Nikon FM and FE Guide Product booklet

CONTENTS


    PART ONE: THE CAMERAS
                        I TTIKOII FM
lntroduction                                       10                                            ItIBasic Operation of tho tlikon Ft                   16
     INSTALLING BATTERIES                        16
    CHECKING BATTERIES                          17
     LOADING FILM                                17
     SETTING ASA FILM SPEED                    20
    TURNING ON THE METER                     20
    SETTING SHUTTER SPEED AND APERTURE       21     F()CUSING                                  23  EI
    TAKING PICTURES                           24
    REWINDING AND UNLOADING FITM            24
Detailed 0peration of the tlikon FM                26
    SETTING EXPOSURE                         26
     Through-the-lens metering. Shutter speed.
        Aperture. Viewfinder display. Metering range.                              II    VIEWING AND FOCUSING                         3l
     Focusing system. Depth of field. Depth-of-field
         scale.
     (lTHER FEATURES                           35
     Shutter-operation mode selector. Self-timer.
        Multiple-exposure  button.                              II

MANUAL ()PERATI()N ()F THE NIKON FE         70
      Shutter-speed  dial. Meter switch. Viewfinder
          display. Metering range.                I
     VIEWING AND F()CUSING                       73
      Standard focusing screen. Accessory focusing
         screens. Changing focusing screens.
     ()THER FEATURES                           76
      Self-timer. Multiple-exposure  lever.
     M()UNTING ANO REMOVING LENSES            78
     Mounting Al lenses. Mounting non-Al lenses.       Removing lenses.                  II
     ST()PPED.D()WN METERING                   80
     Non-Al automatic lenses. Non-automatic lenses.
        Fixed-aperture lenses.                I .   FLASH SYNCHR()NIZATION                    83
     Nikon Speedlight SB- 1 0.                I
   3 tTIKOt{ MOTOB DRIVES MD.I I AIID MD- I 2               I
Introduction                                    86
Operation of the MD- | 2 and MD- | |                 9t                I    ATTACHING THE M()T()R DRIVES                  91
     ()PERATING THE CAMERA                          91
    S_C SELECT()R DIAL                         92
    MANUAL FILM ADVANCE                     93                I
     MUTTIPLE EXPOSURES                       94
    REWINDING FILM                          96               I

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          PART TWO: GENERAL
      PHOTOGRAPH IC TECH N IOU ESI        lntroduction                                    98
       Lenses and Their Uses                          98
          LENS CHARACTERISTICS                      98t          Focal length. Speed. Depth of field.
             Perspective distortion.
          NORMAL LENSES                               101E        WIDE-ANGLE LENSES                        103
            TELEPHOT() LENSES                         103
           Z()OM LENSES                             105
                                                     106        Films and FiltersI                                                     106           FILM CHARACTERISTICS
             Speed. Grain. Contrast.Color balance. Reversal
               and negative films. Latitude.
                 FILMS                               r08I       SLOW
            ME[)IUM-SPEED FILMS                      108
           HIGH.SPEED FILMS                         108
           SPECIAL.PURPOSE FILMS                    109I         Kodak High-Contrast Copy Film. Kodak Direct
                  Positive Panchromatic Film. Kodak High Speed
                   lnfrared Film. Kodak Ektachrome Infrared Film.
               Eastman 5247. Kodak Ektachrome SlideI                  Duplicating Film.
             FILTER SYSI'EMS                           110
             FILTERS F()R BLACK-AND-WHITE FILMS        110
             FILTERS FOR C()L()R FILMS                  112I
              Color-conversion filters. Light-balancing  filters.
                Color-compensating  f ilters.I

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         1 NIKON FM      INTRODUCTION     I
   The Nikon FM is a manual-exposure 35 mm single-
 lens-reflex camera with a fully mechanical shutter: batterypower is required only for the built-in center-weighted I
exposure meter. Electronic flash synchronization is possible
at shutter speeds up to 1/125 sec.
   The exposure readout in the viewfinder of the NikonFM consists of three light-emitting diodes (LED'S) which, I
combined, indicate five degrees of exposure. The shutter
speed and (when Al lenses are used) aperture are also
visible in the viewfinder.                I
   The center-weighted meter uses fast-acting gallium
photodiodes. The Nikon Type K focusing screen, featuring a
split-image rangefinder, microprism ring, and fine-matteoutfield, is standard equipment.        I
   The motor drives for the Nikon FM, the compact,
lightweight MD-12 and MD-11, offer a maximum firing
rate of 3.5 frames per second. The motor drives also serveas the camera's exp0sure-meter switch. (Without the I
motor drive, the camera's   f ilm-advance serves as the
meter switch.) The MD-12 and MD-11 accept all remote-
c0ntrol accessories of the Nikon system, including the                Iradio-control set, the intervalometer, and the modulite
remote-control set.

