S3 2000

[dave lackey]

Incredible...

Got the D300 the same day as the S3 2000 and I just cannot get over the fact that I am less than thrilled with the new D300...in fact, I just set it up yesterday after almost two weeks since it was delivered (ho-hum). No doubt it is a fine machine but I am happy with my D2H.:angel:

On the other hand, I am absolutely blown away with the quality of the "new" S3. 😱

Never would I have imagined that a "1958 camera" was so nice to use. Back then, we were only able to afford a cheap Kodak box camera (not sure what it was) and my first camera was a Minolta SLR followed by a Nikon Fm2. My dim memory only allows an occasional glimpse of certain aspects of those cameras. Since then, I have had all AF Nikons and a mint F3/T. But, this S3 is another thing altogether.

Shooting my first roll this week. Boy, is it different getting used to using a handheld light meter and then composing with the viewfinder. But master it, I will.

Will post results when I finish the first roll.

 

[edlake]

Enjoy Dave,
That is why I still have my SP I got in 1972. I've got a VC 35/2.5 on it, and it's great!
I do like my D200, however. Perhaps a D3 next year.
Cheers

 

[kjoosten]

Just put the tenth roll through my S3 2000. The process represents a pretty sharp departure from my DSLR usage.

1) Compose
2) Light meter reading
3) Set desired aperture & shutter
4) Compose again
5) Make exposure
6) Repeat 3, 4 and 5 when you realize you forgot to bias exposure for filter
7) Repeat 2, 3, 4 and 5 when you realize the ISO setting on the light meter slipped
8) Repeat 4 and 5 when you realize you moved the focus while adjusting aperture
9) Repeat 4 and 5 after removing lens cap

 

[dave lackey]

Hey Fred,

Can't argue with that...I still haven't mastered my D2H after 3 years...

My current direction is to use the older film cameras in a way to express emotion in what I see. The S3 is really different from my F3/T but it should be fun connecting with it.🙂

 

[edlake]

Just put the tenth roll through my S3 2000. The process represents a pretty sharp departure from my DSLR usage.

1) Compose
2) Light meter reading
3) Set desired aperture & shutter
4) Compose again
5) Make exposure
6) Repeat 3, 4 and 5 when you realize you forgot to bias exposure for filter
7) Repeat 2, 3, 4 and 5 when you realize the ISO setting on the light meter slipped
8) Repeat 4 and 5 when you realize you moved the focus while adjusting aperture
9) Repeat 4 and 5 after removing lens cap

That's actually pretty funny. My workflow (the latest fun word) is to take 3 meter readings (front, rear and side), memorize the apertures, compose and shoot. Change the aperture or shutter speed if I change direction or composition. Re-meter if the light changes (about every 10 minutes or so). I always take the lens cap off (haven't missed that for a long time), and never use filters. Why no filters? Because I couldn't afford them when I was just starting and never got used to using them.
Cheers

 

[splitimageview]

I agree that the modern SLR (digital) has become the hardware equivalent of Microsoft Office. Far too many options that far too few people actually use. Bloatware.

If a camera company were to manufacture the digital equivalent of the Olympus OM1, I'd buy it in a heart beat. The problem is the manufacturers all are trying to include as many doo dads and gizmos as possible to out do the competition. As soon as someone in Japan realizes that less is more, maybe this will change...

Luckily it's possible to ignore all the bloat and just concentrate on the minimum essentials. However, unfortunately there is no way to reduce the size of a D300 to something reasonable . 🙁

Here is my S3 'workflow:'

0) Put the lens cap in the original S3 2000 box and put the box on the shelf in the closet so it can appreciate in value and not get lost.
1) Take an incident meter reading
2a) Outdoor: Hope your film is slow enough to use a wide aperture without needing a shutter speed faster than 1/1000
2b) Indoor: Hope your film is fast enough to use a wide aperture without needing a shutter speed slower than 1/30
3) Set aperture to 1.4 or 2
4) Set shutter speed
5) Make exposures
6) Remove film
7) Load more film
8) Repeat
9) Develop film
10) Cull 95% of the photos
11) Express regret at missing focus or exposure or composition on the remaining 5%
12) Pick one or two photos per roll to print
13) Pray for more talent

 

[splitimageview]

Tongue in cheek.

Of course, depth of field is helpful, as you point out, to reduce the need for focusing.

Can't get the 3d effect (throwing the background out of focus) without using a wide aperture, though.

