Nikon FE Film Camera FE User's Manual
Contents
1. 85mm 12 05mm 1 2 5 135mm 12 135mm 172 8 135mm 13 5 180mm 172 8 200mm f 4 Z IF ED 300mm 12 8 300mm 174 5 x IF ED 300mm 174 Super telephoto 400mm f 4 5 ED 400mm 5 6 3k IF ED 400mm 173 5 3 IF ED 400mm 1 5 6 600mm 1 5 6 3k IF ED 600mm 1 5 6 IF ED 800mm 1 8 3k IF ED 1200mm 1 11 28 45mm 1 4 5 35 70mm 135 43 86mm 173 5 50 300mm 1 4 5 ED 50 300mm 1 4 5 80 200mm f 4 5 ED 180 600mm 1 8 200 600mm 179 5 ED 360 1200mm 1 11 PC 28mm 1 4 35mm f 2 8 Noct 58mm f 1 2 Micro 55mm 13 5 105mm 174 3k IF 200mm 1 4 Medical 200mm 1 5 6 Reflex Telephoto L 500mm 1 8 1000mm 1771 2000mm 1 11 Internal focusing type Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET O Exposure measure ment via full aperture method D Exposure measure ment via stop down method 43 ACCESSORIES 44 MD 12 Motor Drive Unit The Nikon FE s own compact motor drive unit Hand somely finished in black and made of durable steel the MD 12 attaches to the FE in seconds requiring absolutely no modification or special adjustment of the camera body Continuous and single frame operation available with a maximum shooting speed of 3 5 frames per second from 1 125 sec to 1 1000 sec Firing speed a2. NOMENCLATURE Shutter speed dial lock Lens aperture direct readout window Shutter release button Meter coupling lever Shutter release fingerguard Meter coupling lever release i Sync terminal cover provided Neckstrap eyelet Depth of field preview lever Lens mounting index Self timer memory lock Lens release button Reflex mirror Focusing screen holder release Lens mounting flange Tripod socket Motor drive shutter coupling Battery chamber lid Motor drive coupling Motor drive electrical contacts Film rewind button Memo holder 2 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Distance scale Aperture distance scale index Focusing ring Meter coupling shoe Aperture ring Depth of field indicators Meter coupling ridge Aperture direct readout scale Exposure compensation index Exposure compensation scale Hot shoe contact Film rewind crank Shutter speed index Film rewind knob Shutter speed scale Safety lock Frame counter Film speed scale index Multi exposure lever ASA film speed scale dial Film advance lever Exposure compensation ring Meter ON index Power check lever lamp Film plane indicator ASA film speed dial lock Viewfinder eyepiece w ready light Accessory shoe Ready light contact 3 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET CONTENTS POFEWORGS cee cee ee es Qa E 5 Exposure measurement a aaco c encans Preparation for use aana aaa
3. it is a precision optical instrument and careless or rough handling can cause irreparable damage Observe the following tips and the camera will always work as perfectly as the day you bought it Remember that the camera s controls are designed to operate with a minimum of pressure If you find yourself exerting extra force take it as a warning that you re doing something wrong Keep all lens and prism surfaces free from dust dirt and fingerprints These not only impair viewing they also gener ally result in a deterioration of optical performance Clean such surfaces either with a blower type brush or with lens tissue moistened with absolute alcohol Never use lens tissue dry it will scratch the lens In general avoid using cleaning fluids and lens tissue containing silicone i e eyeglass tissue When loading or unloading film ensure that the interior of the camera body is free of dust grit or chips of film Use a blower type brush to remove such foreign particles Avoid touching all internal surfaces particularly the shutter curtains and film pressure plate When mounting or removing lenses prevent the entry of for eign matter and take extra care not to damage the rear por tion of the lens Use a blower type brush to do your cleaning Use the cleaning cloth to clean the external surfaces of the camera body If condensation should form on the lens surfaces i e when the camera is exposed to sudden temperature changes or
4. setting indicates a mechanical shutter speed of 1 90 sec ond which operates independently of battery power This is the only setting except B which can be used when Ls Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET the batteries are exhausted or none are loaded in the camera The M90 setting also serves as a known shutter speed when shooting with electronic flash At the B setting the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release button is depressed B is also a me chanical shutter speed so there is no battery drain when shooting time exposures To conserve battery power when making really long time exposures use a cable release and then push the film advance lever back in flush with the camera body after opening the shutter Note that the 125 setting is engraved in red this indi cates 1 125 second the fastest shutter speed available for synchronization with electronic flash units Refer to page 37 for additional information on flash photogra phy Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 11 OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS continued Film Advance Lever The film advance lever simultaneously advances the film cocks the shutter and operates the frame counter It also doubles as the Nikon FE s meter on off switch and shutter button lock To advance the film stroke the lever with your right thumb as far as it will go The film will be advanced a full frame The lever automatically returns to its 30 stand off positio
5. through the camera s viewfinder To compensate for this first focus the image sharply through the viewfinder Then turn the focusing ring counterclockwise until the point focused is aligned with the red dot or line pro vided on the lens barrel For example in the picture below the lens has been focused for infinity infrared shooting Note that when lenses with a focal length of 50mm or less are used stopped down to f 8 or below compensation is not necessary due to the large depth of field available There are some Nikkor lenses that do not require refocus ing for infrared photography refer to their instruction manuals for details 20 Film Plane Indicator To ensure the best results in critical picture taking situations such as closeup or copy photography it might be necessary to determine the exact subject to film plane distance The Nikon FE is thus provided with a film plane indicator this is positioned exactly on the film plane which is 46 5mm from the front surface of the lens mounting flange bayonet mount front surface Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET DEPTH OF HELD When you focus on your subject you will find that not only is the subject itself in focus but that objects both in front of and behind it appear to be in focus This zone of focus is called depth of field Depth of field is not a fixed quantity It varies by lens depending on both the subject s distance fr
6. Section D s EV value for ASA 100 and you will obtain an EV reading of 3 This means that an f stop of f 8 at ASA 100 and a shutter speed of 8 sec give an EV value outside the metering range To find out the slowest shutter speed usable follow the f 8 indi cation for ASA 100 in Section B diagonally down until it intersects the horizontal line in Section C that leads to Section D s EV value of 6 for ASA 100 and you will find that the slowest shutter speed usable is 1 sec In other words at f 8 and ASA 100 the available shutter speed range that is within the metering range is from 1 to 1 1000 sec which has an effective EV range of 6 to 16 indicated by the broken line in Section C well within the metering range In practice you will find that it is generally the high end and the low end which require a careful check The EV range of the Nikon FE encompasses most lighting situations and it is only under dim light or extra bright picture taking situations that you need pay any special attention EV Chart Section A Section D Working Aperture 3200 800 4000 32 22 16 11 8 56 4 28 2 14 72 2 1 E g SHEE 3 ajal lelie 88 N La suoneaipuj sbuey A3 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 35 MULTIPLE EXPOSURES Intentional multiple exposure two or more exposures on the same frame for creative effects are easy
