Nikon F50 User manual

SHORTCUT TO GREAT PICTURES
Nikon
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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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(E IlII

2
FOREWORD
Thank you for purchasing the Nikon F501F50D camera. We are sure
that you will enjoy using this camera and that it will make photography
a bigger part
of your life. In addition to this comprehensive instruction
manual, the Nikon
F501F50D comes with SHOOTING IN SIMPLE
MODE-SHORTCUT TO GREAT PICTURES, a concise, pock-
etable guide that explains the easiest way
to use the F501F50D.

CONTENTS
FOREWORD ................ .. ........... .... ..................... . ........... 2 USING AE-L BUTION ...... ... ................ .. ................ .. . 42-43
GETIING TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA ......................... .. 4-5
CASES WHERE AUTO FOCUS IS NOT
BEFORE SHOOTING ....... ............................ 6-12
ACCEPTABLE ....... . ........ ............................................ 44
MOUNTING LENS ....................................................... 7-8
MANUAL FOCUS ...................... . ................. . ................ .45
INSTALLING BATIERY . ........ ....... ..... ........ .... .. .. ..... ......... 9
IMPRINTING DATEITIME (for F50D only) .......... . ..... 46-49
LOADING FILM ........................................................1 0-11
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY .. ................ ..... ... 50-56
SETIING CAMERA TO AUTOFOCUS MODE .................. 12 USING BUILT-IN FLASH .................................. ..... ... 51-55
SHOOTING IN ADVANCED MODE .... . 13-30 SPEEDLIGHT COMPATIBILITY .............. ... ..................... 56
AVAILABLE EXPOSURE MODES ............................. 14-15
MISCELLANEOUS ...................................... 57-71
PROGRAM SELECTION GUIDE .. .. ............ .. .......... .... 16-18
LENSES .................................................... ....... ...... 58-59
OPERATION IN PROGRAMMED AUTO CAMERA CARE TIPS ............................................... 60-61
EXPOSURE MODE ................................................ 19-25
NOTES ON BATIERIES ................................................ 62
OPERATION IN OTHER EXPOSURE MODES ............. 26-29 SPECiFiCATIONS .................................................... 63-66
RESET FUNCTION ... ............. .. ...... ................................ 30
ABOUT F50/F50o METERING SYSTEM ......................... 67
OPTIONAL FUNCTIONS .. ...... .................. 31-37 LCD PANELIVIEWFINDER INDICATIONS .................. 68-70
MEMORY SETIING FUNCTION ........ .. .......... .. ......... 32 - 33
AF MODE SELECTION ................... . ......................... ..... 34
ISO CONFIRMATION/SETIING ..................................... 35
EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ..... . .............. .. ........ . ... 36-37
OTHER CONTROLS ................................... 38-49
SELF-TIMER OPERATION .... . ............... . ....................... 39
LONG TIME EXPOSURE AT "TIME" SETIING ......... .. .... 40
TO SHOOT AN OFF-CENTRE SUBJECT ...... . ................. .41
3

Learn the parts of your camera.
~ to ward off stray light when using the self - timer.
~
Eyepiece cover DK-5 : Attach to viewfinder eyepiece
- If . uillJJ Ar.r.IP.~Sflrv shoe : For Nikon dedicated C:;nppr11i11ht~
~-- ~==~ ~~~~----~~--
LCD panel
Self - timer button
Set/adjust buttons
Shutter release button : Press
lightly to activate exposure
meter and start AF operation ;
fully depress to release
shutter and take picture .
Menu button
Minimum aperture lock : Slide lever to lock position
(Optional lens illustrated:
AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-80mm f/4-f/5.6 0)
4
r camera .
SIMPLE/ADVANCED dial
Flash lock release
Self - timer LED
Lens index
Lens release button
Focus switch
Focusing ring: Do not turn when the
focus switch is set at AF. (For
manual focusing , see page 45) .

AE -L(Au to Exposure Lock ) button : See pages 42 to
43 for Auto Exposure Lock .
Camera back
Viewfinder eyepiece
Film cartridge
confirmation window
Camera strap
eyelet
Camera back
lock release
Rewind button
Tripod socket
Battery chamber c over
Battery chamber cover lock release
Learn how to hold your camera
• Grasp the camera handgrip with your
right hand.
• Use your left hand to cradle the camera
with the elbow propped against your
body for support, as you look through
the viewfinder.
• Use your right hand index finger to
depress the shutter release button.
• To hold the camera steady, lean on or
against something strong and stable.
This will help ensure sharp images.
5

6
BEFORE SHOOTING
This section shows you how to prepare the camera for
shooting, e.g., how to mount a lens, install the battery and load
film.
This section is
for both SIMPLE and ADVANCED modes.

