Film cameras
Nikon F3 User manual
User manual for Nikon F3. 50 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Nikon
- Model / document
- Nikon F3
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 50
- File size
- 3.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
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16 sgizr 4 vx'-) o'Ir H #tJ740s(,r,fn
High-Eyepoint comere, uses The Nikon F3/T a speciat;;;" r,-, - titanium for its right and left top Couers, baseplate, comera back, and the
pentaprism couer of the uiewfinder.
Titanium is one of the world's strongest yet lightest moterials; its specific grouity
is opproximately half thot of brass, yet its hardness rs almosf the same as that of
steel, while its corrosion resistonce is greoter than that of stainless steel. How-
euer, titanium is o uery difficult material to process. Nonetheless, ds eorly as
1957, Nihon first fashioned shutter curtoins out of titanium, Qnd notD, Nikon's
technical hnow-how is utilized in creating one of the toughest SlRs around-
the Nikon FS/T
The F3/T's other features and specifications ore the same as those of the Nikon
F3 High-Eyepoint camera except for weight: the F3/T is approximately 740g,
including the high-eyepoint uiewfinder.
e-
Die Nikon F3/T ist eine Spezialousfilhrung der Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint. Bei
dieser Kamera wird Titan fiir die oberen rechten und linken Gehauseuer'
kleidungen, die Grundplatte, Komerariichseite und die Prismenuerhleidung des
t;;::i:,':;?"ili[urusten,
greichzeitig reichtesten Moteriarien, Sein spezirisches
Gewicht betr(igt nur ca. halb so uiel wie das uon Messing. Dabei hat es fast die
gleiche Harte wie Stahl und eine hohere Korrosionsfestigkeit als Edelstahl. Die
Wrarbeitung uon Titan ist allerdings sehr problematisch. Nikon hat iedoch
schon 1957 zum ersten Mal VerschtuBuorhringe aus Titan entworfen und mit
unserem heutigen Know How sind wir in der Lage, eine hochst strapazierfahige
Spiegetreflexkamera zu schoffen - die Nihon F3 /7. Mit Ausnahme des Gewichtes entspricht die F3/T der Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint
in allen technischen Daten und Ausstattungsmerkmalen. Die Kamera wiegt
einschlieBlich Sucher ca. 740 g. www.butkus.usView original page 3Page 4 · Read text
Les flancs droit et gauche, Ie couuercle, le fond, le dos ainsi que Ie couuercle du
pentaprisme de uiseur du Nikon F3/T uersion spdciale du Nikon F3 High'
Eyepoint, sont en titone.
Le titane est I'un des matdriaux les plus rdsistants et ldgers du monde. Par
exemple, sa densitd est enuiron ,lquiualente d celle du cuiure alors que sa
duretd est presque identique d celle de l'acier pour une rdsistance d Ia corrosion
supdrieure d celle de l'inox. II s'agit cependant d'un matdriau trds difficile d
traiter. Ceci n'a pos empAchd Nikon de rdoliser des rideaux d'obturoteur en
titane dis 1957. Lo firme applique d prdsent ses connaissances techniques pour
la crdation de I'un des reflex mono-objectif les plus robustes qui soient: Ie F3/T
Les autres fonctions et coracftristiques sont identiques d celles du Nikon F3
High-Eyepoint, d I'exception du poids: le FS/T pdse enuiron 7409, uiseur
surdleud compris.
En la Nikon F3/T una uersiin especiol de la cdmara Nihon F3 High-Eyepoint,
se ho empleado titanio en las cubiertas superiores izquierda y derecha, la
placa base, el respaldo de la cdmara y en la cubierta del pentaprisma del uisor.
El titanio es uno de los materiales- mds resistentes y a su uez mds lige.ros del
mundo; su peso espec{fico es cosi la mitod del bronce, pero es mds duro y
prdcticomente igual el ocero, mientras que Ia resistencia o la corrosi6n es
mayor que Ia del acero inoxidable. Es un material diflcil de procesar, sin
embargo, Nihon disefio alld por 1957 las cortinos del obturador de titanio y
ahoro su conocimiento tdcnico es utilizado para creor una de los cdmaras SIR
mds resistentes disponibles hoy d{o; la Nikon F3/T
En cuanto a otros caracterkticas y especificociones, son las mismas que las de
la Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint, excepto por el peso y0 que Ia F3,/T peso alrededor
de 7409 con el uisor "high-eyepoint" incluido.View original page 4Page 9 · Read text
FOREWORD
Congratulations! You now own dffe of the kost advaneed
and easy-fo-use cameres on the morket today. With a
weolth oI exciting feotures, the Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint
cemera is designed to be as up-to-date os you are in your
approach to photogrophy.
