The list of things that are crippled on the F3 cs F2 can be very long...
- Awful "+/-" tiny meter display (instead of extremely clear LEDs or needles)
- Tiny, awful LED display (instead of clear numbers)
- Only two mechanical speeds. No battery tester to see how much you've left (unlike Canon F-1 and even Nikon's FE)
- Mushy shutter button, you never know where the trigger point is (unlike the precise F2 button)
- Viewfinder not as clear
- Finder Illuminator never works (it never fails on the F2SB and F2AS)
- You can have high eyepoint or good magnification but not both. F2 gives you both.
- Memory lock button often falls down with age
- Tiny, fragile multiple-exposure lever on akward location
- Confusing control placement, it's hard to remember which one is the self timer switch versus shutter button lock switch (they're identical). If the shutter is locked you might be confused and think the batteries are gone, since the behavior is exactly the same. The F2P fixed this with a mechanical shutter button lock.
and the worst of all...
- Meter relies on glass FRE resistor, which is placed exactly below the flash hot shoe. So if your flash bumps into a wall or somebody bumps with your flash, there's your chance for your meter to be gone because of breakage of glass FRE disc. This has happened before. So the most delicate part is placed where it can be knocked out.
And a lot of people consider Leica, a brand currently manufacturing rangefinder cameras (a clearly obsolete concept, which gradually became obsolete exactly thanks to Nikon F) to be a pinnacle of film photography.I know that a lot of people consider the F2 the pentacle of the Nikon F series
The list of things that are crippled on the F3 cs F2 can be very long...
- Awful "+/-" tiny meter display (instead of extremely clear LEDs or needles)
- Tiny, awful LED display (instead of clear numbers)
- Only two mechanical speeds. No battery tester to see how much you've left (unlike Canon F-1 and even Nikon's FE)
- Mushy shutter button, you never know where the trigger point is (unlike the precise F2 button)
- Viewfinder not as clear
- Finder Illuminator never works (it never fails on the F2SB and F2AS)
- You can have high eyepoint or good magnification but not both. F2 gives you both.
- Memory lock button often falls down with age
- Tiny, fragile multiple-exposure lever on akward location
- Confusing control placement, it's hard to remember which one is the self timer switch versus shutter button lock switch (they're identical). If the shutter is locked you might be confused and think the batteries are gone, since the behavior is exactly the same. The F2P fixed this with a mechanical shutter button lock.
and the worst of all...
- Meter relies on glass FRE resistor, which is placed exactly below the flash hot shoe. So if your flash bumps into a wall or somebody bumps with your flash, there's your chance for your meter to be gone because of breakage of glass FRE disc. This has happened before. So the most delicate part is placed where it can be knocked out.
I had both and sold the F3, because i pretty much just shoot in manual mode.This is just obnoxious.
- Awful +/- meter? It is an aperture prioirty camera.
- What's wrong with the LED? I can see it just fine and I wear glasses and don't even have the HP model. The illuminator is ridiculous, sure.
- It has one mechanical backup speed. That's pretty good considering this is AN ELECTRONIC CAMERA. Don't know how much battery is left? Yes you do, you can tell if the meter readout goes out quickly just like every other Nikon of that era.
- Never had a problem with the shutter trigger point, it is pretty clearly tangible where the half point is. In any case a two step trigger will never be as smooth as a mechanical one
- Ok, never had an F2 but the only camera with a clearer VF to the F3 I owned was the R8.
- Yup, the illuminator is a joke
- ok
- does the F2 have memory lock?
- does the F2 have multi-exposure?
- eh? the power button is in the same location as dozen of other camera, just under the trigger...
Anyway...I hate apples. They really are awful when I want to have an orange.
Wow Flav, that's some harshness on what many consider the pinnacle of manual focus SLRs.
I have an F3HP and aside from the puny meter readout and location of the hotshoe, the thing is near perfect compared to my many other SLRs. Closest camera that feels as nice aside from the F is my Spotmatic II.
OMG, did all the electronics die?!It may be worst than Flavio describes... mine only has one mechanical speed.
I was wondering about there. Where did he find the second mechanical speed? Poking around online I think you can use T mode with the mechanical switch.
It is also a pro camera, target to people who often require the MANUAL mode...This is just obnoxious.
- Awful +/- meter? It is an aperture prioirty camera.
- It has one mechanical backup speed. That's pretty good considering this is AN ELECTRONIC CAMERA
Correct, I stand corrected. Thanks.. Don't know how much battery is left? Yes you do, you can tell if the meter readout goes out quickly just like every other Nikon of that era.
