Solid construction
Beautiful, consistent metering
Will stand any environment and probably see you get into the grave

Okay its, the flash, we all know that.

Best camera you can buy if you still believe in quality. I am an archaeologist and a mountain climber, so the F3 spends a lot of time inside my pack or in hot and humid, hot and dry, cold and dry environments, NEVER had any problems. It even survived my falling on top of it. PERFECT!!!

Customer Service

not yet

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Always wanted an F3, have an old Rollei 35me

I have the F3/T ("champagne" version, which is slightly pink). It is as bombproof a camera as there is.

Perfect fit in the hand, with or without the MD-4. All the controls fall to hand as naturally as breathing.

Can use every Nikon lens ever made, including non-AI lenses.

The 80:20 center-weighted meter is almost as useful as a spot meter. It's not a "point the camera and mash down the shutter button" exposure system; rather, the F3's meter is a real tool, designed to be used with the user's brain fully engaged. TIP: use the exposure lock button.

One manual speed keeps you going even after your battery dies. You shouldn't need it, though - a battery lasts a long time in an F3.

100% viewfinder is a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing, because you can compose to the edges of the frame. It's a curse, because most photo finishers won't print to the edges of the frame.

The F3's offset flash position makes for somewhat better verticals if you don't have a flash bracket.

The HP viewfinder is incredible, but I wear glasses. If you have good uncorrected vision, you may prefer the higher magnification of the non-HP finder. I also own the waist-level finder - only marginally useful for macro work.

Maximum flash sync is somewhat on the slow side, at 1/80. This is less of a problem for using the flash as your main light (because a slower shutter speed will allow some ambient exposure) than it is for daytime fill-flash.

Unique flash foot. At least there's a PC socket, and Nikon just started making a TTL ISO foot adapter.

If there's a manual-focus camera to own in the Nikon system, the F3 (in all its iterations) is it: rugged and easy to handle, with an incredible viewfinder and broad lens compatibility. The titanium version is even more robust.

Customer Service

On an F3/T? Never neeed.

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F.

Also, the FA, N8008s, N90s.

durability, feel, layout, the best viewfinder(HP) in the business, metering, easy to use,

useless flash capabllities, compensation dial, loud shutter, expensive

the best manual camera ever!? It has it has some idiosyncroseys like the flash setup(just use it for outdoors or b&w) and the loud mirror slap. you would think this top model would sound better than the lowly fg-20. but the feel in your hands and the controls are heavenly. With exception to the exposure compensation dial, it is hard to grasp and stiff, not for quick acess. the meter is reliable. although I don't have problems reading the lcd, I will admit the HP finder makes it easier...this camera is so much my favorite for b&w just set to AE and go!

Customer Service

???

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fg-20, minolta srt101, assorted auto slr

Pro level manual camera built with solid mechanics and materials.

Fast and easy to turn speed dial, DOF button, and AE lock.

Reliable titanium shutter.

Very useful 80/20 centerweighted metering.

LCD info in viewfinder a little too small and faint.

I actually find the camera body alone is a little short for my hands, and my hands aren't that big. I prefer the motordrive attached.

The overall design of the F3 is minimal and its strengths are subtle, enabling the user to hone their skills. The layout of the controls are simple: 3 round dials aligned next to each other on the top and that's it. Pretty simple to visualize, eh? The meter is fast, works superbly in low light, and the 80/20 centerweight is a quick alternative from the anal retentive spot metering and the dumb but easy 60/40 centerwieght.

This is the manual camera to get if you're serious about photography, meaning using it everyday. I have the F3T champaign version with motordrive, I treat it as a I-don't-care-if-it-breaks camera, since the titanium shell is virtually undentable, and I've thrown it around a few times now. I also have the waistlevel finder, and it's just an overprided piece of tin can and is completely useless. Don't bother getting one.

Other cameras in this range fall slightly short in terms of features and/or construction. The FM2n, FE2, Contax S2, and Canon F1 individually have one or two more features than the F3, but all lack 100% viewfinder and/or reliable motordrive.

However, its slow flash sync speed makes it unsuitable for studio work. This is definately a field camera.

