Part 8. : Manipulating a digital camera
"Let's make full use of accessories"

First, check that your desired converter lens can be used with your digital camera, then buy it.
Most Nikon converter lenses can be mounted directly to COOLPIX 995 / 990 / 950 / 900s / 900. But COOLPIX 5000 / 885 / 880 / 775 needs a dedicated adapter ring to mount the Nikon's converter lenses. Mount a converter lens properly to a camera lens according to the each user's manual (Power must be off).

	Fisheye Converter FC-E8	Wide-angle Converter WC-E68	Wide-angle Converter WC-E63	Tele converter TC-E2(2x)	Tele converter TC-E3ED(3x)	Slide Copy- Adapter ES-E28
COOLPIX 775	-	-	attached with UR-E3	attached with UR-E3	-	-
COOLPIX 885	attached with UR-E4	-	attached with UR-E4	attached with UR-E4	attached with UR-E4	attached with UR-E4
COOLPIX 4500/995 990/950 900s/900		attached with UR-E7
COOLPIX 5000	attached with UR-E6	attached with UR-E6	-	attached with UR-E6	attached with UR-E6	attached with UR-E6

COOLPIX 880 uses Converter Adapter UR-E2, COOLPIX 775 uses Converter Adapter UR-E3, COOLPIX 885 uses Step Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E4, and COOLPIX 5000 uses Step Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E6.
If you always attach Converter Adapter to your digital camera, it is useful in preventing a collapsible lens of the camera being damaged, though the combined camera and the Adapter is a little big.

Photo 1.1.
COOLPIX 880 equipped
with Converter Adapter UR-E2

Photo 1.2.
COOLPIX 775 equipped
with Converter Adapter UR-E3

Photo 1.3.
COOLPIX 775 equipped
with Converter Adapter UR-E3
and Tele Converter TC-E2

When you attach the Converter lens to your camera, you must change settings in your camera. If you don't change the settings, the combined focal length of a camera lens and a converter lens cannot be recognized, and your camera cannot focus properly on a subject. The setting is different in camera types, so be careful in setting it.
Of course, you must restore original settings when you detach the converter lens.

Most cameras in Nikon COOLPIX series have enough zooming capability for general shooting purposes. But we sometimes want to take an image beyond the maximum wideangle of the zoom lens. We also want to take an image beyond the maximum telephoto of the zoom lens. In these cases, wideangle converters and telephoto converters are very useful.

Wideangle Converter allows more wideangle effect

Photo 1.4.
COOLPIX 775 equipped
with Wideangle Converter WC-E63
through Converter Adapter UR-E3

Photo 1.5.
Settings for Wideangle Converter:
In COOLPIX 995 and 885,
choose [Shooting Menu] > [Lens] > [Wide Adapter].
(In COOLPIX 775, set
the flash mode to [Flash Cancel] mode,
and set the zoom lens to the maximum
wideangle position on [W] side)

As described previously, by using Wideangle Converters, the combined focal length becomes 0.6 times that of a camera lens alone. In COOLPIX 775 / 885 / 995, its 38 mm focal length for 35 mm (135) film format becomes 24 mm.

Photo 1.6.
Without Wideangle Converter
(COOLPIX 995, the maximum
wideangle zoom position on [W] side)

Photo 1.7.
With Wideangle Converter
(COOLPIX 995, the maximum
wideangle zoom position on [W] side)

Telephoto Converter allows more telephoto effect

Photo 1.8.
Telephoto Converter TC-E2 and a lens
hood are mounted (COOLPIX 775)

Photo 1.9.
In COOLPIX 995 / 885,
choose [Shooting Menu] > [Lens] > [Telefoto 1].
(In COOLPIX 775, set the flash
mode to [Flash Cancel] mode,
and the zoom lens to the maximum
telephoto position on [T] side)

When you want to make a remote subject look bigger and take an image with good image quality, you should use telephoto converter lenses. COOLPIX series cameras have the digital zoom function. Although the digital zoom function makes a subject look bigger, it enlarges only a part area of the screen and stores the image in that area, contributing to image quality deterioration.
But If you use a telephoto converter lens, you can enjoy telephoto effect without such image quality deterioration.
Note that you are prone to cause a camera shake by using a telephoto converter lens. I strongly recommend you to use a tripod. I also recommend using a lens hood to avoid flare.

