Adjusting Image Area Settings

Image area settings can be displayed by selecting [Image area] in the photo shooting menu.

Choose Image Area

Choose the image area. The following options are available:

Option

Description

c

[FX (36×24)]

Images are recorded in FX format with an angle of view equivalent to a NIKKOR lens on a 35 mm format camera.

a

[DX (24×16)]

Images are recorded in DX format. To calculate the approximate focal length of the lens in 35 mm format, multiply by 1.5.

m

[1:1 (24×24)]

Pictures are recorded with an aspect ratio of 1 : 1.

Z

[16:9 (36×20)]

Pictures are recorded with an aspect ratio of 16 : 9.

1

FX (36×24)

2

DX (24×16)

3

1 : 1 (24×24)

4

16 : 9 (36×20)

5

DX format (24×16) image circle

6

FX format (36×24) image circle

DX Lenses

DX lenses are designed for use with DX format cameras and have a smaller angle of view than lenses for 35 mm format cameras. If [Auto DX crop] is off and an option other than [DX (24 × 16)] (DX format) is selected for [Choose image area] when a DX lens is attached, the edges of the image may be eclipsed. This may not be apparent in the viewfinder, but when the images are played back you may notice a drop in resolution or that the edges of the picture are blacked out.

Choosing the Image Area via Buttons and Command Dials

If [Choose image area] has been assigned to a button using Custom Setting f3 [Custom controls], the image area can be selected by pressing the button and rotating a command dial.

  • The selected crop is displayed in the viewfinder (Choose Image Area).

  • The option currently selected for image area can be displayed in the control panel and viewfinder by pressing the button to which [Choose image area] is assigned.

Image area

Display

[FX (36×24)]

[DX (24×16)]

[1 : 1 (24×24)]

[16 : 9 (36×20)]

  • Camera controls cannot be used to select image area when a DX lens is attached and [Auto DX crop] is on.

Image Size

Image size varies with the option selected for image area.

[Auto DX Crop]

Choose whether the camera automatically selects the [DX (24×16)] (DX format) image area when a DX lens is attached.

Option

Description

[On]

The camera automatically selects the [DX (24×16)] (DX format) image area when a DX lens is attached.

[Off]

Automatic image-area selection disabled.

The Viewfinder Mask Display

If [On] is selected, the area outside crop ([FX (36×24)] excepted) will be shown in gray in the viewfinder.

Adjusting Image Quality

Choose the image quality option used when photographs are recorded.

Option

Description

[NEF (RAW) + JPEG finem]

Record two copies of each photo: an NEF (RAW) image and a JPEG copy.

  • For the JPEG copy, you can choose from options prioritizing image quality or file size. Options with a star (“m”) prioritize image quality, those without a star (“m”) file size.

  • Only the JPEG copy is displayed during playback. The NEF (RAW) image can only be viewed using a computer.

  • Deleting the JPEG copy from the camera also deletes the NEF (RAW) image.

[NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine]

[NEF (RAW) + JPEG normalm]

[NEF (RAW) + JPEG normal]

[NEF (RAW) + JPEG basicm]

[NEF (RAW) + JPEG basic]

[NEF (RAW)]

Record photos in NEF (RAW) format.

[JPEG finem]

Record photos in JPEG format. ”Fine” produces higher quality pictures than ”normal” and ”normal” higher quality pictures than “basic”.

  • Choose options with m to maximize quality, options without m to ensure that all images have more or less the same file size.

[JPEG fine]

[JPEG normalm]

[JPEG normal]

[JPEG basicm]

[JPEG basic]

NEF (RAW)
  • NEF (RAW) files have the extension “*.nef”.

  • The process of converting NEF (RAW) pictures to other highly-portable formats such as JPEG is referred to as “NEF (RAW) processing”. During this process, Picture Controls and settings such as exposure compensation and white balance can be freely adjusted.

  • The RAW data themselves are unaffected by NEF (RAW) processing and their quality will remain intact even if the pictures are processed multiple times at different settings.

  • NEF (RAW) processing can be performed in-camera using the [NEF (RAW) processing] item in the retouch menu or on a computer using Nikon’s NX Studio software. NX Studio is available free-of-charge from the Nikon Download Center.

Choosing an Image Quality Option

During viewfinder photography, you can choose an image quality option by holding the X (T) button and rotating the main command dial.

The Photo Shooting Menu [Image Quality] Option

Image quality can also be adjusted using the [Image quality] item in the photo shooting menu. Use the [Image quality] item in the photo shooting menu to adjust image quality during live view.

Recording Pictures to Two Memory Cards

If [RAW Slot 1 - JPEG Slot 2] is selected for [Role played by card in Slot 2] when photographs are taken at image quality settings of NEF (RAW) + JPEG, the NEF (RAW) copy will be saved to the card in Slot 1 and the JPEG copy to the card in Slot 2.

Choosing an Image Size

Choose a size for new JPEG pictures. The size for JPEG pictures can be selected from [Large], [Medium], and [Small]. The number of pixels in the image varies with the option selected for image area ( Adjusting Image Area Settings ).

Image area

Option

Size (pixels)

Print size (cm/in.) *

[FX (36×24)] (FX format)

Large

6048 × 4024

51.2 × 34.1/20.2 × 13.4

Medium

4528 × 3016

38.3 × 25.5/15.1 × 10.1

Small

3024 × 2016

25.6 × 17.1/10.1 × 6.7

[DX (24×16)] (DX format)

Large

3936 × 2624

33.3 × 22.2/13.1 × 8.7

Medium

2944 × 1968

24.9 × 16.7/9.8 × 6.6

Small

1968 × 1312

16.7 × 11.1/6.6 × 4.4

[1 : 1 (24×24)]

Large

4016 × 4016

34.0 × 34.0/13.4 × 13.4

Medium

3008 × 3008

25.5 × 25.5/10.0 × 10.0

Small

2000 × 2000

16.9 × 16.9/6.7 × 6.7

[16 : 9 (36×20)]

Large

6048 × 3400

51.2 × 28.8/20.2 × 11.3

Medium

4528 × 2544

38.3 × 21.5/15.1 × 8.5

Small

3024 × 1696

25.6 × 14.4/10.1 × 5.7

  • Approximate size when printed at 300 dpi. Print size in inches equals image size in pixels divided by printer resolution in dots per inch (dpi; 1 inch = approximately 2.54 cm).

Choosing an Image Size

During viewfinder photography, you can choose the image size by holding the X (T) button and rotating the sub-command dial.

The Photo Shooting Menu [Image Size] Option

Image size for JPEG images can also be adjusted using the [Image size] item in the photo shooting menu. Use the [Image size] item in the photo shooting menu to adjust image size during live view.