Nikon F3AF User manual

Nikon
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

@ Viewfinder eyepiece
®Fi lm
@ ASAIISO film
-s peed index
@ Film rewind fork
@ Film cartridge chamber
roller
® Shutter curtains
@ Data back contacts
@ Motor drive coupling drive
@ Film rewind button Motor drive electrical contacts @
@ Motor drive positioni
@ Camera back Film
® Memo holder
4

NOMENCLATURE
ure-direct-readout (ADR) window
button
oMirror lockup lever
® Self-timer LED
® Backup mechanical release lever
<V Anatomical
® Exposure memory lock button
® Viewfinder battery chamber
(with lid)
@I Shutter speed index
(jJ) Viewfinder illuminator button
@ Neckstrap eyelet
3
Viewfinder illuminator
Meter coupling lever ®
Meter coupli lever release button @
Sync terminal @
Len s mounting index @
Lens release button @
Len s
Accessory terminal @

@ Focusing ring A-M switch index ®
Fo cus lock buttons A-M switch
I@
® Depth-of-field indicators D
is tance sca le @
scale
Di stance index @
® Aperture index Aperture ring @
Meter coupling shoe @
-readout sca le
Len s AF contacts ®I
@ Exposure compensation sca le
Self-timer lever ®
® Exposure index Shutter speed dial @
® Hot -s hoe contacts Power switch @
® shoe Multiple exposure lever ®
Film rewind crank Shutter relea
se button @
® Camera back lock lever
Fr ame counter @
@ Film rewind knob Shutter-speed dial locki
ng button @
@ Expo su re compensation dial locking button Film plane
in dicator
5

CONTENTS--------------------~------
NOMENCLATURE .......... . ..... . . ... .. . . . .. ... . . 3-5
FOREWORD ........... . .. ....... . ..... . ........ . .... 7
BASIC OPERATION. ... . . . ..... . . .. .... ....... . .. 8-19
FOCUS . ... ... ................ .... . .... . ........ 20-28
Autofocus .... . . .... . .. . . .............. . . .... 22-23
Fo cus·Aid Operation .......... .. . .. .. . .. . .. . ..... .. 24
Manual Focus . . .. ... .. . . . .... .... . . . . . ..... . .. . . . 25
Special Situations ........ . •...... ... . . . ...... 26-27
EXPOSURE ...... ... . .. .. .. . .......... ... .. .. .. 28-41
Setting the Film Speed. . . ... . ....... . . . .... .... . .. . 29
Setting the Aperture .. .. . .. . .. .. . . ...... . . .... . .... 30
Setting the Shutter Speed ....... . . .. . . ...•..... 30-31
Automatic Exposure Control. ........ .. .. .. . . ...... . 32
Manual Exposure Control .... . ..... . .. . ............ 33
Relationship Between Shutter Speed
and Aperture.
... . ..... ... ... .. . ..... . ...... . 34-35
Depth of Field ... . . .. . .. .... .. . ....... ... . . ... 36-38
Exposure Compensation . ... . . .. ...... . . . . . . . . 39-40
Stop-Down Exposure Measurement .. ... . .• . .... . ... 41
OTHER CONTROLS . .. . . . .. . . .. . . ...... .. ..... . 42-47
6
Shutter Release Button ..................... . . .... . 42
Backup Mechanical Release Lever .... . ............. 42
Film Advance Le ve r. ........... . ......... . . .. . . .... 43
Frame Counter. ... .. . .......... . .. . . . .. .... ... . . .. 43
Eyepiece Shutter Lever ....... .... . ..... . .. . ..... . .. 44
Self-Timer ............... . ... .. . .... ...... .. ...... 44
Mirror Lockup Lever . .... .......... • ..... . . .. . ..... 45
Viewfinder Illuminator ............ . .. . . .... .. .•..... 45
Multiple Exposure Lever. ....... .... . . . . .. ... . .... .. 46
Memo Holder. . ... . . . . ...... . ..•.......•... . . . . ... 46
Film Plane Indicator ....... .. . . .. ...... .. . .... ... . . 47
Infrared Focusing Index .......... . .. . .. ... . . ... .... 47
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHy . . . . . . . . .. . . . .... .. . .. . . 48-51
Accessory Shoe ... . . . .. . . .......•.... . . ........ .. . 49
Sync Term inal ........ .... . .. . ......... . ... . .. ... . . 50
Ready-Light. . ... . .... . . .... ... .. . ... . .... . ........ 51
Nikon F3AF/Speedlight Combination Chart. ... . ...... 51
ACCESSORIES ............. ... .. . . ... . . .. . ..... 52-65
Interchangeable Viewfinders. .. . . ... . .......... 52 - 53
Focusing Screens .. . ...... . . . . .......... . .... 54-55
Electronic Flash Equipment. .... .. . . . . . . . . ... . . 56-57
Motor Drive MD-4. . . . ...... .. ... ... .. . ..... ... 58-59
Data Back MF- 14 .... . .............. . .............. 60
Close-Up Equ ipment. .......... . ... . . . . . . .. ... 61-62
Anti-Cold Battery Pack DB-2 .. ........... . . . . ... . . .. 63
Cable Release AR -3 ............... . .• . ............ 63
Rubber Eyecup. . ..... . ......... • ...... . .. . . . . . . .. . 63
Eyepiece Correction Lenses. . . . .. . . . ........... . . .. 63
Filters ............... .. .. . .. . . . ...... ..... ........ 64
Lens Hoods. . .... . ... . . .. . . .... . .............. ... . 64
Camera Cases. .. . ... . . . . .. . ... ..•.......•... . .. .. 65
Neckstraps ............. . .. .. . .. . . ...... •. ........ 65
Compartment Cases. . ...... . . . .........•...... . ... 65
EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA. .. . .. ... .. .. . . .... 66-69
TIPS ON CAMERA CARE . . . . . ... . . ... . . . ....... 70-71
TIPS ON BATTERY USE .. . .. . .... ............... . . .. 72
ABOUT THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD). . . . . . 73
SPECIFICATIONS ... . ........ . ... .......... . . .. 74-76
IMPORTANT! . ...... . . . . .. ... . .. ... . . . . .. . .. . ..... .. 77