MOUNTING LENS
1Remove the camera body cap
and the front and rear lens
caps.
2 Position the lens in the
camera's bayonet mount so
the mounting indices on the lens
and the camera body are aligned.
Twist the lens counterclockwise
until it locks into place.
~
, I I /
I .: ,,-1 __ - Err , ~
- 71-'
With a non-CPU lens
When the camera is
powered on with a non-
CPU len
s, Err a nd mblink in
the LCD panel and E ~ ~
blinks inside viewfi nd er.
For using a non-CPU lens,
see page 58.
Usable Lenses When mounting
lens-
Use CPU lenses (AF Nikkor lenses and AF-S/AF-I/
AI-P lenses). Other Nikon and Nikkor lenses (non-
CPU lenses) can be mounted, but you have
to use
an external exposure meter, and the only usable
exposure mode is Manual. (See page
58) .
• AF-SIAF-IIAI-Plenses are for manual focus only.
• Avoid direct sunlight.
• Make sure
the camera's power is off.
• Do
not touch the lens release button.
7

3 Turn the lens aperture ring to its minimum aperture (the largest
f-
number, marked in orange, on AF Nikkor lenses). Then lock the lens
aperture at its minimum setting (see lens instruction manual).
To re move
While pressing the lens release
button, turn the lens clockwise.
8
If lens aperture is not set at its minimum setting
When the camera is powered on with a lens not set at its minimum aperture
setting,
Err and ~ blink in the LCD panel and E,.,. blinks inside viewfinder.
With the
F501F50D, all aperture setting operations are performed with the
camera's set/adjust buttons. Do not move the lens aperture ring once it
is set to its
smallest aperture (largest f-number).

INSTALLING BATTERY
1Make sure the camera's power is off, then slide the lock
release on the battery chamber
cover
to open the chamber.
...
2 Insert a 6V lithium pack with "+" and "-" ends positioned as
shown on the inside of the cover.
Close the cover by pushing until it
clicks.
-Use 6V lithium battery pack (2CR5 or DL245 type).
-See page 62 for "NOTES ON BATTERIES".
J
3 Switch the power ON. Check
the LCD panel
to see if the
frame counter shows "E" or the
frame number appears and
no
battery mark (~ or = ) appears.
If ~ blinks: Battery is nearing
exhaustion. Have a fresh one
ready.
If Err and = blink: Battery is almost
ex hausted. Switch power OFF and
replace battery with fresh one.
If no indication appears on the
LCD panel: Battery
is completely
exhausted or improperly installed.
Change the battery.
9

LOADING FILM
000000000
1Slide the camera back lock
release to open the camera
back.
2 Insert film cartridge. 3 Pull the film leader out to the
red index mark.
• To avoid fogging film (especially high-ISO film),
do not load/unload film in direct sunlight.
• Usable film speed range for OX-coded film
is ISO
25 to 5000.
10
• Opening/closing the camera back resets the
frame counter to "E".

4 Make sure the film
is properly positioned with no slack and the film
perforations engage the sprocket
s. (See illustration.) 5 Gently close the camera back
until the lock release snaps
close
d.
Film automatically advances to
frame
#l.
• If the frame counter still shows E
(i.e., if the film does not advance
to frame
#1 ), with or without
blinking
Err and e,the film is
incorrectly positioned. Reload
film.
• You can confinn the film speed of installed OX-
coded film. See page 35. • With a non-OX-coded film, film speed must be set
manually. See page 35.
11

SETTING CAMERA TO AUTO FOCUS MODE
Autofocus should be used for most picture-taking
situations, including moving subjects. In general, it is
best to leave the focus switch set
to AF.
• For situations where autofocus is not possible,
see page 44.
• For manual focusing, see page 45 .
12
Regarding the FSO/FSOo's autofocus
feature
Your F501F50o is factory-set to Single Servo AF
operation. This means that once your subject
is
in focus, focus remains locked as long as the
shutter release button
is lightly pressed. You can
recompose the picture, and the subject will
remain
in focus, provided you maintain the same
subject-to-camera distance. (See page
41 for
details.)
If the subject moves, take your finger
off the shutter release button, then lightly press it
again to restart autofocus operation.
• In the ADVANCED mode,
in addition to
Single Servo AF, you can choose Continuous
Servo AF which keeps autofocus operation
going continuously
as long as you keep lightly
pressing the shutter release button. (For detail
s,
see page 34.) Use Continuous Servo AF for
sports and other action photography.

