Nikon D300 Custom Functions

This spreadsheet allows you to record the custom functions saved in each menu and
bank on the camera.

I've carefully laid out the tabs and menus to match the camera as exactly as
reasonably possible. This allows for a logical flow and makes it much easier to follow.

Although you can print the sheets and take them with you, that's not what they were
designed for. The intent is to use this as a learning tool to understand your camera,
and then document the changes you have made to the menu system so you know
what you did. It works best if you have the spreadsheet open with your camera and
user's manual in front of you.

Select a cell and you can choose an option for that function from a pick list
specific to that function. Note the drop-down arrow at the right when you select
this cell >

When you select a drop-down choice that is not the default, the choice will be
highlighted in light yellow. This makes it obvious what you have changed and allows
you to move quickly through the camera menu to make your changes match the sheet.

In some instances, what is available in the pick list will change based on what you
select in a pick list that precedes it (like f4, f5, and f6 on the Custom Settings Menu).

Set up your function choices using this spreadsheet, then go to the camera (or Nikon
Camera Control software) and select the Playback Menu, Shooting or Custom Settings
bank A through D, or Set Up Menu and adjust your settings to match.

The new Nikon Picture Controls are simply too complex to easily integrate into the
Shooting Menu sheet, so I have handled them separately on a new tab.

Fortunately, beginning with the D300, Nikon has seen fit to allow you to save your
custom settings to your memory card (and computer). You can then modify the
settings on the fly, and can revert to your saved settings without trying to remember
what you changed. This is a huge improvement. But beware - the settings file is
erased if you format your memory card!

Version Notes:
Ver 1.0 Ver 1.0 - © Don McVey 2007, 2008 (DWM at Nikonians.org)
Ver 1.1 Minor cleanup. Added D2X Picture Controls. Nov 28, 2007
Ver 1.2 Corrected various errors
Ver 1.3 A few more corrections
Ver 1.3 P&S Set menu choices for standard set-up

39714494 Instructions 1 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 D300 Preshoot Setup

External settings to check before you hit the shutter release User Manual
Page
Preshooting Set-up Dial or Button Control
Setting (Bank Independent)
Reference
Focus Mode (SCM) Focus mode Selector S- Single Servo AF 62, 71

Release Mode Release Mode Dial S - Single 73-78

Metering Preference Meter Selector 3D Color Matrix II 103

Autofocus Area Mode AF-area mode selectorDynamic-area AF 64

Exposure Mode Exposure mode buttonP - Programmed auto 105

Exposure compensation Exposure comp buttonChoose Compensation

Flash compensation Flash comp button Choose Compensation

White Balance WB button These buttons allow direct 127-130

access to settings menu
RAW/JPEG/TIFF choicesQUAL button items (see the related tab 56-57, 60
ISO Value Setting ISO button for recorded values) 96

39714494 Preshoot Setup 2 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 D300 Playback Menu
User Manual
Page
Menu Option Default Selected Reference
Delete Selected n/a 248
All n/a

Playback Folder Choose Folder ND300 ND300 249

Hide Image Select/Set n/a 249

Deselect All n/a

Display Mode Highlights No Yes 250, 208

Focus Point No No
RGB Histogram No No
Data No Yes

Image Review Off or On Off Off 251

After Delete View Order Show NextShow Next 251

Rotate Tall Off or On Off Off 251

Slideshow Start n/a 252

Frame Interval 2 seconds 2s

Print Set (jpg only)Select/Set n/a 240, 253

Deselect All n/a

39714494 Playback Menu 3 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 D300 Shooting Menu
Bank A Bank B
Option Default Point & Shoot Landscape

Reset Shooting Menu Resets Menu to Default

Same in All Banks Same in All Banks
Active Folder Add New or Select Same in All Banks Same in All Banks
File Naming DSC/_DSC DSC/_DSC DSC/_DSC
Image Format/Quality ** JPEG Normal NEF+JPEG NormalNEF
Image Size ** Large Large Large
JPEG Compression Size Priority Optimal Quality Optimal Quality
NEF (RAW) recording:
>Type Lossless CompressedCompressed Uncompressed
>NEF(RAW) bit depth 12-bit 12-bit 14-bit
White Balance ** Auto Auto Auto
Set Picture Control Standard Standard Standard
Manage Picture Control See Separate Tab See Separate Tab See Separate Tab
Color Space sRGB sRGB sRGB
Active D-Lighting Off Off Off
Long Exp. NR Off Off On
High ISO NR - ISO 800+ Normal Low Low
ISO sensitivity settings:
>ISO Sensitivity** 200 200 200
> ISO sensitivity auto control: Off On Off
Maximum sensitivity 3200 800 1600
Minimum shutter speed 1/30 s 1/60 s 1/60 s
Live View:
>Live View Mode Hand-held Hand-held Hand-held
>Release Mode Single-frame Single frame Single frame
Multiple Exposure:
> Number of Shots 2 2 Same in All Banks
>Auto gain On Off Same in All Banks
Interval Timer Shooting:
> Start Time Now Now/Set time Same in All Banks
> Interval 00:00':00" Choose Same in All Banks
> No. of Intervals 1 Choose Same in All Banks
> No. of Shots 1 Choose Same in All Banks
> Start Off turn On/Off Same in All Banks

** Two Button Reset

Note: this also resets your Picture Control temporary settings! (Does not change your Picture Control choice)
Also, ISO Auto Control DOES NOT turn off on two-button reset.

