Dfin
Well-known
I`m just in the process of running some HP5 through my recently rebuilt F3. Shooting on "A " with a 35mm "O" f/2 ,one lens,one film, try out. All up it owes me $200 AUD, with MD4,the tripod adapter & the vertical release on the MD4.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The 35 Nikkor-O singlecoat is a great lense for B&W and I love the scalloped metal focusing ring. A really great rig.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
F3 Night Stalker update: My F3 non HP with the illuminator mod and Noct-Nikkor has proven to be a really fast focus and shoot in auto mode. I live in NYC and call me a wack job I use the night stalker as a street and subway camera even though its equipt with the loud MD-4. Aperture priority has proven itself to give good exposures so its a focus and shoot and a very fast handling camera. I carry the camera with a hand strap, and I kinda see people looking around for the loud motor drive, when my camera is back by my hip. Its kinda funny seeing people hunting for the camera after I took a picture.
Also have been using Tri-X and Diafine and I worked out and overcame the contrast compression that happens under low contrast lighting that results in ugly thin negatives. Now I'm able to shoot Tri-X at 650 ISO (1250 without the filter under harsh lighting/high contrast conditions like noon sun) with a medium yellow filter and getting nice negatives with great mid tones.
Diafine has this weird tipping point that requires a mininmum amount of contrast and using filters has given me consistent results while adding exposure has not. Diafine compresses contrast and boosting contrast using filters has become the best workaround.
This combination of Tri-X, Diafine and a F3 creates a very fast workflow. The developers get reused, long pour times are not critical, temperature is not critical and the cost of shooting lots of film is the cost of film and a few cents worth of fixer. At this point I'm thinking of getting a 8 reel tank.
My Leica M6 may be more stealthy, but my F3 is the fastest shooter. BTW with the Noct-Nikkor my F3 has a brighter VR'er than my Leica M6 with MP upgrade.
Cal
Also have been using Tri-X and Diafine and I worked out and overcame the contrast compression that happens under low contrast lighting that results in ugly thin negatives. Now I'm able to shoot Tri-X at 650 ISO (1250 without the filter under harsh lighting/high contrast conditions like noon sun) with a medium yellow filter and getting nice negatives with great mid tones.
Diafine has this weird tipping point that requires a mininmum amount of contrast and using filters has given me consistent results while adding exposure has not. Diafine compresses contrast and boosting contrast using filters has become the best workaround.
This combination of Tri-X, Diafine and a F3 creates a very fast workflow. The developers get reused, long pour times are not critical, temperature is not critical and the cost of shooting lots of film is the cost of film and a few cents worth of fixer. At this point I'm thinking of getting a 8 reel tank.
My Leica M6 may be more stealthy, but my F3 is the fastest shooter. BTW with the Noct-Nikkor my F3 has a brighter VR'er than my Leica M6 with MP upgrade.
Cal
rlouzan
Well-known
Hi Cal,
Can you post a picture of your Desert Storm F3P?
Thanks,
Robert
Can you post a picture of your Desert Storm F3P?
Thanks,
Robert
Last edited:
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I am digitally inept, but Saturday is the NYC Meet-UP. I will try and have a RFF'er who does digital take some shots.
The brassing is pretty BTW. It might get posted Monday. Any points of interest like the prism. Came with an E screen.
Cal
rlouzan
Well-known
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Thanks, looking forward to pictures of the NYC meet-up.
Regards,
Robert
D posted a few pictures of my F3P on his Flicker. See post number 88 in the January NYC Meet-up thread.
BTW My F3P isn't so beat up considering it was a real press camera. One strap lug is a little loose though. The lense mounted is a 105/1.8 AIS and there's an E screen mounted that came with the camera.
Cal
rlouzan
Well-known
Hi Cal,
Looks like you guys had a blast!
That camera looks magnific. The shutter release even has the rubber cover.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dachmama/5382746950/in/set-72157625891545568/
Regards,
Robert
Looks like you guys had a blast!
