Nikon N90 User Manual

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Nikon

N90

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

CONTENTS

 

FOREWORD................................................................................

4

NOMENCLATURE....................................................................

510

BASIC OPERATION...............................................................

1126

MOUNTING THE LENS............................................................

12

INSTALLING BAHERIES..........................................................

13

CHECKING BAHERY POWER............................................

14-15

LOADING FILM....................................................................

16-18

BASIC SHOOTING..............................................................

19-24

REWINDING FILM...............................................................

25-26

GENERAL FUNCTIONS........................................................

2766

FILM ADVANCE MODE.......................................................

28-29

SINGLE-FRAME SHOOTING...............................................

28

CONTINUOUS SHOOTING..................................................

29

EXPOSURE METERING SYSTEM.....................................

30-32

MATRIX METERING.............................................................

30

CENTER-WEIGHTED METERING......................................

31

SPOT METERING................................................................

31

SETTING METERING SYSTEM...........................................

32

FOCUS.................................................................................

33-48

FOCUS AREA..................................................................

33-35

AUTOFOCUS...................................................................

35-39

AUTOFOCUS WITH MAIN SUBJECT OFF CENTER.....

40-43

SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUATIONS...............................

44-45

MANUAL FOCUS.............................................................

46-48

EXPOSURE MODE..............................................................

49-66

SELECTING EXPOSURE MODE....................................

50-53

SETTING EXPOSURE MODE..............................................

54

FLEXIBLE PROGRAM..........................................................

55

2

OPERATION IN SHUTTER-PRIORITY AUTO

 

EXPOSURE MODE.....................................................

56-59

OPERATION IN APERTURE-PRIORITY AUTO

 

EXPOSURE MODE.....................................................

60-62

OPERATION IN MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE..............

63-66

VARI-PROGRAM

67 85

WHAT IS VARI-PROGRAM?...............................................

68-69

SELECTING VARI-PROGRAM SOFTWARE.....................

70-71

SHOOTING WITH VARI-PROGRAM..................................

72-85

PORTRAIT PROGRAM...................................................

72-73

PORTRAIT PROGRAM WITH RED-EYE REDUCTION

 

(with SB-25 Speedlight exclusively)............................

74-75

HYPERFOCAL PROGRAM.............................................

76-77

LANDSCAPE PROGRAM................................................

78-79

SILHOUETTE PROGRAM..............................................

80-81

SPORT PROGRAM.........................................................

82-83

CLOSE-UP PROGRAM...................................................

84-85

SPECIAL FUNCTIONS

86 102

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION...........................................

87-93

AE-L (AUTO EXPOSURE LOCK) LEVER.......................

88-89

TO OBTAIN METER READING FOR A PARTICULAR

 

SUBJECT IN MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE..............

90-91

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION BUTTON.......................

92-93

SELF-TIMER OPERATION..................................................

94-96

ONE-SHOT SELF-TIMER.....................................................

95

TWO-SHOT SELF-TIMER.....................................................

96

TO CONFIRM SHARPNESS BEFORE SHOOTING

 

—DEPTH-OF-FIELD PREVIEW BUTTON...........................

97

LONG TIME EXPOSURE—Using bulb setting.........................

98-99

TO USE NON-DX-CODED FILM............................................................

100

INTERCHANGING FOCUSING SCREENS..................................

101-102

LENSES....................................................................................

103-106

LENS COMPATIBILITY CHART...................................................

104-106

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY

107 126

NIKON SPEEDLIGHT COMPATIBILITY.........................................

108-109

FLASH MODES AVAILABLE

 

WITH NIKON SPEEDLIGHT.........................................................

108

WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

WITH YOUR NIKON SPEEDLIGHT..............................................

109

TTL AUTO FLASH—AUTOMATIC BALANCED

 

FILL-FLASH AND STANDARD HL FLASH................................

110-119

TYPE OF TTL AUTO FLASH......................................................

110-113

AUTOMATIC BALANCED FILL-FLASH

 

WITH TTL MULTI SENSOR—3D MULTI-SENSOR

 

BALANCED FILL-FUSH AND MULTI-SENSOR

 

BALANCED FILL-FLASH..............................................................

114

CENTER-WEIGHTED/SPOT FILL-FLASH........................................

115

STANDARD TTL FLASH...................................................................

