I have a few questions about my F3HP...

Hi all. To give a little background first, I started taking photos

several years ago with my father's old Miranda FM and 50mm Soligor.

I bought myself an old Nikon FM, since my father had two Nikormat

FT2s and several lenses. That got stolen a couple of years ago along

with the six Nikkor lenses and all of the accesories I had bought

over a three year period. After my FM was stolen I bought my F3HP.

I have a 50/1.2, 24/2.8, and 85/2 and an SB-16. However I never

really used it much. I've spent several months over on the Leica

forum and have bought an M2 and 50/ 'cron. I really enjoy shooting

B&W, especially with my M2, but I'm getting into slides for the first

time. Shooting 100 ASA slide film in my M2 isn't a lot of fun. I

constantly wish I had 400 ASA B&W in it. So, my F3HP is coming out

of stasis. Now, for my questions. I have never really used a flash

and as everything was bought used, I don't have a single manual for

my Nikon system. Is it a good idea to use the SB-16 shooting slides

outdoors? Indoors? What's a good way for me to determine when I

need it? How do I determine what settings to use, etc.? Thank you

in advance for any help. I know it may seem like a dumb question,

but I've always just shot available light (hence the 50/1.2). Have a

wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

Best,

John

Here's a good overview website for using an F3 / accessories:<br>

<a href="http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/index.htm">http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/index.htm</a>

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An F3 is a tough choice for outdoor fill flash due to its low flash sync speed. I guess the usual way to determine when you need flash fits: when there isn't enough light to make a hand-held photo without it, or if you can use the flash to reduce the contrast range for fill.

I think that site will help with the settings Q's. I have an F3, but I don't have an SB-16 (just the smaller SB-17) and I rarely use it with flash.

Todd isn't kidding about flash on the F3HP. To live with it, shoot slow films with a high power flash (the SB16 is fine). In a pinch, I've even done fill flash on people in bright sun by using my polarizer as a neutral grad. My flash has enough power to do this out to about 10 feet or so with 100 speed film, more than enough for 3 shots a year I take like this.

 

You need flash: (a) when you are handholding and don't have enough light (b) you need to freeze action © you are shooting a high contrast scene and require "fill"

 

An off camera cord is a good tool to improve the "look" of flash photos.

 

For total flash using TTL, you'll have to pay careful attention to placement of the centre 12mm circle and the tone of the subject. Use exposure compensation as necessary. Unfortunately, due to the poor design ergonomics, this means you'll have to remove the flash! I use a "butterfly" bracket a lot doing total flash for macro either in TTL or manual. At f/16, the slow X-synch isn't a factor with 50 speed films. Often, I find it just as easy to work in manual.

 

For fill using TTL I've worked out a complicated procedure. Flash off the body, meter, set exposure manually (X-synch or less on shutter speed). Set exposure compensation on the camera to -1 to -2 stops. Flash on the body, fire away. Its a pain but I'm not a big fill flash shooter.

 

If I became a big fan of flash, I think I'd just as soon buy an F4. It'll give you matrix balanced fill flash with manual lenses. (it doesn't do the D style flash where the focus distance is relayed to the camera)

John,

 

Just stick to available light. Flash use is ignorant, boorish and socially on about the same as farting in church. Using flash is an admittance to incompetence, if you can see it you can photograph it.

ARRRRGGGGGHHH

 

Another Available Light Fundamentalist. Kill all the infidels they say!!!

 

If I were you, and didn't need the removable prism of the F3, I would get an F801 or F90 which works beautifully with the SB16, besides not needing that funny base foot. On the F3, anything but a simple thyristor autoflash is of questionable value.

 

I had an 801 at a company conference once and got a real deal on a SB 16 at a local camera shop. I put the flash on the camera, set the camera to 1/250, P and the flash to TTL and then just pushed the button. The balanced fill flash came out just right.

 

I have the manuals for the 801 and SB 16 which I can supply copies of if you want, for a nominal cost to scan and file as a PDF file.

 

The SB 16 is a really great unit, still in production, as it has bounce and a forward facing catch light: ideal for people shots.

 

To Hell with all fundamentalists of any stripe.

 

(Don't tell any one of the fundamentalists, but I even use flash with a Leica: works great!)

 

Cheers

I'm not huge into flash photography but to totally dismiss it demonstrates total ignorance. I use flash to solve photographic problems that cannot be addressed in any other way. Otherwise, the flash stays in the bag.

 

Ever try to shoot active insects, frogs, lizards etc at macro size using a tripod and long shutter speeds? You can see and you can photograph it all right...but will it be in focus? blurry? grainy fast film?

If flash was good enough for W. Eugene Smith, it's good enough for the rest of us (at least in an emergency).

Ever heard of. O. Winston Link?