Nikon F3 Instruction Manual
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Nikon F3 Instruction Manual

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INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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Summary of Contents for Nikon F3

  • Page 1 Nikon INSTRUCTION MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Nomenclature

    NOMENCLATURE-------------------------- r-,m",.,n dial button ITT •• ® Viewfinder illuminator Reflex mirror Memo holder...
  • Page 3 Distance scale -direct-readout scale Viewfinder illuminator button Self-timer lever Self-timer ON index Power switch ON index ® Power switch Film advance lever Shutter- scale Shutter speed dial ® Film indicator...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    C O N T E N T S - - - - - - - - - - - - TABLE OF NOMENCLATURE . FOREWORD BASIC OPERATION CONTROLS IN DETAIL Shutter speed dial. Exposure memory lock button . Exposure compensation dial ASA film speed dial .

  • Page 5: Foreword

    Congratulations! You now own one of the most ad- vanced and easy-to-use cameras on the market today_ With a wealth of exciting new features, the Nikon F3 is designed to be as up-to-date as you are in your ap- proach to photography_ However, before actually...

  • Page 6: Basic Operation

    BASIC OPERATION- - - - - - - - - - - - Remove the battery chamber lid • • Use a coin to twist the lid counter- clockwise to unscrew it. Install the batteries. • Insert the two 1.5V silver-oxide batteries supplied with the camera making sure that the "+"...
  • Page 7 Move the power switch to uncover the red dot This turns the camera on and makes ready for exposure reading and shooting. Touch the shutter release ® ®. • button lightly. This activates the exposure meter. The meter stays on for 16 seconds after you take your finger off the button and turns itself off auto- matically to conserve battery power.
  • Page 8 -BASIC OPERATION-continued------------ Mount the lens onto the camera. Grasp the lens by its mounting ring Then line up the focusing index on the lens with the white dot on the camera body and twist the lens counterclockwise until it clicks into place.
  • Page 9 Insert the film leader in the spool. Pull leader across camera and insert it into one of the slots in film takeup spool. Note: Iwo dolo back conlacls localed inside film guide rails are wilh a dolo back Wind the film advance lever take up •...
  • Page 10 -BASIC OPERATION-continued------------ Close the camera back. Close the camera back until it snaps shut. Take up the film slack. Fold out the film rewind crank ® and rotate in the direction of the arrow until it stops. Then fold the crank back in.
  • Page 11 Set the ASA film speed. Lift up the ASA film speed dial @ and rotate it in either direction until the white dot is opposite the ASA film speed in use. Also make sure the exposure compensation 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...
  • Page 12 -BASIC OPERATION-continued------------ Hold the camera steady. Wrap the fingers of your right hand around camera body index finger rests comfortably on shutter release button thumb fits between the body film advance lever Then, cradle camera in the hand with the thumb grasping lens focusing The camera may be...
  • Page 13 ---------- Infocus ---------- 3 4 5 ---- Inside the viewfinder LCD exposure information ADR flnumber Fine matte/Fresnel outer field Microprism collar Split-image rangefinder spot 12mm<t> reference circle Note meter reads the light aver the entire focusing screen but is distinctly biased toward the central 12mm¢...
  • Page 14 Take the picture. Look through the viewfinder and press the shutter release button lightly to turn on the exposure meter. The shutter speed display indicates the shutter speed selected by the camera. As long as neither - 8 - appears in the shutter speed display, the camera gives the correct exposure If either indication appears, adjust the aperture ring on the lens until a desirable shutter speed is indicated.
  • Page 15 Push in the rewind button After the last exposure has been made, the film advance lever will stop working. You must then rewind the exposed film back into its car- tridge To do this, first turn the camera upside down and depress the rewind button to disengage the film sprocket drive.

  • Page 16: Basic Operation

    -BASIC OPERATION-continued----------- Turn the camera off. To conserve battery power between takes, return the power switch to the "off" position.

  • Page 17: Controls In Detail

    CONTROLS IN D E T A I L - - - - - - - - - - - - , -, 5 ® Shutter speed dial addition to automatic stepless shutter the Nikon F3 offers manual control of all shutter speeds from 112000 sec.