FOREWORD---------
Congratulations! You now own one of the most advanced,
easy-to- use cameras on the market today.
Thanks to a TTL image displacement detecting system utiliz·
ing two SPD 's built into the AF Finder DX -1,this camera offers
you through-the-Iens autofocus control with either of two AF-
Nikkor lenses, the BOmm f/2.B and the 200mm f/3.5 IF-ED.
Thus , you can shoot fast-moving action while the subject
remains in sharp focus. And like the regular Nikon F3 , the
shutter speed is set automatically to match the f/stop
in use ,
so you never have to worry about getting the correct exposure.
The F3AF also gives you focus-aid operation with the vast
majority of Nikkorand Nikon Series Elenses having a maxi·
mum aperture of f/3.5 or faster, while regular manual
focusing using the matte portion
of the screen is possible
with any lens.
Before actually taking pictures with the F3AF, you should
familiarize yourself with its basic operation as presented in the
first section. For more detailed explanations and special
picture-taking situations, refer to the rest
of the manual. A few
minutes wisely invested now will
payoff later in years of re -
warding photographic experiences.
To insure proper service, make sure the Nikon Warranty Card
is enclosed in the camera box.
7

BASIC OPERATION------------
1 Remove the battery clip
• 46 from the camera body.
Use a coin to twist the clip counterclock-
wise to unscrew
it.
8
2 Load the batteries into
• the clip.
Wipe the battery terminals clean and in -
sert the two 1.55V silver-oxide batteries
supplied with the camera, making sure
that the + signs are up.
Two 1.5Valkaline-
manganese batteries or one 3V lithium
batterycan also
be used.
Caution: Keep batteries away from infants and
small chifdren. In case a battery is accidentally
swallowed, call a doctor immediately
as the
material in
si de the batteries can cause serious
problem s.
3 Reattach the battery
• clip.
Slip the battery clip back into th e camera
body an d screw it tightly in to place.

