7 More Of The Best Nikon Tricks Ever!
Back in April 2017, I created a video entitled, “The 7 Best Nikon Tricks Ever” and it quickly became the most popular video I’ve ever uploaded. In fact, as of this writing, it’s closing in on the one million views mark. You can see that video here on NikonRumors.
The thing is, when I started thinking about tips and tricks for the first video, I ended up with far more than I could use. I was concerned that if I stuffed everything into a single video, watching it would become tedious. So, I decided to limit it to just seven tricks – but what remained were some pretty tempting leftovers.
Well, those extra tricks and tips have been patiently waiting to see the light of day, and with the popularity of the first video, I figured it was high time to set them loose.
So, in this new video, I demonstrate the next set of my “must know” tricks and tips for Nikon users. These are techniques and settings I use all the time, so I absolutely recommend that you give them a try and see if they make your photography more enjoyable.
As before, not every tip will apply to every Nikon camera – and none of these apply to the D3000 series (sorry, I wish they did, but those cameras simply don’t have a lot of customizations).
Spoiler Alert – Saving Settings
OK, one more thing. The first tip in the video is about saving your settings. However, it’s already generated a couple of questions. So, let’s take a look at those now – and note that these answers will make far more sense if you watch the video first.
Question #1: Does formatting the memory card delete the saved settings?
A: That one’s easy. Yes, anytime you format the card, you lose any information on the card -including any saved settings.
Question #2: Is it possible to save the settings file to my computer?
A: Yes. You can copy the BIN file found in the root directory of the card to your computer. If you ever need it, you can copy it back to a memory card (to the root directory, not in a folder) and load the settings you’ve previously backed up.
Note that each camera series has its own unique name for BIN files. I mention this in case you’re tempted to change the default (and rather cryptic) file name to something more recognizable – like “D7200” for instance. If you rename the file, the camera will not recognize it, and you won’t be able to load the saved settings (well, unless you rename it back to what the camera named it in the first place).
Of course, you can always just create a list to help you differentiate between the names Nikon uses for your various camera bodies.
Finally, I’ve also found you can keep saved settings from different series of camera bodies on the same card. For instance, I can save my D850, D750, and D7200 settings on the same memory card. (Obviously, don’t format it each time you save settings from a new camera).
So if you have an old SD card, you can pop it into all of your bodies and use it as a master backup card. When you pop it back in to restore, the camera will know which backup file to use.
By the way, if you enjoyed these tips, be sure to check out my website, YouTube Channel, and e-books (Nikon AF System / Wildlife Photography). Thanks!
