Full-System Motor Drive Accessories
Nikon's motor drive photography also has an outstanding and comprehensive system
to support the drives they designed. A wide array of accessories which includes various
power sources, remote control and unmanned photographic accessories, interchangeable
film backs and many other related accessories were designed to enhance various motor
drive units in the F2 system to improve the handling and simplify operations.
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Most of these accessories have either been long discontinued or substituted by newer upgrades, but since Nikon had designed some of their specific applications such as remote photography as a standalone system, many of the newer models may also be used* on these older F2 cameras. Relative: Remote Capability |
* WARNING: You SHOULD always be encouraged to check with
Nikon for compatibility prior to any purchase of these older accessories - although
I doubt many of them can provide you with an answer...and
I should NOT be held liable if those things you have bought failed to work with your
camera/motor drive.
A good and useful clue is the connecting socket for most of these accessories with
your camera input socket, for example, most 2-pins remote accessories can be shared
and used even among many Nikon bodies such as F4E/F4s/F70/F3-series with MD-4 or
midrange cameras such as Nikon FM, FE, FE2, FA and FM2 bodies with Motor drive MD-12
or MD-15. A friend of mine is using his Nikon ML-2 with both his FA/MD-15 and Nikon
F2A/MD-2 ! However, as time changes and things progressive very rapidly over the
last two decades in SLR development, it is always good advice to check with your
local distributor for such compatibility issues prior to commit any purchases as
I don't want to mislead anyone or influent any buying decision.
N O T E: IF
anyone of you have similar experience in such combination, you are always encouraged
give
me a snail mail
and give me your findings and I will publish it here.
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Power Sources for Motor Drives: The most basic aspect of motor drive photography, after the motor drives themselves, is the power sources. |
Nikon MD-1, MD-2, MD-3 and MD-100* can be powered by interchangeable AA cells or rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries in a lock-on cordless battery pack as well as separate power sources. * Used ONLY with MB-100 which housed 2 x MN-1 Rechargeable Cells.
The difference: The MB-1 is the standard pack for use with the motor drive MD-2 and contains either 10 AA dry cells or two MN-1 rechargeable NiCad cells. MB-2 contains only AA dry cells and has less shooting capacity and operates the motor drive at slower speeds. All other power sources for the MD-2 can be used on the MD-3. All remote-control accesories for the MD2, except SC cords, can also be used on the MD-3.
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Recently, Mr. Bob Hammond <bobham@tbaytel.net> sent me an interesting image of the two versions of Nikon MB-1 which made me have a second thought of concluding there is only one version.. . Click on the thumbnail to see an enlarge view of the two MB-1. |
MB-1 Battery: (15 Volts Heavy Duty Power Pack). The primary power source for the MD-2, and for the MD-3 when maximum firing speed is required, is the MB-1 Cordless Battery Pack. In addition, the MB-1 also powers the F2/ MD-2 combination when equipped with the MF-1 250 exposure magazine back. The MB-I can also be detached from the MD-2 and yet power it via the MC-7 connecting cord. This allows the powr pack to be kept inside your pocket for cold weather operation or for some other reasons (another alternative is to use MA-3 Cold Weather Pack Jacket designed for such specific use in cold weather).
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The MB-1 accepts a variety of battery types, either 10 standard AA size batteries (zinc-carbon or alkaline-manganese) in two Nikon MS-1 battery clips or two Nikon MN-1 NiCd cartridges. |
Credit: product courtesy
of Edward Ngoh,
photo
by MCLau®
MS-1 Battery
Clip:
| The standard power source for the MD motor drives is the cordless battery pack MB-1 which can hold either two NiCad (nickel cadmium) rechargeable batteries or 10 penlight cells in two reloadable MS-1 cartridges Of 5 cells each. If you're using penlight batteries, first release the end clip on the MS-1 battery holder and open the cover. Insert the 5 batteries |  |
The use of MN-1 NiCd's gives you the dual advantages of higher firing speed (up to 5 fps with the MD-2 and 4 fps with the MD-3) and rechargeability.
