Coolpix P610 Tutorial

[@karenaadams5988]

After having my camera for four years and being too scared to use it, I finally found your videos. Thank you for a clear, concise yet thorough tutorial, it was easy to follow and I will be watching all the others for my camera model too, much appreciated.

[@MontanaMonk]

I'm glad I could help you with your camera. Thank you for commets and thank you for viewing.

[@OwnRules1]

Excellent job explaining (and showing) all the settings. Easy to follow and very clear. Thanks.

[@MarkSmith-lw2tu]

This is so calmly taught. Guru. My photos have improved with such a gentle teacher. Thank you, so much.

[@arlotonkin6416]

wow I have had my camera for ages and finally decided to actually look up how to set up and use and this lesson is amazingly useful. So calm, ordered and clear. Thank you so much

[@MontanaMonk]

You're very welcome!

[@jordanphilipperris]

@@MontanaMonk Yes, this camera is amazing for its price!! I do have one gripe though and perhaps you can help me out with this (Assuming there is a work-around). Whenever I take video at 60 frames per second at the highest resolution, I only get a tad bit over 15min of recording time (With any setting there is a cap) even though there is more than enough memory on my card many hours worth of footage. So, do you know if there is a way to remove that time cap? If not, do you know why there is even a cap to begin with? I was also wondering, is there a way to use timelapse photography with this camera, like say for recording something like an eclipse or just an entire days worth of weather/scenery? :)

[@MontanaMonk]

@@jordanphilipperris The file size limit for any single video is 4Gb. With high frame rate and max resolution this limit will easily be reached in 15minutes. The 4Gb limit is because the memory card is formatted in Fat32 format. No other format will work with this camera. Some cameras allow formatting with exFAT which provides for much larger files, however this camera can not use exFAT format even if the card is formatted outside the camera. With most cameras, there is a trade-off when using high frame rates. The choice is either high quality and smaller file sizes or lower quality and larger file sizes. With the P610, to get the larger files and high frame rate, you need to select 720/60p. Even on my Sony RX10iv, I have the same kinds of choices and have to be content with very high speed and lower resolution and sometimes a limit of 7 seconds.

[@jordanphilipperris]

@@MontanaMonk WOW!! Hey, thanks so much for the quick response and great explanation :) I am guessing then that timelapse is not possible either with this camera? I also meant to ask about 4 more things: 1) When I am taking photos in low light conditions (Later on in the day) the photos seem brighter (Some colours from the sunset can even be different) then what is actually seen with the naked eye and sometimes they look like they were taken on a bright/sunny afternoon. Is there any workarounds for this? (The night mode works great for, welp, night but during dusk/dawn/lots of clouds/etc it does not seem to help with those particular conditions). 2) With indoor photos the indoor light can make them look off coloured (In my case, yellowish, also affecting skin tone/etc, even making my laptop look yellowish), but I can not get the flash to activate so that I can correct this. Is there anyway to make the flask work even if the camera deems that there is too much light coming in? 3) What filters would you recommend for the different possible conditions? (I know that UV filters help with bright sunlight). 4) To zoom in as far as possible (Macro Shots) with the image still showing up well, I came across info on the following, and was just wondering if these would work well “Raynox DCR 250 Lens Set” + “Focusing Rail”? (I heard that you need a Merged frame technique to make the extreme close-ups show up well (Example a wasps head/eyes and all), so I was just wondering if you could explain that to me as well) :) Thanks again :)

[@MontanaMonk]

@@jordanphilipperris Sorry, I guess I didn't get to the time-lapse question in my last reply. I'll try to answer all the remaining questions this time. Time-lapse: Yes, the camera has two time-lapse modes. One mode produces video directly; the other produces a series of still images. The video method is on the Scene mode. Turn the Mode dial to Scene, press the Menu button and scroll down to Time-lapse movie. Press OK and you will get several options for time-lapse movies. Each option will produce a short video time-lapse about 10 seconds long (a good length for a scene in a larger video). Camera should be on a tripod. I have also used a very slowly rotation head to move the camera during shooting. For a still image sequence, select P, S,A,M or U with the Mode dial. Press Menu. Select Continuous from the menu and press OK. Select Intvl timer shooting and press OK. This will allow you to set the interval for images. The minimum is 30 seconds. Press the shutter release to start the shooting. Stop the shooting after the number of images you want have been captured with another press of the shutter release. Exposure for sunset: In any of the auto exposure modes, the camera is going to try to make an “properly exposed” image. The key here is “properly”. The camera will try to expose the image to look like a daylight image. There are several alternatives. The Dusk/dawn selection from the Scene menu is probably a good start, since it is designed for just what you describe. Another option is using exposure compensation. You can get this by pressing the right side of the Rotary multi selector (there is a +/- icon next to it). Since the camera is make the exposure too bright, press the bottom of the rotary multi selector to decrease the exposure, try with -1 or -2 for testing. Don't forget to return exposure compensation back to 0 so you don't under expose future shots. You could also use manual exposure mode, but that will take a little practice to get used to and will require some experimenting to perfect, but certainly worth the time. Also experiment with Active D-lighting and Exposure bracketing. Off color images: Images which have a color cast usually indicate that white balance is off. A yellow cast for indoor images can be from incandescent light. Other kinds of lights may give different colors. Be sure you are shooting with Auto White Balance on the White balance menu. If you are, then you could try some of the other balances to see if they will correct the color. The flash should fire anytime the flash is up and the Flash mode is set to standard. Check the mode by pressing the top of the multi selector when the flash is up. Filters: UV filters only filter out UV so they won't help exposure. A neutral density filter (ND) can help with bright sunlight, but just reducing the ISO will usually do the trick. Set it to 100 for bright sunlight shots. Use caution when adding filters to this camera since Nikon say there are no filter threads. There are threads, but they are short and can be easily damaged if not careful. Macro photos: I have a KZbin video for macros with the P610 and it might best answer this. It includes the Raynox DCR250 lens. It is at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3bZeJ6Ajryibdk

[@patrol681]

I have not bought the Nikon P610, - hadn't really thought too much about it, - but now, after your excellent tutorial I have had my 'eyes opened' and I am going to buy the model, Thanks for an excellent all round tutorial.

