Nikon f3 DW-3 viewfinder

[jultou]

Im looking at the DW-3 viewfinder for waist level shots. There are not much info about that viewfinder. Does anyone have experience with it?

I would like to know if there a meter like for the standard HP viewfinder.
Also I would like to know how close your eye need to be go be able to focus accurately.

Hopefully someone here know that viewfinder!

 

[ruby.monkey]

The F3's meter is in the body, not in the prism.

 

[noisycheese]

I have the DW-3 finder for my F3, along with the Hp finder. I don't use the DW-3 alot, but it is a very well designed and built finder, equal in quality to the Hp as well as the F3 body.

I don't know if you have ever used a Hasselblad 500 series camera, but if so the DW-3 is pretty much just a miniature version of the 'blad chimney finder. Like the 'blad finder, the DW-3 has a pop up magnifier for critical focusing.

If you want to use the DW-3 for candid shots as in street photography, you could use a 35mm or 28mm lens and employ zone focusing or hyperfocal technique.

The DW-3 is also useful for landscape or time exposure photography where you want the camera at a lower vantage point than eye level. It's alot easier to photograph with the camera at ground level if you use the DW-3 vs. the Hp finder.

Hope this helps...

 

[willie_901]

I use to own and use that finder.

In my view it is more for studio work or a using a tripod. The viewing area is not that big. I'm sorry to say I don't remember how close your eye has to be. But I think it's pretty close. There is a magnifying glass that flips down, which helps. The DW-3 could be useful for street work if zone focusing with a wide DOF is appropriate.

Sorry, I didn't see noisycheese's post when I was writing mine. NC's comments are spot on.

 

[jultou]

Thanks for your help!
It answer my questions.

I have never used medium format, I would like to get one in a near future.
Many medium format have the viewfinder on top and the camera need to be held chest or waist height.

I know the dw-3 for f3 is a lot smaller than a medium format viewfinder but it should be good enough to see what it is to not have the camera in front of my face.

 

[ampguy]

Didn't use it a lot, it's viewable from waist level, but I usually bent over a bit, or brought the camera up a bit from waist. It reverses the image.

 

[sevo]

As others have pointed out, waist level finders on 35mm SLRs are best used on a tripod for low level shots. You cannot focus on the ground glass with bare eyes, and with the loupe unfolded it is just a more uncomfortable type of eye level finder.

If it really must be small format at waist level, you might consider a F4 or F5 with a WLF - these can autofocus and have electronic focus confirmation visible at a distance from the finder where even a split prism is not discernible any more.