Photographing Specimens with the Nikon 90s

to load:

  1. On the top of the camera, turn the switch to ON.
  2. If you are looking at the back of the camera, on the left side there will be two latches that you should pull together. This will open the camera so that you can put film in it.
  3. Pull the film out a little bit and make sure it lines up on the teeth.
  4. Close the back.
  5. Push the shutter release button once (the button that takes the picture). This digital display should now read 1 in the center.

to set up:

  1. On the top of the camera, turn the switch to ON.
  2. Hold down the ISO button on the left and set to 64 using the rotating black dial on the left. If you are using Kodachrome 200 film you would set it to 200, but for now we are using 64.
  3. Hold down the MODE button on the left and using the dial on the right set the display box to M. This stands for manual.
  4. If you press down the shutter button slightly, but not enough to actually take a picture, you will see a number at the top of the diplsay followed by f_ _. This number is the speed. For now, it should read 60. If it reads another number, you can change it using the black dial.
  5. To turn on the flash, there is a button on the back that must be switched to M. Be sure to turn it to OFF when you are done.
  6. At the end of the lens there is also a switch for the flash that says mFULL, m1/4, and m1/16. Put it on mFULL.
  7. On the top of the flash there are two dials, one inside the other. The small black internal dial needs to be pointed at the beginning of the orange Reversesection. The bigger, clear dial needs to be at 64 (or whatever film you are using). It is difficult to determine where exactly 64 is, so use your best judgement.
  8. There is a rotating piece at the end of the lens that begins with 2.8 and ends with 32. This is called the F stop. As of now we take three shots of each animal. The first will be at 32, the second at 22 and the third at 16.

to take pictures:

  1. You will need to make a list of all the pictures you take so that they do not get mixed up. A list has already been started, so just add to that. Be sure to include the bar code number and the sex.
  2. For the best results, pick a bug that is vertically flat. This means the wings are not spread and the legs are not flailing everywhere.
  3. Take the label and bar code off of the pin of your creature. Put a little piece of tape on the back of the bar code and stick it upside down to the pin. The goal is to get only the UGCA number in the picture and not the bar code, although this is not always possible.
  4. Place the insect on a cork.
  5. Place the cork on white paper with white background.
  6. Turn on the micriscope light.
  7. Put the F stop on 2.8. Although we will not take any pictures at 2.8, this is neccessary to focus.
  8. To focus, turn the black rotating knob just before the F stop. You may not be able to focus everything because of the limited depth of field.
  9. After you have focused, turn off the microscope light and set the F stop to 32. Do this carefully and be sure not to move anything!
  10. To take the picture you will want to hold in the timer button which is located to the right of the DRIVE button and looks like a little clock. While holding this down, also press the shutter release button quickly and comletely, again trying not to move anything. The timer allows the camera to stop shaking before the picture is taken.
  11. After that, carefully change the F stop to 22 and then to 16. You should have three pictures now of the same animal. You should try to take three of both sexes if you have both a male and a female.

to rewind film:

  1. When the camera reads END at the top of the diplay, you need to rewind the film.
  2. The rewind buttons are the only buttons in red.
  3. There is one button on the left (also the ISO button) and one button on the right.
  4. Hold both buttons down at the same time and the film will rewind.
  5. See the instructions on how to load film now.

    For any questions, see Casandra Lloyd or Elizabeth Skillen.

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