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It is amazing: No one would steel you camera in Japan it you leave it on the bench whole day. - In Slovakia the camera would be there 10 seconds. - That is the big moral difference. They are many steps ahead of us in Japan. Very nice review. Perfect. Thank you.
That was an amazing 20 minutes listening to you thoroughly go over the F3P and it's differences with the Standard F3. The history is brilliant too, not many camera have had such an exciting life. It has all the scars to prove it too. Now it lives out it's old age and is cared for by you, who obviously loves it. And so you should. Great camera. I have my eye on a F3T hopefully be mine very soon. Stay safe in the lockdown .
Just bought an F3 . I spend the 1980s shooting photos using a Minolta X-700 and MD prime lenses and getting pin sharp enlargements with Ektar 25 ASA film ; never felt an urge to switch to Nikon. However, the price i paid at a thrift made buying the F3 impossible to resist and I look forward to finally using a professional grade Nikon. Thanks for posting the video on the differences between the F3, F3P and other versions as I still have much to learn about the Nikon SLR systems.
For press work, we mostly used the F3 for Sport and general long lens work... For general indoors and flash stuff it was always the FM2 or FA for the 1/250 flash sync..
I was given a Nikon F3 with the MD4 motordrive by my uncle who is a professional photographer. He got me into photography. I still have the well used F3. It is big, and it is heavy, but I so love it.
The fact that the Nikon F3 had such a long production run goes to show you how much dedication did professional photographers had for the F3. And even when the F4 & F5 came out. Those two cameras couldn’t have captured the amount of attention the F3 garnered within the world of professional photography . And still the F3 impresses to allot of new film photographers who use it. So it’s legacy will continue to live on!
I just bought my 2nd F 3 in an antique store. Paid $99.00. Couldn't believe it. Very good condition. My first one I bought back in 1984 while in US Air force. Took out a lone to buy. Got camera, lens and bag for just over $1000.00. Walk out of store about 20 ft off the ground. Most expensive and best 35 mm I've ever owned. Unfortunately had tell sale it about 6 years later because the income didn't meet the bills at the time. Vowed if I ever ran across a good one for " cheap" I'd buy.
Hi, enjoyed your review. The camera was designed by (sorry about the spelling) Georgette Geggaro of Ital Design. Yes, there are probably even more G’s than I’ve accounted for in the name. The red/orange stripe is something of an emblem for Ital Design and can be found incorporated in their designs, particularly their many car designs. I have been a Nikon fan boy since the very early eighties and have quite a few, both film and digital. I’ve managed somehow to overlook the F3. I’ll get one in the next few months I think!
The LX did have a long production run, but the F3 did beat it out, holding the record here in Japan. I like the LX as well, but prefer the range of lenses and accessories available for the F3.
Great videos! Do you happen to know when Nikon updated the Exposure Memory Lock button in the F3? When the F3 was introduced the button was a plastic piece that was prone to falling out. They changed to metal (with an internal clip) in later models, but I can't find any info online as to when this change was made. Any help with a year or serial number that corresponds with the design change would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for this video, I have shot 35mm all my life since early high school and instamatic cameras before that before a teenager. I have only become familiar with Nikon because a friend who I had a beautiful relationship with and she got me to change my loyalty to Nikon above my former camera brand. My one question is: the particular meaning of “AI”lenses vs non-AI lenses, and if the F3 is strictly designed for AI lenses. Thank you once again, new subscriber as of today.
Hi - I have two beautiful F3-hp cameras. Three issues with one of them: 1. Smudged mirror after a CLA 2. Difficult to turn ASA dial 3. Nikon 50mm 1.2 doesn’t easily click into place when attached to camera body. Can you suggest solutions to these problems? Can you recommend a competent service in the USA, or elsewhere in the world, that will accept mailed in cameras? Thank you for your wonderful content particularly with respect to twin lens cameras.
Before I pull the trigger on a top end 35mm can I ask for a little advice please. I am considering the Nikon F3 or maybe the Canon F1 with AE finder. Which one is the better and easier to meter with please.
Personally, I would prefer the Nikon F3. I find the F3 to be more reliable than the Canon F1, and I prefer most Nikkor lenses to their Canon counterparts. I like the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS, the 50mm f/1.8 "pancake," and my all-time favorite, the 50-300 ED zoom. The F1 is a great camera, but the accessories Canon made for the F1 are not as plentiful or made as well as those Nikon made for its F3.
The hot shoe was available on the P and Limited models. I have seen other F3 cameras which share been modified to have a shoe on the top of the prism, but it is not a simple modification.
