Nikon F3 with AI 2.8/135

[PFMcFarland]

While I was home in Indiana last week, I took a drive over to the next town to visit a flea market where I had seen a bunch of cameras in a locked case in June of 2015 that unfortunately didn't fit in the budget at the time. Surprisingly they were still there. I took another trip around the market before returning to the booth, and checking out what else might be on the open shelves.

There I found the case to a Voigtlander Perkeo II that was in the lock-up, but it had no price tag on it. I talked to the market manager about getting it and the camera, but he told me that he could not let that happen. I queried him as to why, and he said the owner of the booth had died the day before, and he thus couldn't just go on the assumption the two items went together, especially since he knew nothing about cameras.

So I said I'd buy the camera anyway, and he opened the case up so I could get it. Then he remembered that the gentleman who owned the booth across the aisle was good friends with the deceased, and hunted him down because he might be able to help in resolving the leather case issue. The friend said that likely the late owner was doing some housekeeping, and just forgot to put the case back with the camera after I showed him how it fit perfectly.

At that point, the manager said it was a good thing something was getting sold from the booth because the owners children were coming the next day to clear it out, and send it all to the auction. Now, I hadn't planned on getting an F3, but there was one sitting there with a Nikkor AI 2.8/135 on it, and an SB-22 flash. So I went ahead and got the Perkeo, the F3 set, and a Viewmaster viewer with a bunch of disks. The manager said that was good because the kids likely won't get much at auction for the rest of the stuff.

So here is my new addition to the AI lens camera bag.


Nikon F3 with Nikkor AI 2.8/135 by P F McFarland, on Flickr

So far everything works on it. Could use some new seals though.

PF

[minoly]

PF, you've really added some powerful cameras to your arsenal recently! The F3 looks as well kept as the Leica did. Interesting how you came by it, too. What about the Perkeo? I've only seen pictures of that camera and read the raves about it online.
Bill Delehanty

[PFMcFarland]

I've got the Perkeo loaded with some T-Max 100, Bill, and have gotten through five exposures so far. No, make that four, it skipped the frame stop once. Will post a photo later.

PF

[Brazile]

Nice haul, and what timing!

Robert

[Mike Kovacs]

Smoothest frame advance ever on a properly working F3.

[Julio1fer]

Oh boy, that was some good hunting.

[Bennybee]

Great story, great camera and great lens too!

[PFMcFarland]

All dressed up with a Nikkor 50mm/1:1.4, MD-4 drive, and MK-1 Firing Rate Converter


Nikon F3 Motorized by P F McFarland, on Flickr

I need to get the sticky aperture follower ring freed up, and maybe put in some seals (not going to have a repeat of the Leica R3 fiasco).

PF

[LarryD]

Woot! Good going.

[GrahamS]

This was shot with that exact same lens, on an FE body. I also had an F3 at the time. I found the ergonomics of the F3 awkward - it seemed to be designed to be used with the motor drive in mind, not stand alone. The advance lever seemed to hide away.