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Reverse indicators?

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ocrampix

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You know that Nikon are doing it their way, i.e. by default the plus-sign is on the left side in the indicator bar. :D

You can easily see the difference in the Nikon D3s DPR review:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD3s/page7.asp

The top photo shows the default setting, whereas the other photos show that the reviewer reversed the indicator.

In my D50 there was no way to change this setting, so I'm used to Nikon's way of displaying the indicators. IOW, I have not (yet) reversed the indicators in my D300s.

In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, this can be set with f10 in the D300 and f11 in the D300s.

Did anyone reverse their D300(s) indicators and why?

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
When I got my D300 I immediately reversed the inidicator because in our western culture the positive values are always on the right side.

But after a while I changed it back to normal because I prefere to modify settings as little as possible. Because whenever I modify another custom bank I have to set all things equally which turned out to be quite a lot of work the more I modified.

Last but not least the higher the value is, the SMALLER the MEANING of the value is. Therefore the direction is right in a very special sense.
 
My Nikon F2, a match needle metering camera, was over expose (+) to the left, and under expose (-) to the right, and it wasn't reversible. I have used that camera since 1976 (still using it) so I am used to the + on the left - on the right. I would have to relearn exposure if I changed it. I only use 'M' mode which I call Match Needle. ;)
Mike
 
There is a very good reason why the exposure indicators have over exposure to the left and under exposure to the right. It has to do with the aperture ring on Nikkor lens.

If you look at Nikkor lenses with aperture rings, the smallest f/stop number is on the right and the largest is on the left.

Since moving the aperture to the left would increase the light in the exposure, it made sense to have the exposure indicator move to the left as the aperture was opened. You move the aperture ring the direction you want the indicator to go.

If you use G lenses, this doesn't really matter. Set it the way you like best. But, if you have used Nikon cameras as long as I have, since 1976, you are quite used their system.

Scott
 
gl2k said:
When I got my D300 I immediately reversed the inidicator because in our western culture the positive values are always on the right side.
Click to expand...
Yes, exactly, but somehow the Nikon engineers think " left ", even their Nikon F-mount tightens to the left.

So, is it vive la différence, vive Nikon - we do it left , or follow the rest of the herd? :D
gl2k said:
But after a while I changed it back to normal because I prefere to modify settings as little as possible. Because whenever I modify another custom bank I have to set all things equally which turned out to be quite a lot of work the more I modified.
Click to expand...
OK, fair enough.
gl2k said:
Last but not least the higher the value is, the SMALLER the MEANING of the value is. Therefore the direction is right in a very special sense.
Click to expand...
Yeah... ;)

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
Scott Winders said:
There is a very good reason why the exposure indicators have over exposure to the left and under exposure to the right. It has to do with the aperture ring on Nikkor lens.

If you look at Nikkor lenses with aperture rings, the smallest f/stop number is on the right and the largest is on the left.

Since moving the aperture to the left would increase the light in the exposure, it made sense to have the exposure indicator move to the left as the aperture was opened. You move the aperture ring the direction you want the indicator to go.
Click to expand...
True, but who still uses this aperture ring - if present?

On my 50/1.8D that ring is locked permanently at f/22, and would only be used should I reverse mount that lens for macro photography.
Scott Winders said:
If you use G lenses, this doesn't really matter. Set it the way you like best. But, if you have used Nikon cameras as long as I have, since 1976, you are quite used their system.
Click to expand...
OK, so it's really for historical reasons that the indicators are by default reversed on Nikon cameras.

At least Nikon have given the option to those who prefer to use the indicators any way they wish.

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
Marco,

They do this for consistency. How would you like to be a Nikon user, buy your first digital camera, and have everything work backwards from what you are used to?

Also, my D300s will use older Nikkor lenses that require the aperture be controlled by the aperture ring.

If you reverse the indicators, do you reverse the dials too?

Scott
 
Sure, I reversed the indicators. Seems more logical to me somehow if small is to the left, large is to the right.

I'm glad Nikon gives us the option.
--
--Bob
 
Strangely, I'd love for the exposure meter and the exposure compensation function to be reversed, while the aperture and shutter controls function the way they do now. Unfortunately, reversing the dials reverses them for all functions, which I can't stand. Eventually I suppose I'll get used to the EC being backwards, but it's tough.
 
Scott Winders said:
Marco,

They do this for consistency. How would you like to be a Nikon user, buy your first digital camera, and have everything work backwards from what you are used to?
Click to expand...
OK, that would take care of the loyal Nikon users, but the newcomers to Nikon would/could be confused.
Scott Winders said:
Also, my D300s will use older Nikkor lenses that require the aperture be controlled by the aperture ring.
Click to expand...
Kudos to Nikon that these old lenses still work on their modern devices.
Scott Winders said:
If you reverse the indicators, do you reverse the dials too?
Click to expand...
Well, Scott, right now I have left these items in their default settings, although I've been tempted to reverse everything to a more logical order.

