Relations between various
Exposure Control Modes and Metering System when used with AI, AI-modified, AF(D)
Nikkor and Nikon Series E lenses on the Nikon FA camera body.
|
Mode |
Type of lens(es) |
AMP Metering |
Center Weighted Metering |
|
P, S, A with stop-down switch OFF |
AI-S, AI, Series E and AF Nikkor |
Usable |
Usable |
|
AI'D (AI-modified) |
In-operable |
Usable |
|
|
AI-S, AI, Series E with Teleconverters for AI-S Type (TC201, TC-301 etc) |
Usable |
Usable |
|
|
AI-modified with Teleconverters for AI-S Type |
In-operable |
Usable |
|
|
AI-S, AI, AI-modified and Series E with Teleconverters for AI Type |
In-operable |
Usable |
|
|
M |
ALL types |
In-operable |
Usable |
|
ALL modes with stop-down switch ON |
ALL types |
In-operable |
Usable |
Programmed Exposure Measurement
Many photographers were skeptical about using programmed exposure. Other than circumstancial factor like responsive reaction or other than to serve a novice in SLR photography, I don't think anyone experienced photographer likes to use this mode. As in many ways, the camera determines exposure control for you and it reflects little personal satisfaction in an eventual photograph or slide.
 |
But that is the way how market trend went. When the Minolta's XD-7 was introduced in 1977 (Yes, it is a head of the Canon A-1), it brought for the first time multimode exposure control into camera design. The XD-7 has Manual metered; Aperture priority (with MC/MD lenses) Shutter priority (with MD lenses) but it works in full combination with the Rokkor X series lenses too. |
 |
The XD-7 model may has been remembered being world's first multimode SLR. But the real killer was the X-700 launched in 1981. Shutter Priority AE was replaced with a Programmed Mode (Minolta called it the "MPS") along with an Aperture Priority AE, TTL Flash expsoure and Manual mode. It even has a audible beeper ! (Well, the Nikon EM has this feature in 1979, obviously, this idea was not original). It was the longest selling manual-focus program exposure SLR camera in the world (By the way, after the initial few years, all these years was made in Malaysia). It was an immensely successful camera commercially for Minolta. (It was crowned as the first "European Camera Of the Year in 1981". Naturally, its success prompted other manufacturers followed the footstep by incorporating Program AE Mode as standard feature. Nikon introduced their first SLR with Programmed AE a year later than X-700 in a super-compact SLR - Nikon FG in 1982. The Nikon FA was their second model with Programmed AE Mode. |
In the programmed AE (Automatic Exposure) mode, the FA provides the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed to match the film speed in use and the brightness of the scene. These combinations were arrived at through intensive research and then fed into the FA's microcomputer to provide a predetermined exposure program. Thus, when actual exposure measurement takes place at the time of shooting, the ideal combination is selected, resulting in perfect exposures for every shot. Moreover, the FA features two different exposure programs to match the lens focal length (applies only to AI-S Nikkor and Nikon Series E lenses). The normal program is for lenses less than 135mm; the high-speed program is for 135mm and longer (including zoom lenses whose longest focal length exceeds 135mm). To minimize camera shake with telephoto lenses, the high-speed program does not go below 1/125 sec. until the lens maximum aperture is reached; then slower speeds are progressively chosen. With all other lenses, the normal program is in operation. The high-speed program is also automatically chosen by the FA when a Nikon Teleconverter TC-201, TC-301, TC-14A, or TC-14B is attached to AI-S (AF Nikkor falls into this category), Nikon Series E, and AI-Nikkor (including AI-modified) lens-es; with Nikon Teleconverters TC-200, TC-300, or TC-14, the normal program is in operation.
Possible Combination One
A 50/2(AI-S or AI Nikkor) + Non AI-S teleconverter(TC-200,300) at ASA 100
l. Suppose EV is EV16.
2. FA recognizes max aperture of master lens as f/2.8 because old type teleconverter has no mechanism to convey master lens' lens speed(max aperture) indexing signal to the FA.
3. N. program is selected as this teleconverter has no singal pin to activate H.S. program.
4. With teleconverter, effective max. aperture becomes smaller and amounts to f/4.
5. FA misjudges subject's EV to be lower by one step than EV16, thus EV15.
6. Then, nominal aperture position is at in-between of f/8 an f/ll according to N. program, which means master lens is stopped down by three and half stops from f/2.8. At this moment shutter speed "250" or ''500' is displayed for the same reason as explained in section (B).
7. Actual max. aperture of master is f/2, therefore, three anc half-step stopped-down f/no amount to in-between of f/5.6 and f/8.
