ChrisLivsey
Veteran
Cal, just trawling back through the thread, no still no F3,:bang: but can I just correct the above? An AI/S lens with no ears will meter on an F2, if it has an AS (DP-12) head.
I have two F2s one with DE-1 and one AS both black
MRohlfing
Well-known
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Oh dear, you are a bad man!
For old eyes and critical focus this is the ultimate. The VF'er is eye popping and mucho bright.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Cal, just trawling back through the thread, no still no F3,:bang: but can I just correct the above? An AI/S lens with no ears will meter on an F2, if it has an AS (DP-12) head.
I have two F2s one with DE-1 and one AS both black
Chris,
Thanks for the correction. I forgot about the automatic indexing of the later head.
Also know that I'm a huge fan of the F2, but because I love the MD-4 motordrive the F3P gets the most use out of all my SLR's even though it is mucho heavy.
Cal
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
Thought you had, too many F2 variants. Heavy is not always bad and light isn't always good.
MRohlfing
Well-known
My DK-17 arrived today. Thank you for the hint!
Not bad at all! The magnification is really nice, though I have to press the camera somewhat against my glasses to see the whole frame. And it fits my F4 and F5 and D700, too, where I can use the camera even without glasses due to the built-in diopter correction.
But.... did you ever try the DW-4 viewfinder? :angel:
6x magnification, -5 to +3 diopter correction. There is no prism, so you see a reverse image from above the camera - looks almost bigger and better than Rolleiflex!
Don't ever look into that finder!
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
Oh how I miss my F3HP. But not enough to buy another one. I don't think… ooooh, shiny!
I may yet get another one.
I may yet get another one.
Montag006
Established
I miss my F3HP too!!!
What a great camera it was..
What a great camera it was..
ronnies
Well-known
I have an MD-4. All I need now is an F3 to go with it.
Ronnie
Ronnie
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
My DK-17 arrived today. Thank you for the hint!
Not bad at all! The magnification is really nice, though I have to press the camera somewhat against my glasses to see the whole frame. And it fits my F4 and F5 and D700, too, where I can use the camera even without glasses due to the built-in diopter correction.
But.... did you ever try the DW-4 viewfinder? :angel:
6x magnification, -5 to +3 diopter correction. There is no prism, so you see a reverse image from above the camera - looks almost bigger and better than Rolleiflex!
Don't ever look into that finder!
I shoot vertically a lot so a DW-4 is not too practical for me, but I have thought about getting one anyway because I have two F3's.
The DK-17 gets really close to a 100% VF'er and kinda spoils you. I found the added magnification to be great when using a Noct-Nikkor at F1.2.
Cal
maitani
Well-known
new favourite for film
F3-press + noct
F3-press + noct
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
new favourite for film
F3-press + noct
I had the same setup, but I traded away the Noct-Nikkor to get more Leica-centric, and now I miss the Noct-Nikkor badly. I also have a Beattie Intenscreen with this huge split prism. With the Noct-Nikkor it was mucho bright and don't forget the additional magnification of a DK-17. Everything was optimized for low light.
My F3P with Noct-Nikkor was an ultimate rig. I should of never traded away the Noct-Nikkor.
Cal
menos
Veteran
Cal, your post inspired me to rebuild your rig and have a go with it to empty those two remaining bricks of Neopan 400, I keep in the freezer:
scruffy F3-HP body [√]
H-2 full matte screen [√]
high mag prism [√]
DK-17 [√]
winder [√]
NOCT [√]
I just have to figure out where I put those light seals I got from Jon Goodman months ago …
Anybody has a good lead how to perfect the advance lever on the F3 bodies?
Mine has just enough play that it bothers me - is it a CLA job of the advance or a swap parts job with these (this body doesn't look like a heavy user, so I suspect it not necessarily to be worn out)?
markus_h_photography
Established
Yep the F3HP is one camera I seriously wish I'd kept. Built like a brick but creamy smooth to use.
But then I also wish I'd kept my OM1, my OM4, my Mamiya 645... seller's remorse...
But then I also wish I'd kept my OM1, my OM4, my Mamiya 645... seller's remorse...
gilgsn
Established
Darn, I just got my third F3 with MD-4. Stupidly sold the first two. The first one I used while working for a daily newspaper when I was 18-21. I even had a motorcycle accident with it once, on a shoulder strap. It hit the pavement and got a few shiny spots for it, but still worked fine. My biggest mistake was to sell two Angenieux lenses that are worth thousands now, the 180mm f2.3 and 35-70. I plan on getting the Nikkor 50/1.2 now, the 28/2.8 and the 105/2.5, perfect kit in my opinion.
