Last year I adapted a spreadsheet created by Nikonian Scott Winders (and which was inspired by Don McVey) to record the settings for my D300s.

I recently got hold of my D7000 and have completely re-writtten the spreadsheet for the D7000. It is still very much a work in progress, but I am happy to share it with other Nikonian D7000 shooters.

It is a zipped interactive Excel Worksheet (.xls) with a number of tabs that allow the user to set-up and record settings for any of 4 preferred shooting situations, as well as recording the Camera's Defaults and reference links to explanatory pages in the D7000 Users Manual.

Although I believe it is fairly intuitive (at least to me!), it is also quite complicated - as is the D7000 itself - so I would suggest you first click on the "Introduction" tab, which explains how it all works.

If you have any suggestions as to how this can be improved, and/or find any errors, please email them to me on the link which can be found on the "Introduction" tab in the spreadsheet.

I hope this is helpful, but please be aware that any of the "opening settings" in the 4 "banks" in the various tabs of the worksheet are for illustrative purposes only and in no way constitute a recommendation or suggestion as to how you should set up your D7000 - only you can determine the best/preferred settings for your individual shooting situations.

Please click the link below to download the file >>

Verison 2.2.2 (Jan 31, 2011)
http://www.nikonians.org/dcfp/user_files/187242.zip


Verison 2.2.2 (Jan 31, 2011)
for Apple's iWork - Numbers
http://www.nikonians.org/dcfp/user_files/187243.zip


Enjoy!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Attachment #1, (zip file)
Attachment #2, (zip file)

Many thanks, Chris. This should be very popular!

Brian
Welsh Nikonian
Check out the Nikonians Team pages

That looks really useful, I'm going to have a good play with this! Many thanks for your effort in creating and sharing this.

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Awesome thank you very much
Im sure lots of us noobs will study it with interest

>
>I recently got hold of my D7000 and have completely
>re-writtten the spreadsheet for the D7000. It is still very
>much a work in progress, but I am happy to share it with other
>Nikonian D7000 shooters.
>

Looks like a lot of work went into this spreadsheet. Thanks very much for sharing.

Great work, a whole lot better than I'd have done by myself. Thanks for making this available.

http://egozarolho.blogspot.com
1. Good content, good aesthetics and good tecnique. On that order.
2. Light is more important than glass and pixels.
3. In the digital photography process, software is as important as gear.

Chris thanks o much for proving this valuable tool! Unfortunately, your 4 favourite situations are not covered by mine.
Has anyone “discovered” (accidently or through much experimentation) what they deem to be an “optimal” low light configuration?
I am an amateur wildlife shooter and as a result I end up on the end of day light spectrum and would appreciate what others have found to "work" for them.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
(in order to not affect this thread, a private email would be greatly appreciated.

larrycurrlymoe: not just a funny moniker, I can't dance either!

turbostrackandtour.blogspot.com

Check out the wildlife forum. The folks there should be able to get you suggestions that will give you a starting point for experimenting to see what works best for you.

---------+---------+---------+---------+
Joseph K
Seattle, WA, USA

D200, 17-55mm f/2.8 DX, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, 50mm f/1.4 D
18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 DX, 70-300mm f/4-5.6 ED, D70S

A fellow Nikonian pointed out an error in the Picture Controls pick-lists, which I have now corrected, along with making a few other corrections and adjustments.

This new Version 2.2 is available by clicking the link below (perhaps Dave or one of the Moderators could adjust the link to point to the Nikonian servers - thanks!).

Version 2.2 is link has been moved to original post.

If anyone finds any other issues or has any suggestions please send them to me as I shall be updating this from time to time.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Hi there, Larrycurleymoe - you can change the 4 "banks" to include whatever settings you think are appropriate to your shooting situation. So if "Wildlife" is what you want to record settings for, just click on heading for a shooting situation you don't need (say "Wedding Photography") to bring up the pick-list to the right of the cell, and then select "User Defined". That will change the heading to "User Defined" and you can select whatever settings you would like in the cells below that you think appropriate for your "Wildlife" shoots. You will just have to make a note that in this case (your case) "User Defined" = "Wildlife". You can do this for all the headings if you like.

