Nikon N90 AF User manual

Nikon
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

CONTENTS
FOREWORD ....................... . ..................... .. ..... . .. .. .. . .. . ............ .4 OPE
RATI ON IN S HUTIER -PRIORITY AUTO
NOMENCLATURE .... ...................................................5- 10 EXPOSURE MODE .. ......................... .. .. ................... 56-59
BASIC OPERATION ................. . .. . . ..... .. ........... 11 -26 OPE RATI ON IN APERTURE-PRIORITY AUTO
MOUNTING THE LENS ............... .. ........................... .... .. ........ .. 12 EXPOSURE MODE ...................................................
60-62
INSTALLING BATIERIES ............ .. ......... .. .................................13 OPERATION
IN MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE .. .. ........... 63-66
CHECKING BATIERY POWER .............................................14-15 VARI-PROGRAM..............................................
..... . .. .. 67 -85
LOADING FILM .. .. . .. ... .. .. .. .. . .. . ........ .. . .... .. .. ....... .. .... ..... .. 16-18 WHAT IS VARI - PROGRAM? ... .. ... .... .... .. ... .. .. ....................... 68-69
BASIC SHOOTING .............. .... .. .. .... .... .. .... . ...... ....... .. .. 19-24 SELECTING VARI-PROGRAM SOFTWARE.. .. .. .......... .. .......... 70-7 1
REWINDING FILM . .. .. .. .. ............ .... .............. .......... ... .... 25-26 SHOOTING WITH VARI - PROGRAM . .. ...... .... .. .. ...... .. .... ... ...... 72-85
GENERAL FUNCTIONS .. .. ...... ........................ ...... 27 -66
PORTRAIT PR OGRAM ................................................. 72-73
FILM ADVANCE MODE .... .... .. .. ........ .... .. ......... . ... .. .. .. . .. . .... .28-29 PORTRAIT
PR OGRAM WITH RED-EYE REDUCTION
S
IN G LE -FRAME SHOOT IN G......................................... .. ... 28 (with
SB-25 Speedlight exclusivel y) .......... .. .. .......... ... 74-75
CONTINUOUS SHOOT IN G ................ .. .. .. ..........................29 HYPERFOCAL PROGRAM ...........................................76-77
EXPOSURE METERING SYSTEM ...... .. ...............................30-32 LANDSCAPE PROGRAM............................ .. ................ 78-79
MATRIX METERING ........................... .. .... .. ........................30 SILHOUETTE PROGRAM ......... .. ...................... .. ........ .. 80-8 1
CENTER-WEIGHTED METERING ....................
.. ... ..... .... .. . 31 SPORT PROGRAM... ... ................................................. 82-83
SPOT METERING ........................................ .. ....... .. ...........31 CLOSE-UP PROGRAM.................................................84-85
SETTING METERING SYSTEM
.. .. ........ .. ............................32 SPECIAL FUNCTIONS ....... .. .... .. ............................ 86- 1 02
FOCUS .................................. ... ... .. ... ................................. 33-48 EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ....................... .. ........... . .. ... ... .87-93
FOCUS AREA........ ............................................33-35 AE-L (AUTO EXPOSURE LOCK) LEVER .......................
88-89
AUTOFOCUS......................................................... ... .. .. 35-39 TO OBTA IN METER READ IN G FOR A PARTICULAR
AUTOFOCUS W
ITH MAIN SUBJECT O FF C EN TER ...... 40 -43 SUBJECT
IN MANUAL EX POSURE MODE............... 90-9 1
SPECIAL FOCUSING SITUATIONS...............................44-45 EXPOSURE COMPENSATION
BUTIO N................. ... 92-93
MANUAL FOCUS.................... ... ... .. .. ... ... .. ...................46-48 SELF-TIMER OPERATION .. .. ... . .. .... . ... . .... . ..... . ......... . ... ... ..... 94-96
EXPOSURE MODE .... .... .. . .... ................. .. ..... . .. .. ................. .49-66 ONE-SHOT SELF-TIMER ................................................ .. 95
SELECT
IN G EXPOSURE MODE . .. ...... ................ .. ... 50-53 TWO-SH OT SELF-TIMER.. .. .. .... .. .. . .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. . .. .. .. ........96
SETTING EXPOSURE MODE
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ........................ .. ....54 TO CONFIRM SHARPNESS BEFORE SHOOTING
FLEXIBLE PR OGRAM .. . . ................ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ........55 -DEPTH-OF-FIELD PREVIEW BUTION ..................... .. .. .. .97
2

