Nikon Nikon FA manual

FA Nikon INSTRUCTION MANUAL WWW.LENSINC.NET / WWW.CAMERA-FIX.COM[...]

3 NOMENCLA TURE Aperture-direct-readout (ADR) window LCD illumination window Meter coupling lever Sync terminal Lens mounting index Lens type signal pin Lens release button Lens release pin Focal length indexing lever Maximum aperture indexing lever Reflex mirror Shutter speed indication illumination window Neckstrap eyelet Focusing screen holder r[...]

4 Shutter speed dial locking button Film sprockets Film take-up spool Camera back locking catch Film pressure plate Film roller Camera back Tripod/motor drive coupling socket Motor drive electrical contacts (with cover) Battery clip Viewfinder eyepiece Eyepiece shutter lever Film rewind fork Shutter curtains Film cartridge chamber Film guide pin Fi[...]

5 Aperture/distance index Depth-of-field indicators Distance scale Aperture scale Aperture ring Aperture-direct-readout (ADR) scale Monitor contact Shooting mode selector Shutter release fingerguard Shutter release button Frame counter Multiple exposure lever Shooting mode index Film advance lever Shutter speed dial Film plane indicator Shutter spe[...]

6 NOMENCLA TURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - 5 FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 BASIC OPERA TION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 - 38 INST ALLING BA TTERIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

7 FOREWORD Welcome to Nikon’s exciting world of picture-taking ease. T o put you in total control, the Nikon F A offers three automatic exposure modes, in addition to full manual override. For fastbreaking events, the programmed mode automatically sets both shutter speed and aperture for correct exposure in any light. Or when action must be stopp[...]

8 BASIC OPERATION INST ALLING BA TTERIES Remove the battery clip . Use a coin to unscrew it in counter clockwise direction 1. Insert batteries . Wipe the bat- tery terminals clean and insert the batteries, making sure that the + signs are up . Useable batteries for the Nikon F A camera are: • One 3V lithium battery • T wo 1.55V silver-oxide bat[...]

CHECKING BA TTER Y POWER Pull out the film advance lever to unlock the shutter release button . The lever doubles as a shutter release button lock. 1. Depress the shutter release button halfway to activate the exposure meter . 2. Check the LCD. Confirm that the LCD (liquid crystal display) is shown at the upper left in the viewfinder . This indicat[...]

10 BASIC OPERATION continued MOUNTING THE LENS Lenses usable with the Nikon F A are Al-S Nikkor, Nikon Series E, Al-Nikkor , most Al-modified, and certain special lenses shown at the right. First line up the aperture/distance index on the lens with the lens mounting index on the camera body . Then twist the lens mounting ring counterclockwise until[...]

11 In 1977, Nikon introduced Al-Nikkor lenses which feature full aperture metering via Nikon's "Automatic Maximum Aperture Indexing" or "Al" system. Just by mounting an Al lens on the camera, the maximum aperture is automatically indexed into the camera's metering system. All Al-type lenses feature a meter coupling rid[...]

BASIC OPERATION continued LOADING FILM Open the camera back While pushing the camera back locking lever counterclockwise, pull up the film rewind knob until the camera back pops open. 1. Insert the film cartridge. Position the cartridge in the film cartridge chamber with the leader pointing towards the takeup spool ; then push the rewind knob back [...]

13 Engage the film’ s perforations with the sprocket teeth. T urn the takeup spool slightly with your thumb, so that the first or second perforation at the bottom edge of the film s engaged with the small tooth at the bottom of the slot in the takeout spool, and the top and bottom perforations mesh securely with the sprockets 4. Advance the film [...]

14 BASIC OPERATION continued T ake up film slack. Fold out the film rewind crank and rotate gently in the direction of the arrow on the film rewind knob untill you feel a slight resistance. Then fold the crank back in. 6. Make blank exposure. T o dispose of the first few frames exposed during film loading, continue to alternately ad vance the film [...]

15 Frame Counter The additive type frame counter is graduated from S, two dots, 1, 2, 4— up to 36—in even numbers with odd numbers indicated by white dots in between The frame counter ad" advances a single frame by one complete stroke of the film advance lever . After reaching frame 36 of a 36exposure roll of film m, the counter will not o[...]

16 BASIC OPERATION continued SETTING FILM SPEED T o program the camera to give the correct exposure with a particular film, you must set the camera to the correct film speed Lift up the ASA/ISO film speed ring and rotate it in either direction until the red index dot is opposite the film speed in use. The scale on the ASA/ISO dial has settings from[...]

