Modern Classic SLRs Series : Nikon F - Camera Instruction Manual Forewards The Nikon F offers the quality performance, handling convenience and versatility you need for truly professional shooting. To get the best results from your camera, a thorough familiarity with its operation is essential. Study the instructions carefully and practice using the controls before loading any film in the camera. Keep this booklet handy for ready reference until you have mastered its basics.
1. Depth-of-field preview button Press to preview how much background or foreground is in or out of focus. 2. Black dot For alignment with the black dot on the lens barrel when removing the lens. 3. Lens release button Unlocks the lens for removing or changing lenses. 4. Flash terminal Accepts synchro cord for electronic flash or flash units other than Nikon BC-7. 5. Self-timer Can be set for picture-taking delay up to 10 seconds. 6.
Contents Nomenclature Foreword Loading the Camera Unloading Frame Counter and Film Load Reminder Film-Speed Reminder Dial Film-Plane Indicator Film-Advance Lever Selecting the Shutter Speed Setting the Aperture Aperture and Depth of Field Using the Depth-of-Field Preview Button How to Hold the Camera Focusing Changing the Viewfinder Changing the Focusing Screen Interchangeable Focusing Screens for the Nikon F Focusing Screen Selector Chart Changing the Lens Locking Up the Mirror Flash Synchronization Using
Loading the camera Turn the lock on the camera baseplate to the "open" position as shown by the arrow Slide the one-piece baseplate and camera back downward and off. Drop a film cartridge or loaded cassette into the film chamber so that the notched end of the rewind knob engages the cassette or cartridge. Insert the end of the film leader into any of the four slots in the take-up spool.
Frame Counter and Film-Load Reminder The frame counter located in the hub of the film-advance lever shows the number of frames which have been exposed. It resets itself automatically to two frames before zero when the camera back is removed. There are red indicators for numbers 0, 20 and 36, and the frame counter stops at the 36 mark. The filmload reminder opposite the frame counter is set manually by means of an indicator pin to serve as a reminder of the number of exposures on the film in the camera.
Selecting the shutter speed The numbers on the shutter speed dial stand for fractions of a second. 125 represents 1/125 second and so forth. At the B (Bulb) setting, the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release button is held down. The Nikon F also has a T (Time) setting; at this setting, the shutter will remain open until it is closed manually by rotating the shutter speed dial one click stop in either direction.
Setting the aperture To preset the lens aperture, turn the knurled aperture ring on the lens barrel until the desired f/number lines up with the black dot in the top center of the milled ring. The diaphragm can also be preset for intermediate apertures between the click-stopped markings. Aperture and Depth of Field The lens aperture determines the amount of light which passes through the lens and strikes the film. It also influences depth of field.
3.Lens at smallest aperture. Creat depth of field with subject, background and foreground in focus. Using the Depth-of-Field Preview Button The depth of field at taking aperture can be seen by depressing the depth-of-field preview button located on the front of the camera. When the button is pressed, the diaphragm closes down to the preselected taking aperture and the exact conditions of taking aperture and allows you to see how much background or foreground is in or out of focus.
Setting the aperture To preset the lens aperture, turn the knurled aperture ring on the lens barrel until the desired f/number lines up with the black dot in the top center of the milled ring. The diaphragm can also be preset for intermediate apertures between the click-stopped markings.
How to hold the camera The camera must be held correctly for best results, since even the slightest camera shake at the moment of exposure will result in an appreciable loss of sharpness. Photos show the best way to hold the camera for rocksteady picture taking.
Turn the focusing ring until the two halves of the rangefinder image coincide to form a single, sharp image. Focusing can also be done by setting the distance scale on the lens barrel for the lensto-subject distance as measured or estimated. This is especially useful when the camera must be prefocused to capture an elusive subject. Focusing is always done at full aperture with Nikkor Auto lenses. This ensures a bright, clear finder image for accurate focusing, viewing and framing.
Changing the viewfinder Five interchangeable viewfinders are available for the Nikon F: Eye-Level, Waist-Level, 6X Focusing, Action and Photomic FTN. The Photomic FTN finder incorporates the centerweighted thru-the-lens metering system and couples to shutter speed and aperture controls. With the exception of the Photomic FTN, all viewfinders are interchanged in the same way. To remove the finder, press the finder release button on the back of the camera body.
Changing the focusing screen Seventeen different focusing screens are available for the Nikon F to match exactly any focal-length lens or picture-taking situation. Any of the seventeen screens may be used with any of the finders available for the Nikon F. To change the focusing screen, first remove the viewfinder as described earlier. Then turn the camera body upside down and press the finder release button a second time. The screen will drop into your hand.
Interchangeable Focusing Screens for the Nikon F Type A,L Type B Type C Type A: Matte Fresnel field with 3mm¢circular split-image rangefinder spot and 12mm¢ circle. Rapid and accurate focusing. Excellent for general photography. Type L: Same as Type A screen but with split-image rangefinder line at a 45° angle. Best for subjects with horizontal lines. Matte Fresnel field with 12mm¢ finegroudd matte focusing spot in the center. Good for general photography, especially with long telephoto lenses.