7. WWW LENSINC NET EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS Some exposure correction may be necessary when cer tain types of films are used for copying or photomicro graphy applications the amount of correction required however will depend on the type of film and the spe cific application The following table lists the exposure corrections in f stops required for various film shooting requirements Compensation is possible by adjusting the shutter speed or the aperture by the indicated amount also compensation is possible by adjusting the exposure compensation ring provided for this purpose To adjust the ring simply lift and turn it until the index mark is aligned with the value corresponding to the amount of compensation In the example shown the red dot on the ring is set to the 1 position as required when perform ing photomicrography using Panchromatic film Ex posure compensation on the FE ranges in half stops from EV 2 to EV 2 However when the ASA film speed dial is set at ASA 3200 or 4000 the compensation ranges down to EV 1 at ASA 12 up to EV 1 Original Repro copying amp slide copying Photo Lett i i B amp W etters or figures Letters or figures micrography Type or S on on at Hm color photo light background dark background Panchromatic No ilm compensation 1 stops h stop 1 stop for general use necessary 32 Caution When performing general photography with the F
8. f 1 8 f 2 or 55mm f 1 2 as standard more than 50 interchangeable Nikkor lenses in all Shutter Vertical travel focal plane shutter with speeds from 8 to 1 1000 sec B and M90 mechanical 1 90 sec auto matic shutter speed selection within a range of 8 sec to 1 1000 sec manual shutter speed selection for the 8 1 1000 sec range plus B and M90 shutter speed selected indi cated in the viewfield shutter release via shutter button or self timer Flash synchronization Built in ISO type hot shoe contact with safety switch for synchronization with electronic flash units built in ready light for use with the optional Nikon Speed light Unit SB 10 serves also as a sync warning signal sync terminal provided Synchronization range For electronic flash units 1 125 sec to 8 sec plus B and M90 for flashbulbs 1 30 sec to 8 sec plus B sync speed of 1 90 sec fixed when the SB 10 is mounted on the AUTO set FE camera body and the flash unit is switched on Accessory shoe ISO type built into the finder housing fitted with hot shoe contact and electrical safety switch which turns on contact as flash unit is mounted fitted also with ready light contact for use with the SB 10 Speedlight Unit Viewfinder Fixed eyelevel pentaprism type with built in through the lens TTL exposure meter shutter speed indi cated to the left within the viewfield lens aperture setting indicated in the finder when lens in use
9. intersects with Section C s vertical line for the shutter speed of 8 sec the FE s slowest shutter speed From this point of intersection follow the horizontal line that l ads to Section D s EV value for ASA 100 and you will obtain an EV value of 2 Start again from the f 5 6 indication for ASA 100 in Section B and go down diagonally until the protruding line intersects with Section C s verti cal line for the shutter speed of 1 1000 sec the FE s fastest shutter speed this time Then follow the hori zontal line that leads to Section D s EV value for ASA 100 and you will get a reading of EV 15 This means that an f stop of f 5 6 at ASA 100 and a shutter speed of from 8 to 1 1000 sec has an effective EV range ef 2 to 15 which is well within the FE s metering range of EV 1 to EV 18 The area encompassed by the heavy lines in Section C demonstrates a metering range for full aperture method using an f 1 4 lens and ASA 100 film 34 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Stop down metering Example ASA film speed 100 Stopped down aperture f 8 The procedure is the same The f 8 column in Section A and the EV values indicated for ASA 100 in Section D will show you that the EV range for f 8 is 6 to 23 Refer now to Section B and single out f 8 at ASA 100 Go diagonally down until the protruding line intersects with Section C s vertical line for the shutter speed of 8 sec From this point of intersection follow the horizontal line that leads to
10. is fitted with a meter coupling ridge and an aperture direct readout lens aper ture scale Focusing screen Matte Fresnel focusing screen with central split 46 image rangefinder spot and microprism collar Nikon Type K screen two other types of screens available optionally Types B and E Reflex mirror Automatic instant return mirror Self timer Can be set for approx 8 to 14 sec delay setting cancellable serves also as a memory lock lever Exposure metering Through the lens center weighted full aperture exposure measurement employing two silicon photodiodes SPD s with Nikkor lenses fitted with meter coupling ridge stop down metering applies for other lenses exposure correctly set either automatically or by matching two needles meter cross coupled with both lens diaphragm and shutter speed controls meter powered by two 1 55V silver oxide batteries or one 3V lithium battery Metering range EV 1 to EV 18 i e f 1 4 1 sec f 16 1 1000 sec with 50mm f 1 4 lens at ASA 100 built in meter cou pling lever can be locked up enabling use with both Al type and non Al type Nikkor lenses aperture coupling range f 1 2 to f 32 film speed setting ASA 12 to ASA 4000 ex posure compensation range EV 2 to EV 2 up to 1 at ASA 3200 and 4000 up to 1 when set at 12 Film winding Via single stroke lever with 135 winding angle and 30 stand off angle lever also serves as meter on off switch automatic film wi
11. lens from the camera body look into the mirror box At the top front of the mirror box cast ing there is alatch for snapping open the focusing screen frame holder Then slip the small tip of the special tweezers which are supplied with the accessory focusing screen under the latch and pull outward to spring open the holder Take the screen out of the holder by grasping the small tab with the tweezers To avoid getting smudges or fingerprints on the screen s optical surfaces do not remove the screen with your fingers To mount another screen carefully place it into position with the flat side facing downward and the tab out closer to the right side facing the camera then push the front edge of the holder upward until it clicks into position Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 41 CHANGING FOCUSING SCREENS continued Focusing Screen Selector Guide Description TYPE K Matte Fresnel with horizontal rangefinder and microprism Matte Fresnel field with central 3mm diameter split image rangefinder horizontally aligned surrounded by 1mm wide microprism collar This screen combines the split image and the microprism for quick and accurate focusing particularly with lenses of brighter maximum aperture Screen also provided with centrally positioned 12mm diameter etched reference circle denoting area of center weighting TTL exposure measurement Ex cellent for general photography the Type K screen is standard equipment
