The last remaining feature on top of the camera is the Multiple Exposure Lever. It is part of the film advance mechanism. While this lever is so conveniently placed and it allows you to activate this lever in a single handed operation.
Double Exposure Lever
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Prior to the Nikon FM of 1977, I wouldn't say double exposure operation in Nikon camera is enjoyable to used. Confidence level is another thing. As with most cameras during those period, Nikon cameras of that era were utilizing the rewind button to disengage the film advance mechanism The Nikkormats, doesn't even mentioned this in their spec sheet). The Nikon F2 improved a lot in terms of accuracy and registration. The FM, changed that by design and relocated a new dedicated lever on top of the body (Not at the familiar position near the film advance lever as with today's FM2 or FE series models, but just beside the pentaprism). The FE in 1978 changed the design to that position as it allows a photography to handle this task in a single hand operation - even work in conjunction with motor drive for rapid sequentcial shots in sucession. |
The FA and FE2 (FM2 series
as well) have retained this unique and very functional design. To operate,
take the first shot. Then, pull the multiple exposure lever with your index
finder (1), use
your thumb to advance the film (2). Before you perform this task,
ALWAY
take a
look at the frame counter and register what is the current frame number
first, you will notice
that the frame counter does not advance as you advance the film. Now the
second exposure can be made on the same fram. And should additional multiple
exposures be needed, simply repeat the above procedure (But keep an eye on the
frame number to confirm if you had done it in the right
manner).
Note: Some
compensation on exposure must be made if you intend to use multiple exposure
operations because the amount of light striking the film more than once is
additive but not as in
mathematical sum 1+1 = 2. Because the subsequent exposure is less than
dominant, just compensate a little in addition to normal exposure settings are
probably adequate. While there is no definitive guide, experimental
calculations is essential to achieve more desirable results.
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There are some levers and controls in front of the camera which require some attention as well. The self timer is one - not just a lever for 'unmanned' photography, but also how it function and help you in certain situation. |
I don't know if you had noticed that the FA has NOT provided with an exposure lock (AE Lock) feature. The Self timer lever which acts as a self-timer/memory lock lever in the FE/FE2 has been removed from the camera. It only serves as a self timer device in the FA.
To set the self-timer, push
the self-timer lever down as far as it will go. This can be done either before
or after the film is advanced. After the self-timer has been set, press the
shutter release button. Immediately the reflex mirror will rise and the
self-timer will start to operate; the shutter is then released approx. 10 sec.
later. If you want to cancel self timer operation after the lever has been
set, move it back to its original position. You can then take pictures in the
normal way. However, returning the selftimer lever to its original position
after self-timer operation has begun will immediately trip the shutter. The
self-timer can be used at any shutter speed dial setting except in the B
setting.
Is that all ? No.
First, since the reflex mirror will go up immediately after you have pressed the shutter release button; although the Nikon FA has one of the best shock absorber for the mirror movement among other Nikon bodies compared, but since in self timer, there is virtually NO vibration at all caused by the reflex mirror action, you may use this to take high resolution or mangification work. Secondly, by turning the self-timer lever when it is already in operation will result in the shutter being released the moment the lever is back in its original position. Thus, you can use this as a trick - should you need the timer to trip faster than 10 seconds, push it back to where it should be and you can timed for yourself.
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Since there are two metering photodiodes (another at the mirror box to handle flash exposure) that locate so near to the eyepiece and it may affect some exposure reading especially if there is a strong light source behind the camera (Like shooting at the ground, while the back is facing the sun etc..) The FA, like the F3, has an eyepiece blind ! If you are in the self timer mode, you can use this lever to avoid strong external light source that may affect accuracy of the meter reading. |
Additional Info on Depth
of Field Preview Lever
In the earlier
section when we mentioned about the Stopped-Down exposure measurement. But we
haven't mentioned more about its actual function other than the area it helps
in the Stopped-Down metering. When a lens with an automatic diaphragm is used,
the image in the viewfinder is vewed with the lens at maximum aperture.
However, when the depth-of-field preview lever's is pushed down, the lens will
be stopped down to the aperture set, enabling you to examine depth of field
before shooting The image in the viewfinder darkens according to the selected
f-number, the smaller the aperture, the darker the image. Portions of the
picture that appear in focus when the lever is pushed down-will be in the zone
of sharp focus. Note that the lever should be depressed all the
way.
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This lever is also used for stop-down exposure measurement. |
The next section will outline some less important features in the FA. Like film plane indicator, how to detach and attach the hand grip etc.