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component of Modern Exposure Technique.
Today I adjust the Auto ISO's minimum shutter speed as I change lenses and conditions. I no
longer adjust ISO directly, as we did in the old days before 2004. This is a time-saving step
towards the future, just as program exposure was a step ahead of aperture priority in the 1970s.
You can choose the highest ISO to which the Auto ISO will go (Max sensitivity). I let my D40 go all
the way to to ISO 1,600, since it looks fine at ISO 1,600 and any small amount of grain is better
than a blurry photo. If you prefer blur to grain, feel free to limit the D40 to ISO 800 or 400. Try ISO
1,600: the D40 is better at high ISOs than film ever was, and far better than any compact digital
camera at these speeds.
You also may set the minimum shutter speed (Min Shutter Speed) below which the D40 starts
raising the ISO. Select the slowest shutter speed at which you'll get sharp images under your
present shooting conditions.
I wish this function was smart enough to recognize which lens I'm using and adjust accordingly,
but it's not.
HINT: You set the lowest ISO used in Auto ISO with the ISO button, of course.
Firmware Defect #1: Nikon's firmware leaves Auto ISO active even in manual exposure mode.
This makes the D40 change the ISO automatically and defeat the purpose of manual exposure.
Remember to deactivate Auto ISO when using Manual exposure mode.
Firmware Defect #2: The Auto setting in the ISO menu (page 25) section of the Shooting Menu
(page 20) refers to something completely unrelated, even though it has the same name. The
AUTO setting in the ISO menu (page 25) instead lets the D40 preset a fixed ISO it expects to be
relevant for a selected scene mode, like sports, portrait, macro, etc. This Auto setting isn't Auto
ISO, and it isn't available in the P, S A and M modes (page 11) I use.
Nice Touch: unlike my other Nikons, you can set ISO 3,200 manually in the ISO menu (page 25)
without having to deactivate Auto ISO first. When you set a more reasonable ISO, Auto ISO again
becomes active. You used to have to turn Auto ISO on and off the hard way coming in and out of
ISO 3,200. Thank you Nikon!
11 Self Timer / Fn Button
This selects the function of this button, which is located on the side of the D40 (page 17) just
below the flash button.
Self Timer: In this default setting, press the Fn button (page 19) to set or unset the self timer.
Shooting Mode: Press and hold the Fn button (page 19) while turning the rear dial, slowly. You'll
cycle through the shooting (shutter advance) modes (page 28).
QUAL: Press and hold the Fn button (page 19) while turning the rear dial, slowly. You'll cycle
through all the File Type and Quality (page 23) and Image Size (page 24) modes.
© 2007 KenRockwell.com 31 converted by Sándor Nagy