Nikon F3 Tribute

Thanks to this thread, I browsed the usual auction site for an MD-4. I stumbled across quite a few of the covers, sold separately, for about $5-$10 each. It was also interesting to me that some F3s/F3HPs go for about $250 including the MD-4.
 
It's a fine camera, but it has it's problems.
The little tiny finder illuminator button is a joke. If you really need this feature you are better off with an F4.
It's really made to be used with the motor. The film advance lever feels really loose and wobbly, this is the way it's supposed to be, like on the EM and FG cameras (which are cheapo plastic cameras). But not very satisfying.
Meter display sure could be better.
Those are my criticisms but what can I say, I used the F3 professionally for years until the F4 came out.
 
Everything wrong with this camera is minor. The VF illum sucks - but I never use it in situations where it would be useful - as those situations are wide-open and as slow as you can hold steady.

F4 is a different kind of camera than the F3. It marked the beginning of AF, automation, full-motor drive, etc., etc.

F3 is simple, and simple is good.
 
Pablito said:
It's really made to be used with the motor.
Click to expand...

Yesterday shot my F3 without motordrive and I not only missed not having the faster shooting that a motordrive provides, but I really could of used it.

I was in the upper fifties on the Upper Eastside in Madhattan. I see a sofisticated older woman getting out of a cab. When she gets out I really take notice that she is hot, but I refrain fro taking a street shot, until she sees me glaring at her beauty, then she smiles to give me permission to take a shot.

I take a step closer knowing that my exposure is already set and my ideal distance and focus are set at five feet. (24/2.0 AIS at F5.6). At six feet I extend my arm to take a one handed shot from my elbow for a vertical, when the woman twists to expose the narrow thin waist of a gym body that exaggerates the curves of her shapely butt.

I wish I had one of my other F3's with a motordrive. I probably could of gotten off a few shots instead of just one. I thanked her for her "modeling for me." I should of taken a shot of that sexy smile she gave me, but I would have to had advanced the film, and I missed the shot. Oh-well. That's what I call a Madhattan minute.

BTW my beloved M6 body is rigged with a TA Rapidgrip and a TA Rapidwinder so the oversized grip and triggerwinder make my M6 a lot like a F3 with motordrive.

Cal
 
clayne said:
I can't see how you would need a motordrive for that. Manual winding takes less than a second per frame.
Click to expand...

Advancing the film manually always means bringing the camera away from your eye, even if only for a brief instant, and that can mean the difference between getting and missing the shot, especially when one is photographing time-sensitive subjects.
However, motor-driven cameras are always ready for the next shot.
I have motors on all four of my SLRs for that very reason. I virtually never shoot "machine-gun" bursts, as I don't find them necessary for my subject matter, but the ability to always have the film advanced and the shutter cocked and ready for the next shot is an absolute necessity.
 
Last edited:
This shot was so quick that I didn't have time to raise the camera to my eye. I shot vertically, one handed, from my elbow, but through experiance I knew the angle of view was wide enough to capture what I wanted. I was lucky to get the one shot, but with a motordrive I likely would have gotten another shot off.

This was but a fleeting moment.

BTW imagine Courtney Cox in a very well taylored business suit getting out of a cab giving you an inviting look combined with the possibility that this brief spontainious moment might be captured on film.

Cal
 
JayGannon said:
If it was away from your face then it would have been even easier to wind on.. I dont understand how the MD would have helped....
Click to expand...

A combination of having the film advance pushed in and the use of a AH-4 hand strap. The F3 was rigged with a 24/2.0 AIS and DA-2 Action Finder...

I WAS SHOOTING ONE HANDED!!!:bang:

But it doesn't matter. I missed the shot. The only thing the motordrive would of done was have the camera ready for the next shot, and I still could of missed the shot.

Cal
 
rbsinto said:
Advancing the film manually always means bringing the camera away from your eye, even if only for a brief instant, and that can mean the difference between getting and missing the shot, especially when one is photographing time-sensitive subjects.
However, motor-driven cameras are always ready for the next shot.
I have motors on all four of my SLRs for that very reason. I virtually never shoot "machine-gun" bursts, as I don't find them necessary for my subject matter, but the ability to always have the film advanced and the shutter cocked and ready for the next shot is an absolute necessity.
Click to expand...

Sorry to come off rude about it but I believe you should practice more with your camera. Either that, or you shoot with your left eye.

I do NOT remove the viewfinder from my eye while advancing film with either an F3 or an M4.