LONG TIME EXPOSURE-Using bul b setting .................. 98-99
TO USE NON - DX - CODED FILM .. .. .. ................... .. ...................1 00
INTERCHANGING FOCUSING SCREENS .. .........................101-102
LENSES ........................ .. ... .. .. . ... . .... ... .. .....................103-1 06
LENS COMPATIBILITY CHART ........................................104-1 06
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY..................................... 107-126
NIKON SPEEDLIGHT COMPATIBILITY . .... .. .... ...................108-1 09
FLASH MODES AVAILABLE
WITH NIKON SPEEDLlGHT.....................
.. ................ .. .108
WHAT YOU CAN DO
WITH YOUR NIKON SPEEDLlGHT...............................109
TIL AUTO FLASH-AUTOMATIC BALANCED
FILL - FLASH AND STANDARD TIL FLASH ....................110-119
TYPE OF
TIL AUTO FLASH .. .. ....... .. ..................... 11 0-113
AUTOMATIC BALANCED FILL-FLASH
WITH
TIL MULTI SENSOR-3D MULTI-SENSOR
BALANCED FILL-FLASH AND MULTI-SENSOR
BALANCED FILL-FLASH ..............................................114
CE
NTER -WEIGHTED/SPOT FILL-FLASH .........................115
STANDARD
TIL FLASH...................................................115
SHUTIER SPEED/APERTURE
FOR EACH EXPOSU RE
MODE IN TI L AUTO FLASH .................................116-117
TIL AUTO FLASH OPERATION ................................118-119
TO MAKE NIGHT BACKGROUND MORE VISIBLE
-SLOW SYNC OPERATION ........................ .. ......... .. 120-121
TO CREATE NATURAL - LOOKING STREAM OF LIGHT
-REAR-CURTAIN SYNC ................ .. ................ ........ 122-123
RED-EYE REDUCTION
(for use with SB-25 only) .. .. .. ..... .. ......................... ... 124-125
NOTES ON FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY .. ............ .. .. .. .. ...................126
EV CHART FOR FLASH PHOTOGRAPHy ..................................127
MISCELLANEOUS .................. ............ ...................128-147
ACCESSORY COMPATIBILITY . ......... .. ...... .............. ........... .. .. 129
CAMERA CARE TIPS .. .... .. ............................... ............ 130-132
NOTES ON BATIERIES.......................... .. .... ..............132-133
SPECIFICATIONS ........................... .. ........... .... ... .. .......... 134-138
GLOSSARy ........................... ... . ................. . .. . .. .. ..... ....... 139-142
LCD PANELNIEWFINDER INDICATIONS .. ............... . ........ 143-147
3

4
FOREWORD
Thank you for choosing the new Nikon N90 camera. It's a high-performance
camera that offers today's newest and most advanced capabilities,
all designed to
enable you to take more exciting pictures.
Because the N90 camera has a host of new features, many of which you may not
be familiar with, before actually taking pictures you should thoroughly read the
instruction manuals provided,
in cluding the "PHOTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM" leaflet.
These will help you understand the technical terminology used and
how the various
new features work.
The N90,
in its standard configuration, is a powerful camera with important features
such as Nikon's exclusive Advanced Matrix Meter, many autofocus features including
Focus Tracking, and Nikon's latest innovation,
TIL Multi-Sensor fiash control. To
expand the camera's performance and take full advantage
of al l its capabilities, you
will want
to consider using the N90 with accessories such as the Nikon MF-26 Multi-
Control Back, the Nikon SB-25 AF Speedlight, and the Nikon Data Link System with
IC Card AC-1 E which works exclusively with the Sharp® Ele ctronic Organizer.
Please read this manual thoroughly, then enjoy experimenting with
all of the N 90's
exciting features. Good luck, and have a great time with this high-tech Nikon.
Sharp is a registered trademark of SHARP CORPORATION .

