kon F4 - Exposure Control

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APERTURE-PRIORITY AUTO EXPOSURE MODE ("A")

As Nikon has started offering Aperture Priority AE ("A" )as early as mid of '70 with the Nikkormat/Nikomat EL series and even the previous professional model of Nikon F3 was using this AE mode as backbone for its exposure control, so, any Nikon photographers who has a little experience using an electronic Nikon SLR should find it very at home with this exposure mode.

Often called the mode of depth of field, this is the recommended mode when depth of field is your prime consideration. For less distinct backgrounds, as in portraiture, use larger apertures to obtain a shallow depth of-field. For overall sharp, clear pictures, as in scenic photography, use smaller apertures. It is easy to operate and understand and with the Nikon F4 - this mode operates with virtually all Nikon lenses.

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The Aperture Priority Auto exposure is the most versatile and flexible of all the available modes in the F4. It works with any CPU Nikkor and virtually all non-CPU Nikkor (includes AF-Nikkor for Nikon F3). When used with any optical system such as a Reflex-Nikkor lense, microscope, telescope, Bellow-Units, etc., the Nikon F4's chooses the correct shutter speed based on the aperture selected. Some of the main features can be summarized below: the shutter speed control operative within the range of 30 sec. to 1/8880 sec. steplessly and the chosen shutter speed displayed inside the finder displays in 1/2 stop increment (the aperture value can be set by the user within the F-number of the lense mounted). There is only one setting that may require some attention: i.e. when you turn the shutter speed dial to "T" setting, there will be no indicative exposure indication (shutter speed nor exposure mode) while a "--" will replace the normal location of the shutter speed display. It is adviable to turn the setting away to Manual mode (but Aperture priority AE is possible at "X", "B" or other settings. In the X setting, the camera will react normally as you are in other shutter speed settings. The "B" (bulb) reacts similarly as the X-setting (the bulb mode is operative once you are in "M" mode) - it applies to other earlier modes as well. The only different is when you trip the shutter release button in the "T" (time exposure) setting. The shutter will immediately opened for exposure and can only be reset while turning the setting away from the T setting.

Viewfinder Display in A Mode Shutter speeds in this case are also completely stepless (shown from 30 sec. to 1/8880 sec. and indicated in 1/2 EV steps).as long as the combination of aperture and shutter speeds are within the metering range in this mode. The selection of aperture values (Red) depends on individual lense. With an AF lense, you can release the aperture lock (green). The ADR scales (blue) on the lense relay the aperture selected to the finder.

The display inside the viewfinder is slightly different from "PH", "P" and "S" mode discussed earlier. The metering system symbol (either Matrix, Spot or Center-Weighted) is still located on the far left. The camera's selected shutter speed is next and an 'A" is also shown to indicated you are in aperture priority mode. You need not have to remove your eyes from the finder to find the aperture you have chosen or in situations where you turns the aperture ring to alternate value as the F4's ADR (aperture direct readout) will relay the value via the ADR scales on the lense through the finder and deliver it at the center of the viewfinder. Similar with other modes, if the exposure is either higher or lower than the system 's permissible metering range, the respective "HI" or 'LO" symbols will replace the shutter speed to warn you to select other options. Further, unlike other earlier modes in "PH", "P" and "S", you can use virtually any Nikkor lense types in this exposure mode when you are using the Multi-Metered Finder DP-20. There is no other warning symbols such as "FEE" appears in this mode, however, the only possible display is when you activate the AE-L to lock in a particular metered scene, and AE-L symbol will display in the LCD panel (Auto-Exposure Bracketing will behave the same way with an added symbol, see the Multi-Control Function Back MF-23/MF-24 section).