39714494 Shooting Menu 4 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 Preshoot Set-up Control
Focus Mode (SCM) Focus mode Selector S- Single Servo AF S- Single Servo AF
Release Mode Release Mode Dial S - Single S - Single
Metering Preference Meter Selector 3D Color Matrix II 3D Color Matrix II
Autofocus Area Mode AF-area mode selectorAuto-area AF Single-point AF
Exposure Mode Exposure mode buttonP - Programmed auto A - Aperture-priority auto
Exposure compensation Exposure comp buttonChoose Compensation Choose Compensation
Flash compensation Flash comp button Choose Compensation Choose Compensation

39714494 Shooting Menu 5 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 User Manual
Bank C Bank D Page
Portrait Sports Reference

Same in All Banks Same in All Banks 257

Same in All Banks Same in All Banks 258
DSC/_DSC DSC/_DSC 260
NEF NEF+JPEG Fine 56, 260
Large Large 60, 260
Optimal Quality Optimal Quality 58, 260

Uncompressed Compressed 58, 261

14-bit 12-bit 59, 261
Auto Auto 128, 261
Neutral Standard 150, 261
See Separate Tab See Separate Tab 156,261
Adobe RGB Adobe RGB 169, 261
Off Off 167, 261
Off Off 263
Low Normal 263

200 400 96, 263

Off On 98-99
1600 3200
1/60 s 1/125 s
80-90, 263
Hand-held Hand-held 80
Single frame Single frame 81
186-190, 263
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks 186
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks 187
191-197, 263
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks
Same in All Banks Same in All Banks

tings! (Does not change your Picture Control choice)

39714494 Shooting Menu 6 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 S- Single Servo AF C - Continuous Servo AF 62, 71
S - Single CH - Continuous high 73-78
3D Color Matrix II 3D Color Matrix II 103
Single-point AF Dynamic-area AF 64
A - Aperture-priority auto
S - Shutter-priority auto 105
Choose Compensation Choose Compensation
Choose Compensation Choose Compensation

39714494 Shooting Menu 7 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 D300 Custom Setting Menu

Bank A Bank B
Ref Option Default Point & Shoot Landscape/Tripod
Autofocus
a1 AF-C priority selection Release Focus Focus
a2 AF-S priority selection Focus Focus Focus
a3 Dynamic AF area 9 Points 51 points 3D 9 points
a4 Focus tracking with lock-on Normal Normal Normal
a5 AF activation Shutter/AF-ON (ON) Shutter/AF-ON (ON) Shutter/AF-ON (ON)
a6 AF point illumination Auto Auto Auto
a7 Focus point wrap-around No wrap (OFF) No wrap (OFF) No wrap (OFF)
a8 AF point selection 51 points 11 points 51 points
a9 AF assist illuminator On On Off
a10 AF-On for MB-D10 AF-ON AF-ON AF-ON

Metering/exposure
b1 ISO sensitivity step value 1/3 step 1/3 step 1/3 step
b2 EV steps for exposure control 1/3 step 1/3 step 1/3 step
b3 Exp comp/fine tune 1/3 step 1/3 step 1/3 step
b4 Easy exposure compensation Off Off Off
b5 Center-weighted area 8mm 8mm 8mm
b6 Fine tune optimal exposure:
> Matrix metering 0 0 0
> Center weighted 0 0 0
> Spot metering 0 0 0

Timers/AE Lock
c1 Shutter-release button AE-L Off Off Off
c2 Auto meter-off delay 6 sec 30 Sec 30 Sec
c3 Self-timer delay 10 sec 20 sec 20 sec
c4 Monitor off delay 20 sec 20 sec 20 sec

Shooting/display
d1 Beep High Low Off
d2 Viewfinder grid display Off On On
d3 Viewfinder warning display On On On
d4 CL mode shooting speed 3 fps 3 fps 3 fps
d5 Max. continuous release 100 Choose 1 to 100 Choose 1 to 100
d6 File No. Sequence On On On
d7 Shooting Info Display Auto Auto Auto
d8 LCD Illumination Off Off Off
d9 Exposure Delay Mode Off Off On

