So now that I have the FF or not to FF question answered for today, now I need help on my next question.

The D300s functions much like the D200, however with the improved AF and high ISO and new menu, I would like recommendations on how to set it up as a baseline so I can play with it and tweak it from there. I read that you can shoot 1600iso all day long and they look great, so should I let the camera choose the iso in auto mode? I would never do that on the D200 because it is so bad at high iso.

The main focus (see what I did there) will be 6th grade basketball and family snap shots. I tend to like a little more saturation than most, but not overly so, don't like cartoonish looking pics.

From what I have read, the D700 and D300s setting would be very close, so all you D700 people please chime in as well.

 

Ummm... where to start...

AF-C priority selection: Relase + focus
AF-S priority selection: Focus
Dynamic AF area: 51 points (3D-tracking)
AF tracking with lock-on: Normal
AF activation: Shutter/AF-ON
Focus point wrap-around: Wrap
AF point selection: 51 points
ISO sensitivity step value: 1/3 step
EV steps for exposur contrl.: 1/3 step
Exp comp/fine tune; 1/3 step
Easy exposure compensation: Off
Center-weighted area: 12mm
Viewfinder grid display: On
CL mode shooting speed: 7 fps (or whatever the max is for a D300s)
Max. continuous release: 100
Flash sync speed: 1/320 s (Auto FP)
Flash shutter speed: 1/60 s
Auto bracketing set: AE & flash
Auto bracketing (Mode M): Flash/speed/aperture

I think that's everything I've messed with other than shooting in RAW + jpeg (S). I don't really use JPEGs other than for quick referencing files on my computer so I haven't messed with many of the settings like D-lighting or saturation/sharpness/etc.

 

Thanks Alex!

This is a link from an instructor at the Nikon School. I took an advanced D200 class from him a number of years ago. He is a great shooter and I used his settings as my baseline on my D200. I did a search of my emails (love gmail) and found his link. He lists many of the cameras in the Nikon line up, I find these very helpful. With these and settings Alex lists, I think I will be able to tweak them until I find just the right ones for my style.

Nikon D300 settings | Michael A. Schwarz Digital Photography Training

 

I think you should start by reading the manual.

 

Actually, better than the manual is that each setting on the camera should have the "?" option. Click on that and it'll tell you what everything does. I never bothered to read the manual and I usually just go by what the camera tells me each setting does.

 

Thanks for the tip Alex. That is cool.

So far I don't really get how to focus and use the 'live view' and I don't really get the 'Active D Lighting'. But I haven't really played with them much yet either.

 

Get this app, I think its great


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/digit...350489217?mt=8

If you have an iPhone

 

Active D Lighting basically adjusts photos in-camera to save you time post processing but I've heard it's a battery hog if you have it on in the background while shooting. I leave it off because it only works on JPEGs and I shoot pretty much exclusively in RAW.

 

I only shoot RAW as well. Thanks!

Gray, who you callin' a dummie? First Ginger calls me lazy then you call me a dummie...thx!

(by the way, I will check it out, but I have shot DSLR's for 10+ yrs, this one is just new to me)

 

Sorry... did not read your OP properly