Nikon Camera D3300 Reference Manual

							
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Focus LockFocus lock can be used to change the composition after focusing 
in  AF-A , AF-S , and  AF-C focus modes ( 074), making it possible to 
focus on a subject that will not be in a focus point in the final 
composition.
 If the camera is unable to focus using autofocus 
( 0 76), focus lock can also be used to recompose the 
photograph after focusing on another object at the same 
distance as your original subject.
 Focus lock is most effective 
when an option other than  e (Auto-area AF ) is selected for AF-
area mode ( 078).
1
Focus.
Position the subject in the 
selected focus point and 
press the shutter-release 
button halfway to initiate 
focus.
 Check that the in-
focus indicator ( I) appears 
in the viewfinder.
2
Lock focus.
AF-A and AF-C focus modes : With the 
shutter-release button pressed 
halfway ( q), press the  A (L ) button 
( w ) to lock focus.
 Focus will remain 
locked while the  A(L ) button is 
pressed, even if you later remove your 
finger from the shutter-release 
button.
Shutter-release button
A (L ) button 
						

							
82More on PhotographyAF-S focus mode
: Focus will lock automatically when the in-focus 
indicator appears, and remain locked until you remove your 
finger from the shutter-release button.
 Focus can also be 
locked by pressing the  A (L ) button (see above).
3
Recompose the 
photograph and shoot.
Focus will remain locked 
between shots if you keep 
the shutter-release button 
pressed halfway ( AF-S) or 
keep the  A (L ) button 
pressed, allowing several photographs in succession to be 
taken at the same focus setting.
Do not change the distance between the camera and the 
subject while focus lock is in effect.
 If the subject moves, 
focus again at the new distance.
A
Autoexposure Lock
Pressing the  A (L ) button in Step 2 also locks exposure ( 0116). 
						

							
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Manual FocusManual focus can be used when autofocus is not available or 
does not produce the desired results ( 076).1
Set the lens focus-mode switch.
If the lens is equipped with an A-M, M/A-M, or A/M-M mode 
switch, slide the switch to  M.
2
Focus.
To focus manually, adjust the lens 
focus ring until the image displayed 
on the clear matte field in the 
viewfinder is in focus.
 Photographs 
can be taken at any time, even when 
the image is not in focus.
A-M mode switch M/A-M mode switch 
						

							
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❚❚The Electronic RangefinderIf the lens has a maximum aperture of 
f/5.6 or faster, the viewfinder focus 
indicator can be used to confirm whether 
the subject in the selected focus point is 
in focus (the focus point can be selected 
from any of the 11 focus points).
 After 
positioning the subject in the selected 
focus point, press the shutter-release button halfway and rotate 
the lens focus ring until the in-focus indicator ( I) is displayed.
 
Note that with the subjects li sted on page 76, the in-focus 
indicator may sometimes be displayed when the subject is not in 
focus; confirm focus in the viewfinder before shooting.
A
Selecting Manual Focus with the Camera
If the lens supports M/A (autofocus with 
manual override) or A/M (autofocus with 
manual override/AF priority), manual focus 
can also be selected by setting the camera 
focus mode to  MF (manual focus;  074).
 
Focus can then be adjusted manually, 
regardless of the mode selected with the 
lens.AFocal Plane Position
The position of the focal plane is indicated 
by the focal plane mark  on the camera body.
 
The distance between the lens mounting 
flange and the focal plane is 46.5 mm 
(1.83 in.).
Focal plane mark
 46.5
 mm 
						

							
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Together, image quality and size determine how much space 
each photograph occupies on the memory card.
 Larger, higher 
quality images can be printed at larger sizes but also require 
more memory, meaning that fewer such images can be stored 
on the memory card ( 0362).
Image QualityChoose a file format and compression ratio (image quality).Image Quality and SizeOption
File type
Description
NEF (RAW) +  JPEG fine NEF/JPEGTwo images are recorded: one NEF (RAW ) image 
and one fine-quality JPEG image.
NEF (RAW) NEFRaw 12-bit data from the image sensor are saved 
directly to the memory card.
 Settings such as 
white balance and contrast can be adjusted after 
shooting.
JPEG fine
JPEGRecord JPEG images at a compression ratio of 
roughly 1 : 4 (fine quality).
JPEG normal Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of 
roughly 1 : 8 (normal quality).
JPEG basic Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of 
roughly 1 : 16 (basic quality). 
						

