My new 20 yr old camera

[Drew B.]

I don't know why I'm so excited...but I just won a bid on a Nikon F3 w/a nikon zoom lens. It is in great shape...so they say. I haven't used 35mm in quite some time but I suppose it will never leave my side from here on in...well, maybe when the wife gives me the evil eye!

 

[eric]

F3's are 20 years old? Guess so, I've used them (traded mine stupidely for extra old F2 motor drives and other stuff) back in 86 so that does make them 20+ years old. Man, they look good for their age don't they?

 

[Drew B.]

Man, they look good for their age don't they?

they certainly do...I always remember looking on with envy at photographers with nikons hanging from their necks...

 

[eric]

they certainly do...I always remember looking on with envy at photographers with nikons hanging from their necks...

....and with Willamena models on each hand

 

[Pinholemaster]

Now people look with envy at photographers with Canons handing from their shoulders (bad form to hang from the neck).

Me, I'm a Nikon hold out but all the pros I work with think I'm nuts.

Good luck with the F3. I perfer the FM2 - lighter.

 

[Richard Kelham]

Now people look with envy at photographers with Canons handing from their shoulders (bad form to hang from the neck).

Me, I'm a Nikon hold out but all the pros I work with think I'm nuts.

Round here the local press photographers use Nikon (D2Xs of course) though the National dailies seem to be 2:1 Canon:Nikon. But I'm with you – Nikon only for the last 38 years (apart from the 'blads, Mamiyas, Sinars, Arcas, Linhofs, etc).

The F3 is still a great camera. I don't know when they stopped making them, but 'new' ones were still turning up after the F5 had been announced.


Richard

 

[snegron]

Round here the local press photographers use Nikon (D2Xs of course) though the National dailies seem to be 2:1 Canon:Nikon. But I'm with you – Nikon only for the last 38 years (apart from the 'blads, Mamiyas, Sinars, Arcas, Linhofs, etc).

The F3 is still a great camera. I don't know when they stopped making them, but 'new' ones were still turning up after the F5 had been announced.


Richard

I have currently "re-discovered" the F3. Back in the early 80's, it was just another work tool for me. I recently purchased another F3HP just for fun to have a "beater" camera (one that is with me at all times and that I don't really care if it gets banged up). For some reason it won me over, much more so than it did 25 years ago. Nostalgia was a bit of a factor, but the handling was what did it for me. It is very fast for a manual focus camera (with the MD4 motor drive attatched). It has a solid feel, not too heavy, great ergonomics, and I use both my old manual focus and new autofocus lenses on it without a problem. With the MD4 on it, the camera is powered by AA batteries, so it is easy to find them anywhere. I really never thought I would say this, but I like my F3 so much that I am planning on getting at least two more bodies. I love my F2A, F, FM2's, and even my D1X's and D70s's, but the only camera/motor drive combo that fits perfectly in my hands and feels like an extension of my eyes is the F3HP.

 

[Drew B.]

I spoke with an authority on Nikons...down in Missouri, and he said the F3 continued to be made after the F4 stopped bring made. He said the F4 for the most part is only a faster model, as news photogs like, but not as well made as the F3. I'm happy....

 

[copake_ham]

I don't know why I'm so excited...but I just won a bid on a Nikon F3 w/a nikon zoom lens. It is in great shape...so they say. I haven't used 35mm in quite some time but I suppose it will never leave my side from here on in...well, maybe when the wife gives me the evil eye!

Drew,

I have 3 houses and 3 F3's!

I think they are the epitome of the manual focus Nikon F's!

Enjoy yours with enthusiasm!

 

[jnash67]

My New 20 yr old camera as well

I got Canon A-1 to go with my Canon AE-1P. I was walking around the NRA convention with it this spring, and wow, how people would double take at that black beauty. I had a winder on it with a 50mm f1.4, so looked impressive enough. Even made the Pro photograher and his assistant stare at me a little.

 

[Papa Tango]

I have 2 A-1s. When this model was new and on the shelf I used to slobber over them and wish I could afford it. They made my FT-QL pale by comparison. Really want to get looks with it? Throw on a motor drive, a Pentax AF400T with bounce and Quantum 2 battery, a big zoom with a Cokin P filter system on the front...

The only big Nikon in my experience was an F with the Photomic finder. What a great camera for every use, and the best at the time for doing exact slide dupes. I remember that the Nikkormats were really popular with the photo club kids back in the 70s. And me with my Argus C3 brick...

 

[jnash67]

Well now I do have a motor drive on it with the Canon 35-105mm f/3.5 zoom. And yea, people ask if that is the canon digital offering! HA!

 

[rpsawin]

...well, maybe when the wife gives me the evil eye!

Drew,

Try and get a shot of that will ya?

Bob

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Nikon FE...on a brightly colored hippy strap...with a 50mm lens. Where are all my models?

Seriously, though, Nikon made some great glass around that time. You're pretty much buying from the heyday of SLRs.

 

[wheelygirl]

Hey to one and all!
I've not been "on board" for awhile--my classes, as much as I enjoy them, they do interfere with my"pitcher-takin' "
Awhile back, I had posted about my new-to-me toy--a Minolta SRT101, approximately 30-year old camera! I simply love it and its in perfect condition!!
I hope to develop an arrangement of photos in one of APUG's galleries, but that may not happen 'til summer [in the northern hemishere].
I do plan on "popping in" on APUG, while I'm taking a break from my studies.
Til later. . .

 

[roteague]

I remember my F3; I got a lot of good images with that camera. Unfortunately, it was also the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned. Went through 4 system boards; I finally replaced it with an N70 when it died again.

 

[marsbars]

The F3 is a wonderful camera, I drool on them all the time but I ended up going a decade further back in time and scored me a F2 and more accessories than I know what to do with. Now you can't pry it out of my hands.