Camera checklist and setup for snapshot use

Following these steps will make sure your camera is ready to fire when you get wherever you're going. If you're getting middle-aged like me you might want to tape a card with points 1-4 inside the lid of your kit-bag. To make step (2) work you also need a card to which you've saved your own settings. Of course, you're free to import this text into a text editor and alter it. Do send me your suggestions.

1. Check there is a memory card in the camera, check it is already backed up, and erase it.
2. OPTIONAL: If the state of the camera is unknown, reset it. Load in your own settings from a card.
3. Set exposure to P mode, and ISO to 1600 (800 on D300) so you get good shots in all normal lighting conditions. You can also elect to set a lower base ISO, provided you activate the AutoIso feature. Set Raw+Jpeg quality if you use Raw.
4. Check the front autofocus lever is set to Continuous mode (C), and the back AF selector area is the Big Blob.

1. Check the images on the memory card. and make sure the images are already on your computer. Then erase it. You want to do that before you go out and shoot, because later if you run out of space after starting on half-full card you'd have to erase the old images one by one. If in doubt about the battery, take the charger along. It's usually easier to get some more memory cards than a charger.

2. Reset the camera to its default factory state, and load a card with your own best settings. That way, you won't get have trouble with strange messed-up settings.

3. Setting up ISO to 1600 and Exposure to P mode is a good catch all which will provide action and shake-stopping shutter speed and some depth of filed in most light conditions. Jpeg image quality is very good on the Pro Nikons, but Raw is the best.

4. Continuous AF on the Big Blob setting should take care of snapshot focus, even if you need to hand the camera to someone else. You'll probably change the camera to something more specific when you start shooting carefully.