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            Multiple exposures are simple with the Nikon FM. The
         multiple-exposure  button assures precise registration of
         the film for any number of exposures'  lt may also be usedI
         in conjunction with the motor drive.
         The Nikon FM accepts the complete range of Nikkor
         lenses, except those few lenses, such as some of theI     Fisheye-Nikkors, which require locking up the reflex mirror
         to attach.I          lntrcduced in  | 977, the Nikon FM is the first
           fixed-prism compact Nikon SLR.lt has a
          mechanical shuttec and uses gallium
            -readoutphotodiodes for exposurc metering- Exposurc
                        is via three LED's in the viewfinder
        Maximum aperturc indexing is automatic
        when Nikkor Af bnses arc used.tII
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       NIKON FM - PARTS NOMENCLATUREr      t. ASA-selector/shutter speed ring
         2. Shutter-release button
         3. Shutter-release fingerguard/mode'selector'
         c. Neckstrap eyeletE
         s. Depth-of-field preview lever
         e. Self-timer lever
         z. Lens-mounting flange
         e. Aperture-direct-readout windowI     g. Meter-coupling lever
       to. Meter-coupling lever release
              t t. Sync terminal
        t2. Lens-mounting index
        tg. Lens-release button
        tc. Reflex mirror
               t s. Motor-drive shutter couplingf,I    te. Motor-drive film-advance coupling
        tz. Film-rewind button
        ta. Tripod socket
        19. Battery chamber
       2o. Motor-drive electrical contacts
        zt. Film memo holderII
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       22. Distance scale
       zs. Focusing ringI    24. Aperture ring
       zs. Meter-coupling ridge
       2G. Aperture/distance  scale index
       27. Metercoupling shoeI    za. Depth-of-field  indicators
        29. Aperture-direct-readout  scale
        3o. Film-rewind crank
        gt. Film-rewind knobI        sz. Safety lock
        ae. Film-plane indicator
        g+. Hot-shoe
        3s. Hot-shoe contact
        ge. Viewfinder eYePiece
        sz. Shutter-speed index
        38. Shutter-sPeed  selectorII    39. Frame counter
        +0. ASA film-speed window
        +t. Shutter-operation mode index
        ez. Film-advance lever
        43. Meter 0N index
        +c. Multi-exposure buttontI
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            'Not present on later-model FM's.
                                                          r5I

BASIC OPERATION
     OF THE NIKON FM                I
        INSTALLING BATTERIES
   The metering system of the Nikon FM is powered by
two 1.5-volt silver-oxide batteries. lf the batteries are                Imissing 0r worn out, you will not be able to use the
through-the-lens exposure meter. All other camera func-
tions, however, will be unaffected.   Unscrew the battery-chamber cover 0n the camera's  I
baseplate and install the batteries in the battery clip,
following the polarity indicated by rhe diagram inside rhe
clip. Replace the clip and battery-chamber cover.

  The exposurc meter is powercd by two 1.5-
  wlt silver-oxide batteries. Make surc that they
  arc inserted with their positive h) and
  negative F) markings aligned as shown on
  the clip.                                                           IIII
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          To check the condition of the batteries, pull
             the fitm-advance lever away frcm the camera
           body, uncovering the rcd dot on the camera'sI        top'deck.  lf any of the LED's in the viewfinder
           glow, the batteries are vwrking prcperly.I
             CHECKING BATTERIES
          Move the film-advance  lever to its 30-degree stand-offT           position. A red dot normally covered by the lever when the
        camera is not in use will be uncovered by this action. At
          least one of the LED indicators visible in the viewfinder
         should glow; if not, replace the batteries.t
                 LOADING FILM
          To open the camera back, slide the safety-lock lever
                                                the film-rewind knobI     toward the rear of the camera and lift
             until the camera back swings open. Place the film cartridge
           in the film chamber and push the film-rewind knob back

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                   I    Tp gOen the camera back, stide the safety
    lock, next to the rcwind knob, and pull u-p tne
   rcwind knob. The safety lock pavents
   accidental opening of the camera b*k.                  I
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down. You may have to turn the knob slightly so that the
forked end of the rewind spindle properly engages the
spool of the cartridge.                  I
    Insert the film leader into a slot of the camera's takeup
spool. Be certain the film's perforation$ engage the film
sprockets. Set the shutter-speed dial to a fairly fast shutterspeed (1/60 sec., 1/125 sec., etc.). The exact speed isn,t  I
important; your concern is that the shutter opens and
closes before you next advance the film.18                 I

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          With the camera back still open, alternately push the
         shutter-release button and stroke the film'advance lever
          until the perforations on both edges of the film engage thet
         film sprockets. Turn the rewind knob to take up any film
          slack. Close the camera back.
          Advance the film and release the shutter two or three
                                                       AsI    times until the frame counter indicates the first frame.
        you advance the film, confirm that the rewind knob turns in
       the direction opposite the engraved 0ff0w; this will
          indicate that the film has been properly loaded and is beingI     advanced.