							
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1
Display image quality 
options.
Press the  P button, then 
highlight the current image 
quality in the information 
display and press  J.
2
Choose a file type.
Highlight an option and 
press  J.
ANEF (RAW) Images
Note that the option selected for image size does not affect the size of 
NEF (RAW ) or NEF (RAW )+JPEG images.
 Print date  (0 254) is not 
available at image quality settings  of NEF (RAW ) or NEF (RAW )+JPEG.
NEF (RAW ) images can be viewed on the camera or using software 
such as Capture NX 2 (available separately;  0307) or ViewNX 2 
(supplied).
 JPEG copies of NEF (RAW ) images can be created using the 
NEF (RAW) processing  option in the retouch menu ( 0275).
ANEF (RAW) + JPEG
When photographs taken at  NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine are viewed on the 
camera, only the JPEG image will be displayed.
 When photographs 
taken at these settings are deleted,  both NEF and JPEG images will be 
deleted.P  button 
						

							
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Image SizeChoose a size for JPEG images:1
Display image size options.
Press the  P button, then 
highlight the current image 
size in the information 
display and press  J.
2
Choose an image size.
Highlight an option and 
press  J.Image size
Size (pixels)
Print size (cm/in.)
*
#  Large 6000 × 4000 50.8 × 33.9/20 × 13.3
$  Medium 4496 × 3000 38.1 × 25.4/15.0 × 10
%  Small 2992 × 2000 25.3 × 16.9/10 × 6.7
* Approximate size when printed at 300 dpi.
 Print size in inches equals 
image size in pixels divide d by printer resolution in dots  per  inch (dpi; 
1 inch = approximately 2.54 cm).P  button 
						

							
88More on PhotographyA
Easy Panorama
The following options are available in  I mode ( 063).Image size
Size (pixels)
*
Print size (cm/in.)
†
Normal 
panorama Camera panned horizontally: 4800 × 1080 40.6 × 9.1/16.0 × 3.6
Camera panned vertically: 1632 ×  4800 13.8 × 40.6/5.4 × 16.0
Wide panorama Camera panned horizontally: 9600 × 1080 81.3 × 9.1/32.0 × 3.6
Camera panned vertically: 1632 ×  9600 13.8 × 81.3/5.4 × 32.0
* Figures for horizontal and vertical  panorama are reversed if camera is 
rotated 90 degrees.
† Approximate size when printed at 300 dpi. Print size in inches equals  image size in pixels divide d by printer resolution in dots  per  inch (dpi; 
1 inch=approximately 2.54 cm). 
						

							
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The camera supports a variety of flash modes for photographing 
poorly lit or backlit subjects.
Auto Pop-up ModesIn 
i, k , p , n , o , S , T , U , g , and   modes, the built-in flash 
automatically pops up and fires as required.1
Choose a flash mode.
Keeping the  M (Y ) button pressed, rotate the command dial 
until the desired flash mode appears in the information 
display.
2
Take pictures.
The flash will pop up as 
required when the shutter-
release button is pressed 
halfway, and fire when a 
photograph is taken.
 If the 
flash does not pop up 
automatically, 
DO NOT
 attempt to raise it by hand.
 Failure to 
observe this precaution could damage the flash.
Using the Built-in Flash
+
M (Y ) button Command dial Information display 
						

							
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❚❚Flash ModesThe following flash modes are available:
•No  (auto): When lighting is poor or the subject is backlit, 
the flash pops up automatically when the shutter-release 
button is pressed halfway and fires as required.
 Not available 
in  o mode.
• Nj o  (auto + red-eye reduction) : Use for portraits. The 
flash pops up and fires as required, but before it fires the red-
eye reduction lamp lights to help reduce “red-eye.”
 Not 
available in  o mode.
• j (flash off): The flash does not fire.
• Nj r  (auto slow sync + red-eye): As for auto with red-eye 
reduction, except that slow shutter speeds are used to 
capture background lighting.
 Use for portraits taken at night 
or under low light.
 Available in  o mode.
• Nr  (auto slow sync): Slow shutter speeds are used to 
capture background lighting in shots taken at night or under 
low light.
 Available in  o mode.
A
The Information Display
Flash mode can also be selected in the 
information display.