 

[VinceC]

I prefer using lenses wide open or close to it. That's where the 35mm film format shows its strength ... smaller digital sensors inherently have more depth of field.

 

[Sam R]

Incredible...

Got the D300 the same day as the S3 2000 and I just cannot get over the fact that I am less than thrilled with the new D300...in fact, I just set it up yesterday after almost two weeks since it was delivered (ho-hum). No doubt it is a fine machine but I am happy with my D2H.:angel:

On the other hand, I am absolutely blown away with the quality of the "new" S3. 😱

Never would I have imagined that a "1958 camera" was so nice to use. Back then, we were only able to afford a cheap Kodak box camera (not sure what it was) and my first camera was a Minolta SLR followed by a Nikon Fm2. My dim memory only allows an occasional glimpse of certain aspects of those cameras. Since then, I have had all AF Nikons and a mint F3/T. But, this S3 is another thing altogether.

Shooting my first roll this week. Boy, is it different getting used to using a handheld light meter and then composing with the viewfinder. But master it, I will.

Will post results when I finish the first roll.

You'll take better photo's with the S3 because you will think, and hopefully meter correctly with a hand held (hope you know the "zone system" and use a grey card and incident meter. Where will you get additional lens'?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Incredible...

Got the D300 the same day as the S3 2000 and I just cannot get over the fact that I am less than thrilled with the new D300...in fact, I just set it up yesterday after almost two weeks since it was delivered (ho-hum). No doubt it is a fine machine but I am happy with my D2H.:angel:

On the other hand, I am absolutely blown away with the quality of the "new" S3. 😱

Never would I have imagined that a "1958 camera" was so nice to use. Back then, we were only able to afford a cheap Kodak box camera (not sure what it was) and my first camera was a Minolta SLR followed by a Nikon Fm2. My dim memory only allows an occasional glimpse of certain aspects of those cameras. Since then, I have had all AF Nikons and a mint F3/T. But, this S3 is another thing altogether.

Shooting my first roll this week. Boy, is it different getting used to using a handheld light meter and then composing with the viewfinder. But master it, I will.

Will post results when I finish the first roll.

Hi Dave, I see the S3 has pride of place in front of the D300 and D80 (hope you don't mind me crossposting the pic) 😉

How's that first roll coming along? Looking forward to seeing some shots soon 🙂

 

[rbsinto]

If photojournalists and streetshooters actually took the time to go through that entire "workflow" sequence every time they wanted to take a shot, newspapers and news magazines would consist only of print and no images.
When I'm on the street, I take an incident reading, set the cameras apertures and shutter speeds and shoot. If the light changes, I re-set and keep going. With wide lenses (SLR or rangefinder), I'll often meter, set aperture and shutter speed, and adjust to hyperfocus, and then either compose through the viewfinder and shoot, or just shoot without looking through the viewfinder at all.

 

[VinceC]

>>Vince you did not really say that did you? You can delete it and I will delete this -- and say no more.<<

No. It was Nikkors that got me addicted to f/1.4 and f/2. Eyes in focus and nothing else. I understand what you mean about more depth of field, and that's also a great tool. But I do so much shooting in available light at the limit of hand-holdability ... 1/8 at f/1.4 is my friend. In better light, f/1.4 allows my a steady shutter speed, and the Nikkors often perform at their best wide open and close up ... which is my favorite place to be shooting.

I don't think of it as soft focus. Just very selective focus.

85/2 at f/2

 

[splitimageview]

That's it -- selective focus.

There are times when stopped down, is what is required...if I shot that way all the time, tho, I could use any old point and shoot.

I didn't spend all this money on fast lenses to shoot at f8. 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

> smaller digital sensors inherently have more depth of field.

I think what is meant is the "standard" lens for small sensor cameras tend to be short focal length with slower optics. Same is true of a Minox format camera- a Minox EC with a 15mm F5.6 lens has a lot of DOF. But when I put a 50mm F0.95 C-Mount lens on a CCD camera, very little DOF.

 

[splitimageview]

That's a nice side effect (faster lenses being sharper as a rule) but of all the factors that go into making a good photograph, sharpness is pretty far down my list. Almost any lens available on an RF is sharp enough for me.

 

[MikeL]

Robert, I sure think the photos from the Nikkor 5cm f2 LTM you have posted are sharp enough. Thanks again for sharing those.

 

[splitimageview]

Thanks Mike. Many of those were taken at wide aperture (Kodachrome being ASA 10 required it) and they are plenty sharp wide open! All those Nippon ladies with abaci really did a great job...