Product improvement

This is basically directed at Shun, unless others know the answer. How do you provide product feedback to Nikon. I've had my D500 for a couple of months and shoot several hundred images a day. I absolutely love the camera. It is without a doubt the best and most versatile body I've ever used. I love the speed of the AF -- it continually makes me smile. I have fewer shots lost due to misfocus, I like the rugged body, the quiet shutter, etc. However, I do have a few nits to pick: The camera is very complex and has a steeper learning curve than any I've used and I have used Nikons since the very ear F days and started shooting digitally with a D1. I would appreciate much better supporting material to make the learning easier. The focus point toggle on the back of the camera is almost under the bridge of my nose and difficult to use easily and I use it all of the time. A mover 1mm to the right would make a big difference. I'm still struggling with the metering and would love to steer the spot meter like I can the focus point, because at times I don't want them together.

You can always write to Nikon.

I thought they might have a process in place.

I simply fill out their technical assistance request form online, describing what my issue is and suggesting improvements. They usually respond quickly and note that the suggestions have been passed on.

You can buy a third party guide to the camera. I have one that helps me get the most out of the settings most useful to me.

 

Also go to nikonusa and download the pdfs they have for the D500 on topics like Sports settings, etc. Nikon | Download center | D500

Look at the ones for the D 5 too as many of the techniques for that body apply to the D 500. .

 

I also recommend a separate guide or book for the AF system. You will find a more detailed description of the AF settings with guidance as to what might work best for you.

 

I love the position for the focus point toggle on the back of the camera. It is right below the AF ON button that I use all the time to focus the camera. I do not want it moved.!

 

I use matrix metering and exposure compensation when needed. I rarely use the spot meter any more as it takes too much time. Matrix metering plus exposure compensation is much faster and easier to use.

Funny but I've dealt with Nikon.ca for 20+years and never had their reps or management in face-to-face encounters at shows or at their Mississauga offices show much(if any) interest in talking about their products' "issues," complexities or possible improvements. Though all-but-unreachable now, their techs were once untiringly helpful and made up for their colleagues' indifference. Now it's Fujifilm.ca that seems borderline-obsessive about the customer "experience" in real and meaningful ways. Reps listen and take notes, follow-up with e-mails and urge you to make suggestions and to contact their service dept. for technical assistance--anytime.

Joseph, I love the focus point toggle as well. However, it is so close to the bridge of my nose when looking through the camera that I have to pull my eye back slightly from the viewfinder to use it. I'm left eye dominant and use my left eye to the camera. I have downloaded all the pdfs, gone to the sites you mentioned, saved the YouTube videos. As to metering, it is in high contrast situations (and I shoot a fair amount in those settings) that I want to center the meter in a specific location on the image. I also have two of the third party books on the camera. My suggestion is that Nikon should be the producer of this material and not rely on third parties.

Watson, I used to get great support from their reps too, both on the east and west coast. This was back in film days and I was a working photographer I still do get paid occasionally, but don't actively seek shooting for someone else. These days I shoot for myself and my galleries.

I'm a left-eyed shooter too and find the sub-selector to be perfectly placed for me. You might give thought to the fact that you are just one user out of many and that everything is a compromise. Meanwhile, rather than exhort Nikon to produce training materials to your liking, it would be worth buying one of the existing guides if you're struggling with how best to use the D500.

 

Danny W.

I find Nikon's NPS tips on the use of the D5/D500 autofocus very helpful (older cameras are covered as well). It gives a lot of insight on how the different AF is intended to be used (even though it is in the context of different sports, the information can be applied to other subjects as well).

 

I am not too eager to buy third party books on cameras simply as they don't always get what the designer intention was. I can do my own tests in my applications and see how it works.

John, I posted my reply without reading the part where you said you already had third-party books--sorry about that. I agree with Ilkka, though, I find Nikon's literature on the D500 better than they usually publish, and the D500 Menu Guide does a much more thorough job of explaining what everything is for, if not how best to use it. As Ilkka said, I do my own tests and apply my findings to my own shooting situations.

 

Danny W.

The focus point toggle on the back of the camera is almost under the bridge of my nose and difficult to use easily and I use it all of the time. A mover 1mm to the right would make a big difference..

 

mmm "Nose Job" candidate ? ;):D

 

Sorry could not help myself, just had to ......

 

Seriously, guess you use your left eye to lookminto the viewfinder ?

Just tried it, and using my left eye indeed makes it more difficult to operate the focus point toggle, using my right eye : no problems, guess most camera's are made to use the right eye.

It might help to use a rubber eye cup since it increases the distance just by a few mm .. also tried this and for me it would work when using the left eye...

I'm right handed, but left eye dominant. It means that not only shooting a cameral, but shooting a gun I use my left eye. I have the normal rubber eye cap. I always used to use the larger eye cups, but I'd guess that today they would prevent viewing the entire screen.

John, I posted my reply without reading the part where you said you already had third-party books--sorry about that. I agree with Ilkka, though, I find Nikon's literature on the D500 better than they usually publish, and the D500 Menu Guide does a much more thorough job of explaining what everything is for, if not how best to use it. As Ilkka said, I do my own tests and apply my findings to my own shooting situations.

I always do my own testing and learning -- like checking out flying a new airplane or new computer, etc. It is just that the expanded capabilities of newer cameras - like the D500 -- require more work and have a steeper learning curve. It seems to me that the manufacturer could do more to assist users to get the maximum benefit from their purchase.

Danny W.

One advantage of third-party publications is that they'll tell you what works and what doesn't, while the manufacturer will claim it's all good.

 

Danny W.

One thought that occurs to me would be a summary of the features and benefits of the models that we are likely to upgrade from -- it would make the transition easier. I was thinking about flying a new type of aircraft. I knew how to fly (like I know how to produce a photograph), but it was the difference between aircraft that I focused on. The same seems to apply when I went from a D7000 to a D500.

It seems to be a Nikon tradition to assume everyone uses their right eye. Cameras like the FM2 are the worst, where you have to pull the film advance lever out to the stand-off position to switch them on, which risks poking left-eyed viewers in the right eye. Back in the day, I found using the focus selector a bit awkward when I tried the F80 - one excuse to buy the F100, which with a larger body and better spacing is more left eye friendly!