Well, first of all, let's clarify that the F3 CAN meter with an open aperture with AI-S lenses AND the regular AI lenses. The whole Nikon lens compatibility thing is kinda confusing, so you often read F'd up info on these. Anyway, they do have a moveable tab to allow the older non-AI lenses to mount up, and THESE are the lenses which require stop-down metering. Just to let ya know, this is a pain with the F3 since it wasn't ever really designed with the intention of working this way. You have to hold down the DOF preview button, and then somehow operate the aperture and shutter dial with your fingers in some crazy awkward way to adjust the exposure. Your fingers might feel a bit like an Olympic gymnist, but at least you won't have to wear one of those tightly, brightly colored little outfits! =-) Then again, this kinda goes along with all of the camera bodies Nikon made for AI type lenses.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get to specifics. The F3 is a great little machine, but not perfect. The meter display isn't as intuitive for manual metering as the match needle setup of the F, F2, FE, FE2, FM, FM2, etc. Personally, I find it easiest just to stick the thing on Aperture priority and use the exposure lock for when I want to adjust the exposure. Then again, I probably smell to many paint fumes at work, so I wouldn't doubt if my opinion is rather skewed. The backlight for the LCD is a joke... seriously, it's ridiculous enough to make you laugh! The slow flash-sync speed has been mentioned before, so if you DO use flash, keep that in mind. Otherwise, the camera can't be faulted in any other way. Extremely solid alloy body, the smoothest film advance you will EVER find (yes, even better than a freshly serviced Leica M), large shutter dial, accurate meter, gorgeous finder, and the ability to use just about any Nikon F-mount lens ever made. If anyone wants to argue about the fluidity of the film advance on the F3 versus the M3, that's great. It's good to have some irrational passion every now and then. Unfortunately, I don't really care one way or the other, just so long as I don't feel like I'm wrenching on a 3/4 ton GMC pickup with a 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet. Oh, and the MD-4 motor is a fantastic attachment, giving a fairly high frame rate and good ergonomics to the camera.
Still, from my experience, I believe the FE, FE2, FM, and FM2 are nice, easy to use Nikon SLRs with motor capability. These cameras seem a bit more intuitive to me, are easier to use when you are metering manually without any sort of aperture or shutter automation, smaller and lighter, and seem to hold up pretty well. Of course, after stating that I remember went the other way and got a Nikon F and a F3, using the F for most of the work, and keeping the F3 for when I need a motor and some automation. Like I said, my brain is intoxicated with paint fumes, and the little remaining nerve and brain cell function seems to be hampered by sleep withdrawal.
If you have any more questions, write 'em down so somebody can answer them. Otherwise, I'm gone so I can get braindead for a few a hours. Take care, and try not to get sent to jail for your photographic ventures!