A future version of this spreadsheet tool will allow you to enter the text of your choice in the "User Defined" headings cell.

Enjoy,

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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As a happy D7000-owner who's still learning to love this camera, I'd like to say thanks very much for this information. You get a gold star for your efforts and generosity!

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I'm on a free trial to the Nikonians, but after reviewing this spreadsheet I've decided to upgrade to a paid membership. This is excellent work. Thank you so much.

Mike

Hi Mike - Welcome to the Nikonians! You'll find it a terrific resource ... by the way there will be an updated version of the spreadsheet soon, correcting some of the typos and expanding some functionality.

Enjoy!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Great Stuff !!!

Thank you...

I have a friend at work...is there anything similar for a D90 that you know of?


DC

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Thanks, Chris. I'll keep an eye out. I assume it will be posted on this thread.

Mike

Mike

DC / Mike - Yes, any updates will be posted here and pinned at the top of this thread.

I don't know of anything for the D90 - but the D300 and D300S, yes!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thanks Chris, I just bought a D7000 and this will really help. Do you have one for he D700?

Bill Wendlandt
Nikonian in Austin, TX USA

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No, sorry Bill, I never got around to doing one for my D700 before I sold it.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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I opened the worksheet in Open Office Calc v3.1.1 running on Windows 7. The dropdown menus on the yellow cells all contain a single item "0", rather than the list of other choices for the given parameter (see screenshot). I wonder if anyone else has experienced this, and can suggest a workaround.

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Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Pwarbeck - Sorry can't help you with this one. It runs fine in Excel on Windows and Mac OSX, and in NeoOffice for Mac.

I am working on a Mac Numbers version as well, which is nearly completed, but have no experience with Open Office Calc, as it was really designed for Excel.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Aha! I upgraded to the latest Open Office (3.2.1) and the menus are working.

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Great - glad it worked out!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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I feel like a dummy, but all I can open is the instructions and an explanation of the spread sheet. I'm sure I'm missing something simple, but can someone help me out.

John

(Sockeye Salm)

The instructions are on the first tab. On the bottom you will see the other tabs. Go to them for the settings.

Mike

There are no other tabs that I can see. I must be missing something. Can you be more specific. By the way I'm using Windows XP.

John

(Sockeye Salm)

Excel has worksheets. They are like pages in a workbook. Usually at the bottom (I'm using the newest version, so I guess it is possible they are at the top of the worksheet rather than at the bottom in your version), there are tabs with names you can click to move from worksheet to worksheet.

Mike

John - attached is a screen grab of what the spreadsheet looks like when opened on your computer (Intro page/part) - note the tabs along the bottom "Introduction", "Pre-Shoot set-up", "Setup menu" etc. These are the tabs you use to select the different worksheets. Hope this is clear for you.

Chris

http://www.nikonians.org/dcfp/user_files/186640.pdf

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Attachment #1, (pdf file)

Now I have it! I opened a regular blank spreadsheet on my computer, and had all the tabs, and ability to scroll right. Then I realized all I had to do was resize this document to show the bottom toolbar which was hidden to me when I opened the settings spreadsheet. I knew I would feel dumb once I figured it out.

John

(Sockeye Salm)

A new version of the D7000 Settings and Configuration spreadsheet for Excel has now been posted (v.2.2.2) which will run on Mac and Windows systems. A second version created on and for Apple's iWork - Numbers '09 for Mac has also been posted. This file will actually open when unzipped as showing v.1.0N. Both files were posted to the OP on 1/31/11. Mac users please note that Numbers for iPad is not yet able to run this file with all its functionality.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thanks, Chris!!!

Mike

Attachment #1 is missing! I get HTTP 404 or a Nikonians error message saying it may heve been moved. Perhaps when the Apple one was posted something happened???

"Content is King"
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Will try to fix the link - but you can also download it from here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12844510/D7000_Settings_Excel_v2.2.2_gen.xls.zip

Cheers!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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The links in the OP have been fixed.