4 Remove the battery
• chamber lid ® from the
finder.
Apply pressure to the battery chamber l id
located at the side of the viewfinder to
slide
it off.
5 Load the batteries Into
• the finder's battery
chamber.
Load two AAA-type batteries into the bat-
tery chamber, making sure the positive
and negative
(+ and -) terminals match
the diagrams inside the holder.
Caution: NiCd batteries should not be used as
they might cause an explosion.
6 Reattach the lid.
• While applying pressure to the bat-
teries with the lid, slide it
on until it clicks
into place.
9

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
7. Move the power switch
• @ to uncover the red dot.
Turn the switch clockwise until it clicks
into plac
e. Thi s makes th e camera ready
for ex
po sure metering and autofocus
shooting.
10
8 Depress the shutter
• release button @
halfway.
This activates the exposure meter and
autofocus functions. Both stay
on for 16
seconds after you take your finger off the
button, then turn themselves off auto-
matically to conserve battery power.
@
9 Check battery power.
• Look through the viewfinder. With-
out a lens mounted
on the camera body,
the focus-impossible warning (red X-
shaped LED) blinks or lights up continu-
ously, while the liquid crystal display
(LCD) shows the shutter speed. These
displays indicate that the batteries have
been properly installed and their power
is
adequate. If neither the red X nor the LCD
appears, check battery installation in the
camera body or replace the batteries
in
the body and check again. If the red X
does not appear but the LCD does, check
battery installation
in the finder or replace
the finder's batteries with afresh set.
Note: Ifa lens is mounted on the camera, either
the red X
or one or both of the focus indicators
(two red LED arrows) will light up.

10 Mount the lens onto the camera.
• First, make sure that the meter coupling lever .@ is
locked in the "down" position. Grasp the lens by its lens barrel.
Then,line up the aperture index ~on the lens with the lens mount·
ing index @
on the camera body and twist the lens counterclock·
wise until ft clicks into place. Confirm that the aperture index is
right on top.
To remove: Push the lens release button @ and turn the lens
clockwise until the lens comes off.
Notes :
1) Lenses usable with the Nikon F3AF. plus OX ·/ Finder, are listed on
page2G.
2) Never touch the AF contacts ® inside the camera's lens mounting
flange@orthose@onthelensbayonetmount.
3) When changing lenses with film loaded in the camera, be careful not to
expose the mirrorboxtodirectsunlight.
11 Open the camera
• back 36 .
While pushing the camera back lock lever
® counterclockwise with your thumb, lift
the film rewind knob @ and the camera
back will pop open.
Note: If you have used a motor drive, be sure
that the motor drive coupling cover @ is
reo
turned to the camera'sbaseplate;otherwise, the
film might be inadvertently exposed while
shooting.
11

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
12 Install the film
• cartridge.
Dr op the film cartridge into the film car-
tridge chamber @ so
th at th e film le ader
points towards
th e tdke up spool @, a nd
pu sh th e rewi nd knob back down into
pl ace.
Notes:
1) Any3Smm fifm Cartridge can be used.
2) Handle film
in the shade to avoid direct ex-
posure to sunlight.
12
13 Insert the film leader in the takeup
• spool.
Pull the leader acro ss the camera and in sert it into one of the
slots in
th e film takeup spool. Advance th e takeup spool slightly
with your finger to engage
the film's perforations with the teeth
of the takeup spool and sprocket
@.

14 Wind the film advance
• lever 39 to advance
film onto the takeup spool.
Wind the film advance lever and depress
the shutter release button until the film
sprockets engage the perforations
on the
edges of the film.
15 Close the camera
• back.
Make sure that the perforations are per-
fectly meshed with the sprockets and
that the
fi lm is set between the film guide
rails
@. Then,close the camera back until
it snaps shut.
16 Take up the film slack.
• Fold out the film rewind crank @
and rotate it in the direction of the arrow
until it stops. Then fold the crank back in .
13

