Confused... i think

[Josh66]

Get the manual here:
Nikon FM instruction manual, Pocket Companion, user manual, PDF manual, free manuals

...Should explain a lot.


edit
I just had a look at it. To change the film speed, lift the knob and turn. And, it also goes from ISO (ASA) 12 to 3200. It's just that where it is currently set, only 50, 100, & 200 show through the window. You will see the other numbers as you turn it.

Turn the same knob (without lifting) to change shutter speed.


For some reason that PDF isn't opening for me anymore...

They have the manual here too, though it's not a PDF:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm/basic.htm

 

[tevo]

And can I relate this to film photography as well?

It's pretty much exactly the same with film, except that with film you're pretty much going to shoot the whole roll at the same ISO - you're not (normally) going to be changing it from shot to shot. Films have different ISOs (100 or 400 for example), and you're generally going to want to set the camera to match that.

There are, however, times when you will want to use a different ISO than what the film says it is. Sometimes you might want/need to push/pull film - would would have to process differently in that case. Sometimes films 'look better' a stop or so overexposed - you would process normally in this case. And changing the ISO can also be used as a sort of exposure compensation.

My Nikon FM looks like it has a setting for "ASA", with values of 50, 100, 200, and has no clear way to adjust it.

There is definitely a way to adjust it...
Does the dial turn or anything? I'm not familiar with that camera, but changing the ISO (or ASA) is something that would have been done on a regular basis, so it can't be that hard.

Yeah, thats what I figured ; and it is located on the shutter speed dial, with again no clear method of adjusting it. On my FG-20, there is a whole separate dial for ISO, and it does not want to turn for some reason. There must be something im missing.

if, and I repeat, IF you are unable to achieve a balanced exposure at your desired speed or aperture, bump up the ISO until you can. Don't forget to put it back to your camera's native ISO.

Good to know. Thank you! I was experimenting with higher ISO, and from what I have found, I can shoot a faster shutter speed with a higher ISO, but the picture gets grainy.

 

[tevo]

Get the manual here:
Nikon FM instruction manual, Pocket Companion, user manual, PDF manual, free manuals

...Should explain a lot.


edit
I just had a look at it. To change the film speed, lift the knob and turn. And, it also goes from ISO (ASA) 12 to 3200. It's just that where it is currently set, only 50, 100, & 200 show through the window. You will see the other numbers as you turn it.

Turn the same knob (without lifting) to change shutter speed.


For some reason that PDF isn't opening for me anymore...

They have the manual here too, though it's not a PDF:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm/basic.htm

a HA! Thanks much! And I ordered original manuals for both cameras.. have yet to arrive. 3-5 day shipping is the most misconstrued concept in american history

 

[ann]

you "pick" up the dial marked ASA (which is the old ISO meaning) and just move it to the current film ISO.

When you use film, the film has a basic sensitivity to light think of that as ISO. Same in a digital camera.

THen in both film and digital , you choose fstop or shutter speed and the computer chip makes the corresponding adjustment unless your in manual mode and then you have to decided on which value is base line and change the other . If you change ISO, the other options will change in relationship.

i.e. ISO 200, fstop f8 shutter speed 125
change ISO to 400 and the fstop will change, which also results in the shutter speed changing.