About Metering Systems And Exposure; Basic Operation 2 - Nikon F55 - F55 35mm SLR Camera Instruction Manual

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About Metering Systems and Exposure

About Metering Systems and Exposure
Metering systems and exposure are important factors for taking pictures.
Knowing the characteristics of each factor helps you widen your
photographic expression.
Metering Systems
As the proper combination of shutter speed and aperture for correct exposure
is determined according to subject brightness and film sensitivity, measuring
subject brightness is very important.
In general, brightness inside the viewfinder is not uniform. The F55/F55D
provides two metering systems: Matrix Metering (page 28) and Centre
Partial Metering (page 60). With Matrix Metering, data on scene brightness
is detected by the five-segment Matrix sensor. Using G- or D-type Nikkor
lenses, the F55/F55D camera performs 3D Matrix Metering by adding
distance information to determine correct exposure. With Centre Partial
Metering, brightness is detected at the central areas including three focus
areas in the viewfinder. With the F55/F55D, Matrix Metering is automatically
selected when the exposure mode is set to other than Manual and Centre
Partial Metering is selected with Manual exposure mode.
Exposure
Light from the subject passes through the lens and exposes the film. Light
reaching the film is controlled by the shutter speed and aperture. The proper
combination of shutter speed and aperture for subject brightness and film
sensitivity results in the correct exposure.
The F55/F55D's AUTO mode (page 28), Auto-Multi Program (page 54) and
Vari-Program (page 36) automatically control shutter speed and aperture. Vari-
Program gives you the option to choose from Portrait, Landscape, Close-Up,
Sports Continuous or Night Portrait mode—designed for specific picture-
taking situations and photographic images. In Shutter-Priority Auto exposure
mode (page 56), you can manually set shutter speed and the camera
automatically sets the proper aperture. In Aperture-Priority Auto exposure
mode (page 58), you can manually set aperture and the camera automatically
sets the proper shutter speed. In Manual exposure mode (page 60), you
manually set both shutter speed and aperture.
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BASIC OPERATION 2

This section describes the following
basic operations:
• Shooting with Vari-Program
• Using Built-In Speedlight
• Self-Timer Operation
• Imprinting Date/Time (F55D only)
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