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
I'm still figuring out all the settings on my D300S ( just got Thom Hogan's ebook so that will help), but one of the first things I did was reverse the indicators. It's more intuitive that way. Shot film and only had one DSLR, a D80, before that and it never seemed right. I am so glad there is so much customization possible with the D300S. :)
--
Lora

I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting history has been lost along the way...

 
lac111 said:
I'm still figuring out all the settings on my D300S ( just got Thom Hogan's ebook so that will help), but one of the first things I did was reverse the indicators. It's more intuitive that way.
Click to expand...
Coward! Who cares about "intuitive" when you can have the immense pleasure of doing it Nikon's way! ;)
lac111 said:
Shot film and only had one DSLR, a D80, before that and it never seemed right.
Click to expand...
I got used to it at once when I had my D50. I never gave it a second thought.
lac111 said:
I am so glad there is so much customization possible with the D300S. :)
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree, I just wish there were a lock on the CSM switch. :|

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
I reversed mine immediately. I've had too many other brands in the past.

What really drives me nuts is that the lens bayonet is backwards from everything else I've used. Even that wouldn't be so bad, but the lens shades aren't . A quick lens change sometimes leaves me with the shade in my hand and the lens on the camera. So far the shade comes off with the lens firmly attached but, someday, I'm afraid I'll have 3 pieces. :(
 
James Sherman said:
I reversed mine immediately. I've had too many other brands in the past.

What really drives me nuts is that the lens bayonet is backwards from everything else I've used. Even that wouldn't be so bad, but the lens shades aren't . A quick lens change sometimes leaves me with the shade in my hand and the lens on the camera. So far the shade comes off with the lens firmly attached but, someday, I'm afraid I'll have 3 pieces. :(
Click to expand...
All the more reason for never removing the hood. Maybe it’s because I never remove my hoods is that I did not notice the difference between the hood and the lens direction.

The reversed lens bayonet screwing did irritate me from the start but got used to it quickly. Some times it is a good thing if one is not a multi brand shooter... ;) although, unscrewing the wrong way isn't very logical for me either.
--
My Nikon 16-85mm album:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/1336313410/albums/16-85

My blog:
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
olyflyer said:
All the more reason for never removing the hood. Maybe it’s because I never remove my hoods is that I did not notice the difference between the hood and the lens direction.
Click to expand...
I agree! That's the only time they come off. I'm tempted to try silicone caulk as a kind of non-permanent glue. Some of my lenses are both short and tight fits and cause problems. The 35mm f/1.8 is the worst. No room to grab the lens.
 
olyflyer said:
All the more reason for never removing the hood. Maybe it’s because I never remove my hoods is that I did not notice the difference between the hood and the lens direction.
Click to expand...
Yes, if the hood is one that screws on firmly.

In the case of the hood of my 18-200VR lens, the hood is simply a bayonet mount. It is all too easily knocked off or loosened.
olyflyer said:
The reversed lens bayonet screwing did irritate me from the start but got used to it quickly. Some times it is a good thing if one is not a multi brand shooter... ;) although, unscrewing the wrong way isn't very logical for me either.
Click to expand...
I am wondering why Nikon manufactured this left-threaded mount in the first place? There could be a reasonable explanation for this.

Anyway, now it's too late to change, because it would render all existing Nikon lenses obsolete.

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
ocrampix said:
olyflyer said:
All the more reason for never removing the hood. Maybe it’s because I never remove my hoods is that I did not notice the difference between the hood and the lens direction.
Click to expand...
Yes, if the hood is one that screws on firmly.

In the case of the hood of my 18-200VR lens, the hood is simply a bayonet mount. It is all too easily knocked off or loosened.
Click to expand...
My DSLR lenses have, and have always have had bayonet mount hoods but I never experienced any problems with any hood except the cheap kit zoom (14-45) from Olympus which I had.
ocrampix said:
ocrampix said:
The reversed lens bayonet screwing did irritate me from the start but got used to it quickly. Some times it is a good thing if one is not a multi brand shooter... ;) although, unscrewing the wrong way isn't very logical for me either.
Click to expand...
I am wondering why Nikon manufactured this left-threaded mount in the first place? There could be a reasonable explanation for this.
Click to expand...
Yes there is an explanation, I read it once a long time ago but I forgot.
ocrampix said:
Anyway, now it's too late to change, because it would render all existing Nikon lenses obsolete.
Click to expand...
Yes, as you say it is too late now. I think changing just to reverse to the "right" way isn't a very good reason for converting our lenses into paper weight. A few people might get upset if they would decide to do it in future cameras unless there is some more advantage.
--
My Nikon 16-85mm album:
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/1336313410/albums/16-85

My blog:
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
olyflyer said:
ocrampix said:
I am wondering why Nikon manufactured this left-threaded mount in the first place? There could be a reasonable explanation for this.
Click to expand...
Yes there is an explanation, I read it once a long time ago but I forgot.
Click to expand...
I once did a quick search on the Internet, but I couldn't find an explanation.
olyflyer said:
olyflyer said:
Anyway, now it's too late to change, because it would render all existing Nikon lenses obsolete.
Click to expand...
Yes, as you say it is too late now. I think changing just to reverse to the "right" way isn't a very good reason for converting our lenses into paper weight. A few people might get upset if they would decide to do it in future cameras unless there is some more advantage.
Click to expand...
Exactly, and this left-threaded mount is not really a big deal, once one is used to it. The main concern should be that the lens doesn't fall off in the heat of the action... ;)

Marco
--
http://www.flickr.com/front_curtain
 
I reversed the direction of the meter and dials as soon as I received the D300 when it was releases and have not looked back since. I have not had any problems with the lens or hood bayonet releases on my Nikon or Tokina Lenses and the Nikon 17-55 f2.8 has a hood release where you have to press a botton on the hood to remove it.
 
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