Nikon DW-3 waist level finder for Nikon F3

[Hamish Gill]

Received my DW-3 today, its in perfect condition!

The DW-3 is a 1x magnification self erecting waist lever finder with a hood to keep the light out when in use.

This is the view through the VF, the exposure information is clearly visible.

There is also a pop up 5x magnifier for more accurate focusing

Very happy with my purchase indeed, I'm looking forward to getting out on the mean streets of Worcester and getting some candid shots!

 

[Paul Lange]

Looks good Hamish, I like the idea of these and wish more cameras had them. I know modern cameras have live view but the screen seem pretty useless with over blown colours.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Cool! So how much of the original camera to you have to dismantle to fit this device?

 

[Larry Bolch]

Pop the pentaprism off and any other finder on. Could not be more simple. The F3 was extremely easy to customize. A variety of finders, focusing screens, backs, motor and so on.

 

[Pete Askew]

None really Chris. The pentaprism on the F2/F3/F4 was removeable - you pressed a catch and lifted them off - and interchangeable for high point, WLF,magnified and, on the F2, different metering options etc. You also gained access to the interchangeable focussing screens in the same manner (other bodies such as the FE, FM etc) had drop down screens accessed through the lens mount.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Funnily enough Pete, I just swaped out the screen in my FE this evening for a slightly less tatty one i found in a box ...

Yes, as has been said, its very simple to swap the VF... You can see the clip next to the shutter speed dial in the first image!

 

[Paul Lange]

I'm liking the product shots as well. You and Chris have got these down to a fine art.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I can't claim to have done anything more than to imitate what i saw in Chris's images...
Good bit of inspiration that, and as I said, it's got me to get off my arse and start doing this again!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Very cool idea that viewfinder, and I really see it only being replicated quite recently in DSLRs with their new rotatable rear screens.

Would make things much easier for say macro work, where the camera is low to the ground.

The pop out magnifier is also replicated in software on my camera's live-view mode - with a 5x magnified view for critical focus - It's great to see where these ideas came from in the development of camera tech.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Indeed ... oddly though, there is something lacking in a digital screen when compared to this sort of finder ... and i think it is depth
I find it very hard to use a digital screen to take a photo, despite the end result being an image on a screen ...
you would think the digital screen would be the easiest option for creating a digital image, but for some reason it doesn't work like that for me ...
I wonder if it just down to screen quality?? or a separation from reality that is somehow required for taking an image ... im not sure really

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Interesting Hamish - I'm enjoying using a live view for the first time on the 5D2 - and I'm even toying with the idea of taking the live video out and driving a small 7" LCD monitor with it for more of a video shoot type of set-up.

This idea, but for stills work

 

[Pete Askew]

Now that's a nifty handle thingy.

 

[Hamish Gill]

It might actually just be the fact that to use live view holding the camera away from my face, its an alien experience that has never grown on me ... i might yet feel the same about the waist level finder... but for now the fact that i get a side to side inverted image just makes me think more ...
As i said, im not sure what it is about using a screen that i don't get on with really, maybe a 7"er would sort me out

 

[Pete Askew]

What about one of those screen loupes?

http://www.hoodmanusa.com/

 

[Hamish Gill]

just solves a problem i dont have ... i have no use for the screen as i only very rarely use live view and only use it fleetingly after i take an image

 

[Pete Askew]

I guess they are virtually essential do do any video work. Whenever I use live view it is with the camera tethered so I don't have the problem either. I did buy a laptop tent thingy from ThinkTank a while back after having problems shooting on a site in Greece in bright sun. That works well.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/pixel-sunscreen-v2.aspx

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Doh! Never even thought about using the laptop - I'm such a nonce!

Will check into tethered shooting with the 5D2 - which I've yet to play with.. clearly!