17 SELECTING THE SHOOTING MODE The Nikon F A offers four shooting modes: three automatic exposure modes, including P (programmed), S (shutter-priority), and A (aperture-priority), in addition to M (manual) mode. Moreover , the F A utilizes an automatic multi-pattern metering system in all three automatic modes to ensure correct exposure even in dif[...]

18 BASIC OPERATION continued Usable Shooting Modes/Metering Method Combination Chart Lens or accessory Shooting mode P SAM normal high-speed automatic multi-pattern centerweighted Metering method Al-S Nikkor Al-Nikkor Nikon Series E Al-modified Nikkor PC-Nikkor Reflex-Nikkor Medical-Nikkor T eleconverters TC-201, TC-301, TC-14A and TC-14B T eleconv[...]

19 Viewfinder Information 1. LCD exposure display . Appears when the exposure meter is turned on to show you the shutter speed or aperture selected by the camera in an automatic exposure mode or the shutter speed you set in the manual mode. Although the shutter speed and/or aperture is controlled steplessly in the automatic exposure modes, intermed[...]

20 BASIC OPERATION continued P (PROGRAMMED) MODE Set the mode selector to P . 1. Set the lens to it’ s minimum aperture (the largest f-num- ber). The shutter speed dial can be set at any position except M250 and B 2. Confirm that automatic multi- pattern metering is in opera- tion by making sure that the metering control button is in the normal ?[...]

21 Look through the viewfinder and check the exposure information. Depress the shutter release button halfway and you will see the LCD showing the shutter speed (as a reciprocal) selected by the camera to provide correct exposure. Note that a slow shutter speed results in blurred images (techniques for avoiding blurred images are explained on page [...]

22 BASIC OPERATION continued The black line represents the norma program for an Al-S or Al-Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens with ASA/ISO 100 film,whereas the green line represents the high-speed program for an Al-S Nikkor 135mm l/2 lens. For lenses with different maximum apertures (e.g. an Al-S or Al-Nikkor 24mm f/2 8 which is indicated by a red line or an A[...]

23 • The following lenses cannot be used in the P or S mode Zoom-Nikkor 50-300mm f/4 5 ED (older Al type without orange minimum aperture on ADR sea/e) Al modified Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4 • When using a Nikon T eleconverfer TC 200, TC-300 or TC 14, the shutter speed may vary by approx. one step from that displayed in the view finder . However you[...]

24 BASIC OPERATION continued S (SHUTTER-PRIORITY) MODE Set the mode selector to S . 1. Set the lens to it’ s minimum aperture. 2. Set the shutter speed dial to the desired shutter speed. The numbers on the dial are reciprocals, e.g., 4000 means 1/4000sec. The 250 engraved in red indicates the fastest sync speed for an electronic flash unit. Each [...]

25 Confirm that automatic multi- pattern metering is in operation by making sure that the metering control button is in the normal “out” position and the red index is not on top (refer to page 40 for more information) 4. Look through the viewfinder and check the exposure information. The shutter speed you set is shown at The upper right-hand co[...]

26 BASIC OPERATION continued The graph shows the shutter speed/aperture combination in the S mode at ASA/ISO 100. The red line represents an AI-S or Al-Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens at a shutter speed of 1/125 sec, while the black line for the same lens used at 1/30 sec The green line represents the control when the aperture ring is set by mistake to sett[...]

27 • The following lenses cannot be used in the P and S modes: Zoom Nikkor 50-300mm f/4 5 ED (older Al-type without orange minimum aperture on ADR scale) Al modified Micro Nikkor 105mm f/4 • In the S mode. if an aperture of f/1 1 or smaller is selected the following Al-Nikkor (including Al-modified) lenses may cause approx one step slower shutt[...]

28 BASIC OPERATION continued A (APERTURE-PRIORITY) MODE Set the mode selector to A . 1. Set the lens to the desired f- number . Although each number on the lens aperture ring has a click stop, you can also set the ring to inter- mediate settings. Note that small apertures give greater depth of feild, while large apertures restrict the zone of sharp[...]

29 If the LCD shows Hl , this means the scene is too bright and there s no shutter speed to match the aperture you selected. In this case, overexposure may occur . T o prevent this, stop the lens down until Hl disappears, if all else fails, attach a neutral density (ND) filter to the lens or change to a slower speed film. If the LCD displays Lo , t[...]

30 BASIC OPERATION continued M (MANUAL) MODE Set the mode selector to M . 1. Set the lens to the desired f- number . Although each number on the lens aperture ring has a click stop, you can also set the ring to inter- mediate settings. 2. Set the shutter speed dial to the desired shutter speed. The numbers on the dial are reciprocals, e.g., 4000 me[...]