NOMENCLATURE
Once you know the names of the parts of your new Nikon N90, as
well as their functions and the camera's other controls, you will be
surprised how simple and logical the N90 system's operation can
be.
5

LCD panel (p. 9)
Shutter release button: To
activate exposure meter and
autofocus function, lightly
press; to release shutter,
depress
fully; exposure
meter automatically
switches off after 8 sec.
Self-timer
indicator LED
(pp.95-96)
Depth-of-field preview
button (p. 97)
AF-L (Auto Focus Lock)
button : Locks focus when
pressed and held
in.
Minimum aperture lock:
Setting for
all Programmed
and Shutter-Priority auto
exposure modes.
Aperture scale
6
Optional lens illustrated
(AF
Zoom - Nikkor 28-70mm f/3 .5-4.5 D)
Accessory shoe: For Nikon dedicated
Speedlights. The rear edge of the shoe
indicates
film plane. Exact distance from lens
mounting flange to film plane
is 46.5mm.
Sync terminal
10-pin remote terminal:
For Electronic Organizer
Connecting Cord MC-27,
Remote Cord MC-20,
etc.
(see attached
PHOTOGRAPHIC
SYSTEM
leaflet).
Lens release button
Focus mode selector:
S for Single Servo AF (pp.
36-37).
Cfor Continuous Servo AF
(pp. 38-39).
Mfor Manual focus (pp.
index
Focusing ring

Eyepiece shutter lever: Used to pre-
vent stray light from entering viewfinder.
Viewfinder/LCD panel
illumination
button :
Press to illuminate
viewfinder and
LCD
panel, useful in dim
light. Illumination
automatically switches
off 8 sec. after you
remove your finger from
button.
Camera strap eyelet
Camera
back lock releases: To
open camera back, slide camera
back lock releases together.
Film
cartr i dge
confirmation window
Viewfinder eyepiece
AE-L (Auto Exposure Lock)
lever: Sliding and holding
lever
in locks auto exposure.
Vari-Program list
Battery
holder
MS-8
Tripod socket
Focusing screen type B:
Interchangeable with
optional type Escreen
(pp.101-102).
7

Reset button: Press and hold this
button and exposure compensation/
reset button together for instant reset
of basic camera settings
(p. 20)
Exposure mode (MODE) button' :
See page 54.
Vari-Program (ps) button' : See
pages 70-71 .
Flash sync
mode (~) button ':
See pages 121,123 and 125.
Film advance mode (DRIVE)
button ': See pages 28-29
Film speed/film rewind
\00)
button: See pages 18, 25 and
100.
• Used with command dial
8
Metering system (:·:)button ':
See page 32.
Film rewind button
Exposure compensation/
reset button
(. ~) ' : See
pages 20 and 92.
Power switch: 0'11 setting
activates electronic beeper
(pp. 14-15).
Focus area button:
See
page 33.
Command input control
dial (Command dial):
Rotate to set various
functions.
Self-timer button
(~) ' : See
page 95-96.

LCD panel indications
1. Focus area
2. Exposure mode
3. Metering system
4.
Film speed setting mode
5. Exposure compensation
6. Shutter speed
7. Autofocus
8. Aperture
9. Release/Focus priority
6 7 8
DDDLFC D
Lf Lf Lf Lf Lf.Lf
9
2 - --h ~
3- -+" """"",=
4
5 - ~~~.;
,..,x LH - l0
,=,-:-::=- ~ J--= ~ - 11
I--It ll-+ -12
fillT , 07il' ''-I- _ 13
14
15 16 17 18 19
12 . Electronic Organizer*
13. Custom*
14. Battery
15.
Film advance mode
16 . Frame counterNari-Program/ISO speed/Self-timer
duration/compensation
va lue
17 . Film loading
18.
Film advance and rewind
19 . Self-timer
10. Flash sync mode/Red-Eye Reduction
*Appears only when Data Link System is in use.
11. Manual focus
9

Viewfinder indication
2
1. Wide-Area focus brackets
2. 12mm-dia. reference circle for Center-
Weighted Metering
3. 3mm dia. reference circle for Spot
Metering/Spot-Area focus
4. Clear matte field
5. Focus area
6. Focus indicators: • indicates a
stationary subject
is in focus; ....
indicates a moving subject is in focus;
~ ~ shows Focus Tracking; blinking
~ ~ indicates autofocus is
impossible; ~ and ~ arrows indicate
front and rear focus, respectively.
10
3 4
7. Exposure mode
8. Shutterspeed
9. Aperture
10 . Electronic analog display
11. Frame counterNari-
Program/compensation value
12 . Exposure compensation
13 . Flash recommend/ready light
Lightly pressing the shutter release
button to turn on the exposure
meter switches on the viewfnder
illuminator at a low light level.
In dim light, when the exposure
meter
is on, the illuminator
automatically switches on at
full
brightness.

