Just a quick question. Could someone please confirm that the F4 only allows shutter speed to be adjusted in full stops in MANUAL mode. This is my impression from reading specs but it surprises me for Nikon's old top of the line model.

Thanks.

-- jason elsworth (jason.elsworth@xtra.co.nz), July 13, 1999

Answers

Yes, that's right. The metering display is in 1/3 stops, so you can tweak exposure with the aperture ring.

-- Pete Dickson (dickson.pn@pg.com), July 14, 1999.

Hi Jason, it's not so surprising; it's just the way the system is designed. In manual and shutter-priority exposure mode, you input the shutter-speed setting by rotating the shutter-speed dial to the value you want. The analogue nature of the shutter-speed dial inherently limits it to a stepped shutter-speed setting. However, in programme and aperture-priority mode, it's the F4's computer that does the setting, in which case, the digital nature of the control system allows stepless shutter-speed setting.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 14, 1999.

Er, Pete, that's the exposure-compensation setting you're talking about, not shutter-speed setting. Cheers.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 14, 1999.

No I think Pete is correct. On my 8000s you can move the apeture ring in manual mode to a place between full stop clicks and see the effect on the +/- 2 stops scale (in thirds)in the viewfinder.This of course affects depth of field. As to shutter speed I thought that the F90 the F100 and the F5 all allowed for settings of a 3rd stop on the shutter speed dial in manual mode, can anyone confirm this.

-- jason elsworth (jason.elsworth@xtra.co.nz), July 15, 1999.

Hi Jason, the +/- 2 analogue bar-scale in 1/3 increments shown in the LCD and viewfinder of your N8008s is the exposure-compensation indicator. In manual mode, it also serves as an over- or under-exposure indicator, which you can tweak with the aperture ring on your lens. As far as I know, it doesn't indicate the shutter speed whatsoever. Am I confused about something or have I misinterpreted your original question?

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 15, 1999.

As far as I can tell, Pete is agreeing with Jason's original statement that the shutter speed dial on the F4 can only be set at full-stop increments. That is clearly the case as the F4 has the traditional shutter-speed dial with full-stop markings. You cannot manually set the shutter speed between stops.

While the Nikon lenses have a full click-stop aperture ring, it is possible to set the aperture between full stops (i.e. between clicks). That is why Pete says that you can make fine adjustments by tweaking the aperture ring.

Of course all of these become mood on the F5 or F100, as both aperture and shutter speed can be set from command dials on the camera body at 1/3 stop increments.

-- Shun Cheung (shun@worldnet.att.net), July 15, 1999.

That's what I get for providing more information than necessary. What I meant was the exposure meter display in the viewfinder of the F4 reads out in 1/3 stop steps. So if you need 1/3 stop less exposure you tweak the aperture ring until the display shows the next tic lower - it'll be between f-stop detents on the lens, but is really is a metered 1/3 stop. One more tweak until the display shows two tics for a 2/3 stop change.

-- Pete Dickson (dickson.pn@pg.com), July 15, 1999.

Thanks all. I was all set for an F4 to get MLU and 100% viewfinder and toughness but one of the things I don't like about my 8008s is that exposure can only be adjusted in 3rd stops in manual mode by tweaking the apeture ring. It makes 3rd stop bracketing awkward and messes with the dof especially in macro work. Maybe an F5 is in my future but just so heavy or perhaps an F90. Or even a switch to Canon, I am a bit frustared with Nikon currently. What I really want is a manual Nikon with MLU, 100% viewfinder and spot metering. Light reliable and with low battery usage. What I will probably do as usual is stop thinking about gear and go out and take more photos it is the best antidote I find.

-- jason elsworth (jason.elsworth@xtra.co.nz), July 15, 1999.

Ah, Pete, sorry for misinterpreting you; that's what I get for not reading things carefully enough.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 15, 1999.

"What I really want is a manual Nikon with MLU, 100% viewfinder and spot metering. Light reliable and with low battery usage."

Except for the lack of spot metering, you've just about described an F3. It isn't exacly light, but without the motor drive, it's not too heavy. Like the F4 you're stuck with full stops (for shutter speed) in manual mode.

If you want stepless shutterspeeds in manual mode, the F2 has stepless shutterspeed selection for speeds between 1/60 sec. and 1/2000 sec.

-- Geoffrey S. Kane (grendel@pgh.nauticom.net), July 16, 1999.

I know its a bit late but since I'm shopping for an F4 myself i found out that there is a P version, made for press fotographers and could be bought only by one of them, that has 1/350 and 1/750 in the SPEED DIAL, so you can set it !!!manually!!! but that comes by eliminating the 2 and 4 sec. speed, wich I think are much more important. That all folks D.K.

-- Diego K. (Heuristica@mailcity.com), October 18, 1999.