[@MontanaMonk]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the camera. I have several cameras and I still use the P610 the most. Thanks for viewing and for comments and questions.

[@JWKessler]

I see someone else made a similar comment but I thought I'd jump in as well. I've been using my P610 for a few years now and really like it. I recently decided to upgrade (I hope) to a Coolpix P900. I had originally planned to go with a P1000, but after my evaluation, that camera seems to be a bit much for what I do. My point though is that this P610 tutorial could be just as helpful for the P900 since both cameras have very similar controls and features. In fact, while waiting for my P900 to arrive I've been going back and reviewing your P610 material and managed to rediscover some tricks and features I had forgotten over the years. Thanks for creating this excellent material!

[@shuswaptoy]

Thank you for a very much for a very thorough and comprehensive guide to the usage of the Nikon Coolpix P 610.

[@soloferns856]

This both introduces the camera and how to take pictures, love it!

[@CraigDZN]

I got a P610 for Christmas and I only really knew about auto mode but thanks to this tutorial I knew a lot more!

[@jordan_stay_chill9267]

I am AMAZED at how good the quality is on this small compact camera

[@snobird583]

Thank you soooo much for your tutorials on the P610. I've had mine for about 2 years and was totally ignorant of its capabilities. Thanks again. A BIG thumbs up !!!

[@OutandAboutwithTrev]

Very nice - I purchased one of these cameras to be used a "Behind the scenes" photos / videos for my next Film. I really wanted to make sure all the settings where correct before handing to my crew member. This was just what I needed...well done!

[@MontanaMonk]

Very happy this help. Good luck with your shoot. Thank you for comments and thank you for viewing.

[@anandnair3750]

Well Exlpained Sir, I have a p900 and i was trying to figure out the settings, your video was very informative as the settings in the P900 are exactly the same . Thanks a lot for your good work .

[@coogieish]

I have recently purchased this camera. Your tutorial is very informative. Thank you for taking the time to produce it. I found it much easier than wading through the manual.

[@davidcameron2209]

amazing video. my friends daughter wants to start studying photography and got this camera. have forwarded it to you. best instructional video I've ever seen. keep up the good work.

[@MontanaMonk]

Thank you for your comments. I hope she has fun with the camera. If she has questions, encourage her to ask.

[@davidcameron2209]

Ty will do. I forwarded your video to her.

[@laurieparent6619]

Thanks for your tutorials. After agonizing over the purchase of a new camera (for a newbie) I had more or less settled on the P610, and watching your videos helped me decide! Waiting for the camera to arrive, and I'm very excited!

[@bot4144]

Hey! I bought Nikon Coolpix P610 a couple of months ago. I was not sure about some features, but your tutorial helped me out. Thank you so much. Your videos are really good, easy to understand. So, now I can click some good pictures. Thanks, once again. Good luck! :)

[@iandavies4351]

Great tutorial. Most helpful. I just got the camera yesterday and your patient direction will help me a lot. Thank you.

[@Ineedyoulou]

Thankyou for the video, I've just started out in photography & purchased the p610

[@ssddesilva2631]

Wow! Excellent. You explanation of the features is superb. I’m going to buy a p610 tomorrow. 🤗 This video gave me the experience even though I don’t have a p610. Thank you and I appreciate you. 😁

[@satyap1829]

Thank you so much MontanaMonk for the detailed video. Really appreciate the way you have given the details about the camera. Thanks once again.

[@tiffanylyche5307]

This video works great for nearly all settings for the Coolpix P600. Some of the menu options vary or are found un slightly differnt places, but otherwise...excellent tutorial that surpasses the manufacturer's manual.

[@valeriebeale1789]

Late joining the party but this has been so helpful, long may MontanaMonk continue

[@wespeacock793]

Great video(s)! I wanted a Nikon P-series but my budget opted for an L830 a few years back. Brand new this week P900 has been frustrating and your P610 videos are quite helpful as transitioning from the L- series to a P-series isn't so simple. Probably works the same for B500 users going to a B700... That said, your P610 instructional videos apply to more than P610 users and I sincerely appreciate the guidance! Nice work, no rush, clear and concise. Nothing else close on YT, box opening and video zoom is pointless to me. I'll shoot in Auto most often and you've helped a great deal with simple operation of my new toy! Thanks!

[@MontanaMonk]

Thank you for your comments. When I got the P610, I wanted the P900 but it wasn't readily available. I've been happy with the P610. My videos should apply to the P900 pretty well. I've been through the manual and with a few exceptions it is identical to the P610. Enjoy the camera. Thanks for viewing.

[@owenbarnhart5771]

Nice job on this video. Lots of useful info I never knew about and I've had this camera about 8 months now. Thanks a lot !!

[@DayBit]

So much to learn. I deeply thank you for your videos, they are so detailed and clear. Zillion thanks. I keep on coming back to learn more from you.

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

Top video mate. I noticed there was a number on the bottom right hand side of the monitor 27M 13S

[@NurseLisaTV]

I just ordered this camera and will receive it tomorrow and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was so very helpful!! Thanks again..Lisa :=)

[@pinballh501]

I'm going to receive my camera on Friday and after reading the download manual, I was somewhat confused. Your tutorial was immensely helpful. I also saw the UV filter video and that is going to be the first accessory I buy besides batteries. It's a shame that local camera stores are no longer in existence except perhaps in major markets so I'm off to the online shops again. I'll be watching your other tutorials!

[@mitchzenobitrees]

Thank you for doing this video. I just recently purchased this camera, and this video did an excellent jod to help me understand the camera's wide function range.

[@johnbs7516]

Thank you for producing a clear and informative video. I have always been interested in photography and last week I bought a Coolpix B700 it does way more than I need and the manual is too complicated to follow but I am sure your videos will help me make the most of my new hobby. The controls are very similar to the P610 so I will certainly be viewing more of your videos as and when I need to. The visual content is very clear and your commentary is easy to listen to. Thank you

[@jayesoteric]

John Bs can u do the background blur effect in ur camera?