Dave
Quad Cities, USA
A Nikonians Team Member
My Gallery
SummersPhotoGraphic.com

Nikonians membership -
"My most important photographic investment, after the camera"

Share, Learn and Inspire

Thanks, Dave!

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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That was an awesome post, and thanks for all the work you put into it.

I like it so much, I attempted to print it.

Note to self and to others: do NOT try to print the spreadsheet! My printer printed out about 700 pages before stopping, even after I cancelled the job on my PC.

I should have known better, and I know it's my fault, but it's a major PIA.

texaz

Ooops, Texaz! Actually you can print it quite easily if you would like to. Just set up the print area you want on each worksheet and it will print out only what you select. Also you could save a page as a .pdf and print that way too, or even via a "screen grab" - lots of different ways. But 700 pages....wow, I don't think that would be good!!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thanks, croaz!

texaz

Thank You!!!!

Excellent! Nice work!
Thanks for sharing!

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Thanks so much, Chris. I am hoping to get my D7000 on Wednesday. I am anxious and overwhelmed. So much to check out and learn. So much fun. Your spreadsheet will be a great place to start.

C W Coffman
If there's no photo, it didn't happen.
-The Loadhacker

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Congratulations and enjoy your D7K - learning is half (or more of) the fun!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Awesome ! Very useful !

Thank you very much for that

Roman

OneRoadPictures
www.oneroadpictures.com
www.photosaustralie.com

thanks! this is really cool!! I had something similar handwritten in a notebook, but what I like about this one is that I can make changes of my own. Thanks again for sharing

I'm just a little confused what this spread sheet is for....

Is this spread sheet a list of suggested settings to get good pictures from the D7000...or is a spreadsheet to help you rememeber the changes you made to your camera?

I see blanks, and I see settings...so I'm a little confused. Feedback appreciated.

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Rick - the spreadsheet was put together as a means to record YOUR settings from the myriad of configurable settings available on the D7000 - and notably Pre-Shoot Set-Up, Shooting Menu, and Custom Menu choices. It is an interactive tool that allows you to select from the options available in the camera, using the Nikon menu structure/choices. In other words it makes your life simpler to record the settings you use.

I have also provided for 4 configurable "Banks" (as per other Nikon DSLR's - 300S for example), where you can set up for 4 different shooting scenarios, 2 of which can be stored in the U1 and U2 positions. You can name these whatever you want, to set up them up for the shooting situations you encounter most. The headings I used are just suggestions.

I also referenced each setting to its corresponding explanation in the User Manual.

So, in answer to your question - it is an interactive "Aide Memoire" to facilitate you recording the settings you like to use for your given shooting situations - easily, and conveniently. In your words ".. to help you remember the changes you made ..".

The provided spreadsheets (Excel and Numbers) are NOT suggestions for settings (although they have been initially set at settings that may seem logical for some) - everyone will have their own preferences - they merely provide a convenient way to record your settings and find further information on those settings from the User Manual. They are not a "How to", however.

Hope this helps.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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>Rick - the spreadsheet was put together as a means to record
>YOUR settings from the myriad of configurable settings
>available on the D7000 - and notably Pre-Shoot Set-Up,
>Shooting Menu, and Custom Menu choices. It is an interactive
>tool that allows you to select from the options available in
>the camera, using the Nikon menu structure/choices. In other
>words it makes your life simpler to record the settings you
>use.
>
>I have also provided for 4 configurable "Banks" (as
>per other Nikon DSLR's - 300S for example), where you can set
>up for 4 different shooting scenarios, 2 of which can be
>stored in the U1 and U2 positions. You can name these whatever
>you want, to set up them up for the shooting situations you
>encounter most. The headings I used are just suggestions.
>
>I also referenced each setting to its corresponding
>explanation in the User Manual.
>
>So, in answer to your question - it is an interactive
>"Aide Memoire" to facilitate you recording the
>settings you like to use for your given shooting situations -
>easily, and conveniently. In your words ".. to help you
>remember the changes you made ..".
>
>The provided spreadsheets (Excel and Numbers) are NOT
>suggestions for settings (although they have been initially
>set at settings that may seem logical for some) - everyone
>will have their own preferences - they merely provide a
>convenient way to record your settings and find further
>information on those settings from the User Manual. They are
>not a "How to", however.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Chris

