I was lucky enough to be given a Nikon D850 camera as a present. (Yep – I really was a good boy that year). For those unfamiliar with the Nikon range the D850 is a FX DSLR with a 46Mpixel 35mm BSI sensor. As a purely amateur photographer, this camera blew my mind.
However, this page is not about the technical aspects of the camera, it is about the tips I have acquired from using the beast for a couple of years, attempting to get the best out it. Some tips relate specifically to the D850, some to the Nikon family of cameras, some to the lenses and equipment I have, and some are general tips and hints.
Exposure Mode
In common with most mid to high end DSLRs the D850 has four selectable exposure modes
- P – Program mode
- A – Aperture Priority mode
- S – Shutter Priority mode
- M – Manual
And the four modes do what you might expect:
Program mode
The camera will select the ‘correct’ combination of aperture & shutter speed for the exposure (lighting conditions) and type of picture being taken (landscape, portrait, action shot etc.). How does the D850 decide what type of image you are trying to capture? Well the D850 has a database of over 30,000 images against which it will compare the data from its 180,000 exposure sensors, together with the Exposure Metering mode selected (see later) to try to determine the sort of image you are trying to capture and the best Aperture and Shutter Speed for the image.
On the whole, for ‘Click and Snap’ it does a pretty good job. It does recognize faces, sky, landscapes, and will select a reasonable combination to ensure the exposure area you have selected is evenly exposed. (However only one of the the four Exposure Modes will ensure nothing is over exposed.)
Now whilst the D850 can calculate can get the right balance of Aperture and Shutter for the Exposure, it cannot know whether you need a fast shutter speed, or you want a really narrow ‘depth of field’, or if you want the aperture that gives the sharpest image with the lens you are using. To help with this Nikon introduced the Flexible Program Mode.
When in Program mode if you spin the Main Dial (Main Dial is to the rear of the camera. The dial on the face is known as the Sub Dial) to the left you will dial in a smaller aperture / increased shutter speed. Spin the Main Dial to the right and you will open up the aperture and reduce the shutter speed, but all the while maintaining the EV (exposure) that the D850 has calculated you need. An * will also appear next to the P on the LCD display to denote that you have adjusted the Aperture and Shutter Speed.
You can also set the Sub Dial to adjust the EV level (Custom menu B4 – Easy Exposure Compensation) . Spin the Sub-Dial to the left to reduce the exposure (i.e. reduce aperture / increase shutter speed). Spin to the right to increase exposure.
Aperture Priority mode – A
In Aperture priority mode the Sub-Dial allows you to dial in the f-stop that you desire, and the D850 will adjust the Shutter Speed to maintain the required EV level. If you have B4 – Easy Exposure Compensation switched On, then the Main Dial allows you to raise or lower the amount of exposure by increasing / decreasing the shutter speed.
Shutter Priority Mode – S
In Shutter Priority mode the Main Dial allows you to dial in the Shutter speed that you require, and the Aperture will be adjusted to maintain the EV level required. If you have B4 – Easy Exposure Compensation switched On, then the Sub Dial allows you to raise or lower the amount of exposure by raising/lowering the f-stop
Manual Mode – M
In Manual Mode you are in complete control of both the Aperture and Shutter speed. The D850 will still indicate the ‘correct’ exposure and whether the Aperture and Shutter speed selected are over or under exposing (by its calculation) but you are free to select whatever values you desire. The Main Dial will adjust the Shutter Speed and the Sub Dial the Aperture.
P*, A or S mode
There is an apparent conflict here between P* mode and the A & S modes. If in P* mode you can use the Main Dial to select an Aperture : Shutter Speed combination that you desire, what is the benefit of A or S mode. The difference is that in A mode you are selecting the Aperture that you want, and the Aperture will stay fixed regardless of lighting conditions, focal length selected or EV compensation. Similarly with S mode, where you select the desired Shutter Speed and any changes to lighting, focal length or EV compensation will result only in changes to the Aperture. In P* mode however changes in lighting, focal length, etc will result in both Aperture and Shutter Speed changing.