12. storage of any relevant information You can use it for instance to hold the end flap of a film carton to remind you of the type of film loaded in the camera the ASA film speed and the total number of exposures available Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET a OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS _ Setting the Shutter Speed The Nikon FE is set for automatic or manual shutter speed selection via the shutter speed dial positioned to the right of the finder with setting operation possible at any time either before or after the shutter is wound The dial is provided with positions for automatic AUTO and manual speeds from 8 seconds to 1 1000 second To set the dial for automatic shutter speed selection simply rotate the dial clockwise until the green AUTO auto matic setting clicks and locks into place aligned with the shutter speed scale index at the base of the dial the built in locking mechanism ensures that the dial cannot be accidently shifted from the automatic position during shooting To set the dial for manual shutter speed selection used during match needle exposure measurement simply hold in the shutter speed dial lock and rotate the dial counterclockwise off the AUTO position when the dial is aligned with white settings from 2 to 1000 the actual shutter speed is a fractional value from 1 2 second to 1 1000 second while the remaining settings indicate the actual values from 8 seconds to 1 second The M90
13. to high humidity let the camera dry thoroughly at room tem perature before storing it in a cool dry place Should you drop the camera accidentally on the floor or in water take it to an authorized Nikon dealer or service facility for servicing immediately It is best to store the camera in a case or something similar when you re not using it In this case make sure the camera s shutter or self timer is not cocked also don t leave film in the camera if it is to be stored for a long period of time Do not lubricate any part of the camera yourself all such work should be left to an authorized Nikon dealer or service facility It is good practice to test your camera for proper operation before proceeding to your shooting assignment Observe normal battery handling procedures to ensure your camera delivers maximum performance at all times 1 In stall batteries correctly 2 clean them periodically with a dry cloth 3 remove batteries when the camera is stored for a long period of time 4 store unused batteries in a cool dry place 5 change weak batteries promptly to prevent leakage within the camera Also dispose of used batteries properly i e they should never be burnt and keep them out of the reach of children For details on battery perform ance by brand refer to the literature available from the manufacturer 39 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET MOUNTING AND REMOVING LENSES To mount a lens fitted wi
14. units equipped with an ISO type hot shoe mount such as the Nikon Speedlight Units SB 4 SB 8E SB 9 and SB 10 For other units such as the Flash Unit BC 7 and the Speed light Unit SB 7E the Flash Unit Coupler AS 2 is avail able for direct connection between the speedlight and the FE camera body For the FE s shutter speed sync range see the following table Shutter speed sec 1760 1750 115 8 1 4 1 2 1 Flashbulb 1 125 Speedlight FR M MF inl Synchronized Cannot be used 37 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION continued Ready light A ready light is built into the eyepiece of the FE for use with the Nikon Speedlight Unit SB 10 This unique feature provides for greater ease of operation during flash photography as the photographer need not remove his eye from the eyepiece to check if the flash unit is ready for the next exposure this built in lamp lets the photographer know the condition of the flash either ready when glowing brightly or not ready when off or glowing dimly at all times even while viewing When the FE is set to AUTO mounting the SB 10 flash unit into the hot shoe and turning the unit on automatically sets the shutter speed to 1 90 second No switchover to manual shutter speed setting is re quired for flash shooting The camera s shutter operates in the ordinary au
15. 135mm f 3 5 180mm 1 2 8 Telephoto S 200mm 1 4 3k IF ED 300mm 1 2 8 300mm 1 4 5 3 TF ED 300mm 1 4 5 400mm 74 5 ED 400mm 1 5 6 Super telephoto k IF ED 400mm 1 3 5 k IF ED 400mm 1 5 6 600mm f 5 6 3 IF ED 600mm HRE 3k F ED 800mm 1 8 IF ED 1200mm 1 11 28 45mm 1 4 5 35 70mm f 3 5 43 86mm 3 5 50 300mm 1 4 5 Zoom ED 80 300mm 14 5 80 200mm 1 4 5 ED 180 600mm 1 8 200 600mm 19 5 ED 360 1200mm 1 1 PC 28mm f 4 35mm 1 2 8 Noct 58mm t 1 2 Micro 55mm 13 5 105mm f 4 F 200mm f 4 Medical 200mm 1 5 6 Reflex 500mm f 8 1000mm 1 11 Telephoto 2000mm f 11 Internal focusing type Excellent LU Acceptable The image is brilliant from edge to edge but the center area rangefinder micro prism or crosshair is dim Focusing should be performed on the surrounding matte area Exposure metering method Lens Screen B E K Fisheye 6mm 1 2 8 8mm 1 28 16mm 1 35 Wideangle 13mm f 5 6 15mm f 5 6 1Bmmt a 20mm 1 3 5 20mm 1 4 24mm 172 24mm 1 2 8 28mm 1 2 28mm f 2 8 28mm 1 35 35mm f 14 35mm 1 2 35mm 172 8 Normal 50mm 1 1 2 50mm 1 3 50mm 1 1 8 Telephoto
16. E always make sure that the exposure compensation ring is set to the 0 position if not incorrect exposure will occur Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA The camera s meter may be used only within the shutter speed range covered by the exposure value EV range of the meter which varies with the aperture and ASA setting The chart on page 35 shows the relationships between the f stop shutter speed and film speed indicating the slowest usable shutter speed for metering purposes with any film speed f stop combination Careful attention to the following instructions will as sure precise exposure automatically over the complete range of your Nikon FE Auto exposure control at full aperture For example with an f 1 4 lens and ASA 100 film the automatic shutter will function down to one second with the lens set at 1 4 and proportionately slower as the aperture is closed down Using ASA 25 film as a standard you may be assured of at least a four second speed regardless of the aperture of the lens used as long as the lens is set at full aperture refer to table With ASA 400 film at f 1 4 the slowest speed is 1 4 second however as the aperture is closed down the usable shutter speed becomes progressively slower until we reach f 8 when the slowest speed of eight seconds is possible Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Auto exposure control with stop down metering When using a bellows
17. Nikon FE s built in exposure meter and the elec tronic shutter control circuits are powered by two button cell type 1 55V silver oxide batteries or one 3V lithium battery These are mounted in the battery clip which forms a single unit with the battery chamber s coin slotted lid in the camera s baseplate To install the battery or batteries first unscrew the lid by turning it counterclockwise with a coin or something similar until it can be freely removed by hand Then seat the battery or the two batteries one on top of the other in the bat tery clip making sure that the respective plus and minus signs correspond with similar marks provided in the clip After seating the batteries correctly replace the lid and secure the connection by turning it clock wise with the coin as far as it will go It is advisable to remove the batteries when the camera is not to be used for a long period to prevent battery leakage within the camera for additional information refer to Tips on Camera Care on page 39 Checking Battery Power To check battery power simply turn the power check lever downward and watch the power check lamp If the lamp fails to glow check the battery seating and make any necessary adjustments Should the lamp still fail to light up install new batteries Caution 1 When the camera is not in use make sure that the film ad vance lever is positioned flush with the camera body As the lever doub