Gil.
Gil.
maitani
Well-known
Cal, I feel you, I was on the fence selling off the noct-nikkor recently, last second, I decided to keep it it's unique and one of those 'cold dead hands' lenses..
I'll maybe start looking for a DK-17, my F3P came with and all clear screen 'no focusing help' but it's so bright, all pops in focus almost automatically. the build and feel and sound of F3P are uniqe imo. should I see a good noct around on the used market I'll drop you a line, best maitani
jwicaksana
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hi all, (Hi Gil, nice to meet you here too) I am having some kind of transition period here. I got a deal with a guy to buy all his camera, FM2n, FE2, F4s, and a Canonet. F4s meh, functionally okay but with LCD leak. Canonet, also meh, RF patch is not clear. FM2n is something, very nice condition, early model with honeycomb curtain. Sold within days. Now the FE2 is something else. It offers many things I actually use over the F3HP. 1/4000 top speed and 8s low speed (more with A mode I think - same as F3). Metering is easier to read with needles, I never liked F3's LCD, then again 5 stop light like Pentax MX would be perfect. I know the F3 is a system camera, but I never buy anything to add to the rig. F3HP+MD-4+MK-1 Firing Rate Converter.
Now I know prices for F3 and FE2 won't force me to sell one or the other, but I am considering to thin out my herd, and have been having fun doing it. This is to make way for an FX camera, a D700. Since I feel like this is my home thread, can I hear your thoughts on D700? I hope Cal and the others won't mind. I currently use D7000, around 11.000 clicks, official warranty. The D700 has 69.000 clicks and was grey market, and I have to top up about $200.
If I'm honest, my ideal kit would be one FX digital body, FE2 or F3HP, a Mamiya RB kit, and one nice large format camera. I thought I am well past this stage. Who am I kidding, right?
Now I know prices for F3 and FE2 won't force me to sell one or the other, but I am considering to thin out my herd, and have been having fun doing it. This is to make way for an FX camera, a D700. Since I feel like this is my home thread, can I hear your thoughts on D700? I hope Cal and the others won't mind. I currently use D7000, around 11.000 clicks, official warranty. The D700 has 69.000 clicks and was grey market, and I have to top up about $200.
If I'm honest, my ideal kit would be one FX digital body, FE2 or F3HP, a Mamiya RB kit, and one nice large format camera. I thought I am well past this stage. Who am I kidding, right?
gilgsn
Established
Hum... Personally, I would save up for a D3, or even get a D2Xs. I have always favored pro bodies, because they are much more rugged than the consumer models. I will probably do that at some point, when the D3 goes down in price a bit, next year maybe. At about $900 I understand the D700 is pretty tempting. I nerver was much for pop-up flashes though, something else to break.. But maybe I'm a gear snob
Gil.
Gil.
nobbylon
Veteran
Hum... Personally, I would save up for a D3, or even get a D2Xs. I have always favored pro bodies, because they are much more rugged than the consumer models. I will probably do that at some point, when the D3 goes down in price a bit, next year maybe. At about $900 I understand the D700 is pretty tempting. I nerver was much for pop-up flashes though, something else to break.. But maybe I'm a gear snob
Gil.
I taped my flash up on the D700. I would always take it over a D2xs. I run the D2x profile in my 700 and D3 for great skin tone but image quality is way above D2 cameras. The 700 is a pro body and just as rugged as the D3 and to be honest nicer to use than the D3 with smaller lenses or when travelling. I use the battery pack on my 700 for bigger lenses like the 70-200 and for extended shooting at events etc.
nobbylon
Veteran
Cal,
the DE-3 / DK17M combo gives .9x mag. If you want near 100 you need to go DE-2/DK17M combo which gives .96. As per my previous posts on this you will need to make an adapter to fit the DK17M to a DE-2. There is a small amount of corner cut off through finder but the focusing is amazing. It's nearly as good as my Leicaflex SL's.
the DE-3 / DK17M combo gives .9x mag. If you want near 100 you need to go DE-2/DK17M combo which gives .96. As per my previous posts on this you will need to make an adapter to fit the DK17M to a DE-2. There is a small amount of corner cut off through finder but the focusing is amazing. It's nearly as good as my Leicaflex SL's.