Nikon N55 User manual

Nikon N 55
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Introduction
• Thank you for purchasing the Nikon N55-a camera that is sure to make
photography a bigger part of your life.
Get
to know your N55 camera, and be sure to read th is manual thoroughly
before using it. We recommend that you keep this manual handy.
Supplied accessories
Body cap (P . 19)
Accessory shoe cover
• Remove this cover
when attaching
an
optional Speedlight to
the accessory shoe.
The N55 QD model is not offered
in all markets.
Eyepiece cap DK-5
(P . 73)
Please inquire with the local Nikon distributor about the ava il ability of the QD model in
your area.
2

• Take trial shots
Take trial shots before shooting at important occasions like weddings or
graduations.
• Have Nikon spot-check your camera regularly
Nikon recommends that you have your camera serviced by an authorized
dealer or service center at least once every two years.
• Using your camera correctly
The Nikon N55's performance has been optimized for use with Nikon brand
accessories. Accessories made by other manufacturers may not meet
Nikon's criteria for specifications, and nonconforming accessories could
damage the N55's components. Nikon cannot guarantee the N55's
performance when it is used with other than Nikon brand accessories.
3
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I
I

Contents
BEFORE YOU BEGIN............................................................................ 2-11
Introduction......... .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. ......................... .. ............................. .. ..... .. ... .. .. ... ....2-3
Nomenclature...............
.. . .. .... ... . .. ...................................................... .. ......................6-7
LCD PanelN
ie wf inder Display........... .. ... .. .. . .. ...... .. .. ... ............................... .. .. ...... .....8-9
Available Exposure Mod
es ...... .. .... .. ................................................................. .. .. 10- 11
Start Shooting Immediately .... .... .. .... .. ......................................................... .. ....12-13
~ PRcPA~TI()~ ....•.. ~ ............................................. ~: ................. ::1 s:~ 1
1. Insta ll Batteries and Check Battery Power.... .. ................ .. ...... .... .................. .. .16-17
2. Mount Lens .............................. .... .. .................................. .. ...................... .. ....... 18 -19
3. Load F
il m .................................................. ... .... ......................... .. .. ........ .. ..........20-21
4. Set Date and Time (QD model only).............................
.. ...................... .. .. .. ......22-23
About Shutter Re
le ase Button ........................................... .. . .. ...... .. ... ..... ... . .. .............24
BASIC OPERATION 1..........................................................................25-33
1. Set Focus Mode to AF ................................................................... .. .... .............26-27
2. Set Exposure Mode to 8
................................................................................ 28- 29
3. Hold Came ra and Fo cus...................................................................................30- 31
4. Release Shutter .. ................................. .. ...........................................................32-33
About Metering Systems and Exposure .....
.. .............. .. . .. .... .. ............. .. .. .. ..... ... .. .......34
BASIC OPERATION 2..........................................................................35-44
Shooting with Vari -Program........................................................................... .. .. ...36-39
Using Buil
t- In Speedlight......................................................................................40- 41
Self-Timer Operation .. ............................................... .. ............. ... . .. .......................42-43
Imprinting Date
fT ime (QD model only).......................................... .. ........ .. .................44
-- - --- -- --- ~--
fFOCUS OPERA nON ........................................................................... ~ I
Focus Mode.............................................. .. ...... .. . .. . .... ..................................... ... ..46-47
Focus Area
... . .. .. ............................................................... .. ... ....... .... .....................48-49
AF-Assist Illuminator
.. ... ............... .. . .. . .. . .. .. .... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ............. ... .... ...... ...............50-51
Focus Lock...................
.. ........................ .. ............................................... .. ... .. .. .. ...... .. 52
4

