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- Oct 26, 2015
- Messages
- 6,745
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- 35mm
F3 motor drive has a little slot for the cover. Very clever.
I have a motor on my F3. It's not on the camera today but was recently. You can only add or remove it when changing film or you'll fog some frames.
I wonder what makes you think that these are of no interest today.
Seemingly I am slow on the uptake again. I thus would appreciate if you woud tell me/us.
It just seems obvious to me that if you need to shoot fast, and a lot, then digital is the way to go. I like to shoot film when I'm not in a hurry, and it's nice to make use of older cameras that are perfectly capable as they are. Adding a motor drive or winder is like putting lipstick on a pig, when all you're really interested in is the bacon.
Twenty five years ago it was a different story. Film was the way to go for everything, so having a winder or motor drive gave you capabilities that were not achievable in any other way.
It just seems obvious to me that if you need to shoot fast, and a lot, then digital is the way to go. I like to shoot film when I'm not in a hurry, and it's nice to make use of older cameras that are perfectly capable as they are. Adding a motor drive or winder is like putting lipstick on a pig, when all you're really interested in is the bacon.
Twenty five years ago it was a different story. Film was the way to go for everything, so having a winder or motor drive gave you capabilities that were not achievable in any other way.
So you’re not just nosy but have a somewhat judgemental position… fair enough. I shoot film, shoot slow (almost glacially slow… although that seems to have sped up recently), and still use a MD most of the time. F3 with MD-4 and FE with MD-11 (which is good until you forget to use the off switch). Why? Well I find the cameras to be heavier but balance better and easier to hold with the motors, plus like the way the MD battery powers the camera and winds/rewinds the film without me having to use arthritic fingers.
I’m glad that you feel edumucated! It makes as much sense to add a MD today as it did in 1982. If you like, or already have, a “vintage” body and want the MD functionality for whatever reason… why not?It makes no sense to me to take an older camera that didn't have an integral drive, and then add a drive to it, at least not these days.
O.K., I'm sensing that the "new shiny toy" factor plays a major role here. I get it, and can respect that.
It just seems obvious to me that if you need to shoot fast, and a lot, then digital is the way to go. I like to shoot film when I'm not in a hurry, and it's nice to make use of older cameras that are perfectly capable as they are. Adding a motor drive or winder is like putting lipstick on a pig, when all you're really interested in is the bacon.
Twenty five years ago it was a different story. Film was the way to go for everything, so having a winder or motor drive gave you capabilities that were not achievable in any other way.
... and I find it interesting that a lot of times on TV and movies even a cell phone taking pictures will make that sound! It's a classic that is almost expected.Did I mention I really like the sound?
... and I find it interesting that a lot of times on TV and movies even a cell phone taking pictures will make that sound! It's a classic that is almost expected.
I actually find them useful on my old Nikons. I keep an MD-12 on one of my FEs, and I've found, alternating between using the motor drive and leaving it off, that I prefer shooting the F3 with the MD-4 attached, even if I'm not shooting fast. It just seems to balance better--the hand grip on the drive helps with that--and more comfortable overall to shoot that way. (And when I'm shooting film, really, I'm all about having fun.) I do take the motor drive off, of course, if I want to be stealthier/quieter/carrying more compact gear.
Practically, I've found that when I'm shooting some kinds of action--skateboarding and BMX in particular--that having the motor drive helps me sometimes get in a second or even third frame in an action sequence. I'm not shooting on continuous, but being able to keep the camera to my eye and carrying on with the focus--all of which is more difficult to do when advancing the film manually, you kind of have to break concentration to wind on (and avoid jabbing yourself in the eye with your thumb)--the drive enables me to grab another shot or two as things develop.
So, yeah--they had practical reasons when they were introduced with the cameras, and some of those are still valid today. But it *is* also cool sometimes to just slap the motor drive on your camera and get your old-school photojournalist vibe on! It's all about having fun.
... and I find it interesting that a lot of times on TV and movies even a cell phone taking pictures will make that sound! It's a classic that is almost expected.
Of course I'm being judgemental, it wouldn't be any fun otherwise
Oh! I forgot one of the main advantages of an MD. Many of them allow you to hook a strap up to the SIDE of the camera rather than on the regular lugs. I find that position far better for the strap.
It just seems obvious to me that if you need to shoot fast, and a lot, then digital is the way to go. I like to shoot film when I'm not in a hurry, and it's nice to make use of older cameras that are perfectly capable as they are. Adding a motor drive or winder is like putting lipstick on a pig, when all you're really interested in is the bacon.
Twenty five years ago it was a different story. Film was the way to go for everything, so having a winder or motor drive gave you capabilities that were not achievable in any other way.
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