AE only • Flash only • WB bracketing
e5 Auto bracketing (Mode M)	• Flash / Speed ¹ • Flash / Speed / Apt. • Flash / Aperture • Flash Only
e6 Bracketing order	• Meter > Under > Over ¹ • Under > Meter > Over

Custom Settings Menu (f: Controls)


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
f1 Multi selector center button	• Shooting mode Select cent. focus pt ¹ Not Used • Playback mode Thumbnail On/Off ¹ Histogram On/Off Zoom On/Off	Multi selector center button function.
f2 Multi selector	• Reset meter-off delay • Do nothing ¹
f3 Photo info / playback	• Info <>, PB ^v • Info ^v, PB <> ¹	Multi selector role in single image playback.
f4 Assign FUNC button	• FUNC button press Preview FV Lock AE/AF lock AE lock only AE lock (reset on rel.) AE lock (hold) AF lock only Flash off Bracketing burst Matrix metering Center-weighted mtr. Spot metering Virtual horizon Playback Top item in MY MENU None ¹ • FUNC button + dials Choose image area ¹ 1 step spd / aperture Choose non-CPU lens Focus point-selection Shooting menu bank Dynamic AF area None	Define the function of the FUNC button (front of the camera below the DOF preview button), both a single press and a hold with dial turn.
f5 Assign preview button	• Preview button press Preview ¹ FV Lock AE/AF lock AE lock only AE lock (reset on rel.) AE lock (hold) AF lock only Flash off Bracketing burst Matrix metering Center-weighted mtr. Spot metering Virtual horizon Playback Top item in MY MENU None • Preview button + dials Choose image area 1 step spd / aperture Choose non-CPU lens Shooting menu bank Dynamic AF area None ¹	Define the function of the preview button (front of the camera above the FUNC button), both a single press and a hold with dial turn.
f6 Assign AE-L/AF-L button	• AE-L/AF-L button press Preview FV Lock AE/AF lock ¹ AE lock only AE lock (reset on rel.) AE lock (hold) AF lock only AF-ON Flash off Bracketing burst Matrix metering Center-weighted mtr. Spot metering Virtual horizon Playback Top item in MY MENU None • AE-L/AF-L button + dials Choose image area Choose non-CPU lens Shooting menu bank Dynamic AF area None ¹
f7 Assign BKT button	• Auto Bracketing ¹ • Multiple Exposure
f8 Customize command dials	• Reverse rotation Yes No ¹ • Change main / sub On Off ¹ • Aperture setting Sub-command dial ¹ Aperture ring • Menus and Playback On Off ¹
f9 Release button to use dial	• Yes • No ¹
f10 No memory card?	• Release locked ¹ • Enable release
f11 Reverse indicators	• + ---- 0 ---- - ¹ • - ---- 0 ---- +

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