Nikon f2 - Manual (Page 38)

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT—continued
Eyepiece Shutter Operation
The camera’s Photomic finder is fitted with an eyepiece
shutter for special unmanned shooting situations (e.g.,
remote control, automated shooting with motor drive
and aperture control unit) requiring protection against
the entry of stray light through the viewfinder eyepiece.
To close the shutter, simply turn the eyepiece shutter
control 60° clockwise; as the shutter closes, the internal
LEDs are deactivated and the external "correct exposure”
indicator is switched on for metering operation from
atop the finder. To set the camera for proper exposure
using the external LED indicator, simply adjust the aper­
ture ring and/or the shutter-speed selector until the LED
just glows; once the LED comes on, the camera is set
for correct exposure.
In addition to its use for low-light metering or for un­
manned photography, the eyepiece shutter comes in
handy to ensure correct exposure measurement in criti­
cal shooting situations (e.g., photomicrography) or for
protection against the entry of bright light into the view­
finder during daylight shooting.
High-Contrast Lighting Situations
When there are substantial brightness differences be­
tween the main subject and the background, unimpor­
tant bright spots or dark spots can adversely influence
the finder reading, and thus the final exposure. To pre­
vent under- or overexposure of the main subject under
these shooting conditions, some corrective action must
be taken to ensure proper exposure of the main subject.
Fortunately, the finder’s center-weighted TTL metering
action simplifies adjustments, making for quicker camera
operation and more accurate final results.
To compensate for an excessively bright or dark back­
ground, target the main subject in the center of the fo­
cusing screen while performing metering; this action en­
sures that the main emphasis of the meter reading will
be on the chosen subject. Then, after completing aper­
ture and shutter speed adjustments, recompose to the
desired picture composition and make the exposure
without readjusting the camera controls. For example,
when shooting landscapes, it is often advisable to aim
the camera slightly downward during exposure measure­
ment to eliminate the effects of a bright expanse of sky;
without such compensation, the landscape may appear
underexposed in the final print. Also, for backlit sub­
jects, it may be necessary to move closer to the subject
to ensure a proper reading.
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