18. Release The shutter release button can also be tripped with a cable release To attach a cable release to the camera screw the threaded cable connector into the button The shutter is then tripped by depressing the cable release plunger Cable release operation is especially recom mended for critical shooting situations such as photo micrography or time exposures where vibration free shutter release is of prime importance Important If you mount the Nikon FE on a tripod having a large head contact between the lens body and the head may make it impossible to turn the lens aperture ring If this happens use the special tripod adapter supplied with the camera between the tripod head and camera body FOCUSING When the FE is used with a Nikkor lens fitted with an automatic diaphragm focusing is done at full aperture This makes for the brightest possible image on the focusing screen enabling easy focusing and composing Three types of focusing screens are available exclusively for the Nikon FE For details about changing focusing screens see page 41 The type K focusing screen comes with the camera as standard equipment It gives you a choice of three focusing aids a central split image range finder spot a microprism collar and a fine matte outer field To focus using the split image rangefinder spot turn the focusing ring of the lens until the two halves of the range finder spot pe
19. aintain continuous and automatic control for perfect exposures every time To take a picture using automatic shutter speed selec tion first set the shutter speed dial to AUTO the green needle in the finder will move to the upper A position and remain there and select an appropriate aperture setting As you compose and focus the black needle will continuously indicate the shutter speed being selected for correct exposure Prior to exposing the film make sure that the needle indicates a shutter speed appropriate for the subject if the indicated speed is too fast or too slow simply adjust the aperture ring on the lens until the desired shutter speed is indicated Then press the shutter release button to take the shot Note that as long as the needle remains within the scale pro vided the EV range of the metering system is not ex ceeded the camera gives the correct exposure automati cally Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 25 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT continued Manual Shutter Speed Selection When the shutter speed dial is set to other than the AUTO setting manual shutter speed selection is provided with exposure determination via the match needle method To determine the correct exposure using manual speed selection perform the following Switch on the meter by moving the advance lever to its stand off position Adjust the shutter speed dial until the green needle i
20. camera for taking the first picture Note Setting the shutter speed dial to a manual position rather than AUTO will speed up film loading by preventing the camera from selecting a slow speed as might be the case when the lens cap is in place However be sure to reset the dial to AUTO if automatic operation is desired When load ing film 1st blank exposure 2nd blank exposure 3rd blank expo sure now ready for Ist shot jlL M M d BB 8 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Setting the Film Speed As film sensitivity to light called film speed varies with film type adjustment of the camera s metering circuit is essential to ensure uniform exposures under all conditions Thus a film speed dial is provided for this purpose with a safety lock mechanism builtin to prevent accidental shifting of the dial during shooting To set the film speed hold in the film speed dial lock and turn the ASA film speed dial until the ASA number is aligned with the red index After setting the dial release the lock and test the dial to ensure that it is set firmly at the desired ASA value The meter is sensitive from ASA 12 to ASA 4000 The film speed dial has two graduations between each pair of numbers for inter mediate settings such as 64 80 125 etc The illustration below indicates all intermediate settings Memo Holder A special holder is provided on the camera back for con venient
21. e substantial brightness differences be tween the main subject and the background unimpor tant bright spots or dark spots can adversely influence the meter reading and thus the final exposure To pre vent under or overexposure of the main subject under these shooting conditions some corrective action must be taken to ensure proper exposure of the main subject Fortunately the finder s center weighted TTL meter ing and the memory lock function simplify adjust ments making for quicker camera operation and more accurate final results To compensate for an excessively bright or dark back ground place the main subject in the center of the fo cusing screen while performing metering this action ensures that the main emphasis of the meter reading will be on the chosen subject Then after completing aperture and shutter speed adjustments and depressing the memory lock to retain the shutter speed if set to auto recompose to the desired picture composition and make the exposure without readjusting the camera con trols For example when shooting landscapes it is often advisable to aim the camera slightly downward during exposure measurement to eliminate the effects of a bright expanse of sky without such compensation the landscape may appear underexposed in the final print Also for backlit subjects it may be necessary to move closer to the subject to ensure a proper reading 2 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET e Metering w
22. ea 6 Automatic shutter speed selection Installing the batterl s 2 222 me 6 Manual shutter speed selection Checking battery power llle 6 Exposure CONIC asas gs pemu esr mao Loading film eccle mr rmm ewe 7 Metering range assertum onm mme Phor toshoofB zoezilioxeReiik sec 8 High contrast lighting situations Setting tie fili Speele s ssa acme es ee pe 9 Stop down exposure measurement Memoholder ccce man 9 Exposure compensation adjustments Operation of camera controls 10 EV range of the camera ssi souscscunue Setting the shutter speed 0028 10 Multiple XpOSUNES a ese ca mem es comes Film advance lever lt lt x wee K ee 12 Flash synchronization a s es moei Frame counter om ee cmene 12 Readyslight s xm lt S S 96 6982 KE C2 G sO TTT T3 Tips on camera Cale ssim ris oe nomme Memory IOGK s s eax gs s RA R 0 K ARA 14 Mounting and removinglenses Unloading Bm s s lt a eu mmm mmm 15 Changing focusing screens isle Holding the camera l l 16 Focusing screen selector guide Shutter release operation leen 17 Lens screen compatibility chart Operation with cable release 17 PNECESSON IBS eus eo mm m R em Rm 9o Ri re a Foug seul mmm mr mem thm a e N 18 Features specifications cese Infrared photography s s usos ioo 20 Filri plane indicator sao cs
