I've just aquired a used F3HP and am wondering about a noise I hear when the shutter is released. After setting the shutter speed to 1 second, and holding the camera close to my ear I press the shutter release. After the shutter opens I here a small ringing sound that dies out before the shutter closes. Is this small ringing supposed to be there? Has anyone else noticed this? Thanks for any information.

Scott

-- Scott Conley (scottc@netacc.net), February 17, 2000

Answers

Scott,

The F3HP's shutter makes a lot of really strange noises, both as it's being cocked and fired. It sounds a lot different than the FM2n, or the N90s, for example.

When looking at the shutter with the camera's back fully open, as long as the first shutter curtain opens instantly and completely, and the following curtain remains completely open, exposing the full film frame for the duration of the chosen shutter time, and then snaps completely shut instantly after the exposure is complete, there should be no problem. A small ringing sound sounds pretty normal, and nothing to worry about.

If the noise still bothers you, get an MD4. The noise from that motordrive will drown out any other strange noises emanating from your F3.

Good luck, Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), February 17, 2000.

There are typically some coil springs inside the body that drive the mirror and stop down coupling mechanism. If one of these springs has low tension on it the coils can oscillate, and this causes the ringing sound. This can vary from one body to another, of the same model, and is probably nothing to worry about.

-- Bruce Rubenstein (b_rubenstein@yahoo.com), February 18, 2000.

My F3 (not HP) makes a noise, like clockwork running down, while the shuter is open, or for one second, whichever is the shortest. I don't think it is anything to worry about.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan@snibgo.com), February 20, 2000.