D700 surprised me.

<p>As primarily a landscape photographer for over 30 years I rarely delve into the dozens of features and custom banks that Nikon DSLRs provide us. I shoot one frame at a time and basically rely on experience to 'get it right'. I usually only adjust the exposure compensation, again from experience with in-camera meters, when not shooting manually with my trusty Sekonic. <br /> Last week I was shooting various harbours and fishing fleets in maritime Canada and was surprised to find later that many of my day's shots were underexposed by up to 2 + stops! It took me a few minutes to realize that the exposure compensation was synched to the shutter adjustment dial and each time I adjusted the shutter speed the body was also dialing in exposure compensation. I purchased this body without a manual so was not able to research whether this was a selectable function or something that needs repair. I immediately reset the body to Nikon defaults but haven't used it since.<br /> Anyone have experience with this 'function'? Now that I think of it, I somehow managed to activate the Live View three or four times, too, at unwanted moments. Even after I tried to neutralize the front function button it still activated the LV. I have no previous experience with this body as I just purchased it for the trip. When I bought it I did adjust many of the functions and settings to correspond with those on my other body but didn't set it back to default before doing it.<br>

I should mention that the body is a used one.</p>

 

<p>I strongly urge you to purchase a manual, either thru Nikon or online. These beasts have so many nuances that you reqally need to peruse the manual, at least once..it will be worth the price. I tried the same trick with a D300 after owning a D100, thinking, well, how much more can there be..I sort of know it all. SURPRISE...it was definitely worth the read.</p>

<p>If you set exposure compensation to +2, it will expose the frame two stops more than the in-camera meter would have. So if you're working in 'S' mode, have it set to 1/100 and the scene meters at f/8, the exposure will be taken at f/4.</p>

<p>You can download the manual at:</p>

<p>http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/15979/~/user%27s-manual---d700---guide-to-digital-photography</p>

<p>Some settings interact with each other. Starting with a reset is my preferred way of setting up. Ken Rockwell has a D700 guide, and Thom Hogan also.</p>

 

<p>If you bought used, it is possible that the previous owner did set up some custom buttons. </p>

<p>I can honestly say though that my D700 has never altered exposure comp unless I was holding the +/- button as I am dialing the front wheel. Without the button pushed, it changes aperture or shutter speed depending on mode. </p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

<p>Gup, check Custom Setting b4 on your D700. It sounds like your <em>Easy Exposure Compensation</em> is switched on. Change your b4 setting to off; that should fix your problem.</p>

<p>If you took .NEF (RAW) images on your trip, and have a program (Nikon Capture NX2) to make adjustments -- you should be able to get your images back to what you want in the exposure department.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

 

<p>Thanks everyone. Shun, that is the answer I was looking for. The thing is I put the body back to default settings already so I probably will never know if that b4 setting was the culprit or not. But, now I know there IS a b4 setting I will assume the camera ain't broke and give it another try today. The previous owner knew absolutely nothing about the camera, hadn't even learned how to upload his shots to a computer and had only shot 1,100 frames with it, so I didn't think he had ever changed any menu settings. Now, I really can't remember if I was on A mode or S mode when this was happening so I am assumming there probably is also a custom setting for the other mode as well.<br>

Stephen I couldn't agree more. I carry all my manuals with me wherever I go. I still read the D2x manual at least once a year and haven't used even half the features in 7 years of use. Unfortunately, Nikon Canada won't sell me a manual so I'm looking for one.<br>

Dave that has always been my experience, too. So, imagine you are just adjusting shutter speed or aperture as you have always done and then discover later that each time you dialed a change the exposure compensation went up or down with it automatically. Believe me, it can ruin your day!</p>

 

<p>Gup, since perhaps the D2/D200 generation and certainly the D3/D300 generation of DSLRs, Nikon has been providing a lot of custom settings. Since the D700 is new to you, I highly recommend going through all custom settings and at least find out what is available. I, for one, certainly don't remember all the settings. The D700 manual is readily available as a PDF for download. A paper copy is not necessary.</p>

<p>The Easy Exposure Compensation feature has been around for a while. Since you only need one command dial to control the exposure in the A, S, and P modes, Nikon is providing the option to use the "unused" dial for quick exposure compensation. I used that for a short while but decided that it was too confusing for me and went back to the traditional +- button for exposure compensation.</p>

<p>The viewfinder displays exposure compensation, so there's no reason for anyone to be surprised when the results aren't what they've expected.</p>

<p>Danny W.</p>

<p>Only if they KNOW what the symbol in the viewfinder is trying to tell them.</p>

<p>...and of course menu<strong><em> b6</em></strong> exposure compensations <em><strong>DON'T</strong></em> show in the viewfinder....:-)</p>