31 Center your main subject in the viewfinder and check the exposure information. Remember that in the manual mode, centerweighted metering is always in operation regardless of the position of the metering control button. The selected f-number is shown through the ADR window When the shutter release button is depressed halfway , the LCD shows the s[...]

32 BASIC OPERATION continued HOLDING THE CAMERA Many blurred shots are caused by unsteady holding of the cam- era. The basic shooting posture is: Hold the camera at eye level while looking through the viewfinder . Cradle it in your hands with the fingers of your eft hand wrapped around the lens barrel and your elbow propped against your body for su[...]

33 Detachable Handgrip The F A's handgrip not only allows steady shooting but also fits comfortably in your hand. However , when shooting with a motor drive, you should remove the grip first T o do this, insert a coin into the slot, turn the screw counterclock wise until it loosens, then slide the grip down until it separates from the body . T[...]

34 BASIC OPERATION continued FOCUSING The F A-comes equipped with T ype K2 focusing screen suitable for all-purpose photography . While looking through the viewfinder compose your photo and turn the focusing ring of the lens until the subject looks clear . For precise pinpoint focusing on subjects with distant contours, use the central split- image[...]

35 Out of focus Out of focus Out of focus Out of focus (A) Split-image focusing In focus In focus (B) Microprism focusing (C) Matte field focusing WWW.LENSINC.NET / WWW.CAMERA-FIX.COM[...]

36 BASIC OPERATION continued T AKING PICTURES T rip the shutter by pushing the shutter release button all the way down; apply light but steady pressure with the ball of your index finger to avoid camera shake which might result in blurred Images. The shutter re ease button is threaded in its center to accept a standard cable release for tripping th[...]

37 UNLOADING FILM Push the film advance lever back into place to turn off the camera and lock the shutter release button. This action prevents inadvertent shutter release. 1. Depress the rewind button on the bottom of the camera. Y ou don’t have to apply continuous pressure to the button; just press it once. 2. 33 When the film reaches the end of[...]

38 BASIC OPERATION continued Rewind the film unfolding the film rewind crank and turning it in the direction of the arrow . When you feel the tension lessen, give it a few more turns until crank turns freely , indicating the film leader is rewound completely back into the cartridge. 3. Open the camera back and take out film cartridge. Avoid unloadi[...]

39 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES EXPOSURE METERING SYSTEM The Nikon F A employs through-the-lens (TTL) full aperture exposure metering. This means that light passing through the lens is measured at maximum aperture, thus assuring a bright finder image during shooting. Furthermore, to make exposure measurement easier than ever , the N[...]

40 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued Metering Control Button T o change from one metering method to the other, the Nikon F A features a metering control button. In its normal "out" position, you cannot see the red index (Fig. 1). In this position, the automatic multi-pattern metering method is automatically operating [...]

41 Comparison of Automatic Multi-Patter n and Centerweighted Metering If you compare the automatic multi-pattern and centerweighted metering systems, meter readings are virtually the same for ordinary front-it subjects or scenes having little difference in contrast between the main subject and the background. However , with scenes containing both v[...]

42 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued Automatic Multi-pattern Centerweighted Front-lit subject Front-lit subject against dark background If a brightly lit subject is positioned against a dark background, and is not in the center , centerweighted metering places too much emphasis on the dark center of the picture. The result is a[...]

43 Automatic Multi-pattern Centerweighted Scene containing the sun Automatic Multi-pattern Centerweighted Scene containing bright reflection WWW.LENSINC.NET / WWW.CAMERA-FIX.COM[...]

44 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued Automatic Multi-pattern Centerweighted Sunrise On the other hand, certain subjects are difficult for automatic multi-pattern metering to handle. For example: Sunrises and sunsets Here, you should change to centerweighted metering, especially when you want to emphasize the sun and clouds. Wit[...]

45 Automatic Multi-pattern Centerweighted Indoor backlit subject Indoor backlit subjects If the main subject is indoors in front of a bright window , underexposure may occur even it the subject occupies a large portion of the picture area because the difference in contrast between subject and background is too great for the camera to handle And eve[...]

46 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued RELA TIONSHIP BETWEEN SHUTTER SPEED AND APERTURE Shutter Speed (sec.) 1/4000 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30 Aperture (f-number) 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 1 1 16 The amount of light reaching the film plane is determined by a comb nation of shutter speed and lens aperture. A shutter speed o[...]

47 A fast shutter speed of 1/4000sec. stops the water in midair . At a slow 1/30sec. the water comes out a blur . WWW.LENSINC.NET / WWW.CAMERA-FIX.COM[...]

