DSLRUsers.com

when programmers try to be your friend, and try to program devices "smartly" for you?

Like ... just about everything that Microsoft does?

or so-called smart devices? They never are!

And the D300.

Great idea in that Nikon give you a "My Menu" feature, so that you can add some features that you frequently use to your own customisable menu.

Except that the first Item I decide I want to add to this - formating my CF card - is not able to be added to My Menu.

Smart programmers? My arse!

safety feature? removes possible accidental formatting? i dunno.

Laurie wrote:safety feature? removes possible accidental formatting? i dunno.

Thats what I was thinking, but it is the users menu..Sooo.

This is probably a silly question, but can you rename the menu Items you put in the user menu? If so, then it could be a safety feature as you could rename "Format" to "Save photo"

Gary if you are really that unhappy with your D300, I am prepared to swap my D70 with you & all your worries will be gone. technology aint it grand.

My first reaction is that that seems rather silly (much like the 2 lines of info at the bottom of the playback screen, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away again ). My second reaction, after I thought about it a bit, is why would you use a menu item to format the CF card?

MCWB wrote:My first reaction is that that seems rather silly (much like the 2 lines of info at the bottom of the playback screen, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away again ). My second reaction, after I thought about it a bit, is why would you use a menu item to format the CF card?

Precisely my thoughts

Two button format works for me (both on the D70 and the D300). Who could ask for anything more?

same as the d3. you can add the iso settings menu to the shortcut menu, but it doesnt open to the submenu (inside iso settings).. pretty farkn pointless !

sirhc55 wrote:

MCWB wrote:My first reaction is that that seems rather silly (much like the 2 lines of info at the bottom of the playback screen, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away again ). My second reaction, after I thought about it a bit, is why would you use a menu item to format the CF card?

Precisely my thoughts

I find the two-button format to be non-ergonomic and unintuitive.

I don't like any two-button functions, actually.

I just wish I could set the af-on button to activate iso instead.

I find it really awkard having the iso button on the top left (former canon user).. I have to stop supporting the lens to make a iso change..

Other than that... the d300 is awesome

I have had a number of occasions (D70s-D200) where the two button format has not done a complete job......

I also do it thru menu only now.

More smart programming that ain't!



View-NX, on the Mac.

I want to move the window out of the way of some other stuff I'm doing, so I push the window down, so that it only half occupies the whole window, and I can see my other apps.

Bloody V-NX puts the damn window back where it was.

Who decided upon that crappy functionality? It's my bloody screen: I will decide where the bloody program windows will be!

team piggy wrote:I have had a number of occasions (D70s-D200) where the two button format has not done a complete job......

I've not seen any reliability issues with the two button method; I just don't think it's good ergonomic design.

team piggy wrote:I have had a number of occasions (D70s-D200) where the two button format has not done a complete job......

It has always worked 100% for me on my D70. Perhaps you didn't hit the buttons the second time (when FOR starts flashing).

gstark wrote:I find the two-button format to be non-ergonomic and unintuitive.

I don't like any two-button functions, actually.

Fair enough. Do you prefer the new zoom method in playback?

MCWB wrote:

gstark wrote:I find the two-button format to be non-ergonomic and unintuitive.

I don't like any two-button functions, actually.

Fair enough. Do you prefer the new zoom method in playback?

Yes I do.

It took a few days to get used to, but I much prefer it: you don't have to go turn on the zoom function as you do in the D70/D200.

Oddly, this new (for Nikon) methodology is the same as used on the 30D, but (and I'm sure this is because I'm more familiar with the Nikon than the Canon) I prefer the placement of the buttons for this as they exist on the D300 than on the 30D.

As a side note and WRT playback, within the playback settings menu you have some viewing options that can be set: focus point, highlights, etc ... I don't paticularly like how, having checked the desired checkboxes, you then need to go to the menu option of "done" and then press "ok".

I would have thought that simply pressing "ok" after making your selection would have been adequate. Is this yet another example of too-smart programming that has failed, or just a matter of Nikon being a tad too defensive?

At least it's not as bad as M$ Vi$ta.

gstark wrote:At least it's not as bad as M$ Vi$ta.

Nothing is that bad!

ATJ wrote:It has always worked 100% for me on my D70. Perhaps you didn't hit the buttons the second time (when FOR starts flashing).

Nope did it correct.

It seemed to be more of an issue if a card had been used in the 70 then cleared (on PC) and then entered to the D200 it seemed to "bring something across" that upset it.

Simple fix: Buy all new cards and dont ever mix them ! Yay!

I bought another 200 a few weeks later so the 70 doesnt get used anyway!

is there really a demand for memeory card formatting to b a "quick access" type of feature ??

Rooz wrote:is there really a demand for memeory card formatting to b a "quick access" type of feature??

Quick quiz: DO NOT open your camera's menu to answer this.

Which of the D300's main menu options is it located on?

Which of those main menu settings is the default?

i wouldnlt have the faintest idea. a bif F for rooz.

gstark wrote:

Rooz wrote:is there really a demand for memeory card formatting to b a "quick access" type of feature??

Quick quiz: DO NOT open your camera's menu to answer this.

Which of the D300's main menu options is it located on?

Which of those main menu settings is the default?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you asking which menu has the Card Format? If so, I believe it is the Setup Menu.

The default main menu is the last one you were in.

Rooz wrote:is there really a demand for memeory card formatting to b a "quick access" type of feature ??

In my opinion, yes, very much so. I want to be able to pull the card from the card reader, stick it in the camera and be ready to use it as quickly as possible. Two button format works well for me for this.

thats my point. surely thats quick enuf. why the need to add it into "my menu" as a shortcut ??

Rooz wrote:thats my point. surely thats quick enuf. why the need to add it into "my menu" as a shortcut ??

Sorry, I misunderstood. Putting it on a menu would make it much slower.

In fact, I just tried it with my D300 (and I was correct, it is in the Setup Menu) and the camera defaulted to where I was last, which was way down in the set up menu. To format, I had to hit the menu button, scroll all the way up through the menu, click right on the menu item, then up to select yes, then OK to format and then menu button twice to quit.

Rooz wrote:thats my point. surely thats quick enuf. why the need to add it into "my menu" as a shortcut ??

See above; I do not like the two button method.

Not at all.

Never have; it's ergonomically screwed.

I want to - and I do - use the menu, but I want to know exactly where to find the options I want - which includes formatting a bloody CF card - without trying to remember where the hell the damn thing is.

That's the beauty of the D300's flawed design - you like the two button method and it works for you; that's great. I have no issues with how you choose to do it.

But I don't like that method; I prefer the alternative, but while Nikon have provided a "My Menu" function, they are then preventing me from using it.

What a farce!

ATJ wrote:

Rooz wrote:thats my point. surely thats quick enuf. why the need to add it into "my menu" as a shortcut ??

Sorry, I misunderstood. Putting it on a menu would make it much slower.

Rooz, your point is irrelevant because speed is not the issue. Sorry.

I object to two-button functionality because it's ergonomically bad design.

you object too much gaz.

A bit like adjustable/customisable ergos on a bike. You are limited to the adjustability that we the manufacturer decide on. Fits some but not all.