Thanks so much - this helps a ton! Do you know of any resources online that you have seen that would help me find a starting point on settings for my D7000. I take mostly snapshots of photos of my family around the house, going on walks, etc....I have found there are so many options on how to set the camera that I have become lost on how to find the the best combo. I know this is subjective, but I'm curious if there are some pretty standard agreements out there on some of the settings. (I know Ken Rockwell suggest setting the picture controls a certain way, but I have read that many people don't agree with his choice of settings.

I have become a little discouraged because almost everyone says to shot Raw for everything - and so I do...but there is so much work to get the photo adjusted (from trying to get all the different settings correct on the camera, and then spend all sorts of time adjusting in raw to get the picture to look just as "good" as my old jpegs used to look before I can then try to get them to be better then those.....so I feel like there has to be a pretty good set of standard settings so I can just pick up the camera and shot when friends are over, or I'm out with my family, without having to spend so long just to get the camera and post production correct to get one picture....

I've read so much "stuff" online that I have probably read to much...if that makes sense.

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A couple of places to start:

Mike Hagen at Out There Images has a suggested set-up guide for the D7000 which you can download from his website www.outthereimages.com - click on the Publishing tab and scroll down to find the Guide.

Also Thom Hogan is a terrific resource on just about everything you'll need. His website www.bythom.com will answer many of your questions and he has a new book just out for the D7000 which will be a very valuable resource for you. I just got it, and its very complete.

You can shoot very fine JPEG's with a D7000 which will do for just about anything and be "instantly" shareable. If you are "into" post-processing - and sometimes, for some, this is an integral part of photography (just as the dark room was for film) - then you will want to shoot RAW. Of course you can do both, and remember every Nikon RAW file embeds a basic JPEG.

I either shoot RAW only or RAW+JPEG Normal, depending on the situation.

Enjoy your D7000 - it is a fantastic camera, but it does have a learning curve ... and that is half the fun!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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>A couple of places to start:
>
>Mike Hagen at Out There Images has a suggested set-up guide
>for the D7000 which you can download from his website
>www.outthereimages.com - click on the Publishing tab and
>scroll down to find the Guide.
>
>Also Thom Hogan is a terrific resource on just about
>everything you'll need. His website www.bythom.com will answer
>many of your questions and he has a new book just out for the
>D7000 which will be a very valuable resource for you. I just
>got it, and its very complete.
>
>You can shoot very fine JPEG's with a D7000 which will do for
>just about anything and be "instantly" shareable. If
>you are "into" post-processing - and sometimes, for
>some, this is an integral part of photography (just as the
>dark room was for film) - then you will want to shoot RAW. Of
>course you can do both, and remember every Nikon RAW file
>embeds a basic JPEG.
>
>I either shoot RAW only or RAW+JPEG Normal, depending on the
>situation.
>
>Enjoy your D7000 - it is a fantastic camera, but it does have
>a learning curve ... and that is half the fun!
>
>Chris

Hey thanks! I'm actually trying to set up the setting for point and shoot now. I have a question though - it says to use program mode and then to turn the auto iso on..however when I try to do that - auso iso is grayed out..it wont let me...how can I get this to work??

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Rick - ISO Sensitivity auto depends on the exposure mode you're using. In Program and, I think, Aperture Priority modes, ISO isn't changed until the exposure gets to the extremes of either end of the shutter speed range - normally 1/30 - 1/4000.

You can set ISO manually by pressing the ISO button on the back of the camera and rotating the Main Command Dial to the ISO you want (viewed on top LCD or rear screen when info activated).

You can set Auto ISO in the Shooting Menu >> ISO sensitivity settings >>Auto ISO sensitivity control ON (or OFF).

