Manual and autofocusing with Nikon F4

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Focus Mode Selector: One of the inconvenience in handling found in most early Nikon AF SLR camera is, it requires the user to set manually the type of lenses and the mode of focus manually each time you setup the camera for shooting. Basically, the system cannot just simply by sensing whether the lense has been set by the user to manual focus or AF (while this is excusable when you take into consideration the great backward compatibility of lenses with this camera) but requiring the photographer to set the camera each time whether to shoot continuously or singularly is ridiculous because the firing mode at the shutter release button has included that.

There are three focus modes available through a focus mode selector provided on the camera body. Each mode corresponds the type of lense and/or selection of either AF or MF operation.

Many photographic topic such as this interior view scene may not require AF due to to extensive elements inside the composition. But when you are reverting to MF (regardless AF/MF Nikkor), you would need to set up the camera for MF operation, first by setting the focus mode to "M" setting. Tedious, you can say.

<<< ---- Image from my copyright-free image collection. Malaysian Internet Resources

Focus tracking. This function enables accurate autofocus of moving subjects by measuring the moving speed in the picture frame. Normally, an AF SLR, when taking a picture of a subject moving toward or away from the camera, detects the distance from camera to subject, moves the lens until correct focus is obtained, and then releases the shutter. However, during the period between focus detection and exposure, the subject may move closer or farther away from the camera and will thus be out of focus. The focus tracking in the F4 has a computer-assisted follow-focus system which actually calculates the anticipated moving subject's position at the moment just before shutter operation. It's activated automatically when it senses moving subjects when you are on continuous autofocus low-speed operation, and it's automatically canceled when subject speed becomes erratic. Viewfinder signals keep you informed of status.

Focus is detected at least twice before the exposure. The camera measures the difference between the first and second focus detection to ascertain the subject's moving speed in picture frame. With this information the camera then compensates for the time required for lens movement and drives the lens into the proper position until the exposure to obtain correct focus, resulting in consecutive focused images.

To utilize this function, first set the focus mode to Continuous Servo and film advance mode to Low-Speed Continuous (CL). This function automatically reverts to normal operation when the subject changes direction or moves erratically. It's another important F4 tool, designed to expand your picture-taking universe.
Credit: Image was scanned from Nikon's Sales Manual.

Operation: Lightly press shutter release button to start Focus Tracking. Confirm both arrows () appear in the viewfirider, then fully depress shutter release button to take an in-focus picture. With Focus Tracking, even if the subject is in focus, the in focus indicator () does not appear. If the subject speed becomes erratic, Focus Tracking will be automatically deactivated and standard continuous focusing will operate. Focus Tracking ability will vary according to subject's brightness and movement, lens in use and shooting distance. During Focus Tracking, the subject must remain within th focus brackets.

Autofocusing with AF Illuminator Where existing light contrast or subject detail is insufficient for autofocus operation, the use of a Nikon Autofocus Speedlight (SB-28, SB-27, SB-26, SB-25, SB-24, SB-23, SB-22 or SB-20) is recommended. Each of these speedlights enables autofocus operation even in total darkness, by emitting an infrared patterned beam of light onto the subject. Note that AF illumination works only with the Nikon F4 set in the Single Servo Autofocus mode.

Autofocus Lock ("AF-L"). Pressing the AF-L (Autofocus Lock) button enables the Nikon F4 to lock the focus. Simultaneous lock of AF-L and AE-L is possible. "'FREEZE FOCUS" - is another great function in the F4. It allows automatic shutter release when subject enters a pre focused distance - available with Nikon MF-23 and/or the 250 exp. MF-24 Multi-Control Back. i.e. with the shutter button fully depressed, the shutter is automatically fired when a subject comes into a preset manually focused position. This function is recommended for sports races because the racing course is usually known beforehand. It also works well in wildlife remote control photography, scientific, forensic and other technical photography.

