I first experienced the Nikon F3 back in 1984 when I asked to see it back in a (now sadly closed down) profession camera dealer and I would have purchased on the spot if I'd have had the £600 asking price. But being a poor student, I was just dreaming then...
Well, things change and i ended ... Read review
Perspective Control (PC-E) wideangle 24mm f3.5 NIKKOR for architecture and landscape ... more
photography that delivers class-leading levels of tilt and shift movement. Equipped with Nano Crystal Coat and Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass lens elements for a superior optical performance with todays high-resolution digital SLRs. Includes electronic control of aperture and manual focusing for use with cameras equipped with electronic rangefinders.
Filter Size: 72mm18-200 f3.5-5.6Offers broad 18 - 200mm focal range for use in a variety ... more
of situations (equivalent to a 27-300 lens in 35mm format) 11x zoom coverage offers a perfect compact and lightweight- one lens solution VR II system offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 4 stops fasterTwo ED glass and three aspherical lens elements minimize chromatic aberration-astigmatism and other forms of distortion- while ensuring high resolution and contrastNikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) offers superb color reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flareIncorporates a SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for fast quiet focusingDelivers high-level optical performance designed for use exclusively with Nikon DX format digitalEmploys a seven-blade rounded diaphragm opening that achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements Enables focusing from as close as 50cm (20 in.) from the subject through its entire focal range M/A mode for rapid switching between autofocus and manual focus operationFlower-shaped Lens Hood HB-35 (provided) greatly reduces stray light
Highly portable- powerful zoom 16-85 f3.5-4.5 lens with high-quality optics designed for ... more
use with Nikon DX Format digital SLRs. With a 5.3X zoom and 16-85mm focal range- this lens delivers superb versatility for a wide variety of shooting situations. Equipped with Nikons second-generation Vibration Reduction (VRII) system and exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM)- it offers superb performance in low-light- delivering steady images to both the sensor and viewfinder- and features fast- quiet autofocus. An ideal all-round lens for todays high-resolution SLRs.
Popular 18-55 f3.5-5.6 zoom lens with high quality optics designed for use with Nikon DX ... more
Format SLRs. Its 3X zoom provides superb versatility in a wide variety of shooting situations. Equipped with Nikons exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for super-quiet operation.
Popular all-round DX-format 11.1 x zoom lens. Equipped with Nikons Vibration Reduction ... more
system and exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) it offers superb performance in low-light delivering steady images to both the sensor and viewfinder and features fast quiet autofocus. The high quality optical design boasts Nikons Super Integrated Coating and two ED glass elements for superb color reproduction and minimized distortion. A practical zoom-lock switch keeps the lens secure when not in use. Great value for money this is a flexible all-in-one lens - ideal for capturing everything from wide landscapes to close-ups of distant subjects.
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
(+) Fold out LCD screen, Image Stabilization, Zuiko lens quality, Picture quality, Flash options (-) Noise in low light, Too many buttons, Badly laid out, Too many gimmicks
Advantages: Fantastic build quality, superb handling, access to Nikon's legendary range of lenses, capable of virtually any assignment, total "systems"camera Disadvantages: Slow 1/80 sec flash sync, idiosyncratic position of hot-shoe,dull (by modern standards anyway) viewfinder, metering pattern takes getting used to, this is NOT a point-and-shoot camera.
I first experienced the Nikon F3 back in 1984 when I asked to see it back in a (now sadly closed down) profession camera dealer and I would have purchased on the spot if I'd have had the £600 asking price. But being a poor student, I was just dreaming then...
Well, things change and i ended up being employed by Jessops for thirteen years as a Sales Assistant (then right up to Manager) so I eventually had the chance to use an F3 and consider ... ...were four versions of the Nikon F3 released in the UK
Standard F3
F3 High Eyepoint-as per F3 with a viewfinder included which is a lot easier to look through especially if you are wearing glasses etc
F3/T-as above with Titanium baseplate,top plate and pentaprism housing. Tougher and marginally lighter than the F3 HP
F3/P like the F3/T-A special press edition originally made for the Japanese ... more
I first experienced the Nikon F3 back in 1984 when I asked to see it back in a (now sadly closed down) profession camera dealer and I would have purchased on the spot if I'd have had the £600 asking price. But being a poor student, I was just dreaming then... Well, things change and i ended up being employed by Jessops for thirteen years as a Sales Assistant (then right up to Manager) so I eventually had the chance to use an F3 and consider it the best camera of all time.
