HOLDING THE CAMERA
Steady camera holding is important for best results, since even the slightest camera movement at the moment of exposure can result in an appreciable loss of sharpness, especially at slow shutter speeds. The photographs show the best way tohold the camera for rock-steady picture-taking.
Wrap the fingers of the right hand around the camera body so that the index finger rests comfortably on the shutter release button and the thumb fits between the body and film-advance lever, and press against your forehead. This way you can stroke the film-advance lever without removing your eye from the viewfinder. Cradle the camera in the left hand for additional support, with the left thumb and index finger grasping the focusing ring. The camera may be switched from horizontal to vertical format in this position.
REMINDER CHECKLIST
Now the camera should be ready for picture-taking. But first, double-check to make sure you have done the following:
- Installed the silver batteries in the battery chamber with the plus side facing out.
- Loaded the film, locked the camera back securely and made two blank exposures while watching the rewind crank to see if the film is loaded correctly.
- Set the ASA film-speed dial for the correct speed of the film loaded in the camera.
- Mounted the lens correctly and adjusted the meter for the maximum aperture of the lens (check the maximum aperture indicator).
FOCUSING AND SHUTTER RELEASE
Focusing is always done at full aperture with Nikkor Auto lenses. This gives the brightest possible image on the focusing screen for ease of focusing and composing. It also minimizes depth of field so that the image snaps in or out of focus distinctly.
The Type A focusing screen comes with the camera as standard equipment. To focus, turn the focusing ring until the two halves of the rangefinder image coincide to form a single sharp image. You can also focus on the matte field that surrounds the central rangefinder circle.
The lens can also be prefocused using the distance scale engraved in both feet and meters on the lens barrel. Line up the black indicator line on top of the lens opposite the camera-to-subject distance as measured or estimated. This technique is useful for candid shots of elusive subjects when time does not permit through-the-lens focusing.
For sharp pictures, correct shutter releasing is just as important as steady camera holding. A quick, jabbing movement of the finger on the shutter release button will result in camera movement and blurred pictures. Hold the camera steady as shown previously, relax and squeeze the shutter release with a gentle, even pressure.
For long time exposures, with the camera mounted ona tripod, use a cable release. The shutter release button is threaded to accept the Nikon Cable Release. For handheld exposures at speeds slower than 1/30 second, greater sharpness can be obtained if the shutter release is tripped by means of the self-timer.