NOTE: With the AF-L button depressed, focus will be locked even if you remove your finger from the shutter release button. AF-L button can also be used in Single Servo autofocus mode - BOTH WAYS allow off-center autofocus operation as well. Simultaneous use of AE-L (Auto Exposure Lock) button is recommended. In this case, turn AF-L/AE-L simultaneous lock lever to and press AF-L button.

Manual focusing with Electronic Rangefinder Well, regardless if you are using an AF Nikkor lense and/or an older MF Nikkor - amazingly, the AF system in the Nikon F4 still can contribute to assist the photographer in another form. You can use the standard Advanced BriteView B screen in the Nikon F4, and focus with the clear matte screen or try the Electronic Rangefinder. Both operate naturally in traditional Manual focusing. If you prefer, there are interchangeable focusing screens, with your choice of optical rangefinder devices such as microprism and shade-free split-image rangefinder. Augments optional focusing methods, and is sensitive enough for focusing in light as dim as EV-1 - the equivalent of less than just one candlelight. Nikon's basis of comparison of the AF system in the camera - can anyone's eyes focus in that kind-of light ? Yes, of course but may not be efficient enough, that is all. But to those Nikon photographers who may be migrating from MF system previously, a wide range of MF lenses may still be useable with the Electronic Rangefinder inside the F4. As a guideline, lenses with maximum aperture smaller than f/5.6 are deemed unsuitable with this feature.

Operation guide: With electronic range finder, set the focus mode to "M" first (if you are using an AF-Nikkor lense, set the "A-M" switch on the lense to "M" as well. Keeping shutter release button lightly pressed, rotate lens focusing ring manually and watch focus indicator LEDs inside the viewfinder. if arrow (rear focus) or arrow (front focus) appears, manually rotate lens focusing ring in the direction indicated until the in-locus indicator LED appears. off 4 arrow does not disappear when you turn focus ring counterclockwise to the limit, the subject is closer than the closest focusing distance of the lens- Move away from the subject. Confirm in-focus indicator LED appears, then fully depress shutter release button.

Special Focusing Situations To successfully focus, whether using the F4's Electronic Rangefinder, an optical rangefinder, or a clear matte field, the subject must be reasonably illuminated and have sufficient contrast. If the red focus-not-possible indicator "X" appears, manually focus by estimating distance or choose an alternate focus target with the same distance, lock focus, then recompose.

The following situations are examples that are difficult to focus and require greater concentration to secure correct focus 1) When shooting the following: a) Bright subject with a shiny surface, such as silver or aluminum. b) Strongly backlit subject. c) Scene with variety of subjects located at different dislances. 2) When using a linear polarizing filter. or special filter such as a soft-focus filters. (Circular polarizing filler can be used for autofocus operation). Note: R60 (red) and 056 (Orange) filters will interfere with Electronic Rangefinder and autofocus operation. When using these filters, focus manually.

NOTE: For manual control of the lense focus ring, set focus mode selector is set to the ("M") position will prevents the autofocus coupler on the lense mount from rotating. Focus status (see illustration) is indicated by the viewfinder LED, so the user knows which way to turn the lens focus ring. With Nikon lenses other than AF Nikkors' the autofocus coupler will not move whichever focus mode is selected. Focus status is indicated also by the viewfinder LED.

<<< ---- Image from my copyright-free image collection. Malaysian Internet Resources

Others Technical Highlights:

High-performance built-in motor. Naturally, all these will not be possible nor be able to optimize if the entire system doesn't has a capable, efficient and high speed motor system. Unlike the Nikon F3 with MD-4 combination - Nikon's built-in a high-speed motor drive that you can't even see or won It have to attach, ever. And it makes entire process of setting up the shooting film operation, from automatic film loading to ISO setting, automatic. In its variable shooting modes, Continuous High ("CH") runs the Nikon F4 at up to 5.7 frames per second* (fps), almost comparable to the famed trusty, Nikon F3/MD4 combination. When operating at Continuous Low ("CL") the built-in drive can still offer up to an impressive 3.4 fps*. Naturally, the firing rate also caters for shooting at Single frame up to 1 fps or as you like. An ingenious new inclusion was a Continuous Silent mode which was specifically designed for those who often has to shoot at assignments such as certain international sports meets that do not permits interference with motorized shootings or such as shooting indoor stage shows and/or even when handling potentially hazardous wildlife photography. Well, although it never challenges a typical rangefinder's performance in quietness level during shooting any sequence but is was the quietest automatic film advance ever designed in a 35mm SLR camera body.

