Brassed Nikon F3 worthwhile?

gorbas · Dec 17, 2011

For Vancouver, BC, guys, there is nice, used F3hp with MD4 for $199 in Beau photo. It belonged to ABC photo lab where it was used as copy camera.

lxdude · Dec 17, 2011

CGW said:
Your opinion, though not my experience with late model Nikon AF bodies.

Same for me. I have an N8008s (F801s), and the viewfinder works just fine for manual focusing. The screen is not really a ground glass type of matte, as the out of focus images show a regular sort of prismatic pattern, which can make it harder to judge depth of field until accustomed. It's a nice viewfinder and a nice screen.

Regarding the F3, I always look for signs of wear on the pressure plate. If I see any, I don't buy the camera. The back is interchangeable, so it is not foolproof, but I doubt many old cameras have been given newer backs. A little while ago, in a similar discussion, someone mentioned looking where the film cartridge goes and look for worn paint where the film spool makes contact.

lxdude · Dec 17, 2011

Leigh B said:
The F3 will do anything you could want to do, and do it better than most other cameras. It was produced during the period when Nikon was totally committed to quality, and the products of that era reflect that dedication.
- Leigh

Except for that @$#%&^+*)! illumination button! Whoever let that one get through should have been canned on general principle. I would rather have been annoyed at the F3 not having an illuminator than annoyed at trying to use that one.

Pumalite · Dec 17, 2011

The F3HP is a camera one can easily fall in love with; regardless it's pecadillos.

lxdude · Dec 17, 2011

I almost ran over one of those in Texas.

CGW · Dec 17, 2011

lxdude said:
I almost ran over one of those in Texas.

That's the only thing, next to yellow lines, you'll ever find in the middle of the road in Texas.

CGW · Dec 17, 2011

lxdude said:
Same for me. I have an N8008s (F801s), and the viewfinder works just fine for manual focusing. The screen is not really a ground glass type of matte, as the out of focus images show a regular sort of prismatic pattern, which can make it harder to judge depth of field until accustomed. It's a nice viewfinder and a nice screen.

Regarding the F3, I always look for signs of wear on the pressure plate. If I see any, I don't buy the camera. The back is interchangeable, so it is not foolproof, but I doubt many old cameras have been given newer backs. A little while ago, in a similar discussion, someone mentioned looking where the film cartridge goes and look for worn paint where the film spool makes contact.

That was me in a thread on FE bodies. Saw an F3 recently where the paint was worn to bare metal there. Body deserved a decent burial, too.

kivis · Dec 18, 2011

Good repair shop to CLA an F3? Any ideas?

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.278346,-80.250062

sangetsu · Dec 20, 2011

lxdude said:
Same for me. I have an N8008s (F801s), and the viewfinder works just fine for manual focusing. The screen is not really a ground glass type of matte, as the out of focus images show a regular sort of prismatic pattern, which can make it harder to judge depth of field until accustomed. It's a nice viewfinder and a nice screen.

Regarding the F3, I always look for signs of wear on the pressure plate. If I see any, I don't buy the camera. The back is interchangeable, so it is not foolproof, but I doubt many old cameras have been given newer backs. A little while ago, in a similar discussion, someone mentioned looking where the film cartridge goes and look for worn paint where the film spool makes contact.

My old Leica M4 has had so much film run through it that you can see an imprint on the pressure plate. The F3 is designed for harder use, so I don't expect a worn pressure plate to mean that the camera doesn't have a lot of life left in it. I have repaired a number of old cameras, and I have found that those which have seen a lot of use tend to work better than those who have spent years (or decades) sitting in a bag or on a shelf.

Leigh B · Dec 20, 2011

kivis said:
Good repair shop to CLA an F3? Any ideas?

KEH has a repair department www.keh.com

They certainly have experience with the F3.

- Leigh

BryceEsquerre · Dec 20, 2011

I agree with everyone else who said go with the f4. I have an f4s in super mint condition that I got for 250. You just have to really shop around . This is my go to slr and feels amazing in the hand. Extremely well built and solid feeling. The viewfinder kicks ass and focusing is awesome. The meter is quite accurate and you will really enjoy the illumination feature within the viewfinder follow light situations. Get one!

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 21, 2011

I love my old brassed F3, perfect compliment to my FM2 (with honey-comb shutter!). I got both for under $150 each. The F4 bodies going on eBay for just $150-200 or so lately.

Pumalite · Dec 21, 2011

Can't say I don't love my F4; but so do I my F3

snegron · Dec 21, 2011

brucemuir said:
The HP finder is best if you wear eyeglasses when shooting.
It's an expensive luxury imo espesially if you shoot bare eyed.

KEH has bargain non HP's for around 130.00 and would probably be in comparable condition to what you're describing.

The HP finder is great if you use sunglasses as well. I have nicked and scratched sunglasses in the past while using other film cameras during day shots.

dugrant153 · Dec 30, 2011

I've had a week and a bit to get the hang of this camera. I really like it buuuut... I'm finding that the screen that comes with it (A screen?) is not all that good on my eyes... or should I say that my eyes aren't that great and, even with diopter adjustment, I find it hard to focus in dark/low contrast situations and even during daylight! It's a bit of a drag so I'm hoping I can get some suggestions as to a good screen? Need something that has a good amount of "snappiness" to it and allow for very quick focusing in less-than-ideal situations.

I've tried the E screen but without the microprisms it doesn't work for me. My eyes can't tell "sharp" from "very sharp" for that screen unfortunately unless I rack it back and forth quite a few times.

Any suggestions would be great!

John Austin · Dec 30, 2011

Get an F, after the F Nikon went downhill - Especially get an F with the high eyepoint finder - When I retired I got rid of my metered and newer Nikons and kept my Fs, all of them

Only one ever died on me, that was while documenting the WA karri forest logging protests - An environmentalist, Geoff, was asleep on the ground with his shorts gaping. Peta from Northcliffe picked up one of my Nikon Fs and photographed Geoff's Jewels - That was the last exposure that camera ever made, it was dismantled and re-assembled three times, nothing was worn, nothing was broken, nothing was distorted, but nothing would make it work again - I left it with the repair man - I hope its bits have not spread the contagion

Sundowner · Jan 1, 2012

Any further suggestions on a good repair shop for an F3? The only one I saw that anyone listed was KEH. Mine needs a serious cleaning and freshening-up after a year or so on the shelf.

BrianShaw · Jan 1, 2012

Any of the Nikon Authorized repair centers should be able to do a good job for you. They do for me. I use one in CA but there is a list at the Nikon site that will have one more local to you.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Nikon-Authorized-Repair-List.page

mikebarger · Jan 1, 2012

I've got a backup F3HP that gets used about every 18 months, no issues.

Mike

Sundowner · Jan 1, 2012

mikebarger said:
I've got a backup F3HP that gets used about every 18 months, no issues.

Mine doesn't like me that much, I suppose. I've got deteriorated foam all over the place, and it just needs a good, thorough cleaning. The shutter and meter might be fine, but I'd rather have her in tip-top shape if someone's going to be redoing the foam anyway. I'm checking into KEH, and two other places that are semi-local.

Brassed Nikon F3 worthwhile?

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