Nikon F4S and "P" screen, exposure compensation??

Paul Goutiere · Feb 18, 2011

I managed to get the "P" screen for my Nikon F4 to handle manual focusing on my non-AF Nikkor AIS lenses.

Can anyone tell me if I need to adjust the exposure compensation dial to accommodate this new screen or will it be the same as my standard B screen??

Thanks
Paul

Ottrdaemmerung · Feb 18, 2011

Exposure should still be exactly the same, I'd think, since the amount of light that hits the film hasn't changed.

Aja B · Feb 18, 2011

Paul, I consulted my F4 Focusing Screen Chart and see that comensation is not required for the P screen. Exceptions are the Reflex 500mm f8 (-1 comp) and Reflex 1000mm f11 (-1.5 comp).

Ottr, while some cameras have metering cells located in the bottom of the mirror box (Nikon F3, FE2, etc.) others, such as the F4, perform Center Weight and Matrix Metering via cells in the prism, after the light has passed through the screen. Various patterns/grids on screens may impact such metering, hence the Metering Compensation Dial on the DP-20 prism. The F4's Spot Metering, however, is performed by a cell in the bottom of the mirror box. Interesting that they chose to split the metering function.

Paul Goutiere · Feb 18, 2011

Aja B said:
Paul, I consulted my F4 Focusing Screen Chart and see that comensation is not required for the P screen. Exceptions are the Reflex 500mm f8 (-1 comp) and Reflex 1000mm f11 (-1.5 comp).

Much thanks.

Christiaan Phleger · Feb 19, 2011

Yes, splitting up the meter has save me once when the DP-20 went on the blink and shorted out, I could still meter using the spot.

John_Nikon_F · Feb 22, 2011

Aja B said:
Paul, I consulted my F4 Focusing Screen Chart and see that comensation is not required for the P screen. Exceptions are the Reflex 500mm f8 (-1 comp) and Reflex 1000mm f11 (-1.5 comp).

Ottr, while some cameras have metering cells located in the bottom of the mirror box (Nikon F3, FE2, etc.) others, such as the F4, perform Center Weight and Matrix Metering via cells in the prism, after the light has passed through the screen. Various patterns/grids on screens may impact such metering, hence the Metering Compensation Dial on the DP-20 prism. The F4's Spot Metering, however, is performed by a cell in the bottom of the mirror box. Interesting that they chose to split the metering function.

FE2 is the same as the F4. As are all non-F3 Nikon manual focus bodies. Meter cells are in the finder.

The P screen needs no compensation in normal use, luckily.

-J

Nikon F4S and "P" screen, exposure compensation??

Paul Goutiere

Ottrdaemmerung

Aja B

Paul Goutiere

Christiaan Phleger

John_Nikon_F

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