         Wind the fitm onto the takeup spool with the
          emulsion Hulil side out. With the camera back
           open, firc the shutter and advance the film
            intit the pertorations on both edges of the film
                                       the film isII      engage the film sprockets.lf          prope4V rcaded, the rcwind knob will rotate as
            the film is advanced.t
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    Close the camera pac!1 and prcss until it snaps
    closed. Advance the fitm tio or thrce frame's
    until the frame counter indicates the first
    frame. Th.is disposes of the fitm exposed to
    light while loading the camera.                                II
       SETTING ASA FILM SPEED
      Lifr the knurled ASA firm-speed ring and turn ir untir the                 I triangular red index mark is arigned *rth the ASA varue of
 the film loaded.                 t
       TURNING ON THE METER
   To activate the built-in exposure meter, pull the film_advance lever to its stand-off position, uncovering the red  I
dot on top of the camera. Turn off the meter when the
camera is not in use.
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          The ASA film-spead setting contrcl is a
           knurled ring on the perimeter of the shutter-
           speed dial. Lift this ring and turn it until the
          conect ASA rating appears in the window, andI               is adjacent to the index mark.
I         SETTING SHUTTER SPEED
             AND APERTURE
        When the correct combination of shutter speed and
         aperture is set, the central LED indicator in the viewfindert          will glow. You may set the shutter speed first and rotate the
         aperture ring until the correct exposure is indicated, 0r you
      may elect t0 set the aperture first and turn the shutter-
       speed dial to achieve the correct setting.I
          The shutter speed selected will appear in the left-hand
        side of the viewfinder. When Al lenses are used, the
         aperture will be visible through a small window above theI     picture area of the viewfinder. (Non-Al lenses must be
        used with stopped-down metering; see detailed instruc-
           tions.lI                                                       21

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  When Al lenses ane used, the aperturc selected  I
  appears in the viewfinder. The shutter speed
   selected always appears in the viewfinder The
   thrce LED's on the right indicate otnrexposute,  prcper exposune, and underexposu,e.     I
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  When an image is out of focus vertical lines                I   will appear brcken by the central rangefinder
   spot, and the rcst of the scneen will look fuzzy
  and unclear22                I

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         When an image is in focus the whole scrcen
              will look clear and sharP.



                 FOCUSING
            To focus with the split-image rangefinder spot, turn the
          focusing ring of the lens until the two halves of the spotIIItIt      coincide. To focus with the microprism grid or the matte
           outfield, turn the ring until the portion of the image
         appearing in the area seems sharp. In dim light or,wilh
         tenses hiving a small maximum aperture, part of the
          rangefinder spot may darken. When this happens, use the
          other focusing aids.II

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    To advance the film between exposures,
    strcke the film-advance lever all the way to
    the left and allow it to rcturn.


        TAKING THE PICTURE
    Gently squeeze the shutter-release button. lf you stab at
the button with a forceful, jerky motion, you'll shake the
camera and blur the picture. Advance the film by stroking
the film-advance lever. When you have taken the maximum
number of exposures on the roll, or feel resistance when
you try to advance the film, you have reached the end of
the roll. Don't try t0 squeeze extra exposures from the roll;
you may tear it from the supply spool.

   REWINDING AND UNLOADING FILM
   Because 35 mm film is protected from light only when
it is in the cartridge, you must rewind the film before
opening the camera. To rewind film press the rewind

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           To rewind film, first push in the rewind button
           located in the camera's baseplate. This
          disengages the filmI
                   sprockets.AfI        C;             NikonI

           After pushing the rcwind button, unfold the
           film-rewind crank and turn the rewind knob inI        the dircction of the arnow until you no longer
            feel resistance.

                                  and turn the rewind knobI     button on the camera baseplate
        in the direction of the arrow until you no longer feel
         resistance. lf in doubt, continue turning.I

DETAILED OPERATION
     OF THE NIKON FM               I
       SETTING THE EXPOSURE
  Through-the-lens metering.  Pulling the film-
advance lever to its stand-off position activates the built-in
gallium photo-diode exp0sure meter. As with all other
Nikons, this meler reads the entire picture area, but
concentrates 60 percent of its sensitivity on the 12 mm
circle in the center of the viewing screen. This represents
a good compromise for achieving accurate exposure with a
wide range of sublect matter.

  The exposure meter of the Nikon FM is the
   standard Nikon center-weighted  type. lt
  measures the whole frame, but concentrates
   6O percent of its sensitivity on the  | 2 mm
   circle in the center of the viewing screen.





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         The Nikon FM can be set forASA ratings from
        ASA  | 2 to ASA 32OO. The dots on the ASA
           film-speed dial correspond to the intermediate
            ntings shown in this diagram. Each interval
                                             exposure'II        represents a  | /3i-stop change in


           The ASA film'speed selector permits settings from ASAI    12 to 3200. The ASA dial has markings for intermediate
         settings such as 64, 80, 125, and 160.
         Shutter speed. The Nikon FM offers shutter
        speeds from 1/1000 sec. t0 I full second, plus "Bj'TheI         shutter speed selected is visible on the left'hand side of
         the viewfinder.
          The faster shutter speeds (1/1000 sec., l/500 sec.,
                     permit you to "freeze" moving obiects. TheI    1/250 sec.)
        slower shutter speeds (1/30 sec., 1/15 sec., and slower)
        are useful in low'light shooting or when you wish tot