BASIC OPERATION
This section shows you how to prepare the camera for shooting-
e.g., how to mount lens, load film, etc.-as well as how to actually
take pictures. Whether you 're a beginner or a seasoned
photographer, you should master this section before proceeding
further.
11

MOUNTING THE LENS
1
12
Remove camera body cap and front
and rear lens caps.
2 Position the lens
in the camera's
bayonet mount so that the
mounting indexes on lens and camera
body are aligned. Taking care not
to
press the lens release button, twist lens
counterclockwise until it locks into place.
• When mounting/removing lens, make sure that the camera's power
is turned
off and avoid direct sunlight.
• See page 104 for Nikon lens compatibility chart.
To remove
Push and hold lens release button and
turn lens clockwise.

INSTALLING BATTERIES
• Make sure the power switch is set
at OFF position.
• NiCd batteries that have "+"
terminals exceeding 6mm in
diameter cannot be used.
• Manganese batteries are not
recommended for use at low
temperatures.
• See page 133 for "NOTES
ON
BATTERIES."
3 Install four AA-type alkaline-
manganese, NiCd
or high-
performance manganese batteries with
"+" and "-" terminals positioned as
shown inside holder.
1
4
Loosen battery holder lock screw
with a coin or similar object.
Retum battery holder to battery
chamber.
2 Remove battery holder.
5 Press holder into place as you
tighten lock screw with coin.
13

CHECKING BATTERY POWER
Slide power switch to ON or 01)) position, and confirm that a full
battery mark appears on LCD panel , indicating sufficient battery
power.The battery
mark and exposure indications automatically
turn off after 8 sec.
~
Sufficient battery power .
, I I 1/
- ~ -
/ I I I ,
If ~ blinks with/without blinking
E,. ,. , batteries are just about
exhausted. Slide power switch to
OFF and replace batteries with a
fresh set.
14
Batteries are nearing exhaustion .
Have a fresh set ready .
If no indication/mark appears ,
batteries are completely exhausted
or imporperly installed . Replace .
About exposure meter
You can check battery power anytime by lightly pressing
the shutter release button. This action activates the
exposure meter; the LCD panel and viewfinder LCD show
aperture/shutter speed indications, and autofocus
operation starts (unless camera is set for manual
focusing). The exposure indications and battery mark stay
on for approx. 8 sec . after you take your finger off the
shutter release button, then automatically turn off. If the
shutter is released, these LCD readouts go off approx. 2
sec. after you take your finger off the button.
Data Link System users
You can set automatic meter switch-off as desired: 4
sec., 8 sec., 16 sec., 30 sec., 60 sec. For details, see
Nikon AC-1 Ecard instruction manual.

About electronic beeper
With the power switch set to 0'1) ,the beeper
is on. Two types of sound are emitted: a
double-beep which indicates
in -focus
position, and continuous beeping which
is
either an operation signal or an alert.
Double - beep
A double-beep is emitted when a stationary
subject becomes in-focus
in the Single
Servo AF mode' .
Continuous beep ing sound ind icates:
(As an
op eration signa l)
• Film rewind is complete.
o Self-timer is activated (pp. 95-96).
(As an alert signal)
o Possible picture blur due to slow shutter
speed
in Programmed or Aperture-Priority
Auto exposure mode.
o Possible over- or underexposure (with H:
or t 0 indications) in auto exposure mode' .
• Lens aperture
is not set to the mi nimum
setting
in Programmed or Shutter-Priority
auto exposure mode' .
•
Film reaches the end of the roll and
requires rewinding' .
• You have loaded a non-OX film
or film with
a damaged or unacceptable
OX code for
auto
OX setting.
• Camera detects
an abnormality such as
tom or damaged film during film advance.
• Vari-Program
is set with non-CPU lenses.
• Shutter-Priority Auto exposure mode
is
set with Bulb setting.
• Bulb setting
is selected for Automatic
Exposure Bracketing function
of MF-26.
• Speedlight
is not set to TIL flash mode
with Auto Multi-Program.
• Sounds when the shutter release button is lightly pressed .
Data Link System
users
You can use the
Electronic Organizer
to cancel the double-
beep alert for in-focus
and/or the continuous
beep for picture blur
alert.
The beeper also
comes on when the
camera's computer
memory
is full in the
Memo Holder
function.
For details, refer to
Nikon
AC-1 E card
instruction manual.
15

LOADING FILM
• 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.
• For non-OX coded film, see p. 100.
Data Link System users
You can set the camera to OX-priority. For details, see
AC-1 E card instruction manual.
16
1 Confirm whether [jJJ for OX-coded film is shown on the
LCD panel.
If not, press and hold ISO button
in , then rotate command dial
until [jJJ appears.

