F3 and TTL flash

I what to be able to control the amount of flash exposure -

underexpose of course. This is generally done on the flash (á lá

SB-24 etc). Question: is there any third party SCA 300

compatible flashes out there that can do this with the F3 SCA

300 adapter..?

 

I have an old Metz flash gun with a SCA TTL adapter that doesn´t

allow for compensation.

 

/Fredrik Annell

I don�t know of any flash that allows flash exposure compensation in TTL mode for the F3.

The first few Nikons with OTF-TTL flash control (F3, FE-2, FA, FG) are not capable of adjusting over/under exposure of the flash output in TTL mode. The easiest way is to use auto thysristor mode.

The exposure compensation on the SB-24 and others like it has no effect on these cameras while in TTL mode.

The method I use for daylight fill flash with -2 stops flash compensation in TTL mode is as follows:

 

1-) set your camera to manual mode.

2-) set the shutter to flash sync speed.

3-) dial in -2 stops under exposure compensation on the body.

4-) meter and set your aperture to +2 stops.

5-) set your flash to TTL mode, turn it on and shoot.

 

This is simpler than it seems and works perfectly, you�re fooling the camera to underexpose the flash output but setting the aperture to the correct exposure.

The biggest problem with the F3 in flash mode, besides the slow sync speed, is that the meter turns off as soon as the flash turns on. You have to meter with the flash turned off.

The new AS-17 flash coupler for the F3 allows you to use any Nikon TTL flash on the F3 in TTL mode and it does have a 1/3 stop compensation switch (not much for $150).

Thanks - just what I suspected. On the SCA-300 I have, you have

to set the asa fot the flash exposure with a dial on to of the

(huge) adapter. It only goes to 400 asa... If I use 100 asa film, I

can set the flash to 400 and get 2 stops underexposure. Now,

why did I sell my trusty F801 all those years ago..?

 

/Fredrik

You can also underexpose using the ASA dial or exposure compensation on the camera body.

Mike,

Using the ASA or exposure compensation dials will affect both the flash and ambient exposures.

Fredrik wants to underexpose the flash only.

Doesn't the F3 turn off the meter for ambient exposures when the flash is on? Mine does.

It's not using the SCA 300, but any of the Sunpak flashes

that use Sunpak's dedicated modules (e.g. 120J, 444 D,

etc.) can be used on the F3 with the Sunpak NE-3D module.

The NE-3D module has its own film speed setting slider

switch, separate from the camera's film speed dial, so

the two of them can be adjusted independently to control

the fill ratio.

<p>

As has been pointed out, the F3's internal meter turns off

when the viewfinder ready light turns on. But this is

easy to defeat by putting a bit of electrical tape over

the hot shoe's viewfinder readylight contact (that's

the middle of the three metal contacts on the F3's

unusual shoe). Obviously, you give up the viewfinder

ready light and the automatic switch to X sync speed

if you do this, but sometimes it's worth

trading the ready light for the ambient meter. TTL

metering still works just fine without the ready light.

On my very early F3 (1203xxx) in A mode the meter jumps to m80 when it senses the flash is on. In M mode the display shows m80 when I go past the red 60 mark on the shutter speed dial.

 

Unfortunatly with my Vivitar TTL adapter the TTL circut does not seam to work and the flash dumps full power and indicates over exposure where A mode (on the flash) works fine :(

 

Cheers

 

Dave

Maybe I'm missing something Fredrik, but setting flash comp on an F3 is not difficult at all. With the flash removed, adjust the aperture until the shutter speed is about 1/80 (1/125 if you want the background a little brighter). Once this is done, adjust the comp dial around the rewind crank to the desired underexposure. Install and turn on the flash, and the minus comp will be applied to the flash, and the basic exposure will be what you set in the first step. Always worked this way for me with an SB-16.

Using Metz, I don't know.

 

I also use N90s/N90/N8008 and SB-26/25/24 with SC-17's. Fairly modern Nikon Flash stuff.

 

So I bought an AS-17. TTL flash couldn't be made easier.

 

USING THE AS-17: The ISO on the camera and flash don't matter. Period.

You set flash exposure on the AS-17 and that's it. It's less of an "adapter" and more of a "Flash Control ler"

 

The + or - 1/3rd stop switch is there only to compliment the ISO switch. Let me explain.

 

To set ISO 64 for flash exposure, set the "ISO" setting on the AS-17 to ISO 50, then take a third-stop off of that (-1/3).

 

Now we are at ISO 64. To uderexpose by a stop, simply move the "ISO" switch from 50 to 100. Very easily done.

 

I get great TTL control compatible with Speedlites that came along 20 years after the F3. Love the fact Nikon can co this, hate the fact it took so long.

Sorry about the space in Control ler- It has the "trol l" in it, so of course my posting was affected.

 

what is it with the trol l word anyway? Where the heck is the maturity level in this forum? what is a trol l or trol ling anyway?