Nikon Motor Drive (winder) Musings

Boat anchor, that’s what a photographer friend of mine called the MD-4, the motor drive for the F3. I must admit, it’s heavy but I dig the grip, its ergonomic and film/processing being expensive, it just eats a roll of film fast. I definitely have to slow down, consciously think, “this is film” when the motor drive is attached and “I’m switching to analog” from my D780.

But I’ve always loved that sound of the shutter firing and motor driven film assist. It’s the sound of action and capture.

From a post here.

I attached the MD-4 and turned the mode selector (lock ring) to “C” and held down the trigger button, the motor drive firing, the shutter sounding like that Duran Duran song, “ Girls on Film” Let me go find that on YouTube.

I have the winder (motor drive) MD-E for my FG. It is not about the grip. I use it because it is light and does not seem to ad much to the mass of the camera. It stays on and it’s an every day carry.

Purposely, I did not outfit the FE2 with a drive. I didn’t want to deal with the heft. I use a Lowepro Toploader camera holster. It’s a single stripped down camera bag that’s only large enough for the camera and a lens. It has a strap so you carry it like a camera yet you take the camera out of the bag, no strap necessary. I’m learning that I really don’t like a strap on my camera and it’s nice when you are carrying to have some protection from rain and whacks as you hike or walk in tight spaces.

I have two of these holster style bags and after handling an FE2 with the MD-12 for a few mins at the local film camera store, I decided I liked the grip much more than a boat anchor so I found and sourced one and purchased it.

I’m pulling up anchor! I think I’ll get used to slowing down and use the Toploader bag. Even with the silky smooth film advance of the F3, the motor drive ~ grip ergonomic and the holster style carry that the Toploader offers, the grip of a motor drive is far more attractive to the ergo of my shooting than the light and free-from-the-weight and volume of the winder.