rexPOSUR~ODE .............................................................................. 53= ~
Auto-Multi Program .......................................... .. ..................................................54-55
Shutter-Priority Auto Exposure Mode...................................
.. ............ ... .. ............. 56 - 57
Aperture-Priority Auto Exposure Mode ...... .. ........................................................ 58 - 59
Man ual Exposure Mode. ......... .............................. .. ... ................ .. .. ...... .. ........ .. ... .. 60-61
Long Time Exposure .......................
.. .........................................................................62
I
I
L
~ - ~
LADVANCED OPERATION.................................................................... 63-7~ I
Exposure Compensation ......................................................................................64-65
Auto Exposure Bracketing..
.. ................................................................................66-68
Multiple Exposure ..................
.. .. .. .. ................... .. . .. . .. ........................... .. . .. ... . .. ......69-70
OTHER FUNCTIONS........................................................................... 71-7~ 1
Film Rewind....... ... ..................... .. .. . .. . .. ....................................................................... 72
Diopter AdjustmenWiewfinder Accessories. ... . .. .. .. . ... ........... .. . .. . ... .. .. .......................73
Availa
bl e Mode Combinations .. ..... ... ............. ... . ... . .. . .. . .. ......... ... .. ...... .. . .. ........ ... .. ......74
---_. - -----_ .. _.
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY.................................................................... 75-85
Built- In Speedligh ti R ea dy-Light ............................... ... ........ ... . .. ...........................76-77
Flash Sync Mode F
ea tures..................................... .. .. ..........................................78-79
Using Buil
t- In Sp ee dlight....................... .. ............ .. . .. ............... .. . ... .. ...... .. ... .. . ... ....80-85
Fl ash Shooting Distance Range...................................... .. .. ........ .. .......... .. . .. .. .... .. .. 83
Available Flash Sync Mode Combinations ....................................
.. . .. ........ .. .... .... .84
Usable Lenses with Bu
il t- In Sp ee dlight.......................................................... .. 84-85
About Depth of
Fi eld ..... .. .... . .. ....... ......... ... .. .. .. .... ....................... .... .. ................ .. ........86
"Mfs CELLANEOUS.............................................................................87-1171
Lens Compatibili ty .... .. .. ... .... .. ...................... .. ........ .. . .. . ... .. ... .. .................. ... ..........88-90
Usable Optional Speedlights....
.. ....... ... ......... .. ...... .. . .... ........... ... ...... .. ... .. ... .. ... .. ... 91-97
Optional Accessories............................................................................................98-99
Camera Ca
re ................. ... ............ ... ..................................................................100- 101
Notes on Batteries .................................................................................. .. ...............102
Tro ubleshooting .................. .. ................... ... .. ...................... .. . .. ....... .. ................103-105
Glossary
... .. ....... .. . .. . ... .. .............. .. .. ....... ... .. . .. ........ ... .............. .... . .. ... .. ......... .. ... .106-109
Speci
fi cations .................... ... ......................... .. ..... .. ... .......................................110-114
Index ...................................................
.. ........................................... .. ...............116-117 5

Nomenclature
Focus mode selector (PP. 46-47)
Lens release button
(P. 19)
Auto Exposure
Bracketing
(Po 66)/
Multiple Exposure
(P o69)/Film rewind
button
(P. 72)
Flash lock-release
(P o80)/Flash sync mode
button (P. 78)
Camera strap
eyelet
t:X[)osure
mode dial
Accessory shoe
(Po 91)
LCD
Focus area button
6
Built-in Speedlight (P o 40n6)
Self-timer (P. 42)/
AF-Assist Illuminator
(P. 50) /
Red-Eye Reduction lamp (P. 79)
Shutter release
button
(P. 17/24)
Camera strap
eyelet
Self-timer button
(P o42)
Aperture
(P o 61 )/Exposure
Compensation button
(P. 64) /
Film rewind button
(P o 72)

Viewfinder eyepiece
Rubber eyecup
(P. 73)
Camera back lock
release lever
(P . 20)
Film confirmation
window
(P. 21)
Data Back (00 model only)
(P .2 2/ 44)
Tripod socket
Diopter adjustment lever
(P. 73) I
I
Command Dial I
• Illustration shown is the N55 00 model. The camera back of the N55 non-OD model
differs from the
00 model.
• QD model only: Data imprint LCD/buttons
1 -~-,
fiMD SELECT ADJUST
• • •
1. Date/time LCD
2.
': Year indicator
3. MODE button: Push
to select one of five
available displays.
4. SELECT button: Push to select date/time to
be adjusted.
5. M : Month indicator
6. - : Data imprint indicator: Blinks approx.
2 sec. when data is imprinted.
7. ADJUST button: Push to adjust date/time.
7

LCD PanelNiewfinder Display
• LCD panel
Auto Exposure Bracketing (P . 66)
Shutter speed Aperture
1 ,-,,-,,-, "I
t .- • .-. 1
0000 fo.o Multiple Exposure
Self-timer
(P. 42)
(P. 69)
'@~~ lillti ~ ~
AUT ~ __ [t:' t:,)
Battery power
SLOW @: [] ~ + L'.L'
(P. 17)
II III I
Frame counter (P . 21) /
Exposure Compensation
Flash sync mode
(P . 78/ 80) value (P. 64)
Focus area (P. 48)
Exposure Compensation (P. 64)
• The illustrations are fully labelled for your reference.
8
NOTE : About LCD
The LCD panel and viewfinder displays tend to turn darker at high temperatures and
have slower response time at low temperatures.
In either case, when the temperature
returns
to normal, the displays also return to normal.

