Nikon D3 settings

The D3 was and still is a great camera with wonderful high ISO capability.  Here are the settings I usually use.

PLAYBACK MENU

Playback Folder- all

Display Mode- check highlight only

Image Review- off

After Delete- show next

Rotate Tall- off

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SHOOTING MENU

File Naming- something that identifies you or the camera.

Slot 2- Varies depending on situation. All 3 options can be valid but I usually shoot overflow or backup.

Image Quality- Your choice JPG Fine or Raw preferred.

Image Size- Large

Image Area- Auto DX Crop on

JPEG Compression- Optimal

NEF Recording- 14-bit, lossless compressed.

White Balance- appropriate for your shooting situation.

Set Picture Control- Standard, with Saturation dialed down one increment for shoooting people. Vivid for shooting landscapes.

Color Space- AdobeRGB. sRGB if large amounts of prints from commercial lab are to be made.

Active D-Lighting- Off unless needed.

Vignette Control- off, except with 70-200mm, then on.

Long Exp NR- Off unless needed shooting in contrasty situations. Then low or normal.

High ISO NR- Normal

ISO Sensitivity- As low as practical. Excellent quality achievable up to 4000. Usable up to 6400.

Live view mode- handheld

Multiple exposure- off

Interval timer shooting- off

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SETUP MENU

LCD Brightness-0

Video Mode- NTSC

HDMI-auto

Image Comment-on add your name here

Auto Image Rotation-on

Voice Memo- manual

Voice Memo Overwrite- off

Voice Memo Button- press and hold

Audio Output- via speaker

USB-MTP/PTP

Image Authentication-off

Copyright information- Input your name and copyright date.

Firmware Version- check nikonusa.com for current firmware.

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RETOUCH MENU- use to your heart’s content.

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MY MENU- set up the menu items you use the most. These are the items in my, my menu.

Battery Info

Set Picture Control

Active D-Lighting

Shooting Info Display

JPEG Compression

Slot 2

CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU

AF-C Priority- Release

AF-S Priority- Focus

Dynamic AF Area-51

Focus Tracking with lock-on-normal

AF Activation-off (AF-on only)

Focus point illumination-on/on/ normal

Focus point wrap around-off

AF point selection-AF51

AF-On button- af on

ISO step value- 1/3

EV steps- 1/3

EV comp/fine tune- 1/3

Easy expsoure com.- off

Center-weighted area- 12mm

Fine tune optimal exposure-no

Shutter release AE-L-off

Auto meter off- 8secs

Self-timer delay- 10secs

Monitor off delay- 20 secs

Beep -OFF!

Shooting speed- high 9fps, low 4fps

Max continuous release- 130

File Number Sequence- ON!

Control panel/viewfinder- rear control iso, viewfinder frame count

Shooting info display- Auto

LCD illumination-off

Exposure delay mode- off

Flash sync speed -1/250 auto fp

Flash shutter speed- 1/30

Modeling Flash- off

Auto Bracketin Set- AE

Auto Bracketing Mode M- flash/speed

Bracketing order- under>mtr>over

Multi selector center button- shooting mode:select center focus point. Playback mode- zoom on/off medium magnification.

Multi selector-off do nothing

Photo info/playback- off, info up/down, playback left/right

Assign Function Button- Func button press-spot metering. Func button+dials-choose image area.

Assign Preview Button- Preview button press-virtual horizon. Preview+command-none.

Assign AE-L/AF-L- AE-L/AF-L button-AE/AF lock. AE-L/AF-L+command dials- none.

Customize Command dials- reverse rotaion and change main/sub: off. Aperture setting on: sub-command dial. Menus and playback on.

Release button to use dial- off

No Memory Card-lock

Reverse Indicators- minus on left, plus on right.