Motor Drive for the Nikon F3, MD-4 & MD-4P

[RonVol]

In Japan, there are 2 versions of the motor drive for the F3.
There is the standard MD-4 and then there is the version that is modified by NPS Japan, locally known as the MD-4P. The most significant difference between the 2 versions is the replacing of the standard shutter switch with one that is weather proof.
The image shows the weather proof version on the left and the standard switch on the right.

[RonVol]

A couple of close-up shots of the weather proof switch.

[David H. Hartman]

Is there a reason for this post other than a blatant attempt to activate my chronic NAS?

Dave Hartman

[Akira]

Dave, sorry about your decease.   

Nikon also offered another F3-related modification for pros: they replaced the tiny red button for the viewfinder display illumination with the tiny slide switch so that the illumination will be continuously on.  This modification didn't look as fancy as the shutter button of MD-4P, though.

[Erik Lund]

Nice, it's all in the details!  Thanks

[David H. Hartman]

Has anyone put an LED in place of the lightbulb to illuminate the LCD? I've long forgotten that I wanted to do this.

Dave Hartman

[richardHaw]

the MD-4 is getting more and more expensive now even junks

[Akira]

Has anyone put an LED in place of the lightbulb to illuminate the LCD? I've long forgotten that I wanted to do this.

Dave Hartman

A white (or blue) LED requires 3.6V, so the 3.1V of the power source of F3 would not be enough.  I'm not sure if a green, orange/yellow or red LED can be useable.

the MD-4 is getting more and more expensive now even junks

Wow, I didn't know that!   

[RonVol]

In case anyone is interested; there's an MD-4P on Yahoo Japan Auctions at the moment. The link is below.
Unfortunately it's not alone and is part of a package so comes with, appropriately, an F3P.

http://page10.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/m178549757

[Akira]

Ah, yes, I remembered that the very MD-4"P" that I had seen: the entire grip was covered with the rubber.

But beware of the Japanese Yahoo sellers.  I've heard that more than one fraud groups are active behind the scene aiming at the innocent Nikon collectors.

[RonVol]

But beware of the Japanese Yahoo sellers.  I've heard that more than one fraud groups are active behind the scene aiming at the innocent Nikon collectors.

I have heard many Japanese people say that about YJA.
I know about a dozen 'western' collectors that use YJA through various agents; and I've never heard of a complaint.
Perhaps I'm just lucky; but over the last 10 years; I've purchased 100s of items from YJA (mainly Nikon related items) and I've never had a problem.
But I've had heaps of trouble with eBay sellers over that time.................falsely describing their items.

[Akira]

Ron, I think that most of the victims of fraud are trying to grab the items in impossibly good conditions for impossibly low prices.  If you know the reasonable balance between the rarity, the condition and the price, it is easy to know that such things they hunt for are virtually non-existent.

The only rare items I have hunt for on Amazon or ebay are CDs, and I have no bad experiences.  I've never bid and only bought "buy it now" items and stayed away from Yahoo auction, though.

[RonVol]

I have purchased from YJA many high-value items such as F3 LAPITA, F3 CLASSIC, etc.
Never once did I get a feeling of fraudulent activity.
I don't understand what the fraudulent claims about YJA are based on.
I have found many rare Nikon items there and am very glad that I had the opportunity to purchase them.

A friend in France recently purchased a very rare Nikon/NKK item; something that was used to calibrate and clean gun-sights on tanks. Impossible to find on places like eBay. Needless to say, he was most pleased with his purchase.

[Akira]

My source of the info on the fraud groups on JYA is not the cry-outs of the deceived people but a credible one.  But I believe that with a little bit of rational mind can easily avoid such malice actions.