GarageBoy
Well-known
Imagine yourself as a press photographer in the early 80s- (or maybe you were) -
Were the changes on the F3 Press a worthwhile upgrade for you?
Were the changes on the F3 Press a worthwhile upgrade for you?
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I own a F3P that was a real "Press" camera owned by the Long Island newspaper "Newsday." It recieved an overhaul from Nikon and was sold to me after the camera had just returned from covering "Operation Desert Storm."
Surprisingly the F3P is not so brassy or dented like one would imagine. Over the decades that I have owned it I have grown use to the F3P's features and very much perfer my F3P over my F3HP.
I don't miss the lack of double exposure capabilities, I like and have used the hot shoe on the DE-5 prism, I very much perfer the oversized controls, and most of all I find the F3P easier to load due to two factors: one is there is no secondary lock to release the back door so there is one less thing to do; and the F3P does not display "80" in the VF'er for the first few frames like a standard F3 or F3HP. Sometimes I can get 39 frames out of a roll with my F3P and perhaps only 37 with a standard F3.
My serial number is low. I understand that the first 4K F3P's were only sold to pro's with credentials. It was only later that the F3P was available to the general public.
To me the F3P is different enough that I consider it a seperate camera from a standard F3 or F3HP. I think of my F3P as a more elegant camera with stripped down function (lack of double exposure capabilities), lack of a safety lock on the door release, the weathersealing, the oversized controls, the shutter lock that can be used while wearing gloves, and most of all because the way the film loading and initial advance works so differently. All these added pro features quickly spoiled me.
Cal
Surprisingly the F3P is not so brassy or dented like one would imagine. Over the decades that I have owned it I have grown use to the F3P's features and very much perfer my F3P over my F3HP.
I don't miss the lack of double exposure capabilities, I like and have used the hot shoe on the DE-5 prism, I very much perfer the oversized controls, and most of all I find the F3P easier to load due to two factors: one is there is no secondary lock to release the back door so there is one less thing to do; and the F3P does not display "80" in the VF'er for the first few frames like a standard F3 or F3HP. Sometimes I can get 39 frames out of a roll with my F3P and perhaps only 37 with a standard F3.
My serial number is low. I understand that the first 4K F3P's were only sold to pro's with credentials. It was only later that the F3P was available to the general public.
To me the F3P is different enough that I consider it a seperate camera from a standard F3 or F3HP. I think of my F3P as a more elegant camera with stripped down function (lack of double exposure capabilities), lack of a safety lock on the door release, the weathersealing, the oversized controls, the shutter lock that can be used while wearing gloves, and most of all because the way the film loading and initial advance works so differently. All these added pro features quickly spoiled me.
Cal
FrankS
Registered User
Hi Cal! Is the shoe on the prism hot or cold?
GarageBoy
Well-known
It's a hot non TTL shoe
I'm weary of using it since you heavy flash is now bearing on the little latch pins that keeps the finder on it
The Canon F1 rails were a nicer design
I'm weary of using it since you heavy flash is now bearing on the little latch pins that keeps the finder on it
The Canon F1 rails were a nicer design
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Frank,
Not TTL, but hot.
I used a Vivitar 283 with no issues.
Currently I am using an Olympus 24/3.5 shift lens converted to Nikon F-mount on my F3P and the hot shoe holds a two way bubble level.
I also modded my F3P so that the light illuminates my LCD's anytime the meter is activated. The use of a MD-4 is required due to battery drain. Only about 2 dozen rolls were required to drain a pair of SR-44's. I use to own an AIS version of the Noct-Nikkor and the F3P and Noct-Nikkor was a great camera for "night-stalking." The illuminated LCD's made meter reading at night possible. I still like the LCD's being illuminated, even for day time use.
Cal
farlymac
PF McFarland
I see those for sale every once in a while, and thought it was just an HP without the appropriate letter. Now that I know the difference, I'll keep a look out for one. The different features are nice to know about, Cal.
PF
PF
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
PF,
The F3P will ruin and spoil you. The secondary lock on the F3HP really-really annoys me, and the there are the extra two frames I loose on every roll of film.
Check out Steve's site for a cool profile (CameraQuest). Not that F3P's are collectable, but they are kinda rare and novel. Not a big premium I'm seeing these days.
I've owned my F3P since about 1991. Only maintenance issue was changing the foam seals which I performed myself.
Cal
E.M
Well-known
I've always wanted one , it's the nicest of F3 's and I couldn't afford one when new . Later in 2000 I bought a new ( ? ) one in Hong Kong , but traded it back in after 1 hour for a M6ttl ( my first Leica ), because I thought there was something not right with it . The M6 is still my favourite camera .
Flat Twin
Film Shooter
Nikon F3P by Flat Twin, on Flickr
I love my F3P over the standard F3. Especially the fact that it doesn't set shutter speeds to 1/80th until the frame counter reaches 01, this way I can squeeze two more shots out of a roll and the on/off switch is also soooo much better/quicker/less fiddly to use! Its just a great camera, mine was owned by a photojournalist in Scotland before me, he had it from new and it went all over the world. It has the patina to prove it and it still works perfectly... I had it in the classifieds for ages but not much interest, it was probably too expensive! I'm currently really enjoying it again but it doesn't get that much use and I could be persuaded to part with it if anyone is interested, well maybe...!