[@iamjoanr]

Thank you for this video. Just bought my Nikon P610 last month and this is very useful. Thank you. 😉

[@charlottestraalt]

I recently also bought the P610 and this video is very helpfull.

[@toriperkins8615]

K #1. I didn't notice the piano lol and #2. This actually helped me out so much! Thank you! I'm totally new to cameras and I have no clue what any of the dials and buttons do :\ but watching this I now understand a lot more! Thank you!

[@wookiefable]

Thankyou sir just bought this camera have no idea about cameras thanks for your help it can do more then i thought it could thanks

[@carmelitacruz6309]

Many many thanks for the tutorial video - very well presented. Really very helpful.

[@MILLIGOG]

Excellent tutorial, I have this camera, I can now use it to it's full potential! Music is nice, you can't please everyone. 😊 Thank you.👍

[@MontanaMonk]

Thank you for you comments and thank you for viewing.

[@prakashdeshpande8162]

Thank you for your help. I was concerned about the fragility of the "ribs" on the main lens barrel. If I use a metal lens hood ( and it takes pretty hard knocks all the time), I may damage the so-called threads on the lens barrel. My alternative would be a rubber lens hood. Your advice is very much appreciated. While on the subject, I would appreciate your advice on what is better for bird photography - a Sony A500 with a Sigma 70-300 lens.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Prakash Deshpande I would definitely be concerned with the "ribs" using a metal lens hood. That would give a lot of leverage against the lens and would invite disaster. A rubber hood would certainly be more forgiving. If it is a screw on hood, just be sure it isn't going to interfere with retraction of the lens. If you already have a filter on, then it should not be a problem. As far as a comparison between the Sony A500 with a Sigma lens and the P610, I guess I would prefer the P610. I have a Sigma 28-300 and it seems a little soft at the long end. Also the P610 has a 1440mm equivalent optical zoom compared to 450mm for the Sigma. Overall, I would say the Sony/Sigma combination is a very good choice.

[@deputytylerdaniel]

Hi Mr. MontanaMonk. Love your tutorial. This Nikon is step up for me and it was very helpful. Could you maybe explain or do a follow up video on how to shoot a subject where the background is blurred and the different levels of blurring? Thanks in advance.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Dana Pennington I am working on a video about using manual settings on the P610. It will help answer that question. Until then, try keeping your subject several feet away so you need some zoom to fill the frame. Make sure the background is not too close to the subject. Use the lowest f number (widest lens opening). This will help. Another viewer asked a similar question. I have posted a sample photo at: rockymountainphotoclub.com/bokehsample_p610.html It shows lights that are blurred with a sharp subject. There is a link to the settings recorded for the shot by the camera. Thank you for viewing and for your comment. Hopefully I'll have the video ready soon.

[@deputytylerdaniel]

+MontanaMonk I just watched your newest video and I found it very helpful. It answered my questions. You are a great teacher.

[@harshdixit5882]

Awesome buddy good work the time lapse was fabulous

[@MontanaMonk]

+harsh dixit Thanks for the comment. I really enjoy doing the time-lapse. Gives me a chance to read while waiting for all the frames to shoot and when you get good video you see things in a very different way than when you are just out enjoying the natural beauty. I just finished rebuilding my track and am rebuilding my rotation platform. Should get some new time-lapse soon.

[@harshdixit5882]

+MontanaMonk yeah I will be waiting for your videos 😁

[@ve3tmg]

great video i just bought the p610 and learned a lot thanks.

[@ewanmccarthy2602]

This helped so much I had no idea my camera could do these things

[@prakashdeshpande8162]

My camera arrived yesterday evening. I spent hours going thru manuals and not getting anywhere. Then today I chanced upon this video. Extremely well done, sir! After a few replays of some sections, I feel so confident. I seldom use a camera without a protecting filter. To get an adapter would take weeks. Can I use a 52mm UV filter with a bit of teflon tape so's it takes a better grip on the lens barrel Thanks and regards.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Prakash Deshpande Thank you for your comment. You should be able to use a 52 mm filter directly, without the tape. Just be careful about screwing it onto the lens and don't tighten it too much. There isn't much thread on the lens. I leave a 52 mm UV filter on my camera all the time and any additional filters are screwed into it with an adapter. If you leave a 52 mm filter on and have other 52 mm filters, they could be screwed into the first filter. See my video Coolpix P610 Filter Threads Revisited at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXuzoouaqb9-q6c I'm working on another video that will be a day in the life of my Coolpix P610 in which I will show a variety of my shooting techniques , including the use of other filters.

[@F8thinu2]

Outstanding video instruction. Thanks so much. I will look for much more from you.

[@MrChampmoney]

Wow I have p600 and your explanations are great. Precise very straightforward. Thanks you wouldn't be doing the p900 would you?

[@MontanaMonk]

The P900 is almost the same as the P610, so all my videos for the P610 apply to the P900. Thank you for comments and question and thank you for viewing.

[@carl1189]

Thank you so much for the tutorial now i know how to use my dad's old camera thank you!

[@trevorcrowley2569]

Excellent videos. I wanted to ask you if you were considering purchasing and doing another video for the Nikon Coolpix B700? Wondering also what there is no manual focus for the B700. I am still tempted to purchase the P610. Thank you very much for your demonstrations. 72 year old fan!

[@MontanaMonk]

+Trevor Crowley I probably won't get a B700. It is almost the same as the P610. It does do a form of RAW images, which I would like, if it is fast enough to do RAW without long waits. While 4k video might be nice, it is not something I would use too much. The higher pixel count isn't too big of a difference. I could not find a manual online, so can't say for sure about manual focus, but the b700 specs are so much like the p610 , I would be surprised if it did not have manual focus. I would say that all my videos on the p610 would apply to the b700. The next camera I will be looking at is the Nikon KeyMission 360., when it is available. For now, I'm trying to wear out a D70 by shooting time lapse with it. Thanks for viewing and for comments.

[@MichaelNatale1267]

Just want to thank you for these very useful tutorials.