Metering Modes
The D850 provide four metering modes:
- Matrix
- Centre-weighted
- Spot
- Highlight Weighted
Matrix
Produces natural results in most situations. Camera meters a wide area of the frame and sets exposure according to tone distribution, color, composition. With type G, E, or D lenses distance information is also utilized, and Nikon refers to this as 3D Color Matrix Metering III. With other CPU lenses that do not provide distance information, but do supply focal length and/or maximum aperture values, the camera uses Color Matrix Metering III. In both these modes the camera utilizes its database of 30,000 images to compare against to make an educated guess at the correct exposure. If you have a non CPU lens and have not set the focal length/max aperture values in the Setup menu, then the camera will default to Center Weight metering (see below)
For landscapes and image wide scenes Matrix metering is the best choice. Matrix will also perform face detection and will adjusts the exposure level to maximize facial details.
Centre Weighted
Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area (if CPU lens is attached, size of area can be selected using Custom Setting b6, Center-weighted area, if non-CPU or AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5E ED lens is attached, a 12 mm diameter circle is used). Classic setting for portraits; recommended when using filters with an exposure factor (filter factor) over 1×.
Spot
Camera meters circle 4 mm (0.16 in.) in diameter (approximately 1.5% of frame). Circle is centered on current focus point, making it possible to meter off-center subjects (if non-CPU or AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5E ED lens is used or if auto-area AF is in effect, camera will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker. Again good for portraits, especially where against a bright or dark background.
Highlight Weighted
Camera assigns greatest weight to highlights to ensure no area is over-exposed. Use to reduce loss of detail in highlights, for example when photographing spot lit performers on-stage.
Nailing the Exposure
With Spot and to a lesser extent Centre weight metering it is worth noting that the metering system does assume you are focused on a subject reflecting approx 12% – 18% light. This is a mid-toned gray. Grass, and the palm of your hand reflect at this level. If you focus on a bright white subject then you are likely to get an underexposed image (not too bad). If you focus on a dark subject, then you definitely risk getting over-exposure. And, without being racist, this is something to be aware of if taking portraits of people with Afro/Caribbean skin coloring.
In addition to the various metering methods, the D850 provides a number of mechanism to add/subtract exposure. The exposure button top right allows you to dial in additional/less exposure as a baseline. i.e. using this mechanism the D850 will add/subtract the exposure you have requested to its calculated value.
Alternatively, indeed additionally, you can add/subtract exposure using the main dial, in P or A modes, or sub-main dial in S mode. In this case the D850 will adjust the exposure as requested but will indicate in viewfinder the amount of exposure added/subtracted. Obviously in M mode the exposure is determined purely by the Aperture and Shutter speeds you have selected, but the D850 will still indicate your exposure against its calculated exposure.
Focus.
The D850 utilises two different mechanisms to determine whether a subject is in focus:
- Phase Detection
- Contrast Detection
Phase Detection
Phase Detection is used when viewing the image through the view-finder. A certain amount of light from the focal point area is split into two and the subject is in focus when the two images align. Phase detection is noticeably faster than Contrast Detection and should not result in ‘hunting’ as the camera knows whether the subject is behind or in front of the focal plane.
Contrast Detection
Contrast Detection is used when shooting in Live View mode. It is slower than Phase Detection and can cause a certain amount of ‘hunting’. The camera basically adjusts the focus until the contrast of the subject is at its maximum (i.e. edges are at their sharpest.) which will involve the camera moving beyond the point of maximum contrast to realize that the contrast has decreased. This can result in a certain amount of hunting. Whilst usually Contrast Detection is slower than Phase Detection it is generally more accurate.
Focus modes
The D850 provides three focus modes:
- Manual
- Single
- Continuous
Manual mode is selected by setting the focus switch on the front left of the camera next to the lens to M. If the lens is equiped with a M/A M switch, then this should also be set to M.