This model of the Nikon F3 features a special eye-Ievel
Iinder which aL|ows you to see fie entire viewlinder
imoge, including all exposure information, with your
eye located up to 25mm (approx. one inch) away Irom
the eyepiece. That means iI you wear g,/osses or shoot in
high-glare situations requiring the use oI sunglasses,
you can stiLL see everything comlortobly without having
to press your glosses tightly ogoinst the eyepiece and
risk scratching the delicote .,lenses or damaging the
Irames. And even iI you don't weer glasses, the Nikon F3
High-Eyepoint camero is very usefu] when shooting
candids or sports becouse you can bring the camero
quickly up to your eye ond focus without your eye being
directly behind the eyepiece.
Before actually toking pictures with the F3 High-Eyepoint
cemere, you should Iomiliarize yourself with its basic
operotion as presented in the first section. For more
detailed explanations and special picture-taking situ-
ations, reler to the second section, "Controls in Detail."
A few minutes wisely invested now will pay ofl later in
years oI rewarding photogrophic experiences.
www.butkus.usView original page 9Page 12 · Read text
OPERATION- continued-BASIC /. Mount the lens onto $. Open the ccrmerq bcrck. $. Instcrll the lilm ccrrtridge. the camerc. Push the camera back lock lever Drop the film cartridge into the Grasp the lens by its mounting ring @ to the right with your thumb whlle film cartridge chamber so that the @. Then line up the iocusing index liftinq the film rewind knob@. The film leader points towards the takeup @ on the lens with ihe white dot @ camera back will pop open. spool, and push the rewind knob on the camera body and twist the back down into place. lens counterclockwise until it clicks into place. To remove: Push the lens release button @ and turn the lens clock- wise until it comes off .View original page 12
Page 15 · Read text
Ws Set the camerq for crutomcrticllraI -q Set ther ASA/ISO film l$. speeo. operqlton.
Lift up the ASA/ISO film speed dial Rotate the shutter speed dial @ until the "A" is oppo-
@ and rotate it in either direction site the white dot @. The built-in locking mecha-
until the white dot is opposite the nism ensures that the dial cannot be accidentally
ASA/ISO film speed in use. Also shifted from the auto position during shooting.
make sure the exposure compen-
sation dial is set to the red "0." This
programs the camera's exposure
meter so that it may provide a proper
exposure for the type of film being
used.
www.butkus.us
l1View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
OPERATION continued-BASIC -
Hold the camerc stecrdy. Focus on the subiect. Out of !$. l/. focus --- Turn the lens focusing ring until the image in the viewfinder becomes Wrap ihe fingers of your right
hand around the camera body so that sharp.
the index finger rests comfortably on The K focusing screen comes with the camera as standard equipment. With
the shutter release button and the the split-image rangefinder, turn the ring until the split image becomes whole.
thumb fits between the body and film With the microprism grid, turn the ring until the shimmering image
advance lever. Then, cradle the appears sharp. With the matte outer field, turn the ring until the image ap-
camera in the left hand with the pears sharp. The split-image rangefinder works well for subjects having defi-
thumb and fingers grasping the lens nite lines or boundaries. The microprism collar is for fast-moving subjects or )
focusing ring @ . The camera may ones with indistinct lines, while the matte outer field is suitable for close-ups.
be switched from horizontal- to verti- In fast-moving or candid shooting situations, you can measure or estimate the
cal-format shooting in this position. disiance between you and the subject and preset it on the lens using the dis-
r Even with your eye located up to tance scale @ engraved both in ieet and meters.
25mm (approx. one inch) away from
the eyepiece, you can still see the en-
tire viewfinder image, including all
exposure information.
12View original page 16Page 18 · Read text
OPERATION- continued-BASIC
Take the picture. Advqnce the film. 20. 21. Look through the viewlinder and press the shutter release button Stroke the film advance lever
liqhtly to turn on the exposure meter. The shutter speed display indicates to transport the film to the next frame
the shutter speed selected by the camera. As long as neither + 2000 nor and get the camera ready for the
- B - appears in the shutter speed display, the camera gives the correct next shot.
exposure. If either indication should appear,adjust the aperture ring on the
lens until a desirable shutter speed is indicated. Should either indication
appear even after all possible lens apertures have been tried,then the availa-
ble hqht is too bright or too dim for the meter's range. Use either artificial
liqht to increase the subject's brightness or a neutral density filter to reduce
the amount of liqht reaching the film.
14View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
r)r) the film the lilm z4.Remove..'.' Push in the rewind z}.I:yi"i button @. Lift the film rewind crank and ccrtridge.