[@CorazonCoraza33]

I just got this camera and your tutorial was really helpful. Thanks a lot! But something that happens to me a lot is taking blurred photos. Could you please make a tutorial about taking pictures of a moving subject? Please, please, that would be awesome.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Gabriela Quan I will try to make a video to help with shooting moving subjects. It will be a good challenge. Thank you for viewing and for your comment.

[@CorazonCoraza33]

Oh, cool!!! Thank you so much. I will appreciate it! ^^

[@dbatra8429]

Very nice tutorial job ..in a simple way. Thanks so much

[@vandajohnson8588]

This video was very helpful, but i am still having a problem understanding how to read the histogram. Do you plan on doing another tutorial with more details. That would be great!

[@MontanaMonk]

+Vanda Johnson I think I can work up a short video specifically for the histogram. Might take a few days. Thanks for asking and for viewing.

[@vandajohnson8588]

+MontanaMonk Great Can't wait! Thanks for replying!

[@MontanaMonk]

+Vanda Johnson I posted "Using the Histogram on the Coolpix P610" at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmKvqoyVn9ChhLM Hope it helps you get more from the histogram.

[@vandajohnson8588]

+MontanaMonk is there another user manual then the short one that comes with the camera. I can't find the indication to look for if my battery is fully charged?

[@MontanaMonk]

+Vanda Johnson Yes, there is a complete manual for the camera. Nikon has manuals online for nearly everything. Click the link below and it should download the manual as a PDF file. Save it to your computer for viewing. Makes life a lot easier. crossgate.nikonimglib.com/dsd_redirect/redirect.do?P=Upwi025&R=97VJW78&L=7na8701&O=g2CjV00

[@rmccollough2]

Just what I needed!! Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@nishantfukate4965]

Very good and fantastic Video. Additionally, How can I have Depth of Field Photographs using this?

[@MontanaMonk]

It is difficult to get shallow depth of field with this camera and with most cameras like it. The relatively small sensor and small lens opening don't allow blurring the background very much. The closer you get to your subject and the further your subject is from the background, the more out of focus your background will be. Zooming in on the subject will also help, but the background still has to be fairly far behind the subject. Sometimes it is just easier to use an editor to blur the things you would like to be out of focus. Check my web page: montanamonk.com/page8.html which shows a photo in which I make the background "out of focus" with an editor. Thank you for viewing and for questions and comments.

[@tdalaska]

Most excellent - thanks for your superb presentation!

[@Eazoon]

Excellent video. Thanks for making it!

[@juliarobindavid3251]

hello great video MontanaMonk; can you tell me if the p610 is ok to be held in the hand while taking a pic and please tell me if you know any tips and tricks or things i would need to know when the camera is not going to be on the tripod? and what mode would be best to keep it at while taking just regular pics with family and friends when inside a house at night time in low light home settings....lol hope my questions make sense. thankyou again for the great video.......

[@MontanaMonk]

+Julia Robin David Hand-held use of the P610 is how I shoot most of my shots. It is pretty forgiving of a little movement. I generally keep the Vibration Reduction set to Normal. It compensates for most movement. You still want to try to hold the camera steady. Using the Electronic Viewfinder rather than the monitor helps because your arms will be close to your body and the camera is also kind of braced against your head. Flash is frequently good for indoor shots and the flash on the P610 seems better than some. Also, press the shutter release smoothly and rather slowly, if possible. If it has to be a quick shot, this really won't be done, but keeping the press smooth keeps you from jerking the camera. This is true for all cameras, not just the P610. We don't notice the jerking of the camera but it will show up in the images as not being as sharp as they should be. As far as a universal mode for most situations, I would suggest either Auto mode or Scene Auto Selector. Both will produce great photos without the worry of settings. When shooting at max zoom, a tripod is almost necessary or at least something to brace the camera or yourself. Leaning on a wall or using a car hood or a stump works, if you don't have a tripod. I have shot on a tripod with the Vibration Reduction on and haven't noticed any problems. However, I haven't done any real good tests for that either.

[@shuswaptoy]

Very good vid tutorial. Am missing a manual. What is the BSS mode and how is it used? Please help.

[@MontanaMonk]

The BSS mode (Best Shot Selector) will shoot up to 10 frames while the shutter release is held down and will save the sharpest frame. You can get the full manual at: download.nikonimglib.com/archive2/11qSF00ldYhS01DFgyM782eR4z31/P610RM_(En)03.pdf Thank you for questions and comments and thank you for viewing.

[@themedicinewoman54]

I still can't figure out how to do burst shots. Your tutorial is good. I'm a new owner so I'm trying to learn the camera.

[@MontanaMonk]

+themedicinewoman54 You have to have the mode dial set to either P, S, A or M. Then press the Menu button. On the top menu selection, which will correspond to the P,S,A or M, select Continuous and either Continuous H or Continuous L. ( Be sure if you have M selected that you have exposure properly set.) Then frame the photo and press the sutter release half down to focus. Then hold the sutter release down until the camera stops shooting. It will take about 6 or 7 frames. You will then see a processing indicator on the monitor until it has saved all the images. Then press the playback button and you will see a stack of images. Press OK and then you can step through the individual images in the stack. This works really well at sporting events when it is difficult to capture just the right frame. Hope this helps. Thank you for viewing and for comments.

[@jaytalk100]

I have learned a lot from this excellent tutorial

[@Marianne475]

Hello! Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have a question, though. When taking pictures of people, my camera does the classic "front camera phenomenon" where the camera distorts a persons face. It's evident because people's faces are the other way around. If they have bangs on their left side, the photo shows their bangs on their right. Is there anything that can be done?

[@MontanaMonk]

+Marianela Avila When the monitor is facing the front of the camera, you are looking at a mirror image, like a reflection in the mirror. If you watch as the image is displayed after you press the shutter release, it is immediately corrected because you are viewing the image rather than the mirror image. While this might be a little distracting, like trimming your hair while looking in a mirror, the photo gets recorded properly. There isn't a setting to do a temporary horizontal flip for the viewer. While it should be easily done with the firmware of the camera, since they already do a vertical flip, I guess it hasn't been suggested. Thanks for viewing and for comments.