The other two modes are selected by pressing the button in the middle of the Focus Selector switch and then using the Main Dial to select:
- AF-S – Single
- AF-C – Continuous
Manual Focus mode
Manual focus mode does what is says on the tin. It is your job to set the focus. The D850 will still provide assistance in setting the correct focus by indicating when the subject in the focus area is in focus. Depress the shutter release button half way, and in the viewfinder the Focus indicator circle will appear solid when the subject is in focus. The arrows either side will indicate whether the subject is in front of, or behind the focal plane. Note: There is no equivalent indicator in Live View mode.
AF-S Single Mode
In Single mode, depress the shutter release button half-way and the D850 will focus on the subject in the Focus Area once, and will lock the focus, so if either the subject or you move the focus will not change. AF-S is therefore best for stationary subjects, such as landscapes or portraits of people.
With AF-S selected you have three options as to the Focus Area
- S – Single Point
- Grp – Group
- Auto
Single point will display a single box that you can move using the cursor button on the rear of the D850.
GRP will display a Group of points, which again you can move around using the cursor button. In this case the D850 will choose the focus that brings most of the subjects in the group area into focus.
Auto – It is out of your hands. The D850 will analyze the image and decide what are the subjects of interest and set the focus on them. The D850 is very good at facial detection and will give priority to people in the scene. However it is worth noting that priority is given to objects nearer the front than the rear.
AF-C Continuous
In continuous mode the D850 will, when the shutter release button is depressed halfway, focus on the subject in the Focus Box, but will then track that subject should it or you move. Note: This mode will use more power than AF-S mode, but if your subjects are not stationary, then AF-C is the way to go.
The area of search that the D850 uses when having to refocus is up to you. You have eight different selection modes to choose from
- S – Single
- 9-Point Dynamic
- 25-Point Dynamic
- 72-Point Dynamic
- 153-Point Dynamic
- 3D
- Group
- Auto
S – Single
A single focus box is displayed in the view finder/rear screen. The box can be moved using the joystick or the multi-selector dial. This method is good for selecting a specific, stationary target, especially for portraits.
9/25/72/153-Point Dynamic
With all of these modes, you select the initial target, and the D850 will focus on the selected target. However if you or the target moves, the D850 will examine the surrounding 9, 25, 72 or 153 focus points to re-evaluate the focus.
9-Point – Use when you are expecting the subject to remain reasonably stationary.
25-Point – Use when you are expecting the subject to move slowly and predictably. Say a rowing boat or river punt.
72-Point – Use on large subjects that move erratically. Be aware though that the D850 is inspecting a large area in order to refocus, and if the subject is not the primary object in the scene, the camera my focus on the background.
153-Point – Use on large fast moving objects. As with 72-Point Dynamic, if your subject is not the principle object in the view, the D850 may well focus on the background or another object.
3D
As with 153-Point dynamic you select the initial focus subject, but should you or the subject move the D850 will use distance information to plot the movement of the subject and keep it in focus. Custom settings allow you to turn on/off facial recognition and to decide on the width of the tracking search. Nikon recommends this setting for subjects that move erratically – like a child at play, or player in a team sports game.
Group – GRP
GRP will display a Group of points in a Cross shape, which again you can move around using the cursor button. In this case the D850 will choose the focus that brings most of the subjects in the group area into focus. Faces that are detected (if you have switched on Face Detection) will take priority.
Some professional photographers recommend this setting for taking pictures of birds in flight, as you can focus on an area where you anticipate the bird will appear and if you have the correct general area the D850 will focus on the bird when it appears.
Auto
It is out of your hands. The D850 will analyze the image and decide what are the subjects of interest and set the focus on them. The D850 is very good at facial detection and will give priority to people in the scene. However it is worth noting that priority is given to objects nearer the front than the rear. Nikon recommend this setting for capturing birds in flight, though note the comment above about GRP setting.