E. Flash

The camera mode | Whether the D7000 fires the flash automatically or not and whether you can influence this yourself depends on the camera mode.

• AUTO, SCENE: The camera automatic decides whether the flash fires or not, lets it pop up if necessary.
• : No flash. No matter how dark it is.
• P, S, A, M as well as U1, U2: You have to switch the flash on and off yourself.

Pressing the flash control button will pop it up, and then the D7000 will fire it too. To switch off, press the flash from above to retract it.

Recommendation to switch on the flash | In Nikon's default settings, a flash icon may appear in the bottom right of the viewfinder when you press the shutter button. It means that the D7000 recommends that you switch on the flash.

Suppress flash for a short time | If you need to, you can switch off the flash for individual shots in an instant, without taking the camera away from your eye: Select Flash off in the custom settings menu f3, f4 or f5.

Then the D7000 will not fire the flash as long as you keep the corresponding button pressed − Fn, preview AE-L/AF-L button.

What | A flash exposure correction makes the flash shine brighter or darker compared to the automatically determined brightness. The brightness of the background, where the flash does not reach, remains unchanged.

Where | You can select flash exposure compensation by pressing the flash control button and simultaneously turning the front dial.

What | Flash synchronisation is the matching of the very short flash duration with the longer exposure time of the camera.

Where | You control it with the flash control button together with the rear control dial:

: The flash lights up at the beginning of the exposure time, the standard setting.

The exposure time is limited upwards and downwards; (changeable) Nikon defaults are:

• min. 1/250 s,
• max. 1/30 s.

: The longest exposure time can deviate up to 30 s (slow sync).

: The flash lights up at the end of the exposure time (”rear curtain“). In P and A modes, the D7000 will then automatically add slow sync as well.

: Before taking the picture, the AF-assist light lights up for about one second to reduce red eyes .

It is better not to use this setting, as it causes unpleasant glare.

Shortest exposure time | The shortest exposure time with flash can be changed in the custom settings menu e1 Flash sync speed. The shortest possible time is 1/250 s, or with a slightly reduced flash range 1/320 s.

The menu contains two entries with the addition Auto FP. This is a technique that allows arbitrarily short exposure times with some external flash units attached, but at the expense of the flash range. The shorter the exposure time, the more so.

Longest exposure time | The longest exposure time with flash can be set in the custom settings menu e2 Flash shutter speed. Longer times allow more ambient light to reach the sensor, the background becomes brighter.

It does not apply to slow sync, − then the D7000 will expose as long as necessary for the dark background.

What | The flash mode primarily determines whether the D7000 automatically controls the flash brightness or whether you set it manually. Next to this, you can instruct the D7000 to fire additional flash units or to fire a sequence of rapid flashes as a special effect.

Where | In the custom settings menu e3 Flash cntrl for built-in flash. The menu items mean:

• TTL (default setting): fully automatic flash exposure.
• Manual: The flash always emits the power set here, between 1/100 and full power. A reduction by a factor of 1/4 halves the flash range.
• RPT repeating flash: The D7000 fires a rapid sequence of flashes, you set the number, power and frequency (flashes per second).
• CMD commander mode: The internal flash triggers one or more separately placed flashes, provided they are compatible with the Nikon system. All Nikon flashes except the very small SB-300 and -400 are compatible.

All flashes can be controlled in groups A or B; which flash belongs to which group is set directly on each flash.

For each group, the exposure method (TTL, manual, off) and an exposure compensation can be set.

Attention: If the camera and the flash use different channels, the master control will not work!

What | The D7000's flash fires twice very quickly in succession during automatic flash exposure:

• a metering flash immediately before the exposure, by which the D7000 registers the reflected light and uses it to determine the required flash brightness
• the actual flash during the exposure.

At exposure times from 1/60 or 1/30 s, the two flashes become visible separately if you set the flash sync to REAR. With the flash sync set to the standard, they are practically imperceptible. With older models there was a small but noticeable delay, enough for sensitive people to have their eyes half-closed by a reflex when the main flash fired..

With flash exposure lock, called FV lock by Nikon, the D7000 emits the metering flash when you switch FV lock and remembers the necessary flash brightness until you switch it off again. After that, you should not change the picture frame or the distance to the subject.

Where | The flash exposure lock is Nikon's default assignment of the Fn key. If you have assigned a different function to the function button in the custom settings menu f3, you can assign the flash exposure lock to the preview or AE-L/AF-L button in the menus f4 reap. f5 instead.

When the flash exposure lock is active, a flash icon will appear on the LCD and in the viewfinder with an L like lock next to it.

Don't forget to switch off the flash memory before moving on to another subject, otherwise the next flash exposure will probably not be suitable.

Recommendation to switch on flash | You can switch off the blinking flash symbol at the bottom right of the viewfinder with which the D7000 recommends switching on the flash: In the custom settings menu d12 Flash warning.

Modelling flash | An even more specific feature: if you use the depth-of-field preview button as such and the flash is popped up at the same time, the D7000 will release a quick sequence of flashes as long as you press the button. This is to help you to recognise the darkening viewfinder image. If you don't expect it, you may well get a fright.

In the custom settings menu e4 Modeling flash you can get the D7000 out of this habit.