23. g The closest point of sharp focus is 2 7m although this number does not appear in the focusing scale Note that for exact depth of field determination you should refer to the depth of field tables in the instruc tion manual for the Nikkor lens in use 22 Lens set at f 4 Shallow depth of field centered on the main subject Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Lens at f 8 Depth of field extends in front of behind the main subject Lens at f 16 Sharp focus encompasses the entire foreground and background Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT The exposure meter of the Nikon FE is center weighted The meter reads the light over the entire focusing screen but favors the central 12mm diameter area while still taking the entire area into consideration This allows you to make precise readings of the selected subject area and results in more balanced overall exposures 24 Automatic Shutter Speed Selection When set to the AUTO shutter speed dial setting the FE is capable of fully automatic selection of the shut ter speed appropriate to the aperture setting of the lens and the existing lighting conditions The exposure meter display visible inside the finder enables the photogra pher to maintain continuous control over the exposure while viewing and focusing And as lighting conditions or the aperture setting change the shutter speed control circuit continues to m
24. illustration so that the film passes under the spool with its emulsion side dull side facing out Make sure that the perto rations along the edges of the film mesh with the sprockets If necessary release the shutter by pushing the shutter release button and stroke the film advance lever slowly to make sure that the leader winds smoothly on the spool and that the film edge perforations engage the film sprocket roller When you are certain that the film is being fed properly onto the spool and traveling correctly along the film guide rails close the camera back by pressing it until it snaps into place Z a e 3 e e Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 7 PREPARATION FOR USE continued Prior to Shooting Fold out the film rewind crank and turn it gently in the direction of the engraved arrow until you feel a slight resistance this will indicate that any slack in the film cartridge has been taken up Then fold the rewind crank into place Advance the film refer to page 12 for film advance oper ation and make two blank exposures this will dispose of the initial portion of the film exposed during loading As you advance the film confirm that the rewind crank turns in the direction opposite the arrow This indicates that the film has been loaded properly and is being advanced After advancing the film two frames check that the frame counter is at 0 then advance the film one more frame to prepare the
25. in this position Even though the meter needle continues to move while the memory lock is activated the shutter speed is still locked in electronically Thus several frames can be exposed using the same locked reading Also the aper ture can be adjusted without affecting the locked in shutter speed See High Contrast Lighting Situations on page 28 for details on the use of the memory lock 14 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET UNLOADING FILM As soon as the frame counter indicates that the last ex posure has been made or when the film advance lever can no longer be stroked the roll of film has been fully exposed and now must be rewound prior to unloading First press the rewind button on the camera s baseplate then unfold the film rewind crank and turn it in the direction of the engraved arrow with smooth even pres sure You can tell when the film leader has left the take up spool because the rewind crank becomes much easier to turn Now open the camera back by sliding its safety Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET lock and pulling up the rewind knob as far as it will go then remove the film cartridge Note that when the film advance lever is stroked for the next exposure with the next roll of film the rewind button will be released to engage the film advance mechanism once again You should not push the rewind button during film advance operation otherwise film advance will tem porarily stop and f
26. ith a bright area in the center will For correct exposure first measure the main subject cause underexposure of the main subject then recompose and shoot Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET a STOP DOWN EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT The vast selection of lenses available for use with your Nikon FE includes some which are fitted neither with an automatic diaphragm nor a meter coupling ridge both of which are essential to full aperture exposure measurement The FE works with these lenses through an alternative method called stop down exposure measurement First the meter coupling lever should be raised and locked up out of the way manually by depress ing the coupling lever release button to avoid accidental damage make sure you do not use excessive force when raising the lever After setting the lever mount the lens or lens accessory combination on the camera switch on the meter by moving the film advance lever to the stand off position and then set the controls for correct exposure as follows For lenses or accessories having no automatic diaphragm nor meter coupling ridge e g bel lows units extension rings preset lenses AUTO First set the camera at AUTO Focus on the subject and stop down the lens manually until the desired shutter speed is indicated in the viewfinder MANUAL First focus on the subject Adjust either the shutter speed dial or the lens aperture ring until the needles in the viewfinder overla
27. les as the meter on off switch leaving it in the stand off position will result in the camera s battery being completely drained in just a few days 2 When the camera is attached to the MD 12 motor drive make sure the motor drive is switched off when it is not in use to prevent drain of both the camera and the motor drive s batteries 3 When the batteries are dead or there are none installed in the camera the only two settings which can be used are M90 and B If you trip the shutter with the camera set to any other speed the shutter won t open or the reflex mirror may remain in the up position If the mirror locks up simply turn the shutter speed dial to M90 and the mirror will return to its normal viewing position Then you can install new batteries To avoid wasting a frame stroke the winding lever while holding in the multiple exposure lever Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Loading Film First open the camera back by sliding its safety lock to the rear and lifting the film rewind knob as far as it will go Position the film cartridge or cassette in the film chamber which is located on the left hand side with the film leader aligned along the film guide rails then push the rewind knob down to hold the cartridge in place Pull the film leader out sufficiently for feeding into the film take up spool and insert its end into any of the spool s slots Rotate the take up spool as shown in the
28. n when released upon the completion of film advance The film advance lever switches the meter on when moved to its stand off position it switches the meter off when moved back flush with the camera body With the lever set flush against the camera body it serves also as a lock to prevent accidental tripping when the shutter is cocked In this position when the meter is off the meter needle in the viewfinder rests below B on the shutter speed scale Frame Counter Each time the film is advanced one frame by a full stroke of the film advance lever the frame counter operates to show how many frames have been exposed It is automatically reset to S start two frames before 0 when the camera back is opened to remove an ex posed film cartridge and or to load a new roll of film The frame counter has indications for up to a maximum of 36 frames with all odd numbers calibrated in dots and all even numbers in figures The figures are in white except for 12 20 and 36 which appear in red to indicate the maximum number of exposures available respective ly with standard film cartridges a parece 12 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Self Timer The built in self timer can be used to trip the shutter after a delay of approximately 8 14 seconds To take a picture using the self timer first set the aperture and shutter speed controls advance the film and cock the self timer by turning the self timer lever downwa
