Nikon F3 or FM2?

[gavinlg]

If anyone wants to know, I ended up getting a mint high serial f3hp. Its serial puts it as about a 96/97 model and I'm really in love with it. It's so industrially beautiful and strong. As such I'm not even using any rangefinder bodies at the moment - just the f3hp. I'm about to order a zeiss 50 1.4 planar in ZF mount from popflash this weekend for it. I don't think it gets much better than that!

Really enjoying it.

 

[anandi]

Congrats. I'm sure you'll still love it after a couple of years too. That feeling of rightness in your hand doesn't go away.

Cheers,
-Amit

 

[jaffa_777]

Great choice Gavin, even though you couldn't have gone wrong with either camera. I have an F3 non HP which I absolutley love. I also use the zeiss zf 50mm with it and think it is a stellar combination. I think you are going to love the results. I find the focusing screen gorgeous to look through and very easy to focus accurately. I do have more trouble accurately focusing my 85mm 1.8 accurately on the eyes though. I wonder if anyone knows if there is a eye piece magnifier you can get for this camera that would help with critically focusing longer lenses?


I'll post a few pics with the F3 and the zf 50mm.

 

[rogue_designer]

congrats!

Fwiw - I used to love my FM2n and F3 - gave the FM2n to an ex gf, and the F3 was lost in a boating accident.

Rather than replacing either, I managed to get a kit of 2 Canon F1N's with a complement of lenses which have served me faithfully since. I don't miss the F3. But I do sometimes pine for that little tank of an FM2n.

Regardless enjoy your new rig.

 

[gavinlg]

Great choice Gavin, even though you couldn't have gone wrong with either camera. I have an F3 non HP which I absolutley love. I also use the zeiss zf 50mm with it and think it is a stellar combination. I think you are going to love the results. I find the focusing screen gorgeous to look through and very easy to focus accurately. I do have more trouble accurately focusing my 85mm 1.8 accurately on the eyes though. I wonder if anyone knows if there is a eye piece magnifier you can get for this camera that would help with critically focusing longer lenses?


I'll post a few pics with the F3 and the zf 50mm.

Wow that second photo sure is sharp! I'm really keen to see what sort of resolution I can pull at ardoun f4 on the ZF planar. Also of interest to me is the 35 distagon vs the nikkor 35 1.5 ais. The zeiss's have a really amazing look though - and all of them have it. It's hard to explain but I think its something in the way of how the in-focus parts of the image transfers to the out of focus bokeh. zeiss is in a league of its own here.

Thanks for that.

 

[literiter]

I went to a camera store near me about two years ago and found about 6 or 7 really nice F3Hps to choose from. I carefully went over each camera and found one absolutley blemish free. (I think many people dumped heir film cameras, at the same time, when digital arrived) Then I chose a case.
I already had a F2 and some lenses.
The F3 fits my hand very well and the "auto" setting exposes very well.
These are special cameras. They complement my Leica M2 and M4-P.

 

[kjoosten]

If anyone wants to know, I ended up getting a mint high serial f3hp. Its serial puts it as about a 96/97 model and I'm really in love with it. It's so industrially beautiful and strong. As such I'm not even using any rangefinder bodies at the moment - just the f3hp. I'm about to order a zeiss 50 1.4 planar in ZF mount from popflash this weekend for it. I don't think it gets much better than that!

Really enjoying it.

Nice choice of the Planar. I have that lens and use it regularly with my F2AS and FM3a. It is absolutely stellar.

 

[jaffa_777]

I think where the zeiss lenses have always really shone is on slide film.
A lot of people over on another forum compare this lens and their nikkors with digital pics, but my opinion is that the sensors at the moment are uanble to do the lens justice in the terms of subtlety of colour. I think these pics try to convey what I mean.

 

[szekiat]

its like comparing the M6 with an M7 really isn't it?

 

[cmogi10]

its like comparing the M6 with an M7 really isn't it?

Hm, I'l take the M6! And the FM2N!

 

[cmogi10]

 

[CC72]

For collectibility, F3. The F series is (was) Nikon's top-of-line model range. Just like the F3, the FM2 is an excellent, indestructible camera. The work-horse of all work-horses. I have an FM2n from 1992. I got it new in Hong Kong. And I still want an F3. Get both!!!

 

[Uncle Bill]

I have been following this thread with interest, I was toying of getting an FM3 sometime next year but the idea of having a F3 HP and FM2n for the same price or a little bit less makes more sense.

 

[kjoosten]

I have been following this thread with interest, I was toying of getting an FM3 sometime next year but the idea of having a F3 HP and FM2n for the same price or a little bit less makes more sense.

Although....

The FM3a could be considered as having the best characteristics of both - the FM2n's compactness and battery-less operability, the F3's aperture priority and TTL flash.

That said, someday I WILL own a mintish F3/T champaign......

 

[gavinlg]

Well, I really love my f3hp. I haven't even got it that zeiss lens yet - will order soon. The handling of the f3 is beautiful. I find it intuitive and love the way it feels. Like it more than my old m6.

 

[robert blu]

I like my FM2, with the Nikkor 50mm/1,4. Not sure about differences with the Zeiss planar 50mm/1,4. But the camera is excellent, at least for me...
rob

 

[mw_uio]

F3HP, is my favorite camera! Plus it has 'aperture priority' for quick shooting, works like a charm! Even if you do not get a F3HP, but get a FM2n, still you can venture into the Zeiss ZF lenses.

Distagon T* 2.8/25 [$787]
Distagon T* 2/28**expected release in Dec. 07**
Distagon T* 2/35 [$787]

Planar T* 1.4/50 [$492]
Planar T* 1.4/85 [$984]

Makro-Planar T* 2/50 [$984]
Makro-Planar T* 2/100 [$1507]

*Above prices from B&H web site


I wonder how the ZF Distagon T* 2/28 will compare to the Nikkor 28/2.0?

Good luck in your quest!!
Just go ahead and get the F3HP, you can always sell it for the same price you bought it!

Cheers
MArk
Quito, EC

 

[JNewell]

That said, someday I WILL own a mintish F3/T champaign......

It's a personal preference - but I always favored the black F3/T model. The champagne looks OK until the paint starts to wear, then (to me) the gray TI under the paint really looks ratty. The gray looks better under the black...to me.

 

[Seele]

I think where the zeiss lenses have always really shone is on slide film.
A lot of people over on another forum compare this lens and their nikkors with digital pics, but my opinion is that the sensors at the moment are uanble to do the lens justice in the terms of subtlety of colour. I think these pics try to convey what I mean.

Jaffa,

Sorry to be a spoil sport but these pictures, especially the last three, shows very messy bokeh: messy in a different way as compared to Nikkors.

 

[JonasYip]

Recently I've really enjoyed using my (new to me) F3HP paired with a Voigtlander Ultron 40/2. I also have an FM2n, and I do like some things better there as others have discussed: the easy-to-see +/- LEDs, the power-switch (or rather, I don't like the F3 switch), the 1/4000 shutter.

I think an FM3a would actually be perfect for me. Actually, an FM3D-FX would be perfect ...

j