The f3 is the third generation of nikon s professional f series film cameras. The nikon fa is the most advanced manualfocus camera ever designed by nikon. Older nikons featured 6040 centerweighted metering, as does the more recent fm3a. Dec 17, 2015 the nikon f3 was nikons professional slr camera released in 1980, alongside the consumer fm2 and fe2. Check out their ability to do insanely longand accurateexposures sometime, too. The f3 is the third generation of nikons professional f series film cameras. Aitype, non aitype stopdown exposure metering and af nikkor lenses operative in manual focus setting a new browser window for cross reference. I was a handed an old nikon fm from by father in law. It is one of the most powerful letters in all of photography. Introduced in 1980, it had manual and semiautomatic exposure control whereby the camera would select the correct shutter speed aperture priority automation. Ai lenses automatically index the meter to the lens, without having to. Mar 07, 2020 the nikon f3 is an iconic 35mm slr camera, with the distinctive red line. F3, f3hp, f3t, f3p, f3h and last, the stupid, in my opinion, f3af. To remove f finders, depress the finder release button on the back of the body near the rewind lever with a closed bic pen or equivalent.
Today well talk about the sunny 16 method and some bracketing techniques. Rotate the switch around the shutter button to show the red dot. The meter features an 8020 centerouter split, similar to most nikon meters of the era. Comes complete with all batteries for motor drive and camera. The original photomic dp1, photomic s dp2 and photomic sb dp3 finders are for nai lenses. Since the f3s spd meter cell actually reads the light reflected from the filmplane image during a flash exposure although ambient light reading is continuous, however it is not off the film plane. The nikon f appeared in 1959, followed by the nikon f2 in 1970. Nikon f3 flagship camera is probably one of the best all. All mechanical motions seems to be working fine but the led light indication for the light exposure visible inside the viewfinder wont light up.
Nikons most advanced manualfocus camera is the nikon fa, which adds matrix metering and shutterpriority and program exposure to the fe. I changed the batteries with energizer alkalines but it kinda leaked. With f3 s new flash exposure control method ttlotf, it works automatically with direct flash, bounce flash, wideangle and tele lenses depends. It is manual exposure with an aperture priority mode, manual focus, and manual film advance and rewind. The f3s spd meter cell actually reads the light reflected from the filmplane image during expo sure. Unlike the later f3f4f5 and most of todays electronic wonders, the f and f2 shutters work even. When the camera resets upon installing a fresh roll of film there are 2 spots before frame 1 to index thru to get to the prisitine film deeper into the roll. Metering is nikons perfect and classic heavily centerweighted pattern. Aug 22, 2012 this is how i learned to light meter using only my eyes. Nikon f3 film slr film camera batteries from batteries plus bulbs. The nikon f3 was nikons professional slr camera released in 1980, alongside the consumer fm2 and fe2. Sep 23, 2016 the nikon f2 is the camera to beat all cameras in many photographers eyes. The nikon f2a dp11 and nikon f2as dp12 finders are for the ai and later lenses introduced in 1977.
I told you the difference between the f3 and f3hp above. If you use this version, theres no need to put batteries in the camera, even though it will take. This may seem like a weird set of conditions, however almost all my shooting is done in program auto and matrix, so its important to me. Nikon f2 de1 plain prism, 19711976 the first nikon f2 came with the de1 prism, and the camera was simply called the nikon f2. The highspeed shutter was intended to speed the travel of the shutter foil up to the maximum extent possible in order to increase the speedlight synchronization speed compared to 1125 sec. If you want slow sync, set the manual shutter dial as you want, looking at meter to set the fill ratio. In 1959, when nikon rolled out its first ever singlelens reflex slr camera, the company took possession of f and it has been symbolic in the photography world ever since. Nikon f3 fully deserves its status as a modern classic camera. I prefer the analog meter needle of the fe over the digital lcd meter of the f3. Okay, to be fair, the nikon f3t might be the most wellloved of all hardworking 35mm slrs by a slim margin, but the f2 was the gold standard workhorse for a decade or more.
