Part II: Beyond the Basics

So, why do you need the four chapters in Part II: Beyond the Basics? I think you’ll find that even if you’ve mastered the fundamentals and controls of the D5100 there is lots of room to learn more and use the features of the camera to their fullest. Even if you’re getting great exposures a high percentage of the time, you can fine-tune tonal values and use your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO controls creatively. You’ll find tips on optimizing exposure in Chapter 4. Your camera’s high performance autofocus system may zero in on your subject in most situations—but you still need to be able to tell the D5100 what to focus on, and when, as described in Chapter 5. Other tools at your disposal let you record a continuous series of instants as a movie, freeze an instant of time, and improve your images in other imaginative ways, as detailed in Chapters 6 and 7. The chapters in this part will help you move your photography to the next level by understanding exposure, mastering the mysteries of autofocus, and using the Nikon D5100’s advanced features.