Film cameras
Nikon MF-12 User manual
User manual for Nikon MF-12. 20 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
20 pagesEnglish5.4 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Nikon
- Model / document
- Nikon MF-12
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 20
- File size
- 5.4 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 4 · Read text
',1 er5. lF":'{5. LrI I \
Year/ Month/ Day display Day/ Hour/ Minute display
Note:
1)Both displays include a "blinking" diamond which indicates clock operation. The Day/Hour/Minute display
includes a colon.
2) The clock is programmed for up to the year 2100.View original page 4Page 5 · Read text
CONTENTS FOREWORD
NOMENCLATURE .2-3 The Nikon Data Back MF-12 lets you record data
FOREWORD.... .....4 regarding date and/or time in the pictures you take.
INSERTING BATTERIES ..... 5 You have a choice of recording the Year/Month/Day
SETTINGUP... ......6 or the Date/Hour/Minute. Simply attach the MF-12 to
ADJUSTING DATE. .,....7-9 your FE or FM camera, choose one or the other, then
ADJUSTING TIME. ... .. 10-11 shoot. The data will be imprinted on the lower right-
SPECIALUSAGE. ....12 hand side of the photograph. To get the most out of
ADJUSTING FILM SPEED.. ... . . .. 13 this fine instrument, we recommend you spend
sHoorNG ..... 14-15 some time mastering its operation. Have this
CHANGING BATTERIES .... 16 Owner's Manual and that of the camera vou are
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY WITH FLASH UNIT. ...17 using on hand for best results
|MPORTANT..... ....17
THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY. . . .17
ACCESSORIES... ...18
SPECIFICATIONS. ... 19
www.butkus.usView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
INSERTING BATTERIES
1 .55V SR-44 type .t To close the battery chamber, Open the battery chamber by a Set the twoI I. sliding the lid's knurled por- Z. silver-oxide batteries in the r). first apply pressure and slidetion with your thumb as you pry battery chamber with the "+" the lid until it clicks into place.
the battery chamber lid lock open signs facing up. Note: 80 1 1 (i.e., January 1, 1980)with the nail of your other thumb will appear in the LCD display once the
or the tip of a ballpoint pen. batteries are inserted. Otherwise, check
if the batteries have been inserted
correctly.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
SETTING UP
.l Detach the camera back by Attach the MF-12 to the .) Then insert the plug of the
| , pushing the locking catch r c?ffief? by first pushing the O. connecting cord into the
connected to its hinge. corresponding locking catch on its socket of the data back, with the
hinge. plug's projection fitting the groove
inside the socket. Then, insert the
other side of the cord into the sync
terminal of the camera body.
Note: Remove the cord f rom the
www.butkus.us camera before opening the MF12's
back.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
ADJUSTING DATE
Push the SELECT button to O Set the year by pushing the4 Adjust date first, taking April 1.r I. 25, 1982 as an example. Z. activate the ADJUST mode O. ADJUST/R button until "82"
Start with the Year/Month/Day for the vear. appears in the display. (Note that
display. continuous pushing advances the
First, make sure that the display numbers in raoid succession.)
shows Year/Monthi Day. lf it shows
Day/Hour/Minute (i.e., a colon
appears in the display), change
the display by pushing the CHANGE
button.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
Push the ADJUST/R button a Set the day. After setting thei Set the month. Push the SE- FA. LECT button again; this time C. until "4" (for April) appears in O. month, push the SELECTthe numerical indication for the the display. button io activate the ADJUST
month will appear. mode for day.
www.butkus.usView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
Push the SELECT button one7 Push the ADJUST/R button, 61f . as before, until "25" appears CD. more time. This cancels the
in the disolav. ADJUST mode for day; the display
should then read: 82 425.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
ADJUSTING TIME
r' ,!'i'
Push the SELECT button once Set the hour to "16" by push-4 Adjust time, taking 16:45*, 6 (i.e. +:+5 p.m.)as an example. Z. to activate the ADJUST mode 3. ing the ADJUST/R button. l.
