"That which seems most feeble and bewildered in you is the strongest and most determined."...
"That which seems most feeble and bewildered in you is the strongest and most determined."
Gibran Khalil Gibran
Member since:20.05.2004
Reviews:51
Members who trust:46
It is nothing 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 want to carry too much gear and when I want to make sure the pictures will be excellent, and especially when I know I will be walking, trekking or going up and down treacherous 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 conditions, when you can go for the shutter priority mode or aperture priority, or simply manual mode when you have more experience or have a separate hand held meter.
I like the feel of it, although it is a bit heavy, it is not big and is quite slim and easy to handle. The viewfinder is easy to use as well.
I have dropped my F3 three times with lens and everthing on solid rock, and was amazed to find out that on these three consecutive occasions, it suffered absolutely no "injuries".
In 10 years, I have personally groomed it as often as possible, cleaning it on the outside and the inside, but I have never had to have it professionally cleaned or repaired.
It has been to 3 deserts, visited many Patagonian glaciers, seen so many beaches, oceans and lakes that I can harldy remember them myself, and countless cities and mountains and forests and is still proudly standing.
It has never failed me (I do carry a extra supply of batteries all the time though) and its picture quality is superb. I would not change it for any other, even if I do use other cameras sometimes.
Sadly, the F3 has been discontinued and Nikon informed me that no Professional Manual focus camera exists to replace it, as all PRO cameras are now Auto Focus (fair enough).
The FM3A is the only manual focus camera that Nikon still make, but it isn't PRO.
Nikon F3s are still relatively easy to find second hand though and the searches I have made show me that the price (for the body alone) can range from £180 to about £400, depending on the camera's condition.
I hope this helps.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) 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
We have met before! The pictures speak for themselves, not only a skilled writer but a skille photographer too. I am glad to hear that my F3 isn't the only one that eats batteries, I inherited it about three years ago from my father, who like you bought it second hand in the first place. It uses a pair of batteries to each 36 roll of film, I was thinking that he had given it to me because there was something wrong with it! I am giving your review an upgrade! R.
electricfrog5 26.08.2005 10:12
Sounds like a good camera... unfussy, but hardy. Nice review. L xx
torr 23.08.2005 19:23
Thanks for letting me know. Rerated accordingly. Duncan
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
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.
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.
Perspective Control (PC-E) wideangle NIKKOR for architecture and landscape photography ... more
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.
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 2 to 3 weeks...
Perspective Control (PC-E) wideangle NIKKOR for architecture and landscape photography ... more
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.
Postage & Packaging:£3.46 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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.
peterkinxl5 30.03.2005 (30.03.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nikon F3
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.
peterkinxl5 30.03.2005 (30.03.2005)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nikon F3
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