115

SHUTTER SPEED/APERTURE FOR EACH EXPOSURE

 

MODE IN TTL AUTO FLASH................................................

116-117

TTL AUTO FLASH ORERATION................................................

118-119

TO MAKE NIGHT BACKGROUND MORE VISIBLE

 

------SLOW SYNC OPERATION................................................

120-121

TO CREATE NATURAL-LOOKING STREAM OF LIGHT

 

—REAR-CURTAIN SYNC..........................................................

122-123

RED-EYE REDUCTION

 

{for use with SB-25 only)..........................................................

124-125

NOTES ON FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY..................................................

126

EV CHART FOR FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY...........................................

127

MISCELLANEOUS

128 147

ACCESSORY COMPATIBILITY............................................................

129

CAMERA CARE TIPS..................................................................

130-132

NOTES ON BAHERIES................................................................

132-133

SPECIFICATIONS........................................................................

134-138

GLOSSARY..................................................................................

139-142

LCD PANEL/VIEWFINDER INDICATIONS..................................

143-147

FOREWORD

Thank you for choosing the new Nikon N90 camera, it’s a high-performance camera that offers today’s newest and most advanced capabilities, aii designed to enable you to take more exciting pictures.

Because the N90 camera has a host of new features, many of which you may not be familiar with, before actually taking pictures you should thoroughly read the instruction manuals provided, including the “PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM" leaflet. These will help you understand the technical terminology used and how the various new features work.

The N90, in its standard configuration, is a powerful camera with important features such as Nikon’s exciusive Advanced Matrix Meter, many autofocus features inciuding Focus Tracking, and Nikon’s latest innovation, TTL Multi-Sensor flash control. To expand the camera’s performance and take full advantage of all its capabilities, you will want to consider using the N90 with accessories such as the Nikon MF-26 Multi­ Control Back, the Nikon SB-25 AF Speedlight, and the Nikon Data Link System with 1C Card AC-1 E which works exclusively with the Sharp® Electronic Crganizer.

Please read this manual thoroughly, then enjoy experimenting with all of the N90’s exciting features. Good luck, and have a great time with this high-tech Nikon.

Sharp is a registered trademark of SHARP CORPORATION.

NOMENCLATURE

Once you know the names of the parts of your new Nikon N90, as well as their functions and the camera’s other controis, you will be surprised how simpie and iogicai the N90 system’s operation can be.

LCD panel (p. 9)

Shutter release button: To activate exposure meter and autofocus function, lightly press; to release shutter, depress fully; exposure meter automatically switches off after 8 sec.

Self-timer indicator LED

(pp. 95-96)

Depth-of-field preview button (p. 97)

AF-L (Auto Focus Lock) button: Locks focus when pressed and held in.

Minimum aperture lock:

Setting for all Programmed and Shutter-Priority auto exposure modes.

Aperture scale

Accessory shoe: For Nikon dedicated Speedlights. The rear edge of the shoe indicates film plane. Exact distance from lens mounting flange to film plane is 46.5mm.

Sync terminal

10-pin remote terminal:

For Electronic Organizer Connecting Cord MC-27, Remote Cord MC-20, etc. (see attached PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM leaflet).

Lens release button

Focus mode selector:

S for Single Sen/o AF (pp. 36-37).

C for Continuous Servo AF (pp. 38-39).

M for Manual focus (pp. 46-48)._______________

Lens mounting index

Focusing ring

Optional lens illustrated

(AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D)

Eyepiece shutter lever: Used to pre­ vent stray light from entering viewfinder

Viewfinder/LCD panel illumination button:

Press to illuminate viewfinder and LCD panel, useful in dim light. Illumination automatically switches off 8 sec. after you remove your finger from button.

Camera strap eyelet

Camera back lock releases: To open camera back, slide camera back lock releases together.

Film cartridge confirmation window

Viewfinder eyepiece

AE-L (Auto Exposure Lock) lever: Sliding and holding lever in locks auto exposure.

Focusing screen type B:

Interchangeable with optional type E screen (pp. 101-102).

7

Reset button: Press and hold this button and exposure compensation/ reset button together for instant reset of basic camera settings (p. 20)

Exposure mode (MODE) button*

See page 54.

Vari-Program (Ps) button*: See pages 70-71.

Flash sync mode (i) button*:

See pages 121, 123 and 125 .