Photo 1.10.
Without a telephoto converter lens
(COOLPIX 990, the maximum
telephoto position on [T] side)

Photo 1.11.
With Telephoto converter TC-E2
(COOLPIX 990, the maximum
telephoto position on [T] side)

Photo 1.12.
COOLPIX 880 equipped with Fisheye Converter FC-E8 through Converter Adapter UR-E2

A lens having picture angle 183 degrees allows you take an image covering most area that your both eyes can cover. All objects, such as your leg and a tripod around you, should be taken into an image area.
In [Lens] menu of [Shooting Menu], there are [Fisheye 1] and [Fisheye 2] options. The difference between [Fisheye 1] and [Fisheye 2] is as follows.

What image is taken with [Fisheye 1] ?

A taken image with [Fisheye 1] is included in a circular area. Every thing within a picture angle of 183 degrees is taken into this circle.

Photo 1.13.
When [Fisheye 1] is chosen......

Photo 1.14.
Its image area is circle

If you use a dedicated software "iPIX" that comes with Fisheye Converter FC-E8 in Japan, you can enjoy a perfect panorama image like a 360 degree virtual-reality image. This program creates such a scene as you see on a running roller coaster. This image is astonishingly interesting. I urge you to try it.

What image is taken with [Fisheye 2] ?

[Fisheye 2] setting allows an image to have a picture angle of 183 degrees across the diagonal. Comparing with an image taken by a ultra wideangle lens, the image taken with [Fisheye 2] setting has greater distortion, giving peculiar impression.

Photo 1.15.
When [Fisheye 2] is chosen......

Photo 1.16.
A scene within 183 degrees picture
angle is taken into an image,
with the image area being kept rectangular

By using the combination of Fisheye Converter and a camera zoom lens, you can use zooming with much wider angle than the combination of Wideangle Converter and the camera zoom lens. That is, you can take an image with a focal length less than 24 mm for 35 mm (135) film format.

Photo 2.1.
COOLPIX 880 equipped
with Slide Copy Adapter through UR-E2

Photo 2.2.
Choose > [Shooting Menu] > [Lens] > [Slide Copy Adapter].
(In COOLPIX 880, each setting is operated manually.)

Photo 2.3.
Inserting a slide mount into a slide holder

Photo 2.4.
Adjust film position and angle as necessary

Photo 2.5.
A holder for a film strip

Photo 2.6.
In COOLPIX 5000 / 995 / 990,
by setting a aspect ratio to "3:2",
36 x 24 mm image area in 35 mm (135)
film format is properly copied

Slide Copy Adapter is basically used in the similar way to operating a converter lens.
But Slide Copy Adapter is prone to create:

1. a high-contrast image, and
2. an underexposure image.

In a COOLPIX type camera that has [Slide Copy Adapter] option in [Lens] menu, these tendencies to contrast and exposure level are automatically adjusted (contrast is set to [Less Contrast] and exposure compensation is set to +0.7EV, automatically). But if you can't have a good result, set the camera manually according to the following items.
As for color reproduction, if you can't reproduce original color properly, choose [White Bal Preset] in [White Balance] menu before you insert a slide holder into Slide Copy Adapter. (c.f. 2.3.3. "Preset White Balance as 'a trump card'")

1. Adjusting image contrast
   Take images three times, changing [Image Adjustment] options in [Shooting Menu]. In [Image Adjustment], one of [Less Contrast], [Normal], and [More Contrast] is chosen at each exposure. And select the best shot among the three shots. Details are described in 7.2.1. "What's 'Image Adjustment'".
2. Adjusting image brightness or darkness
   Adjust image brightness or darkness by using [Exposure Compensation] function. (c.f. 1.3.3."Adjusting the image brightness")

Photo 2.7.
Taken at the maximum
wideangle position on [W] side
([Slide Copy Adapter] is chosen)

Photo 2.8.
Taken at the maximum
telephoto position on [T] side
([Slide Copy Adapter] is chosen)

Photo 2.9.
Taken using [Normal] in
[Image Adjustment]
(Contrast is a little high.)

Many readers may think that it is easy to create a color positive image from color negative film by using software such as Adobe Photoshop. To create a color positive image from color negative film, first, color negative film is copied as well as a slide film by Slide Copy Adapter, then the copied negative image is inverted to a positive image with Adobe Photoshop.
But this method is not so easy. When you implement this method, keep the following points. I introduce some points to notice and resolutions, though the best result is not always obtained.