That camera looks magnific. The shutter release even has the rubber cover
.http://www.flickr.com/photos/dachmama/5382746950/in/set-72157625891545568/
Regards,
Robert
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Hi Cal,
Looks like you guys had a blast!
That camera looks magnific. The shutter release even has the rubber cover
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dachmama/5382746950/in/set-72157625891545568/
Regards,
Robert
Could be that when the camera got overhauled it got replaced. I use a BlackRapid sling/strap that uses the tripod screw, and I wear this F3P hanging upside down on my hip while I carry another F3 with a Noct-Nikkor attatched to my right hand with a hand strap. These two rigs I used to shoot the Halloween Parade.
These cameras get used a lot and recently I found that the aperature priority makes reliable exposures. Believe it or not, I use the Noct-Nikkor on a F3 with a MD-4 as a subway camera because using auto its my fastest shooting camera.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Only about two years ago did I begin shooting rangefinders, and only recently at the last NYC Meet-Up did I realize that I had pimped out my Wetzlar Ti M6 as a wannabe F3 with a TA Rapidwinder, TA Rapidgrip, and an intergrated custom made handstrap.
Since I often shoot with a Canon/Serenar 28/3.5 for street, I brought this huge Fuji VF'er made for the old G690BL to the Meet-Up for a laugh that is about as big as a 50 Rigid Cron without a hood and is a 28mm equiv. Essentually it was like a High Eyepoint finder. LOL.
As rediculas as it tooked with the VF'er bigger than the small pancake like lens, in use it is eyepopping, and the Fuji finder also offers parallex correction while the nice Canon VF'er does not.
I created a Leica M6 High Point. LOL.
Cal
Since I often shoot with a Canon/Serenar 28/3.5 for street, I brought this huge Fuji VF'er made for the old G690BL to the Meet-Up for a laugh that is about as big as a 50 Rigid Cron without a hood and is a 28mm equiv. Essentually it was like a High Eyepoint finder. LOL.
As rediculas as it tooked with the VF'er bigger than the small pancake like lens, in use it is eyepopping, and the Fuji finder also offers parallex correction while the nice Canon VF'er does not.
I created a Leica M6 High Point. LOL.
Cal
kitok
Member
Here are a few photos of Cal's Operation Desert Storm F3.
Didn't get all of the shots I wanted - the table was loaded with gear!
I hope these do the camera justice.
Enjoy!
Didn't get all of the shots I wanted - the table was loaded with gear!
I hope these do the camera justice.
Enjoy!
rlouzan
Well-known
I'm still kicking myself for not buying one years ago... :bang:
Here are a few photos of Cal's Operation Desert Storm F3.
Didn't get all of the shots I wanted - the table was loaded with gear!
I hope these do the camera justice.
Enjoy!
They are only $110 in bargain condition at KEH. Silly inexpensive. I should have a $79 FE2 delivered today.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Darrol,
Thanks for helping me out. If you think the last Meet-Up had a lot of gear, wait for the Second Annual Leica M-Body Beauty Pagent which will be held at the February NYC Meet-Up. The location will be at the same place, Puck Fair, but we will take over and conquer the upstairs for security. I expect even more gear because this year's contest will be judged by Leica 2 lens kits with unlimited amounts of accessories allowed. A third lens may be added in case of a close race, but that is up to the judge's discreation.
P.S. Check out Carl's brassed out top plate on his black paint M2 in the second shot on the left. BTW Carl is disqualified fron the competion because he is a collector, but he will get a prize anyway for bringing this cool camera.
Tentatively it will be February 27th at 1:00. Last years event was kinda rowdy.
Cal
Thanks for helping me out. If you think the last Meet-Up had a lot of gear, wait for the Second Annual Leica M-Body Beauty Pagent which will be held at the February NYC Meet-Up. The location will be at the same place, Puck Fair, but we will take over and conquer the upstairs for security. I expect even more gear because this year's contest will be judged by Leica 2 lens kits with unlimited amounts of accessories allowed. A third lens may be added in case of a close race, but that is up to the judge's discreation.