Also note that If the mode dial is rotated to P, S, A, or M after AUTO is selected for ISO sensitivity in another mode, the ISO sensitivity last selected in P, S, A, or M mode will be restored.

Hope this helps!

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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The grayed out "Auto" setting is misleading. When in "P" you don't set Auto in the menu section where you normally set a numerical ISO value. Choose a numerical value like 400 for point and shooting.

Then once you set 400 you are returned to the "ISO sensitivity settings" screen. Lower down on this screen set "Auto ISO sensitivity control" to "On".

Set the next choice "Maximum sensitivity" to "1600".

And finally set the "Minimum shutter speed" to "1/320s".

This combination makes a decent point and shoot mode that will cause the camera to oscillate ISO from 400 to 1600, all the while maintaining wherever possible a decent 1/320 shutter speed.

The only time the other grayed out Auto choice you refer to is available is when you have the camera in full (green) auto mode.

One difference between P and full green auto is that while in P mode the flash will not pop up on it's own.

If I am not being clear feel free to ask!

The other thing is low ISO purists will set the numerical ISO to start at 100 rather than 400. But D7000 ISO 400 is so good that I wouldn't worry too much about setting 400 as your start point. The benefit of 400 is that the camera will be more inclined to give you an even faster shutter speed than 1/320 and give you more action stopping power.


Best regards, SteveK

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Lovely! A big thank you.

Voltan

Hi,

I'd just like to add my thanks to Chris and the others who have posted on here. I've spent some time with the Spreadsheet and Mike Hagen's settings and did some test shots. I am extremely pleased with how this has simplified my life, helped me to understand my camera better, and most of all improved my photos!! There are so many settings on a D7K and I think at times I would inadvertently change one, not fully understanding the repercussions, or maybe change something and forget to ever change it back again. Mike Hagen offers a file with settings that can be loaded onto the D7K and I think it will be very helpful to be able to save the settings I've selected, then load them onto the camera routinely when I start shooting so that I'll be starting from the same place each time. So far, this is really helping me a lot!!!
Thanks so much for the information posted here!
Jill

Jill - so glad you found this useful!

If you do use Mike Hagen's (or others) settings file do remember to change the Copyright and Image Comment fields once you've uploaded it to the D7000K - otherwise all your photos will be marked with his name!!

Enjoy your D7000!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Chris,

I already found that out...the hard way. After loading the settings I discovered that the first three letters of my file names were MJH, instead of DSC as before. I was totally stumped for awhile, because that's my initials. I couldn't imagine how those settings could discover my initials!!! LOL! Now I'm guessing Mike's middle name might begin with J.

That's one reason why I say I learned a lot about my camera in taking the time to go over all the settings, including the one's that had Mike's name inserted in the comment/copyright information.

Once again, thanks for your help!

Jill

Thanks for the spreadsheet.
I'm surprised you don't recommend remapping the AEL/AFL to AF-ONLY.

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Thanks for your interest in the Configuration Settings Spreadsheet for the D7000.

Actually I do use the "Back Button Focus" method myself - however this Spreadsheet is meant as an aid just to layout out the various (and numerous!) settings available for the D7000, and is not a recommendation for any particular set of settings per se - that's up to the user to choose to suit his or her shooting preferences.

Enjoy!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thank you so much for this spreadsheet. I am going from D300 to the D7000 and never dreamed there would be such a learning curve . My D300 shutter went out with only 25,000 shutter actuations. Could not imagine being without a camera for many weeks , so purchased the D7000.

I shoot mainly macro and shoot manual . I am really having a hard time with grabbing focus with the 7000 and getting a sharp shot. Guess it is going to take some time.
Appreciate all the time this must have taken to put together.
Birdie

Choices Matter

This is great, thank you so much!

Thank you for this,
I'm sure I will get some use out of it.

Thanks very much for this Chris!

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

Thanks very much for this Chris!

Phil
A Canadian Nikonian
My portfolio: www.pjr99.500px.com

Wow, that's a great tool! Thanks for putting the sheet together.

