Nikon D810 Setup and Configuration
The Nikon D800/D800 Setup and Configuration post I made a few years ago has been one of my most popular. Now that I have the Nikon D810, I decided to create a new list of my settings (and a new setup file for download). If you want more info on why I upgraded to the D810, you can read about that here.
The menu banks are not great because they don’t save all of the settings you need to change, but they are better than nothing. The U1/U2 settings of the D750, D610, and D7100 are superior to the menu banks both in terms of features and ease of use. I have no idea why Nikon has decided to leave out such a fantastic function on their high-end cameras. Neither the D800/D810 nor the D4/D4s have the U1/U2 settings. Nice work Nikon.
Here are the four menu banks I created:
- Landscape & HDR – sets up the camera for landscape or high dynamic range shooting. I usually use a tripod and have time for manual focus, etc.
- Action – I usually use this setting when chasing my young kids, but also for my dogs or any other moving subject.
- Portrait – useful not just for portraits but for any stationary or slow moving targets.
- Point & Shoot – Since I use the “AF-ON” focusing technique (*1), it makes it difficult for my wife or friend to use my camera. Rather than try to explain the technique, I just change the settings and let them shoot. Since my wife often just wants a couple of quick photos to post online, this is the only bank where I also shoot JPEG.
The settings for all four modes are outlined below. Note that the settings just make the starting point for configuration easier. It doesn’t mean these are always the settings I use when shooting. I may not use ISO64 for all situations nor the same AF settings. If you want to use them as a starting point for your own custom settings it is easiest to just download my config file here. Choose the right file for your firmware (check your firmware SETUP MENU -> Firmware version).
C: 1.02, L:2.005 : Download Nikon D810 custom settings file 1.02.
C: 1.11, L: 2.013 : Download Nikon D810 custom settings file 1.11.
To use the custom settings file, copy it to the root folder of your media card using your computer, insert the media card into your camera and navigate to SETUP MENU -> Save/load settings -> Load settings. This will copy the settings over to your camera. You may want to save your own settings before you copy mine to your camera in case you need to revert back.
Note the [change this] in the settings below, these are things you will want to change in your own camera before you start shooting. At the bottom of this post, you can also see what I put in “MY MENU” to access some controls I often change on the fly.
To switch between the various menu banks, you have several options:
- The slow way:
- Shooting menu bank: go to menu -> shooting menu -> shooting menu bank -> select your bank.
- Custom settings menu: go to custom setting menu -> custom settings bank -> select your bank.
- The fast way:
- Press the “i” button on the back of the camera (no idea why Nikon gave us yet another button, sigh). “SHOOT” should be selected, press the center button in the multi-selector, pick your setting. Do the same for custom settings bank (“CUSTOM”).
If you have questions, or a suggestion feel free to leave them in the comments at the bottom of the page. If you want more detail on the settings below download Nikon’s D810 manual (free).