39714494 Custom Setting Menu 8 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 D300 Custom Setting Menu

Bank A Bank B
Ref Option Default Point & Shoot Landscape/Tripod
d10 MB-D10 Battery Type AA Alkaline AA Alkaline AA Alkaline
d11 Battery Order MB-D10 First MB-D10 First MB-D10 First

Bracketing/Flash
e1 Flash sync speed 1/250 1/250 1/250
e2 Flash shutter speed 1/60 1/60 1/60
e3 Flash control for built-in flash TTL TTL TTL
> Commander Only - Built In TTL 0 TTL 0 TTL 0
> Commander Only - Group A TTL 0 TTL 0 TTL 0
> Commander Only - Group B TTL 0 TTL 0 TTL 0
> Commander Only - Channel# 1 1 1
e4 Modeling Flash ON Off Off
e5 Auto Bracket Set AE & Flash AE & Flash AE & Flash
e6 Auto Bracketing Manual Mode Flash/Speed Flash/Speed Flash/Speed
e7 Auto Bracket Order Meter>Under>Over Meter>Under>Over Meter>Under>Over

Controls
f1 Multi Selector Center Button
Select
> Shooting Mode Select center focus point center focus point
Select center focus point
> Playback Mode Thumbnail On/Off View histograms View histograms
f2 Multi-selector Do nothing (OFF) Do nothing (OFF) Do nothing (OFF)
f3 Photo info/playback Info ↑↓/Playback←→ Info ↑↓/Playback←→ Info ↑↓/Playback←→
f4 Assign FUNC Button
>FUNC. button press (1) None Flash off Spot metering
>FUNC. button + dials Auto bracketing Auto bracketing Auto bracketing
f5 Assign Preview Button
>Preview button press (1) (Preview (1) ) Preview (1) Preview (1)
>Preview button + dials None None None
f6 Assign AE-L/AF-L Button
>AE-L/AF-L button press (1) AE-AF lock AE-AF lock AE-AF lock
>AE-L/AF-L button + dials None None None
f7 Customize Command Dials
> Reverse rotation No (OFF) No (OFF) No (OFF)
> Change main/sub No (OFF) No (OFF) No (OFF)
> Aperture setting ON (Subcommand Dial)ON (Subcommand Dial)ON (Subcommand Dial)
> Menus and playback Off Off Off
f8 Release Button to Use Dial No (OFF) No (OFF) No (OFF)
f9 No Memory Card Enable Release (OK) Release locked (LOCK)Release locked (LOCK)
f10 Reverse Indicators for Exposure + 0 - +0- +0-

39714494 Custom Setting Menu 9 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:50

 D300 Custom Setting Menu

Bank A Bank B
Ref Option Default Point & Shoot Landscape/Tripod

An * will appear next to the menu choice on the camera LCD when other than the default has been selected.

(1) Functions f4, f5, and f6 - If a function marked with (1) is

chosen, you cannot assign a function to "button +
dials". Buttons + dials drop-down choices will reset to
"none" when one of these choices is selected

39714494 Custom Setting Menu 10 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 User Manual
Bank C Bank D Page
Portrait Sports Reference

Focus Focus 267

Focus Focus 268
9 points 9 points 269
Normal Normal 270
Shutter/AF-ON (ON) Shutter/AF-ON (ON) 271
Auto Auto 271
No wrap (OFF) No wrap (OFF) 271
51 points 51 points 272
Off Off 273
AF-ON AF-ON 274

1/3 step 1/3 step 275

1/3 step 1/3 step 275
1/3 step 1/3 step 275
Off Off 276
8mm 8mm 277
278
0 0
0 0
0 0

Off Off 279

30 Sec 30 Sec 279
2 sec 20 sec 280
20 sec 20 sec 157

Off High 281

On On 281
On On 282
3 fps 3 fps 282
Choose 1 to 100 Choose 1 to 100 282
On On 283
Auto Auto 284
Off Off 285
Off Off 285

39714494 Custom Setting Menu 11 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 User Manual
Bank C Bank D Page
Portrait Sports Reference
AA Ni-MH AA Ni-MH 285
MB-D10 First MB-D10 First 287

1/250 1/250
1/60 1/60 291
TTL TTL 291
TTL 0 TTL 0 294
TTL 0 TTL 0 294
TTL 0 TTL 0 294
1 1 294
On Off 105, 298
AE & Flash AE & Flash 118, 123, 298
Flash/Speed Flash/Speed 299
Meter>Under>Over Meter>Under>Over 300

301
Select center focus point
Select center focus point
View histograms View histograms
Do nothing (OFF) Do nothing (OFF) 302
Info ↑↓/Playback←→ Info ↑↓/Playback←→ 302

