35mm film bug is biting me again

crowtalks · May 16, 2023

I bought my 1st SLR in 1973, but by the time 2010 rolled around, I assumed film was as dead as vinyl (I guess it was, since vinyl has made a resurgence of sorts), I had moved on to digital and I grudgingly sold my N2020 to my Barista that wanted to "see what film was all about".

By the time 2016 rolled around, I started hearing distant rumbles about film photography gaining popularity and I started missing some of the cameras I had used decades ago and looking about the internet I realized that film cameras were selling decently cheap so I slowly started regaining some of my lost gems.

A few, like my Nikkormats, EL and Yashica TLR I had kept stored away.

Fast forward to today and I am blessed to have a choice of film cameras to use when the yen to shoot analog starts tugging at my heart-strings.

I decided to dig out this cool F3 I picked up a few years ago to run a couple of rolls thru it. On inspection, the seals were iffy, so I have ordered a light seal kit, and with fresh batteries in it, this F3 is ready to produce some beautiful shots...

BrianShaw · May 16, 2023

Welcome back. F3 is indeed a nice camera.

Sirius Glass · May 16, 2023

Nice choice. Enjoy.

Les Sarile · May 16, 2023

crowtalks said:
I bought my 1st SLR in 1973, but by the time 2010 rolled around, I assumed film was as dead as vinyl (I guess it was, since vinyl has made a resurgence of sorts), I had moved on to digital and I grudgingly sold my N2020 to my Barista that wanted to "see what film was all about".

By the time 2016 rolled around, I started hearing distant rumbles about film photography gaining popularity and I started missing some of the cameras I had used decades ago and looking about the internet I realized that film cameras were selling decently cheap so I slowly started regaining some of my lost gems.

A few, like my Nikkormats, EL and Yashica TLR I had kept stored away.

Fast forward to today and I am blessed to have a choice of film cameras to use when the yen to shoot analog starts tugging at my heart-strings.

I decided to dig out this cool F3 I picked up a few years ago to run a couple of rolls thru it. On inspection, the seals were iffy, so I have ordered a light seal kit, and with fresh batteries in it, this F3 is ready to produce some beautiful shots... View attachment 338848

Nice to be able to dig out a non HP F3!

Thesecondone · May 17, 2023

Almost bought an f3 this past December but i passed on it for another f2, my time will come. Nice f3 op

Cholentpot · May 17, 2023

I bought my F3 when they were almost being given away. I had sold a print and wanted the 'Best 35mm SLR ever made' and all suggestions told me to get an F3.

I got one and it truly is one of the greatest 35mm SLRs ever made.

Paul Howell · May 17, 2023

The F2 stayed in production long after the F3 was released, many had concerns about the electronics holding out. Well seems that the F3 is a very reliable camera after all.

crowtalks · May 17, 2023

Cholentpot said:
I bought my F3 when they were almost being given away. I had sold a print and wanted the 'Best 35mm SLR ever made' and all suggestions told me to get an F3.

I got one and it truly is one of the greatest 35mm SLRs ever made.

Yeah, I got mine a few years ago when they were a bit cheaper than now. The focus lock button is missing, but everything else works great.

When the bug bit two or three years ago I primarily focused on older machines...prior to 1975, (like 60s rangefinders, a non -TTL SLR, Nikkormats, Minolta, SRt, etc), but this time I have dusted off the 80s, FE, EL2, F3 and a couple of Ikonta 120s from way back.

Seize the day, Jim

Roger Cole · May 17, 2023

crowtalks said:
Yeah, I got mine a few years ago when they were a bit cheaper than now. The focus lock button is missing, but everything else works great.

When the bug bit two or three years ago I primarily focused on older machines...prior to 1975, (like 60s rangefinders, a non -TTL SLR, Nikkormats, Minolta, SRt, etc), but this time I have dusted off the 80s, FE, EL2, F3 and a couple of Ikonta 120s from way back.

Seize the day, Jim

Focus lock? On a manual focus camera? You mean exposure lock?

Welcome back in any case!

Chan Tran · May 17, 2023

I didn't have an F nor I ever had an F6 but I have used F2AS, F3HP, F4S and F5 and the F3 is my favorite although I do like the F2 a lot.

crowtalks · May 17, 2023

Roger Cole said:
Focus lock? On a manual focus camera? You mean exposure lock?

Welcome back in any case!

Manual focus?...no wonder its missing!

Yeah, I meant exposure lock...

Cholentpot · May 17, 2023

crowtalks said:
Yeah, I got mine a few years ago when they were a bit cheaper than now. The focus lock button is missing, but everything else works great.

When the bug bit two or three years ago I primarily focused on older machines...prior to 1975, (like 60s rangefinders, a non -TTL SLR, Nikkormats, Minolta, SRt, etc), but this time I have dusted off the 80s, FE, EL2, F3 and a couple of Ikonta 120s from way back.

Seize the day, Jim

The AE lock was falling out of mine when it came in I put some plumbers tape stuff around it and it hasn't come off since.

Autonerd · May 17, 2023

Nice! I know that "tug", it led me to dig out my Pentax KX and 50/1.7 and buy a roll of HP5. Three-plus years and, oh, 140 or so rolls later, my digital camera complains its being neglected.

BradS · May 18, 2023

Paul Howell said:
The F2 stayed in production long after the F3 was released...

Not true.
Nikon says that the F3 was introduced in March 1980 and that the F2 was discontinued in June 1980.

https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/chronicle/history-f3/

Chan Tran · May 18, 2023

BradS said:
Not true.
Nikon says that the F3 was introduced in March 1980 and that the F2 was discontinued in June 1980.

https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/chronicle/history-f3/

That's right not true. And because they were discontinued shortly after the introduction of the F3 the price went up for a while.

Paul Howell · May 18, 2023

Your both right, I confused the F3 which stayed in production much longer than the F2 when the F4 was released, although to add a quibble, not really sure if the F3 was in "production" or if old stock was available.

crowtalks · May 18, 2023

Chan Tran said:
I didn't have an F nor I ever had an F6 but I have used F2AS, F3HP, F4S and F5 and the F3 is my favorite although I do like the F2 a lot.

This is the only F body I have ever owned and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with it. I generally traveled by motorbike and so I always was looking to save space and weight. My traveling Buddy used an F, and later an F2, while I used either a Nikkormat or an EL2 and while, in the big scheme of things, the difference in size or weight was too negligible to really matter, from my perception the difference between what I shot and the F and F2 was large enough.

Now I compare the F3 side by side with the Nikkormat, EL2 and F-501 and they are very similar!

Chan Tran · May 18, 2023

Paul Howell said:
Your both right, I confused the F3 which stayed in production much longer than the F2 when the F4 was released, although to add a quibble, not really sure if the F3 was in "production" or if old stock was available.

In the 21st century the F3 was still available but I think it's old stock but I believe it was still in production when they discontinued the F4. Many would disagree with me but I like the F3 best and the F4 least. Many called it the best Manua Focus camera which is silly. I was going to buy another F3 when I bought the F5 in 2002. The only reason I bought the F5 because I was curious to see how the AF stuff work.

Andrew O'Neill · May 18, 2023

I remember waaaaaaay back in the early 90's in Japan drooling over this camera in the display case. It never happened because I crossed over to large format.

35mm film bug is biting me again

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