After the last exposure has been turn it in the direction of the arrow to Open the camera back and take out
made, the film advance lever will rewind the film. When you feel the the film cartridge. Avoid unloading
stop working. You must then rewind tension lessen, continue winding the film in direct sunlight. If there is
the exposed film back into its car- one or two more turns until the film no shade available, turn your back
tridge. To do this, first turn the leader is rewound completely back on the sun and use your own
camera upside down and depress into the cartridqe. shadow to shield the camera while
ihe rewind button to disengage the unloadino film.
film sprocket drive.
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15View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
OPERATION- continued-BASIC t ( Turn the cqmercr oII. Al,.- Turn the oower switch off while the camera is not in use. This pre- vents inadvertent battery drain in case the shutter release button is accidentally depressed. 16View original page 20
Page 21 · Read text
CONTROTS IN DETAIT
Shutter speed dicl @
In addition to automatic stepless shutter speed control,
the Nikon F3 Hiqh-Eyepoint camera offers manual control
of all shutter speeds from I/2000 sec. to B sec. including
X, B, and T. To move the shutier speed dial off "A," depress
the locking button @ as you rotate the dial counterclock-
wise to the l/2000 sec. setting. You can then rotate the
dial freely between any setting except "X" which, like
"A," is a locked setting. Shutter speeds ftom I/2000 sec.
to I/2 sec. are engraved in white, I to B seconds in
orange, and "B," "T" and "X" in white. I/60 sec. is in red,
indicating the highest manual shutter speed for proper
synchronization with electronic flash except "X."
When the camera is on manual, an "\4" appears to the left
o{ the liguid crystal shutter speed display inside the
viewfinder. ]n addition, above the "M," the following
symbols appear: "-," "+" and "-+" indicating under-
exposure, overexposure and correct exposure, respec-
-#r- tively. To obtain correct exposure, simply turn the shutter 5a appears.speed dial and/or aperture ring until the "- + " symbol
www.butkus.usView original page 21Page 22 · Read text
IN DETAlT-continued-CONTROLS The following table illustrates the interrelation between
shutter speed and aperture.
The best combination will depend on the results you
The F3 Hiqh-Eyepoint camera has two separate settings want. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze motion; use slow
for time exposures. On "B,'1 the shutter remains open for speeds to produce a deliberate blur. (See the example
as long as the shutter release button is depressed. On "T," pictures on the opposite page.). Also, small apertures
the shutter stays open until the dial is rotated to another give greater depth of field, while Iarge apertures restrict
setting, making it ideal for really long time exposures. Be- sharp focus to the main subject. (See page 26.)
ing a mechanical setting, "T" will not cause battery drain A good rule io follow in preventing camera shake is to
regardless of how long the shutter remains open. * select a minimum shutter speed which is the reciprocal o{
"X" provides a shutter speed setting of l/80 sec. It is used the focal length of the lens in use. For example, when
to provide proper synchronization with electronic flash using a normal 50mm lens, select a speed no slower than
unrts other than the Nikon dedicated flash units. 1/60 sec. (the closest number to I/50). For a 500mm
The amount of liqht reaching the film plane is determined super-telephoto, use no less than l/500 sec., and so forth.
by a combination of the shutter speed and the lens
aperture. Since the two are interrelated, different combi- 'To make o mechanicol releose, turn the power switch off ond moke sure
nations will give the same degree of exposure. A one-step the LCD inside the t'inder is not disployed. Then, trip the shutter using
change in shutter speed, or a one-stop change in aper- the bockup mechanicol releose lever.
ture setting, will either halve or double the degree of ex-
posure. For example, a shutter speed oI I/I25 sec. Iets
in twice as much light as a setting of L/250 sec., and only
half as much light at l/60 sec. For an aperture setting of
f/ll, twice as much light as f/16 and half as much as f/8,
is let in. Thus, if the correct exposure for a particular
picture-taking situation is I/I25 at f/ll, then I/60 at f/16
or l/250 at f/8 will give the same exposure.View original page 22Page 24 · Read text
IN DETAlT-continued-CONTROLS f-,j':"'--l
Exposure memory lock button @
Wh-en there is a substantial di{ference between the main
subject and the background, unimportant briqht spots or (Fis. l)
dark spots are Iikely to fool the camera's metering, result- l--.Jj" I ing in underexposure or overexposure (see Fig. 1)' One
way to make exposure compensation is to use the memory
lock. This control allows you to lock in an exposure read-
ing with the camera on automatic control. To compensate
for an excessively briqht or dark background, center the
main subject in the viewfinder or move in close to the
subject, depress the memory lock button and hold it in;
then recompose and shoot (see Fig. 2).
