What year was my F3 made?
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Mine is older and the only problem so far has been the seals which I replaced in 2010. Most high quality cameras will last 50+ years if not abused; and in many cases years longer.
Serial numbers at 18 are very late in the production so its relatively newer.
Where did you hear aging may be an issue with the F3?
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There's a code in the film chamber which will tell you month and last digit of the year of manufacture. You will need to use the serial number to work out the rest of the year. Mine is 19 serial and it's a June 91 if I remember correctly.
Ronnie
Ronnie
In 1988, I think. See Nico van Dijk's page http://nicovandijk.net/serialF3.htm.
Originally Nikon warned that the LCDs may require replacing since when the F3 was manufactured LCD was a new and unknown technology. However they seem to have lasted much better than Nikon expected.
Andrew
Originally Nikon warned that the LCDs may require replacing since when the F3 was manufactured LCD was a new and unknown technology. However they seem to have lasted much better than Nikon expected.
Andrew
removed-user-1
Mine's an 18 and it just keeps going. Replaced the seals four years ago. Great camera!
From here on APUG---a few people advised against buying F3s because of the age "issue".
It might be because they didn't want the prices to go up and wanted to buy them all for themselves...
Really? I don't recall seeing that. Are people actually seeing issues with the F3 LCD's failing? Or is it mostly speculation that they are bound to go at some time? I know the F3 had a huge amount of criticism when it came out being one of the first electronic pro cameras with the purists pooh-poohing it's need for batteries. I wonder if this is a hold-out of an attitude along those lines or if there are truly a significant number of F3 bodies with LCD issues. I've had a few and none had any LCD problems. I'm going to go double check mine again and ascertain it's age too...
I've seen a lot of f3's and it doesn't seem to be a particular issue; the F4 is much worse.I think I have one that has a slight bleed. I think was due to the fact that Nikon pointed out that it does have a finite life with expected replacement but this was essentially Late 1970's LCD tech which nobody really knew how long they'd last.
Another point: The intended market was the professional (and ones wanting to look like one too), showcasing Nikon as the Pro camera of choice and the top of the line of the Nikon camera range.
The F2 was the immediate pro body predecessor, and that was the when it was at the start of a rapid time of development in camera *Electronics*. Many Japanese competitors were making innovations and selling units with more electronic features, which the marketing divisions could use to sell even more (Minolta). The fact that the supposed Top Pro body the Nikon F2 had no useful auto-exposure when lesser models (and camera makers! some can say) did was an endless point of discussion.
When the F3 did come out (and relation to the first and 2nd wave of electronic cameras) there was active debate on to whether or not the electronic systems would stand the test. Battery, circuit boards, switches, heck even "electronic" control versus a timed mechanical action shutter was pretty risky for some shooters. The fact that Nikon chose to include a mechanical shutter with 2 shutter speeds is proof of this concern.
What I do think is that Nikon chose to wait and get the best internal components they could get at a time when they made very robust components, so it was 'overbuilt' from the beginning. The LCD was considered a 'weaker' variable and so they I think felt compelled to reassure the hard shooting pro that they would last at least 5 years but it *may* wear out. The fact that you don't really see many LCD bleeding shows how built they are, but who knows.
Another point: The intended market was the professional (and ones wanting to look like one too), showcasing Nikon as the Pro camera of choice and the top of the line of the Nikon camera range.
The F2 was the immediate pro body predecessor, and that was the when it was at the start of a rapid time of development in camera *Electronics*. Many Japanese competitors were making innovations and selling units with more electronic features, which the marketing divisions could use to sell even more (Minolta). The fact that the supposed Top Pro body the Nikon F2 had no useful auto-exposure when lesser models (and camera makers! some can say) did was an endless point of discussion.
When the F3 did come out (and relation to the first and 2nd wave of electronic cameras) there was active debate on to whether or not the electronic systems would stand the test. Battery, circuit boards, switches, heck even "electronic" control versus a timed mechanical action shutter was pretty risky for some shooters. The fact that Nikon chose to include a mechanical shutter with 2 shutter speeds is proof of this concern.
What I do think is that Nikon chose to wait and get the best internal components they could get at a time when they made very robust components, so it was 'overbuilt' from the beginning. The LCD was considered a 'weaker' variable and so they I think felt compelled to reassure the hard shooting pro that they would last at least 5 years but it *may* wear out. The fact that you don't really see many LCD bleeding shows how built they are, but who knows.
Ha yes you can it just takes a long time and a lot of film.
Speaking of one of my F3's and serial numbers and when it was built; I got and F3 from a wire service stringer who got it from another pro who got it from another news pro who got it new. SO 4th owner is me, everyone including me a this point is a working news shooter putting lots of film thru on a daily and weekly basis. Using a motor drive and Ni-cads (they go faster when shooting sports); that body was a daily shooter for at least a year and an active 2nd body when I got an F3P for years at the paper I worked at. Oh and THEN did weddings on film.
SO; to say this camera has some film put thru it is an understatement. It had a serial number starting with 12 so one of the first F3HP's. I put into NPS repair in the early 2000 and it came back with a new top cover with a serial starting with 19, so in theory one of the later production.
SO you can't always tell when the camera was built by the serial number.
Speaking of one of my F3's and serial numbers and when it was built; I got and F3 from a wire service stringer who got it from another pro who got it from another news pro who got it new. SO 4th owner is me, everyone including me a this point is a working news shooter putting lots of film thru on a daily and weekly basis. Using a motor drive and Ni-cads (they go faster when shooting sports); that body was a daily shooter for at least a year and an active 2nd body when I got an F3P for years at the paper I worked at. Oh and THEN did weddings on film.
SO; to say this camera has some film put thru it is an understatement. It had a serial number starting with 12 so one of the first F3HP's. I put into NPS repair in the early 2000 and it came back with a new top cover with a serial starting with 19, so in theory one of the later production.
SO you can't always tell when the camera was built by the serial number.
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Indeed my F3 LCD is fine and my F4 LCD is bleeding above the frame counter.
But then my F3 is newer than my F4.
Ronnie
I have two F3's that date from the 80's & an FA that dates from 1986. All the LCD's are nice & bright. The only LCD's that have given me problems are the ones in my F4 & F5. The LCD in the F4 one started to bleed & part of the LCD in the F5 one just stopped working. I wound up buying two replacement finders off of ebay.
Buying an F3 now I think age is way less important than cosmetic condition.
Buying an F3 now I think age is way less important than cosmetic condition.
Are we talking about the F3 or F3AF camera?
The reason I ask is my F3 does not have an LCD..
The reason I ask is my F3 does not have an LCD..
If so then you have a one of a kind that may be worth a fortune . . .
See -> Nikon on the Evolution of electronic cameras and Nikon F3
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If so then you have a one of a kind that may be worth a fortune . . .
See -> Nikon on the Evolution of electronic cameras and Nikon F3
If you are referring to inside the viewfinder that would explain why mine does not have an LCD panel since I have only the eye level viewfinder..
The tiny LCD is on the F3 body so it is there whether you use a viewfinder or not.
It is visible with the normal prism finder - it is very compelling!
If it is not visible don't lift the prism and fiddle!
Down load the user manual.
I've always kept it taped over to prevent damage. I prefer a hand held meter anyway..
I am thinking about either selling the camera or getting an HP finder.. I seldom use it..
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