Photographer's Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P520

Book excerpt: This book is a complete guide to the operation and features of the Nikon Coolpix P520 compact digital camera. The book explains all shooting modes, menus, functions, and controls of this superzoom camera in clear language, accompanied by more than 300 full-color illustrations and sample photographs. This user’s guide shows beginning and intermediate photographers not only how to capture still images and videos with the Coolpix P520, but when and why to use the camera’s many shooting options to get the results they want. The book does not assume specialized knowledge by the reader as it explains topics such as autofocus, manual focus, depth of field, aperture priority, shutter priority, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, ISO, memory cards, and flash modes. The book includes a detailed discussion of techniques for using the camera’s phenomenal zoom lens, with a maximum focal length of 1000mm, to full advantage. The book also discusses the camera’s features for using its built-in GPS tracking to map locations of images and to identify landmarks and other points of interest that can be recorded along with photographs. The book includes examples of the images that can be taken using the many creative settings of the camera, including the Picture Control settings, which let the photographer alter the color processing of images; the Scene and Special Effects shooting modes, with settings that are optimized for various subjects, including landscapes, portraits, pets, sunsets, and action shots; and the camera’s strong set of features for continuous (burst) shooting and interval shooting. In addition, the book goes beyond the realm of everyday photography, and provides introductions to more advanced topics such as infrared photography, street photography, and macro photography. The book also includes a full discussion of the video recording abilities of the Coolpix P520, which can shoot high-definition (HD) video with stereo sound, and which has special settings for recording short clips of high-speed video at rates up to 4 times normal speed. In addition, the book provides a detailed explanation of procedures for playing back images and videos in the camera and for using the camera’s Filter Effects option to add special effects to images after they have been captured. In three appendices, the book provides information about accessories that can be used with the Coolpix P520, including cases, external flash units, and the Nikon Wireless Mobile Adapter, which lets the user transfer images wirelessly from the camera to a smartphone. The appendices also include a list of useful web sites and other resources for further information, as well as a section with “quick tips” that help the user take advantage of the camera’s features in the most efficient ways possible.