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18. SAFETY LOCK (UP OR DOWN BUTTON)

The camera is designed to prevent unintentional changes in shutter speed or modes by accidentally touching the Up or Down Button. In order to initiate any changes the Up or Down Button must be depressed for about one-half second.

* Any shutter speed setting may be locked in by pressing the Film Advance Mode (C/S) Selector Switch and U p or Down Button at the same time. The LCD will I now blink   the setting you have locked-in. (Fig. 64)

The camera exposure meters are designed to utilize a mult- program system. Three "customized" programs can be selected by the photographer according to taking conditions and subject. (Fig. 65)   A. P program: An average shutter speed and F-stop are combined. This program is recommended for general shooting. (Fig. 66)4www.butkus.org B. PD program: This is used for shooting with maximum overall sharpness (increased depth-of-field), and is recommended for scenery or close-up shots. The resulting slower shutter speeds can also be useful to accentuate the feeling of motion. (Fig. 67)

C. PA program: This program provides higher shutter speeds, and is recommended for fast moving subjects, as in sports, car races, etc. This program also provides wider apertures and decreased depth-of-field. This will allow a less sharp background and is ideally suited for portrait taking. (Fig. 68)

20. APERTURE-PRIORITY AE (AUTO EXPOSURE) PHOTOGRAPHY

In aperture-priority AE photography, the camera automatically sets correct shutter speeds according to your pre-selected F-stop number and the brightness of your subjects. This is suitable for photography taking advantage of specific depth-of-field requirements as in portraits or scenic pictures.

1. Set the shutter speed dial to AUTO. (Fig. 69)

2. Turn the F-stop Ring to set the desired F-stop number.

* When an overexposure symbol ( ) or underexposure symbol ( ) appears in the Viewfinder, the camera is unable to provide the proper shutter speed for correct exposure. (Fig. 71)

21. SHUTTER BIAS PROGRAM AE PHOTOGRAPHY

The shutter bias program AE photography is actually a combination of the program AE photography and shutter speed priority AE photography. (Fig. 72) Use this mode to avoid shutter speeds lower than the pre-selected shutter speed. This is particularly useful in sports photography.

For example, set the Shutter Speed Dial at 250 to avoid any shutter speed slower than 1/250 sec. When the subject is bright enough, any shutter speed between 1/250 and 1/2000 sec. may be selected according to the brightness of the subject. You will see the selected shutter speed as well as F-stop number in the Viewfinder. (Fig. 73) If the brightness of the subject is not enough even at full open aperture, a slower shutter speed will be automatically selected to obtain correct exposure.

 

Set the minimum desired shutter speed by pushing the Up or Down Button. Your pre-selected shutter speed is shown by the blinking indicator on the LCD Meter Display in the Viewfinder. The row of indicators in sequence, short of, or beyond the blinking indicators, show a shutter speed suggested for the conditions. (Fig. 75)

22. FULL MANUAL PHOTOGRAPHY

You may manually select the shutter and the F-stop number for unusual or creative picture taking situations.

1. Set the shutter to the desired speed using the Up or Down Button and information provided on LCD Display. (Fig. 76) Your pre-selected shutter speed will be shown by the single steady indicator on the Viewfinder LCD Display A second shutter speed indicator may blink to indicate the camera meters suggested speed at a given f-stop. (Fig. 77) * The shutter speed setting will also be displayed in the Top LCD.4www.butkus.org

2. Turn the F-stop Ring until your shutter speed indicator and the camera meter's blinking indicator (showing suggested exposure) overlap each other. (Fig. 78)

This confirms that correct exposure is set.

Use this mode to record TV images.

1. Select the TV mode by pressing the Up or Down Button until TV appears on either LCD Display. (Fig. 79) 2. Set the Program Mode Indicator (on the Top LCD) to the type of TV system you are using by sliding the Program Mode Selector Switch. (Fig. 80)

	3. Turn the F-stop Ring to P (Fig. 81)
	* Indicators for TV mode, shutter speed and F-stop are also shown on the Viewfinder LCD. (Fig. 82)

The camera is designed with 3 types of exposure metering systems: center-weighted average, spot and automatic backlight control. Each system can be easily chosen by the Exposure Mode Selector Switch according to taking conditions, subjects, and experience.

1. Center-weighted average exposure metering system

Lighting situations vary and the camera provides you with the means to master them. Under normal conditions, center weighted average metering is most applicable and determines an ideal balance between subject and background lighting. (Fig. 83)4www.butkus.org * This is a convenient metering system for general photography under normal shooting conditions. It measures the viewing area, emphasizing the center portion where the subject is likely to be, with diminishing sensitivity toward the edges.

