Nikon F3 Tribute

What happened to the supply of Nikon F3's at KEH?

Literally only one for sale. Was shopping around for a F3 non-HP, bought one from Adorama that was clean but I jammed the shutter and had to return it. At B&H my friends say they they are sell lots of them.

Tried to secure a DE-2 VF'er (non HP) for that extra magnification, but only saw rather beat up versions. I'm finding slim pickings.

Cal
 
The F3 is a beautifully integrated camera, but one ridiculous little thing tends to spoil it for me: it's the little red button that illuminates the aperture in dark situations. This is a good idea, but the implementation is cheesy. In F3's I have examined, it often doesn't work at all, and if I take the front of the prism apart to clean the contacts I find I end up with a dim and flickery glow that sort of does the job.

I realize this is a very small nit to pick, but there it is- a badly-executed feature. For me, the best never Nikon would have to be the fabulous F2AS. But then again, if you want auto exposure..............

Cheers,
Dez
 
Dez said:
The F3 is a beautifully integrated camera, but one ridiculous little thing tends to spoil it for me: it's the little red button that illuminates the aperture in dark situations. This is a good idea, but the implementation is cheesy. In F3's I have examined, it often doesn't work at all, and if I take the front of the prism apart to clean the contacts I find I end up with a dim and flickery glow that sort of does the job.

I realize this is a very small nit to pick, but there it is- a badly-executed feature. For me, the best never Nikon would have to be the fabulous F2AS. But then again, if you want auto exposure..............

Cheers,
Dez
Click to expand...

Dez,

I have to agree with you here, but I modded my F3P to overcome this limitation. Basically I made a shim from a matchbook cover that permanently engages the little red switch. The result is that whenever the metering is engaged the light illuminates the LCD's. I find that this is even beneficial during the day, and originally I performed this mod for using my Noct-Nikkor at night.

The only downside is battery drain if you use your F3 without a MD-4 motordrive. It seems that the battery drain without the motor drive is rather severe, but withe the huge supply of power from a MD-4 it's a moot point.

I posted the mod in the sticky in the "Repairs" section of the forum. It's a pretty simple mod that can be undone, but there is real danger of loosing tiny screws.

I use to have a few F2AS's. I loved them, but for me now the F3P is the bomb.

Cal
 
Flat Twin said:
An F3P followed me home the other day, I couldn't help it and so far I love it! It has serial number P9002805 which makes it a very close relation to yours Cal.

http://[url=http://www.flickr.com/p...com/people/sdifaz/]Flat Twin[/url], on Flickr
Nikon F3p by Flat Twin, on Flickr

http://[url=http://www.flickr.com/p...com/people/sdifaz/]Flat Twin[/url], on Flickr
Nikon F3p by Flat Twin, on Flickr

http://[url=http://www.flickr.com/p...com/people/sdifaz/]Flat Twin[/url], on Flickr
Nikon F3p by Flat Twin, on Flickr

I used to use an F3HP 15 years ago and really liked it. Using this one after Leicas for the past 12 years feels like I've never been away. Nikon U.K. are supplying a new standard back and pressure plate for use without the MD4 and also a couple of spare rubber weather seals for the unique shutter release of the F3P.

Currently half way through a roll of HP5 @320!

Regards,

Simon
Click to expand...

Simon,

My F3P has become part of me. Your example is mucho clean. Congrates.

Cal
 
I have my F3HP. Using it with Zeiss ZF lenses. Excellent camera. I originally bought an F3 when they first came out. Long time ago now. Then I bought an HP finder and used that camera for many years. I sold it to upgrade to medium format. but 2 years ago I bought a mint F3HP with AIS 50mm f1.4 lens. Sent it to Nikon to replace the foam seals and do a CLA. Now it is almost perfect again. Really missed having the F3HP around. Now with the Zeiss lenses it is really fun to use.

34zagdd.jpg


Regards,

Akitadog
 
Dez said:
The F3 is a beautifully integrated camera, but one ridiculous little thing tends to spoil it for me: it's the little red button that illuminates the aperture in dark situations. This is a good idea, but the implementation is cheesy. In F3's I have examined, it often doesn't work at all, and if I take the front of the prism apart to clean the contacts I find I end up with a dim and flickery glow that sort of does the job.

I realize this is a very small nit to pick, but there it is- a badly-executed feature. For me, the best never Nikon would have to be the fabulous F2AS. But then again, if you want auto exposure..............

Cheers,
Dez
Click to expand...

Interesting.
I never liked the F3 for a number of reasons, but mine were different from yours:
One mechanical shutter speed and the inconvenient manner in which it was activated,
Hotshoe surrounding the rewind lever rather than being on the top of the finder,
Difficult to read LCD information in finder,
Incredibly unaesthetic shutter button located in the center of the film advance lever rather than being on a separate pylon as on the F and F2 bodies.
And I agree that the F2AS was the best of the pro manual focus Nikon bodies.
However, I always thought the FA was head and shoulders a better camera than the F3, and had it been built to the same industrial strength standards as the F3, could easily, in my opinion been the pro Nikon body of it's time.
 
Glad to read that other Nikon F3P's are giving sterling service in appreciative hands !

Mine is s/no. P90043** and is still nearly mint despite considerable use over the years.

It's the most up-to-date camera I've ever used or owned, as I am primarily a Nikon F pre-AI and old Leica gear user, but it's nice to use automation and motordrive sometimes.

It's as modern as I ever intend to go with my photography, though.... (!)
 
dabick42 said:
Glad to read that other Nikon F3P's are giving sterling service in appreciative hands !

Mine is s/no. P90043** and is still nearly mint despite considerable use over the years.

It's the most up-to-date camera I've ever used or owned, as I am primarily a Nikon F pre-AI and old Leica gear user, but it's nice to use automation and motordrive sometimes.

It's as modern as I ever intend to go with my photography, though.... (!)
Click to expand...

Gotta love that low serial number.

Cal
 
I wanted to add to this thread started by Calzone, Here's my new to me
Nikon F3, What's said above is true about these great cameras I started
with a Series E 50mm now I just got a great deal on a Nikkor 50mm F1.8


Range
 

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like Akita, I bought mine to shoot with ZF lenses.

I dont like Nikkor lenses very much, but the F3HP and ZF50MP is a great combo IQ wise. Size and weight wise, it's a bit of a beast tho.
 
Not to take this thread on a different course but a related question for you F3 users: I have been sitting on the fence on getting a FE as a second film camera to my M6. If I understand it, The FE versus the F3 difference is: FE is smaller and the FE has a analog meter needle versus F3 digital readout…. Thanks in advance D.
 
Nikon itself might just be preparing its own tribute to the F3. The latest from Nikon Rumours is that the new retro full-frame DSLR will be styled after the F3. This corrects yesterday's rumour that it would look like an FM2.
 
danielsterno said:
Not to take this thread on a different course but a related question for you F3 users: I have been sitting on the fence on getting a FE as a second film camera to my M6. If I understand it, The FE versus the F3 difference is: FE is smaller and the FE has a analog meter needle versus F3 digital readout…. Thanks in advance D.
Click to expand...


That and the F3 has interchangeable viewfinders and screens, you would
do better with a FE2 that has faster flash sync, higher shutter speeds and
interchangeable screens.

Range
 
The FE2 is an excellent camera. The meter readout, to me, is MUCH easier to interpret than the F3. It is also a little lighter. But as Range mentioned--the F3 is far more flexible, if you need it. Prices for excellent versions of either camera aren't that far apart. You can't go wrong with either one..good luck!
Paul
 
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