Focusing Screen Chart Caution: Sooner or later dust will find its way onto and under the {ocusing screen. Keep its surface clean using a fine dust brush designed for photographic lenses. If fingerprints or greasy marks do get onto the screen, blow gently on the surface and wipe away the marks carefully with photographic lens tissue. The rear surface of the screen is made of acryl resin. Special care should be taken to protect it from scratching or excessive pressure.
Type of screen A/L B C D E G1 G2 G3 G4 H1 H2 H3 H4 J K M Lens 6mm 8mm 20mm 24mm 28mm Wideangle 28mm 35mm 35mm 35mm 50mm Normal 50mm 55mm 85mm 105mm 135mm 135mm 180mm Telephoto 200mm 300mm 400mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm 43-86mm 50-300mm Zoom 80-200mm 85-250mm 200-600mm GN 45mm Micro-P 55mm PC 35mm Bellows 105mm Medical 200mm 500mm Reflex 1000mm Telephoto 2000mm Fisheye f/2.8 f/2.8 f/3.5 f/2.8 f/3.5 f/2 f/2.8 f/2 f/1.4 f/2 f/1.4 f/1.2 f/1.8 f/2.5 f/3.5 f/2.8 f/2.8 f/4 f/4.5 f/4.5 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/3.5 f/4.5 f/4.
Flash Synchronization To remove the lens from the camera, press down on the lens release button and turn the lens clockwise until the black dot on the lens barrel lines up with the black dot on the front of the camera body. The lens will slip off easily. To mount a different lens, place it in position in the camera's bayonet mount, align the black dots and twist the lens barrel counterclockwise until the lens locks into place with a click. Note: With the 6mm f/5.6 Fisheye-Nikkor and 10mm f/5.
Looking up the mirror The reflex mirror can be locked in the "up" position out of the optical path for use with the Fisheye-Nikkor 6mm f/5.6 and the OP Fisheye-Nikkor 10mm f/5.6, whose rear elements protrude into the camera body and interfere with the movement of the mirror. Locking up is also necessary for shooting with the Nikon Motor Drive at its top speed of 4 frames per second. Turn the mirror lock knob upward so that the black dot on the knob lines up with the red dot on the camera front plate.
Flash synchronization The Nikon F is designed to synchronize correctly at all shutter speeds (except T) with various types of flashbulbs and with electronic flash at speeds up to 1/60 second. To set the camera for flash, lift up and turn the milled synchro-selector ring around the shutter speed dial until the desired marking appears in the selector window. The table on page 27 shows which marking to use, depending on the type of flashbulb and shutter speed used.
Using self-timer The self-timer trips the shutter at any time delay trom 3 to 10 seconds. It has white indicator dots for 3-, 6- and ]O-second delay and can be set either before or after the shutter is wound. To set the self-timer, turn the lever on the front of the camera body downward for the desired delay. The timer is actuated by its own release button, located beneath the end of the lever in its uncocked position.
Infrared picture-taking In infrared photography, the plane of sharpest image is slightly more distant than the one produced by visible light and seen by the naked eye through the viewfinder. To compensate for the shTh in focus, Nikkor lenses have a red dot or line engraved on the lens barrel near the color-coded depth-of-field index scale on top of the lens. After focusing the image sharply through the viewfinder, turn the focusing ring to the left until the red dot lines up with the prefocused distance.
Accessories-Lens Hoods The use of a lens hood is recommended at all times to prevent extraneous light from striking the lens surface and causing flare or ghost, and as an added measure of protection against damage to the lens. Nikon lens hoods come in four types depending on the lens: Screw-In, Snap-On, Slip-On and Builtln. They are calculated precisely for each focal-length Nikkor lens to provide maximum protection against stray light.
Accessories-Filters Nikon filters are made of optical glass, ground and polished so that both surfaces are optically flat and parallel. Nikkor lenses and Nikon filters are made for each other. For best results, use Nikon filters on Nikkor lenses. Nikon filters are available in both screw-in and series mounts, depending on the type of lens. Since filters cut down on the light passing through the lens, some increase in exposure time or in lens opening is necessary to compensate for the loss of light.
Note: If you wish to leave a filter on the lens to protect it against accidental damage, the use of the L37 filter is recommended. If the lens is pointed toward the sun or toward a very bright light at ni2rkt, it is best to remove any filter, including the L37, since light reflected from the filter surface may form ghost images on the film. Accessories-Finder Eyecup The finder eyecup screws directly onto the finder eyepiece to prevent extraneous light from entering the viewfinder.
Camera care Good camera care is primarily common sense care. Treat your Nikon F as you would any valuable precision instrument and it will last a lifetime. Although the Nikon F is ruggedly constructed to stand up for years under normal use, it may be damaged by shock, heat, water or misuse. The following are some basic tips for keeping your camera in top condition. Storage Keep the camera in an eveready case or compartment case when not in use to protect it from dust.
Nikon F features/ specifications 35mm single-lens-reflex camera. Negative size 24 x 36mm (about 1" x 1-1/2") Interchangeable Eye-Level finder with pentaprism supplied as starrdard equipment Type A interchangeable focusing screen supplied as standard equipment Vibration-free automatic instant-return mirror with locking-up feature Focal-plane shutter with titanium foil shutter curtain.