(Fig.2) 20View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
Exposure compenscrtion dial @ ASA/ISO film speed dicrl @
Another way to correct exposure is to use this dial. Push The scale @ on the ASA/ISO dial has numbered settings
the locking button @ while rotating the dial. The dial is for speeds from ASA/ISO 12 to 6400. Two dots between
graduated in one-third stop increments. -l and -2 indi- each pair of ASA/ISO numbers stand for intermediate
cate one and two stops underexposure, whereas + I and settings, such as 64, 80, etc. The table below gives the
+ 2 indicate one and two stops overexposure. speeds for all intermediate settings.
At ASA/ISO 6400, the compensation extends to only - l;
at ASA/ISO 12, up to + J- The following table indicates 16 20 32 40 64 80 175 250 I 500 I r 000i 2000 I 4000+the recommended settings for various subjects. A{ter use, 160 320 640 12 50 2500 5000
make sure you set the dial back to "0,"
ASA/ISO is a numerical rating of the film's sensitivity to
Photographs and pictures with contrnu Compensation not necessary a given amount of liqht. The higher the number, the ous oladation
greater the sensitivity, and vice versa. The ASA/ISO of Copy worl Approx. + I to +2 stops Ior black letters
Documents and drawings ol high on white background; approx. - l/2 to your film is indicated on the cartridge itself. It is also conlrasr stop lor white letters on black - I background. printed on the film carton and on the data sheet packed
General lilm with continuous gradation Approx. 1.to +2stops inside.
slide Approx. + I-I/2 to + 2-ll2 stops lor
duplication Film ol documents and drawings black letters on white background
photographed 0 to approx. - 1/2 stop Ior white lelters on black backqround www.butkus.usView original page 25Page 26 · Read text
Memo holder @ Shutter releqse button @
As a reminder of the film type and the number of ex- Slight pressure on the shutter release button switches on
posures on the roll in use, clip off the end of the {ilm the exposure meter. Pushing the button all the way down
carton and insert it into the memo holder. releases the shutter. The shutter release button is thread-
ed at the center to accept a standard cable release.
When battery power fails, the F3 Hiqh-Eyepoint camera's
electromagnetically controlled shutter ceases to operate.
You cannot release the shutter release button unless you
use the backup mechanical release lever@.
To lock the shutter release button when the camera is not
in use, turn the power switch to the "OFF" position.
Note: At the "8" setting, unless you hold the shutter releose button down
oll the woy, the shutter may close prematurely.
22View original page 26Page 27 · Read text
Film crdvcrnce lever @ Frcrme counter @
The fllm advance lever is specially contoured to fit the To keep track of the number of exposed frames, the frame
thumb and is coaxial with the shutter release button. counter is graduated from two frames below 0 up to 40.
It has a 30o stand-ofi with a throw of 140' and may be Blue numerals appear every 5 frames (0, 5, 10, etc.) with
operated in one complete stroke or a series of shorter ones. dots in between. White marks at 12, 20, 24, and 36 indi-
cate'the number of frames available on most film car-
tridges. When making blank shots with the shutter speed
dial set to "A," the shutter will fire at l/80 sec. until the
frame counter reaches "1." In addition, the LCD shows
B0 in the finder. Or if you set the dial manually between
I/I25 and i/2000 sec., the shutter will still fire at l/80 sec.
In the finder, an "M80" is displayed. However, if the
speed is manually set to I/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 l/80 sec. (X) or above. "T" should not be
used when makinq blank shots as the shutter will remain
open. www.butkus.uslocked
ZJView original page 27Page 29 · Read text
I
I
Bcckup mechcrniccrl release lever @ Depth-ol-field preview button @
This lever is provided as an alternative method of irip- This control allows you to get a visual impression of the
ping the shutter in case the camera's batteries become various parts of the scene in front of and behind the main
weak or completely exhausted. To operate the lever, first subject which will appear sharp in the final photograph
use your fingernail to pull it down to the ready position. (see the photos on the next page.) To operate this control,
Then push it down to trip the shutter. The shutter operates push the button while looking through the viewfinder. If
at a mechanical speed of approx. l/60 sec. at any seiting the lens is set to anything other than maximum aperture,
on the shutter speed dial except "T." At "T," the shutter the image on the focusing screen will give you an indi-
remains open until the dial is turned to another setting. cation of exactly whai will be in focus in the final photo.
To conserve battery power, it's recommended to use the The image progressively gets darker as the lens aperture
backup mechanical release lever to trip the shutter at gets smaller.
