FLASH SYNCRONIZATION
The Nikon F2 Photomic is designed to synchronize with various types of flashbulbs at almost all shutter speeds and with electronic flash at speeds up to 1/80 second. Consult the table below to find out which shutter speeds are acceptable with different types of flashbulbs.
*Some M-class bulbs have longer flash duration covering all shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec., except for 1/60 and 1/80 (X) sec.
The flash unit BC-7 fits directly over the rewind knob and requires no synch cord. For other flash units, the flash unit coupler must first be slipped into place over the rewind knob and the synch cord plugged into the synch terminal. The synch terminal is threaded for extra safety.
Caution: When the reflex mirror is locked in the up position the shutter will not synchronize with flashbulbs at speeds higher than 1/125 second.
Ready-light
The Photomic finder has a built-in ready-light for use with the Nikon speedlight unit. The lamp lights up to let you know when the speedlight is fully charged and ready to fire without removing your eye from the viewfinder and goes out after the speedlight has fired. Theready-light is connected to the speedlight by means of an optional ready-light adapter. For details, see the speedlight instruction manual.
SELF-TIMER
The built-in self-timer can be used to trip the shutter after a delay of 2 to 10 seconds. The numbers marked around the lever indicate the delay in seconds. To cock the self-timer, turn the lever downward until the desired number of seconds delay its opposite the black dot. Pressing the small button located under the end of the lever in its uncocked position starts the countdown. If you decide not to use the self-timer after it is already cocked, use the shutter release button to make the exposure and to shut off the self-timer. The self-timer can be set either before or after the shutter is wound. It should not be used at the “B”’ setting.
MIRROR LOCK
The reflex mirror must be locked in the up position when using either the Fisheye-Nikkor 6mm f/5.6 or the OP Fisheye-Nikkor 10mm f/5.6 lenses, since their rear elements protrude into the camera body and interfere with mirror movement. Locking-up is also necessary for shooting with the Nikon Motor Drive MD-1 at its top speed. Press in on the lock-up lever and turn it downward until the white dot is opposite the white line. The mirror will remain locked in the up position until the lever is returned to its original position.
MULTIPLE EXPOSURES
Intentional multiple exposures can be made with the Nikon F2 Photomic as follows: after making the first exposure, depress the rewind button on the baseplate and stroke the film-advance lever. This winds the shutter and cocks the mirror for the second exposure without advancing the film. Repeat the procedure as many times as you wish. Exposures may be made at different shutter speeds. The frame counter remains unchanged during this operation.
When the above procedure is followed, the film may move slightly when the film-advance lever is wound. To avoid this, depress the rewind button and hold it down while you stroke the lever and make the exposure. Repeat this procedure as many times as desired.
After the last exposure, stroke the film-advance lever once more. This time do not hold the rewind button down. The rewind button will pop out to indicate the film-advance mechanism being re-engaged. Then cover the lens with a lens cap and press the shutter release button to open the shutter. Now, advance the film to the next frame.
INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY
In infrared photography, the plane of sharpest focus ts slightly more distant than the one produced by visible light and seen by the naked eye through the viewfinder. To compensate for the shift in focus, Nikkor lenses have a red dot or line on the lens barrel near the color-coded depth-of-field scale. 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. For example, in the picture below 50mm f/1.4 lens has been focused at infinity (0°). The focusing ring is turned slightly to the left so that the infinity mark ts opposite the red dot. When lenses having a focal length of 50mm or less are stopped down to f/8 or smaller, no adjustment is necessary: at such small apertures these lenses have enough depth of field to compensate for the shift in focus.
CHANGING THE LENS
To remove the lens from the camera, press the lens release button. Grasp the lens by the white milled ring and twist it to the right as far as it will go. The lens will come loose and can be lifted out. To mount a lens, position it in the camera’s bayonet mount so that the indicator dots on the lens and the camera line up with each other. Twist the lens counterclockwise until it clicks into place. Always shade the camera from the sun with your body when changing lenses.
In order to measure light at full aperture with lenses of different maximum aperture, the meter must be adjusted for the maximum aperture of the lens in use. This is done each time a lens is mounted as follows:
Mount the lens as shown previously. Turn the aperture ring all the way to the minimum aperture setting (largest f/number), then all the way in the opposite direction. This step automatically fits the coupling pin in the Photomic finder into the coupling prong on the lens and adjusts the meter to the maximum aperture of the lens.
Maximum Aperture Indicator
The above adjustment can be confirmed by looking at the maximum aperture indicator in the window located at the front right side of the finder. The scale has a range from f/1.2 to f/5.6. For example, if the 24mm f/2.8 lens is mounted on the camera, the number 2.8 should appear in the window.
CHANGING THE VIEWFINDER
Six interchangeable viewfinders are available for the Nikon F2 Photomic: F2 Photomic, F2S Photomic, Eye-Level, Action, Waist-Level and 6X Focusing finders.
To remove the Photomic finder, depress the finder release lever and press the finder release button. The finder snaps loose and can be lifted out (1).