Push the CHANGE button to switch for the day (1); push it again to
the display to DaylHour/Minute. activate the ADJUST mode for the
(The existing time display may be hour (2).
more than 0:00 because the clock
started working when the batteries
were inserted.) You will note that
the day (zS") set previously ap- *The MF-12's built-in clock is the 24- Note: The CHANGE button cannot be www.butkus.ustype; hence 4:45 means AM, used while the ADJUST mode is being pears in the display which reads: hour
25 0:00 (give or take a few min- not PM. applied.
utes)View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
Push the ADJUSTiR button t\ Push the SELECT button onei Push the SELECT button to Ft. activate the ADJUST mode C. to set the minute to "45." O, more time and the display will
for the minute. Note: The Z4-hour clock will keep time read25 16:45.
continuously as long as the batteries Note: To set the time to the precise
work. lt "stops" counting only when second advance the time by one minute
you push the ADJUST/R button to set without first pressing the SELECT but-
the minute. At this time, the blinking ton. Precisely when the actual time
diamond disaooears to show the clock coincides with the set time (i.e., at the
has stopped f unctionning. tone of a radio/TV program), push the
SELECT button and this will automati-
cally complete the setting ot the time.
tlView original page 12Page 13 · Read text
SPECIAL USAGE
Instead of the Year/Month/Day or Day/Hour/Minute, Nole: The built-in clock keeps time continuously. Thus, should
you can use the MF-12 to imprint a one or two-digit you decide to use the minute indication for the number you
number of your choice by pushing the ADJUSTIR enter, bear in mind that after the lapse of one minute, that number will change Also, the number in the display will not be button. In the ADJ UST mode for either hou r or m in ute/ imprinted while the ADJUST/R button is being held down second, the numerical indication for minute or hour is
underlined.
Display Data imprinted Usable number
DJUST mode for year 0 00- 99 EE lfi
ADJUST mode for month )^a ,:! o B 1*12
ADJUST mode for day 1-31 lJ. I]
ADJUST mode for day 0 1-31 t1 tl
ADJUST mode for hour 0- 23 aJ l,l: '
tl 00- 59 ADJUST mode for minute /second www.butkus.us;1'l . L{
12View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
ADJUSTING FILM SPEED
Load the film and turn the MF-12's film speed selector
until the white dot click-stops at the corresponding
ASA/lSO indication in the ASA/lSO film speed scale
Note: B &W COLOR ASA/|S0 A0
1)Do not use films with ASA/lSO speeds not covered by the
scale.
2) When using special f ilms or using a technique for increasing
or decreasing image density, make test shots f irst.
3) Make sure the MF-12's film speed selector clicks into the
correct f ilm speed setting; otherwise, erroneous results will
occur.
ASA/ISO film speed Film speed
scale selector
t3View original page 14Page 17 · Read text
CHANGING BATTERIES
The life span of the batteries used with the MF-12 is
approximately 2 years under conditions of normal use.
lf the MF-12's LED indicator is continuously lit, change
both batteries; changing only one shortens the life
span of both batteries.
Note:
1)ln low temperatures of -10oC or below, the LED may light
up continuously even if new batteries are used. Should this
occur, turn off the LED to conserve battery power by push'
ing the ADJUST/R button. Batteries that temporarily
"deteriorate" due to low temperature can be used again as
they recover their capacity when the temperature rises
back to normal.
