A Nikonians product review
home > resources > Nikon > F4 >  The command dials
The Nikon F4
by J. Ramón Palacios

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Introduction
Why all the excitement
Not really that heavy
The true meaning of ergonomics
The controls
» The command dials
  The small nuances
  The incredible shutter
  The auto focus and focus tracking
  The exposure metering system
  The power packs
  The lenses
Why it remains an interesting alternative

THE COMMAND DIALS .....

So self explanatory and so well placed.
.
Click for larger image.
Nikon F4's DP-20 standard finder. Exposure meter is shown set at "Spot".
Bottom right is the exposure compensation indicator for interchangeable screens.
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A blessing, the diopter adjustment knob (left) allows to see through the viewfinder without eyeglasses, by adjusting the eyepiece within a continuous range from -3 to +1.  Just pull it out, rotate until you see clear sharp images, stop and press the knob back in. It won't move.

The dial on the right sets the exposure meter to "spot", "matrix" (as shown), or "center weighted".

F4 DP-20 diopter adjuster and meter
For precise metering, depending on the viewfinder screen used and since the exposure meter is inside, sometimes it is necessary to compensate. 

Adjustments are possible from -2 to +0.5 EV in 0.5 EV steps. 

F4 DP-20 exposure compensator
The exposure compensation dial has a range from -2 EV to +2 EV in 1/3 EV increments. 

Settings appear on the viewfinder display so there is no need to remove the eye from the subject to set it or change it.

F4 exposure compensation dial
A lever closes a blind to prevent light from entering into the eyepiece and distorting the exposure meter reading. Specially useful when the self timer is applied and light is coming from behind the camera. 

Painted red, it prevents easily distracted photographers like me from thinking after use they have suddenly become blind or that the lens iris diaphragm has frozen closed. I miss this color on the F5 and F6.

F4 red eyepiece shutter
  More...»
see also

The F4 Users Group forum


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