I don't know, I have never had an F3 which has required any electronic parts to be replaced, even the most heavily used. The only weakness is the LCD in the viewfinder, which can bleed out making it hard to see the numbers.
Nikon used NASA engineering technology and very strict parts sourcing in the electronics: the goal was 100% reliability over many years- needed to win over skeptical professionals.
please help me, ive had an f3 for 8 years and have never found out if the 1/3rd exposure comp actually does anything. say i meter a scene and get f/4 1/125th. i then set exposure comp to +2/3rd, looking at the same scene the lcd will still read f/4 1/125th.. does it change the shutter speed even if lcd reads the same? thank you for any response
Ouch! a college photography teacher had his Leicaflex system stolen out of his car.... from under the front seat! just too nasty. I picked up a nice clean one, not HP though, body, for 225$CDN with the dedicated flash and accessories.
The FA offers offers shutter priority auto, which is a feature some people like, but the F3 offers more options and accessories, and very smooth operation. The FA has become a cult camera in Japan, though the F3 holds its value better.
Hi, I own a FM2, and this camera has always interested me , but what are the options for changing the pentaprism. Is there a waist level finder available ? Many thanks Ed
You are correct, but the outside is clad entirely in plastic. This is nice when shooting in very cold weather as the plastic feels warmer than metal, but the plastic quickly gets shiny, and it is hard to remove the cladding to get inside the camera to repair it.
I have the Nikon F3, BUT I also have the Canon F--1 New which I think is a much better camera AND I also think that Canon have a much better system than Nikon.
I also prefer the Canon F1n. Better appearance, better ergonomics with a winder F. For me the F1 is my favorite 35mm film camera followed closely by the Nikomat FTn. Pure simplicity.
The internal structure is magnesium, but the body is clad in a rubberized plastic. These cameras are solid, but the rubberized plastic gets rubbed shiny in some places, or sometimes the chemicals in the plastic break down and leave any oily coating on the surface which feels a little slippery and unpleasant (like the plastic steering wheels in some older cars).
I borrowed my sister's F3 before I settled on the FE2 which I think is the best manual Nikon ever made. 4000th shutter. A little bit smaller than the F3. The metering scale in the viewfinder is nicer. And to be honest... I don't really like that grip and the red line running through it. Stupid aesthetic thing, but on top of other things that adds to it LOL. I LOVE the removable prism cause I like gadgets.. but not something I would ever need/use except to play with it. Also the FE2 has exposure lock coupled to the self timer (I guess the F3 probably has exposure lock somewhere too??). Oh also... the film advance functioning as the On/Off switch is brilliant for saving your battery. And just makes a lot of sense.
Although I will say this: If you side by side all of the "F" cameras... the F3 is clearly the winner. The F4 and F5 are just plain ridiculous monstrosities of electronic overload and sheer size. The F6 dialed it back and is actually a very nice camera. And that was the bridge to those bulbous curvy cameras that became DSLR's. Then Fujifilm had to come along 10 years later and press the reset button. I went with the FE2... but the F3 is pretty brilliant.
It is amazing: No one would steel you camera in Japan it you leave it on the bench whole day. - In Slovakia the camera would be there 10 seconds. - That is the big moral difference. They are many steps ahead of us in Japan.
Very nice review. Perfect. Thank you.
That was an amazing 20 minutes listening to you thoroughly go over the F3P and it's differences with the Standard F3. The history is brilliant too, not many camera have had such an exciting life. It has all the scars to prove it too. Now it lives out it's old age and is cared for by you, who obviously loves it. And so you should. Great camera.
I have my eye on a F3T hopefully be mine very soon. Stay safe in the lockdown .
Just bought an F3 .
I spend the 1980s shooting photos using a Minolta X-700 and MD prime lenses and getting pin sharp enlargements with Ektar 25 ASA film ; never felt an urge to switch to Nikon.
However, the price i paid at a thrift made buying the F3 impossible to resist and I look forward to finally using a professional grade Nikon.
Thanks for posting the video on the differences between the F3, F3P and other versions as I still have much to learn about the Nikon SLR systems.
The single best SLR EVER. I banged it around for more than two decades and it never flinched.
I have an F3 got with Motor Drive and 2 lenses, lovely thing ….beautiful unit.
For press work, we mostly used the F3 for Sport and general long lens work... For general indoors and flash stuff it was always the FM2 or FA for the 1/250 flash sync..