2 Slide camera back lock releases
together
to open camera back.
4
Pull film leader out to red index
mark.
3 Insert film cartridge.
Do not touch the shutter curtains
with your finger or with film leader.
5 Check to ensure film is properly positioned with no slack (see illustration).
17

6 Gently close camera back until lock
releases snap closed.
8 Confirm frame counter shows I and <.:l_ symbol appears on LCD
panel.
18
7
Full y depress shutter release button
to advance film to frame #1.
•
If non-OX-coded film or film with an
unacceptable OX code is loaded, the
E,.,. , ISO and IDJ marks in the LCD
• If film is incorrectly positioned, E
remains,
<.:l_ symbol blinks and shutter
is locked. Open camera back and
reload film properly.
panel blink, the beeper sounds
(if set),
and the shutter is locked. Set
ISO
speed manually (see p. 100).
:~5 f5 .6
II-'
Ir
00
~ o
~ ~
loa
,:~ ~ .
c=:J
To confirm ISO number of OX -
coded film, press film speed
button.

BASIC SHOOTING
This section features the settings for
most common picture-taking situations
when
AF Nikkor* lenses are used:
Rim advance mode: single-frame
shooting
Metering: Advanced Matrix Metering
Focus Area: Wide
Focus
mode : Single Servo AF
Exposure mode: Auto Multi-Program
(Ifyou are using AI-P-Nikkor lens, use
manual focus {see pp. 46-48]. Ifyou are
using othernon-AFNikkor lenses, use
Center-Weighted
or Spot Metering {see
p. 32j, manual focus, and Aperture-
PriorityAuto
or Manual Exposure mode
{see pp.
60-62 or 63-66}. To confirm
usable mode
by lens, see chart on p.
104.)
• AF Nikkor lenses includes D-type AF Nikkor lenses
and AF-I Nikkor lenses.
1 Set focus
mode selector to S for
Single Servo autofocus. If lens has
an A-M switch, set switch to
A. If you are
using an AF-I Nikkor lens, set the lens
focus
mode ring to A or MI A.
2 Set lens to its minimum aperture
(highest f-number marked
in orange
on AF Nikkor lenses) and lock lens
aperture
of AF Nikkor lens at its
minimum setting (see lens instruction
manual).
19

3 Press . reset button and .
ill button simultaneously for
two seconds until P,
~ , [[] and 0 appear in the LCD
panel, indicating that the camera settings are automatically
reset for basic shooting shown
here:
Film advance: Single frame (IIJ )
Metering system: Matrix~)
Exposure control: Auto-Multi Program (p)
Focus area: Wide (E!l)
Flexible program setting: Cancel
Exposure compensation: ±O
Flash sync mode: Normal (If Speedlight is set at
rear-curtain sync, rear-curtain
sync
will be performed.)
20
Data Link System users
When activating Custom Reset with the Nikon AC-1 E
card's Customized Settings function, press and hold the .
and .
ill buttons for two seconds to retrieve the Custom
Reset settings.
When one or more functions/options (including Custom
Reset) of the Customized Settings have been set, [mmJ
appears in the camera's LCD panel'. To cancel the
functions/options of the Customized Settings and reset
your camera to the default setting (which will make [mmJ
disappear from the LCD), press and hold the . and . ill
buttons for more than four seconds until [mmJ starts
blinking; then remove your fingers from the reset buttons
and press them again within two seconds. (tmml stops
blinking when the reset buttons are left untouched for two
seconds.)
[mmJ also appears when "Store shooting data" is selected
and/or "Download stored data"
is likewise selected in the
Memo Holder function.
In this case, you also can make
[mmJ disappear from the LCD by following the instuctions
given above.
•
When Custom Reset and/or "Si multaneous Lock of AF and AE" of User
Custom Option is set with the MF-26 attached to the camera ,[mmJ
does not appear . To cancel Custom Reset or " Simultaneous Lock of AF
and AE" with the MF - 26 , use the MF-26 's( IlTImrT J button and the
camera 's command dial . (For details , see the MF - 26 's instruction
manual.)