So, we agree, right? Try the F2 trigger.- Never had a problem with the shutter trigger point, it is pretty clearly tangible where the half point is. In any case a two step trigger will never be as smooth as a mechanical one
Well, you need to try a late-production F2. I have fitted a F3 focusing screen on my F2 and yes, it's brighter than the same sceen on a F3.- Ok, never had an F2 but the only camera with a clearer VF to the F3 I owned was the R8
Yes it does have multi-exposure.- does the F2 have memory lock?
- does the F2 have multi-exposure?
I had both and sold the F3, because i pretty much just shoot in manual mode.
But yes................. you really cannot "compare" a generation-2 product with a generation-3.
The F2 had run its course, technology was advancing and the F3 was inevitable.
There was no stopping the F3, For A LOT of people the aperture priority function was a HUGE Advantage.
My point, and I hope it hasn't been lost, is that the F3 could have been a much better product. It seems to have been designed by a different Nikon team (to the F2 and other products), because of some decisions that I can't quite comprehend. The "'+/-" display being the pinnacle. This is the only Nikon camera to have such a dreadful display.neither the FG, FE, FM, FA, F2SB, F2AS, FE2, and FM2 make this mistake. And this list includes cameras that came before the F3 and after it.
The '+' and '-' indicate which way to turn either the speed dial or the aperture ring to achieve correct exposure...so no need to take one's eye away from the view finder. It's elegant, intuitive and unobtrusive...
@film_man As you can see, pro photographers expect the manual mode to be comfortable to use, even if aperture priority is available. The Pentax LX and Canon F-1 have aperture priority and a easy-to-use manual mode.
Yes, i agree, Aperture Priority is a HUGE advantage, that's why I choose the Nikon FE over the FM for example.
My point, and I hope it hasn't been lost, is that the F3 could have been a much better product. It seems to have been designed by a different Nikon team (to the F2 and other products), because of some decisions that I can't quite comprehend. The "'+/-" display being the pinnacle. This is the only Nikon camera to have such a dreadful display.neither the FG, FE, FM, FA, F2SB, F2AS, FE2, and FM2 make this mistake. And this list includes cameras that came before the F3 and after it.
Here's a question for all you manual meter users on electronic cameras...if you are shooting manual mode yet using the in-built meter for metering and simply turn the wheel till the needle matches...how is that different from A mode? And maybe some exposure lock if you need to adjust?
Of the Nikon F2 I've owned, almost all have had the DP-1 or DP-11 finders. The meters in these use CdS cells. About half of these were dead or wildly inaccurate and the other half were pretty accurate but not accurate across the full range - they were off at the bright end or dim end or both. From the empirical evidence available to me, I conclude that this is just how it is with these old CdS light meters...at best, they were/are "good enough".
Well, we do agree in some things after all...
JMO, but as a "manual shooter".........................i would say a beginner in photography would do just as you say.Here's a question for all you manual meter users on electronic cameras...if you are shooting manual mode yet using the in-built meter for metering and simply turn the wheel till the needle matches...how is that different from A mode? And maybe some exposure lock if you need to adjust?
JMO, but as a "manual shooter".........................i would say a beginner in photography would do just as you say.
After you shoot fro awhile, however, the meter becomes a tool that we interpret MUCH More often and do not just choose the setting it would have picked in auto mode.
my 2 cents, adjusted for inflation
All these complaints about the F3 about not having proper pro camera features is very funny given the commentators.
What matters is was the F3 accepted by pros? Not only was it embraced, but if far outsold all the other cameras which some commentators claim are the real pro cameras.
Apparently pros did not agree. The F3 was so good Nikon continued to make it even when they made the F5!
But the peanut gallery here? Not a pro camera as only one manual shutter speed!
Here's a question for all you manual meter users on electronic cameras...if you are shooting manual mode yet using the in-built meter for metering and simply turn the wheel till the needle matches...how is that different from A mode? And maybe some exposure lock if you need to adjust?
You're right Huss. I was a skeptical user when they came out. But they proved to be every bit "Nikon" as far as being a rugged camera.
All these complaints about the F3 about not having proper pro camera features is very funny given the commentators.
What matters is was the F3 accepted by pros? Not only was it embraced, but if far outsold all the other cameras which some commentators claim are the real pro cameras.
Apparently pros did not agree. The F3 was so good Nikon continued to make it even when they made the F5!
But the peanut gallery here? Not a pro camera as only one manual shutter speed!
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