While both AF coupler (body side) and the AF coupling (lense side) remains the same on Nikon F4 and Nikon F5; the electrical contacts in the Nikon F5 has an additional one. Inside the lens mount, other than the aperture stopped down lever, other basic coupling and levers such as Focal length indexing pin, Lens speed indexing lever and Lens type signal pin was removed in the subsequent Nikon F4. Check the lense compatibility section for more info.

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Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:- Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm 15mm 18mm 20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm 28mm 35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm 105mm 135mm 180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |

Index Page
Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm 35mm 50mm 100mm 135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm 75~150mm 70~210mm

MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

W A R N I N G: The New G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have no aperture ring on the lense, they cannot adjust aperture(s) when operating in manual exposure control even with certain earlier AF Nikon SLR camera models. Similarly, not ALL features provide in a modern AF-S series AF-Nikkor lenses can be utilized fully with a Nikon F4. Please refer to your local distributor for compatibility issue(s).

Complimentary links are appreciative but it is not necessary, I have limited bandwidth here in this server... So, PLEASE don't distribute this URL to any bulk mailing list or unrelated user-groups, just be a little considerate, thank you. (The more you distribute, the slower this server will response to your requests...). I am NOT a Nikon nor Nikkor expert, so don't send me any mails, use the Message Board Instead. While the content prepared herein should be adequate for anyone to understand and evaluate whether you should invest into a used Nikon F4 pro-camera system for your kind of photography. Well, IF you like what you have seen so far, please help to perfect this site by reporting any broken links or any errors made.

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Credit: Chuck Hester, US for his patience, encouragement and help to setup the various content in this site; Robert Johnson for some of his original images on the F2H-MD appeared in this site; my ex-staff, KiaSu for his superb 3-D logo appeared in this Nikon F2 site; Marc Vorgers from Holland who generously provide me with some of his images of F2AS; MCLau®, who has so much time with me to re-edit the content in this site and not to mention buying a Nikon Coolpix 990 just for this site; Paul Armstrong (pkared@ameritech.net) for his explantion of the FF2 Slidemagic and Nikon F2 Pin Camera Keat Photo, Kuala Lumpur for providing their Nikon F2A to take some images for this site; Mr Edward Ngoh the great camera collector who provides us his collection of F2AS with MD-2; hawkeye.photographic.com for their images on the Speed Magny film backs; Sean Cranor for his image on Nikon F2 25th Anniversary Model; Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous flow of input on some of the early Nikon bodies; Genesis-Camera for granting permission to use an image of the SS-F2 camera; Mr Sover Wong, Australia for those great images of his rare F2 Gold;CYLeow ®, photo editor of the Star newspaper, Malaysia for some of his images used in this site. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from Shriro Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. HiuraShinsaku®, Nikomat ML, Japan for some of his images on various F2 models; my staff, Wati, Maisa, Mai and my nephew, EEWyn®, who volunteered and helping me did so many of the film scanning works; Hong-sien Kwee of Singapore for all the Nikon F2 Pin camera images appeared in this site; Luigi Crescenzi for many of his images on the Nikon F2 Titan; John for two of his images of the Nikon F2/T used in this site; Contributing photographers or resellers: Jen Siow, Foo KokKin, Arthur Teng, Mark Fallander, John Ishii, Ed Hassel, YoonKi Kim, Jean-Louis, M.Dugentas (Dell Corner.com.), Mr "Arsenall", Yang Zi Xiong and a few images mailed in from surfers with no appropriate reference to their origin. Note:certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their own work to publish in this site based on educational merits. The creator of this site will not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from such possible dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" & "Nikkor" are registered tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Dedicated to KU Yeo, just to express our mutual regrets over the outcome of a recent corporate event. Made with an Apple IMac.