(En) INSTRUCTION MANUAL En Introduction 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 authorised dealer or service centre at least once every two years. · Using your camera correctly The Nikon F55/F55D's performance has been optimised 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 F55/F55D's components. Nikon cannot guarantee the F55/F55D's performance when it is used with other than Nikon brand accessories. BEFORE YOU BEGIN 3 · Thank you for purchasing the Nikon F55/F55D--a camera that is sure to make photography a bigger part of your life. Get to know your F55/F55D camera, and be sure to read this manual thoroughly before using it. We recommend that you keep this manual handy. · Take trial shots Supplied accessories Body cap (P. 19) Accessory shoe cover * Remove this cover when attaching an optional Speedlight to the accessory shoe. Eyepiece cap DK-5 (P. 73) 2 Contents BEFORE YOU BEGIN ............................................................................2-11 Introduction...............................................................................................................2-3 Nomenclature............................................................................................................6-7 LCD Panel/Viewfinder Display ..................................................................................8-9 Available Exposure Modes ...................................................................................10-11 Start Shooting Immediately ...............................................................................12-13 EXPOSURE MODE ..............................................................................53-62 Auto-Multi Program ..............................................................................................54-55 Shutter-Priority Auto Exposure Mode...................................................................56-57 Aperture-Priority Auto Exposure Mode ................................................................58-59 Manual Exposure Mode........................................................................................60-61 Long Time Exposure ..................................................................................................62 ADVANCED OPERATION ....................................................................63-70 PREPARATION.....................................................................................15-24 1. Install Batteries and Check Battery Power.......................................................16-17 2. Mount Lens .......................................................................................................18-19 3. Load Film ..........................................................................................................20-21 4. Set Date and Time (F55D only).........................................................................22-23 About Shutter Release Button ...................................................................................24 Exposure Compensation ......................................................................................64-65 Auto Exposure Bracketing ....................................................................................66-68 Multiple Exposure .................................................................................................69-70 OTHER FUNCTIONS ...........................................................................71-74 Film Rewind................................................................................................................72 Dioptre Adjustment/Viewfinder Accessories..............................................................73 Available Mode Combinations ...................................................................................74 BASIC OPERATION 1..........................................................................25-33 1. 2. 3. 4. Set Focus Mode to AF......................................................................................26-27 Set Exposure Mode to a ................................................................................28-29 Hold Camera and Focus...................................................................................30-31 Release Shutter ................................................................................................32-33 FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY .................................................................... 75-85 Built-In Speedlight/Ready-Light ...........................................................................76-77 Flash Sync Mode Features ...................................................................................78-79 Using Built-In Speedlight ......................................................................................80-85 Flash Shooting Distance Range.............................................................................83 Available Flash Sync Mode Combinations ............................................................84 Usable Lenses with Built-In Speedlight............................................................84-85 About Depth of Field ..................................................................................................86 About Metering Systems and Exposure ....................................................................34 BASIC OPERATION 2..........................................................................35-44 Shooting with Vari-Program..................................................................................36-39 Using Built-In Speedlight ......................................................................................40-41 Self-Timer Operation.............................................................................................42-43 Imprinting Date/Time (F55D only) ..............................................................................44 MISCELLANEOUS .............................................................................87-117 Lens Compatibility ................................................................................................88-90 Usable Optional Speedlights ................................................................................91-97 Optional Accessories ............................................................................................98-99 Camera Care.....................................................................................................100-101 Notes on Batteries ...................................................................................................102 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................103-105 Glossary ............................................................................................................106-109 Specifications ...................................................................................................110-114 Index .................................................................................................................116-117 FOCUS OPERATION ...........................................................................45-52 Focus Mode ..........................................................................................................46-47 Focus Area............................................................................................................48-49 AF-Assist Illuminator.............................................................................................50-51 Focus Lock.................................................................................................................52 4 5 BEFORE YOU BEGIN Nomenclature Focus mode selector (PP. 46-47) Lens release button (P. 19) Built-in Speedlight (P. 40/76) Self-timer (P. 42)/ AF-Assist Illuminator (P. 50)/ Red-Eye Reduction lamp (P. 79) Viewfinder eyepiece Dioptre adjustment lever (P. 73) Rubber eyecup (P. 73) Command Dial Auto Exposure Bracketing (P. 66)/ Multiple Exposure (P. 69)/Film rewind button (P. 72) Power switch (P. 16) Camera back lock release lever (P. 20) Flash lock-release (P. 80)/Flash sync mode button (P. 78) Shutter release button (P. 17/24) Film confirmation window (P. 21) Data Back (F55D only) (P. 22/44) Tripod socket Battery chamber cover lock release lever (P. 16) Camera strap eyelet Camera strap eyelet * Illustration shown is the F55D. The camera back of the F55 differs from the F55D. Exposure mode dial (P. 10) Accessory shoe (P. 91) LCD panel (P. 8) Focus area button (P. 48) Aperture (P. 61)/Exposure Compensation button (P. 64)/ Film rewind button (P. 72) Self-timer button (P. 42) · F55D only: Data imprint LCD/buttons 1 2 5 6 3 4 6 7 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 BEFORE YOU BEGIN LCD Panel/Viewfinder Display Auto Exposure Bracketing (P. 66) Shutter speed Aperture Focus area (focus brackets) (P. 30/48) Centre Partial Metering area (p. 60) Self-timer (P. 42) Multiple Exposure (P. 69) Battery power (P. 17) Flash sync mode (P. 78/80) Focus area (P. 48) * The illustrations are fully labelled for your reference. Frame counter (P. 21)/ Exposure Compensation value (P. 64) Exposure Compensation (P. 64) 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. Focus indicator (P. 31/46) Flash ready-light (P. 41/77)/ Flash recommended indication (P. 80) Exposure Compensation (P. 64) Electronic analogue exposure (P. 61)/Exposure Compensation value display (P. 64) Aperture Focus area (P. 48) Shutter speed 8 9 BEFORE YOU BEGIN · LCD panel · Viewfinder display Available Exposure Modes The exposure mode dial of the Nikon F55/F55D 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. a: AUTO mode (P. 28) Camera automatically controls all the exposure settings. Suitable for taking pictures right away. s: Portrait mode (P. 37) · User-controlled exposure mode 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. Use this mode to take portraits. The background is blurred to accentuate your main subject. d: Landscape mode (P. 37) Use this mode to take pictures of distant daytime or nighttime scenes. The overall landscape will be sharply focused. 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. f: Close-Up mode (P. 38) Use this mode to take up-close pictures of subjects such as flowers or insects. 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. g: Sports Continuous mode (P. 38) Use this mode to freeze the motion of fastmoving subjects. Continuous shooting is also possible with this mode. h: Night Portrait mode (P. 39) Use this mode for subjects with an evening or night background. M: Manual (P. 60) Shutter speed and aperture are set manually. Suitable for taking photographs with unique effects. 10 11 BEFORE YOU BEGIN · Point-and-shoot exposure mode Start Shooting Immediately 1 2 3 Open the battery chamber and install batteries while the camera's power is off (page 16). 5 Hold the camera properly, compose frame and focus by lightly pressing the shutter release button (page 30). Attach the lens and turn the power switch on (page 18). 6 Open 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. Confirm focus indicator / appears without blinking and slowly depress the shutter release button (page 32). 7 4 12 Film starts to rewind automatically when it reaches the end of the roll (page 33). · ...