2. Spot metering system This is especially advantageous for photomicrography, photography of subjects on stage, etc. It measures the central spot (about 4%) if the total image area, as defined by the edges of the central microprism area for subjects which require selective measurement. (Fig. 84)

3. Automatic backlight control system This is particularly effective when a subject is surrounded by an especially light or dark background. This adjusts the average reading to obtain proper exposure for the main subject. Automatic backlight control (ABLC) is especially recommended for the beginning to intermediate photographer. It uses both the spot and average meters together to determine an ideal exposure.

Here's how it works (for the technically inclined):

25. RESET BUTTON

This button is used to reset the shutter speed, interval time, film advance mode or exposure compensation back to a default value. First, lightly press the Shutter Release Button to update the LCD with your currently entered information. Now you may reset one, or single values as follows:

1. Press the Reset Button (found under the Control Button Cover) to return all of the following items to their default values: (Fig. 85)

2. Press the Interval Timer Button (INT), then immediately press reset.

3. Press the Exposure Compensation Button (+ / - ), then immediately press reset.

* Reprogramming any default value may be done as follows:

a. Press and hold Reset Button. Then, ...

When back light or spot light is given to the subject being metered in AE photography and contrast is excessive between the background and the subject, under or over exposed pictures may result. Use the AE lock to remember, or lock into the camera's electronic memory a close-up reading of the subject.4www.butkus.org

Example 1: When not using the AE lock     Example 2: When using the AE lock. 1. Bring the camera close to subject to the point that exposure will not be affected by the background (or use the spot reading).

	2. Press the AE Lock Button once to memorize the exposure. (Fig. 86)
	A flickering AEL is now displayed on the Viewfinder LCD. (Fig. 87)

Any camera's center-weighted meter can be fooled under very extreme lighting conditions, or when attempting to read very light (e. 9. snow or beach scenes) or very dark (night scene) subjects. Also, when back or spot lit subjects are being metered in AE photography and contrast is excessive between the background and the subject, under or overexposed pictures usually result. Exposure compensation may also be used to intentionally take over/underexposed pictures for creative effects, and to adjust ISO speeds away from DX values.

Example 1: Without exposure compensation       Example 2: With exposure compensation

Exposure adjustment examples:
 

SUBJECT	EXPOSURE ADJUSTMENT
Figures in back light  Scenery with much sky	+4 to +1
Figures with snow mountains  or sea on the background	+ 1
Figures in spot light (on stage etc.)	- 4 to - 1

 

1. Press and hold the Exposure Compensation (+ / - ) Button. (Fig. 88) 2. Press the Up or Down Button until the desired amount and direction of the compensation appears on the LCD. Adjust meets may be made up to + / - 4 EV (stops) in 1/3 EV increments. (Fig. 89) * Be sure to set it back to the "O" position after use. (See Reset Button section.)

* When the exposure compensation is set at positions other than 0, the + / - symbols are displayed on both LCD's. (Fig. 90) * Remember that you must increase exposures to keep light subjects light, and decrease exposures to keep dark subjects dark.

 

28. INTERVAL TIMER PHOTOGRAPHY

The camera is equipped with a built-in interval timer. (Pre-programmed for 10 sec. delay)  However, the interval timer may be set to automatically take pictures at regular intervals of 1 sec. to 1 hr. for time lapse studies, astrophotography, recording of wild animals, plants growing, etc.

1. While the Interval Timer Button is held down, set the desired interval timer by pressing the Up or Down Button. (Fig. 91) 2. Be sure to set the Continuous/Single Frame Button (CS) to Continuous (C) or you will only get one picture, after which the interval timer will cancel itself. (Fig. 92)4www.butkus.org

3. Press the Self-timer Button to start the sequence. An exposure will be taken at the preset interval until the film's end (Fig. 93), or you push the Interval Timer Button again to switch it off. * To eliminate electronic beep sound during interval photography, be sure Power Switch     is in the ON (not ·I)) ) position.

Set the Interval Timer to 0 seconds to release shutter instantly when the Self-timer Button is pressed. It may now be used as a left-hand shutter release. (Figs. 94A, 94B)

30. B (BULB) SETTING

The B (Bulb) setting is used for shooting night scenes or other long exposure times. 1. Set the shutter speed to bulb by pressing the Up or Down Button. (Fig. 95) 2. When the Shutter Release Button is pressed, the shutter is kept open as long as the button remains depressed. * A digital count of the exposure time will be shown on the Top LCD as long as the shutter release is held down. (Fig. 96) * Use a tripod and Ricoh Electronic Cable Release for bulb photography to prevent the unintentional movement of camera. Before you plug the electronic cable release into the camera, turn the Power Switch off.