Nikon F25B User Manual

NOMENCLATURE

Finder

mounting

clam

ps

Shutter-speed dial

Extra-long exposure

Shutter-speed scale

Mirror

lockup

lever

Depth-of-field preview

Self-timer

Timer

index

Timer

scale

Lens

mountin

Motor

drive shutter-release coupling

Motor

drive film-advance coupling

Film

rewind

button

Memo

holder

scale

button

Maximum

EE

EE

aperture

aperture

aperture

control

Threaded sync terminal

Neckstrap eyelet

Lens

mounting

Lens release

control

Reflex

Meter coupling pin

Tripod

Sa

ttery

indicator

contacts

index

button

coupling

mirror

socket

cha

mber

o/e key

2

F ocusi ng

ri

ng

Aperture/Distance

scale

index

Depth-of-field

Distance

Aperture

External

scale

ring

"correct

Ready-light

Film rewind

Film

rewind

A ccessory

Hot-shoe

Finder

Eyepiece

shoe

contact

release

shutter

ind

contact

knob

crank

button

icators

exposure"

control

indicator

Viewfinder

Meter

coupling

Finder

ASA film-speed

ASA film-speed

Shutter-release

T-L fingerguard

Frame

Shutter-speed

Film ad vance lever

Illuminator

eyepiece

(w/ready-light)

prong

release lever

scale

index

ring

button

counter

dial lock

switch

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preparation

Installing

Checking

Loading
Prior

Memo holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Setting

Operation

Setting the
Setting

Film-advance lever

Frame
T-Lfingerguard

Self-timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Unloading film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Holding

Shutter

Operation

Focusing.

I nfrared photography . . . .

Film-plane indicator

Depth

Depth-of-field preview
Depth-of-field indicators .

Exposure measurement . . . . . . . . . . .

Determining exposure

Exposure control

4

......

for
the
the

the

to

shooting

the

of

the

counter.

the

camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

release

via

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

of

field ...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

batteries
batteries.

film

film speed . .

camera controls . . . . . . .

shutter
aperture

operation

cable

......

. . . . . . . . . .

................

.............

.....

speed

...........

..............

...............

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

...

..............

..

. . . . . . . .

release.

..............

........

button

..........

...

..

....

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.....

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...

..

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.....

........

........

.

...

..

..

, 7

..

..
..

..

..
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..
..
..
..

..

..

5

Metering range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Extreme low-light metering
Time exposures .

6

Eyepiece shutter operation . . . . . . . .

6

High-contrast lighting situations

8

Stop-down exposure
Exposure compensation adjustments

9

Adjustments for focusing

10

Adjustments for film compensation . .

Multiple exposures . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10
10

Mirror lockup ......

11

Flash synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ready-light : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11
12

Finder illuminator .
12
13
14
15
15
16
18
18
19
19
20
22
22
24

on

Tips

Changing

Changing

Changing

Accessories . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Features/specifications .

camera care .

the

Maximum aperture indicator . . . . . . .

the

the
Focusing screen selector guide
Focusing screen selector

....

..

measurement.

screens.

..

......

.......

lens . . . . . . . .

viewfinder
focusing screen . .

............

chart.

.......

.........

..

. . . . . .

......

... ,........

........

.......

.. ..

....... 41

.......

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.....

..
..

..

..
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..
..

. 35

,

..

,
..
..

24
25
25
26
26
28
30
30
32
33

33
34
35

36
38

39
40

42
43
44

46

FOREWORD

The

Nikon F2SB

photographer

venience and versatility.

to

take

ed
matic
get
the
before
let

handy

the

features

the

most

instructions

you

for

its basics, and

on

given
izing

page 36.

yourself
results and increase
times over.

Photomic

the

ultimate

guesswork

anyone

out

of

carefully

load

any

ready reference until

follow

The

with

the

At

out

can learn

your

Nikon F2SB

and

film

in

the

few

camera

your

picture-taking

camera

in

quality,

the

of

offers
performance,

same time, it

photography

to

use

Photomic,

practice using

the

camera. Keep this

you

suggestions for

moments

you

will guarantee

enjoyment

the

serious

con-

is

engineer-

with

auto-

in

minutes.

To

study

the

controls

book-

have mastered

camera

care

spend familiar-

you

the

best

many

L-----------------------------------------~

5

PREPARATION FOR

Installing

The exposure meter

the

Batteries

in

the Photomic finder

USE

is

powered
by two high-performance silver-oxide batteries mounted
in

the battery chamber

in

the baseplate

of

the camera.

