Nikon F3 Meter.

[luis_dudamel]

<p>Hi guys.<br>

I recently got a F3 in a very good condition.<br /><br /><br>

Coming from a DSLR, i knew i needed to read the whole manual, and search for "tips/tricks" on the web.<br>

But there's something i cannot figure out, and maybe it's just a stupid question or the camera has some faulty meter.<br>

When i use it in "A" it meters perfectly, i point it to a light source and it shows a faster speed, intermediately i point it to the dark, and it shows a lower speed.<br>

That makes me think the meter system is ok, right?<br>

The problem comes when i use it in Manual. It's supposed to show in the LCD the Shutter Speed, the "M" and the "+" / "-" sign depending of the light, right? Well, it ALWAYS shows the "+" sign. Even with f/1.4 straight to the sun or to the dark. It just won't change.<br>

Am i doing anything wrong? (is what i think is the problem)<br>

I'm aware of the +80 problem. It's not that.<br>

If you have any advice i'll appreciate it.<br>

Regards,<br>

Luis.</p>

 

[BrianS1664879711]

If it works in A I'd assume also that the metering is

working. But M should show both + and -

depending. What ASA are you using and is the

counter >1? Is that the +80 "problem" you

mention? It's not a problem; it's a feature. Check to make sure the tab on the body

that connects to the Aperture ring on the lens is in

the correct down position.

[BrianS1664879711]

Oh, forgot to ask... The shutter speed correctly

changes when aperture is adjusted and camera

pointed at a constant source??

[bebu_lamar]

<p>Put it back in A and set the ASA to 100. Aim at a relatively bright subject like daylight outdoor. Change the aperture and see if the shutter speed changes accordingly. Use your DSLR also set at A and center weighted and compare to see if they are closely the same. If it pass this test the take it out of A and point the camera at a relative dark subject and also close the lens down to a small f/stop. Setting the aperture to f/1.4 tends to get the meter to indicate a "+". See if it would change to "+ -" or "-". If it does then try to change the shutter speed to see if it has any effect. If changing the shutter speed doesn't change the meter reading then the shutter speed dial "gray code" encoder is faulty. When you set the shutter speed dial it generate a binary number that feed into a circuit to generate an analog voltage accordingly. This voltage is then fed into the metering circuit along with the combined sensor output, aperture setting and ASA setting also fed into the meter. The meter then compares the 2 value and display accordingly.</p>

[luis_dudamel]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=2002499">Brian S.</a> , Jun 25, 2016; 02:25 p.m.<br />If it works in A I'd assume also that the metering is working. But M should show both + and - depending. What ASA are you using and is the counter >1? Is that the +80 "problem" you mention? It's not a problem; it's a feature. Check to make sure the tab on the body that connects to the Aperture ring on the lens is in the correct down position.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<p>I tried all the ASA's with all the f/stop+shutter combinations possible. Still all "overexposed".<br />Yeah, the +80 thing i was referring to, i knew is a feature, that usually people think as a problem.<br>

The tab is in the correct down position.</p>

 

[luis_dudamel]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=2002499">Brian S.</a> , Jun 25, 2016; 02:27 p.m.<br />Oh, forgot to ask... The shutter speed correctly changes when aperture is adjusted and camera pointed at a constant source??</p>

</blockquote>

<p >If you mean in "A" mode, yes, it changes.</p>

[luis_dudamel]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=5994753">BeBu Lamar</a> , Jun 25, 2016; 03:26 p.m.</p>

 

<p>Put it back in A and set the ASA to 100. Aim at a relatively bright subject like daylight outdoor. Change the aperture and see if the shutter speed changes accordingly. Use your DSLR also set at A and center weighted and compare to see if they are closely the same. If it pass this test the take it out of A and point the camera at a relative dark subject and also close the lens down to a small f/stop. Setting the aperture to f/1.4 tends to get the meter to indicate a "+". See if it would change to "+ -" or "-". If it does then try to change the shutter speed to see if it has any effect. If changing the shutter speed doesn't change the meter reading then the shutter speed dial "gray code" encoder is faulty. When you set the shutter speed dial it generate a binary number that feed into a circuit to generate an analog voltage accordingly. This voltage is then fed into the metering circuit along with the combined sensor output, aperture setting and ASA setting also fed into the meter. The meter then compares the 2 value and display accordingly.</p>

 

</blockquote>

 

<p>While doing this, got the "-" back in some points. But in some really weird readings.<br>

My DSLR was reading a correct exposure at one settings, and the F3 at another "close" settings.<br>

At the same light source, with the DSLR in center metering:<br>

f11 1/60 200 f3<br />f/11 1/15 200 d610<br>

The "-" came back only when i pressed really hard the button on the speed dial. If i depress it, is gone and always shows "+".</p>

<p> </p>

 

[bebu_lamar]

<p>When you are in manual mode does the shutter speed shows in the display? and if you set at certain speed does it sound right? With what you said I think there is something wrong with the shutter speed dial and even if you don't care about metering your camera won't work in manual as you can't set the shutter speed you want. </p>

[luis_dudamel]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=5994753">BeBu Lamar</a> , Jun 26, 2016; 08:31 a.m.</p>

 

<p>When you are in manual mode does the shutter speed shows in the display? and if you set at certain speed does it sound right? With what you said I think there is something wrong with the shutter speed dial and even if you don't care about metering your camera won't work in manual as you can't set the shutter speed you want.</p>

 

</blockquote>

 

<p>Yes, it shows the selected speed. And yes, the curtain moves at the "right" selected speed. This is driving me crazy, haha.</p>

 

[bebu_lamar]

<p>Then very likely that the voltage generated by the shutter speed selector gets to the shutter control circuit but not to the display. The F3 service manual list a bunch of connections that can cause the same problem. </p>

[roger_cantwell1]

<p>It's not terribly expensive to have an F3 overhauled (OK, it might cost what you paid for it, but that's still not much). The meters on them stay within tolerance for longer than the one on an FM2 but they're not infallible.</p>

<p>Incidentally, the F3 meter is more heavily centre-weighted than most cameras.</p>

[luis_dudamel]

<p>I guess i'll use it in "A" for candid 1.4 "creamy" portraits, then. Haha. Thanks BeBu.</p>

[bebu_lamar]

<p>That's cool! Try to turn the shutter speed dial from A to 2000 back and forth many times. May be it would fix it.</p>