GAS for a Nikon F3, F3T or F3P?

[nobbylon]

Hey John, would still someday like to get an F6, but have you heard the stories/rumors about no parts being available for repair on those. Don't know if it's an urban legend or some kind of internet hoax, but that would give me pause about picking one of those up if it can't be repaired.

hi Tim, as it's never going to break spares wont be needed 🙂
seriously though I'll bet Nikon have got a boatload of spares. It's still being made so I think a good dose of internet bull that one, regards j

 

[nobbylon]

I find that very hard to believe seeing it is still in production. Nikon must have parts to build them!

The thing I like about the F3 (and F, F2, FE etc etc) is that you just pick em up and go w/o wondering what does what. If I don't use my F6 for months (which happens as I prefer my other Nikons) all the saved settings are deleted, the clock needs to be reset, and I have to open the owner's manual to remember what everything does! (I remove the batteries from all my cameras when they are not used)

I get your point but just leave batteries in it! In the past I used to do the same with my older stuff using sr44 and AA but not the F6.

 

[Timmyjoe]

So?
Is it an object to fondle and worship, or is it to be used to take photos?
If it's (as I suspect from your comments) the former, you can spend all the time you like searching the planet for the Perfect Specimen" and perhaps you'll even convince the seller to give it away at what you consider to be a Goldilocks price.

Yeah, it'd be a shelf queen. I've got an F3HP w/MD-4 that I shoot with. But us older guys, who saw cameras that we drooled after when we were coming up, that we never could afford at the time, some of us would like to have one, just to have, now that our finances may allow.

 

[Calzone]

If you get an HP, look at the DK-17 magnifier. It works wonders for those of us with less than perfect eyesight and does allow more critical focus than the standard finder. (I have both).

Plus one. I wear glasses, but I like the added magnification of the DK-17.

I own a F3P and a F3HP. My F3P was owned by the Newspaper "Newsday" and was overhauled by Nikon just after it came back from Operation Desert Storm. My F3P has honest brassing, a loose strap lug, but is not hammered.

My F3HP is in LN condition and I only paid $150.00 a few years ago when there was a F3 glut.

My preference is for the F3P due to the lack of a secondary lock on the film door for faster loading, and for the extra frames I can get due to the lack of the two shot default of the HP metering. The oversized controls are a blessing also. After getting use to a F3P the F3HP seems awkward and not as fast. Both are fine cameras.

Cal

 

[Huss]

I get your point but just leave batteries in it! In the past I used to do the same with my older stuff using sr44 and AA but not the F6.

Bad idea if it is going to sit awhile in case of leakage.
Which begs the question, why do batteries leak when the devices are not used? Why wouldn't they leak while also in use (if they were going to leak)?

Back on topic. I'd find a mint F3Hp. They are 'cheap' mint so I don't see the point of saving a few bux and getting a beater. Some cameras look great beaten on (Nikon F), some look great perfect (F3)

 

[taemo]

Plus one. I wear glasses, but I like the added magnification of the DK-17.

I own a F3P and a F3HP. My F3P was owned by the Newspaper "Newsday" and was overhauled by Nikon just after it came back from Operation Desert Storm. My F3P has honest brassing, a loose strap lug, but is not hammered.

My F3HP is in LN condition and I only paid $150.00 a few years ago when there was a F3 glut.

My preference is for the F3P due to the lack of a secondary lock on the film door for faster loading, and for the extra frames I can get due to the lack of the two shot default of the HP metering. The oversized controls are a blessing also. After getting use to a F3P the F3HP seems awkward and not as fast. Both are fine cameras.

Cal

Thanks Cal, now you've made me rethink wanting a F3P.
I wanted the F3P exactly because of the faster loading as I dislike the secondary lock on both my FM2 and F3HP.

I might just get one of the other and buy one later on once I have extra money.

 

[taemo]

pulled the trigger on a clean F3P from Japan, time to send back the junky F3HP since the seller (popular camera seller ebay) never responded to my emails since last Friday.

 

[Huss]

pulled the trigger on a clean F3P from Japan, time to send back the junky F3HP since the seller (popular camera seller ebay) never responded to my emails since last Friday.

I don't see this in the 'what have you just bought' thread.
😉
congratulations!

 

[wakarimasen]

pulled the trigger on a clean F3P from Japan, time to send back the junky F3HP since the seller (popular camera seller ebay) never responded to my emails since last Friday.

That is a beauty.