Landscape & HDR | Action | Portrait | Point & Shoot | |
EXTERNAL CONTROLS | ||||
Exposure Mode | A (Aperture Priority) | A (Aperture Priority) | A (Aperture Priority) | P (Program) |
Metering Mode | 3D Matrix Metering | 3D Matrix Metering | Center Weighted Metering | 3D Matrix Metering |
Bracketing | As needed (usually 3 frames +/-2 EV) | Off | Off | Off |
Shooting Mode | Single, Timer, or MUP | CH (continuous high) | CH (continuous high) | CH (continuous high) |
Autofocus Mode *1 | Manual or AF-C, single point | AF-C, group | AF-C, single point or group | AF-S, Auto |
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PLAYBACK MENU | ||||
Delete | Selected | |||
Playback folder | ND810 (default) | |||
Hide image | Default | |||
Playback display options | Highlights, RGB histogram, Overview | |||
Copy image(s) | N/A | |||
Image review | Off | |||
After delete | Show next | |||
Rotate tall | Off | |||
Slide show | N/A | |||
DPOF print order | N/A | |||
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SHOOTING MENU | ||||
Landscape & HDR | Action | Portrait | Point & Shoot | |
Shooting menu bank | A | B | C | D |
Extended menu banks | ON | ON | ON | ON |
Storage folder | Default | Default | Default | Default |
File Naming | MKH [change this] | MKH [change this] | MKH [change this] | MKH [change this] |
Primary slot selection | CF card slot | CF card slot | CF card slot | CF card slot |
Secondary slot function | Backup | Backup | Backup | RAW primary – JPEG secondary |
Image quality | RAW | RAW | RAW | RAW + JPEG fine |
JPEG/TIFF recording | ||||
– Image size | N/A | N/A | N/A | Small |
– JPEG compression | N/A | N/A | N/A | Optimal quality |
NEF (RAW) recording | ||||
– Image size | Large | Large | Large | Large |
– NEF (RAW) compression | Lossless compressed | Lossless compressed | Lossless compressed | Lossless compressed |
– NEF (RAW) bit depth | 14-bit | 14-bit | 14-bit | 14-bit |
Image area | ||||
– Choose image area | FX | 1.2x | FX | FX |
– Auto DX crop | On | On | On | On |
White Balance | Auto1 | Auto1 | Auto1 | Auto1 (change as needed) |
Set Picture Control | SD (Standard) | SD (Standard) | PT (Portrait) | SD (Standard) |
Manage Picture Control | Default | Default | Default | Default |
Color Space | AdobeRGB | AdobeRGB | AdobeRGB | sRGB |
Active D-Lighting | Off | Off | Off | H (High) |
HDR (high dyn. range) | N/A (disabled when shooting RAW) | N/A (disabled when shooting RAW) | N/A (disabled when shooting RAW) | Off |
Vignette control | Normal | Normal | Normal | High |
Auto distortion control | On | On | On | On |
Long Exposure NR | Off | Off | Off | Off |
High ISO NR | Off | Off | Off | Normal |
ISO Sensitivity Settings | ||||
ISO sensitivity | 64 | 64 (adjust as needed) | 64 (adjust as needed) | 100 (adjust as needed) |
Auto ISO sensitivity control | Off | On (Max ISO: 6400,Min shutter: auto, auto, max fasteraster) | Off | On (Max ISO: 6400,Min shutter: auto, auto, max faster) |
Multiple exposure | Off | Off | Off | Off |
Interval timer shooting | Off | Off | Off | Off |
Time-lapse photography | Off | Off | Off | Off |
Movie settings | ||||
Frame size/rate | 1920×1080; 60fps | 1920×1080; 60fps | 1920×1080; 60fps | 1920×1080; 60fps |
Movie quality | High | High | High | High |
Microphone sensitivity | Auto sensitivity | Auto sensitivity | Auto sensitivity | Auto sensitivity |
Frequency response | Wide | Wide | Wide | Wide |
Wind noise reduction | Off | Off | Off | Off |
Destination | SD | SD | SD | SD |
Movie ISO sensitivity settings | ||||
– ISO sensitivity (mode M) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
– Auto ISO control (mode M) | On | On | On | On |
– Maximum sensitivity | 6400 | 6400 | 6400 | 6400 |
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CUSTOM SETTING MENU | ||||
Landscape & HDR | Action | Portrait | Point & Shoot | |
Custom settings bank | A | B | C | D |
a1 AF-C priority selection | Release | Release | Release | Focus |
a2 AF-S priority selection | Focus | Focus | Focus | Focus |
a3 Focus tracking with lock-on | Long | Off | Normal | Off |
