almost bought an SLR, saved by fate

I wonder how often people get caught up in a particular machine (car, watch, camera) because of some impression that hit them at some special age? Pretty frequently, I think. I never had it with Nikons -- I had an F3 and traded it in (at a big loss) for an F4, and loved the F4 dearly, until I traded it for an F5, which I liked even more than the F4...I believe every iteration was better than the last.

However, when a lot of guys my age saw Blowup, in the late 60s, with David Hemmings, and saw all the lovely women and how cool photogaphy was, and got into picture-taking...I only had eyes for that Rolls Royce Silver Cloud convertible. Never owned one, but jeez, what a car -- would rather have one of those, now, than a new Ferrari; or a career in fashion photography, for that matter.

Wonder if they ever have them on o-boy?

JC
 
$100 is a really low price. I've watched the prices of SLR's here in Holland on a couple of local classifieds sites, and the F2's and F3's all seem to go for around €250 to €350 (including some glass) and sometimes even more.
 
Frank was saved by fate; I was tempted and fate dragged me in. I have a Pentax LX on the way to me. 😀

The universe is in balance; harmony has been maintained.
 
I have owned an F3HP and you Frank S are no F3HP. Frank you are a little tiny RF guy who prowls the dark alleys of RFF. You will always be a little RF man. Sometimes known as an ARFMAN. Arfmen sneak around and take shots of intimate things and people without nothing more than a "peepclick". Frank, you will never be a true F3HP who stumbles into everyone sounding like "humpty dumpty clunk".

Anybody know some good sources for a mint F3HP? It's......for.....my....ah....grandson. Yeah thats it, my grandson.
 
emraphoto said:
my friend paul guy... i know of an f2 photomic in beautiful shape with a nikon 28mm f2.8 and original full case sitting in a shop where i live for $275 canadian. if you want me to hook you up with the shop owner or take some snaps you just let me know! $275 to realize a dream? a small sum...
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I appreciate that, thank you for thinking of me. But I've just got so much stuff now I guess I'm just not ready to scratch that itch. Don't know if I ever will. But thanks.
 
There always seems to be a Nikon FM2n in my bag, riding shotgun with an M3. I mostly use it for long lenses these days, but the Nikons work great in studio situations too.

If anyone is interested, I have a Nikon F3 HP which I've been meaning to sell. It shows some wear, but works like a champ. I never use it.
 
oh I feel your pain Frank 🙂 F3 for 100$ is a sin that everyone would be glad to commit. Nearly at the same time I was "the second one" to buy 3(!) pen f bodies (FV among them) with normals, 20-25-100-150 lenses & bellows - went away almost immediatelly for 100$, what a coincidence. The truth is I wouldn't know what to do even with 1 oly pen body&lenses - I have enough cameras to shoot with, and I am not camera dealer or reseller. This is what separates collector from user - I am kind of glad I didn't cross this line. Am I done? 😉
 
That's the thing: $100 for an F3, a camera I have an affinity for. Another great camera, like an Olympus OM4 say, even at a great price, would not attract me - I just don't have a "thing" for one.

Another camera that would be cool at a steal of a price is a Rollei MF SLR.
 
I just never feel this temptation.
For most every application where SLR is better than Rangefinder, I like digital better than film. I've got an old AE-1 that never calls my name.
There's something about the Rangefinder/film combination that I find more compelling.
 
FrankS said:
That's the thing: $100 for an F3, a camera I have an affinity for. Another great camera, like an Olympus OM4 say, even at a great price, would not attract me - I just don't have a "thing" for one.
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Maybe not the battery dependend OM-4, but how about OM-1 😉 ??
Nobody can resist an OM-1 😀

Seriously, though, a professional photographer friend of mine lent me one of his FM2 on the motor drive along with a Nikkor 85mm/1.8. I tell you guys! That thing rocks!! I feel like a real photojournalist just clicking away with it.
 
FrankS said:
That's the thing: $100 for an F3, a camera I have an affinity for. Another great camera, like an Olympus OM4 say, even at a great price, would not attract me - I just don't have a "thing" for one.

SLR.
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OM4?
Unfortunately, I do...
I could just slip it onto the shelf with the other OM gear..
my wife would never notice another one...(1)
Just need to stumble onto the great deal...
We all have a few "things".

(1) Murphy's law of stupid buying: Wife is standing in the door whenever UPS man arrives.
 
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