29. nding also possible using the option al Motor Drive Unit MD 12 Frame counter Additive type automatically resets to S two frames before 0 when camera back is opened Film rewinding Manual crank type Depth of field preview Via lever provided on front of camera Camera back Hinged swing open type removabie memo holder provided Dimensions 142mm x 89 5mm x 57 5 mm approx Weight 590g body only approx Other features included are multiple exposure facility and motor drive functions j Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET NIPPON KOGAKU K K No reproduction in any form of this booklet in whole or in part except for brief quotation in critieal articles or reviews may be made without written authorization from the publishers Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Printed in Japan 81 7 FO amp 15
30. om the camera and the specific lens aperture in use A third factor the focal length of the lens also influences the apparent depth of field i e the longer the lens the shallower the depth of field appears to be and vice versa In the same manner the wider the taking aperture i e the lower the f stop number the shallower the depth of field and vice versa Also the closer you approach your subject the shallower the depth of field becomes and vice versa In all cases you will find that the depth of field behind the subject is larger than that in front Depth of Field Preview Lever Most Nikkor lenses are automatic This means that the aperture diaphragm remains open at its widest while you are viewing focusing and metering When you press the shutter release button the camera automatically stops down the diaphragm to the aperture which is set on the aperture ring To examine the depth of field before taking a picture it is necessary to stop down the lens manually You can do this by pushing the depth of field preview lever Assum ing that the lens is not set to its maximum aperture depressing the lever will stop down the lens to that aperture You will then be able to see the elements in front of and behind the main subject that will be in sharp focus in the final photograph although some of them may have not appeared to be in focus prior to pushing the lever A side effect is the darkening of the image in the
31. on the Nikon FE TYPE B Matte Fresnel with focusing spot Matte Fresnel field with central 3mm diameter fine ground matte focusing spot The 12mm diamter reference circle corresponds to the area of center weighted TTL exposure measurement Rated excellent with all lenses this screen proves especially good with lenses having small maximum apertures such as Reflex Nikkors as well as for closeup photography applications TYPE E Matte Fresnel with focusing spot and grid Matte Fresnel field with central 3mm diameter fine ground matte focus ing spot and etched grid The 12mm diamter reference circle corresponds to the area of center weighted TTL exposure measurement Rated excel lent with all lenses this screen proves especially good for exacting repro duction work such as copying as well as for architectural photography with PC Nikkor lenses 42 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET EE Sn SSNS SS eg 00 Lens Screen Compatibility Chart Lens screen selection Lene Screen B E Emm 125 Fisheye 8mm t 2 8 16mm f 3 5 13mm 5 6 15mm f 5 6 18mm f 4 20mm 1 3 5 20mm t 4 24mm 1 2 Wideangle 24mm 172 8 28mm 1 2 28mm 1 2 8 28mm 3 5 35mm f 14 35mm 1 2 35mm 1 28 Normal 50mm t 1 2 50mm HIA 50mm f 1 8 B5mm 1 2 105mm 2 5 T38mm 1 2 35mm 72 8
32. or other extension equipment which does not couple directly to the exposure meter it is necessary to use stop down metering Certain limita tions are imposed in this mode As lens to film distance is increased the metering range EV range changes proportionately For example when an f 2 lens is used at a 2 1 reproduction ratio twice life size the effective f number is f 5 6 When used at f 8 the effective f number is f 22 When pictures are taken under low light levels it is desirable to use a high speed film ASA 160 or higher Using Tri X at ASA 400 with stop down metering with an effective f number of f 8 the shutter speed range would be from 1 4 second to 1 1000 Should the light level drop below EV 6 it would be out of the shutter speed range of the meter Slowest shutter ed at full EEN h ASA speed Slowest dm speed any lens 3200 1 30 1600 1 15 800 1 8 400 1 4 200 160 1 2 100 80 1 50 64 2 25 4 12 8 33 EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA continued m How to read the EV chart Full aperture metering Example Lens maximum aperture f 1 4 ASA film speed 100 Working aperture f 5 6 By referring to the f 1 4 column in Section A and the EV values indicated for ASA 100 in Section D you will find that the EV range for an f 1 4 lens at ASA 100 is 1 to 18 Now refer to Section B and single out the f 5 6 indication for ASA 100 Go diagonally down until the protruding line
33. p 30 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET For automatic diaphragm lenses with no cou pling ridge AUTO Hold in the depth of field preview lever to stop down the lens diaphragm Then adjust the aperture ring until the black meter needle indicates the desired shutter speed Trip the shutter with the preview lever fully depressed toward the camera body until the completion of the exposure An alternative way is to use the built in memory lock function In this case after reading the meter in the same method as mentioned above use the memory lock to freeze the reading be sure the preview lever is still depressed when locking in the reading and then free the preview lever Release the shutter while keeping the memory lock depressed MANUAL Select the desired shutter speed depress and hold the depth of field preview lever and while keeping it depressed adjust the aperture ring until the needles in the viewfinder overlap You may free the preview lever before releasing the shutter For fixed aperture lenses such as Reflex Nikkors photomicrography or astrophotography AUTO As the lens aperture is fixed no additional control is necessary MANUAL Adjust the shutter speed dial until the needles in the viewfinder overlap For additional control of exposure in either mode of operation use ND filters or adjust the illumination or switch to a higher or slower speed film 31 Distributed by