[@chinthakaindikadahena9951]

I just got my new P610 and this tutorial really helped me to get started, thanks you.

[@mihirjtailor]

Nice work, i am having nikon p600 and found your videos quite helpful and detailing. Can you please make videos explaining more on Aperature,Shutter Speed and ISO, thanks

[@MontanaMonk]

+Mihir Tailor Sorry about my late reply. I usually get to these fairly fast. I have recently posted a video "Using Manual Settings on the Coolpix P610" which might answer most of your questions. You can see it at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6PSh2SXab-ErdU If you have questions that aren't answered, please ask again. Thank you for your comments and for watching.

[@shuswaptoy]

A very helpful tutorial. Thanks.

[@shashinkan99]

Thank you so much for uploading this vid it helps me a lot with my B700

[@mrmichaeltscott]

The price of the camera is only realized after watching this video tutorial. Now it's point.

[@markodjukic857]

Hello MontanaMonk, can you please tell me what this symbol with two pointing arrows above focal length and shutter speed meter is used for? It disappears when you scroll command dial. It can be seen in P, S, A and M modes. Thank you very much! p.s. Your tutorials are very educational, thanks.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Marko Djukic There are two different symbols, depending on the mode. The one with double arrow below indicates the Command dial will adjust the shutter speed. The other, with the double arrow above, indicates the Muli selector will adjust the f-stop (lens opening). When you move one of controls, the indicator changes but after a few seconds of no change in the control the arrow indicators return. Hope this helps. Thank you for your comments and thank you for viewing.

[@markodjukic857]

+MontanaMonk Yes it did, thanks!

[@christopherpoole464]

Thanks for a great tutorial to start me off ! really really helpful

[@Helmist14]

I just got a a Cool Pix 610 and find your videos very helpful in learning how to use it..... I have a question on the Portrait Mode. I thought this mode would pick up the person and blur the background. I can't seem to accomplish this. Any suggestions???

[@MontanaMonk]

+Rick Marcoux Blurring the background is difficult on cameras like this. Not just the P610, but cameras that have limited f-stops. For the P610, keep the background as far as possible behind your subject, use aperture priority mode and the widest aperture you can (3.3) and use moderate telephoto, maybe 85mm, and frame and focus on the subject. This should get backgrounds out of focus, but not like a camera with a 1.8 f-stop. You can use Scene-portrait, using moderate zoom, with similar results but you will not have control of the f-stop. Thanks for viewing and for comments.

[@Helmist14]

+MontanaMonk Thank You...Very much.

[@yoichifranck3753]

I have the Nikon B700 and it seems it is the same camera but more MP and 4K do you know how to change the exposure thanks for your excellent videos

[@MontanaMonk]

Yes, the B700 is very much like the P610. One way to change exposure is just use the Manual (M) setting. This allows setting the Shutter Speed with the command dial and the Aperture with the Rotary Multi Selector. There is a scale on the right side of the monitor/viewfinder to show the exposure level. Adjusting the position to the middle of the scale provides proper exposure. (If the scale isn't displayed, press the DISP button and it should show.) If you are using the other settings, you can change exposure using Exposure Compensation by pressing the right side of the Rotary Multi Selector and then pressing the top or bottom or the Rotary Multi Selector to increase or decrease exposure by up to 2 exposure values. In P, S, A modes, the Exposure Compensation setting is saved even when the camera is turned off. With any other setting, it is reset when the camera is turned off. Hope this helps. Thank you for questions and comments and thank you for viewing.

[@peggyalbers1749]

Hi MontanaMonk, I am trying to shoot still shots of my pottery with my 610, however, I can't seem to get the green boxes that show focus. I rewatched your video and reset according to your settings. I'm not sure if I should shoot with the camera setting or program. I can't seem to zoom in to take closeups. I get a red box which shows that the image is out of focus, and can't seem to get these closeups in focus anymore. Can you help? Thanks!

[@MontanaMonk]

Be sure you have focus set to micro by pressing the Rotary Multiselector on the bottom and selecting Micro. Also, don't zoom more than where the zoom indicator is in the green area. You may have to move closer to get framed properly. You may get more information from my video "Macros with Coolpix P610" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3bZeJ6Ajryibdk Thank you for questions and comments and for viewing.

[@ronian6896]

Hey there please a little help? My P610's monitor suddenly turned white and can't display what is being viewed through the lens, as so through the eyepiece monitor. However the camera still shoots normally but there is nothing displayed, just blank white. Any help or suggestions on how I can fix this problem?

[@MontanaMonk]

I'm not sure what would cause it to be white. If it was black, it might be because EVF Auto Toggle is Off and you pressed the Monitor button on the back of the camera. That turns off the monitor but you could still see through the eyepiece. With the monitor open and the camera on, try pressing the Monitor button just to the right of the eyepiece. It should change from viewing through the eyepiece to viewing through the monitor.

[@videocariza]

Great video thanks for all the detail!

[@SriAbeywickrema]

Hi, thanks for this comprehensive video. Just a quick question regarding charging the battery. Is it possible for the battery to be charged in camera with a power bank, the ones used for charging mobile phones, etc. My Sony HX60 can be charged this way and I know all Sony bridge cameras have this facility. In fact I'm interested in getting the successor to P610, Nikon B700 (somewhat torn between that and Sony HX400) and being able to charge via a power bank is essential as there'll be no electricity in the back country and the number of spare batteries won't last more than a couple of days. As the picture quality between the Sony and Nikon and more or less similar, this charging option is the deal breaker for me. Your answer will be very useful. Thanks again

[@MontanaMonk]

Charging from a power bank should be fine, as long as it provides USB output and enough current to charge. If your power bank charges other batteries, it must provide enough current to charge the P610. I typically use an external charger so I can shoot while the battery is charging. Some chargers work from a power bank, like the Kastar Battery (X2) & LCD Slim USB Charger for Nikon EN-EL23, ENEL23 MH-67 and Nikon Coolpix P600, P610 S810c, P900 Digital Cameras. I have one like this for a Panasonic camera and it works great. Hope this help. Thanks for viewing and for questions and comment.