To install the batteries, first remove the battery chamber

cover (turn it 90° counterclockwise using a coin or simi­lar object); then, place two 1.5V silver-ox
cell

type) batteries

plus

(+)

side

in

the chamber, making sure

of

each unit faces out. After inserting and

ide

(button-

that

the

properly seating the batteries, replace the cover and lock
it to secure the assembly.

Note:

Remove

for

a long

Also,

keep
cold-weather
function.

information.)

period;
the

conditions;

(See

the

this will

camera

"Tips

batteries

as

warm

on

Camera

when

prevent

as

possible

otherwise.

Care"

the

leakage

the

camera

when

batteries

on

page

is

not

within

operating

36

to

the

may

for

additional

be used
camera.

under

fail

to

Checking

the

Batteries

The camera's film-advance lever serves as the ON-OFF
switch for the Photomic finder. Thus,

power, perform the following:

enough to uncover the

red

Pullout

meter

the camera; then, look within the finder to

the

LEO

exposure indicators are illuminated.

the

ind

icators are lit, battery power

If

none

of

proper operation.
positioning should

be

the LEOs light, battery

checked; then, if none

to

check battery

the lever just far

ON

index on the top

is

sufficient for

see

if any

If

any

of

of
of
of

the

LEOs light, replace batteries.

6

Loading the Film

Fold

out

the OIC key

turn

it

counterclockwise 1800 until the arrow po ints

the

"0"

(open) mark and the camera back pops ope
Pull up the rewind knob as far as it
sta

nd

ard f

ilm
cassette into the left-ha
leader align

ed

along the film guid e rails.
After positioning the cartridge a
push the rewind knob down to ho

at

the baseplate

will

cartridge or a special Nikon reloadable

nd film

chamber with the film

nd film lea

ld

of

the camera a

go, and drop a

der properly,

the cartridge

place a

nd

insert the end of the f

the slots

nd

the s

to

ly to make sure that the l

n.

spool and
the
prope
guide ra

in

the f

hutt

er and, then, stroke the film-advanc

that

fi

lm

sprocket roller.

rly

feeding a

ils,

close the camera back a

ilm

take-up spool. If necessar

the

film edge

When

nd

is

traveling correctly along the film

ilm

leader into a

e l

ea

der winds smoothly on the

perforat

satisfied

nd

ion

s engage with

that

ret urn the OIC

key to its normal storage position. (Also, see "Tips on
Camera Care" on page 36.)

in

y,

eve

the

ny

of
release
r slow-

film

is

7

PREPARATION

Prior

to

Shooting

Fo

ld out

th e rewind crank a
rection of the engraved arrow until you feel a sl ight ten­sion; this tension indi
the f

ilm cartridge.

ca

rtridge

into th e
Advan

ce

pose.

of

the i.nitial portion of the f

load

In

g (for ·fllm advan

the f

.)

ilm and

FOR

cates

that there is no more slack

(Be sure not to rewind the f

make two blank exposu

ce

operation,

nd

turn

USE

- continued

it

gently

ilm

exposed during

see

page 11) .

in

res

ilm

the

back

to dis-

Whil

di-

ad

vancin

g the f
the directi
t

es

vance

ad

in

After advancing th e
ini

tial portion
upper
van
ta

kin

e

on oppos

that the film h

d. Then, fo

right

ce

the f

g the first exposur

ilm

, check that the rewind crank turns

ite th e arro

as bee

ld

the crank fl
film two fram

of

the leader , the frame counter at the

of

th e camera

il

m one more frame to prepare the

e.

w. Cra

nk

n loaded properly a

at for storage.

es

to di spose

will

indicate

rotation

nd

"0"·

now ad-

~amer~

in

indi

ca-

is being

of

the

for

8

Memo Holder

A special holder
venient storage
graphy. A piece
film carton can

is

provided on the camera back for con-

of

information pertinent to the photo-

of

paper or the end-flap torn from the

be

inserted to serve

film type, film speed and number

as

a reminder

of

exposures.

of

Setting the Film

Speed

The camera's exposure meter must be adjusted to the
speed

of

the film
thus, a film-speed scale
ring are provided on the finder.

the

ASA

film-speed index ring and turn it until the

is

triangle

aligned with the
The meter
12 to

ASA

in

use

to

ensure correct measurement;

(ASA

graduations) and an index

To

adjust, lift the milled

ASA

value for the film

is

sensitive across the

fu

II

range

of

6400. The film-speed dial has two dots be­tween each pair of numbers for intermediate settings
such as 64, 80, 125, etc.

red

from

index

in

use.