48 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued DEPTH OF FIELD When you shoot at a certain aperture and focusing distance, you will find that not only the main subject but also objects within a certain range in front of and behind it will be sharp in the final photograph This in focus zone'' is known as depth of field Objects be[...]

49 Lens set at f/2 Lens set at f/16 WWW.LENSINC.NET / WWW.CAMERA-FIX.COM[...]

50 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued EXPOSURE COMPENSA TION In Automatic Exposure Modes If you elect to use centerweighted metering in any of the automatic exposure modes, you can use the exposure compensation dial to obtain the correct exposure for the types of picturetaking situations listed above. Also under normal condition[...]

51 T o operate, press the locking button and turn the dial until the desired compensation value is opposite the red index .As a reminder , a red LED exposure compensation mark (+/-) appears on the right side of the viewfinder as soon as the exposure meter is turned on After use, make sure you reset the dial so that 0 is opposite the index 59 51 WWW[...]

52 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued In the Manual Mode There are two situations where it is difficult to get the correct exposure on automatic with centerweighted metering. They are (1) a front-lit scene with the main subject off-center and (2) an indoor backlit subject with the main subject either in the center or off-center [...]

53 Duplication Work and Photomicr ography In copy work, s side duplication, and photomicrography , you must make exposure compensation with centerweighted metering, because these types of photography represent unusual contrast situations Some lenses automatically switch the metering method to centerweighted. The table below shows the relationship b[...]

54 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued STOP-DOWN EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT Stop-down exposure measurement must be made whenever the aperture ring of the lens doesn't couple with the meter coupling lever ,~ of the camera. After focusing and switching on the meter , follow these procedures: For Lenses with Automatic Diaphragms In P[...]

55 MUL TIPLE EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY A multiple exposure is created by taking more than one shot on the same frame of film. Follow this procedure: 1) T ake the first shot. 2) Push the multiple exposure lever in the direction of the arrow as you wind the film advance lever fully . The film and frame counter will not advance; only the shutter is cocked [...]

56 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued UNMANNED PHOTOGRAPHY T o include yourself in your pictures, you can mount the F A on a tripod and use the self-timer to trip the shutter . Or by attaching a motor drive, you can control the F A from a distance with optional remote control accessories or an intervalometer . Self-Timer T o set[...]

57 INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY Eyepiece Shutter When unmanned photography is performed with the F A in one of its automatic exposure modes, stray light entering the eyepiece will affect the meter reading. T o prevent this, use the eyepiece shutter Just push the lever up to close the shutter . As a visual reminder that it is in use, the shutter blind is pa[...]

58 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY An electronic flash unit is convenient not only for night and dimlight shooting but also as a supplementary light to fill in the shadows in daylight. Daylight fill-in flash is especially effective when shooting outdoor subjects which are backlit or in motion. With a Nikon d[...]

59 Accessory Shoe and Sync T erminal The accessory shoe of the F A allows direct mounting of the Nikon Speedlight SB-15, SB-16B, SB-18, SB-19 or other electronic flash with an ISO-type mounting foot. Other flash units may be mounted with a flash unit coupler (see table on page 61). Four electrica contacts in the shoe provide the following: proper s[...]

60 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued Ready-Light Indication in the Viewfinder When the Nikon F A is used with Nikon Speedlights SB-15, SB- 16B, SB 18, SB 19, etc, the F A's ready-light LED in the viewfind- er lights up when the flash is recycled. This way , you're easily informed of flash reediness without having to t[...]

61 Nikon F A/Speedlight Combination Char t Speedlight SB-19 direct provided yes auto SB-18 direct provided yes TTL, manual SB-17 via AS-6 coupler provided yes auto, manual, MD SB-16A via AS-6 coupler provided yes auto, manual, MD SB-16B direct provided yes TTL, manual, auto, MD SB-15 direct provided yes TTL, manual, auto, MD SB-1 1/14 SB-12 SB-10 S[...]

62 TECHNICAL INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES continued CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY For shooting subjects which are located closer than the closest possible focusing distance of the lens, Nikon offers a wide variety of close up equipment as shown below . In close up photography , depth of field is usually quite shallow . Thus, you should stop the lens d[...]

63 ELECTRONIC FLASH UNITS Designed to complement the versatility of the F A, Nikon has three electronic flash units which mount directly to the camera's accessory shoe and feature automatic TTL (through-the-lens) control of the flash exposure Also, with the camera in one of the automatic exposure modes (P , S and A). or manually set at 1/500se[...]

64 ACCESSORIES continued MOTOR DRIVES Motor Drive MD-15 The use of the Motor Drive MD-15 with the F A enables auto- matic film advance when the unit's trigger button is pressed. In addition to single frame shooting, continuous firing at the maximum rate of 3.2 frames per second is possible (at 1/125 sec or faster). The MD-15 is very convenient[...]

