Nikon F3 — combined booklet User manual

CONTENTS
        PAFIT ONE:
      THE  CAMEFIA

          NIKCIN F3
lntroduction                       1 0
   PARTSNOMENCLATURE        1 2
BasicOperation                    1 6
   LOADINGFILM                  1 6
   SETTINGASA FILMSPEED        1 8
   MAKINGEXPOSURES          20
   CHANGINGLENSES             2 1
DetailedInstructions              22
   BATTERIES                 22
   FILMPLANEINDICATOR        24
   FILMADVANCELEVER          24
   FRAMECOUNTER             25
   REWINDINGFILM              26\--   SETTINGTHEAPERTURE       27
   \CTTIruCTHESHUTTERSPEED    30
   LCDDISPLAYWINDOW          33
   VIEWFINDERILLUMINATOR     37
   BACK-UPMECHANICALRELEASE
   LEVER                     37
   METERINGEXPOSURE         38
   EXPOSUREMEMORYLOCK
   BUTTON                    44
   USINGTHEMANUALMODE       45
   DEPTH.OF.FIELDSCALE         46         {
   FOCUSING                  46
   INFRAREDFOCUSING          49                     '.x
   FOCUSINGSCREENS          50
                                                                                   I- I                 I

EYEPIECESHUTTER            50
          MULTIPLEEXPOSURELEVER     53
         CHANGINGLENSES            54
          SELF-TIMER                 54
         MIRRORLOCK-UPLEVER        56
        ACCESSORYSHOE            56
         SYNCTERMINAL               5 8
          FILMMEMOHOLDER           59
        CAMERACARE               60
        Accessories                    62
          MD-4 MOTORDRIVE           62
          BASICOPERATIONSOFTHEMD.4  62
          SB-12SPEEDLIGHT          70
          BASICOPERATIONOFTHESB-12   7 1
         FINDERS                   78


             PART TWO:
      GiENEFIAL   PHGITC,GiFIAPHIC
            TEGHNIOUEsi



          Introduction                     82
        Lenses and their Uses              82
          LENSCHARACTERISTICS       82
               Focallength.Speed.Depth ofI                           f ield. Perspectivedistortion.
         NORMALLENSES               8 5
          WIDE-ANGLELENSES            8 7
          TELEPHOTOLENSES             8 7
         ZOOM LENSESwww.butkus.us             89

Films and Filters                  90
   FILMCHARACTERISTICS        90
     Spged.Grain..Contrast.Color
     Balance.Reversaland negative
      films. Latitude.
   SLOW FILMS                      92,
   MEDIUM-SPEEDFILMS          92
   HIGH-SPEEDF]LMS             92   SPECIAL-PURPOSEFILMS        93 o
     Kodak High-ContrastCoPYFilm.
     Kodak Direct Positive
     PanchromaticFilm.Kodak High
     Speed lnfraredFilm.Kodak
     EktachromelnfraredFilm.
     Eastman5247. Kodak
     EktachromeS lide DuPlicating
      Film.
    FILTERSYSTEMS                 94
    FILTERSFORBLACK-AND-WHlTE
    FILMS                          94
    FILTERSFORCOLORFILMS         96
      Color-conversionf ilters.Lig ht-
      balancingf ilters.Color-
     comPensatingfilters'
    FILTERSFORBOTH COLORAND
    BLACK-AND-WHITEFILMS        98
       Polarizer.Neutral-densityf ilters.
      Haze,UV and skYlight filters.
   EXPOSURECALCULATIONWITH
    FILTERS                    99

 Electronic Flash PhotograPhY       100
    DETERMININGEXPOSURE       100
   AUTOMATIC FLASH             1 0 1
   MANUAL FLASH                1 0 1
   BOUNCEFLASH               102
     FILL.INFLASH                  1 0 3

ExposureGuide                   1 0 5
         THEEXPOSUREMETER         1 0 5
         METERINGFORCOLORFILM     107
         METERINGFORBLACK-AND-
          WHITEFILM                   1 0 8
         EXPOSUREWITHOUTA METER   1 0 9
           AVAILABLE.LIGHT EXPOSURE     1 0 9
         REFLECTORS                1 0 9
         PUSH-PROCESSlNG         1 1 1
lt