There were four versions of the Nikon F3 released in the UK
Standard F3
F3 High Eyepoint-as per F3 with a viewfinder included which is a lot easier to look through especially if you are wearing glasses etc
F3/T-as above with Titanium baseplate,top plate and pentaprism housing. Tougher and marginally lighter than the F3 HP
F3/P like the F3/T-A special press edition originally made for the Japanese press market. It placed the hot-shoe on the pentaprism housing, improved sealing against rain/dirt etc a shutter release easier to use when using gloves and did away with the TTL (through the lens flash metering)
But why? No Digital, no autofocus, no multi zone metering, DX film coding,built-in flash,film winder, multi-mode exposure-Its very easy to list what the F3 HASN'T got in comparison to modern day cameras.
So what makes it so good?
Well the first thing you notice is on opening the box is the faint but pleasant smell of lubricant. and the substantial weight of the body. This camera exudes quality from every pore-made of Aluminium alloy and brass (except for the F3/T and the F3/P which have a titanium baseplate,top plate and pentaprism housing) Mounting a lens is a doddle-just line up the lens mount to the camera lens mount and turn anti-clockwise.Though like every other camera brand you have to use a Nikon AI mount lens. leneses with such a mount (Nikon and independent are universally available though).
From the simple move of winding the film on to holding the camera up to the eye topressing the shutter relase is an almost sunsual experience something you wont easily obtain with another rival brand.
The F3 had two basic means of operation,
APERTURE PRIOITY-you set the apertute and the camea set the shutter speed All the way from 1/2000 sec-revolutionary back in 1980 at the time of it's release to 8 secs
MANUAL EXPOSURE- you set both the Aperture and the shutter speed. the Viewfinder diplays both with a guide as to whether the camera meter "thinks" you are under or over exposing.
Other facillities include Interchangable viewfinders (useful say if you are into specialised areas of photography eg Macrophotgraphy) , TTL flash metering when a dedicated compatible flash is attached the camera flash sync speed is set automatically and the output is controlled via the camea in "Real time" again near revolutionary in 1980 when only very few cameras had it, interchangable screens,the otion to add the M D-4 Motordrive ( a compulsory accessory IMO giving up to 6 frames per second film advance, rewind, even better handling, sideways shutter release etc), mechanical shutter speed of 1/60 sec (useful if your batteries fail) mirror lock-up (very useful if the camera is mounted on a tripod and you want to keep potentail shake to an absolute minimum) a 80/20split centre weighted average metering (which takes practice to get used to get it wrong and you can make some horrible mistakes but it is deadly accurate in experienced hands -the F3's target market) and weather resistant seals which improved durability.
I produced a set of brilliantly sharp well exposed pics when I used an F3 HP with an MD-4 drive using Reala 100 film.
So outstanding in many respects.
The drawbacks?
Slow sync flash speed at 1/80 sec makes fill-flash more difficult, dull viewfinder in comparison to it's closest then competitor (Canon New F-1), An idiosynchratic positioning of the flash hot-shoe-over the film rewind crank. This is meant to improve handling with a flash and reduce red-eye by getting the flash "off-axis" but the improvements were in my mind debatable, no choice of meter patterns and it took time to master in comparison to todays digital wonders.
These in my opinion were minor setbacks and I can only regrat never purchasing the best camera ever when it was available new.
It was last available new in the UK new for about £1500 which was exhorbitent-at least in terms of spec regarding other cameras.
