Nikon cameras are renowned for their ease of use and intuitive control features. One of the advantages to owning a Nikon product is that they have changed little over the years, even when transitioning to digital formats. Late model film cameras and current model digital cameras are nearly indistinguishable by their controls alone. Nikon also pioneered the bayonet-style F-mount system, which allows photographers to use nearly any Nikon lens from the 1950s onwards on a modern camera.
Mouting Lenses
Since the lens mount is one of the terrific features Nikon offers, examining this serves to highlight one of the many reasons why Nikon is a top brand. The metal F-mount lens mount system on the camera body is durable and works best with Nikkor, Nikon's own brand of lenses. While other manufacturers do create compatible lenses, Nikkor's product is designed to be used with this proprietary technology and guarantees functionality.
To mount a lens on a Nikon camera body, remove the protective cover on the camera body by twisting counterclockwise and pulling towards you. The cover will gently release. Remove any protective covering from the mount end of the lens and locate the small white dot located near the lens mount end. Align this with the same white dot found on the camera body and insert the lens, twisting clockwise until secure. The lens is now mounted. To unmount, hold the lens release button located on the right side of the lens mount mechanism and twist counterclockwise until the dots are aligned, then pull the lens out of the mount and replace the cover.
Image Media
Loading the image media will vary from camera to camera. This is true whether the camera is digital or film based. Nikon single lens reflex cameras can use 35 millimeter film, or varied types of digital storage media such as an SD card or Compact Flash card. This will vary depending upon the model.
For 35mm cameras, open the camera back. The process for this varies from camera to camera. This will reveal an empty cartridge area on the left and a take up spool lined with sprocket pegs on the right. Slide the cartridge into the left hand area and secure. Unroll the film leader across the shutter plane and insert into the slot in the take up spool, aligning the sprockets on the film to the pegs on the spool. Wind the film until secure, then close the camera back firmly. Many Nikons will have a small square film card holder; this can be used to insert the end of the film box with ISO and number of exposures.
For digital Nikons, the card slot is usually located on the right hand side of the camera. Review what type of media the camera requires--some digital cameras require SD cards and some use Compact Flash. Slide the card slot door open and align the card with the interior slot. Insert the card until a click is heard, then close the card slot door. If the camera LCD reads -E-, then an error was made. Otherwise, a number should be displayed--that is the current number of exposures available at the current resolution settings.
Metering and Photographing
Nikons work in a similar fashion when it comes to metering and the actual process of imagemaking. This is true for digital and film based cameras. If the camera has a built in light meter, it is located along the bottom of the viewfinder. There are two types of light meter readout. In older cameras, a needle swings to align with a number along the bottom, indicating the correct shutter speed based on the selected aperture and film speed. In newer cameras, the meter shows a--sign on one end, a + on the other, and a 0 in the middle, with bars that light up. The correct exposure occurs when the bars are balanced at the 0 setting.
Press the shutter button halfway to activate the meter on older cameras; on newer cameras the meter is active when the unit is on. As the lens moves, the meter moves as well based on the metering mode available on the camera. Older cameras will allow spot metering, metering from one area only. Newer cameras will average a meter reading from many spots on the lens, giving a more accurate reading.
Once accurate settings are obtained, press the shutter actuation button located on the top right of the camera body to create your image.
Finished Products
Once the pictures have been taken, the finished film or digital media card may be removed for processing. For film cameras, rewinding the film into the metal cartridge is necessary. This is accomplished differently based on different camera models, as Nikon has produced both manual and automatic rewind systems. When the film is fully rewound, it is safe to open the camera back and remove the cartridge.
For digital media, open the card slot door located on the right hand side of the camera. In cameras that use SD cards, press the card gently into the camera and release. The card will pop forward. In Compact Flash models, there is a small square button in the card slot area. Push this to release the card.
Your digital images may also be processed without removing the card from the camera by using a USB cable to connect the camera to a computer. With the unit powered "OFF," connect the USB cable to the computer and to the slot on the left hand side of the camera, located under a rubber cover. With the computer on, turning the camera on will import the images.
Tags: camera body, card slot, lens mount, located right, camera back