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                                www.butkus.us

THE  IVIKGIN F3

          lntnoduction




  The NikonF3 is a 35 mm' single-lens-reflex       I                                             ?camera,with both manualand automatic-exposure
capability.TheF3 is a professionalcameraat theheart
of an extensivesystemof lensesandaccessories'The        I
F3 featuresan electronicshutter,exposuremetering     {,4
directlyfromthefilmplane,andenergysavingfeatures    ?
for longerbatterylife.
   Ceniralto the designof the NikonF3 is flexibility'                                          a
The F3 can be usedwith four differentviewfinders,
twentydifferentfocusingscreens,a six-frame-per-
secondmotordrive,and electronicflash unitsthat         t
automaticallysynchronizewww.butkus.uswith the through-the'lens
                                Oalol

It





         TheNikon F3 is a 35 mm, single-lens-reflex
         camera,with both manualandautomatic
          exposurecapability.lt is the first automatic
          exposurecamerawith interchangeablefinders
         and focusing screens.


         exp0suremeteringsystem.Sincethe meteringsystem
             is c0ntainedin the body 0f the F3, any NikonIt      viewfinder can be used withoutlosingmetering
           capability.Otheraccessoriesdesignedfor the F3 are
         NikonIntervalometers,severalcamerabacks,various
          remote-controlunits,and nearly70 Nikonlenses,
          rangingfrom6 mmto 2000mm.
            Followingin thetraditionof theNikonF andF2,the
         NikonF3 is designedto provideunparalleledquality,
             flexibility,andruggedness.lt is a cameracapableof
         beingmodifiedto meelany photographicsituation.
                                              1 1

I


     NTKONF3-PARTSNOMENCLATURE  )
           1. Mirror lockup lever
           2. Self-timer LED
,           3. Shutter-speed dial locking button
           4. Backup mechanicalrelease lever
           5. Exposure memory lock button    I
    ,        6. Lens mounting flange
           7. Reflex mirror
           8. ADR window
           9. Viewfinder illuminator
|        10. Metercoupling lever.
|        1 1. Lens release button
        12. Lens mounting index
        13. Flash sync. terminal
         14. Meter coupling lever release button
 _      15. Motor drive coupling
 1|      16. Film rewind button
J       17. Motor drive positioning hole
         18. Tripod/motor drive coupling socket,
I        19. Battery chamber lid
       2O. Motor drive coupling cover
   I
I

   ,
                                            1 3

21. Depth-of-field indicators
         22. Exposure compensation scale'o         23. Hot-shoe contacts
         24. Film rewind crank
         25. Camera back lock lever
         26. Exposure compensation locking button
         27. Shutter speed index
         28. Film plane indicator
         29. Shutter speed dial I         30. Shutter-speed scale
         31. Self-timer lever
         32. Power switch
         33. Multiple exposure lever
#'      35.34. ShutterFrame counterrelease button
         36. Film advance lever
         37. Distance scaleft
         38. Aperture/focusing index
 ,       39. Aperture ring
        4O. Eyepiece shutter lever
        41. ASA film speed scale
         42. Viewfinder eyepiece
         43. Memo holder3





                                www.butkus.ustI,
                                             1 5

Elasic OPenation    o
         of the  Nikon FB
            a
        LOADINGFILM
  0penthe camerabackby first slidingthe safety-
lockievertowardthe rearof the camera,thenlifting
thefilm-rewindknobuntilthebackswingsopen'Inserta 35 mm film cassetteinto the film chamber'Push  t
downthe rewindknob,twistingit slightlyto properly
engageit withthecassette.Insertthefilmleaderintoa
sloi on the camera'stake-upspool.Turnthe take-up
spool'swheel(onthelowerendof thespool)to theleft
untilthefilm leaderis firmlyandcompletelywrapped
aroundthe take-upspoolmakingsurethat the film
perforationsare properlyengagedwith boththe top,
andbottom,sprocketson the take-upspool'Withthe
cartridgeproperlyseatedandthe film straight,closethe backof the camera.Alternatelystrokethe film- a
advanceleverand releasethe shuttertwo or three times,untilthefilmcounterindicatesthefirstframeis        j
 reached.Turnthe rewindknobto takeup anyslackin thefilm.Whentheendof ttierollof filmis reachedyou  L
 mustrewindthe film' Firstdepressthe rewindbutton
 onthebottomof thecamera'Pullouttherewindcrank
 andturnit clockwiseuntilyoufeelno moretensionon                     d the crank.                                       f,
 1 6                  c

