Nikon D780 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Nikon D780? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Nikon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the D780 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Nikon D780 below.

In any case, the D780 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was officially introduced on January 7th, 2020, which means that, as of today, the camera is 1434 days old (young?). Given that the D780 is a relatively recent model, it forms part of the current Nikon product line-up.
Nikon's reference manual for the D780
The camera's reference manual is 944 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the D780 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Nikon D780 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Nikon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Nikon D780 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Nikon D780
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your D780 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Nikon D780 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
amazon.com
Nikon D780 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D780.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Nikon D780?
The camera features a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D780 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Nikon equipped the D780 with the EXPEED 6 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D780?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D780?
Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 200 000 actuations for the D780. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D780 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D780?
Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D780 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Nikon D780?
No, the Nikon D780 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Nikon D780?
The D780 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Nikon D780 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D780 for flash photography?
The D780's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Nikon D780 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards, which provide for data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s, in both of its card slots.
Which battery does the Nikon D780 use?
The camera gets its power from the EN-EL15b (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Where can I find the best deals for the Nikon D780?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Nikon.
Further reading
How does the D780 stack up against available alternatives? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 5DS R vs Sony A9 II
- Canon R6 Mark II vs Nikon D780
- Epson R-D1 vs Nikon D780
- Fujifilm X-E3 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon D3S vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D5 vs Nikon D780
- Nikon D780 vs Olympus Stylus 1
- Nikon D780 vs Sony HX350
- Olympus Stylus 1s vs Sony A9 II
- Panasonic G9 vs Sony A9 II
- Pentax K-3 III vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A9 II vs Sony H400
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Nikon D780.
Camera Model | Nikon D780 | |
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Nikon F mount lenses | |
Launch Date | January 2020 | |
Launch Price | USD 2 299 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
---|---|---|
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 35.9 x 23.9 mm | |
Sensor Area | 858 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 43.1 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
Sensor Resolution | 24.3 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 6 048 x 4 024 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 5.94 μm | |
Pixel Density | 2.84 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 51 200 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 50 - 204 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | EXPEED 6 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.2 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 2359k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | No front-flip | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 12 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 200 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Dual card slots | |
UHS card support | Dual UHS-II | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
Studio Flash | PC Sync socket | |
USB Connector | USB 3.1 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | EN-EL15b power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 2260 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
144 x 116 x 76 mm (5.7 x 4.6 x 3.0 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 840 g (29.6 oz) |
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