hkr4627@acf4.UUCP (Hedley K. J. Rainnie) (04/15/85)
The Nikon F-3 is specified in product literature and magazine reviews as an aperture priority automatic--i.e., you set the aperture, the camera sets the (stepless) shutter speed. However, in Gary Berstein's <Pro Techniques of People Photography> published by HP Books, Mr Bernstein uses his F3 on shutter priority automatic for a series of action shots, setting the shutter speed to 1/250 sec. and noting that the aperture varied from f-4 to f-8. Does shutter priority automatic mean manually stopping the lens up and down until '250' appears in the viewfinder and shooting? It seems unlikely since it was specified that the motor drive was used at its highest speed (MD-4: 5.5 frames/second). Or is the F3 really a shutter priority automatic? -r-
mazur@harvard.ARPA (Eric Mazur) (04/16/85)
> The Nikon F-3 is specified in product literature and magazine reviews > as an aperture priority automatic--i.e., you set the aperture, the > camera sets the (stepless) shutter speed. > > Or is the F3 really a > shutter priority automatic? > No, the F3 is not a "shutter priority automatic" camera. If you preset the aperture the shutter speed will be set automatically. If you preset the shutter speed (this mode is called "manual", an "M" appears in the viewfinder), you'll have to adjust the aperture manually until a +/- appears next to the "M". I very rarely do this myself, whether I'm using the MD-4 or not. Rather than presetting a high shutter speed in cases this is required (such as fast action), I just open the aperture as much as I want/is needed, and continue to trust the excellent automatic shutter speed selection of the Nikon F3. In the many years that I have used my F3 (@ 4000+ slides/year) I have never been disappointe Eric Mazur Harvard University ARPA-NET: mazur@harvard.arpa BITNET: MAZUR@HARVUNXH.BITNET UUCP: {seismo,harpo,ihnp4,linus,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard!mazur