OT: Nikon F3 help

[Creagerj]

I just bought a nikon f3 and I am in no way familiar with the camera. If you know about these I could really use your help. I have the camera set on "A" and yet the 1/80 flash sync speed is the only shutter speed that I get. Even if I change and put the camera on a manually selected speed the 1/80 speed pops up. When I first played with it, this didn't happen, and then I guess I did something. Is there a button that I can push or something that I'm supposed to do to get it to work normaly again? And no there is no flash on the camera.

 

[HenryN]

F3

F3

That is normal for an F3. Metering automatically defaults to 80 until the film counter reaches #1.

 

[Creagerj]

oh, thats is good to know. Thank you very much. I feel a lot better now.

 

[IGMeanwell]

Make sure its got a fresh battery ... sounds like its not metering

 

[wotalegend]

Quote from F3 manual:

"When making blank shots with the shutter speed dial set to "A", the shutter will fire at 1/80 sec. until the frame counter reaches "1". In addition, the LCD shows 80 in the finder. Or if you set the dial manually between 1/125 and 1/2000 sec., the shutter will still fire at 1/80 sec. In the finder, an "M80" is displayed. However, if the speed is manually set to 1/80 sec. (X) or below, the shutter will fire at the speed set and the speed will be displayed by the LCD. Therefore, to speed up film loading, set the dial to "A" or to 1/80 sec. (X) or above."

Joe, if you have a manual it is on page 23. If you don't send me a PM and I can send you a copy on pdf format.

Cheers, Peter.

 

[wotalegend]

I meant in pdf format.

 

[anandi]

Heh. I had the same issue when I got my new used F3 from a member here. Have fun with it, It's one of my favorite cameras and the one I pick up the most when I need an SLR with automatic metering. It's really nice to use older non-ai Nikkors that you can pick up inexpensively these days with topnotch optics.

 

[KoNickon]

This is a Nikon quirk -- the FE2 will not meter at all until the film counter is advanced to 1. The FM3A might do the same thing. It's done so as to simplify film winding -- if you're set to A and you have the lens cap on, you'll get the shutter sticking open for a number of seconds.

 

[BrianShaw]

This is a Nikon quirk ...

It's not a quirk, it's a FEATURE. Annoying at times, though!