F O R E W O R D
This section outlines various functions and controls available in a Nikon F3 camera. The normal Eye Level Finder (DE-2) when used on the F3 is generally referred as F3. A High Eyepoint Finder (DE-3) is used here because it was the most popular prism among all models in the F3, here in referred as F3HP. There is no distinguishable advantage over the DE-2 finder other than it allows you to see the entire viewfinder image, including all exposure information, with your eye located up to 25mm (approx. one inch) away from the eyepiece. But compromise point is a reduced viewfinder magnification from 0.8 to 0.75X. If you are a eyeglass wearer or work in high glare situation that demands to work behind sunglasses or even for those use optical device underwater, this can be an advantage. Other than these, the rest is just cosmetic. So you don't have to rush out to buy a High-Eyepoint Finder to replaced yours if you have bought a used F3 with the standard DE-2 finder.
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But before actually taking pictures with the F3 High-Eyepoint camera, I would strongly suggest you to familiarize yourself with its basic operation and its various controls. Because, only if you have mastered them, you can either use or combined them and put them into creative use. |
I am using a camera manual as a medium to illustrate and add in further information where it relates. Thus, A few minutes wisely invested here now MAY pay off later in your many years of rewarding photographic experiences.
Obviously, this section is created to help someone that has bought a used F3 in mind and additional info, comments and remarks were all personal experience. It is structured in such a way to help him/her with some basic knowledge with the Nikon photographic system. I am not selling for Nikon, but they did produced a great simple automated camera in the Nikon F3 and I thought this could be a serious consideration if you are looking for a manual focus SLR camera from the secondary used market.
W A R N I N G: The New G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have no aperture ring on the lens, they CANNOT ADJUST APERTURES with any of these manual focus Nikon FE series SLR camera models; please ignore some portion of the content contained herein this site where it relates.
Site Map for this section:
Main reference Map - Before you proceed to other sections in this site, it is strongly advise to open a new window by clicking here: HTML | PDF (276k)
Basic
Operations - Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV (4 parts)
Controls In
Detail - (7 parts) Or sufe in parts (Updated:
Patched a broken link...)
Shutter speed Dial |
Depth-of-field preview button |
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About the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) |
Motor Drive MD-4 | Speedlights | Other accessories
Tips on camera
care
Specifications
Quick reference guide for camera operations (PDF FILES):
Controls (382k) | Basic Operation (567k) | Detailing its controls (666k)
Camera Care (125k) | Accessories (239k) | MD-4 (313k) | Meter Coupling(30k) | Other info (55k) or FULL camera manual in PDF (1.6 MB - Only email request).
* Message Board for Nikon F3 Models
| Back | Index Page of F3
Camera Manual
| Back | Main
Index Page of Nikon F3
models
| Flash
Photography | Motor Drive(s) Interchangeable :
Prisms | Focusing Screens | Film backs | System accessories | Other
Issues
Variants- Prototypes: 1974 | 1977 | F3HP | F3AF | F3P | F3T | F3H | F3 LE models Camera Instruction
Manual: Nikon F3
HP, Nikon F3
AF-
HTML format (Instruction Manual for F3HP and MD-4 in PDF format is
only available by way of an e-mail
request) Main Reference
Map for Nikon F3HP: HTML | PDF (272k), MD-4 (PDF -224k)
Specifications
F3HP: HTML | PDF (44k)
* Message Board for Nikon F3 Models
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Copyright © 1999. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.
Credit: Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous flow of input. MCLau®, who has spent quite a number of nights with me to prepare this site. Lars Holst Hansen, Danish 'Hawkeye' who shares the same passion. CYLeow ® , photo editor of the Star newspaper, Malaysia, Mr Poon from Poon photo for their input on F3P. Azrul Abdullah for his earlier effort on F3AF. StevenWolfe for sharing his experience on the F3T LE. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from Shriro Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. Hiura Shinsaku, Nikomat ML, Japan for his contribution on all the various images of Nikon F3 prototype models; special thanks to Edward Ngoh for his permission to use his Nikon F3AF and the dual F3AF lenses; Simon Cheong, HK for his initial feedback on the Nikon F3AF; my friend, Chuck Hester who has been with me all these while with the development of all these Nikon sites; Augusto Stuat, Brazil with his input of the SB-3/SB-5 flash units; Don Walsh, Thailand for his information of the battery issues. A contributing site to a long lost friend on the Net. Made witha PowerMac, Powered by a RedHat Linux Server.