"T." Turn the power switch off ,'and make sure the LCDI 'fl shutter speed is off before tripping the shutter. This
( prevents battery drain.
Cqufion: II you advance the film while holding down the bockup mecho-
nicol releose lever, the shutter will fire immediotely of the completion
of the film odvonce stroke, thus wosting o frome.
AIso i{ you foil to odvonce the Iilm completely and then use this lever to trip the shutter, the mirror @ witt remoin in the "up" positionwww.butkus.usuntil the
odvance lever stroke is completed.
25View original page 29Page 30 · Read text
IN DETAll-continued-CONTROLS
At wide ape.iu.es, ihe depih-of lield isve.r shdllow wiih the main subjeci in focus.
Bui when the lens is stopped down io {/16, ftosi objects hom near to Iar are in sha.p Iocus
26View original page 30Page 31 · Read text
b,
I
II
Meter coupling lever @ For non-Al lenses or qccessories without automctic
Push the meter coupling lever release button @ and lock dicphrcrgms
the meter coupling lever in the "up" position before On AUTO: Stop the lens down manually until the de-
mounting a non-Al Nikkor lens. Then perform stopped- sired shutter speed appears in the finder. Then take
down metering in the following mannerl the picture.
For non-Al Nikkor lenses with crutomctic dicphrcrgms On MANUAL: Adjust the shutter speed or aperture until
On AUTO: Push in and hold the depth-of-fieli prelriew the "* + " sign appears.
button while you trip the shutter. For lixed-crperlure ref lex lenses, photomicrogrcphy,
Coution.' If the depth-of-field preview button is not depressed oll the or crstrophotogrcphy
woy, the mirror moy remoin in the "up" position. On AUTO: No control is necessary.
On MANUAL: Select a shutter speed. Then hold in the On MANUAL: Adjust the shutter speed dial until the
preview button and turn the aperture ring until the rr- + " appears. r\- + " symbol appears in the finder. Release the preview
button and take the shoi.
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27
LView original page 31Page 33 · Read text
I I
Eyepiece shutter lever @ Accessory shoe @
When it's impossible to keep your eye at the viewfinder Located ai the base of the rewind knob, the accessory shoe
(such as when uiilizing the self-timer), you should use the allows direct mounting of the Nikon SB-12, SB-16A, SB-I7
eyepiece shutter. This shutter prevents stray light from or SB-2IA Speedlight. Three electrical contacts @ provide
entering the eyepiece and adversely affecting the auto- for synchronization of the flash unit, automatic through-the-
matic exposure meter reading. Just push the lever to the Iens flash output control, and ready-liqht indication in the
left to close the shutter. As a visual reminder that it's in camera's viewfinder (via an LED), plus auto switching to
use, the blind is painted red. the proper synchronization speed of l/80 sec. Three Nikon
Flash Unit Couplers are available allowing either ISO- or
Nikon F2-type direct-mounting electronic flash units to be
attached.
Cqufion;
1) For flosh photogrcphy, it is recommended thot you use o Nikon dedi-
cated electronic flash unit which operotes with o low-voltoge current.
Use oI ony other flosh which opero/es at high voltoges may domage
the comero's circuitry. Any domage caused by such use is not covered
bythe Nikon Worronty.
www.butkus.us2) EvenSB-E withconnotthebecoupler,used withthe anNikonF3 SpeedliqhtHiqh-EyepointSB-19,comeroSB-18,when58-168o finderond
other than the standord DE-3 or Eve-Level Finder DE-2 is used.
29View original page 33Page 34 · Read text
IN DETAlT-continued-CONTROIS
Sync termincrl @ Viewlinder illumincrtor @
A separate sync terminal with a protective screw-in cover A convenient built-in viewfinder illuminator lets you see
is provided on the Nikon F3 Hiqh-Eyepoint camera. It ac- the liquid crystal display shutter speed, including the
cepis all standard plug-in sync cords, plus it is threaded aperture, even in dim liqht. While the LCD is displayed
for use with a Nikon screw-in sync cord. When using flash in the finder, push the illuminator button @.
bulbs or an electronic flash without a hot shoe, it is neces-
sary to use the sync ierminal. Use the following table to Note: The power switch must be turned on ond the shutter button must
determine the correct synchronization speed to set on the be depressed holfwoy prior to using the illuminotor. Otherwise, it will not light up. camera.
Fitr;F,,, 1 Synchronized
F-.Tl Cannot be used
Note: When using a special electronic Ilash unit with provision for time )ag,
an electronic flash unit with long flash duration time, or the Medical-lVr'kkor
l20mm f/4 .lF, adjust shutter speed down to 1/30 sec. or slower.
30View original page 34From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.