Nikon F3 and a zoom

[Frontman]

Today I was out shooting with this old F3 and the fantastic 50-300 ED zoom Nikkor lens. This was the setup I most lusted after back in the 80's when I was a starving student. Back then these zooms cost over $3k, much more than I paid for my car at the time.

I have been shooting with rangefinders and SLR's with prime lenses for so long that I pretty much forgot what shooting with a manual focus zoom lens was like.

The 50-300 is a rather large and heavy lens, but is very well balanced, and quick to operate. Carrying it around also provides a good upper-body workout.

I took the lens out today, and I had a blast shooting with it. The 50mm focal length is what I usually shoot, but the telephoto capability allowed me to get up close and personal, and to isolate subjects quite easily. It was also fun to take compress the perspective while shooting down long streets and alleys. I even found some wildlife in the city to photograph.

I ended shooting about three times as much film as I usually shoot in a day, and I am looking forward to getting out and shooting some more over the weekend.

This F3 is an old Professional model which was formerly owned by a newspaper photographer in Hokkaido. I don't want to guess how many rolls of film have passed through this camera, but it still runs like a Swiss watch.

 

[yanchep_mike]

That is a very nice setup, the 50-300 is one of the nikkors i am still missing, seeing your post just started my GAS again.

 

[leicapixie]

Enjoy!
A superb camera.i have one, amazingly for me, in better shape than yours!
i remember a pro in South Africa who had i think that zoom.
Younger than now, way stronger, i felt it was too bulky and heavy..
Using a SLR, not a DSLR is real fun.
One can see focus on the screen.
A tool to use.
Look forward to your images.

 

[farlymac]

Yep, that's one of my dream lenses too.

PF

 

[Godfrey]

The original of that lens was first available in the late 1960s. It was a beast! The more modern versions are small by comparison. Amazing performer for its day, the latest ones should be outstanding.

Nice to see another F3 in use. I sold my F3/T about 12 years ago, needed the money for other efforts at the time, but I do wish I still had it.

G