 

[E.M]

I have a Nikon F2 with MD2MB1 motordrive , wich I use for the shorter and softer travel of the shutter button . I always take out the batteries when not in use , had them leaking twice . Anyway , I don't use that camera much these days .
Also had leaking batteries in a flash , it didn't fire and then I turned it to my eyes to look at it , it fired without touching any button . I called the hospital because I was seeing a blue square all the time . By the time I arrived at the hospital my eyes were better ( half an hour later I think ) , so I got back home . Been lucky I guess .

 

[maitani]

i m with cal on this
if you can find a reasonably priced P not overbeaten. i d go for the p, the details matter to me and i prefer the hotshoe on top of the prism too. the looks and the higher release.
all 3 are timeless classics and you cant go wrong with any

 

[ruby.monkey]

pulled the trigger on a clean F3P from Japan, time to send back the junky F3HP since the seller (popular camera seller ebay) never responded to my emails since last Friday.

Don't send it back without first raising a dispute through eBay. That'll create a record of this issue and is more likely to force the seller to respond.

 

[taemo]

i m with cal on this
if you can find a reasonably priced P not overbeaten. i d go for the p, the details matter to me and i prefer the hotshoe on top of the prism too. the looks and the higher release.
all 3 are timeless classics and you cant go wrong with any

on it! I'll keep my eye on a clean F3HP or if money permits a F3T.

Don't send it back without first raising a dispute through eBay. That'll create a record of this issue and is more likely to force the seller to respond.

Yes, I created a Return case through Ebay and waited 7 days to hear back from the seller, at first they offered a $50 refund which I was willing to take but then they never responded back even though I contacted them on some other camera gears for sale and responded fairly quickly.
Camera will be sent back to them today.

I don't see this in the 'what have you just bought' thread.
😉
congratulations!

didn't know there was such a thread, it has been an expensive day as I've also purchased a Canon 50mm 1.5 LTM online and locally I found a Voigtlander Bessa-R

 

[Calzone]

Batteries have a shelf life, deteriorate, and sometimes eventually leak.

Check out the "F3 Tribute" thread I started a ways back for a dose of information overload.

Recently I found another Nikon DF-18 databack that is kinda rare. (this is my second one, and now both my F3's have DF-18's) The date is imprinted between frames so I basically use my F3's as visual journals.

Funny thing is that I found some aftermarket grip for the F3 on the RFF classified; I rigged up my F3HP with an AH-4 handstrap; and with the addition of the DF-18 which has a ridge that serves as a thumb grip along with making the camera thicker my F3HP very strongly resembles a Nikon DF. LOL. Basically I created a film version of the DF for the haters to bash. LOL. I'm waiting for someone to complain that my film DF is too big and does not offer video capabilities. LOL. Anyways this camera feels as solid as my black SL2-MOT. BTW I am widely known for creating cameras that are called "Monsters." LOL.

BTW I rigged the F3HP/DF with my AF-D 28/1.4, and my F3P with a Noct-Nikkor. Another fun lens is this Olympus 24/3.5 shift lens that has been converted to F-mount. Oh... I forgot I have a Leica 50 Lux-R "E60" with an "almost-auto-aperture" Leitax adapter.

There's a really cool mod I performed to my F3P which is shim the light switch so that the LCD's become illuminated whenever the meter is actuated. This defeats the complaint that the LCD's are not as visible as LED's, but understand that the battery drain is severe so a MD-4 is required for a source of power. A pair of SR-44's only last about 2 dozen rolls otherwise. Also know that the illuminated LCD even makes it easier to manually meter in daylight, even though I originally performed this mod for night shooting.

BTW the F3P shown above is a beauty.

Cal

 

[Noserider]

Cal thats funny I shot my F3P alongside a DF and many people confused them. I'm certain Nikon copied that prisms angles for the DF.
That is a very pretty F3P that the OP got.
Just to let you know that 2nd film lock can be modded and removed easily.
The T and P body share parts and assembly and most sealing, the T should be viewed as a P with more features. and of course more T

 

[shimokita]

Lack of threaded shutter button [edit: on the F3P] get an MR-2 terminal shutter which screws into the motor drive, and then attach an appropriately threaded cable release (which is what I've done for years) and you're in business.

I understand that there is also a larger cap/button that screws onto the MR-2 for manual use...

Casey

 

[wjlapier]

Congrats, Earl. Nice looking camera. I buy from Japan sellers all the time on ebay.

 

[Calzone]

My F3 HP/DF is displayed in a few shots from the NYC Meet-Up in the "F3 Tribute" thread.

Cal