Nikon
D3 User's Guide:
Custom Setting Menu: Timers/AE lock
© 2008 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
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c1 - c4: Timers/AE lock
How to Get Here
Press MENU, go to the left and select up and down to the pencil icon. You'll then see CUSTOM SETTING MENU on the color LCD. Click down to c TIMERS/AE&AF LOCK and click to the right.
What it Does
AE lock is important to getting perfect files straight from the D3 without editing.
Timers optimize battery life vs. convenience.
What I Change
I change all of them except c1. I leave c1 at its default.
c1 Shutter-release button AE-L top
This lets you lock the exposure with the shutter button, like a point-and-shoot camera. You don't want that, so leave this one alone.
The D3 has a dedicated AE Lock button. You don't want the shutter button to lock exposure.
c2 Auto meter-off delay top
This sets how long the meter stays awake.
Shorter times will save the battery. Set it longer if you have to keep hitting the shutter to wake the meter in the middle of composing shots. I use 8 seconds.
c3 Self-timer delay top
This sets the self-timer delay.
10 seconds is for taking Christmas card photos of yourself.
2 seconds is for replacing a $100 cable release when using a tripod with long exposures.
c4 Monitor-off delay top
This sets how long the rear LCD stays lit.
Unlike the D700, which offers separate settings for different modes, the D3 only offers one setting for all modes.
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