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
1l Make blank exposures until the frame
• counter 76 reaches frame one.
To dispose of the first few frames exposed during film loading,
continue to alternately advance the film and depress the shutter
release button until the counter reaches frame one (the first dot
past 0). While making blank exposures, check that the rewind
knob is rotating, indicating the film has been loaded
correctly
and is being advanced. If the knob does not rotate, reload
the film.
Notes:
1) Wh en making blank exposures, set the shutter speed dial @ to A or to
11125 sec. or above, and the shutter will be released at 1180 sec. with
80 or M 80displayed by the LCD in the viewfinder.
2) Do not take pictures prior to the first frame, as the meter does not
function until the counter reaches one.
14
18 Set the ASAIISO film
• speed.
Lift up the ASA/ISO film speed dial @ and
rotate it
in either direction until the white
dot ® is opposite the ASAIISO film speed
in use. Also make sure that the exposure
compensation index ® is set to the red
O.
This programs the camera's exposure
meter so that it may provide a proper
exposure for the type of film being used.
Note: The film speed is printed on the film
carton and cartridge. Detaits on setting the dial
to intermediate settings can be found on
page 29.

19 Set the shutter speed
• dial 72 at A.
Rotate the shutter speed dial until the A is
opposite the shutter speed index @ . The
built-
in locking mechanism ensures that
the dial cannot be accidentally shifted
from the A (Auto) position during shoot-
ing.
To set the dial to other positions, turn
the dial while depressing the shutter-
speed dial lock button @.
20
Slide the A·M switchrs5
• on
the AF·Nikkor
lenstoA.
Slide the switch as far as it will go.
21 Set the '·number on
•
the lens.
Turn the aperture ring @ on the lens until
the desired f-number
is opposite the aper-
ture index.The selected f-number appears
in the viewfinder for convenient reference.
Use the following suggestions
as a guide
in setting the f/stop on the lens (when the
80mm f/2.8
is used):
Indoors:
fl2 . 8"-f/4
Outdoors(cloudy):f /4"-f/8
Outdoors (c lea r) : f/8"-f/16
Outdoors (clear at the beach or in the
mountains): f/16"-f/32
Note: Depending on your preferenc e, the depth
of field as well as the shutter speed can be
controlled by your selection of the shooting
aperture. Formoreinformation, refertopage36.
15

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
22 Hold the camera steady.
• As you look through the viewfinder, use your left hand
to cradle the camera, with your fingers wrapped around the lens
and your thumb beside
the focus lock button ®, while your
elbow
is propped against your body for support. Use the index
finger of your right hand to depress the shutter release button
and your thumb to wind the film advance lever. Wrap
the other
fingers of your right hand around the camera body.
You can
adapt this basic posture
to both horizontal and vertical format
shooting.
To hold the camera steady, it is advisable to lean on or
against something strong and stable (e.
g. ,a wall).
16
23 Compose the picture.
• Look through the viewfinder,
compose your photo with the main sub-
ject (if possible, a subject's vertical line)
in the center of the focusing frame to
assure correct focus and exposure.

24 Depress the shutter release button
• halfway and check both th~ exposure
and focus displays.
While looking through the viewfinder, depre ss the shutter re-
lea se button halfway to turn on the exposure meter and auto-
focus function
s. The LCD indicates the automatically se lected
shutter speed
to match the aperture set on the len s. As long as
neither +2000 nor -8- appears in the shutter speed display,
the camera gives the correct exposure. If either indication ap-
pear
s, adjust the aperture ring on the lens until a de sirable
shutter speed is indicated, referring
to page 32 . The f-number
you have se t on the lens is also shown in the aperture-direct-
readout (ADR) window.
When both red arrows light up, they indi-
cate that the image is
in focu s. If the red X appears, refer to
page 26.
I
@
CD LCD exposure information
<V ADR f-number
® Flash ready-light
® Focus-impossible warning
® Focus indicators: near-focus arrow;
far-focus arrow
® Central focusing frame
(J) Half-mirror
® Fine matte/Fresnel field
17

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
25 Take the picture.
• Depress the shutter release
button all the way down; apply light but
steady pressure with the ball of your
index finger to avoid camera shake which
might result
in a blurred image.
18
26 Advance the film.
• Stroke the film advance lever to
transport the film to the next frame. 27.
Press the rewind
button ® .
When the film reaches the end of the roll,
the film advance lever will stop working.
Then, turn the camera upside down and
press the film rewind button, so that the
exposed film can be rewound back into
its cartridge.
You do not have to continue
depressing the button.