[@SriAbeywickrema]

Thanks for the quick reply and I've been getting mixed responses even from sellers that was why I had to ask you. Great stuff and keep up the good work. Please add more tips for point-n-shooters like us. Good luck

[@rdpricenc]

Nicely done, thank you!

[@malbers2]

Hi...where in the menu is the format memory card in the p610? Where should the dial on the top be set at? I tried P, M, Effects...can't find the format option or the date/time stamp. Thanks!

[@MontanaMonk]

Mode can be on any setting. Go to Menu-Setup-Format card-OK. Thanks for viewing and for comments.

[@9997072389]

Could you also explain how to take picture with blur background with this camera?

[@MontanaMonk]

It is difficult to get the background blurred with this camera. This is especially true if you can't choose the setup, such as with candid shots. You can get the background blurred if you use a lot of zoom and the background is far away from the subject. Of course, with lots of zoom, you will also have to be fairly far from your subject if the subject is very large. Use the widest f-stop possible, which becomes more difficult as you zoom in. If you can get quite close to your subject and keep the background distant, you can use a larger lens opening, which will help blur the background. Check my video: "Focus Change During Video Recording with Coolpix P610" at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4TUgKqMgbF7p8U to see some blurring during video recording. These things work for stills, too. Sometimes, it is much easier to just blur the background with an editor. See my web page: montanamonk.com/page8.html It shows a photo in which the background has been blurred with an editor. Thank you for viewing and for questions and comments. I hope this helps.

[@cheenuray]

Sir... I bought Nokon Coolpix P900. Your lessons on 610 work similar for P900 except for zoom ratio??? Please enlighten... Thank you

[@MontanaMonk]

+cheenu ray The P610 and the P900 are very similar, except for the optical zoom ratio. This is the amount of zoom the lens is capable of with just optical changes, no digital zoom involved. The optical zoom ratio for the P610 is 60x, meaning the image at the maximum zoom will be magnified 60 times compared to the size of the images at the minimum zoom. The P900 will magnify the image 83 times larger at the maximum zoom compared to the minimum zoom. I hope this answers your question. If not let me know and I'll try to clarify more. Thanks for viewing and for your comments.

[@cheenuray]

+MontanaMonk Thank you very much sir. I have been obsessively watching your videos, in order to absorb as much as I could. Thank you again

[@julieanneweir1624]

I'm from Australia and went to Alaska and Canada last year on holiday with my new P610. All my photos look fantastic, from the gorgeous blue Glaciers to the spectacular views of the Rockies. My problem was none of my Aurora shots worked out. I took some pretty fabulous moon shots, but the stars, milky way and Aurora, DARKNESS. Can you please help. Cheers.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Julieanne Weir A viewer asked the same question when he was going to Iceland. I suggested using Multiple Exposure mode with Auto gain Off. Use a tripod, so you can get all three exposures with no movement of the camera. Use the longest exposure, which is 15 seconds. Shoot all three shots with as little pause as the camera will let you, but don't keep your hand on the camera during the exposure time. When you do this, your final combined image exposure will be about 45 seconds. The camera will produce several frames (5), but only the final one will have all three exposures combined. The fellow in Iceland said he had great results using this method. Also, keep the lens at the widest angle, don't zoom in. Zooming in will increase the apparent motion of the stars and they will be little lines rather than spots. You can experiment with this to see the result in slightly darkened room. You want to be comfortable with the technique before you have to work in the dark and when time may be more critical. I hope this works for you, too. Thank you for viewing and for you comments.

[@julieanneweir1624]

Thank you for your quick response. I appreciate your comments. I'll let you know how I go.

[@gaelarmando1482]

Hola soy de México y no se hablar Inglés pero me sirvió de mucho este tutorial solamente con ver el video muchas gracias por ese magnifico video saludos desde Monterrey Nuevo León 💪🤙

[@RicardoBeltran]

Very nice tutorial, thanks for share

[@MontanaMonk]

+Ricardo Beltran Thank you for the comment. I wanted to cover many of the features, so the video got a bit long. I'm trying to keep them around ten minutes, now. The next one I have planned is for manual control of the camera rather than all automatic; however, that covers a lot of things on this camera and I might have to make it in parts. Just don't know how to break it down yet. I've had several requests that relate to manual controls so am trying to cover the questions as well as the broader view of manual operation.

[@robertryan3112]

Amazingly complete, understandable and entertaining video. Thanks...have a P610 on order.

[@docgary1]

Can I assume that the basic areas discussed here for the P610 can carry over to my new P900? Your tutorial is excellent

[@MontanaMonk]

Yes. Everything I have discussed in the P610 videos should apply directly to the P900. Glad you enjoyed the tutorial. Thanks for viewing and for questions and comments.

[@moralstoriez5308]

Hello , I have a question , how do I change manual settings such as aperture, shutter speed , and others while recording a video?

[@MontanaMonk]

Video recording doesn't allow manual adjustments. About the only thing you can do for exposure is use the exposure lock feature. By pointing at a bright or dark area and locking exposure, you can usually get close to the exposure you want. You can also unlock and lock to change the exposure during recording. It isn't the best situation, but it might help to make better videos. Thank you for questions and comments and thank you for viewing.

[@moralstoriez5308]

Thank you , for the time you took to answer my question

[@TeraByteify]

Aw man thank you so much for this I really learned a lot! Can you recommend any videos on the best way to take pictures of fireworks scenes with this camera? I know it has a fireworks setting, but I take photos of temples with fireworks above them, and I'd like to get both in focus from a distance if I can, what would you recommend for that?

