Leslie Wyatt
Photography
All that can be said about the Nikon F3 has probably already been laid in print
and so I can merely give my first impressions and my feelings about using the
camera. Firstly, it is undoubtedly heavy and 'built like a tank'. Almost twice
the weight of the diminutive Pentax ME Super. But actually I like it and think
that only adds to its cache. It is a delight to handle and just feels like it
should perform flawlessly. Sure, it has its quirks and the horizontal focal plane
shutter has a very serious and possibly very noticeable 'clack'!
The high eyepoint viewfinder is large and clear and can be fitted with different
diopter lenses for sight correction if you don't want to wear glasses when using
the camera. Personally, I am comfortable wearing glasses and so I find the
neutral 0 diopter perfect. Without a correction lens the camera looks unfinished.
The viewfinder can be removed in order to change the focussing screen. This is
actually quite useful as the split prism screen is ideal for standard lenses
but becomes less than perfect when using a zoom lens. For this I change the
screen to a plain matte screen with centre focussing circle.
But adding a manual zoom lens to the camera does increase its weight
significantly and it is more comfortable using standard lenses. Removing
the high eye point viewfinder also provides a camera with waist level viewing
but despite having a medium format Bronica ETR with a waist level finder
I’ve never really taken to the idea. Waist level or even chest level viewing
of a 35mm format screen seems faintly ridiculous. The little red switch on
the side of the viewfinder to illuminate the aperture setting is not only
pathetic but nigh on useless.
The lever winding mechanism is supported by a ball race and feels very solid
and positive and the winding spool fixes the film leader well. The back is
released by the usual method of raising the rewind lever but this has an
interlock lever to prevent accidental opening. It does have an auto exposure
lock for use when in aperture priority mode but you have to be pretty dexterous
to operate it. It is on the front of the body to the right of the lens and has
to be kept depressed with the second finger whilst you re-compose and press the
shutter release with your index finger. I guess this is a result of the camera
being only partially electronic. It would be nice if it had been coupled with
the shutter button so that once pressed it stays locked until the shutter is
released.
Lens insertion and removal is easy and positive with the unlock button mounted
on the left side of the body next to the lens. The camera will take a motor
drive which reflects the original need for action sports shots before the days
of the digital camera 'spray' technique! But with the price of film these days
I have no wish to get through a film that quickly. In conclusion, I think it
is definitely a classic camera built to very high standards and is a delight to
use. Despite my attachment to the Pentax ME Super the Nikon F3 has now replaced
it. I therefore think I am now just about in control of my GAS!