 |
 |
Recharging is simple and straightforward. It takes only 3 hours from fully depleted to 80% capacity, and about 6 hours for full capacity, instead of the more common 12 - 14 hours, with the Nikon MH-1 quick-charger. |
If you are a heavy Motor Drive user, you will find NiCad batteries more convenient and economical than using manganese alkaline cells. However, the NiCad batteries do require a separate recharging unit, the Nikon Quick Charger MH-1, and considerable care to extend its life span. Generally, "memory circuit" is the main cause. Basically, handling such cell would require a lot of attention during charging. The ideal condition should be done at room temperature. Outside the permissible limit, power cells may not be ideally charged and may only reach 60 to 70% of a full charge. It also features a Charge level indicator.
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In order to maintain its maximum capacity for charging, it must be recharged at least once a month even not in use and fully discharge them every three months. If you haven't been using the NiCad units for more than 3 months or more, you should also charge them for a few more hours, and discharge it completely using a motor drive. |
For MD-100, I was told by Robert that it was supplied with a twin units. Warning: Before using, make certain that the voltage selector on the back of the MH-1 has been set to the proper voltage
MB-2 Battery: (12 Volts Power Pack). For the MD-3 user who is primary interested in lighter weight and greater portability, Nikon has developed the MB-2 Cordless Battery Pack. Using 8 standard AA size penlight batteries, in two MS-2 battery clips, the MB-2 delivers sufficient power to drive the MD-3 at firing speed up to 2.5 fps. It may also be used with a MD-2 but at a minimum firing rate.
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| Nikon MD-1 | MD-2 | MD-3 | MD-100 |
System Accessories: Motor Drives / Prisms / Screens / Macro / Film Backs / Flash Other Accessories: DS-1 / DS-2 / DS-12 / eyepiece / DH-1 / cases / Cable releases / Miscellaneous
| Back | Main Index Page - F2 Motor Drive Options
| Back |
to Main Index Page of Nikon F2 Series SLR models
| Back |
Index Page of Michael Liu's Nikon SLR Models
| Back |
Main Index Page of Pictorial History of Nikon SLRs
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Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 -not ready | Nikkormat / Nikomat | Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models |
Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:-
Main Index Page
Nikon Manual
Focus
Nikkor lenses:- Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame |
Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto
Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
 Index Page |
Special
Application lenses: Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm |
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E
Recommended links to understand more technical details
related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen,
Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
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Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.
In
memory of my friend Com.
Augusto Staut,
Brazil, 1971-2000.
Credit: Chuck Hester, US for his patience, encouragement
and help to setup the various content in this site; Robert Johnson for some of his original
images on the F2H-MD appeared in this site; my ex-staff, KiaSu for his superb
3-D logo appeared in this Nikon F2 site; Marc Vorgers from Holland who
generously provide me with some of his images of F2AS; MCLau®, who has so much time with me to
re-edit the content in this site and not to mention buying a Nikon Coolpix 990 just
for this site. Keat Photo,
Kuala Lumpur for providing
their Nikon F2A to take some images for this site; again, Mr Edward Ngoh the
great camera collector who provides us his collection of F2AS with MD-2; hawkeye.photographic.com
for their images on the Speed Magny film backs; Sean Cranor for his image
on Nikon F2 25th Anniversary Model; Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous
flow of input on some of the early Nikon bodies; CYLeow ® , photo editor of the Star
newspaper, Malaysia for some of his images used in this site. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from
Shriro Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. HiuraShinsaku®,
Nikomat ML, Japan for some of his images on various F2 models; my staff, Wati, Maisa, Mai and my nephew, EEWyn®, who volunteered and helping me
did so many of the film scanning works. Contributing photographers or resellers:
Jen Siow, Foo KokKin, Arthur Teng, Mark Fallander, John
Ishii, Ed Hassel, YoonKi Kim, Jean-Louis, M.Dugentas (Dell Corner.com.), Mr "Arsenall" and a few images mailed
in from surfers with no appropriate reference to their origin. Dedicated to KU Yeo, just to express our mutual regrets over the outcome of
a recent corporate event. Made with a PowerMac, broadcast with a Redhat Linux powered server.
