One of the key features that many high-end Nikon DSLRs hide in their menu system, is the ability to instantly zoom into an image at 100% zoom, or 1:1 magnification. This “one-click zoom feature” can be very useful when reviewing images on the rear LCD, as it saves you from having to press the zoom and the navigation buttons so many times in order to see whether the subject you are capturing is sharp or not – you simply press the center button (which is sometimes marked as “OK”) on the multi-selector and you instantly zoom to the area you focused at. Press it again and you go back to full view. If you shoot with a high resolution camera like the Nikon D810, it will save you a total of 9 zoom presses. Let’s take a look at how you can enable this awesome feature on your Nikon DSLR.
First of all, it is important to point out that the one-click zoom feature only works on higher-end and top-of-the-line Nikon DSLRs. Unfortunately, despite the fact that it is a firmware feature, Nikon does not want the owners of entry-level cameras to be able to take advantage of this time saving tool. So if you are wondering whether your camera can do this, you will first need to check the table below and see if your camera is listed. Second, the implementation of the one-click zoom feature differs on older cameras like the Nikon D700, where you might not have the 1:1 view option and might need to pick between “Low”, “Medium” and “High Magnification” instead. And lastly, you can use the one-click feature in combination with the rear dial – once zoomed in, if you rotate the rear dial, you can move between images while preserving the same level of magnification. This can save even more time when taking pictures of the same subject and comparing sharpness between images.
Compatible Nikon DSLR Cameras
Below are all the Nikon DSLRs that have the one-click zoom feature available:
- Nikon D7100, D7200
- Nikon D300, D300S
- Nikon D500
- Nikon D700
- Nikon D750
- Nikon D800, D800E, D810, D810A
- Nikon Df
- Nikon D2H, D2HS, D2X and D2XS
- Nikon D3, D3S, D3X
- Nikon D4, D4S
- Nikon D5
How to Enable One-Click Zoom Feature
In order to enable the one-click zoom feature, you have to navigate to the “Custom Setting Menu” and find the appropriate sub-menu. The name and the location of the feature is going to be slightly different depending on the camera you have, so please refer to the notes and the video below for more details.
- Press the “Menu” button
- Go to “Custom Setting Menu”
- Go to “Controls” (f)
- Select “Multi Selector Center Button”. If you have a DSLR such as the Nikon D7100, D7200, D750 or Df with the center button marked with “OK”, the menu name will be “OK button”.
- Select “Playback mode”
- Select “Zoom on/off”
- Select “1:1 (100%)”. On older cameras such as the Nikon D700 and D3-series and some cameras like the Df and D4-series, the recommended choice is “Medium”.
- Press “OK” to save
And here is a video that explains the above process in detail:
Hope you find this a useful feature to enable!