SHOOTING IN
ADVANCED MODE
This section shows you how to set your desired Program or exposure
mode.
C, ______ T_h_is_s_e_c_t_io_n_i_s_fo_r_A_D_v,_A_N_C __ E_D_m __ o d_e __ O_n_IY_. ____ ~)
13

AVAILABLE EXPOSURE MODES
In the Advanced Operation Mode, you can select any of four exposure
modes-Programmed Auto (P), Shutter-Priority Auto (S) , Aperture-
Priority Auto (A)and Manual (M).
Programmed Auto Exposure Mode
In addition to the four Programs in SIMPLE mode-
General-Purpose 0 ,Landscape a, Portrait!l and
Close-Up «'-four more Programs are available in
ADVANCED mode: Sport ~ , Silhouette~, Night
Scene mand Motion Effect
~.
The FSOJFSOD camera's microcomputer automatically
chooses the combination
of shutter speed and aperture
for a correct exposure.
For features and sample pictures
of each Program, see
pages 16 to 18.
14
Shutter-Priority Auto Exposure Mode
You manually set the shutter speed and the camera
sets the matching lens aperture. To freeze action, use a
high shutter speed; to create motion effects, choose a
low shutter speed. For more information on Shutter-
Priority Auto, see pages 26
to 29.

Aperture-Priority Auto Exposure Mode
You manually set the aperture and the camera sets the
appropriate shutter speed. Smaller apertures make the
background and foreground sharper (recommended for
landscape pictures) while larger apertures tend to blur
the background (recommended for portraits).
For more information on Aperture-Priority Auto, see
pages 26 to 29.
Metering System
The Programmed, Aperture-Priority and Shutter-
Priority Auto Exposure modes employ either 3D
Matrix Metering or Advanced Matrix Metering,
depending
on lens type in use.
Manual Exposure Mode
You select both the shutter speed and aperture. This
mode lets you experiment with and produce different
creative effects (e.g., intentional blur, intentional
under- or overexposure). For more information on
Manual Exposure Mode, see pages 26 to 29.
In Manual exposure mode, Centre-Weighted
metering
is used. For details about this metering
system, see page 67.
15

PROGRAM SELECTION GUIDE
AUto:' General-Purpose
o Program
Suitable for most situations. Use
this program
if you are not sure
which program
is right for your
subject, or for shooting a variety
of
subjects without switching
program s.
16
"" Landscape Program
Use this Program whenever you're
making a picture of a distant scene.
Don't use
flash-the scene may be
too far.
/
1
. ...
/ .. .'
,,;;, !Jr ' . \ ~ ' \
', 't-f! : .\
'.
-9' Portrait Program
..........
Use this Program whenever you
are taking pictures
of people. It
creates an artistically blurred
background
to accentuate your
main subject.

Close-Up Program
Use this Program when you are
taking pictures
up c1ose-a flower,
an ornamental detail, a butterfly, or
if you are copying a picture.
... !.'7 Sport Program
:iHI!t. "
Use to freeze action. Recommend-
ed for use with Continuous Servo
AF (page 34). Do not use flash
because it
re stricts the available
shutter speed.
N~ Silhouette Program
Effective only when the back-
ground is bright and the subject is
in shadow or comparatively dark.
The result is dramatic with a
wideangle lens-28mm or
wider-
although a telephoto can also be
used. Excellent for sunsets or
pictures of people against the sky.
Do not use flash.
17

Night Scene Program
Use this Program in the even in g or
at night.
To capture the beauty of a
night scene in available light, such
as illuminated monument, traffic
lights or neon signs, shoot without
flash. As the automatica
ll y set
shutter speed
is rather slow, use a
tripod to avoid camera shake. With
flash, this Program captures a
ll the
li ght in g in the scene, including the
foreground subject which is
illuminated by the flash, and the
background.
18
-,~ Motion Effect Program
.dH!i~
Use this Program to express movement. Stationary subjects will come out
in sharp images and moving subjects in blurred images. Also suitable for
when your subject is moving and you are following along with your
camera in a panning motion. The subject will come out relatively sharp,
with the background becoming a blurred streak
of colors and shades.

OPERATION IN PROGRAMMED AUTO EXPOSURE MODE
CD ®
Cb l 1
o u Q 00
1Switch power ON and set the camera dial to
ADVANCED. The LCD shows the last selected
exposure modeiProgram. (The ori
gi nal factory setting
is for General-Purpose Program.)
2 Press the menu button
CD to access the exposure
mode menu, then press the button above P@.
• Steps 2 and 3 explain how to set a Program.
If the
Program shown
is what you want, skip steps 2 and 3.
With the Exposure Menu, pressing the menu button activates the
Optional-Function Menu (see page 31). To return the LCD to the
Exposure Menu, press the menu button again.
19

(Example: Setting Clo se- Up Program)
3 The Program menu contains eight Programs
in
three screens. Pressing the button above 0 orQ
moves the menu to the following or previous screen.
Select and set the desired Program by pressing the
button above
it.
Cb
<Q) QDQ])
~ ~ @ ]
For example, set to Close-Up Program:
a. Press the button above O.
b. Press the button above~. Close-Up Program is
now set.
If indications on the LCD panel disappear, lightly press the shutter
release button to reactivate them.
20