The GOOD news is that there are plenty of excellent to mint condition examples around in camera shops such as Jessops, Grays of Westminster etc and retail for anything from £200-600. Ex pro examples are best avoided unless there is evidence of a recent Nikon/authorised Nikon Service centre repair and service.
I would highly recommend this camera.
The majority of the Worlds press used the F3 back in the Eighties and if it was good enough for them...
Advantages: Sturdiness, image quality and reliability Disadvantages: Weight
...new to say that the Nikon F3 is an excellent camera, indeed it has been known to be so to anyone who is interested in photography and has read a little about cameras. In my personal experience, the F3 has been a trustworthy friend that has accompanied me on many trips throughout the past 10 years. I bought my F3 over 10 years ago and it was second hand, I also have another Nikon camera and 2 Canons, but the F3 is the one I always chose when I don't ... ...grounds.
I use mainly Nikon lenses with it but I very often use a Sigma zoom as well. Although the F3 does not have many of the countless special features that most new SLRs and indeed most new cameras have, I feel that it has more than enough for any serious photographer, it does not have automatic focus, but it does have an automatic metering system which I find to be very reliable in most situations, unless you are shooting in special lightning ...
Librelola 12.08.2005 (23.08.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nikon F3
Advantages: Professional quality Disadvantages: Expensive
The Nikon F3 is perhaps the ultimate professional camera. Being a manual focus camera, some high level of attention is needed to bring off good photos, but the optics and built in metering system are very helpful in that regard. With several exposure modes, from fully manual up to fully automated, the camera will allow for many levels of photographic expertise. An extensive line of lenses and other accessories make for a system you'll not likely ...
Stonehouse 21.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Nikon F3
Advantages: great zoom range, good build quality, image stabilization, universal Disadvantages: maximum apertures only average, high price
in or out of the lens body. The creep only occurs when lens is zoomed to some focal lenght between 70 and 135mm.
The focus ring is located behind the zoom ring and can be used to manually tweak the focus in autofocus mode. The ring is a tiny bit loose, but moves smoothly and precisely. It does not rotate during autofocus. There is a distance scale marked both in feet and meters, but no depth of field scale.
The images produced by the lens are of good quality, although there is noticeable vignetting (darkening of the corners) when zoomed to 200mm and using wide apertures. The lens has a variable aperture, the maximum aperture is F3.5 at 18mm and F5.6 at 200mm. It is bright enough for daytime photography but requires assistance from flash when taking pictures indoors to avoid blurs. Sharpness is good across the image, with little ...
Advantages: Robust, good looking, quick focusing, compact Disadvantages: There are better alternatives
I bought this lens for my Nikon D50 as a replacement for the 18-55mm lens that it came with. The difference in quality is immediately noticeable. While the standard lens feels cheap and rattles about when you shake it this one is heavier and made from the same heavy duty plastic as Nikon's entry level DSLR range. With the kit lense manual focusing is achieved by gripping and twisting the end of the lens whereas this more upmarket model features a focusing ring. This moves smoothly and can be altered with precision - just what you need on Nikon's AF-S lenses which focus automatically but enable you to override manually with ease.
The optics are as you would expect from Nikkor - fantastic - but not noticeably better than the kit lens. You do get a little extra zoom at the top end but this is not an all encompassing solution, it is a mid ...
Advantages: Lovely Lightweight Camera Disadvantages: Took a while getting to learn all the conponants
I have been into photography for most of my life, infact I started out venturing and dabbling with cameras, almost as long as I started to walk. I started out with a small kodak 126 given me to play with by my mother when I was a toddler! This is what really astarted me off in photography.
.. My first SLR camera was a Praktika MK3, bought 2nd hand from Cash Converters about 5 years ago for the princly some of £45.00, Very bulky and cumbersome camera to use, but started to teach me more of what photography was about, so with this thought I can not really complain too much. I was greatful for havin this rather cumbersom camera in my possesion for a while. I used to joke that with the lenses I had for this camera that I needed a truck to get me from A to B lol! They where huge!
About 2 years back I went and bought a NikonF ...
Pictoria 06.12.2003 (03.01.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nikon F 65 DATE