Film advance mode (DRIVE) button*: See pages 28-29

Film speed/film rewind (S) button: See pages 18, 25 and

100.

* Used with command dial

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Metering system (K)button*:

See page 32.

Film rewind button

Exposure compensation/ reset button (• 0)*: See pages 20 and 92.

Power switch: •'!) setting activates eiectronic beeper (pp. 14-15).

Focus area button: See page 33.

Command input control dial (Command dial):

Rotate to set various functions.

Self-timer button (CS))*: See page 95-96.

8

9

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

14

LCD panel indications

 

 

1.

Focus area

12.

Electronic Organizer*

2.

Exposure mode

13.

Custom*

3.

Metering system

14.

Battery

4.

Film speed setting mode

15.

Film advance mode

5.

Exposure compensation

16.

Frame counterA/ari-Program/ISO speed/Self-timer

6.

Shutter speed

 

duration/compensation value

7.

Autofocus

17.

Film loading

8.

Aperture

18.

Film advance and rewind

9.

Release/Focus priority

19.

Self-timer

10.

Flash sync mode/Red-Eye Reduction

‘Appears only when Data Link System is in use.

11.

Manual focus

Viewfinder indication

 

w U I

 

 

 

S8ob F8.S

 

 

1.

Wide-Area focus brackets

7.

Exposure mode

2.12mm-dia. reference circle for Center-

8.

Shutter speed

 

Weighted Metering

9.

Aperture

3.

3mm dia. reference circle for Spot

10.

Electronic analog display

 

Metering/Spot-Area focus

11.

Frame counterA/ari-

4.

Clear matte field

 

Program/compensation value

5.

Focus area

12.

Exposure compensation

6. Focus indicators: 9 indicates a

13.

Flash recommend/ready light

 

stationary subject is in focus;

 

 

 

indicates a moving subject is in focus;

 

 

^ shows Focus Tracking; blinking

4 indicates autofocus is impossible; ► and 4 arrows indicate front and rear focus, respectively.

Lightly pressing the shutter release button to turn on the exposure meter switches on the viewfinder illuminator at a low light level.

In dim light, when the exposure meter is on, the illuminator automatically switches on at full brightness.

10

BASIC OPERATION

This section shows you how to prepare the camera for shooting— e.g., how to mount iens, load film, etc.—as well as how to actually take pictures. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, you should master this section before proceeding further.

11

MOUNTING THE LENS

2Position the lens in the camera's bayonet mount so that the

mounting indexes on iens and camera body are aligned. Taking care not to press the lens release button, twist lens counterclockwise until it locks into place.

Remove camera body cap and front and rear lens caps.

When mounting/removing lens, make sure that the camera's power is turned off and avoid direct sunlight.

See page 104 for Nikon lens compatibility chart.

To remove

Push and hold lens release button and turn lens clockwise.

12

INSTALLING BATTERIES

Make sure the power switch is set at OFF position.

NiCd batteries that have "+" terminals exceeding 6mm in diameter cannot be used.

Manganese batteries are not recommended for use at low temperatures.

See page 133 for "NOTES ON BATTERIES."

Install four AA-type alkaline- 3 manganese, NiCd or high­

performance manganese batteries with "-I-” and terminals positioned as shown inside holder.

Loosen battery holder lock screw with a coin or similar object.

Return battery holder to battery chamber.

Remove battery holder.

Press holder into place as you tighten lock screw with coin.

13

CHECKING BATTERY POWER

Slide power switch to ON or ■«) position, and confirm that a full battery mark appears on LCD panel, indicating sufficient battery power.The battery mark and exposure indications automatically turn off after 8 sec.

Sufficient battery power.

Batteries are nearing exhaustion

 

Have a fresh set ready.

\ I I I /

 

/ I I I N

I blinks with/without blinkingIf no indication/mark appears,

E r r , batteries are just about

batteries are completely exhaust

exhausted. Slide power switch to

or imporperly installed. Replace.

OFF and replace batteries with a

 

fresh set.

 

14

About exposure meter

You can check battery power anytime by lightly pressing the shutter release button. This action activates the exposure meter; the LCD panel and viewfinder LCD show aperture/shutter speed indications, and autofocus operation starts (unless camera is set for manual focusing). The exposure indications and battery mark stay on for approx. 8 sec. after you take your finger off the shutter release button, then automatically turn off. If the shutter is released, these LCD readouts go off approx. 2 sec. after you take your finger off the button.

