Buying Nikon F3. Advice, please?

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Alan Gales

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I had a Praktica 35mm camera once that had a waist level finder on it. I love waist level finders on medium format cameras but the one on the Praktica was just too small.

The F3 is a nice camera though.
 

frank

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I just bought a waist level flip up finder for F3. Looking forward to trying it out.
 
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I had a waist level finder for my F3 about four years ago, but sold it after about a month.

The screen and the image inside are very small so, the way I see it, its only purpose is to use it for macro/copy work on a tripod, or to be able to frame the shot without raising the camera to your eye. Any sort of focusing that doesn't entirely rely on DOF, even using the flip-up magnifying glass (which is terribly small), is very hard. Unless your eye is pretty much pressed against it (which, in my opinion, would beat the purpose of working with a waist level finder unless it's on a tripod), you can't keep the eye, the magnifying glass and the part of the image you want to set into focus, aligned, because even the steadiest hands and head still move enough to throw it all off.
It's ok for "shooting from the hip" because it allows you to frame the shot better, but, at least in my experience, that's as far as its usefulness goes.
 

Ap507b

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Even then for macro or copy work a DW-4 finder would likely be way better than the DW-3 WLF in use. It's 2 to 3 times the price though. The F3 WLF is usable, but I don't think it's great. Size of view added to distance from eye makes it fiddly IMO.
 

frank

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I agree that this Nikon waist level finder has limited usefulness and is best for rough framing while street shooting, using scale zone focusing. That's why I haven't bought one until now, when I got it basically for free, bundled with other gear from a thrift store.
 

Les Sarile

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Waist level finders have their purpose. I am certain those of us who have toolboxes has a tool that is seldom used. However, when you need it, it is the best tool for the job. And just like any other tool, you have to be proficient with it to use it properly so you have to exercise it every now and then. Sometimes you have to create a job just to use it!

orig.jpg
 

Chan Tran

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I missed the old days when my eyes were still good. When I did a low level shooting I simply removed the prism and focus/compose on the ground glass with out even using a WLF.
 

BrianShaw

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The F3 has a red shutter over the eyepiece to block light from interfering with auto- exposure when on tripod. Doesn't waist-level Finder have to address that issue also? How?
 
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