Place the f ilm cartridge into the camera with I     the f ilm leader facing to the right.



s


  ;{e}r    lnsert  the film  leaderwww.butkus.usinto  the take-up  spool.
 */
                                                1 7

To set the ASA  f ilm speed, lift the outer collar
          of the f ilm speed dial and rotate it untit the
        proper ASA number is opposite the white
         index mark.





,

0

       Once the ASA rs sef, release the f ilm speed
          dial and the appropriate setting is lock.edinto
        place.             www.butkus.us
  .\-
                                                1 9

MAKINGEXPOSURES
  Takea pictureby followingthesesteps:    c
  Tosetthe camerafor automaticoperation,turnthe                                             'A'shutterspeeddial clockwiseuntilthe green    is
alignedwith the whitemarkon the prismhousing'
  Setapertureringon lenst0 the desiredf-stop'
  Asyoulookthroughtheviewfinder,slightlydepress
the shutterreleasebuttons0 the LCDwill displaythe

 To test the batteries,turn the power on and
 tightly pressthe shutter'releasebutton half
 ,Jty ao*n. tf the batteries are OK, the LCD will
 displaythe shutter sPeed.

              a

                                    t @


 20

shutterspeed.TheLCDwill stayon for l6 seconds.lf
         aperturering to adjust.For hand-heldphotographyrl       the shutterspeedis too fast or too slow,turn the
         beginwith a shutterspeedol 1/125sec.
         Nowfocusby turningthefocusingringon the lens
           untilthe imageappearssharp. 6
           CHANGINGLENSES

          To removea lens,pressthe lens-releasebuttonon'l      thecamerabodylocatedto therightof thelenshousing
        andwhilefirmlygrippingboththelensandthecameri
         body,turnthelensclockwiseapproximately60 degrees
           untilit comesoff.
          Tomounta lens,placethelensonthelensmounting
         flangeof thecamerabody.Aligntheblackreferencedot
           (or aperture/focusingindex)on the lensmountingring
         withthewhitedot(lens-mountingindex)on the lens_
        mounthousingof thecamerabody.Whenfirmlyseated,
          turnlenscounterclockwiseuntilit clicksintoposition.
   '       Whenstoringsparelenses,keepthefrontandback
         lenscapson.Whencarryinga camerabodywithouta
         lensmounted,alwaysprotectthe mirrormechanisms
         with a bodycap.
 0

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                                             2 1
 I

Detailed  OPenation
          of the  Nikon F3


          BATTERIES
   The normaloperationof the NikonF3 is entirely
  dependenton electricalpower.Withnormalusage,t         .,
  p.it of 1.5-volt,silver-oxide,batteries(Eveready D                                                     lZ EPX76or equivalent)will lastup t0 oneyear.
   To insertbatteries,removethe battery-chamberlid'  by turningit counterclockwisewitha coin'Thelid has '
  two extensionsthatholdthebatteriesin position'Place
  two 1.5-volt.silver-oxide,batteriesintothe lid so the
  negativesideof the batteryfacesthe lid,andthe plus
  signfacesout.Replaceclip,andlid,andtightenwitha
  coin.
    To testthe batteries,turnon the powerswitchby
  pushingit to theright(facingawayfromthecamera)so                                            +
  thereddotis showing.Thenslightlypresstheshutter-
  releasebuttononlyhalfwaydown.Theexposuremeter
   is activatedby thisprocedure.lf thebatteriesaregood,
  the liquidcrystaldisplay(LCD)will illustratethe
  shutterspeedin the top left window insidethe         l,
  viewfinder.TheLCDremainson for 16 secondsand
  thengoesoff automaticallyto preservepower.lf the
  batteriesaret00weak,or improperlyinstalled,theLCD
  doesnotoperate.
  22

The batteries of the Nikon F3 are located in
          the battery chamber in the base of the camera.