34. rame overlap may result Note too that the camera back can be removed from the body by depressing the locking catch on the hinge HOLDING THE CAMERA Camera shake is one of the most common causes of blur red unsharp pictures especially at slow shutter speeds To prevent this learn how to hold the camera correctly and practice steady shutter squeezing Wrap the fingers of the right hand around the camera body so that the index finger of your right hand rests comfortably on the shutter release button and the thumb fits between the camera body and the film advance lever Position the camera so you can look through the center of the viewfinder Cradle the camera with your left hand for additional support using the thumb and middle finger to grasp the focusing ring In this way the camera is properly supported and can easily be switched from horizontal to vertical format shooting 16 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET SHUTTER RELEASE OPERATION Correct shutter release operation is just as important to obtaining sharp pictures as holding the camera properly To release the shutter correctly move the advance lever to its stand off position hold the camera steady and depress the shutter release button with smooth even pressure Relax even when you re in a hurry a quick jab at the shutter release button will cause camera shake and result in an unintentionally blurred photograph Operation with Cable
35. rds Then depress the shutter release button and the timer will start note that the mirror will rise as the shutter button is depressed and return at the end of the cycle A unique feature of the FE s self timer lever is that its setting is cancellable In other words should you decide not to use the self timer after setting it you simply turn it back upwards and push it towards the lens mount Then you can resume normal shutter tripping operation The self timer works at all shutter speed set tings except B For critical close up photography the self timer in combination with a tripod is particularly useful in preventing vibration Note When using the self timer with the camera on automatic cover the eyepiece with your hand only at the instant you release the shutter this will prevent light from entering into the eyepiece and adversely affecting exposure measurement Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 13 OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS continued Memory Lock The convenient location of the self timer lever making for ready finger access proves advantageous when using the built in memory lock Memory lock enables the photographer to lock in a close up reading of the subject To operate the memory lock view through the finder and meter on the selected area then simply push the lever toward the lens to hold the reading until the completion of the exposure The reading will be retained as long as the control is held
36. rfectly coincide forming a single crisp image To focus with the microprism collar turn the focusing ring until the image seen through the micro prism pattern appears sharp and crisp With the matte outer field turn the ring until the image viewed in the field appears sharp The split image rangefinder spot is the most suitable for precise pinpoint focusing while the microprism collar is perfect for rapid focusing in sports or action type pho tography The fine matte outer field on the other hand is ideal for use with telephoto lenses or in closeup and macrophotography You can also prefocus the lens by using the distance scale engraved in both meters and feet on the lens barrel Simply turn the focusing ring until the measured or estimated camera to subject distance is lined up with the distance scale index on the lens barrel This tech nique is useful for picture taking situations where either the subject is elusive or time does not permit through the lens focusing Note When using lenses with maximum apertures of f 3 5 or smaller one half of the split image rangefinder may black out In this case use the matte outer field instead 18 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Out of focus In focus Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 19 FOCUSING continued Infrared Photography The plane of sharpest focus for infrared light is slightly further away than its counterpart for visible light as seen
37. s 20 Depth offield wwe ca em ees mmm 21 Depth of field preview lever 21 Depth of field indicators o oo ssaaa 22 K Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET FOREWORD The Nikon FE is a compact 35mm single lens reflex camera with a host of outstanding features It offers aperture priority automatic exposure control with shut ter speeds from 1 1000 second down to 8 seconds has interchangeable focusing screens and accepts the option al MD 12 for motor driven exposures up to 3 5 frames per second In addition the FE incorporates automatic flash speed setting when used in conjunction with the accessory Speedlight Unit SB 10 When the SB 10 is mounted on the camera s hot shoe and turned on the shutter speed is automatically set to the proper synchro nization speed of 1 90 second when the camera is set to automatic The FE will also accept virtually every accessory in the Nikon System the most comprehensive ever created for photography To get the most out of this camera study the instructions in this manual care fully and practice using the controls before loading the camera with film Keep the manual on hand for ready reference until you have mastered operation The few minutes you spend familiarizing yourself with the camera will guarantee you the best results and increase your pleasure in taking pictures many times over Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 3 PREPARATION FOR USE Installing the Batteries The
38. s aligned with the desired speed then simply adjust the aperture setting of the lens until the black needle moves to overlap the green needle If de liberate under or overexposure is desired adjust the controls so that the green needle overlaps the next R 900 000 higher number one stop underexposure or the next 500 400 lower number one stop overexposure Example under um 250 and overexposure indications are shown at the right ai 30 30 15 15 Deliberate and one stop one stop overexposure underexposure 26 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Exposure Control The amount of light reaching the film plane is deter mined by a combination of the lens aperture and the shutter speed Since the two are interrelated different combinations will give the same exposure A 1 step change in the shutter speed or a I stop change in the aperture setting will either halve or double the expo sure For example a shutter speed of 1 125 second allows twice as much light to strike the film as a setting of 1 250 second and only half as much light as a speed of 1 60 second with an aperture setting of f 11 twice as much light enters the lens at f 8 and half as much at f 16 With this in mind it s easy to see that if a correct exposure for a scene is 1 125 at f 11 then 1 60 at f 16 or 1 250 at f 8 will give you exactly the same exposure The best combination will depend on the desired results Use fast shutter speeds
39. th a meter coupling ridge first make sure that the camera s meter coupling lever is in the normal position i e it protrudes from the camera s lens mounting flange Position the lens in the flange so that the mounting index on the lens is aligned with the mounting index on the camera body Then twist the lens counterclockwise until it clicks and locks into place The lens maximum aperture is automatically indexed to the camera s meter as soon as it is mounted EE To mount a lens not fitted with a meter coupling ridge first make sure that the camera s meter coupling lever is locked up out of the way by pushing the coupling lever release and manually lifting the lever up The mounting procedure is the same as described previously Remem ber that stop down exposure measurement is required for lenses of this type see page 30 To remove the lens from the camera body push in the lens release button while twisting the lens clockwise as far as it will go Lift the lens out when it comes loose Note The Nikon Fisheye 6mm f 5 6 and OP 10mm f 5 6 cannot be used with the Nikon FE because the camera does not have a provision for locking the mirror in the up position Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET Three different types of focusing screens are available for the Nikon FE camera each designed to meet specific focusing requirements The type K screen comes with the camera as standard equipment After removing the