Evans

I just aquired my D7000 and although not new to Nikon or photography find all this quit a lot to digest. Your wonderful spreadsheet logically organized what is going on in the pages of the manual, for me. I do have a question: Is it possible to make your setup in the spreadsheet and then download it to the camera? Please take into account I am a neewbie to this camera and this forum. Again thank you for this exhaustive effort.

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Hi Crowndog - Glad you found the Spreadsheet helpful.

No, it is not possible to download the settings from the spreadsheet direct to the camera, if that is what you meant. However it is possible to setup your camera settings as you like them (you would use the spreadsheet to determine those and experiment with different settings in camera), and save those settings to a special file on your memory card which has to be called NCSETUP7.

See Page 244 of the manual for how to do this and what settings are in fact saved. This allows you to save a copy of your settings (to load later in case you reset your camera etc.), and it's the method to use if you want to load settings that may have been created by other photographers who are prepared to share their setup with you.

By the way I keep a couple of "older" small capacity SDHC cards solely for this purpose.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your D7000!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thank you again! Can't wait to get started.

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A great resource! Many thanks for this.

WOW! This is great.
"somebody" spent a lot of time and effort on this.

Thanks.

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Yup! Thanks, glad you found it useful.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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This is great,

Thanks

Hi Chris
I am new to Nikonian. I am new to D7000, can you help me how to use your set “"D7000 Configuration Settings and Set-Up Spreadsheet V.2.2" I have down loaded on my computer what show I do next.
Thanks
Hagnik

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Hagnik -Welcome to Nikonians and to your D7000!

As per post #44 in this thread, the spreadsheet was put together as a means to record YOUR settings from the myriad of configurable settings available on the D7000 - and notably Pre-Shoot Set-Up, Shooting Menu, and Custom Menu choices. It is an interactive tool that allows you to select from the options available in the camera, using the Nikon menu structure/choices. In other words it makes your life simpler to record the settings you use.

I have also provided for 4 configurable "Banks" (as per other Nikon DSLR's - 300S for example), where you can set up for 4 different shooting scenarios, 2 of which can be stored in the U1 and U2 positions. You can name these whatever you want, to set up them up for the shooting situations you encounter most. The headings I used are just suggestions.

I also referenced each setting to its corresponding explanation in the User Manual.

So, in answer to your question - it is an interactive "Aide Memoire" to facilitate you recording the settings you like to use for your given shooting situations - easily, and conveniently to help you remember the changes you made to your camera's settings.

The provided spreadsheets (Excel and Numbers) are NOT suggestions for settings (although they have been initially set at settings that may seem logical for some) - everyone will have their own preferences - they merely provide a convenient way to record your settings and find further information on those settings from the User Manual. They are not a "How to", however.

Hope this helps, Hagnik,

You might also check this link to Martin Baker's Blog. He further adapted my spreadsheet and has all sorts of stuff on his site about the D7000.

http://www.everythingd7000.co.uk/

Enjoy your D7000!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Great work!
It helped me to undestand a lot of new features i never imagine dSLR can have and how to set up properly my 4 days young D7000. So far i hit 1000 pictures mark with anly two keepers on a first day and about dozen on 4th one .
thanks

Very clever!
Thank you, very much!

J.M.

Congratulations Vlad_IT - enjoy your new D7000 - you're going to love it!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thanks!

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The Excel version works perfectly but the Apple for Numbers does not.
Error "The index.xml file is missing".

Anyone any ideas?

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Hi "Howker". Mmm, that's odd, as I just downloaded it on my iMac (running Lion) and it opens just fine in Numbers. I also tried on my Macbook (running Snow Leopard) and it opens just fine too. Just for good measure I tried the Excel version too and that opens fine in Office.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thanks a bunch for the sreadsheet. I know it was a lot of effort on your part. I am liking my D7000 more and more.

Hope it helps - enjoy your D7000!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the spreadsheets! They're really super. I did find one thing in the Pre-Shoot Setup. Either I'm missing something or my camera is (probably me).
In the Auto Focus Area Mode row, you have the setting as 21 Point Dynamic-area AF.
However, when I go into the Auto Focus Selections on the Customer menu, I have a choice of 39 or 11 focus points. Is it possible the 21 in your sheet is left over from the setting on a different model?
Apologies to all if this has been posted previously as I've not gotten through all the email on this topic.
Best regards,
Tom

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The spreadsheet is correct.