P.S. Check out Carl's brassed out top plate on his black paint M2 in the second shot on the left. BTW Carl is disqualified fron the competion because he is a collector, but he will get a prize anyway for bringing this cool camera.
Tentatively it will be February 27th at 1:00. Last years event was kinda rowdy.
Cal
Last edited:
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
rlouzan
Well-known
Yep, I'm talking about the F3P .
.Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Finally modded my cleanest F3 so the light is on whenever the meter is activated and set up this clean rig with a Noct-Nikkor, non HP finder, AH-4 handstrap with neckstrap, and MD-4. What a great street shooter with fast focus.
I also reconfigured my beater F3 into the street machine with 24/2.0 AIS, DA-2 Sportfinder, AH-4 handstrap only with no neck strap, and MD-4 motordrive. In Auto mode, stopping down to 5.6 and hyperdistance focusing its an wickedly fast point and shoot.
My F3P now sports a neck strap and still has the 105/1.8 AIS mounted.
I'm in heaven. Ordered a MF-18 Data Back to use on my cleanest F3. The date will get imprinted in-between frames. I mostly use this rig as a visual journal. I should get the Data Back delivered tomorrow at work. I'm kinda psyched.
Cal
I also reconfigured my beater F3 into the street machine with 24/2.0 AIS, DA-2 Sportfinder, AH-4 handstrap only with no neck strap, and MD-4 motordrive. In Auto mode, stopping down to 5.6 and hyperdistance focusing its an wickedly fast point and shoot.
My F3P now sports a neck strap and still has the 105/1.8 AIS mounted.
I'm in heaven. Ordered a MF-18 Data Back to use on my cleanest F3. The date will get imprinted in-between frames. I mostly use this rig as a visual journal. I should get the Data Back delivered tomorrow at work. I'm kinda psyched.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The forensics on the MF-18 that I got from KEH indicated it was last used in 1982 when I installed new batteries. It took a while before I found the secrete trap door that covered the control panel to update the calender. LOL.
Well now my cleanest F3 is definately heavier, and the back adds some additional thickness, but there were some pleasent surprises. The chirp from the motordrive became very-very quiet. It seems the added mass dampens sound better and also lowers the resonate frequency so that the F3 with motordive somehow is quiet, well at least quiet for a SLR.
Since this rig is used almost exclusively with the Noct-Nikkor, the added mass is welcomed to steady the camera to aid when shooting wide open at slow speeds. IMHO a heavy camera is a steady camera.
The MF-18 is a cool addition. Today was shot about 2 dozen frames wide open on my way to work at 1/30th second. It was overcast/rainy and I was shooting Fuji Arcos at 100.
Cal
Well now my cleanest F3 is definately heavier, and the back adds some additional thickness, but there were some pleasent surprises. The chirp from the motordrive became very-very quiet. It seems the added mass dampens sound better and also lowers the resonate frequency so that the F3 with motordive somehow is quiet, well at least quiet for a SLR.
Since this rig is used almost exclusively with the Noct-Nikkor, the added mass is welcomed to steady the camera to aid when shooting wide open at slow speeds. IMHO a heavy camera is a steady camera.
The MF-18 is a cool addition. Today was shot about 2 dozen frames wide open on my way to work at 1/30th second. It was overcast/rainy and I was shooting Fuji Arcos at 100.
Cal
Pirate
Guitar playing Fotografer
Here's mine, an F3P "Press" model with SC-12 flash rig. I love this camera, but every once in a while it will decide to not shoot anything. Nothing works. Then it just works. Never figured out why but I've read that they had some wiring issues with these. Maybe it's time for a CLA.
lynxkcg
Member
I've got almost the same setup, except mines an F3HP. TTL flash died on me last week for a couple days then mysteriously came back, I think everything got wet in the snow though. That sb-11 really intimidates some people, but I don't know how I lived without it now. It works great with my mamiya rb67, too.