a4 AF activation | Off (AF-ON focus technique) | Off (AF-ON focus technique) | Off (AF-ON focus technique) | On |
a5 Focus point display | ||||
– Manual focus mode | Off | Off | Off | Off |
– Dynamic-area AF display | On | On | On | On |
– Group-area AF illumination | Boxes | Boxes | Boxes | Boxes |
a6 AF point illumination | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto |
a7 Focus point wrap-around | On – Wrap | On – Wrap | On – Wrap | On – Wrap |
a8 Number of focus points | AF 51 (51 points) | AF11 (11 points) | AF 51 (51 points) | AF11 (11 points) |
a9 Store by orientation | Off | Off | Off | Off |
a10 Built-in AF-assist illuminator | Off | Off | Off | Off |
a11 Limit AF-area mode selection | All checked | All checked | All checked | All checked |
a12 Autofocus mode restrictions | Off | Off | Off | Off |
b1 ISO sensitivity step value | 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 |
b2 EV steps for exposure cntrl | 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 |
b3 Exp./flash comp step value | 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 | 1/3 |
b4 Easy exposure compensation | Off | Off | Off | Off |
b5 Matrix metering | Off | On | On | On |
b6 Center-weighted area | 12mm | 12mm | 8mm | 12mm |
b7 Fine-tune optimal exposure | 0 (for all) | 0 (for all) | 0 (for all) | 0 (for all) |
c1 Shutter-release AE-L | Off | Off | Off | Off |
c2 Standby timer | 10s | 10s | 10s | 10s |
c3 Self-timer | ||||
– Self-timer delay | 2s | 10s | 10s | 10s |
– Number of shots | 2 (N/A if bracket enabled) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
– Interval between shots | 0.5s | 0.5s | 0.5s | 0.5s |
c4 Monitor off delay | ||||
– Playback | 10s | 10s | 10s | 10s |
– Menus | 1m | 1m | 1m | 1m |
– Information display | 10s | 10s | 10s | 10s |
– Image review | 10s | 10s | 10s | 10s |
– Live view | 10m | 10m | 10m | 10m |
d1 Beep | Off | Off | Off | Off |
d2 CL mode shoot speed | 2fps | 2fps | 2fps | 2fps |
d3 Max continuous release | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
d4 Exposure delay mode | 3s | Off | Off | Off |
d5 Electronic front-curtain shutter | On | Off | Off | Off |
d6 File number sequence | On | On | On | On |
d7 Viewfinder grid display | On | On | Off | Off |
d8 ISO display adjustment | Off | Off | Off | Off |
d9 Screen tips | On | On | On | On |
d10 Information display | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto |
d11 LCD illumination | On | On | On | On |
d12 MB-D12 battery type | LR6 | LR6 | LR6 | LR6 |
d13 Battery order | MB-D12 | MB-D12 | MB-D12 | MB-D12 |
e1 Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 | 1/250 | 1/250 |
e2 Flash shutter speed | 1/60 | 1/60 | 1/60 | 1/60 |
e3 Flash cntrl for built-in flash | TTL | TTL | TTL | TTL |
e4 Exposure comp. for flash | Entire frame | Entire frame | Entire frame | Entire frame |
e5 Modeling flash | On | On | On | On |
e6 Auto bracketing set | AE | AE | AE | AE |
e7 Auto bracket (Mode M) | Flash/speed | Flash/speed | Flash/speed | Flash/speed |
e8 Bracketing order | Under > MTR > over | Under > MTR > over | Under > MTR > over | Under > MTR > over |
f1 switch | LCD Backlight and info display | LCD Backlight and info display | LCD Backlight and info display | LCD Backlight and info display |
f2 Multiselect center button | ||||
– Shooting mode | Reset | Reset | Reset | Reset |
– Playback mode | Zoom, 1:1 (100%)c | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) |
– Live view | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) | Zoom, 1:1 (100%) |
f3 Multi selector | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f4 Assign Fn button | ||||
– Fn button press | Viewfinder virtual horizon | Viewfinder virtual horizon | Viewfinder virtual horizon | Viewfinder virtual horizon |
– Fn button + command dials | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f5 Assign preview button | ||||
– Preview button press | Preview | Preview | Preview | Preview |
– Preview button + command dials | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f6 Assign AE-L/AF-L button | ||||
