Nikon F3P vs Canon T 90

[Paul Howell]

There has been several threads concerning the Nikon F3 and F3P, I had the F3P and used it for many years, but several years ago I bought a Canon T90 and a few lens. Sadly I sold it as I was hip deep in Minolta A mount and wanted a Minolta 9 and 7. I also came close to buying a Pentax LX but my employer at the time paid 1/2 the cost of the F3P and I had a brace of Nikon glass, I opted for the Nikon. As a long time Nikon user I can say that T90 was a much better camera. Built in motor drive, used AA batteries, advanced metering, lots of features, rugged, had a nice feel in the hand. Canon glass was as good as Nikon and the first L glass lens came out in FD/FA mount. The T90 had a very short run as Canon jumped to the EOS AF mount but much of the T90 made it's way into the EOS 1.

 

[Huss]

It seems that a T90 today would have far more issues than an F3P. Electronics and sticky/oily shutters.

 

[Paul Howell]

I agree, as a user I would go with a F3, it was only made for a year or so in small numbers, not many repair techs have ever worked on one, no parts, need a donor body. My T90 worked fine while I had it, the guy I sold to still uses it, I'll have to ask him if he had sent it out for service. But in the day, the T90 was things to come.

 

[gone]

I had a T-90 and loved it, but didn't love the way it handled. It's a very tall camera, and just felt too big and bulky. The F1 is a "better" camera, and you don't need to go to L lenses to get great shots. I owned the FD 85 1.8 and FD 50 1.4 lenses, and they have better bokeh and IQ than any Nikon lens that I ever owned.

Nikon lenses tend to be sharp at the expense of bokeh, which can be busy and distracting. That's how I feel about Zeiss glass compared to Leica lenses too. Sharp, but not the best bokeh. I auditioned several lenses on my Nikon cameras and finally went back to shooting Leica R glass on them w/ adapters. Their IQ is wonderful, especially the beautifully smooth bokeh.

 

[DNH]

I fancied a T90 back in the mid 80's but went with a Nikon FA instead. Considered getting a T90 a few years ago but reading about them being prone to the EE error & people suggesting banging the camera on the floor to clear it was enough to put me off.

Also saw some with cracked plastic casings for sale. Whether that was abuse or general weakness pass?

I would go with an F3 over it, or maybe think about an F4, which would bridge a lot of the gap between features of the F3 compared to the T90 if that is a worry.

 

[Paul Howell]

I would think about an E6 or Canon EOS 1V which are still supported by Nikon and Canon as long as you are willing to send the body to Japan for servicing. I have a Minolta 9 with spare body for parts and a brace of lens, primes and zooms with a few G type, all very good. My local tech will work on a 9 as long as I have working parts body. Down side of course is that I need to pay to have parts body take apart as well the fix on the main body, can get pricy.