Data Link System users

You can set automatic meter switch-off as desired: 4 sec., 8 sec.,16 sec., 30 sec., 60 sec. For details, see Nikon AC-1E card instruction manual.

About electronic beeper

With the power switch set to ■')) ,the beeper is on. Two types of sound are emitted: a double-beep which indicates in-focus position, and continuous beeping which is either an operation signal or an alert.

Double-beep

A double-beep is emitted when a stationary subject becomes in-focus in the Single Servo AF mode*.

Continuous beeping sound indicates:

(As an operation signal)

Film rewind is complete.

Self-timer is activated (pp. 95-96). (As an alert signal)

Possible picture blur due to slow shutter speed in Programmed or Aperture-Priority Auto exposure mode.

Possible overor underexposure (with H I or I. o indications) in auto exposure mode*.

Lens aperture is not set to the minimum setting in Programmed or Shutter-Priority auto exposure mode*.

Film reaches the end of the roll and requires rewinding*.

Sounds when the shutter release button is lightly pressed.

You have loaded a non-DX film or film with a damaged or unacceptable DX code for auto DX setting.

Camera detects an abnormality such as torn or damaged Aim during film advance.

Vari-Program is set with non-CPU lenses.

Shutter-Priority Auto exposure mode is set with Bulb setting.

Bulb setting is selected for Automatic Exposure Bracketing function of MF-26.

Speedlight is not set to TTL flash mode with Auto Multi-Program.

Data Link System users

You can use the Electronic Organizer to cancel the double­ beep alert for in-focus and/or the continuous beep for picture blur alert.

The beeper also comes on when the camera’s computer memory is full in the Memo Holder function.

For details, refer to Nikon AC-IEcard instruction manual.

15

LOADING FILM

To avoid fogging film {especially high-ISO film), do not load/unload film in direct sunlight.

> Usable film speed range for DX-coded film is ISO 25 to 5000.

• For non-DX coded film, see p, 100.

Data Link System users

You can set the camera to DX-priority. For details, see AC-1 E card instruction manual.

16

Confirm whether E53 for DX-coded film is shown on the LCD panel.

If not, press and hold ISO button in, then rotate command dial until [33 appears.

Nikon N90 User Manual

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1 l O D a D Q O D O D a y

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SHaamm

 

 

Slide camera back lock releases

 

Insert film cartridge.

together to open camera back.

 

 

Do not touch the shutter curtains with your finger or with film leader.

Pull film leader out to red index mark.

Check to ensure film is properly positioned with no slack (see illustration)

17

g Gently close camera back until lock releases snap closed.

8 Confirm frame counter shows ! and Q__ symbol appears on LCD

panel.

7 Fully depress shutter release button to advance film to frame #1.

If non-DX-coded film or film with an unacceptable DX code is loaded, the

£r r, ISO and EQ marks in the LCD

> If film is incorrectly positioned, £ remains, Q_ symbol blinks and shutter is locked. Open camera back and reload film properly.

panel blink, the beeper sounds (if set), and the shutter is locked. Set ISO speed manually (see p. 100).

18

BASIC SHOOTING

This section features the settings for most common picture-taking situations when AF Nikkor' tenses are used:

Fiim advance mode: singie-frame shooting

Metering: Advanced Matrix Metering Focus Area: Wide

Focus mode: Singie Servo AF Exposure mode: Auto Muiti-Program

(If you are using Ai-P-Nikkor lens, use manual focus [see pp. 46-48]. If you are using other non-AF Nikkor ienses, use Center-Weighted or Spot Metering [see p. 32], manual focus, and AperturePriority Auto or Manual Exposure mode [see pp. 60-62 or 63-66]. To confirm usable mode by lens, see chart on p. 104.)

'AF Nikkor lenses includes D-type AF Nikkor lenses and AF-I Nikkor lenses.

Set focus mode selector to S for Single Servo autofocus. If lens has

an A-M switch, set switch to A. If you are using an AF-I Nikkor lens, set the lens focus mode ring to A or M/A.

Set lens to its minimum aperture (highest f-number marked in orange

on AF Nikkor lenses) and lock lens aperture of AF Nikkor lens at its minimum setting (see lens instruction manual).