Nikon f3 legend with a red stripe photo thinking camera. As with any nikon slr made since 1959, the f3 has a nikon f mount, which will mount and shoot any f mount lens. The f3 was the first professional nikon to feature electronic shutter controls. The as17 enables the f3 to mount and meter through the lens with all nikon flash units with the iso hotshoe style foot. The f3 was the first camera in the nikon f series to locate the meter in the body of the camera, not the prism. With f3s new flash exposure control method ttlotf, it works automatically with direct flash, bounce flash, wideangle and tele lenses depends. Nikon f3 camera with md4 motor drive and nikkor 50mm ai f2 lens. After a bit of website searching i found the best person to take care of a nikon f2, mr. It is intended as a defence against the user accidentally triggering a manysecond exposure in autoexposure mode while loading film thus the meter remains off and the shutter fires. Sep 20, 2010 i was a handed an old nikon fm from by father in law. The as17 even features exposure compensation in the f3s limited iso flash range of 100400. Jul 29, 2016 personally, i dont want to use a separate light meter if i can help it although iphones make great light meters, so the f3 is about as old as ill go on nikon slrs on typical shoots. The fe switches to 1125 when a flash is on and the fe is set to auto. More than just a camera, the f3 is the realization of nikons dream.
The meter stays on for 16 seconds after you take your finger off the button and turns itself off automatically to conserve battery. It might save you some money on repairs and maybe even save your camera from the garbage can. The fa is the only camera on earth that can give program auto exposure along with matrix metering with all ai and ais manualfocus lenses. It was the top professional camera from its introduction in 1980 until the f4 was introduced in 1988. This man is a magician with the f2 and he works ethically and is very professional. The nikon f3 series cameras had the most model variations of any nikon f camera. The nikon f2 is the camera to beat all cameras in many photographers eyes. The intricacies of the metering system showcase the almost obsessive attention to detail that nikon put into the f3.
Since the f3 s spd meter cell actually reads the light reflected from the filmplane image during a flash exposure although ambient light reading is continuous, however it is not off the film plane. The meter reads the light over the entire focusing screen but is distinctly biased toward the central 12mm area, also known as nikons centreweighted average metering method. The nikon f3 uses a 8020 distribution ratio, where the 12mm area dictates 80% of preference for metering sensitivity while the rest of the area only takes in the balance of 20% into consideration. Replacement batteries for 35mm cameras, flash and film photography equipment. The meter needle shows the ambient light, making it easy to set light ratios. Nikon f3 meter problems discussion in 35mm cameras and accessories started by nikanon, dec 20, 2009. Specifically, for the nikon f3, in other publications, he is quoted as saying for the nikon f3, i added a red line to the professionaluse camera, which used to be entirely black. Exposure is matchdot manual, or aperturepreferred auto. Together they are the only professional quality mechanical shuttered nikon cameras.
The standard higheyepoint prism finder illuminates the meter display through ambient light normally, but has a small red button on the side that activates an led to illuminate the meter display in the viewfinder, as well. The nikon f3 was nikon s third professional singlelens reflex camera body, preceded by the f and f2. Ive only owned the f3 for about six months now, but ive tried to shoot with it as much as possible. This design allows the reflective light meter to be housed in the body rather than the. The f3 fat spot pattern, as noted elsewhere, is much harder to fool with backlighting than the standard 6040 nikon meters. The same kind of switch around the shutterspeed dial is the self timer.
On an f3, f3 t, and f3af, they were used to communicate the exposure meter display information to the lcd inside the dx1 viewfinder. One in good condition that hasnt been subjected to a lot of moisture will work well with todays film. This design allows the reflective light meter to be housed in the body. Well my f3 reads frame 1 when the meter kicks in and control of the shutter speed is established. Nov 02, 2016 the standard higheyepoint prism finder illuminates the meter display through ambient light normally, but has a small red button on the side that activates an led to illuminate the meter display in the viewfinder, as well. G series lenses will only shoot wide open, almost any modern glass that doesnt have an aperture ring will also not stop down, apsc lenses will mount but will produce a smaller image circle. I learned i could just set it to auto when shooting slide film and 99% of my shots would be right on. Although nikon no doubt considered it a feature, the meter of the f3 will not properly activate until the film counter has been wound forward to 1. If you your light meter is not working, check out the solution in this video. The nikon f3 uses a 8020 distribution ratio, where the 12mm area dictates 80% of preference for metering sensitivity while the rest of the area only takes in the.