ASA

9

OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS

of

from

Setting the Shutter Speed

The

Nikon

F2S8 Photom

~ired

shutter
wound.
set via
sel

ector
time exposures.
tor

until
when aligned with settings
shutter
ond

to
the 1 /60
seco nd ­zation
precise settings

speed

Speeds

the shutt

is

speed will

1/2000

the

for use with

of

er-speed selector f itted

also provided with a

To

the

desired speed

be a fractiona

second.

sec. and 1

fastest

are

ic camera can

either

before

from

1 second

set

the

shutte
is ali

of

The

/125

sec. settings ind icates

shutte

r speed providing X synchroni-

electronic

required,

be

set

or

after

the

to

1/2000

on

the

"8"

setting

r speed,

gned with

from 2

l value

red line provided

flash units. When

intermediate shutt

to

turn

the

2000,

of

from

to

the

shutter

second

finder;

for

longer

the

selec-

white

the

actua

1/2

between

1/80

more

er speeds

setting,

de-

shutter-release

is

nization"

are

photography.)

the

Setting the Aperture

dot;

The

l

the

sec-

set
s

ir

index mark provided

also be set

stop

1/80

the

ring fitted
aperture
the

lens

ed

f/number

settings for

sec.

shutter

button

on

page

at

(or opening)

aperture,

setting

to

intermediate

more

to

1/2000

speed remains

is

depressed. (See

34

for

additional

the

base

of

in

turn

the

on

the

on

the

apertures

precise

sec.

are

open

information

the

lens adjusts

the

iris diaphragm.

aperture

scale

is ali

lens.

The

ex

posures.

usable.

At

the

"8"

as l

ong

as

the

"Flash

Synchro-

on

flash

the

size

To

pre-

ring until

gned with

iris diaphragm can

between

the

the

click-

de-

the

of

10

Film-Advance Lever

The

film-advance lever simu ltaneously advances

the

cocks

shutter
also switches
finder.

shutter
the

To

advance

right

thumb

ing

only

120

from being released unless it

film advanced a full frame.
film advance, release
20°

standoff

Note: Do
making

not

an exposure .

and

on

in

a single

the

the

operates

exposure

film,

stroke

the

meter

stroke

(or series

°. A built-in locking device prevents

At

the

lever

and

position

apply

ready

pressure

for

to

shutter

the

film-advance

frame

in

the

the

lever with

of

strokes) total-

is

fully cocked

the

completion

it will

return

release.

the

film,

counter.

Photomic

to

lever

while

Frame Counter

The

frame

counter

many

It

the

the

and

of

the

frames have been

is

opened

for
(start) position ,
camera

is

loaded and
shutter-release sequence will cause
advance

one

frames have been exposed.

is

calibrated with
(for even numbers), and
"20"

and

"36"

operates

loading, the cou nter

two

position until

dots

in

red.

exposed.

frames

the

back

(for

automatically

to

show

When the camera

is

reset

to

before

"0".

Once

closed, each film-advance/

the

frame

counter

the

The

odd

with

maximum

dial

of

numbers)

settings

the

frame

and

of

"5,"

20

how

back

the

"5"

the

or

36

counter

figures

"12,"

to

11

OPERATION OF CAMERA

T-L

Fingerguard

The

shutter-release
camera
the
position,
release via

vent

until
For

timer, lift
dot

posures"

is

fitted

shutter

the

the

accidental release, lift

the

index

time

exposures preset via

up

aligns with

on

button

of

the

Nikon F2SB P

with a fingerguard

operation

fingerguard provides for normal shu

shutter

and

page 25

dot

aligns with

turn

the

"T"

for

mode

button.

up

the

fingerguard until

(time) marking. (See

details.)

that

also doubles as

selector.

To

the

Set

to

lock

the

shutter

and

turn

the

the

"L"

(lock) marking.

camera's built-in self-

CONTROLS-continued

Self-Timer

The

hotomic

the

middle

tter

to

pre-

fingerguard

the

index

"Time

Ex-

built-in self-timer can be used
after a delay
marked on
To

take
first set
the

film, and cock
downward until
the

figure (on
number
button
with

shutter

cycle.

