Translucent Masking

Another setting that will change the way you take pictures in DX mode is the translucent masking outside DX crop area. Many websites incorrectly report that there is no translucent masking. That's not true.

If you do not change the default setting (a6 AF point illumination ->Auto), all you get is a black frame indicating that the DX crop mode is currently active. This is okay if you are not shooting fast-moving objects, and when the viewfinder is bright enough. Otherwise, it is hard to frame your shot without translucent masking, especially if you are trying to keep track of fast-moving objects.

Unlike in the Nikon D3, you need to set a6 AF point illumination -> Off if you want translucent masking. Although this is stated in the Nikon D700 manual (page 288), most people don't realize it because they did not bother to read the manual thoroughly. Even if you are a veteran Nikon user, it's still slightly different from Nikon D300 or Nikon D3.

A search on Google revealed that at least half the websites out there reported this incorrectly. Some reviews actually listed the "lack of translucent masking" as a disadvantage in the Nikon D700!

Support Tech ARP!

If you like our work, you can help support out work by visiting our sponsors, participate in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donate to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!