Completely reliable under every condition I've encountered. Accurate and consistent metering and shutter.

No problems per se, but if you use an MD-4 in theaters or candid, advance film manually.

Since '82 this camera has never failed me through drops, blowing sand, fog, 115degree heat, 20degree cold. The MD-4 I use with it has done just as well. I'd buy it all over again, despite the selling price having more than doubled in the past 18 years. As testement to its enduring quality, my used F3HP would currently sell for at least as much as I originally paid for it.

Customer Service

never needed it

Similar Products Used:

other nikons, canon(mf)

These F3 feel like they will last forever. The meter is consistent and never far out despite what F5 owners would tell you. This is one camera that can do it all, macro, sport, portrait or battlefield reporter.

I am the weakness ! I still get it wrong but then everyone does sometimes. But too many people moan about the flash sync or the viewfinder illumination. That is kind of like moaning that your vintage car doesn't have a very good stero!

I think that we should always shy away from absolute perfection. This camera comes so close to perfection though that if you are not happy with it, then it is because of you, not the camera.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

F3P,FM2T,FE2,FE,F60,F100Plus some Pentax Olympus Minolta and Yashica stuff.

Strong MF camera.
Lovely shutter sound.
All functions are good enough for pro-photo.
Emergency shutter.

Difficult to control EV adjustment.
LCD display of shutt speed is too dark.
Flash shoe is not standard type.

All most perfect in MF camera

Similar Products Used:

F4, EOS-5, FM2, G2

Solid construction
Reliability
Changeable view finders
High eyepoint viewfinder
Heavily centre-weighted meter
TTL flash control

Exposure compensation difficult to use
Cannot use flash units with normal hot shoes

Yes, the F3HP is not as versatile as today's electonic cameras with bells and whistles, but as far as MF cameras are concerned, the flexibilty it offers is second to no others. Most important of all, in last two decades it has proven itself as a picture taking machine with supreme reliability track records. What I particularly is the 80% centre-weighted meter. Once you are familiar with it, you can use it as a fat-spot meter and yield accurately exposed pictures.

Surely for the money you can buy other cameras with lots of features. But the F3HP is a workhorse that has never let me down. If you like MF cameras and want to use lenses from the huge selection of old MF Nikkors as well as the state-of-the-art AF Nikkors, you need to consider no other cameras.

Customer Service

Not required

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2AS & F4

I shoot mostly landscape photography, and mostly on Fraser Island. Fraser Island is the worlds largest sand island, so i need a camera i can depend on, one that can take the extreme conditions, presented by blowing sand, mist, rain, salt water and general outdoor abuse. The Nikon F3 not only stands up to the challenge, but really excels. Its biggest strength is its fantastic centre weighted metering system (80/20), 100% viewfinder and mirror pre-lock up function, perfect for landscape photography. Its other major strength is it can be used with all AF Nikkors (manual focus), i presently use a 24-50 AF-D for landscapes. Nikons new 18-35 IF-ED will be my next purchase!!

Major weakness is Flash photography. I shoot some indoor and macro work also, and its disapointing not to have access to Nikon's 5 segment 3D Flash system. The new AS-17 looks like an option for using it with an SB-28 for centre weighted TTL, though. It would be nice if they would bring out a new viewfinder for the F3 with 10 Segment 3D metering like the F100, F80, F5...wishful thinking??? I think not, medium format can provide metering options via different viewfinders. Other gripe is the mirror pre-lock is difficult to use when the MD-4 is attached.

They use to say the Pentax K-1000 was the perfect beginners camera. I say buy a second hand F-3 (mine is battered and bruised, but still takes professional images), and build your AF-Nikkor lens sytem. Then when you want the best AF body on the market, you've already got the lenses, so upgrade is one step away. And then you will also have the best manual focus camera on earth and the moon (Yes the F3 has been there too!) as a back up!!

Customer Service

In Australia, Nikon's Distributor Maxwell has pretty good, Quick responses to emails, and a monthly newsletter of Nikon's news. Nikon Japan has good response to emails also.

Similar Products Used:

First Camera Olympus OM-101 Power Focus, own Konica TC Relex, Pentax P30, F-3HP, use F-801S regularly.

Solid and elegant construction, unmatched in any of its competitors.

80% centerweighted meter is very effective.

LCD panel is small and faint. The light button is hard to push.

AE lock a bit hard to reach with motodrive atteched. This is easily solved with a middle-finger extension operation... or just grow your nails.

It's a great pro camera. The design really address high-volume performance issues effectively: speed dial is easy to access, the motordive is light and unattrusive, although I wished the trigger button was slanted rather than perpendicular, so I don't have to stretch my index finger so much.

The only weakness is its well-documented flash problem of having the shoe on top of the rewind knob. But the one advantage of this feature is that you can work with a waist-level finder and still use a standard flash.

Overall, if you're taking pictures for a living and you are a manual person, this is it.

Customer Service

Motordrive was eating up more batteries than anticipated. I needed to replace just after 2-3 rolls. Had it replaced with another motordrive and no problems.

Similar Products Used:

Owned: F2, F4

Swiss watch construction, simple to use, consistent results

None

I've had F3's on and off over the years. I've tried different models and makes, but I have always returned to my trusty HP. A few years ago, I sold my HP and bought an F4 - big mistake! The controls on the F4 were cluttered in comparison, and I found the camera not user friendly. I frequently use the exposure lock button, and this is MUCH easier to hold on the F3 than the F4. I have an MD-4 but nothing beats the feeling you get manually advancing the film; absolute precision. Bottom line, I sold the F4 (took a beating) and bought a used F3HP. I'll never make the mistake of selling an F3 again. They got it right 20 years ago.

Customer Service

None Required

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2, F4, Pentax LX, K-1000, Canon AE-1

Build quality, compact, comfortable to hold, most dials fall at hand. Interchangable finders (fine for macro etc.)

No ISO hotshoe, awkward viewfinder illuminator button.

I love this camera! Bought it recently after the meter in my F2 started to behave suspicious (there are no spares for it). Use F100's and DCS 520's for daily work, but the F3 is THE camera. However, if you are not interested in setting exposure yourself, buy another camera.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2n, Nikon FA, Nikon F4E, Nikon F100, Nikon F2, Olympus OM1, Canon DCS520

Built to last, great feel and it's a top
camera.

Flash Shoe,pirce of flash,reading meter in dark.

Overall you can't dismiss this camera .In the age of throw away products this camerais built to stay.So easy to get good results and be confident in the cameras durability .
I will never get rid of this camera.
Package deal $1999

Customer Service

non

Similar Products Used:

FG pentax ME Canon AT-1

For me the best camera for a beginner who really wants to learn photography and not only point and shoot, very accurate light-meter.

It might be heavy for some people especially with the motor on, but at least you can feel it in your hands.

I got my F3 when I decided to do photography more seriously. I was looking for a camera who could provide me all the features to really understand how photography works and that meant a manual one. The F3 has been my teacher for a long period and I thanked it for all the great lessons it has given me throughout the years.

Customer Service

--

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FE, and others manual camera.