  • Page 18: Controls In Detail

    -CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- The F3 has two separate settings for time "B," the shutter remains open release button is depressed. On open until the dial is rotated ideal really long time exposures. setting, "T" will not cause battery drain regardless of how...
  • Page 19 (Subject motion blur) (Stop action)

  • Page 20: Exposure Memory Lock Button

    -CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- Exposure memory lock button When there is substantial difference between the main subject and the background, unimportant bright spots dark spots are likely to fool the ing in under-or overexposure make exposure compensation This control allows you to lock in an with the camera on automatic control.

  • Page 21: Exposure Compensation Dial

    Exposure compensation dial Another way to correct exposure is to use this dial. Push locking button while rotating the dial. The dial is graduated in one-third stop increments. -1 and -2 cate one and two stops underexposure 2 indicate one and two stops overexposure. At ASA 6400, the compensation extends to only -1 up to The following table indicates the...

  • Page 22: Memo Holder

    To lock the shutter release button when in use, turn release button cable release. fails, the F3's electromagnetically shutter ceases to operate. You cannot release use the backup ®. the camera power switch to the "OFF"...

  • Page 23: Film Advance Lever

    Film advance lever The film advance lever specially contoured to fit the thumb coaxial with the shutter release button. It has a stand-off with a throw of 140 operated in one complete stroke or a Frame counter keep track of the number counter and may be Blue numerals...

  • Page 24: Multiple Exposure Lever

    -CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- Multiple exposure lever Double multiple exposures the F3's multiple exposure lever. Take the first shot. Then to recoc shutter without advancing the film, push the multiple exposure stroke the advance lever. Immediately the multiple exposure lever will spring back to its normal position...

  • Page 25: Backup Mechanical Release Lever

    Backup mechanical release lever This lever is provided as an alternative method of ping the shutter in case the camera's batteries become weak or completely exhausted use your fingernail to pull down to Then push down to trip the shutter. The shutter operates mechanical speed of approx...
  • Page 26 -CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- Lens set at fll6 Lens at £/2.8 At wide apertures, the depth-ol-field is very shallow with the main subject in focus. But when the lens is stopped down to £116, most objects from near to far are in sharp focus.

  • Page 27: Meter Coupling Lever

    ® Meter coupling lever Push meter coupling lever release button meter coupling lever mounting non-AI Nikkor lens down metering in the following manner For non-AI Nikkor lenses with automatic diaphragms On AUTO: Push in and hold the depth-of-field button while you trip the shutter If the depth -a/·/ield preview...

  • Page 28: Mirror Lockup Lever

    1/5.6. With the mirror locked up, you Caution automatic. Even though speed automatically selected by the correct exposure. Self-timer The F3's blinking shutter release. To operate the self-timer: viewing in the depth-of-field counterclockwise the mirror be locked up bel ore...

  • Page 29: Eyepiece Shutter Lever

    Nikon electrical contacts provide for synchro- the flash unit, automatic through -the-lens flash and ready-light indication switching 1/80 sec. either IS0- flash units to be attached. accessory SB-12 Speed- in the camera's to the pro- flash coupling Nikon F2-...

  • Page 30: Sync Terminal

    -CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- Sync terminal A separate sync terminal with a protective screw-in is provided on the Nikon F3. It accepts all standard plug- in PC cords, plus is threaded for use with a Nikon screw-in PC cord. When using flash bulbs or an elec- tronic flash without a hot shoe, it is necessary to use the sync terminal.

  • Page 31: Film Plane Indicator

    Film plane indicator The film plane indicator is engraved in white on the (-e-) top deck just behind the shutter speed dial. It indicates the exact position of the film plane inside the camera Whenever it becomes necessary to measure the exact distance between the subject and film plane, such as in macrophotography, use the film plane indicator distance between the film plane and the lens mounting...

  • Page 32: About The Liquid Crystal Display (Lcd)

    You shorten the LCD's When temperature goes below freezing, the res- ponse time decreases more viscose. Although the Nikon F3 employs LCD, it deteriorates in contrast after six or seven years. When this happens, please contact your dealer or...

