Nikon S3 with Motor Drive

[Guglielmo]

Hello,

please someone may inform me about the possibility to fit the classic Nikon S3 Motor Drive to a modern replica Nikon S3 Millenium (2000 year)?

I found a mint S3 Motor in Japan and I have to mate this one to a Nikon S3: vintage or replica?

Thank you for kind help to all!

Guglielmo

 

[Ororaro]

It should…

Lucky you!

 

[das]

It is my understanding as well that the Y2K version will work with the OG S3 motor drive.

Just be 100% sure that the S3 motor drive you are buying is not a Nikon F one modified to work on an S3. 🙂. There are folks in Japan who do this conversion. It's actually pretty interesting.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

For the Nikon F you need a special plate to use with the F36 motor drive. There are holes for the Motor to trip the shutter, and the body must be synchronized with the specific motor.

I seem to recall this is the same for the S3-2000. My S3-2000 body does not have the same holes and mechanism as the motor plate for the F36. "I suspect" you need to swap it out. Until someone that has a Nikon body mated to an motor drive, do not try it. "How I Know"- 30+ years ago busted an F36 putting it on a body without the correct plate, had it repaired. Bought the motor plates for the Nikon F, then it works.

The site owner, @CameraQuest can answer this question definitely.

 

[wes loder]

You need a S36 motor plate. It is the same as the regular internal base plate, but has two holes and a toggle arm that fires the camera and resets the motor when the motor is fired. If you can find a motor plate, the motor would still have to be adapted to the plate. This is done by installing shims to the two pins that link to the toggle arm. If the shimming is not correct to the particular camera, the motor may jam.

 

[Guglielmo]

Thanks to all!
Actually the S36 plate adapter is included in the kit I just ordered.
Please see the pictures, it seems an original S36!

 

[wlewisiii]

I was about to say that I'd hate to burn through a roll of film that fast these days but then again, if I could afford an S3 AND a motor drive to fit it, the cost of film would probably be the least of my worries!

Enjoy!

 

[UV76]

Thanks to all!
Actually the S36 plate adapter is included in the kit I just ordered.
Please see the pictures, it seems an original S36!

It's the replica version. I have seen similar copies here in Japan. But don't worry, I also have the replica motor attached to original S3 camera and can shoot with it without a problem. In fact I use replica motor when I go out shooting using the motordrive. The motor is repurposed from F-36 (which runs on 12V) and the battery pack you have takes 1.5v x 6 batteries =9V but still works fine.

 

[UV76]

As wes loder commented above, you may need to play around with the 2 screws on the connecting rods that is moved by toggle arm on the motor plate to ensure the see-saw motion works smoothly when you fire. I have adjusted mine with some trial and error.

 

[zeitz]

"As wes loder commented above, you may need to play around with the 2 screws on the connecting rods that is moved by toggle arm on the motor plate to ensure the see-saw motion works smoothly when you fire. I have adjusted mine with some trial and error."

Start with them short. I recall that the one to the middle of the plate is adjusted first; lengthen until the shutter fires. Then lengthen the inner one until the motor fires and winds. The kit should have some tiny shims / washers that go under the screw when the position is determined. The shims let one tighten the screw so that it will not move.

 

[das]

Without seeing either IRL, it would seem to me that the F36 is actually an easier to use motor drive than the S36. The S36 required a corded battery pack, while a certain battery pack for the F36 can attach to the bottom, no? Not sure if the S36 could use the F36 cordless battery back. There is also a cool pistol grip for the F36 cordless battery pack.