I so love the F3 for me it feels part of me 21 years production tells you all you need to know I am looking for a F3P to go along side my F3hp
I was given a Nikon F3 with the MD4 motordrive by my uncle who is a professional photographer. He got me into photography. I still have the well used F3. It is big, and it is heavy, but I so love it.
The fact that the Nikon F3 had such a long production run goes to show you how much dedication did professional photographers had for the F3. And even when the F4 & F5 came out. Those two cameras couldn’t have captured the amount of attention the F3 garnered within the world of professional photography . And still the F3 impresses to allot of new film photographers who use it. So it’s legacy will continue to live on!
I just bought my 2nd F 3 in an antique store. Paid $99.00. Couldn't believe it. Very good condition. My first one I bought back in 1984 while in US Air force. Took out a lone to buy. Got camera, lens and bag for just over $1000.00. Walk out of store about 20 ft off the ground. Most expensive and best 35 mm I've ever owned. Unfortunately had tell sale it about 6 years later because the income didn't meet the bills at the time. Vowed if I ever ran across a good one for " cheap" I'd buy.
I really enjoy your videos, you're very well spoken and full of info. I look forward to more content
In 1985 I bought a F3 HP, and used it for 5 yrs. I had the MD-4 as well. I really liked the Camera, and found it could really take a Beating.
Very informative presentation! Thank You so much !!!
My favourite film camera. Never selling mine.
Hi, enjoyed your review. The camera was designed by (sorry about the spelling) Georgette Geggaro of Ital Design. Yes, there are probably even more G’s than I’ve accounted for in the name. The red/orange stripe is something of an emblem for Ital Design and can be found incorporated in their designs, particularly their many car designs.
I have been a Nikon fan boy since the very early eighties and have quite a few, both film and digital. I’ve managed somehow to overlook the F3. I’ll get one in the next few months I think!
Cool camera !!👍
You had some rain storms while you shot this.
F4 a plastic camera!? You haven’t handled one then
The most important feature of the Nikon F4 was that it was a pro camera with auto focus. The camera industry has never looked back...
I do believe the pro-spec Pentax LX was produced for pretty much the same length of time as the F3, pretty much concurrently.
The LX did have a long production run, but the F3 did beat it out, holding the record here in Japan. I like the LX as well, but prefer the range of lenses and accessories available for the F3.
Great videos! Do you happen to know when Nikon updated the Exposure Memory Lock button in the F3? When the F3 was introduced the button was a plastic piece that was prone to falling out. They changed to metal (with an internal clip) in later models, but I can't find any info online as to when this change was made. Any help with a year or serial number that corresponds with the design change would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for this video, I have shot 35mm all my life since early high school and instamatic cameras before that before a teenager. I have only become familiar with Nikon because a friend who I had a beautiful relationship with and she got me to change my loyalty to Nikon above my former camera brand. My one question is: the particular meaning of “AI”lenses vs non-AI lenses, and if the F3 is strictly designed for AI lenses. Thank you once again, new subscriber as of today.
GREAT VIDEO! THANKS! I'm very curious about this "ALL WEATHER NIKON" film camera you mentioned... has the name came back to you yet?
They made the Nikonos line of underwater film cameras. I, II, III, IV, and I think V was the last of them.
Versus Canon New F-1?
Hi - I have two beautiful F3-hp cameras. Three issues with one of them:
1. Smudged mirror after a CLA
2. Difficult to turn ASA dial
3. Nikon 50mm 1.2 doesn’t easily click into place when attached to camera body.
Can you suggest solutions to these problems?
Can you recommend a competent service in the USA, or elsewhere in the world, that will accept mailed in cameras?
Thank you for your wonderful content particularly with respect to twin lens cameras.
Before I pull the trigger on a top end 35mm can I ask for a little advice please. I am considering the Nikon F3 or maybe the Canon F1 with AE finder.
Which one is the better and easier to meter with please.
Personally, I would prefer the Nikon F3. I find the F3 to be more reliable than the Canon F1, and I prefer most Nikkor lenses to their Canon counterparts. I like the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS, the 50mm f/1.8 "pancake," and my all-time favorite, the 50-300 ED zoom. The F1 is a great camera, but the accessories Canon made for the F1 are not as plentiful or made as well as those Nikon made for its F3.
hello, how can u find a hotshot on the top for the nikon F3??
The hot shoe was available on the P and Limited models. I have seen other F3 cameras which share been modified to have a shoe on the top of the prism, but it is not a simple modification.
A great review. I’ve just bought an F3 from Japan. Someone said it was difficult to get replacement parts if the electronics broke down. Is that true?