Regards,
Simon
JP Owens
Well-known
I had an F3P back in the day that I used for sports with the MD4. But never really bonded with the camera. My main cameras then were the FM2 and FE2. Lighter and felt better in my hand. The right side grip of the F3P without the MD4 hurt my little finger after hours of shooting with it.
Incredibly rugged camera, though. Most of them I've seen were beat up pretty badly by press photographers who tended to carry two or three around their necks and bang them into each other.
Incredibly rugged camera, though. Most of them I've seen were beat up pretty badly by press photographers who tended to carry two or three around their necks and bang them into each other.
maitani
Well-known
it's my only Film-Nikon i kept, (well besides a plain-prism Nikon F)
It's kind-of big, with the mk-1 attached anyway, but it improves handling for vertical use immensely. It's the best body i can think of to use the noct-nikkor imo.
It's kind-of big, with the mk-1 attached anyway, but it improves handling for vertical use immensely. It's the best body i can think of to use the noct-nikkor imo.
leicapixie
Well-known
The safety door lock and the shooting two blank frames had me crazy!
I solved the frames..i used that 1/80th speed.
OK no meter.
If one can own a F3, one should manage without a meter..
It is a pro camera.
The metering however is wonderful.
The door, well that has me foxed.:bang:
No issues. A wonderful box, prefer my F though.
Wish i had the F3P, for the hot shoe.
I solved the frames..i used that 1/80th speed.
OK no meter.
If one can own a F3, one should manage without a meter..
It is a pro camera.
The metering however is wonderful.
The door, well that has me foxed.:bang:
No issues. A wonderful box, prefer my F though.
Wish i had the F3P, for the hot shoe.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Fred,
On my F3HP I get 37 frames, but on my F3P I can get 39. I always get extra frames, but I like getting the extra bonus two because I'm greedy and spoiled.
Cal
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
I don't think many press photographers personally bought one - those that paid for their own camera either did not quite have the F3 budget, or had special desires of their own that went beyond the regular agency issued camera body (like using a Leica, Canon, F2 or medium format gear). But it was the issued camera of many agencies and major newspapers.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Nikon F3P by Flat Twin, on Flickr
I love my F3P over the standard F3. Especially the fact that it doesn't set shutter speeds to 1/80th until the frame counter reaches 01, this way I can squeeze two more shots out of a roll and the on/off switch is also soooo much better/quicker/less fiddly to use! Its just a great camera, mine was owned by a photojournalist in Scotland before me, he had it from new and it went all over the world. It has the patina to prove it and it still works perfectly... I had it in the classifieds for ages but not much interest, it was probably too expensive! I'm currently enjoying it again but it doesn't get that much use and I could be persuaded to part with it if anyone is interested...!
Regards,
Simon
Simon,
Mine is serial number P9002780. My F3P has similar Mojo and it is really great to know it was part of history.
The real F3P's that were only available to shooters with credentials all have S/N's under 4K.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Thanks for reminding me. I really miss my Noct-Nikkor. Been thinking of getting another one. I have a Beattie Intenscreen with an oversized split prism, and with that screen along with a DK-17 magnifier the VF'er was totally optimized for "Night Stalking."
The DF-18 adds aditional thickness to the grip, and the date imprinted inbetween frames is awesome to use this rig as a photographic journal.
I own a 50 Lux ASPH, but for shallow DOF work I think the Noct-Nikkor is better suited for me.
Like I said before: my F3P with Noct-Nikkor is an ultimate rig.
Cal
ronnies
Well-known
My plain F3 doesn't stick to 1/80 when the frame counter is below 1. I'm not inclined to get it fixed though.
Ronnie
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
My plain F3 doesn't stick to 1/80 when the frame counter is below 1. I'm not inclined to get it fixed though.
Ronnie
Ronnie,
On the "F3 Tribute" thread there are/is a mention about a F3 having the F3P style of metering always ready. I believe this is very rare.
I wish my F3HP was like yours. Really drives me nuts, especially once you are spoiled by the elegance, simplicity and ergonomics of a F3P.
Cal
De_Corday
Eternal Student
^^ I've often wondered about how hard it would be to modify a plain F3 to act that way... I've always wanted an F3P though.
Can't really justify a third F3 while saving for an M6, though.
Can't really justify a third F3 while saving for an M6, though.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
^^ I've often wondered about how hard it would be to modify a plain F3 to act that way... I've always wanted an F3P though.
Can't really justify a third F3 while saving for an M6, though.
I once justified owning three F3's just because the cost was so low and being a self proclaimed lazy slacker who didn't want to change lenses.
A few years ago the availability of used F3's was a flooded market. Lke new cameras for $150.00 and clean users for $75.00. All you could want. I still have the like new F3HP that I paid only $150.00. These are crazy prices for a Nikon Pro camera with 100% VF'ers.
Anyways one of the reasons for this huge flood was that out of all of Nikon's Pro cameras the F3 had the longest production run of 14 years. Nikon literally made about a million of them. Then the F3 has proven itself to be a very reliable and durable camera, and this also kept the supply high. On top of that digital replaced long term film users...
Perhaps consider upgrading to a F3P and downsizing a standard F3. To me the F3P is a big upgrade. Not a lot of money today considering that it is a Pro camera IMHO that is somewhat rare.
Cal