• Viewfinder display
Focus area (focus brackets) (P. 30/48)
Focus indicator
(P . 31 /46)
Focus area
Shutter speed
I
Center Partial Metering area (p . 60) i
Flash ready-light (P . 41n7)/
Flash recommended
indication (P. 80)
Exposure Compensation
(P. 64)
Electronic analog exposure
(P . 61) /
Exposure Compensation value
Aperture
9
I

Available Exposure Modes
The exposure mode dial of the Nikon N55 can be divided into two sections.
One
is the user-controlled exposure mode with Auto-Multi Program, Shutter-
Priority Auto, Aperture-Priority Auto or Manual exposure modes, where the
photographer can determine various exposure factors. The other section is
point-and-shoot exposure mode in which the camera automatically controls
various exposure settings. See pages 28, 37-39, 54-62 for more details
on
each exposure mode.
· ................................................... .
• User-controlled exposure mode
1 '- '"
.... ~ --.
. - ~ - ""J
~ . ,,-, . ~ -
.. .. _ . T , . .. 'It ~ '/
"'... h. " .:
'. .. .. ~ ~-
' ~ \
· -
. W' .
• ..' W "" ",,>ill
j ----
10
P: Auto-Multi Program (P. 54)
Camera controls shutter speed and aperture
automatically. Other settings, such as Flexible
Program (page
55) or Exposure Compensation
(page
64) are possible.
s: Shutter-Priority Auto (P. 56)
You set desired shutter speed, and the camera
selects the correct aperture. Freeze the motion
of a moving subject or blur the subject.
A: Aperture-Priority Auto (P. 58)
You set the desired aperture, and the camera
selects the correct shutter speed. Lets you
determine depth of the
in -focus area.
M: Manual (P . 60)
Shutter speed and aperture are set manually.
Suitable for taking photographs with
un ique
effects.

• Point-and-shoot exposure mode
8: AUTO mode (P . 28)
Camera automatically controls all the exposure
settings. Suitable
for taking pictures right away.
~ : Portrait mode (P . 37)
Use this mode to take portraits. The background
is blurred
to accentuate your main subject.
rJ: Landscape mode (P . 37)
Use this mode to take pictures of distant daytime
or nighttime scenes. The overall landscape will
be sharply focused.
~ : Close-Up mode (P . 38)
Use this mode to take up-close pictures of
subjects such as flowers or insects.
~QI: Sports Continuous mode (P. 38)
Use this mode to freeze the motion of fast-
moving subjects. Continuous shooting is also
possible with this mode.
~ : Night Portrait mode (P . 39)
Use this mode for subjects with an evening or
night background.
I
!
i
. .
. .
' , ~ "'; . ':,~. ~
I • " -
~~ .
11

Start Shooting Immediately
1 Open the batte
ry chamber and install batteries while the
camera's power
is off (page 16).
~ # ~ # ~ cj> " ~ ~
2Attach the lens and turn the power switch on (page 18).
3Open the camera back and install the film (page 20).
• When the camera back is closed, the film is automatically advanced and the
number of available exposures is displayed
in the LCD panel.
4Set the focus mode selector to AF (autofocus) (page 26) and
the exposure mode dial to
~ (AUTO mode) (page 28).
12

5 Hold
the camera properly, compose frame and focus by
lightly pressing the shutter release button (page 30).
6Confirm
focus indicator. appears without blinking and
slowly depress the shutter release button (page 32).
7 Film starts
to rewind automatically when it reaches the end
of the roll (page 33).
• Make sure E is blinking in the LCD panel when removing the film cartridge.
S\ <V
Q- -- 1 @
AUT ~ E " 3 [ -
:J
V
-2J
~
F- FS.6 ~
~
'3 [ ~
13

14

PREPARATION
This section introduces the various
operations necessary before you start
shooting.
• Install batteries and check battery power
• Mount lens
• Load film
• Set date and time
(QD model only)
• About shutter release button
15

Install Batteries and Check Battery Power
Use two CR2-type 3V lithium batteries.
........... .. .... .. .... ... ........ .. ........... .. .. ..
1
Turn the power switch off and open the battery ch amber
cover by slidi
ng the battery chamber cover lock release lever
toward indicated direction.
• When replacing batteries, be sure to turn the power switch off and replace both
batteries at the same time. Always use fresh batteries of the same brand.
N OTE: Stor in g batter i es
Keep the batteries out of children's reach. If swallowed, contact a doctor
immediately. (For "Notes on Batteries
", see page 102.)
2
16
Insert batteries with the EB and 8 ends positioned as
marked i
ns ide the battery chamber, then firmly close the
battery chamber cover.
• Make sure to firmly close the battery chamber cover until it locks into place.
• Incorrect positioning of
EEl and e poles may damage the camera.

