52 rolls, 52 cameras, 52 weeks

And following on from last week we have another twin lens compact camera&hellip The Nikon TW-2D (also sold as the Tele•Touch Deluxe).

When it was introduced in 1987, Nikon claimed that the TW2/TW2D was the 'world's thinnest dual-lens, AF compact' (a claim that seems unbelievable 30 years on!)

Nikon TW2D

Another camera with 35mm and 70mm lenses, the TW2D also boasts a built-in 'soft effect' filter, activated by turning a ring at the front of the lens barrel. Like the Olympus AF-1 Twin, film speed setting is automatic but in the case of the Nikon it can be overridden (albeit with much button pushing).

I've no idea of the shutter speed range, the original instruction book doesn't mention it and for once Google has let me down too, but I think that the slowest speed is around ⅕ sec.

Let's see how it compares to the Olypmus AF-1 Twin!

Finally got round to writing last week's post… Phew!

The Nikon F-301 (sold in the USA as the N2000) was introduced in 1985, replacing the FG. Although manual focus, the F-301 was the first Nikon SLR to feature a polycarbonate body, built-in winder and DX film coding.

Nikon F-301 + 50mm f/1.8 AI-S lens

Power is supplied by four AAA batteries that fit into the base of the camera which results in the tripod socket being extremely offset although the AH-3 adapter could be used to rectify this issue. The viewfinder is beautifully clear and focusing is a doddle with either split-image rangefinder or the microprism collar.

Two program exposure modes are available (normal and high-speed) as are aperture-priority and manual, TTL flash is also available with a suitable flashgun.

Over the years I've managed to acquire a pair of F-301s and having dug this one out to use it again I have to admit that I don't think I'll be parting with either any time soon…

Apologies for the delay to this week's post, I've been too busy, out and about taking photos to do any writing this week!

This is a real favourite of mine and an absolute classic, ladies and gentlemen I present you with the legendary Nikon F3!

Without a doubt this is one of Nikon's finest pro cameras, continuing in production even after Nikon introduced both the autofocus F4 and the fiendishly complicated F5. The F3 by contrast, is manual focus and has just two exposure modes, manual and aperture-priority automatic.

The F3 is part of a system that includes interchangeable focusing screens, viewfinders (mine having the HP, high-eyepoint finder, more suitable for those of us who wear glasses), bulk film and data backs and the high-speed (for the 1980s at least) 5.5 frames per second MD-4 motordrive. So far I've resisted the heavyweight addition of the motordrive but a couple of focusing screens have made their way into my bag along with the DW-3 Waist Level Finder.

I haven't used my F3 for a while but seeing Sean Penn using what appeared to be an F3/T ('T' for 'Titanium') in the 2013 Ben Stiller film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty last week I thought I'd give it an airing!