  • Page 33: Evrangeofthecamera

    In practice, you will find that it is generally the high end area encompassed and the low end which require a careful check. The EV metering range of the Nikon F3 encompasses most lighting situ- an fll.4 lens ations, and it is only under dim-light or extra-bright picture-taking situations that you need pay any special attention.
  • Page 34 When used at capability of your Nikon F3. flnumbe When pictures are taken desirable to use a high-speed film (ASA 160 or higher). lens ASA 100 film, the Using Tri-X at film speed 400 with stop-down metering,...
  • Page 35 Section A Working Aperture 11 8 5.64 2.8 2 3222 16 6 5 4 6 5 4 9 8 7 6 5 4 11 10 9 8 1211109876543 131211 10 9 8 141312111098765 151413121110 16151413121110 9 8 17 16151413121110 9 1817 16 15 14 131211 10 9 19181716151413121110 201918 17 1615141312 11...

  • Page 36: Accessories

    ACCESSORIES-------------- Interchangeable viewfinders addition to the DE-2 Eye-Level Finder, the F3 various other interchangeable viewfinders. finder, slide the finder release thumb and finger towards the lift the finder out (Fig. 2) Finder is ideal when you angle or upside down over your head crowds.

  • Page 37: Interchangeable Focusing Screens

    Interchangeable focusing screens Nikon offers a choice of 20 interchangeable screens: A-T The type K screen comes with as standard equipment. On the following listing all the scree To take out the focusing screen, first remove then insert your fingernail under the rear...

  • Page 38: Focusing Screen Selector Guide

    -ACCESSORIES-continued-------------- Focusing Screen Selector Guide M~Ue/Fresnel Type 12mm~ spot and ircle. Rapid general photogrophy. Type B: Matte/ Fresnel field with In the center. Good for general -lenses. : Fine-ground Type photomicrography, ostrophotogrophy cation applications. using Type D: Overilll line-ground photography and for use with long lenses. Type MatteI Fresnel field with etched...

  • Page 39: Motor Drive

    Motor Drive One of the most exciting new accessories for the F3 is the MD-4 Motor Drive. This amazingly compact and stream- lined unit attaches to the bottom of the camera in seconds and advances the film either singly or in sequence form up to a rapid 6·...

  • Page 40: Speedlights

    It has a gUide number of 36 (ASA 25 and feet) and gives you a choice of matic shooting apertures- When used with the F3 via a special cord, provides same automatic control of the flash exposure as include bounce...

  • Page 41: Other Accessories

    F3 without fear of scratching their glasses. Camera Cases The CF-20 Semi Soft Leather Case clusively for the F3. And there...

  • Page 42: Tips On Camera Care

    Camera care is common sense care. Treat your F3 as you would treat other valuable precision instruments though the F3 is built to take many years of hard use, may be damaged by shock, Following are some tips to help you keep your camera in...
  • Page 43 Clean the inside of the camera. Brush inside of camera periodically using a soft Do not exert pressure on shutter curtains Also keep the mirror free from fingerprints and dust. Store the camera properly . Store the camera in a carrying case to protect storing the camera in excessively hot, cold, or damp places.

  • Page 44: Specifications

    35mm single-lens reflex Type of camera 24mm x 36mm Picture format (standard Lens mount Nikon bayonet mount Nikkor Lenses and Nikon Series E 5011 .8 as standard; more and Nikon available Horizontal-travel, Shutter plane shutter Shutter speeds Auto: trolled 1/2000 sec.;...
  • Page 45 Viewfinder display Liquid crystal shows shutter speed; on 2000 indicates underexposure; appears overexposure, and - correct exposure; ready-light glows when Nikon SB-ll SB-12 completely also shown direct-readout (ADR) window Viewfinder Provided; illuminates both liqUid illuminator crystal display and ADR umber...

  • Page 46: Important

    Nikon dealer. check if it Maximum Aperture Indexing body by verifying that meter coupling " mark that the lens offers the...

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