Note

after

advancing film; also, if
self-timer
in

the

normal way

release

The

self-timer may

dial setting.

of

from 2

the

timer
a picture using
the

aperture

the

the

scale) corresponding

of

seconds delay;

just

above

the

release occurring

that

the

after

setting it, simply use

to

the

self-timer

not

scale indicate

and
the

index line (on

self-timer can be set either

make

for

the

timer

be

to

trip

the

shutter

to

10

seconds.

self-timer

shutter-speed controls, advance

self-timer by turning its lever

then,

simply press

to

start

at

the

you

decide

the

next

resetting

used

at

the

The

the

delay in seconds.

to

fire

the

the

lever) aligns with

to

the

the

the

countdown,

completion

before

not

to

the

shutter

exposure

to

the

off

position.

"B"

shu tter-speed

numbers

camera,

desired

small

of

the

or

use

the

button

and

to

12

UNLOADING FILM

When

the

frame

counter

has been made,

longer be

it

shou

and
To

unload

the

camera baseplate; then, unfold

turn

it

in
smooth,
the
wind

even pressure. When no

film advance

button)

take-up spool

or

stroked,

Id

be removed.

the

camera, first press

the

direction

stops

and

indicates

when

the

roll

of

indicator

rotating,

the

camera

the

film-advance lever can

of

film has been fully exposed

the

(the

the

that

the

last

exposure

the

rewind

the

engraved

more
colored

rewind

arrow,

tension

dot

button

crank

is

felt

on

film leader has left

back

may

be

opened.

no

on

and

using a

and

the

re-

the

After

open

ing

the

camera

back, pu
as far as it will go and remove
that

as

the

film advance lever

the

rewind

posure,

button

will

film-advance mechanism.

Caution:
advance
temporarily
Note:
pressing
back
back
MF

Be

careful

operation. Should

stop

The

camera

the

locking catch

is

necessary

such as

both

the

for

-3.

not

to

and

double

back

can

on

when

the

250

Magazine Back M F-1

motorized

photography.

push

the

this

occur,

exposure

be

removed

the

camera

II

the

rewind

the

film cartridge.

is

stroked

be

rewind

hinge. Removal

is

released

button

the

may

result.

from

used with

or

for

film

the

the

to

transport

the

body
of
any

Camera

knob

next

engage

during

by de-

the

camera

accessory

up

Note

ex­the

film-

will

Back

13

HOLDING

Camera shake
sharp pictures, especially
to hold the camera correctly and practice steady shutter
squeezing. The photos show the best ways to hold the
camera for sharp pictures.

Wrap

the fingers

body

so

that the index finger rests comfortably on the
shutter-release
camera body and the film-advance lever. Position the
camera
viewfinder. Cradle the camera
tional support, with the left thumb and index finger
grasping the focusing ring. From this basic stance, the
camera can be properly supported and easily switched
from horizontal to vertical format shooting.
rule, the lowest shutter speed you should
camera hand-held

length
1/500
as
each individual,
general, the higher the selected shutter speed, the sharper
the picture.

so

that the eye looks through the center

of

the lens

sec.; for a 105mm lens,

the ability to hold the camera steady may vary with

THE

is

one

of

button

is

equal to the reciprocal

in

we

recommend that you experiment. In

CAMERA

of

the most common causes

at

slow shutter speeds. Learn

the right hand around the camera

and the thumb fits between the

in

the left hand for addi-

use

use

(e.g., for a 500mm lens,

use

1/125

sec.)

of

of

As

a general

with the

of

the focal

. However,

un-

the

use

14

SHUTTER

RELEASE

OPERATION

For sharp
portant
fi

lm

via

the
viously), relax
even pressure
a quick jab

and

pictures,

as

steady

to

a fresh frame,

the

button

picture,

may

result

correct shutl

camera

the

camera

provided

hold

and

to

release

of

the finger will cau

in

at

the

camera

depress

the

a blurred ph ot

er releasing

ho lding.

is

the

upper

steady

the

camera's

ograph.

After

set

right. When
(as

button

shu

se

camera m

advancing

for

shutter

explained

using a

tter

is

just as im-

- rem

ember,

oveme

the

release

taking

pre-

steady

nt

Operation via Cable Release

The

shutter-release

cable release

mount

ed
more
under
graphy,
(Nikon-mount
the
around
pressing

provided. With

vibration-free

critical

time

threaded

the

button. The

the

release plunger.

button

or

similar accessory

and

shooting

exposure,

models AR-2, etc.)

cab

Ie

connector

can also be

the

often

situations

etc.

shutter

cable release,

To

operated

attached

leads

attach the cable release

onto

is

to

sharper images

such as

to

the

camera,

the

mount

then

tripped

via

the

thread

operation

photomicro

provided

screw

by de-

via a

-

is

-

15