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Jochem Wijnands ®. Jochem is a professional photographer and has an excellent online portfolio on his own and you may also contact via his e-mail. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

When operating in Manual Exposure control the photographer may easily determine whether a suggested exposure by the camera's system system is good to fulfill his personal preference. The conventional way is to turn the aperture ring (as the shutter speeds are in a full f-stop increment - we don't regard it as fine tuning exposure anymore). Another alternative way is to alter the ISO-film speed to fool the metering system (tedious and slow to execute). But minor fine-tuning of exposure in the few automatic exposure modes of "PH", "P", "S" and "A" can be calibrated by a few ways designed in the F4 in the form of button, dial on the camera itself and even may need an external accessory or using the conventional way of shifting the ISO-film speed. The latter was still considered far too slow to work so, we will only discuss the few available functions the camera provides:

AE-L (AUTO EXPOSURE LOCK) button that locates at the lower front section of the F4 is the easiest way to calibrate exposure as it is very positioned logically for any photographer to have his under utilized fingers to activate. Actually, it doesn't calibrate but instead, when you press the button, the function memorizes the metered exposure value - it is great for situations where you want to change composition or if you want to put creative emphasis on a specific part of the picture. While exposure is locked, an "EV-L" symbol appears in the viewfinder LCD display. The AF-L (autofocus Lock) that situated one level higher has a different feel in its recessed button which you will not confused with the function with the AE-L. Auto exposure and autofocus can be locked at the same time by simply turning the simultaneous lock lever and pressing the AF-L button.

NOTE: Other than operating with the DP-20, when using these features in spot metering, you may only make use of EITHER AF-L or AE-L once at a time (activating both functions at one go is not possible).

Frankly, if you are not entirely sure how much a compensated value should be adjusted in a tricky scene and if you are not entirely think the camera's Matrix Metering will work for you, actually I would suggest use this function instead and moreover this method is even a better way than using the alternative Exposure Compensation Dial.

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION DIAL As the F4 has a built-in film advance mechanism and thus replacing the space originally reserved for conventional shutter release button is the exposure compensation dial. The dial annexes with the various exposure mode selector as other than the Manual Exposure mode, it is part of a secondary exposure aid for fine tuning exposure control in automatic exposures. Using the exposure compensation dial, you can compensate exposure within the range of ±2EV in 1/3 EV increments. While sliding the lock release, rotate the exposure compensation dial to set the desired compensation value. Although personally, I would think the AE-L is more precise and easier to operate but the dial is very useful in situations where a fixed compensated value is often used in a continuous, long session shooting session.

The dial is graduated in one-third stop increments. -1 and -2 indicate one and two stops underexposure, respectively; +1 and +2 indicate one and two stops overexposure. Because the exposure compensation mark and value appear in the viewfinder when the shutter release button is lightly pressed, you can set the compensation value with your eye on your subject through the viewfinder.

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Georges C. Couchepin® <sunshine@mycable.ch> from Switzerland. He also operates a popular Ebay Store selling many used photo equipment. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved.

Note: it may be necessary to compensate the measured value when using certain interchangeable focusing screens. Compensation is possible within the range of -2 to +0.5 EV steps.

NOTE: nothing will be shown when compensated value is set to "0". The compensated value displayed does not include the compensation value change in P, PH, A or S mode. Shooting is possible in this state.

AUTO EXPOSURE BRACKETING ("AE-B") is a great feature to -- Errr, buying insurance for important shots to save your ass ..Unfortunately, probably due to commercial reasons, the feature was not designed as a built-in F4 feature. Instead, you can only make it work when you replaced the conventional camera film back with either one of the two optional multi-control function camera backs. By attaching the optional Nikon Multi-Control Back MF-23 or 250 Exp. Multi-Control Back MF-24 to the Nikon F4, you can take advantage of auto exposure bracketing to produce a variety of exposures of the same subject, each one suiting specific needs and/or tastes.

This feature lets you shoot up to an amazing 19 continuous frames,, each with a different exposure.

Note: Both the technical film backs are the same in its various functions but the 250 exp. MF-24 is huge and takes bulk films. Further, the cheaper MF-22 is not provided with this unique feature, again, I have to curse - @#&*%^#$+!

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Part I - IV: | Dual Program AE | Shutter Priority AE | Aperture Priority AE with Alternative Controls | Manual Exposure Control |

The Camera Body - Features | Reliability | Focusing | Metering | Exposure Control | Lense Compatibility | Interchangeable Prisms | Data Film Backs | Various Power Sources | Focusing Screens | Flash Photography | Other system accessories | Cases for Nikon F4 Series | Remote Control |

| Specification | Main Reference Map | Nikon F4 Variants
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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).

PLEASE NOTE: 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. A site made with an Apple IMac.