19

Press • reset button and • 0 button simultaneously for

3 two seconds until P, E), E] and E3 appear in the LCD

panel, indicating that the camera settings are automatically

reset for basic shooting shown here:

Film advance:

Single frame p3)

Metering system:

Matrix (E)

Exposure control:

Auto-Multi Program (P)

Focus area:

Wide (EH)

Flexible program setting:

Cancel

Exposure compensation:

+0

Flash sync mode:

Normal (If Speedlight is set at

 

rear-curtain sync, rear-curtain

 

sync will be performed.)

20

Data Link System users

When activating Custom Reset with the Nikon AC-1E card’s Customized Settings function, press and hoid the • and • 0 buttons for two seconds to retrieve the Custom Reset settings.

When one or more functions/options (including Custom Reset) of the Customized Settings have been set, OKI appears in the camera’s LCD panel*. To cancel the functions/options of the Customized Settings and reset your camera to the default setting (which will make 0003 disappear from the LCD), press and hold the • and • 0 buttons for more than four seconds until 0003 starts blinking; then remove your fingers from the reset buttons and press them again within two seconds. (0003 stops blinking when the reset buttons are left untouched for two seconds.)

filM also appears when “Store shooting data’’ is selected and/or ’’Download stored data’’ is likewise selected in the Memo Holder function. In this case, you also can make 0003 disappear from the LCD by following the instuctions given above,

' When Custom Reset and/or “Simultaneous Lock of AF and AE’of User Custom Option is set with the MF-26 attached to the camera, 0003 does not appear. To cancel Custom Reset or "Simultaneous Lock of AF and AE“ with the MF-26, use the MF-26's(M^ button and the camera's command dial. (For details, see the MF-26 's instruction manual.)

MF-26 users

Pressing the reset buttons also cancels the MF-26’s following functions:

Auto Exposure Bracketing Multiple Exposure Operation Auto Sequence Shooting Long Time Exposure Interval Timer

Flash Exposure Bracketing Flash output level compensation Focus Priority

With Nikon Autofocus Speedlight SB-25

Pressing the reset buttons also resets the Speedlight’s flash output compensation to 0.

Hold camera, look through viewfinder and position focus brackets on main subject.

Although the viewfinder covers approx. 92% of the image area of the actual photograph, a negative film will show you an image larger than what you see through the viewfinder.

Note: The image in a slide film may be partially cropped by the mount. Also, the edges of negative film are partially cropped by most labs.

21

Lightly press shutter release button to start autofocus 5 operation and switch exposure meter on.

Confirm that the in-focus indicator • for a stationary subject or for a moving subject appears on the viewfinder's LCD

readout. Confirm, too, that the shutter speed and aperture indications are shown. Exposure readouts also appear in the camera’s external LCD panel.

In the Single Servo autofocus mode with Focus-Priority, the shutter cannot be released until # or appears, indicating that the subject is in focus; the focus is then subsequently

locked. If the distance between you and the subject changes, remove your finger from the shutter release button, then lightly press it again to refocus.

22

In-focus indication for stationary subject

A Focus Tracking (automatically activates) In-focus indication for moving subject

A Subject is located closer than the lens' closest focusing distance. Move away from the subject and refocus.

► Appears when TC-16A is used, alerting that the lens focusing ring is not set at infinity (H- See p. 36.

V I I I y

-► 4- If ► A blinks in the viewfinder: Autofocus is not

'" ' possible (p. 44).

If shutter speed indicated is 1/(lens focal length) sec. or slower, the picture may come out biurred. To avoid this, hoid camera firmiy or use a tripod.

If H I appears in the shutter speed

 

position—Overexposure alert: Use Nikon ND

 

or similar fiiter.

If i mark in green appears—Flash-

 

photography recommended: If available

 

light is insufficient, i mark appears. Use

 

Nikon TTL-type Speediight.

If L o appears in the shutter speed position—

 

Underexposure alert: Use a Nikon Speediight,

 

higher ISO film or lens with faster aperture,

 

whichever is suitable.

 

If F EE blinks in the aperture position—Lens

 

setting error alert: Lens is not set to smallest

 

aperture setting, so shutter is locked. Set lens to

 

smallest aperture.

 

P -.fffr

23

6To take picture, fully depress shutter release button. Camera automatically advances film by one frame, and

LCD frame counter increases by one.

24

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