The D7000 has two similar-sounding but distinct controls for the number of focus points to use.

Custom setting a6 allows you to choose between having all 39 points available or a reduced number if 11. Using 11 makes it faster to select one AF point manually.

Dynamic-area AF Mode (as in the spreadsheet) allows you to choose whether the camera uses data from 9, 21 or all 39 AF points to determine what to focus on. This is explained on pages 94-95 in the camera manual.

Brian
Welsh Nikonian
Check out the Nikonians Team pages

Thanks, Brian - you beat me to it!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Brian,
Thanks for the explanation. As I said in my earlier email, I suspected I had missed something and, indeed, I had. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Tom

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Chris,

This is a great tool. I can't imagine the number of hours you put into its testing and construction. You've saved me a lot of time, energy and mistakes. Thanks.

Tom

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Glad it has been of some use, Tom. Enjoy!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Chris,
Have you been updating the spreadsheet and if so, how do we get the latest version to download?

This is a great tool and I am happy that you took the time and did the work so that we can all learn about our D7000 cameras.

David

Hi David, and I hope it has been helpful - it certainly was for me when I did it! I changed a couple of minor things such as the firmware version etc. and a couple of typos I came across but nothing to merit a revision. I did make some changes, again minor, to the Numbers version, which I tend to use now since I have made the switch over to a Mac and don't use Excel much any more.

I can email my latest version if you like, but as I say there really isn't a lot that has been changed.

Enjoy,

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thank you for that spreadsheet. I've just gotten to the point with my new D7000 where I've confused myself again. On opening your spreadsheet, it looks to be just the window for me, as I'm a bit of a spreadsheet oriented kind of guy anyway, so I look forward to enjoying many hours balancing it and my camera.

Take care, ..../Dan

Hope it helps, Dan .. and yes it is a balancing act, but the fun part is with the D7K not the spreadsheet!

Enjoy,

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Thanks very much for sharing your work with the rest of us, Chris. I took a course in December on the use of the D7000 just after buying it. It would have been useful to have had your spreadsheet during the session. The course basically guided us through all the buttons and menus which was about all you could do in three hours. I recommend courses to just about anyone because there is so much to learn about these complex electronic marvels. It's fun to meet people with the same interests as well.
Thanks again for the clear presentation of complex information.
Neill
Proud to be a Montreal Nikonian
http://picasaweb.google.com/NeillDGraham

>I know Ken Rockwell suggest setting the picture controls a certain >way, but I have read that many people don't agree with his choice >of settings.
That's for sure. I tried his U1 and U2 settings and hated them! I think he must have been trying to put one over on us because the results were not good.
If shooting in NEF is too much pp work, try using the JPG settings such as in camera sharpening (AF Fine Tune).
Neill
Proud to be a Montreal Nikonian
http://picasaweb.google.com/NeillDGraham

Great, Neill, glad it helped. You were lucky to find a course on the D7000. When I got mine there weren't any! But now I see the Nikonians Academy series is now offering one too! As does Ben Long on Lynda.com, I think

Enjoy this fine Camera!

As an aside, I also have a Fuji X100 - a completely different experience by the way, but I love it too - and I keep reading on the various Fuji enthusiasts sites how new X100 owners are now dumping their DSLRS (Canon and Nikon) in favor of the X100, for reasons of quietness, portability, "feel", retro looks etc. - all sorts of reasons good (but not necessarily valid) and bad!

I don't agree with that line of thought at all. I think shooting the X100 is for a specific task and in no way can it duplicate or replace the performance and capabilities of my D7000.

