Changed my mind about using the old Nikon F3 shutter tester

I always thought the classic F3 tester was fine for basic checks, but a friend in Seattle showed me his digital oscilloscope setup. I tried it on a stubborn Canon AE-1 and saw the actual timing wave, which showed a lag the old needle couldn't catch. Anyone have a good budget scope model they'd recommend for this?

3 comments

3 Comments

barbara_campbell13d ago

So what was the actual lag time you measured on that AE-1?

quinnr4013d ago

Honestly that's a great question from barbara_campbell. The lag was around 8 milliseconds on the slowest shutter speed, which sounds tiny but it throws the whole exposure off. Tbh seeing the actual wave pattern makes you realize how crude the old needle method really is. For anyone doing this regularly, a basic used scope is a total game changer.

adamgreen6d ago

Wait, was it really 8ms on the slowest speed? I thought the first curtain travel time alone was more like 15-20ms on those bodies. The total lag from button press to exposure start includes magnet release time too. Maybe you're just seeing the meter circuit delay?