Nikon Camera D3300 Reference Manual

							
111
P, S, A, and M Modes
❚❚ Bulb1
Rotate the mode dial to  M.
2
Choose the shutter speed.
Rotate the command dial to choose a 
shutter speed of Bulb ( A).
3
Take the photograph.
After focusing, press the shutter-release button on the 
camera, optional wireless remote controller or remote cord 
all the way down.
 Take your finger from the shutter-release 
button when the exposure is complete.
Mode dial
Command dial 
						

							
112P, S, A, and M Modes
❚❚Time1
Rotate the mode dial to  M.
2
Choose the shutter speed.
Rotate the command dial left to 
choose a shutter speed of “Time” ( &).
3
Open the shutter.
After focusing, press the shutter-release button on the 
camera or optional remote control, remote cord, or wireless 
remote controller all the way down.
Mode dial
Command dial 
						

							
113
P, S, A, and M Modes
4
Close the shutter.
Repeat the operation performed in Step 3 (shooting ends 
automatically if the button is not pressed after 30 minutes).
AML-L3 Remote Controls
If you will be using an ML-L3 remote control, select one of the 
following remote control mode s as described on page 97:  
( Delayed remote (ML-L3) ) or #(Quick-response remote (ML-L3) ).
 
Note that if you are using an ML-L3  remote control, pictures will be 
taken in “Time” mode even when “Bulb”/ A is selected for shutter 
speed. 
						

							
114P, S, A, and M Modes
MeteringChoose how the camera sets exposure.Exposure
Method
Description
L Matrix metering Produces natural results in most situations.
 The 
camera meters a wide area of the frame and sets 
exposure according to tone distribution, color, 
composition, and distance.
M Center-weighted 
metering Classic meter for portraits.
 Camera meters entire 
frame but assigns greatest weight to center area.
 
Recommended when using filters with an 
exposure factor (filter factor) over 1×.
N Spot metering Choose this mode to ensure that subject will be 
correctly exposed, even when background is 
much brighter or darker.
 Camera meters current 
focus point; use to meter off-center subjects. 
						

							
115
P, S, A, and M Modes
1
Display metering options.
Press the  P button, then 
highlight the current 
metering method in the 
information display and 
press  J.
2
Choose a metering 
method.
Highlight an option and 
press  J.
ASpot Metering
If  e  (Auto-area AF ) is selected for AF-area mode during viewfinder 
photography ( 078), the camera will meter the center focus point.
P button 
						

							
116P, S, A, and M Modes
Autoexposure LockUse autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using 
M(Center-weighted metering ) and N(Spot metering ) to 
meter exposure; note that autoexposure lock is not available in 
i  or  j mode.1
Meter exposure.
Press the shutter-release 
button halfway.
2
Lock exposure.
With the shutter-release button 
pressed halfway ( q) and the subject 
positioned in the focus point, press 
the  A (L ) button ( w) to lock 
exposure.
While exposure lock is in effect, an  AE-L 
indicator will appear in the viewfinder.
Shutter-release butto
n
A  (L ) button 
						

							
117
P, S, A, and M Modes
3
Recompose the 
photograph.
Keeping the  A (L ) button 
pressed, recompose the 
photograph and shoot.
AAdjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture
While exposure lock is in effect, the following settings can be adjusted 
without altering the metered value for exposure:
Mode
Setting
Programmed auto Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; 
0
103)
Shutter-priority auto Shutter speed
Aperture-priority auto Aperture
The metering method itself can not be changed while exposure lock is 
in effect. 
						

							
118P, S, A, and M Modes
Exposure CompensationExposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value 
suggested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker 
(0 345).
 It is most effective when used with  M(Center-
weighted metering ) or N (Spot metering ) (0 114).–1 EV No exposure 
compensation +1 EV 
						

							
119
P, S, A, and M Modes
To choose a value for exposure compensation, keep the  E (N ) 
button pressed and rotate the  command dial until the desired 
value is selected in the viewfinder or information display.
 Normal 
exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to 
±0 (adjustments to exposure compensation in  % and  I modes 
will be reset when another mode is selected).
 Exposure 
compensation is not  reset when the camera is turned off.
+
E  (N ) button Command dial Information display
– 0.3 EV + 2 EV
AThe Information Display
Exposure compensation options can also be 
accessed from the information display ( 09).AMode M
In mode  M, exposure compensation affects only the exposure 
indicator.AUsing a Flash
When a flash is used, exposure compensation affects both background 
exposure and flash level. 
						

							
120P, S, A, and M Modes
Flash CompensationFlash compensation is used to al ter flash output from the level 
suggested by the camera, changing the brightness of the main 
subject relative to the background.
 Flash output can be 
increased to make the main subject appear brighter, or reduced 
to prevent unwanted highlights or reflections ( 0347).
Keep the  M (Y ) and  E (N ) buttons pressed and rotate the 
command dial until the desired value is selected in the 
viewfinder or information display. In general, positive values 
make the main subject seem brighter while negative values 
make it seem darker.
 Normal flash output can be restored by 
setting flash compensation to ±0.
 Flash compensation is not 
reset when the camera is turned off.
M  (Y ) button
+Command dial Information display
E  (N ) button
– 0.3 EV + 1 EV