[@MontanaMonk]

For the photos you want, the Fireworks setting should work well. With that setting, the shutter speed is set to 4 seconds, ISO is 100 and focus to infinity. Aperture will be 7.6 - 8.2, depending on zoom, however for fireworks and temple, it is very likely that you will be at the wide angle setting on the zoom, so aperture will be 7.6. Those settings should provide good focus for the entire scene. Be sure that the camera is on a tripod, since 4 seconds is too long for hand-held. Also turn off vibration reduction. The 4 second time provides time for the fireworks explosion to expand, leaving the bright trails. The only possible exposure problem might be if the temple is lighted very brightly, it might be over-exposed at 4 seconds. If this were a problem, using a neutral density filter might be required. If possible, I would suggest shooting the temple, using the fireworks setting, before the actual time you shoot the fireworks (same time of night) to be sure the exposure will work. If you don't have a neutral density filter, you could use manual settings and change the shutter speed to 2 seconds, keeping ISO 100 and focus to infinity. With the shorter exposure time, your timing of shutter release will be more critical and the fireworks trails will be shorter. Thank your for questions and comments and thank you for viewing.

[@TeraByteify]

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide such a detailed response it's really appreciated. As a follow up I've been looking for a remote cable so I don't have to touch the shutter button, but after searching alooooooot I've found nothing for this model. There's WMU for my smart device but it's utterly terrible. Connects fine but ignore any settings I have on the camera itself. Have you seen anything that might work with this?

[@MontanaMonk]

I've designed a few servo releases that could be used, but they are not really convenient. I usually use the time delay to get my hand off before the shot. Gphoto2 works on many Nikon camareas, but I don't think it works on the P610.

[@TeraByteify]

Yeah I considered the time delay buy unfortunately it doesn't work on the firework option. It's no big problem, with the vibration assist I'm sure it should be fine on a tripod, I'll let you know how the pictures go! I'm very lucky in that I live in a high building with a perfect view of a temple called 'Ten mangu' in the south of Japan. Some pictures the balcony should hopefully come out really nice if I don't screw it up. Thanks for your work here bud, honestly massively massively appreciated.

[@haulathahmed8009]

hi how to take photo with blurry background. do i have to change settings for blurry background photos..

[@MontanaMonk]

+Haulath Ahmed I suggest the best way to get the background out of focus is to have it far behind the subject, use Aperture priority mode and set it to the widest f-stop you can (f-3.3, if possible). You can either get close to the subject, use minimal zoom and focus on the subject or get farther from the subject and zoom in to fill the frame and focus on the subject. Either way, it will help put the background out of focus. It won't be as blurred as with a larger sensor and larger lens opening, but will still give pretty good results. Hope this helps. Thank you for viewing and for comments.

[@HeeRyeong-c6e]

thanks for the tutorial but i still have no idea how to focus on the subject matter and blur out the background

[@MontanaMonk]

With the P610, it is difficult to blur the background while having the subject in focus. This is true of all cameras with small sensors and relatively small f stops. However, using much zoom and keeping the background distant from the subject will help considerably. Always try to use the widest lens opening available at the zoom you want. You will get similar results even with less zoom if your subject is very close to the camera and the background is very far from the subject. My video "Focus Change During Video Recording with Coolpix P610" at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4TUgKqMgbF7p8U will show some techniques. While it is using video, the same technique can be used with still photos. Also, my video "Using Manual Focus on Coolpix P610" at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGqzqniIh56Bg8U shows similar techniques for still photos. While the videos show how this can be done with the P610 (and similar cameras), the techniques don't always work with real life photography because the space between camera, subject and background can't always be setup to make it work. Many of the photos we take are of situations that just happen and we don't have control over spacing. Cameras with larger sensors and lens openings of f2 or larger would be much better at doing what you want. Most cameras similar to the P610 with large zoom capability have lens openings around f3.3 and as you zoom, the lens openings go to f5.6 or smaller. One camera that is much better that is similar to the P610 but with much less zoom is the Panasonic FZ300. It has a constant aperture of f2.8 through the entire zoom range. But the zoom range is 24x rather than the 60x of the P610.

[@HeeRyeong-c6e]

+MontanaMonk okay thank you so much for your kind reply!!!!

[@HeathenWars]

My p610 automatically turns on a two seconds timer when I select the moon photography mode. Every time I have to turn the timer off. Is it the default setting or some glitch with my camera?

[@MontanaMonk]

+Steve Arthur The two second time-dalay is turned on for moon mode to help eliminate the shake from your hand pressing the shutter release. When you press the shutter release, there will usually be a significant movement of the camera. Having a two second delay allows the camera to stabilize before the photo is taken. It is probably a little distracting if you don't expect it but if you know about it and use it, you'll probably have sharper photos.

[@h.junior8218]

hello ! my lcd stopped working, but the rest of the functions of the camera are working fine... do u know some trick or advice to make it work again? thank u

[@MontanaMonk]

It is possible that the monitor connections could be damaged, however, be sure that you haven't accidentally turned the monitor off. Open the monitor and then press the monitor button several times (first button on the right of the viewfinder). If there is no damage, pressing the monitor button will toggle the monitor on and off. Since I rarely use this button, I would assume many others do not use it, so you may not notice that you pressed it accidentally when pressing the DISP button, which is right next to it. I can't think of any other thing that would blank the monitor. If it is damaged, you would have to have it repaired by a Nikon service center. Thank you for questions and comments and thank you for viewing.

[@jondeeca]

Is there a bug with the Coolpix P610 where it shuts off after about 27 minutes? It's don't that twice to me now. Checked all my settings and the manual. The battery was fully charged and had lots of juice left????

[@jondeeca]

I mean shuts off while filming a video

[@jondeeca]

Just figured it out - seems that 29 minutes is the maximum movie recording time....

[@MontanaMonk]

The maximum recording time for movies shot at 1080/30p is about 27 minutes (on many cameras likt this). At 1080/60p it is about 13 minutes. This is related to the maximum file size for the format of the SD card (FAT32), which is 2GB, and the compression of the video. I work around the limit by stopping the video at good break points, making clips that I put together with an editor. Pausing the recording does not do the same thing, since un-pausing just continues the same file. You must stop recording and then start recording so a new file is created. Hope this helps.

[@jondeeca]

Excellent - great work around!

[@saikatmukherjee6964]

Hi, I am planning to buy this camera, however have some doubt about low light photography with this camera. Can you please post some low light photos taken by Nikon Coolpix P610. Thanks in advance.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Saikat Mukherjee Thank you for your comment. I have posted a few low-light photos in the video Nikon Coolpix P610 Low Light Samples.

