Preface

The Nikon D300 digital SLR is the most advanced intermediate camera for the professional or avid amateur photographer that Nikon has ever offered. Yet, the 400-plus page black-and-white manual packed in the box is almost impossible to wade through. Everything is in there, but how do you find it? And what does it all mean? What you really need is a comprehensive guide that explains the purpose and function of every one of the D300’s controls, how you should use them in specific situations, and why.

You don’t simply want to learn how to use Live View; you want to know how the ability to preview your picture on the D300’s huge LCD can help you compose or take better photos. Before you spend a chunk of change on the Nikon MB-D10 vertical/battery grip, you’d like to know the exact benefits of this accessory. What’s Active D-lighting, and when can using it actually degrade the quality of your images? You know that you can use certain older lenses with your D300—but why would you want to? This is the book that provides those answers.

If you want a quick introduction to the D300’s focus controls, flash synchronization options, how to choose lenses, or which exposure modes are best, this book is for you. If you can’t decide on what basic settings to use with your camera because you can’t figure out how changing ISO or white balance or focus defaults will affect your pictures, you need this guide. I won’t talk down to you, either; this book isn’t padded with dozens of pages of checklists telling you how to take a travel picture, a sports photo, or how to take a snapshot of your kids in overly-simplistic terms. There are no recipes here. I give you all the information you need to cook up great photos on your own!