I never liked the F3, they just never felt or seemed right to me. Ditto for the F4 or F5. On the other hand I have several dozen F and F2's, and will eventually find a F6. My favorite non F series film Nikon SLR is the FM3A. I do know from my Nikon repair tech however, that the F3 proved considerably more reliable overall than the F4.
Stephen
Stephen
Creagerj
Incidental Artist
Bought an F3 last summer, havn't looked back
Chris101
summicronia
I love this Nikon vs Canon stuff! I believe the proper retort is "Oh yeah! At least my camera doesn't look like Darth Vader!"Matthew55000 said:
kully
Happy Snapper
No rivallry intended Chris - I'm sure Canons are as good as or even better than Nikons. I wanted to stick with Nikon because I have access to Nikon shaped glass.
Chris101
summicronia
Oh I know that!kully said:
(I often forget those smile symbols.)I was just foolin' around cause brand-ism is so prevalent among camera users. I use 'em all. But the thing about the shape of the dome over the pentaprism ...
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I wear glasses and have the HP and non-HP versions of the F3. I can see the full frame fine with either. It's the shutter speed LCD readout above the frame that requires some extra effort.
I find the 80/20 metering of the F3 rather tricky, actually -- I've underexposed a number of shots (and I don't quite see why). On the other hand, the center-weighted metering of the FM/FE series is pretty darn reliable.
I'd opt for the FM2N or FE2 over the F3, myself. Smaller and more OM-1-like.
I find the 80/20 metering of the F3 rather tricky, actually -- I've underexposed a number of shots (and I don't quite see why). On the other hand, the center-weighted metering of the FM/FE series is pretty darn reliable.
I'd opt for the FM2N or FE2 over the F3, myself. Smaller and more OM-1-like.
JNewell
Leica M Recidivist
The F2 and F3 aren't really closely comparable, IMO. The F2 is the last Nikon in the generation of mechanical bodies, which together represent the high water mark in that area. The F3 is a wonderful picture making machine, but it handles somewhat differently - not in a way that is functionally different, but definitely (IMO) with a different karma. The viewfinder on the F3 is much better/brighter, but the F3 (again, IMO) is not ideally suited for manual exposure use, for the reasons specified earlier.
I have a black F3/T that (must say again, IMO) is really *the* F3 to lust for.
I have a black F3/T that (must say again, IMO) is really *the* F3 to lust for.