                                                              N*t'ts':,.\\t

G

        The battery-chamber lid has a clip that holds
  ^       batteries in placewww.butkus.usfor easy installation.
  J
                                       23

The NikonF3 has a back-upmechanicalrelease
lever if batteriesfail. By pullingout the back-up
mechanicalreleaselever part way, it becomes
accessiblet0 yourfingertip.Whenpushedcompletely
downit releasestheshuttermechanicallyat a speedof
1/60 sec. The back-upmechanicalreleaselever
operatesin thismannerwhentheshutterspeeddialis
0n any settingexcept"T". lf the back-upleveris
trippedwhenthe dial is set on "T", the shutterwill
openand remainopen,until the dial is movedto
anothersetting.
       -     FILM.PLANEINDICATOR
  Thewhiteengravedmarkon thetopof thecamera
body (seeaccompanyingillustration)representsthe
exactlocationof the film planeinsidethe camera.In
specializedareas of photography,such as mac-
rophotography,it is necessaryt0 measurethe exact
 distancebetweenthe film planeand the subject.In
suchinstances,thiswouldbe the pointfromwhichto
 measure.Thedistancebetweenthefilm planeandthe
 frontsurfaceof the lens-mountflangeis exactly46.5
mm.
       FILMADVANCELEVER
   Thefilm advanceleveron theNikonF3 is designed
 for quick accessibilityand operation'0ne stroke
 advancesthefilm onecompleteframe.Whenreleased,
 it automaticallyspringsbackto its normalrestposition.
 lf the leveris notgivenonecompletestroke,the film
24

Thef ilm plane indicatorshows the exact
         locationof the f ilm inside the camera.precise
       measurementsof subject-to-film distanceare
      madef rom this mark.

      maybe advancedwithseveralshortstrokes;but0nce
        thefilmis advancedcompletely,themechanismlocks.
        At thispointthe levermaybe pulledout onlythirty
       degreesfrom its closedposition.This is a handy
]          " ready" positionwhen makingquick sequential
       exposures.A completestrokeof the advancelever
      measures170degrees;30 degreesforthehandypull-
        0ut,plus140degreesfor a completeadvancecycle.
I         FRAMECOUNTER
        Theframecounterkeepstrackof the numberof
       picturestaken0n a roll of film.lt haswhitemarksat
                              www.butkus.usfor mostpackagedfilms,andblue 3l   12,20,24,and36
                                      25

numeralsfor everyfiveframes(5, 10, 15,etc.).lt is
graduatedf romtwo f ramesbelow zergto forty (four
i,r*r, beyondthe traditionalthirty six). This is
especiallyhelpfulforphotographerswhobulkloadf ilm'
        REWINDINGFILM
  Whena rollof f ilm hasbeenc0mpletelyexposed,
the advanceleverwill stopin mid-cycle.To rewind
exposedfilm, pressthe film-rewindbutton0n the
bottomof the camera.Thisrereasesthefilmsprocket
 driveandallowsthefilmto be rewound.Foldoutthe
26

Theframecounterof the Nikon FS is located
         to the right of the f ilm advancelever


       rewindcrankand turn it clockwiseas its arrow
       indicates.Keepturninguntilthereis n0 longerany
       tensionfromthefilm (therewindcrankwill turnmore
        freely)andtheendof theleaderwillsnapbackintothe
       cassette.0penthecamerabackby pushingthecamera
      backlockleverto the rightwhileliftingthe rewind
      knob.Thecamerabackthenpopsopen.Loadingand
      unloadingof film shouldalwaysbe doneoutof direct
      sunlight.
t        SETTINGTHEAPERTURE
        Theapertureringon mostNikkorlensesis thelens
       ringclosestto thecamerabody.Turningit opensand
 n  ,   closesthediaphragmwww.butkus.usinsidethelensto thedesiredf-
  ft*t'
                                      27

stop.Whenturnedto a highernumberthediaphragmis
closedto a smalleraperture,thuslettinglesslight
throughthelens.
  MostNikkorlensesareautomatic.Thismeansthat
theyremainat the largestapertureuntilthe shutter-
releasebuttonis pressed.0ncethe shutter-release
buttonis pressed,the apertureautomaticallycloses
downto theselectedf-stoP.



                                                                                            \-r'To rewind the f ilm when You have completed
the roll, f irst press the rewind button on the
bottom of the camera.




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