I don't have any problems getting the shots I want without a motor drive.
 
My F3 arrived yesterday from KEH. Was marked an EXC+, looks more like a Mint- at worst to me. Absolutely sweet.

Popping in a battery and taking it for a test drive on this wet day in Northern California.

I'm anxious to see how it compares to my F6. I can already say that I like the viewfinder a great deal with my glasses, very nice.
 
clayne said:
Sorry to come off rude about it but I believe you should practice more with your camera. Either that, or you shoot with your left eye.

I do NOT remove the viewfinder from my eye while advancing film with either an F3 or an M4.

I don't have any problems getting the shots I want without a motor drive.
Click to expand...

No apology needed here, everyone is different, but for me a motordrive makes me a faster shooter and makes advancing the film one step I do not have to perform, think or worry about because it is automatic. Perhaps because two of my other F3's have motordrives I have been spoiled; and, under the stress of trying to capture a brief moment, perhaps I got confused and jammed up.

Thanks to everyone on this thread, I learned from that I should get a third motordrive as to have all my SLR's rigged out the same. Originally I wanted to keep one F3 compact, but this is not necessary because I have a Leica kit for expressly that purpose.

One thing seems to be unclear in my communications: the opportunity to get a shot was very brief- so brief that I didn't even have the time to raise the camera to my eye, and only through experience I managed to get off a shot.

In real use for me, I never-ever shoot in continous mode, but the 6 FPS available is there if ever needed, but a moot point is that it is doubtful you could shoot as fast as the motordrive in continuous mode with your thumb advancing the film.

Cal
 
kdemas said:
My F3 arrived yesterday from KEH. Was marked an EXC+, looks more like a Mint- at worst to me. Absolutely sweet.

Popping in a battery and taking it for a test drive on this wet day in Northern California.

I'm anxious to see how it compares to my F6. I can already say that I like the viewfinder a great deal with my glasses, very nice.
Click to expand...

Congrates.

This Sunday is the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. I was going to bring my Leica rigged with a 75 Lux along with a F3 non HP rigged with my Noct-Nikkor, but I decided to bring my F3P rigged with a 105/1.8 instead of the Leica rig. Both F3's will be motordriven. For fast shooting with two cameras this is the best I can do.

I'll be there early because someone gave me 5 rolls of expired Kodachrome 64. Later I'll be pushing Tri-X and HP5.

I learned my lesson to minimize "Q factor" and variables, especially under quick situations. Why create stress: keep it simple.

Cal
 
clayne said:
Sorry to come off rude about it but I believe you should practice more with your camera. Either that, or you shoot with your left eye.

I do NOT remove the viewfinder from my eye while advancing film with either an F3 or an M4.

I don't have any problems getting the shots I want without a motor drive.
Click to expand...

I shoot with my left eye, and have motor drives to advance the film on my SLRs, so I don't have any problems getting the shots I want either. So after doing this for over 30 years, I spend my time worrying about and practicing more important things.
 
I just got my 1st roll back using the one in the pics on here. All exposures spot on and used camera in A mode only. I used 800z and will say that compaired to my F and f2's that always give me one or two under exposures, the results from the F3 exposure wise are ON. This probably has more to do with my metering rather than the cam's, however I'm lazy and the F3 has it covered. I've never had it with 100 and 200 film. I think the stepless speeds probably help too. All in all I'm really pleased with it and it's going to be my film SLR of choice from now on. No need for a CLA as I've replaced the seals myself and it's working fine. I'll live with the stuck frame counter as the cost of fixing it is half what I paid for it!
ps if anyone has any other bright ideas about starting threads re: great old school SLR's, DON'T! You are increasing GAS and I thought I was done!!!!
 
Quick question everyone.

Fired up the F3 and I cannot get the speed in the readout to change off of "80". Put it in aperture mode, changed apertures, changed ISO's, no change... Always 80.

Peeked through the manual, can't find where I could have a problem. I'm sure it's probably driver error, any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Kent
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

skahde
Nikon F3: Which generation screens to pick.
Replies
1
Views
904
skahde
skahde
Jake Mongey
My Undying Affection Towards The Nikon F2
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
4K
Alpsman
A
B
Do you use your camera's "silent mode"?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Godfrey
Godfrey
Sierra Club
Nikon F3 viewfinders HP vs regular size/weight
Replies
3
Views
577
Sierra Club
Sierra Club
D
How to Remove Nikon F3 Top Plate?
Replies
2
Views
735
Out to Lunch
O
Back
Top Bottom