Why does the Nikon D90 viewfinder show a 4×4 grid, and can it be changed to a rule-of-thirds grid?
Asked 3/27/2012
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My Nikon D90 viewfinder displays an evenly spaced 4×4-style grid, but I was expecting a 3×3 rule-of-thirds grid. Why did Nikon choose this layout? Can it be changed with a firmware/software update, or is it a physical part of the viewfinder? Also, are there cameras or viewfinder screens that offer a true 3×3 or golden-ratio grid?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
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See this on the golden ratio and this on the rule of thirds. In short, these "rules" aren't very well supported as rules, and Nikon's assumption might be that they're unlikely to be very important to someone buying a mid-level DSLR. The even division has the advantage of showing you the center nicely, and simply having more lines is nice for alignment because it's more likely that something linear in the scene will correspond.
You can't change this in software, as the lines are physically on the screen. I don't believe Nikon makes official replacement, but you can get third-party focusing screens from KatzEye Optics with various grids, including "Rule of Thirds Grid" and various crop lines for 8×10 or square format or etc. If you really would like golden ratio grids, they'll do that too as a custom option.
Alternately, it looks like the corner focusing point indicators are on or very close to thirds; you can use that for composition instead.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
14y ago
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What you’re seeing is an evenly divided grid, but in practice it still gives you the thirds guides: three internal vertical lines and three internal horizontal lines, whose intersections correspond to rule-of-thirds points.
Nikon likely chose this style because it also marks the center clearly and gives more reference lines for leveling horizons or aligning straight subjects. The rule of thirds and golden ratio are composition guides, not hard rules, so manufacturers don’t always prioritize a dedicated 3×3 display.
This is not something you can change with firmware. On cameras like the D90, the grid is part of the physical focusing/viewfinder screen, so changing it would require replacing that screen, not a software update.
If you specifically want a different layout, third-party focusing screens have been available with alternative markings, including rule-of-thirds, crop lines, and even golden-ratio patterns. Some cameras and accessories also offer different grid overlays, but it depends on the model.
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