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.

Lowepro Camera Bags

Lowepro is my bag. There is no way I would use any other. Born in the mountains of Colorado and beyond, the Lowe brothers are legend in the world of mountaineering, skiing and adventure photography. I’ve read about them since I was a kid following their adventures and photography in books, magazines and media from around the world. I shoot film and I wanted authentic bags from the time that my cameras and lenses were made. 

I searched old advertisements in the Internet Archive at the Lowe web site. I found the bag I wanted then began my hunt for a reasonably priced one in good shape and the color I wanted. I hunted through eBay, auction sites, marketplaces, camera swap meets and camera stores.

I bought my first bag, the Nova 4 and quickly outgrew it so I looked for the largest 35 (NOS) film bag I could find, the Commercial 35. I had two cameras and about 7 lenses I wanted to carry in my main bag. When I bought my D780, I decided on a holster type bag with a sling. I don’t use a strap when shooting digital so the “Toploader” is perfect for the strapless camera with a 28-300mm zoom that is screwed on the front and rides down in the bag.

I’m still on the hunt for another large bag to fill out my quiver of cameras and lenses. I think two large bags will do it for my travels. One camera and lens in a Toploader typically does the trick but I really like options when traveling. All my lens cleaning supplies, cotton towels, a couple of reference books, a couple of shutter releases, my flashes, lens hoods, a big rack of film, tools, lights and stuff I need fits in my bags. The big bag has straps for my SmallRig travel tripod. I have room for everything I need

Travel ready in the Forester

camera | lens | film | flash