Nikon F3 vs Nikon F3 T

marcmarc · Feb 2, 2015

Hi everyone,
Is there any real benefit to a titanium model F3 versus a regular F3? From what I can gather online there is really no other difference other then the components that are made of titanium on the T model (isn't the shutter made of titanium on both versions?) I have two regular F3 bodies that are doing well for me but a pawn shop has a T model. I went to look at it out of curiosity and it's pretty worn looking and being that this is a pawn shop, there is no warranty or returns/exchanges. I suppose the T models are perhaps a bit more durable, but the regular F3 is still built like a tank. So I'm leaning on passing this up but just wanted to get other opinions just in case I'm missing something. Thanks for replies.
Regards,
Marc

Mick Fagan · Feb 2, 2015

The first version of the F3/T was silver metal coloured, which I believe is the colour of Titanium. The second version of the F3/T was black coloured.

Essentially all the vulnerable casings of the body are made of Titanium, other than that it's a standard F3 HP

I have seen a few around, one in particular has spent much of it's life in a kit bag underneath a pilot's seat in a twin engined Cessna, it's still working, just.

Mick.

summicron1 · Feb 2, 2015

the only titanium that matters is the stuff the shutter curtain is made out of. All the rest is just sales gimmick.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 2, 2015

summicron1 said:
the only titanium that matters is the stuff the shutter curtain is made out of. All the rest is just sales gimmick.

Except in the later FM2 where they changed the shutters from titanium to aluminum and everyone says the later are better?

"".... The Nikon F3/T is a special version of the Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint camera, uses titanium for its right and left top covers, base plate, camera back, and the pentaprism cover of the viewfinder. Unlike normal chrome camera bodies, the F3/Ts finish is the original titanium metal colour (Applied only to the Champaign finish model). Titanium is one of the world's strongest, yet lightest materials; its specific gravity is approximately half that of brass, yet its hardness is almost the same as steel, while its corrosion resistance is greater than that of stainless steel."

While it may be some serious marketing/sales hype the properties of titanium being lighter, stronger and more corrosion-resistant are real. Does that matter in real life usage? Perhaps. Does not change that an F3/T will generally have a better resale value.

If the price is good I'd say grab it.

macfred · Feb 2, 2015

summicron1 said:
the only titanium that matters is the stuff the shutter curtain is made out of. All the rest is just sales gimmick.

I disagree ...

Just the `normal´F2 and the F3 (and many other Nikons too) had titanium shutter curtains.
Titanium and Nikon : http://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/rhnc12ti-e/
About the Nikon F3T :http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/variations/f3t/

edit - Richard was faster ...

marcmarc · Feb 2, 2015

Thanks for the replies. This is a later black titanium model. It's pretty well worn looking, except the bottom plate of the camera which looks fairly new leading me to believe it might have been replaced at some point which is a little concerning to me. Pawn shops are always open to offers but even then I would still most likely have to drop off the camera for a CLA. Other then the fact that the shutter fires when pressed I have no idea about anything else that might be wrong with it. Foam seals look to be in decent shape and the film advance lever moves smoothly. The owner of the shop says the meter is working but I'm not sure how he would know for sure and besides I use an incident meter anyway.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 3, 2015

How much?

Theo Sulphate · Feb 3, 2015

Also note that all F3/T's have an HP finder housing.

One very minor oddity I've seen is that the film counter dial on regular F3's has blue indicators; the F3/T has white.

I have both the champagne and black F3/T's. From photos I've seen, I believe there's a third somewhat silvery finish which is the natural color of titanium. Please correct me if I'm wrong; it doesn't seen to be a color balance issue in the photos.

marcmarc · Feb 3, 2015

Richard, he's asking $299, body only.

GarageBoy · Feb 3, 2015

That's a good price
IIRC there's only champagne and black
Champagne is the same color as the M6 "Titanium"
http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M6/M6-Titanium/index.htm

When it wears through, you see the actual titanium color

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 3, 2015

Price not bad assuming all is good and few issues. I'm always suspect about cameras from pawn shops. In many cases it's items that were sold in desperation and may not have been cared for or estates dumping items from musty storage.

Based on sold listings on eBay which shows perfect ones going for $600-700 and more moderate ones (but seemingly a bit better than the OP describes this one) maybe $400-450, $299 seems not too bad. I'd offer $200 with two crisp $100 bills in my hand, maybe ready to sweeten with another slap down of a $20, otherwise a walk away.

Last question: is the rubber eyepiece ring intact? That's $15-20 for that right there and if your wear glasses is a must-have to avoid serious lens scratching of your specs.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 3, 2015

There's an F3/T on eBay right now. It's a user grade and sort of been tweaked with some change of the film advance and the seller is breaking up the body and the finder in two separate auctions asking $150 for each as starting bid. He also ripped off the leather of the finder for some reason. Maybe watch that and see where that one ends.

marcmarc · Feb 3, 2015

Thanks for the reply Richard. I do think the rubber eyepiece ring is there, don't need glasses yet but someday I will I'm sure. I did notice the knobby band around the shutter dial was missing, I kinda wondered how that happened.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 3, 2015

I think there's too many quirky things going on with this one. I'd pass. As you said you have two F3 bodies already...

frank · Feb 3, 2015

Price for the T and P versions nowadays is based on collector value as relatively few(er) were made.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 3, 2015

frank said:
Price for the T and P versions nowadays is based on collector value as relatively few(er) were made.

P version?

frank · Feb 3, 2015

F3 pro version with cold shoe on prism, better weather proofing, ...

Aka press version.

macfred · Feb 3, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
P version?

The `Press´-version : http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/variations/f3p/index.htm

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 3, 2015

Thanks

Nikon F3 vs Nikon F3 T

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