40. to freeze motion or slow speeds to produce deliberate and creative blur Small apertures give greater depth of field while large apertures restrict sharp focus to the main subject The creative selection of both speeds and apertures will greatly enhance your photography Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET 27 EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT continued Metering Range If the black meter needle fails to leave the A or M B positions during auto or fails to match the green needle in manual even after all possible lens aperture shutter speed combinations have been tried then the available light is too bright or too dim for the meter s range To correct this situation several meas ures may be taken as follows Mount a neutral density filter on the lens to decrease the light reaching the film plane or use artificial lighting i e an electronic flash unit to increase subject illumination Remember too that the lens in use can greatly influence suitability for bright or dim light shooting For example a 50mm f 1 4 lens with ASA 100 film couples from EV 1 f 1 4 at 1 second to EV 18 f 16 at 1 1000 second for excellent low light performance on the other hand a 135mm f 2 8 lens proves more usable at bright light levels coupling with ASA 100 film to EV 3 EV 20 f 32 at 1 1000 second Thus choose the lens carefully to match the existing lighting conditions High Contrast Lighting Situations When there ar
41. tomatic mode if you release the shutter when the speedlight is turned off This prevents wasting an exposure Note that the above procedure is applicable only to the SB 10 FE combination Also be sure to release the shutter when the ready light glows brightly when using the SB 10 unit The ready light also lights up when the shutter speed dial is set at a speed slower than 1 125 second and the flash unit is charged This indicates readiness for flash photography 38 Additionally the ready light functions as a sync warning signal when the flash unit is not charged the light is off but even when it is charged the ready light flickers to warn you if the shutter speed is manually set beyond the camera s sync range e g 1 250 second or above In this case set the shutter speed dial to a lower setting or switch to automatic control mode Note When using an electronic flash other than the Nikon Speed light Unit SB 10 with the FE in the AUTO mode it is advisa ble for perfect synchronized photography that you adjust the aperture ring to set the meter needle in the viewfinder to a speed slower than 1 60 sec even though the X synchronization is 1 125 sec and below Because the silicon photodiode in the FE responds immediately to the slightest change in scene brightness it s a good idea to give yourself some leeway Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET TIPS ON CAMERA CARE Tough and durable though your Nikon FE is
42. utomatically adjusted as shutter speed is adjusted Built in battery pack contributes to overall reduced size and weight Fitted with remote control socket for use with Nikon remote control accessories such as the MT 1 Intervalometer and the MW 1 Radio Remote Control Set Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET e QQG OOooooo Camera Cases Recommended for storing camera body with lens at tached Different sizes available to accommodate most Nikkor lenses Lens Hoods Recommended to prevent extraneous light from striking the lens and causing ghost images and flare also useful for protecting the lens All kinds of models to match various Nikkor lenses Filters A wide selection of sizes and types to meet the needs of color or black and white photography These filters work best with Nikkor lenses and vice versa Also useful for protecting the front of the lens Eyepiece Correction Lenses Available in nine different powers for maximum selec tivity Nikon eyepiece correction lenses permit the near or far sighted user to view and focus without wearing spectacles Diopters available are 5 4 3 2 0 0 5 1 2 and 3 with each value representing the combined lens finder dioptry 45 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET FEATURES SPECIFICATIONS Type of camera 35mm single lens reflex SLR Picture format 24mm x 36mm 35mm film format Lens mount Nikon bayonet type Lenses available Nikkor 50mm f 1 2 f 1 4
43. viewfinder the higher the f number the darker the image appears this is normal and should be no cause for concern Note that the correct automatic exposure cannot be obtained if the lever is depressed when the shutter is released After faking a stopped down meter reading you can release the shutter with the depth of field lever depressed but it must be depressed all the way Otherwise the shutter may not open 21 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET DEPTH OF FHELD continued Depth of Field Indicators Virtually every Nikkor lens comes with three scales which can be used for determining the depth of field The first is the lens aperture scale with the f numbers color coded The second consists of two sets of colored lines the colors corresponding to the colors of the f numbers The third is the focusing scale which is cali brated in meters and feet To determine depth of field note the color of the f number in use The depth of field at the taking aperture is indicated by the numbers on the focusing scale which are adjacent to the colored lines that correspond to the color of the f number set Example Taking aperture f 16 Color Blue Focusing distance 5m In the example above the farthest point of sharp focus behind the subject is infinity this is the figure on the focusing scale which is adjacent to the blue line on the second scale which in turn corresponds to the blue color of the f 16 settin
44. with the FE First make the initial exposure Then pull back the multi exposure lever as far as it will go and while holding it stroke the film advance lever The multi exposure lever needs to be held in only during the beginning of the advance lever stroke Repeat this pro cedure for each additional exposure on the same frame When you have achieved the desired number of ex posures on the same frame release the lever and stroke the film advance lever once more Note that during multiple exposure operation both the camera s shutter speed and the lens aperture can be changed to any setting The frame counter will remain at the same setting until the multi exposure lever is released a convenient way of confirming that multiple exposure operation is proceeding properly For motor driven multiple exposures in combination with the optional MD 12 Motor Drive Unit simply pull back the multi exposure lever while firing off the desired number of frames either in the Single or Continuous mode After releasing the lever cover the lens with a lens cap and make a blank exposure to get the film ready for the next shot 36 Distributed by WWW LENSINC NET FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION The Nikon FE is designed to synchronize with electronic flash units at all shutter speeds up to and including 1 125 second or with flashbulbs up to and including 1 30 second A built in hot shoe offers operation without the need for a sync cord when using flash
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