I don't know, I have never had an F3 which has required any electronic parts to be replaced, even the most heavily used. The only weakness is the LCD in the viewfinder, which can bleed out making it hard to see the numbers.
@@japanvintagecamera8869 I would very much agree with you. The one I bought is completely solid.
Nikon used NASA engineering technology and very strict parts sourcing in the electronics: the goal was 100% reliability over many years- needed to win over skeptical professionals.
please help me, ive had an f3 for 8 years and have never found out if the 1/3rd exposure comp actually does anything. say i meter a scene and get f/4 1/125th. i then set exposure comp to +2/3rd, looking at the same scene the lcd will still read f/4 1/125th.. does it change the shutter speed even if lcd reads the same? thank you for any response
The LCD only reads in full stops, so you will not see any change in the reading, even though the shutter is firing 2/3 of a stop faster.
@@japanvintagecamera8869 THANK YOU kind sir. you have no idea how long i've been searching for that answer!
Ouch! a college photography teacher had his Leicaflex system stolen out of his car.... from under the front seat! just too nasty. I picked up a nice clean one, not HP though, body, for 225$CDN with the dedicated flash and accessories.
Hmmm should I sell my Nikon FE for this or stay…
Maybe the more durable Nikon you're referring to is a Nikonos?
Would you prefer the F3 p or the F3t?
The F3T is more durable as all the upper parts are titanium, the left and right covers on the F3P are brass.
@@japanvintagecamera8869 thanks! I appreciate your videos and the camera I purchased from you a few months ago
which better F3 or FA ?
The FA offers offers shutter priority auto, which is a feature some people like, but the F3 offers more options and accessories, and very smooth operation. The FA has become a cult camera in Japan, though the F3 holds its value better.
Hi, I own a FM2, and this camera has always interested me , but what are the options for changing the pentaprism. Is there a waist level finder available ? Many thanks Ed
There are actually two waist level finders, the DW-3 and DW-4!
Bear in mind this camera has the F3P prism with the high eye relief and the hot shoe. The standard F3 had a much lower profile.
I'm the market for one of these...
Nikonos
Nikon F4 is not made of plastic. It is made of the same alloy the F3 is made of (Copper Silumin Aluminum).
You are correct, but the outside is clad entirely in plastic. This is nice when shooting in very cold weather as the plastic feels warmer than metal, but the plastic quickly gets shiny, and it is hard to remove the cladding to get inside the camera to repair it.
I have the Nikon F3, BUT I also have the Canon F--1 New which I think is a much better camera AND I also think that Canon have a much better system than Nikon.
J Cooper whatcha smoking? Lol
the FD lenses are sub-optimal quality tho ngl, super soft and not contrasty. The brassing of the F1 N is something to behold though.
I also prefer the Canon F1n. Better appearance, better ergonomics with a winder F. For me the F1 is my favorite 35mm film camera followed closely by the Nikomat FTn. Pure simplicity.
4.43 - the F4 was made of plastic? Seriously? The body of my F4s was made of magnesium alloy.
The internal structure is magnesium, but the body is clad in a rubberized plastic. These cameras are solid, but the rubberized plastic gets rubbed shiny in some places, or sometimes the chemicals in the plastic break down and leave any oily coating on the surface which feels a little slippery and unpleasant (like the plastic steering wheels in some older cars).
voll der angeber....
There is NO 'Y' in NIKON ! If you don't believe me ask NIKON !
There is NO 'Y' in NIKON ! Dead simple ! Instant switch off and thumbs down !
I borrowed my sister's F3 before I settled on the FE2 which I think is the best manual Nikon ever made. 4000th shutter. A little bit smaller than the F3. The metering scale in the viewfinder is nicer. And to be honest... I don't really like that grip and the red line running through it. Stupid aesthetic thing, but on top of other things that adds to it LOL. I LOVE the removable prism cause I like gadgets.. but not something I would ever need/use except to play with it. Also the FE2 has exposure lock coupled to the self timer (I guess the F3 probably has exposure lock somewhere too??). Oh also... the film advance functioning as the On/Off switch is brilliant for saving your battery. And just makes a lot of sense.
Although I will say this: If you side by side all of the "F" cameras... the F3 is clearly the winner. The F4 and F5 are just plain ridiculous monstrosities of electronic overload and sheer size. The F6 dialed it back and is actually a very nice camera. And that was the bridge to those bulbous curvy cameras that became DSLR's. Then Fujifilm had to come along 10 years later and press the reset button. I went with the FE2... but the F3 is pretty brilliant.