Nikon D80 Manuel D’Utilisation

In aperture-priority auto, you choose the aperture from values between the minimum and 
maximum for the lens while the camera automatically selects the shutter speed that will 
produce the optimal exposure.  Small apertures (high f/-numbers) increase depth of fi eld, 
bringing both the main subject and background into focus.  Large apertures (low f/-num-
bers) soften background details.

To take photographs in aperture-priority auto:

  Rotate the mode dial to A.

  Rotate the sub-command dial to choose the desired aperture.

  Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot.

“Depth of fi eld” is the distance to which objects behind and in front of the focus point appear to be in 
focus. Large apertures (low f/-numbers) reduce depth of fi eld, blurring objects behind and in front of 
the main subject. Small apertures (high f/-numbers) increase depth of fi eld, bringing out details in the 
background and foreground (note that depth of fi eld is also infl uenced by other factors, such as focal 
length and focus distance). Short fi eld depths are generally used in portraits to blur background de-
tails, long fi eld depths in landscape photographs to bring the foreground and background into focus.

To preview depth of fi eld, press and hold the depth-of-fi eld preview but-
ton.  The lens will be stopped down to the current aperture value, allowing 
depth of fi eld to be previewed in the viewfi nder.