[@Lawrence32768]

Very nice, good job indeed.

[@mercerengland3392]

Excellent video. Great explanations of the camera workings that are so easy to understand and cover everything you need to know. I just wish you could leave out the piano! Gets on my nerves when I'm tryng tolisten to you. Well done.

[@MontanaMonk]

+Mercer England Sorry about the background music. I try to keep it low so it doesn't distract. Guess I didn't get it low enough. In the future, I will try to cut it out when I am talking and still keep it low enough to avoid irritation (or maybe no background music at all). Thanks for the comment.

[@jondeeca]

I have a project I'm working on for a video of my wife teaching. I have a room with lots of outside light coming in from two big windows. The window will be to her right but won't show in the scene. Can you recommend what camera settings I should use. I've been using Automatic with good results but wondering if I can do better.

[@MontanaMonk]

Using Auto is probably just fine for this situation. If the windows were behind the subject, Auto would be a problem for stills. But with the windows to the side, there should be good illuminations without harsh shadows, especially if the room lights also help as fill-in lights. Also, if shooting video, there isn't a lot you can do other than locking exposure, since video exposure is up to the camera. It sounds like the light would be fine for video, too.

[@jondeeca]

Excellent - many thanks!

[@aubreybates4087]

Hi, I find that you have done an excellent job in your tutorial, but there is one question I 'd like to ask. In the video showing the screen I noticed a yellow rectangle that appears and disappears what is it for??

[@MontanaMonk]

The yellow rectangle is the indicator for Target Finding Auto Focus mode. Usually I use Manual Normal, as indicated earlier in the video. At the time of shooting, it was in the Target Finding mode. I apparently overlooked the change. This was my first tutorial video and I probably made other mistakes, but I try to review everything before I publish. Sorry for any confusion I might have caused. Thank you for viewing and for questions and comments. And thank you for your patience while I improove my technique.

[@aubreybates4087]

MontanaMonk Thank you

[@missfrenchy1989]

I use this for makeup tutorials .. when I am filming and need to zoom in for a couple of seconds to show something specific it doesn't focus automatically .. it zooms but stays blurry ... help please !!!

[@MontanaMonk]

+frenchfry If I understand correctly, you are using the P610 in video mode to record your tutorial and zooming fails to focus. You need to go to the Menu and select Movie - Autofocus mode - AF-F Full-time AF. This turns on full-time-autofocus for video. Then when you zoom, the camera should re-focus automatically. If you are close to your subject, auto-focus may not work with very much zoom. I tested with a subject at about 6 feet away and zoomed to about 2/3 of max and it re-focused O.K. If you need to be closer than that, it is better to leave the lens at its minimum zoom and just move the camera closer. The camera will re-focus down to about 5 inches as you get nearer the subject. NOTE : This is not the same as setting the still auto-focus mode, which does the same thing for still photos but the settings are on different menus and setting one does not affect the other. Something else to try: Some of the Scene settings change the way the video mode works. Select Scene - Close-up - Norm Single shot. It seems to allow a little more zooming nearer the subject but still has limits. Also seems to focus slower when zooming. Hope this helps. Thanks for your comments.

[@missfrenchy1989]

+MontanaMonk thank you such for replying so quickly! I really appreciate it. it works perfectly now. thanks so much !! :D

[@andrewfletcher9550]

Thank you for your concise easy to follow tutorial, you are so much easier to understand for dummies like me! best regards.

[@cdduffy]

love the video I agree the music does distract you from the tutorial and you tend to not focus on your voice

[@warfoxjen]

Hi mister MontanaMonk. i wantede to do a long expoiser but i cant find the Bulp function. the longest that i can get my cam to do is 15 sek. am i missing somthing or is 15 sek the longest Greatins from Kim Denmark

[@MontanaMonk]

ii+kim jensen Yes, 15 seconds is the longest. I sent mail to Nikon asking if there is plan to make it at least 25 seconds like Star-trails in Scene mode, but haven't heard from them yet.

[@warfoxjen]

ahh okay thx m8.

[@MetAnt55]

Thnx for the tutorial, very helpful. I have a question, they say the zoom is 60X but also say they have an option named "120X Dynamic Fine Zoom", how that option works?

[@MontanaMonk]

+Antonio García Dynamic fine zoom is part of the Digital Zoom capability. When you have digital zoom turned on, as you zoom past the optical zoom limit, 60x, the zoom level indicator will turn blue. This is the dynamic fine zoom range in which the quality of the image is not decreased by using digital zoom. When you zoom more, the zoom indicator will turn yellow. In this range, the quality of the picture will decrease compared to the optical zoom picture. I hope this helps you. Thanks for viewing and for your comments.

[@carloscampa7628]

I'm trying do stars pictures, but can't find the correct exposure and iso yet, :(

[@MontanaMonk]

The P610 is a little limited to shoot stars. Easiest is to use the Scene mode for Night Sky or Star Trails, which produce a video. Both modes will set the exposure and will provide more exposure than you can set manually. If shooting manually for still images, use minimum zoom and maximum lens opening (lowest number aperture f3.3) and the slowest shutter speed, which will be 1/15 second. Set the ISO at 100. Changing ISO will just change shutter speed, so there is no exposure advantage to using a higher ISO. Increasing zoom from minimum will reduce the exposure, since the aperture is affected by zoom. Even with these settings, you will need a dark night with very little light pollution. High altitudes away from city lights would be best. Thank you for questions and thank you for viewing.

[@carloscampa7628]

@@MontanaMonk thanks, how awful that my camera have such limitations, :'( I'll try the way you say

[@MontanaMonk]

While shooting stars is more difficult and may not produce the results you want, the camera still has lots of features that make it a great tool. I have several other cameras that lack many of the features that the P610 has. They have their own benefits, but none will shoot the stars as well as I would like. Night shots, especially the stars, are difficult for most cameras that don't have large apertures and high ISO capability with low noise. Getting away from city lights and going to higher altitudes to reduce atmospheric interference will help a lot.