None None 303-304

Auto bracketing Dynamic AF Area

Preview (1) Preview (1) 306

None None
307
AE-AF lock AE-AF lock 306
None None
308-309
No (OFF) No (OFF)
No (OFF) No (OFF)
ON (Subcommand Dial)ON (Subcommand Dial)
Off Off
No (OFF) No (OFF) 309
Release locked (LOCK)Release locked (LOCK) 310
+0- +0- 311

39714494 Custom Setting Menu 12 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 User Manual
Bank C Bank D Page
Portrait Sports Reference

39714494 Custom Setting Menu 13 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 D300 Set Up Menu User Manual
Page
Menu Action Default Selected Reference
Format Formats Memory Card n/a 313

LCD Brightness Set monitor brightness 0 -2 313

Clean Image Sensor >Clean now n/a Clean now 371

>Set to Clean at startup/shutdown Cleaning off Cleaning off

Lock Mirror up for Cleaning

For Sensor Cleaning n/a 374

Video Mode Choose playback standard NTSC NTSC 314

HDMI Configures HDMI interface Auto Auto 315

World Time Set Time and Date n/a 316

Language Choose Menu Language 316

Image Comment Input comment n/a User Defined 317

Attach comment Off On (set)
On (set)
Off (set)

Auto Image Rotation On On 318

On
Off

USB MTP/PTP MTP/PTP 319

Dust Off Ref Photo set to make image for reference n/a 319

Battery Info Displays info n/a 322

Wireless Transmitter Transfer mode Transfer mode 229

Transfer mode
Thumbnail select mode
PC mode
Print mode

Image Authentication Embeds authentication info Off Off 324

On
Off

39714494 Set Up Menu 14 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 Save/load Settings Save or load custom settings to/from memory card file name NCSETUP1 325

GPS 201-203, 326

>Auto meter off choose action Enable Enable
>Position displays position n/a

Non-CPU Lens Data enter lens data: 198-200, 327

>Lens number 1 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 2 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 3 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 4 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 5 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 6 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 7 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 8 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A
>Lens number 9 Focal Length N/A
Maximum Aperture N/A 327

Firmware Version Displays version n/a 328

39714494 Set Up Menu 15 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

39714494 Set Up Menu 16 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51
 User Manual

39714494 Set Up Menu 17 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 201-203, 326

198-200, 327

39714494 Set Up Menu 18 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

39714494 Set Up Menu 19 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51
 D300 Retouch Menu
Creates a retouched copy of an image on the memory card User Manual
Page
Menu Action Reference
D-lighting** Applies D-lighting to selected image 334

Red-eye correction** Applies red-eye correction to selected image 335

Trim Crops Image for print 336

Monochrome** Black and white, Sepia, Cyanotype 337

Filter Effects** Skylight or Warm Filter 338

Color Balance** Adds green, amber, magenta, or blue 338

Image Overlay Overlays two NEF (only) files. Allows setting gain. 339

Side-by-side Comparison Compares a source image with its retouched copy. 342

** Not Available with Monochrome selected when Set Picture Control selected

39714494 Retouch Menu 20 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 D300 My Menu Selections

Battery Info
Shooting Bank
Custom Setting Bank
Save/load settings

39714494 My Menu 21 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 D300 Custom Picture Controls
User's Manual pages 148-166
Color Only
ref Name Base Quick adjust (1)Sharpening Contrast BrightnessSaturation

C-1 Standard Sharp Standard 8

C-2 Neutral Sharp Neutral 8

C-3 Vivid Sharp Vivid 8

C-4 Auto Standard A (auto) A (auto) A (auto)

C-5 D2X Mode I Sharp D2X Mode I 8

C-6 D2X Mode II Sharp D2X Mode II 8

C-7 D2X Mode III Sharp D2X Mode III 8

C-8 STD-sharp- Sat-1 Standard 3 -1

C-9 STD-NOsharp- Sat-1Standard -1

Added Controls:
mI D2X Mode I
mII D2X Mode II

mIII D2X Mode III

(1) Quick adjust can be used on Nikon Picture Controls when first modifying a new
custom control based on one of the three supplied standard controls. Once saved as a
custom control, Quick adjust is no longer available.

All Picture Controls can be modified temorarily through the Set Picture Controls menu
(two-button reset sets them back to saved version) or permanently by using the
Manage Picture Controls menu and saving as C-1 to C-9.

D2X Controls can be downloaded from Nikon and loaded on to the camera. Be sure to
download the ones specific to the D300.

39714494 Custom Picture Controls 22 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51

 Color Only Monochrome Only
Hue Filter effects Toning Level

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

N/A - color N/A - color N/A - color

39714494 Custom Picture Controls 23 of 23 09/08/2010 17:43:51