[net.rec.photo] Used equip., nikon screen, nicads, guide no

hkr4627@acf4.UUCP (Hedley K. J. Rainnie) (04/01/85)

1. Is buying a USED camera or lens psycho?  Are you really asking for
trouble by buying one?  I am talking about cameras in the range of 3
years old or so.

2. The Nikon FM2 comes with a Nikon K-SCREEN (at last I read), whereas the
Nikon FE2 and FA come with the newer, brighter K2 screen.  Will the FM2
eventually get this screen?  You can replace the K with the K2, but this 
will affect meter readings.  In general, when a camera manufacturer changes
some detail of his camera, how does the purchasing public find out about it?

3. What is the purpose of SLOW-CHARGING Nicads?  If you have the choice of
fast- and slow-charging, it is assumed that there is some advantage of 
slow charging.  What is it?

4. I own a Nikon SB-16, rated at a guide number of 148.  When I took a flash
reading at ten feet with a Sekonic Digi-Pro, I got f/8, implying a guide 
number of 80.  What gives?  Is the unit bogus-rated?  Or does Nikon consider
a 1.5 stop decrease in exposure OK?  (Otherwise, I like the SB-16 a lot)

-r-

ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (04/02/85)

> 4. I own a Nikon SB-16, rated at a guide number of 148.  When I took a flash
> reading at ten feet with a Sekonic Digi-Pro, I got f/8, implying a guide 
> number of 80.  What gives?  Is the unit bogus-rated?  Or does Nikon consider
> a 1.5 stop decrease in exposure OK?  (Otherwise, I like the SB-16 a lot)

Is the SB-16 an automatic unit?  If so, it is presumably varying
its light output based on the distance from the subject.  Set it
to manual, and try the reading again.  Also, what film speed is
supposed to give you a guide number of 148?  What speed was your
meter set to?  Could it be that the unit is rated as GN 100 for
ISO 100 film, and you had your meter set to 25?