<blockquote>

<p>>>>>...and of course menu<strong><em> b6</em></strong> exposure compensations <em><strong>DON'T</strong></em> show in the viewfinder....:-)<<<</p>

<p>Since the problem appears to be menu <strong>b4</strong>, not sure how this is relevant. In any case, <strong>b6</strong> is used for calibrating the metering, so once it's set it becomes the baseline exposure that compensation is added to or subtracted from--it doesn't show up in the finder for a good reason<br>

One can also use the b4 Auto reset option to turn off the selected compensation when the meter or the camera turns off, which makes it less likely to have an accidental compensation stay selected throughout the shooting day.<br>

Danny W.</p>

</blockquote>

<p><em>....The viewfinder displays exposure compensation, so there's no reason for anyone to be surprised when the results aren't what they've expected.....</em><br>

<br>

Danny W, the OP has done a complete system reset and has no idea what the original settings were. b4 does indeed have that function but he doesn't know ANYTHING for sure !!... and hasn't used it since...!<br>

<br>

b6, if it's<strong> wrongly</strong> set to plus 2 stops, will off-set <em><strong>all</strong></em> exposures..... but doesn't show in the viewfinder. Wouldn't that just be the same as an incorrect baseline? Because that's what it is, an incorrect baseline.</p>

<p>>>>>Danny W, the OP has done a complete system reset and has no idea what the original settings were. b4 does indeed have that function but he doesn't know ANYTHING for sure !!... and hasn't used it since...!<<<<<br>

That's why it's important to learn how a camera works before using it. I have no sympathy for someone who doesn't. I'm also astonished that anyone would shoot a digital camera without checking the results pretty often, especially if they are shooting one frame at a time. When I do landscapes I check the histograms after every shot.<br>

<br /> <br /> >>>b6, if it's<strong> wrongly</strong> set to plus 2 stops, will off-set <em><strong>all</strong></em> exposures..... but doesn't show in the viewfinder. Wouldn't that just be the same as an incorrect baseline? Because that's what it is, an incorrect baseline.<<<</p>

<p>There is a big difference between exposure compensation and CS b6. With either regular or quick exposure compensation, the meter setting can be changed by using the normal operational controls of the camera, as the OP found out to his regret. CS b6 adjusts the meter setting only by selecting a menu item and making the changes there. It also warns you that the change will not be displayed. Unlike exposure compensation it's impossible to do this accidentally, so a constant reminder in the finder is not only unnecessary, but actually counterproductive, since it soon becomes ignored.</p>

<p>Danny W.</p>

 

<p>+1 Danny, you gotta read the menu on something so complicated!</p>

<p>I only wondered about b6 because the OP is very new to the camera (& hasn't got a manual) and it could have been set by the original owner who I guess had <em>probably</em> set b4 on the function button<em>. </em>Not sure if the OP could <em>accidentally</em> set b4 otherwise.</p>

<p><em>When I bought it I did adjust many of the functions and settings to correspond with those on my other body...</em><br>

<em><br /></em>Sounds like a lot of fiddling around in the Custon Setting has occurred; still, it's been reset now....</p>

<p>Having said that, from p321 of the pdf manual for D700...</p>

<p>(<a href="http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D700_en.pdf">http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D700_en.pdf</a>)</p>

<p>Fine-Tuning Exposure<br />Exposure can be fine-tuned separately for each Custom Settings bank and<br />i<em><strong>s not affected by two-button resets.</strong></em></p>

<p>Mike, I appreciate you giving me the benefit of the doubt here. To be clear, this is my third D700, so I'm not totally unfamiliar with its use. I also use my D2x regularly and it has an equal number, if not more, custom functions available. <br>

My question was only if anyone had experience with this happening to them and Shun was quick to explain the likely reason. I mentioned at the outset how I shoot and so it shouldn't come as that big a surprise to someone that it can happen. I don't scan all the info in the viewfinder before shooting. Why would a photographer check all that info before each exposure if the info merely reflects the adjustments he/she has personally input? I only check the ISO if it is on auto or the aperture the body has chosen if set to S mode, or shutter speed if set to A mode. That's it. If I could switch it all off, I would.<br>

I do check the histogram on occasion, but only when in doubt of something and never as a habit. I find using the LCD display a pain in daylight and a battery drain. I only shoot raw anyway. A solid foundation shooting film through a Hasselblad for years taught me enough that I rarely doubt myself. <br>

This is why I was surprised. Got it Danny?</p>

<p>>>>>>>>>>This is why I was surprised. Got it Danny?<<<<<<</p>

<p>Got it--ignorance is bliss.</p>

<p>Danny W.</p>

<p>Based on your comments as to how you use your camera I would highly recommend that you use manual program mode. This give you complete control over any exposure adjustment relative to the meter that you may wish to use and as to which control provides the adjustment.</p>