To attach a viewfinder other than the Photomic finder, set it in position and press down gently until it clicks into place. To remove, press the finder release button. The finder comes loose and can be lifted out.
To reattach the Photomic finder to the camera with the lens in place, first set the lens aperture diaphragm at f/5.6 or larger and place the finder in position loosely. Make sure that the meter coupling pin is in the center. Then press down the finder gently until it clicks into place. Make sure that the two clamps settle into place (2).
With the Photomic finder in place, twist the shutter speed selector left and right until it engages the shutter speed dial on the camera and the two rotate together (3).
Mounting the finder on the camera body without a lens is simple. Just depress the finder gently until it clicks into place and the two clamps settle into place.
CHANGING THE FOCUSING SCREEN
Seventeen different focusing screens are available for the Nikon F2 Photomic to match exactly any focal length lens or picture-taking situation. The Type A focusing screen comes with the camera as standard equipment and any of the screens may be used with any of the finders available for the camera. .
To change the focusing screen, first remove the finder 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.
To attach a screen, place it In position with the flat side facing down and the Nikon mark pointing towards the front of the camera. Press the finder release button and the screen will drop into place.
Caution: When changing the focusing screen, be careful not to touch the surfaces with the fingers as this will result in greasy marks. When removing the screen, it is advisable to place a clean, dry cloth over the palm of the hand for the screen to drop onto.
Focusing Screen Selector Chart
The chart at right has been prepared to assist you in choosing the right screen for the lens to be used.
█ = Especially recommended
The image is uniformly bright from edge to edge. However, with lenses marked (*), focusing must be done on the surrounding matte area. The central split-image, microprism or cross-hair area cannot be used for focusing due to image darkening. |
█ = Acceptable –
In actual use these screens present little obstruction, although the viewfield over the entire area is less satisfactory because of slight vignetting or moire phenomenon (in the case of microprisms). These drawbacks have of course no effect on the image on film.
Caution: The rear surface of the screen is made of acryl resin. Special care should be taken to protect it from scratching or excessive pressure.
EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT: SPECIAL CASES
Stop-Down Exposure Measurement
With the following lenses and accessories, full-aperture exposure measurement is not possible, either because the lens has no auto-diaphragm or because the diaphragm will not couple with the meter. Therefore, the stop-down method must be used. This means measuring exposure with the lens aperture diaphragm stopped down to the taking aperture.
First, push the coupling pin up into the Photomic finder with a coin or similar object so that f/5.6 appears in the maximum aperture indicator window. Mount the lens or lens/accessory setup to the camera and switch on the meter in the usual way.
Bellows Focusing Attachments, Extension Rings and Focusing Unit
To determine exposure, select the desired shutter speed and stop down the lens manually until the needle centers.
Preset Lenses
Use the same procedure as above for lenses having preset diaphragms, such as the PC-Nikkor 35mm f/2.8.
Auto Lenses Without Coupling Prong
Some lenses like the Zoom-Nikkor Auto 200-600mm f/9.5 have an auto diaphragm but no coupling prong. Use the depth-of-field preview button to stop down the lens until the needle is centered.
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses
The Reflex-Nikkor 500mm f/8, 1000mm f/11 and 2000mm f/11 lenses have no aperture diaphragm. Adjust the shutter speed until the needle is centered.
Note: Since focusing may be difficult or impossible at small apertures due to image darkening on the screen, first open the lens to full aperture to focus. Then determine the correct exposure by the stop-down method.
Repro-Copying, Slide-Copying and Photomicrography
Some exposure correction may be necessary depending on the type of film and the subject or the original slide. The numbers in the table below show the exposure correction in f-stops. Readjust either the shutter speed or the lens diaphragm according to the indicated numbers, or reset the film speed. 3 marks on the film speed dial are equivalent to one f-stops. If the table indicates a one-stop increase with a film rated at ASA 100, reset the red arrow opposite the number 50.
Exposure Correction for Special Lens-Focusing Screen Combinations
Because the light-transmitting properties of some focusing screens differ from those of ordinary screens, certain lens-screen Combinations require exposure correction to compensate for the influence of the screen. The numbers in the table at right show the exposure corrections in f-stops. With the Photomic finder, the method used Is to set the film speed (ASA) against the proper compensating mark engraved on the film-speed index ring. For example, the table indicates a half-stop decrease (—1/2) for the Fisheye-Nikkor Auto 8mm f/2.8 lens with Type C screen. If the film speed is ASA 100, lift up the index ring and set the number 100 on the film speed dial opposite the —1/2 mark.
When no exposure correction (0) is indicated, the ASA rating for the film in use should be opposite the red arrow
█ = Measure exposure by the full-aperture method.
█ = Use the stop-down measuring method.
█ = Neither method will work. With these lens-screen combinations the viewfinder can be used only for focusing, not exposure measurement.
Combinations represented by a blank space are unusable because of image darkening or considerable moire over the screen area.