2) The MF-12 is programmed to show 80 1 1 in the display
whenever batteries are rePlaced.
www.butkus.us
t6View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE LIQUID CRYSTAL
FLASH UNIT DISPLAY ( LCD)
o For f lash photography in conjunction with the MF-12, o At high temperatures (approx. 6OoC or above), the
lhe use of Nikon electronic flash units with a hot- whole surface of the display will turn a black color,
shoe contact is recommended. This type of unit is making it impossible to read the numerical infor-
designed to match precisely the electronic circuitry mation. When the temperature goes down, the dis-
of the MF-12. With non-Nikon flash units, the MF-12 play will return to normal.
may not operate properly or could evenbe damaged r Avoid storing the MF-12 in excessively hot places,
due to differences in the electronic circuitry. like inside the trunk of a car parked in the sun; doing
. Make sure the data imprint switch is set to OFF so may shorten the LCD's life span.
when making flash test shots. lf the switch is ON, o When the temperature drops below freezing point,
data will be imprinted when the flash button of the the LCD display's response time naturally slows
flash unit is pushed. Also, to prevent accidental down; when it goes up again, the display works
data imprinting, the data imprint switch should be as before.
OFF every time the sync cord is inserted or the r Although the MF-'12's LCD is of the highest quality,
flash unit is inserted into or removed from the contrast may deteriorate and the display information
hot shoe. may become difficult to see after six or seven years
of normal use. Should this occur, please contact an
IMPORTANT authorizedthe display Nikonreplaceddealerat a ornominalservicecharge.facility to have
o Do not use cleaning fluids to clean the MF-12.
. Use a blower to remove accumulated dust in the
three LEDs at the back of the MF-12.
l7View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
ACCESSORIES
Battery Holder DB-3
This optionally available holder accepts two 1.5 V AAA-
type batteries. Since the AAA-type battery has the
advantage of big capacity over a silver-oxide battery,
it can supply power beyond two years and is rather
less affected by low temperature. To attach the DB-3
to the M F-1 2, remove the data back's battery chamber lid and, in its place, screw the DB-3 onto the screw ffi
hole in the chamber.
Camera Case Base Portion CF-15D
Also optionally available is the CF-15D When used in
place of the lower portion of the camera case of the
FE/FM camera, the CF-15D can hold either camera
with the MF-12 Data Back attached. This case has
"windows" that let you see the MF-12's display and
ooerate the data back as usual.
www.butkus.us
t8View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
SPECIFICATIONS
Usable cameras: Nikon FE, Nikon FM Data imprint check: Red LED lamp at the upper
Attachment method: Used in place of regular camera center of the MF-12 blinks when
back data is imprinted
Usable film speed Dala display: By 7-segment, 6-digit LCD
settings: ASA/lSO 100."400 for B&W films Power source: Two 1 55V silver-oxide
ASA/lSO 25u4OO for color films (SR-44 type) batteries; also,
Film speed adjustment: By 3-position, click-stopped dial optionally available Battery Holder
Data imprint type: By 7-segment, 6-digit red LEDs; DB-3 holding two 1.5V AM-type
exposure time controlled by film batteries
cneorlvPvvv colontnrvv'vvrvl Battery lile: 1.55V batteries-approx.
lmprint data: Year/ Month/ D ay, D ay I Hour I 2years (in normal temperatures) F
Minute or any 1- or 2-digit 1.5V AAA-type batteries
number ; automatically pro- with Battery Holder DB.3-
I grammed until the year 2100 and morg than 2years (in normal
I adjusted for leap years temoeratures)
lmprinted area: Lower right-hand corner of Built-in 24-hour type clock starts Ia picture frame from 0:00, January 1, 1980,
lmprinted area size: 0.5mm( nigh) x 6.6mrn(width) every time batteries are insertedtf when all 6 figures appear Clock: Built-in, 24-hour type
'r I Data imprint decision: By data imprint ON/OFF switch Timing accuracy: Within -r15 seconds a month
Data adjustment: By pushing ADJUST/R button, (in normal temperatures)
year, month, day, hour and Temperature: -1OoC- + 40'C in use;
minute are separately set -20oC- + 55'C in storage
lmprint signal: Through camera body sync Usable molor drive: Nikon Motor Drive MD-.1 1 and
terminal; data cannot be imprint- MD.12
ed while the ADJUST/R button Dimensions (WxHxD): Aoorox. 1 18mm x46mmx 7mm
is being pushed Weight: Approx. 759 (without batteries) lgView original page 20From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.