Customer Service

My motordrive was having minor problems and everyone I went to was charging a lot for service, so I just took the thing apart myself.

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Nikon FM2n, FE2

I love the feel of this camera, it fits perfectly in my hands is strong and easy to use. Top quality photos can be easily taken.

Expensive to purchase and repair, though I have only needed to have it cleaned and tuned up. The lcd in the viewfinder is not easy to see and the viewfinder light never seems to work. I would prefer a motor drive to manual wind. I am saving for one.

A very good camera for the beginner through to the professional. it is very robust and reliable and will give years of trouble free service

Customer Service

I have han no problems buying Nikon gear or gettin the camera service though it does cost a lot.

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Nikon F90X

Bomb-proof. I've crashed with it countless times when mountain biking, skiing and just bouncing it in rucsacks. I've managed to get the first bit of brassing on the finder (but only after a lot of effort!).
Ergonomics superb, with or without MD4.
Takes all Nikon lenses equally well.
Interchangeable screen and finder (love waist level finder).

Flash shoe- dodgy contacts.
MD4- intermittent failures (but on a battered ex-pro model so I can't really complain).
Seems to chew batteries.
Power off switch easy to forget (leading to battery loss).
LED weak in low light.
Viewfinder light is a joke.
Bit bulky compared to jewel-like OMs I used to have.

Outdoor camera- best thing there is for hills & mountains. I wouldn't be without F90 with its flash & AF for baby pictures though- I'm just not fast enough on MF!
Once prices tumble I'm sure I shall be seduced by a digi- SLR, but the faithful F3 will still be there for really rugged and B&W.

Customer Service

Never had to talk to them much. Gray's of Westminster (London) fantastic for repairs and advice, if pricey.

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F90; OM1n; OM4; Leica

I have owned this camera since 1987. It has NEVER been in the shop for any reason. It's simple to use (I usually use a handheld meter but the one in the camera is great as well) and doesn't have all those things that I don't need. I have that I don't need a waist level finder, I just remove the one I have.

It's only a 35.

After at least 5000 rolls of film it still works perfectly and it's never broken. The 950.00 included the MD4, so I think it's probably still worth about what I paid for it. Forget about all that high tech stuff, get yourself an 85 1.4 and take the most beatiful photos you can.

Customer Service

ACS

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Cannon, Olympus (Blah), Hassy, Mamiya, Leica

Logical and natural layout to controls. Uniform, consistent exposures. Has a mirror lock-up and an eyepiece blind for remote shooting. Good feel and balance w/wo motor; MD4+F3 doesn't tip forward on level surfaces except with heavy lenses.

Horrible meter readout design: mine also broke quicky and it costs $300 just for the replacement part (so I've not replaced it...). Dim and unnatural layout, can't see it in low light and the "illumination switch" is absurd. Also a hard-to-use exposure comp dial with no "on" warning in v.f.

The F3HP is an excellent traditional 35 with a few nasty quirks. If you want manual/auto exposure in a system-based film camera, and with the little extra touches that come in handy in odd situations, it's a good choice.

Customer Service

Dubious. Maybe better if you're a big name.

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I've used many other cameras. I carry an Olympus XA.

Good build, solid, reliable, basic, fairly quiet without the motordrive

attaching the flash

A great camera, easy to use that gives much tactile pleasure as well as delivering great results. Many complain about the slow flash sync, but I use it outdoors as fill to fill i shadows and get great results, indoors I lke to use slower settings for flash anyway, so it does not seem to be a problem, I just wish it had a regular hotshoe. I like better than the F4 because I can take of the motor drive and have a lighter camera.

Customer Service

None so far

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Nikon FM2n, FE2, F2S, F2a, F4, Eos-1, Contax G1, leica M3

trustable, easy to work with, stands a rough treatment...

Arrgh, I cant use the ordinary TTL flash connection...

I have used My F3 for all kinds of photography, and it always works as I want it to. I have been using the F5 for some occasions, and well, I admit that the light measurer in F5 is really hard to fool. But if you use your brain while taking photos, there are not many points where my F3 comes short in a comparison.
I hope it will work for another 20 years...

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Why try other???