Photo 2.10.
Set white balance by using a
transparent area of color negative film
where an image is not formed

How to adjust white balance

The base of color negative film is transparent and has orange color, not color-less. If you adjust white balance in consideration of the orange color of the base, subsequent processes become relatively easy.
To do this, the first or the last part of a film strip is used, where an image is not formed and film is transparent. The first or the last part is inserted into a film holder and [White Bal Preset] is chosen in [White Balance] menu.

Photo 2.11.
When copying color
negative film, choose
[More Contrast] in the
[Image Adjustment] menu

Settings in [Image Adjustment] menu

Color negative film has a characteristic of low contrast. So, by choosing [More Contrast] in the [Image Adjustment] menu, you can get a better result. Details are described in 7.2.1. "What's 'Image Adjustment' ?"

Points in image processing

There are various techniques for processing an image on color negative film. If there is a lighter area or a darker area in an image, use the Eyedropper tool in the Levels command of Adobe Photoshop.
Adjusting image contrast or color finely with Adobe Photoshop may bring you better results. Try to adjust them, devising your own method.

Photo 2.12.
Copied image after white balance is adjusted
for a transparent part of color negative film

Photo 2.13.
Image adjusted by the [Invert] command and
[Eyedropper] tool in the [Levels]
command of Adobe Photoshop 5.0LE

Now, we can copy 35 mm (135) format film. Then, can we copy medium format or large format film ? Yes, we can do them.
Copying medium format or large format film is relatively easy because COOLPIX series cameras have excellent close-up performance, as described previously.
To copy medium format or large format film, prepare a tripod and a light box that is used to see slides. You have a good result by adjusting a zoom lens to the maximum telephoto position possible and copying them in the darkest room possible.

Photo 2.14.
Setting for copying medium
and large format films.
The most important point is to set
a camera (image plane)
and a film in parallel.
If you place a black paper
around the film on the light box
to prevent extra light,
you have a better quality image

Photo 2.15.
Copied image under condition
of a zoom lens being adjusted
to the maximum telephoto position

Photo 2.16.
Copied image under a condition of
a zoom lens being adjusted to
the maximum wideangle position.
Note that the periphery of the large
format film looks distorted

Photo 3.3.
Multi-Flash Adapter enables
a camera to use an external flash (R)

By using Multi-Flash Adapter, COOLPIX 4500 / 995 / 990 / 950 / 900s, having a built-in flash, can use an external flash unit.
Honestly speaking, manipulating an external flash is required to properly understand characteristics of the flash unit.
COOLPIX cameras can flash at every shutter speed.
Meanwhile, in a digital camera, when you use manual shutter speed and aperture for an external flash, you will get a good image more quickly than a film-based camera. Because you can check a captured image with the LCD display just after you took an image.
This leads to a different point of view. That is, a digital camera is very useful in testing flash shooting for a film-based camera.

Bounce lighting by an external flash unit
Bounce lighting is a lighting technique that a subject is indirectly illuminated by flashed light reflected from a surface such as a white wall.

Photo 3.4.
Illuminated only by
a built-in flash.
This is an average result take
by a built-in-flash camera

Photo 3.5.
Illuminated indirectly by an external
flash through bounce lighting.
It's like a professional's work isn't it

Figure1
Explanation of bounce lighting
1. COOLPIX 995/990
2. Multi-Flash Adapter
3. External flash unit (SB-25)
4. White wall or white plate

Light of an external flash is emitted toward a white wall and is reflected from the wall. Then the reflected light illuminates a subject softly. So a characteristic of bounce light is very soft.

COOLPIX 5700 / 5000 has a hot shoe on top of the camera body so that a flash unit can be attached directly to the camera body. You can easily do high-level shooting.
I hope you understood that various accessories allow you to capture an image that cannot be taken by a digital camera alone. I say again, first check whether an accessory can be used for your digital camera, then make sure usage of the accessory. And make full use of the accessory.

If you use a digital camera other than COOLPIX, find accessories compatible with your digital camera and use them completely, referring to this article.
Well, this issue has come to the end.

The next issue is the last issue of this series. In the next issue, I'd like to think of both the digital camera and the film-based camera. Wait and see !