– AE-L/AF-L button press | AE/AF lock | AE/AF lock | AE/AF lock | AE/AF lock |
– AE-L/AF-L + command dials | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f7 Shutter spd & aperture lock | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f8 Assign BKT Button | BKT | BKT | BKT | BKT |
f9 Customize command dials | Default (Off, on, off) | Default (Off, on, off) | Default (Off, on, off) | Default (Off, on, off) |
f10 Release button to use dial | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f11 Slot empty release lock | Lock | Lock | Lock | Lock |
f12 Reverse indicators | – 0 + | – 0 + | – 0 + | – 0 + |
f13 Assign movie record button | Choose image area | Choose image area | Choose image area | Choose image area |
f14 Live view button options | On | On | On | On |
f15 Assign MB-D12 AF-ON | AF-ON | AF-ON | AF-ON | AF-ON |
f16 Assign remote (WR) Fn button | Off | Off | Off | Off |
f17 Lens focus function buttons | AF lock only | AF lock only | AF lock only | AF lock only |
g1 Assign Fn button | Power aperture (open) | Power aperture (open) | Power aperture (open) | Power aperture (open) |
g2 Assign preview button | Power aperture (close) | Power aperture (close) | Power aperture (close) | Power aperture (close) |
g3 Assign AE-L/AF-L | AE Lock | AE Lock | AE Lock | AE Lock |
g4 Assign shutter button | Record movies | Record movies | Record movies | Record movies |
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SETUP MENU | ||||
Format memory card | As needed | |||
Monitor brightness | Manual (0) | |||
Monitor color balance | Default | |||
Clean image sensor | Clean at shutdown (no sense delaying startup) | |||
Lock mirror up cleaning | As needed | |||
Image Dust Off ref photo | As needed | |||
Flicker reduction | Auto | |||
Time zone and date | Set to local time | |||
Language | English | |||
Auto image rotation | On | |||
Battery info | N/A | |||
Image comment *2 | None | |||
Copyright Information | On [change this] | |||
Save/load settings | As needed | |||
Virtual horizon | N/A | |||
Non-CPU lens data | N/A | |||
AF fine tune | Set for your lenses if needed | |||
HDMI | N/A | |||
Location data | N/A | |||
Firmware version | N/A | |||
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RETOUCH MENU | ||||
Never use it | ||||
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MY MENU | ||||
c3 Self-timer | ||||
d4 Exposure delay mode | ||||
d5 Electronic front-curtain shutter | ||||
Time zone and date | ||||
Long exposure NR | ||||
High ISO NR | ||||
Active D-Lighting |
Footnotes
*1 – Autofocus : I use the “AF-ON” technique (for lack of a better term) to focus my camera. You can read more about the technique here. You will see that in my settings, I primarily use AF-C as the default focus mode when I use the camera. With the AF-ON technique, you decouple the focusing of the camera from the shutter press. The nice thing is that you can have both continuous and static autofocus at the same time. Focus and recompose is also easier as you don’t have to keep the shutter half-pressed, just release the AF-ON button and the camera stops focusing. It works very well, but takes a bit of getting used to. This technique works on both Nikon and Canon cameras (likely other brands as well but I haven’t checked into it).
*2 – Image comment : There are two spots to put your personal info into the file EXIF data: “Image comment” and “Copyright information”. Some people use both, but there isn’t really a reason to do so. I have found one reason not to use the ‘image comment’ field, and that is because the comment shows up in the description field when you post images online (facebook for example). At times, I post images to facebook and I don’t want the description for each one to say “copyright Mike Heller Photography”, blah, blah, blah. My friends want to see something about the image, not a copyright notice. For me, it just makes the upload process more time consuming and it doesn’t add any value. You may want to use it, so feel free to use the field if that fits into your workflow.
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