On an f3, f3t, and f3af, they were used to communicate the exposure meter display information to the lcd inside the dx1 viewfinder. The f3 uses nikon s ubiquitous f mount, meaning that all of nikon s f mount lenses will mount to this camera. Not because it is the 3rd generation flagship model of nikon during the eighties, replacing its earlier highly successful predecessor models of the nikon f in 1959 and nikon f2 during the 70 the model that has a decade long supremacy in the professional arenas. Ilford fp4 plus 125, nikon f3, zeiss planar t 50mm f1. Already im irritated by the lcd illumination switch. All f meter heads, aka photomic heads, were designed for the original style nai lenses. Dec 27, 2010 how do you meter when you have no light meter. One of my favorite lenses to use with this camera is the nikon eseries 100mm lens, but any manual focus will work great. After the first exposure to the cold the meter went haywire around 32 degrees and the numbers came up all choppy and the plus and minus sign for. I recently purchased a nikon f3 from keh ex rating, the meter at first worked perfectly fine. Metering with the nikon f3 advice and tips sought please.
The f3s sophisticated ttl flash metering measures the exposure off the film plane during the moment of exposure. But even the most basic aspects of typical 35mm cameras were enhanced, maximized, and perfected in the f3. As with most older nikon from the 1970s to 1980s these are built like tanks. De3 standard equipment with a nikon f3 higheyepoint camera. Nikon f3 meter nikon fx slr df, d1d5, d600d850 talk. I sought to make that the hallmark of the nikon f3 through a bit of graphic flair.
Discussing light meter doesnt work until the counter. The nikon f3hp has probably the most accurate camera meter on any nikon ive used. Okay, to be fair, the nikon f3 t might be the most wellloved of all hardworking 35mm slrs by a slim margin, but the f2 was the gold standard workhorse for a decade or more. Feb 21, 2018 first, lets go through the various iterations. In most film and digital slrs, the light sensors for exposure metering are incorporated into the pentaprism or. I changed the batteries with energizer alkalines but.
When the camera resets upon installing a fresh roll of film there are 2 spots before frame 1 to index thru to. If you use this version, theres no need to put batteries in the camera, even though it will take them. They are generally considered the most reliable of all mechanical 35 slrs. Camera comes with md4 motor drive and a nikkor 50mm f2 ai lens with uv filter and original nikon lens cap. It wasnt originally as popular as the f2 and original f because the latter were fully mechanical, and therefore could be trusted to work at all shutter speeds even if the battery that powered the meter ran out. The nikon fes flash ready light is above the finder.
May 30, 2006 well my f3 reads frame 1 when the meter kicks in and control of the shutter speed is established. But unlike some older or newer nikons, the f3 makes allowances for using all of nikon s lenses. On an f3p and f3 limited, they were used for flash synch and ready light purposes. Builtin light meter 5 items 5 shootingmodes 3 items 3 date imprint 1 items 1 electric drive 1 items 1 see all. This is how i learned to light meter using only my eyes. Ai lenses automatically index the meter to the lens, without having to manually do it by turning the lens aperture back and forth. My nikon f3 died on me during a trip to melbourne and i began thinking that i should show this camera a little tlc in the form of a cla. The f3 features 8020 highly centerweighted metering, with 80 percent of the meter s sensitivity concentrated in the wellmarked central 12mm circle. Known as much for their considerable heft as for the. In photography, throughthelens ttl metering refers to a feature of cameras whereby the. The meter reads the light over the entire focusing screen but is distinctly. Nikon f3 with de2 viewfinder professional slr film camera. Apr 10, 2016 the intricacies of the metering system showcase the almost obsessive attention to detail that nikon put into the f3.
Nikon f3 flagship camera is probably one of the best all time. Kyoritsu shutter testers are calibrated with a nikon f3, ive heard. In reply to dudamel jun 26, 2016 the came back only when i pressed really hard the button on the speed dial. Found the f3 with shutter speed dial set on a showed a shutter speed of 180 regardless of light conditions. Nikon f2 finders the f2 was introduced in 1970 and produced until 1980. The meter reads the light over the entire focusing screen but is distinctly biased toward the central 12mm area, also known as nikon s centreweighted average metering method. I picked up my f3 no film to use it to check a light meter reading against a recently acquired nikkormat. Personally, i dont want to use a separate light meter if i can help it although iphones make great light meters, so the f3 is about as old as ill go on nikon slrs on typical shoots. The f3 features 8020 highly centerweighted metering, with 80 percent of the meters sensitivity concentrated in the wellmarked central 12mm circle. This camera has been fully tested and is in excellent working order.
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