I am happy I have both cameras but it's the D7000 that's the keeper! Enjoy yours!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Hi again, Chris.
That X100 is an intriguing little gizmo with the retro look. I was curious so I started looking around for some reviews and found these articles on how it inspires mixed feelings. Thought you might be interested:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/fuji_x100_follow_up.shtml
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/05/03/the-fuji-x100-digital-camera-real-world-review-by-steve-huff/
It seems like a kind of "bridge" between P&S size and DSLR bulk.
Hope you are enjoying it!

Neill
Proud to be a Montreal Nikonian
http://picasaweb.google.com/NeillDGraham

Yup, mixed feelings for some as you say but, as for so many things, it comes down to horses for courses in the end. My D7000 is my "serious" camera!

Enjoy!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thank you for the spreadsheet

Thanks for all the work. I will use this a lot. Great job.

Jim

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So glad you're finding it helpful. Enjoy your D7000!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Hi Chris and all,

Though this may not be directly related to the great work you have achieved in creating this file, I did have a question as a result of setting up my d7000 based on the preferred shooting modes created.

I have been trying to save each of the preferred shooting mode to separate SD cards. The aim being to be able to upload the settings quickly when needed from dedicated cards.

Here's the issue I have:

Let say I'm trying to save the "Portrait" shooting mode. I put my camera on Aperture Priority mode and make all required changes to my linking. I then save these settings to the SD card (as par standard instructions by using save/load settings).

I then try to load these back to either U1/U2. Though some of the setting are loaded, things like the Aperture Priority mode, Focus Area and Focus Mode are not. The same happens if I try to restore these back in Aperture Priority mode (shooting mode I initially saved the settings from).

Again, things like Focus Mode or even the aperture value (f/x) I saved initially does not load.

To my understanding, saving settings (that creates the NCSETUP7.bin files) would also include things like MASP shooting modes and Focus AREAS/MODES to be able to recall these when loading them back from a SD card.

Is my understanding incorrect or is the camera indeed meant to be doing this (in which case I may have a problem with it). FYI, I have the latest A & B firmware.

Thanks for any pointers !
Raph

Raph - I think this issue may be covered in the thread here here

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Tx Chris - Though quite interesting and relevant to a certain extend, it doesn't quite answer my question as to having the SD card being able to upload all settings back into PASM and/or U1/U2...

Sorry, I think I misunderstood you. The settings that can be saved to a card are listed on Page 244 of the Manual. U1 and U2 settings I think are stored in the camera's RAM and are not saved.

Hope that helps.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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this will be a great help... thanks

appreciate the spreadsheet, will put it to good use

I'm a new member and one of the first threads I came to was this.....very cool. Thanks!

Welcome to Nikonians! Hope this proves useful for you.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Very helpful, Thank you Sir!!

The spreadsheet with formulas is not working on my Mac G4. I'm using Excel 2004. Your file downloads as a text spreadsheet only. But with no formulas that allow input.

My CPU is old and won't allow the operation of iWorks. Is there a setup in Excel that will open the interactive formula?

(boy I do need help with my 6 week-old D7000 menus)

Sorry you are having difficulties, Bravozulu. The spreadsheet has been tested on Excel 2007 for Windows and Excel 2004 (and later editions) for Mac. However I do not know about your G4 which I think was PPC based and does not have an Intel Processor and that may be the problem. It's all the conditional formatting and data validation that your CPU can't handle.

If so, I'm afraid there is no way around it, as you wont be able to run the Numbers version either - looks like a new computer ..., ouch!!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Thank you very much. My camera arrives in the next couple of days and I can't wait to start tinkering with the settings. This will be a great help.

Great - hope it helps - Enjoy your D7000!

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Hi, I am on IBM PC and it souds interesting but I cannot open the numbers file and the web surch for a programm to open it was without success.

Any idea how to open the file?

Best
Clickhans

Clickhans - "Numbers" is an Apple format file which can only be opened in iWork Numbers on a Mac. It is similar to Excel. You will aslo find an Excel (.xls file) at the top of this post. If you download that it will run on a PC provided you have the Excel software.

I hope that helps.

Chris

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
- Ansel Adams

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Thanks Chris, got it.

Looks like there are two attachements with 2 Exel files. Are they different?

Best
clickhans