JohnBeeching
Well-known
First a bit of history. For many years I used Pentax SLRs, Spotmatic II and then LX, and liked them very much as they were compact and did the job. However, I am left-eye dominant and found it frustrating to have to take the camera away from my eye to advance the film. Just over 20 years ago I bought a Leica M6, which solved that problem. It was also much quieter, I could see outside the frame and, once I got used to the rangefinder, focussed very accurately. My favourite lenses were the 35 and 50mm ‘crons, the former I used extensively for my street photography. However, my left eye decided to weep; so, increasingly I had to wipe it and the view finder. Therefore, after many years of photography I decided to force myself to use my right eye. It took a long time of pain and frustration but eventually I succeeded in using both eyes equally well; in fact, now when I pick up a camera I tend to bring it to my right eye without thinking.
Being no longer limited to using my left eye I started toying with the idea of getting a classic SLR again and eventually decided on a Nikon F3. I got one (HP prism) in very good condition together with a 50mm f1.4 AI-S lens. I was relieved to discover that, like the M6, it accepted Tri-X and I did not have to use it with that ghastly modern colour film! After having put several films through the F3 I feel that I am in a position to make some comparative comments on the two cameras. The F3 is built like a tank and weighs like one, moreover the shutter and mirror make their presence known. Certainly, not a discreet camera like the M6 and perhaps best wielded in a war zone than in a concert hall. The lenses focus in opposite directions and with practice I will probably get used to this. I find it easier to focus the M6 accurately more quickly on non-moving subjects than the F3, but again that may be more a matter of experience.
Should I keep the F3 or get rid of it? In fact, should I sell of both it and the M3, and fully embrace the glorious digital future – I do use and like my X-Pro2 – and confine Tri-X to the dustbin of history? Perhaps not yet, as long as my 35mm film scanner continues to work, I will put that question off until next year.
Being no longer limited to using my left eye I started toying with the idea of getting a classic SLR again and eventually decided on a Nikon F3. I got one (HP prism) in very good condition together with a 50mm f1.4 AI-S lens. I was relieved to discover that, like the M6, it accepted Tri-X and I did not have to use it with that ghastly modern colour film! After having put several films through the F3 I feel that I am in a position to make some comparative comments on the two cameras. The F3 is built like a tank and weighs like one, moreover the shutter and mirror make their presence known. Certainly, not a discreet camera like the M6 and perhaps best wielded in a war zone than in a concert hall. The lenses focus in opposite directions and with practice I will probably get used to this. I find it easier to focus the M6 accurately more quickly on non-moving subjects than the F3, but again that may be more a matter of experience.
Should I keep the F3 or get rid of it? In fact, should I sell of both it and the M3, and fully embrace the glorious digital future – I do use and like my X-Pro2 – and confine Tri-X to the dustbin of history? Perhaps not yet, as long as my 35mm film scanner continues to work, I will put that question off until next year.