Check points
• We recommend that you take spare batteries with you, especially when travelling.
• For the number of film rolls that can be shot with fresh batteries, see page 114.
3
Turn the power switch on and confirm battery power with
the
,.jiJ indication.
~ appears: Sufficient battery power.
CjIJ appears:
...... \. /",. .
Batteries are nearing exhaustion. Have a fresh set ready. (Viewfinder
indications turn off when you release your finger from the shutter
release button after taking the picture.)
Batteries
are exhausted. Replace batteries. (Shutter locks.) - ~ - bllnks :
./ I \ ......
Lightly pr ess the shutter release button to
act i vate the exposure mete r.
Lightly pressing the shutter release button
reactivates the exposure meter and indications
in
the LCD panel and viewfinder. Shutter speed and
aperture (f- - when lens is not attached)
indications
in the LCD panel automatically turn off
5 sec. after releasing your finger from the shutter
release button.
(All indications in the viewfinder
turn off.) See page
24 for information on the
shutter release button.
•

MountLens ~~------------
Turn the power switch off and mount the lens to the camera body.
............................. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..... .. ...
1
CPU contacts of CPU
Nikkor lens
Check the lens type.
CD G-type Nikkor lens
CD G-type Nikkor lens, without aperture ring
®
CPU Nikkor lens other
than G-type
®
CPU Nikkor lenses other than G-type (Illustration is O-type Nikkor lens), with
aperture ring
G-type Ni kkor lens
The G-type Nikkor lens has no aperture ring; aperture should be se lected from
camera body. Unlike other CPU Nikkor lenses, aperture does not need
to be set to
minimum.
Check points
• Use a G- or O-type AF Nikkor lens to utilize all of this camera's functions. However,
autofocus cannot be used with AF-S and A
F-I lenses, and the Vibration Reducti on
function of the VR lens does not function (p . 88) .
• Make sure
to turn the power switch off when attaching/detaching the lens.
• Avoid direct sunlight when attaching/detaching the lens.
NOTE: Non-CPU Ni kkor lens
When a non-CPU Nikkor lens is attached and the power switch is turned on,
f- -blinks in the LCD panel and viewfinder, and the shutter cannot be released
(except
in Manual exposure mode). See page 90 for a non-CPU lens.
18

3
With G-type Nikkor lens
Position lens
in the camera's bayonet mount so that the mounting indexes on lens
and camera body are aligned, then twist lens anticlockwise until it locks into
place.
(Be ~ure not to touch the lens release button.)
With CPU
Nikkor lens with aperture ring (other than G-type)
Position lens
in the camera's bayonet mount so that the mounting indexes on lens
and camera body
are aligned, then twist lens anticlockwise until it locks into
place.
(Be sure not to touch the lens release button.) And then, set the lens
aperture to its minimum and lock .
• When the lens is not set to its minimum aperture setting and the power switch is
turned on,
FE E blinks in the LCD panel and viewfinder and the shutter cannot be
released.
Detach the lens.
• Push and hold the lens release button, then
turn the lens clockwise
to detach the lens.
When camera is left unattended without lens
When you leave the camera unattended without a lens attached, be sure to attach
the supplied body cap (page
2) , or optional body cap BF-1A. (BF-1 body cap cannot
be used.)
19
•

load Film --~--------\
Turn the power switch on and load OX-coded fi l m. With OX-coded film, film
speed will be set automatically
(IS O 25-5000). When the camera back is
closed, the film automatically advances and the number of available
exposures
is displayed in the LCD panel.
.....................................................
1
Turn the power switch on , open the camera back by sliding
the camera back lock release lever and load film.
2
• Film cartridge can be loaded smoothly if inserted from the bottom.
• Make sure
to insert the film cartridge all the way in .
Pull film leader across to red index mark.
• Make sure to align the film leader to the red index mark; if the film leader is not
properly aligned to the index mark (short of or beyond the mark), film may not be
loaded properly.
• Hold the film cartridge and ensure film is properly positioned with no slack.
NOTE : Loading/removing film
Shutter curtains are very thin. Do not touch the
shutter curtains with your finger
or the film l ea der.