Nikon F3 Specifications (Standard Version, Applicable to HP as well)
Type of camera: Picture format: Lens mount: Lenses: Shutter: Shutter release button: Exposure: Automatic exposure control: Exposure: Manual exposure control: Backup mechanical release lever:

Exposure metering:

Metering range:
35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) 24mm x 36mm standard 35mm film format. Nikon F bayonet type. Virtually all lenses with Nikon F mount ( some with limitations); AF lenses. Electro magnetically controlled, horizontal-travel, titanium focal-plane shutter. Will switch meter on when lightly depressed halfway (after shutter release lock is released), meter remains on for 16 sec before turning off; standard cable release threaded in the center. Aperture-priority automatic exposure control; stepless shutter speeds from 8 sec to 1/2000 sec. Quartz digital control for 16 shutter speeds from 8sec to 1/2000 sec, including X (1/80 sec); B and T are also provided. Shutter realease at approx 1/60 sec, regardless of shutter speed dial setting (except T); used when batteries become weak or exhausted, or none are installed in the camera (Power supported by MD-4 when mounted). Modified with previsous Nikon standard 60/40 TTL center-weighted and changed to (80/20) full-aperture metering; aperture stop-down metering for older non AI or certain close up accessories; silicon photodiode (SPD) and metering circuits incorporated into camera body; meter works with all interchangeble viewfinders. EV 1 to 18 (ie f/1.4 at 1 sec to f/11 at 1/2000 sec with 50 mm f/1.4 lens and ISO 100 film).
Film speed setting: Exposure memory lock: Exposure compensation: Film advance lever: Self-timer: Viewfinder:

Viewfinder display:

Focusing screen: Finder coverage: Finder magnification: Viewfinder illuminator: Multiple exposure control: Reflex mirror: Depth-of-field preview: Frame counter: Film rewind: Accessory shoe:
ISO 12 to 6400 (can work in combination with exposure compensation). Via button next to lens mount. Via dial; +2 to -2 EV in 1/3 increments. Single stroke type; 30 degrees stand-off angle and 140 degrees winding angle; automatic film advance and rewinding is possible when motor drive MD-4 is used. Quartz-controlled approx 10 sec delayed exposure; LED blinks at 2 Hz for first 8 sec, then at 8 Hz for last 2 sec; setting user cancellable. Nikon F3; Eyelevel finder DE-2 as standard; Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint; eyelevel High-Eyepoint finder DE-3 as standard; both equipped with eyepice shutter; each interchangeable with 4 other types. Liquid crystal display (LCD) shows shutter speed; on Auto, +2000 indicates over-exposure, - 8 underexposure; on Manual, M appears with + indicating overexpousre, underexposure, and -+ correct exposure; LED ready-light glows when dedicated Nikon Speedlight SB12, SB-16A and SB-17, SB-11 and SB-14 with TTL Sencor cord SC-12, is completely recycled; aperture in use also show through aperture direct-readout (ADR) window. Split-image microprism Type K provided as standard; interchangeable with 22 other types of screens. Virtuelly 100%. 0.8 X for Nikon F3 Nikon F3HP: 0.75x (both with 50 mm lens set at infinity). Via button; illuminates LCD readout Via lever next to winding crank. Automatic instant-return type with mirror lock-up facility; enhanced with air damper and brake mechanism for reduced vibration and noise. Via button at same position of mirror Lock up lever. Additive type; frame numbers from 0 to 40; automatically reset back to S when camera back is opened. By crank provided after film rewind button is pressed. Automatic film rewind when MD-4 is attached. Located at base of rewind knob; accepts Speedlight SB12, SB11, SB-16A, SB-17 or TTL sensor cord SC-12 from

Flash synchronisation:

Accessory shoe:

Power source:

Motor drive coupling: Camera back:
Possible at all speeds up to 1/80 sec with electronic flash; with all dedicated Nikon flash from SB-12, and later models of SB-16A and SB-17, SB-11 and SB-14 with TTL sensor cord SC-12, sync speed is automatically set to 1/80 sec with dial at A or 1/125 sec an above. PC socket is also provided. Located at base of rewind knob; accepts Speedlight SB12, SB11, SB-16A, SB-17 or TTL sensor cord SC-12 from SB-11 or SB-14 for TTL direct flash control; three types of flash couplers available for mounting ISO-type or F2-type flash units. Choice of one 3V lithium battery CR-1/3N type, two 1.55V silver-oxide batteries SR-44 type, or two 1.5V alkaline batteries LR-44 type; optional Anti-Cold Battery Holder DB-2 accepts two AA alkaline, Ni-Cd or manganese batteries. Note: Unless otherwise stated, do not use lithiums batteries cells - at your own risk. Electrical contacts and mechanical couplers provided for operation with motor drive MD-4. Hinged; opened by pushing safety lock while pulling up rewind knob; memo holder provided; interchangeable with camera back MF-6, data back MF-14, or 250 exposure magazine back MF-4. Black only. Nikon F3: approx 148.5 x 96.5 x 65.5 mm; Nikon F3HP: approx 148.5 x 101.5 x 69 mm. Nikon F3: 715g approx Nikon F3HP: 760g approx. Back to F3 Main Index Page.

ABOUT THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)
1. At high temperatures (over approx. 60C), the whole surface turns black so that the exposure information cannot be read. However, this situation will return to normal when the temperature drops. 2. Avoid storing the camera in excessively hot places, such as in a car parked in direct sunlight or inside the trunk. You may shorten the LCD's life by doing so. 3. When the temperature goes below freezing, the response time decreases as the liquid crystal becomes more viscose.

EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA

The camera's meter may be used only within the shutter speed range covered by the exposure value (EV) range of the meter, which varies with the aperture and ASA/ISO settings. The chart on page 35 shows the relationships between the f/stop, shutter speed and film speed, indicating the slowest functioning shutter speed (for metering purposes) with any film speed/aperture combination. Careful attention to the following instructions will assure precise exposure, automatically, over the complete exposure control and meter range capabilities of your Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint camera.
Auto exposure control at full aperture
For example, with an f/1.4 lens and ASA/ISO 100 film, the automatic shutter will function down to one second with the lens set at f/1.4, and proportionately slower as the aperture is closed. However, practically speaking, even if the shutter speed/aperture combination is outside the guaranteed EV range shown in Section C of the EV Chart, you can still obtain good exposures at either the AUTO or MANUAL setting unless "+ 2000" or "8" appears in the viewfinder. Using a standard of ASA/ISO 25 film, you may be assured of at least a four-second speed regardless of the aperture of the lens used as long as the lens is set at full aperture (refer to Table). Using ASA/ISO 400 at f/1.4, the slowest speed is 1/4 second; however, as the aperture is closed down, the functioning shutter speed becomes progressively slower until we reach f/8 when the slowest speed of eight seconds is functioning.
Auto exposure control with stop-down metering
When using a bellows or other extension equipment which disengages the meter coupling device, it is necessary to revert to stop-down metering. Certain limitations are imposed in this mode. As lens-to-film distance is increased, the metering range (EV range) changes proportionately. For example, when an f/2 lens is used at 2:1 reproduction (twice life size) the effective f/number is f/5.6. When used at f/8, the effective f/number is f/22. When pictures are taken under minimal light levels, it is desirable to use a high speed film (ASA/ISO 160 or higher). Using Tri-X at film speed 400 with stop-down metering, with an effective f/number of f/8, the shutter speed range would be from 1/4 second to 1/2000. Should the light level drop
below EV 6, it would be out of the shutter speed range of the meter. ASA/ISO speed (4000) (160) 100 (80) 50 (64) Table Slowest shutter speed at full aperture with any lens Slowest shutter speed (sec.) 1/60 1/30 1/15 1/8 1/4 1/8
How to read the EV chart Full-aperture metering
Example: Lens maximum aperture f/1.4 ASA/ISO film speed 100 Workinq aperture f/5.6 By referring to the f/1.4 column in Section A and the EV values indicated for ASA/ISO 100 in Section D, you will find that the EV range for an f/1.4 lens at ASA/ISO 100 is 1 to 18. Now, refer to Section B and single out the f/5.6 indication for ASA/ISO 100. Go diagonally down until the protruding line intersects with Section C's vertical line for the shutter speed of 8 sec. (the F3 High-Eyepoint camera's slowest shutter speed). From this point of intersection, follow the horizontal line that leads to Section D's EV value for ASA/ISO 100, and you will obtain an EV value of 2. Start again from the f/5.6 indication for ASA/ISO 100 in Section B, and go down diagonally until the protruding line intersects with Section C's vertical line for the shutter speed of 1/2000 sec. (the F3 High-Eyepoint camera's fastest shutter speed) this time. Then follow the horizontal line that leads to Section D's EV value for ASA/ISO 100, and you will get a reading ot EV 16. This means that an f/stop of f/5.6 at ASA/ISO 100 and a shutter speed of from 8 to 1/2000 sec. has an effective EV range of 2 to 16, which is well within the F3 High-Eyepoint camera's metering range ot EV 1 to EV 18. The area encompassed by the heavy lines in Section C demonstrates a metering range for full aperture method using an f/1.4 lens and ASA/TSO 100 film.

Stop-down metering

Example: ASA/ISO film speed 100 Stopped-down aperture f/8
The procedure is the same. The f/8 column in Section A and the EV values indicated for ASA/ISO 100 in Section D will show you that the EV range for f/8 is 6 to 23. Refer now to Section B and single out f/8 at ASA/ISO 100. Go diagonally down until the protruding line intersects with Section C's vertical line for the shutter speed of 8 sec. From this point of intersection, follow the horizontal line that leads to Section D's EV value for ASA/ISO 100, and you will obtain an EV reading of 3. This means that an f/stop of f/8 at ASA/ISO 100 and a shutter speed of 8 sec. give an EV value outside the metering range. To find out the slowest shutter speed usable, follow the f/8 indication for ASA/ISO 100 in Section B diagonally down until it intersects the horizontal line in Section C that leads to Section D's EV value of 6 for ASA/ISO 100, and you will find that the slowest shutter speed usable is 1 sec. In other words, at f/8 and ASA/ISO 100, the available shutter speed range that is within the metering range is from 1 to 1/2000 sec., which has an effective EV range of 6 to 17 (indicated by the broken line in Section C)well within the metering range. In practice, you will find that it is generally the high end and the low end which require a careful check. The EV range of the Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint camera encompasses most lighting situations, and it is only under dim-light or extra-bright picture-taking situations that you need pay any special attention.

EV Chart

This EV Chart indicates the performance of the F3 High-Eyepoint camera under normal temperatures and gives the usable ranges for all shutter speed/film speed combinations.
* Credit: Shiro Malaysia, local distributor for Nikon Optical Products for providing this info, some parts of the manual was modified slighly to suit the PDF format. The headquater of Nikon Corporation has a section detailing how to request for their Instruction Manual of various
optical products, the URL is here: http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/faq-impe.htm Information in this site was merely created for your quick reference. We strongly suggest you write to Nikon corporation for actual copy of the official manual. The tradenames of "Nikon" and the logo is a registered trademark of Nikon Corporation, Japan.