8. With teleconverter, effective aperture becomes smaller by two f-stops and amounts to in-between of f/ll and f/16.
9. Final exposure is controlled at in-between of f/5.6 and f/8 and in-between of 1/125 and 1/250 sec., which is equal to EV13. Then program line is shifted accordingly.
* LCD will only shows the discrete shutter speed, "125" for 1/138.,-250" for 1/239 sec., for example.
Possible Combination Two
A AI-S Nikkor Lens 50/1.4 + AI-S type teleconverter
1. Suppose that EV is EV13.
2. Teleconverter's signal pin activates H.S. program.
3. Max. f-number of master lens, F1.4, is fed into FA.
4. With teleconverter, actual effective max. aperture become smaller by three f-stops and amounts to f/4.
5. Based upon 3) & 4), FA misjudges EV to be lower by Three-step lower EV means EV 10.
6. Nominal aperture positicn is in between of f2 & f2.8 according to HS program. Then shutter speed '125' or '250' * FA selects is d-isplayed.
7. Master lens is stopped down by one and half f-stops from F1.4, that is, down to in-between of f2.8 and f2.
8. With teleconverter, actual effective aperture becomes smaller by three f-stops and amounts to in-between of f/5.6 and f/8.
Possible Combination Three
A Nikkor AI-modified 50/1.4 Lens
1. Suppose that EV is EV14.
2 Normal program is selected.
3. FA automatically recognizes max. aperture of AI-modified le as f/2.8 because it
has no lens speed(max.aperture) indexing post.
4. Since actual max. aperture is f/1.4, FA misjudges subject's EV to be higher by
two steps, thus EV16. Then shutter speed "500" FA selects is displayed.
5. In this case, nominal aperture position is at F11 according to N. program.
6. The FA determines that the lens must be stopped down by four f-stops from f/2.8.
7. The lens is actually stopped down by foux f-stops to F/5.6 as actual max. aperture
is f/1.4.
8. Final exposure is controlled at f5.6 and 1/500 sec., which is corresponding to
EV 14.
Possible Combination Four
A Nikkor AI-modified 400/5.6 Lens
1. Suppose that EV is EV12.
2. Normal program is selected since it has no focal length indexing ridge.
3. FA automatically recognizes max. f-number as f/2.8.
4. Actual max. aperture is f/5.6, thus FA misjudges subject EV to be lower by two steps than actual EV, thus EV10. Shutter speed "60" FA selects is displayed.
5. In this case, nominal aperture position is at f/4 according to N. program.
6.The FA determines lens must be;- stopped down by one f-stop from f/2.8 to f/4.
7. Actual max. aperture is f/5.6, thus the lens is actually stopped down to f/8, one stop lower from f/5.6.
8. Final exposure is controlled at f/8 and 1/60 sec., which corresponding to EV12.
| Back | Next | Shutter Priority AE mode with possible combinations.
Back to Main Index Page
Camera Instruction Manual
- HTML | PDF
(1.4 MB)
Main Reference
Map for Body -
HTML | PDF
(731k)
Specifications - HTML
| PDF (245k)
The AI-S Nikkors (related info | TTL OTF Flash Metering | Interchangeable Focusing Screens. The MD-15/MD12/MD11 Motor Drives | 3rd party Power Winder (new) | Flash Units -SB-16 | SB-15 | SB-10 | SB-16B & Other Options | Databacks | Titanium Shutter | Variation : Mr Y K Wong from Singapore contributing 11 images of his Nikon FA GOLD
| Nikon FM series |
Nikon FE series |
Nikon
FA |
W A R N I N G: The New G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have no aperture ring on the lens, they CANNOT ADJUST APERTURES with any of these manual focus Nikon FE series SLR camera models; please ignore some portion of the content contained herein this site where it relates.
| Nikkor Resources |
| Message Board | for
your favourite
Nikon
FA camera
| Message Board |
for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board |
Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon / Nikkor Photographic Equipment
 |
Home - Photography in Malaysia |
 |
A contributing effort to Michael Liu's Classic Nikon SLR camera site.
Credit:
Lars Holst Hansen who
is co-maintaning the site; MClau, who patched a lot of mistakes for me on earlier
stage of the site; Miss Rissa Chan - Marketing
Manager and the members of technical service team of Shriro Malaysia (now Nkon Corporation
Malaysia); Mr Terence
HM Tan
for his FA/MD15 images; Mr Victor for his Nikon FA body, EEwyn, my nephew for some
of the scanning work; Mis Wati/Mis Mirza for their help on the OCR work on the instruction
manual section - We all had some real good times on the construction of this site.
Dave
Hoyt
who prepared the introductory page. 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. Made with an Apple IMac.Dedicated to a friend: 'JB' whom
I have never met but remains a constant motivated force.