Some hints and tips on using Nikon D300

The new Nikon D300 is a marvellous camera with a lot of extra functions over the D200. The larger viewing screen for one, is a big plus and is really just a mini LCD screen.

But like all cameras there are many shortcuts and ways to do things that are not always obvious, unless you read and understand the small novel of an instuction book that comes with the camera. What this article is about is showing a few basic shortcuts that will help make life a bit easier.

The first simple one is that just by hitting the the info button (the one with the Key symbol) just below the Menu button, you get a display of all the camera information that is in the top info panel, very easy to see especially if your eyesight is not as good as it was.

You can make all your normal adjustments and they will change as you alter them.

The next thing is a quick way to zoom in on the subject, this is the way to set it up. Push the Menu button, then using the multi-selector button go to the Pencil icon.

Scroll down to “f Controls”

Right click on the multi-selector button which will show, “Multi-Selector Centre Button”.

Right click again and go to Playback Mode” Right click and go to “Zoom on/off

Again right click and you will have 3 options, Low, Medium or High, pick which one suits you best. Medium or High for checking focus, Low to get in close to see facial expressions when doing a portrait, you can still use the plus and minus buttons on the left to move in closer or move out as normal. And you can still use the scroll wheel to flick through all your photographs at the same magnification.

One other thing that could be of great use is that you can set up the back scroll wheel to flip through the photographs instead of using the Multi selector wheel.

This time go to f 7 “Customize Command Dials”

right click and go down to “Menus and Playback”

Click that to “ON”

And one last tip, make sure that the f 9 “No memory card” is set to lock, that way you will not accidentally take photographs without a card in the camera.

Hope these will be of use to you.

Adobe Updates

This is a short blog, but just in case you have not heard, Adobe have just brought out a new update to Camera Raw and Lightroom. The new updates are CR4.4.1 and L/room 1.4.1. There had been problems with a previous update and it had been withdrawn, these updates have fixed the problems. To download, Click Here

Back to Work!!!

Hi,
Well I am just back into work again after a lovely wee break out in Spain. My wife andI have an apartment out on the Costa Blanca, it is an hours drive north of Alicante and it is in the country, we are only 20 to 30 mins from the beaches.

Photographically it is very good with mountains all round us and vineyards (wine can be a bit rustic but drinkable). We took a trip to Alicante for the first time and it is a lovely city, with an old quarter and a lovely beach area.

We have also been up to Valencia, and that is a really beautiful city, we normally drive from our place for about 40 mins and then take the train, about another 50 mins. There are a lot of photographic opportunities all round these areas, this time out I was testing out my new Nikon D300. (read Scott Kelby review) I have found this a fantastic camera and the quality is amazing.


I hope to have some new work up on my "Coe-Artworks" website in the near future. I have also thought about doing some travel/photo workshops out in the area for groups of about 6. People would stay in apartments like mine and we would travel about showing you a bit of Spain that is not too touristy and can be very rural. All levels of photographic ability would be catered for.

There are some great restaurants all round the area, I can still taste the fabulous Paella we had the day before we left. If anyone is interested in a 5/6 day trip out please contact me and I will give more details, cost should be about £550 to £600 incl. all evening meals,transport and accommodation.

I expect these may happen late this year or early next.


Do please email me gerryATgerrycoe.co.uk replace the AT with @