SCENE mode
Explanation: The D7000 will choose all camera settings automatically as in the AUTO mode but the settings are optimised for several typical shooting situations.
There is no magic behind, the SCENE modes alter only settings that you can also set yourself the same way in other modes.
To choose the shooting situation turn the command dial at the back and watch the camera monitor. Maybe you have to tap the release button before as this works only when the exposure metering is active.
When using SCENE mode several menus appear greyed out and cannot be selected because the D7000 manages the settings behind automatically.
The following table gives an overview which settings are changed in which of the scenes compared to the standard AUTO mode:
| SCENE mode | specific camera settings |
|---|---|
| portrait | large aperture for soft, unsharp background flash: automatic picture control: portrait |
| landscape | preferred aperture: 8-11 for good depth of focus picture control: landscape flash: off |
| child | flash: automatic I haven‘t noticed any difference to AUTO. |
| sports | short exposure times flash: off autofocus: single focus point |
| close up | flash: automatic autofocus: single focus point |
| night portrait | flash with slow sync white balance „Auto 2“ picture control: portrait |
| night landscape | flash: off white balance: „Auto 2“ |
| party/indoor | flash: slow sync with red-eye reduction – this mode is for photographing people white balance „Auto 2“ |
| beach / snow | flash: off picture control: landscape, sharpening slightly reduced to 3 |
| sunset | flash: off white balance: sunlight picture control: landscape, sharpening slightly reduced to 3 |
| dusk / dawn | flash: off white balance: 4550K = warm light → color rendition is corrected towards cooler (blue) colors picture control: landscape, sharpening slightly reduced to 3 |
| pet portrait | flash: automatic autofocus: single focus point |
| candlelight | flash: off white balance: 4350K = warm light → color rendition is corrected towards cooler (blue) colors picture control: standard, sharpening slightly reduced to 2 |
| blossom | flash: off picture control: landscape, hue -1 |
| autumn colors | flash: off picture control: vivid |
| food | flash: has to be switched on or off manually using the flash mode button picture control:standard, saturation +1 |
| silhouette | shorter exposure for a slightly darker picture flash: off picture control: landscape, contrast increased to +3 |
| high key | longer exposure for a brighter picture flash: off picture control: standard with reduced contrast and increased brightness |
| low key | shorter exposure for a darker picture flash: off picture control: standard with increased contrast and reduced brightness |
Tips: See the beginning of this chapter – SCENE mode can produce better pictures if the chosen scene fits with your shooting situation.
But it should be seen only as a help for users who are not so familiar with the basics of digital photography. You get better results if you know at least the basic settings and can set them according to your specific situation yourself.