65 MISCELLANEOUS Data Back MF-16 T o keep track of when photos were taken, the FA accepts the slim, lightweight Data Back MF-16. This back attaches in place of the F A's regular camera back with no sync cord required. Three imprinting modes are provided: year/month/day (up to the year 2100), day/hour/minute, or picture counting (up to 2000): e[...]

66 ACCESSORIES continued Interchangeable Focusing Scr eens Three different types of focusing screens are usable with lhe Nikon F A. The T ype K2 screen comes with the camera as a standard accessory . T wo optional focusing screens, T ype B2 (matte/Fresnei with focusing spot) and T ype E2 (matte/Fresnel with focusing spot and etched grid lines) are [...]

67 Focusing Screen Selection Guide T ype Split-image rangefinder/ microprism system Matte system Horizontal and vertical line etched system Suitable for general photography Has microprism collar around the central split-image rangefinder spot. With PC-Nikkor or lensed haveing a maximum aperature slower than f/4.5, the split-image rangefinder or mic[...]

68 ACCESSORIES continued Filters Nikon filters allow you to balance the light to match your film or to create interesting artistic effects. Nikon filters are divided into the screw-in, drop-in, and bayonet type. With the Nikon F A, the filter factor can be ignored except in the case of the R60. When using the R60 in tungsten lighting, set the apert[...]

69 Anti-Cold Battery Pack DB-2 In cold weather , use the Anti-Cold Battery Pack DB-2, which accepts two AA-type batteries, as an alternative power supply to the batteries inside the camera body Simply connect the DB-2 to the camera body , then slip the assembly inside your pocket or coat to keep it warm. This assures that the camera's meter- i[...]

70 EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA What is EV? Exposure value (EV) is a number representing the available combinations of shutter speed and aperture that give the same exposure effect when the scene brightness and ASA/ISO remain the same. At ASA/ISO 100, the combination of a one-second shutter speed and an aperture of f/1 4 is defined as EV 1. If the apertu[...]

71 1.4 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/4000 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/4000 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/4000 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/4000 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/4000 1 1[...]

72 TIPS ON CAMERA CARE Although the P A is a tough and durable camera bear in mind that it is a precision optical instrument and that careless or rough handling may damage it. Observe the following tips and the F A will always work as perfectly as the day you bought it. • Before using the camera, it is a good practice to check it thoroughly first[...]

73 • Clean metalic parts with a blower brush or with a soft dry cloth. • When not using the camera for a long time, take out the batteries and store the cam- era away from high tempera- ture hih humidity , naphtha- lene, or camphor . • In a humid environment, it is best to store the camera in a vinyi bag with a desiccant to keep away dust, mo[...]

74 TIPS ON BATTERY USE ABOUT THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD) Keep batteries away from infants and small children, In case a battery is accidentally swallowed, call a doctor immediately as the material inside the batteries may be fatal. Battery power falls off in extremely cold temperatures and this may cause the camera to cease to operate. In this[...]

75 SPECIFICATIONS T ype of camera 35mm single-lens reflex Picture format 24mm X 36mm (standard 35 mm film format) Lens mount Nikon bayonet mount Lenses More than 60 Nikkor and Nikon Series E lenses available Viewfiner Fixed eyelevel pentaprism type; 0.8X magnification with 50mm lens set at infinity; 93°/0 frame coverage; eye piece shutter provided[...]

76 SPECIFICATIONS continued M mode: Both aperture and shutter speed set manually . Exposure P mode: Viewfinder LCD shows information discrete shutter speed closest to automatically selected speed; LCD also shows HI or Lo indication to warn of over- or underexposure or FEE to warn of aperture missetting. S mode: LCD shows discrete f-number closest t[...]

77 Depth-of-field Provides visual verification of depth of preview lever field; with lever depressed, center weighted metering only available Reflex mirror Automatic instant-return type Multiple exposures Possible via lever Camera back Hinged interchangeable type with memo holder; interchangeable with Data Back MF-16 or MF-12 Data back contacts T w[...]

NIPPON KOGAKU K.K. Nikon WWW.LENSINC.NET / WWW.CAMERA-FIX.COM[...]

Nikon FA, 1983-1989 Modern Classic SLRs Series : Nikon FA - Specifications Type of camera 35mm single-lens reflex Picture format 24mm X 36mm (standard 35 mm film format) Lens mount Nikon bayonet mount, Maximum aperture index that works with Automatic with AI-S and AI Nikkor lenses Lenses Standard lenses during its official availablity: AI-S Nikkor [...]