How to change ISO/ASA speed on Nikon F?

How do I go about changing the ISO/ASA speed on a Nikon F SLR film camera? There's a "reminder dial" on the base of the body but nowhere to enter it.

The basic Nikon F doesn't have a built in light meter, thus, you don't need to set the ASA on the body. You need an external light meter where you will set the ASA of the film you use.

There are optional exposure meters (Model 3 & Photomic Finder) you can add on to the camera.

The thing is, most Nikon F's are non-photomic. Photomic was Nikon's marketing term for built in light meter. With the Nikon F, you can remove the top of the camera which contains the viewfinder. Earlier model viewfinder heads do not contain a built-in light meter.

If a camera does hot have a built-in light meter, it does not need to "know" the ISO of the film, the photographer does!

If your head has a very pointed top rather than a somewhat flat top and does not have a dial connected to it that sits atop the shutter speed dial, then it is not a photomic head. However, if your head has a flatter top and connects to the shutter speed dial, the ISO adjustment is at the very top of the shutter speed dial. Shutter speed is adjusted around the outside circumference of the shutter speed dial and the ISO is at the very top of that assembly.

If you have a built in light meter, you'll of course also need batteries.

But this is why the film reminder is on the camera, for use when there's no light meter with ISO dial to remind you what you're shooting.

This is all covered in the Nikon F users manual

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikon_f/nikon_f.htm

When working with classic cameras, always be sure to read the manual before using the camera so as not to damage it and also to check for proper operation AND so you can get the most out of your first photos with it! Most classic camera manuals can be found online simply by typing the name of the camera and the word "manual" into Google.

If your F does not have a built in meter you can use a handheld meter or shoot by Sunny 16:

https://en.wikipedia.org/...ny_16_rule

I prefer to use an F2 over the original F for faster loading and wider variety of heads but the Nikon F is legendary and I'm sure that you won't be disappointed in its use. If you have any other questions about it, please don't hesitate to post here or email me at JohnnyMartyr@Hotmail.com. I'm a big Nikon fan and would love to chat more.

At any rate, good luck with your F and please don't forget to choose a best answer!

Grab a manual from http://butkus.org.

That camera is from the period when no camera had any form of exposure meter built in. The "reminder" is just that - simply a reminder, for you to set if you want to - it makes no difference to the operation of the camera.

Unless that camera is supplied with a Photomic head, you will have to use an external exposure meter if you want help in setting the shutter speed and aperture for any particular light conditions and ISO speed of film. Or you could use the previously well-known "f16" rule, as many photographers did in those times and earlier. There may be exposure level guides supplied with the film, in the box when you buy the film.

Good luck in producing negatives that are reasonably well exposed.

Useless comments the question was never answered, just BS How do you set the ASA on a Nikon F Photomic?

Useless comments the question was never answered, just BS How do you set the ASA on a Nikon F Photomic?