28 Rewind the film.
• Lift the film rewind crank and
turn it in the direction of the arrow. When
you feel the tension lessen, continue
winding
one or two more turns until the
film leader
is rewound completely back
into the cartridge.
29 Remove the film
• cartridge.
Push the camera back lock lever counter-
clockwise
as you lift the film rewind crank
to open
the camera back. Take out the
film cartridge. Avoid unloading film
in
direct sunlight.
30 Turn the camera off.
• Turn the power switch off while
the camera is not in use. Thi s prevents
inadvertent battery drain
in case the
shutter release button is accidentally
depressed.
19

FOCUS------------------------------~
The Nikon F3AF features a through-the-Iens autofocus system
which takes the guesswork out of focusing:just point the camera
at what
you want to photograph, depress the shutter release
button @ halfway, and watch the subject literally 3nap into sharp
focus...automatically.
The system consists of three parts: the special F3AF camera
body, the
AF Finder DX -1, and an AF -Nikkor lens, either the
80mm 1/2.8 or the 20
0mm 1/3 .5 IF - ED . The AF Finder DX-1 is
interchangeable and covers approx. 92 % of the image area of
the actual photograph, meaning that the final photograph will
be larger than the image seen in the viewfinder. The focusing
screen
is built into the bottom of the viewfinder and cannot be
interchanged. However, when other Nikon F3 interchangeable
viewfinders are used with
the F3 AF , you have a choice of 20
interchangeable focusing screens (refer to page
55).
Nikon's autofocus system is unique in that it features exception-
ally quick response, allowing
you to keep up with active, fast-
moving subjects.
The Nikon F3AF offers you three different ways of focusing:
1) autofocus, 2) focus -a id operation (using the focus indicators
inside the finder), or
3) manual focus (using the matte portion of
the focusing screen).
As shown in the following table, however,
only AF-Nikkor lenses are usable for autofocus. With other lenses
having maximum apertures of
1/3 .5 and faster, you can use the
focus indicators
as a guide in focusing as you manually rotate
the lens focusing ring (
Note: Because of the cropping which occur s in the case of mounted
slides or regular snapshot -s ize prints, the actual picture might come out
slightly smaller than the image seen in the viewfinder.
20
Usable Lenses
Focusing method Lens
Autofocus AF-Nikkor
80mm f/2.8, AF-Nikkor 200mm f/3.5
IF-EO
Focus
-ai d operation Nikkor (including AF-Nikkorl and Nikon Series
E lenses with a maximum aperture of f/3.5
or faster
Manual focus Nikkor (including
AF -Nikkor) and Nikon Series
Elenses
Notes:
1) Even with lenses slower than fI3.5, the focus indicators willligM up
when the shutter release button
is depressed halfway. This indication,
however,
is not reliable.
2) Although the following Nikkor lenses have a maximum aperture of f13 .5
or faster, they cannot be used for focus-aid operation: 16mm fI3.5,
20mm fI3.5, 28mm fI3.5, 135mm fI3.5, Micro 55mm fI3.5,
PC 28mm
fI3.
5, PC 35mm fI2. 8, and PC 35mm fI3.5; the Micro-Nikkor 55mm
f12 .8 cannot be used at closer than 280mm; the Zoom-Nikkor 35-
105mm fI3.5-fI4.5 can be used only
at 35mm zoom setting.
3)
When the Nikon Teleconverter TC - 14 , 200or300 is attached to the lens
and it makes the lens' effective aperture slower than fI3 .5, the
camera's autofocus and focus-aid operation cannotbe used.
4) The following lenses cannot be mounted on the F3AF with the OX -1
Finder: .Nikkor 13mm fI5.6, Reflex-Nikkor 500mm
f18, and Reflex-
Nikkor 1000mm fill .
5) Certain filters cannot be used for autofocuslfocus-aid operation. (For
details,please refer to page
64)