Nikon F3 Review - One of the greatest film cameras ever
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Nikon's F3 film camera is one of the best camera's ever made. Let's review the features and find out why, and see if it's the perfect camera for you, if you shoot film.
The online owners manual can be found here...
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This video is NOT sponsored.
Do you have a question? Ask in the comments section.
Rob Skeoch is a career photographer, working for five newspapers and wire services before joining the team at Major League Baseball for 17 seasons and the NFL for 14 seasons. Then he was a national manager for the camera group at Sony North America before going back to shooting.
Now he shoots for gallery shows around the world, mostly street work and portraits made with a Rollei twin lens. For 35mm shooting he uses a Nikon F3 and a couple M-mount Leica cameras and shoots mostly Ilford film.
tips for shooting black and white film,
HP5 FP4Pan F Ilford Zeiss ZM Distagon Summaron Biogon Leica Leica R6.2 R6.2 R6 Nikon Nikon F3 Nikon F3T Nikon FM3A Pentax Pentax LX Pentax MX Canon Canon F1 Canon New F1Minolta Minolta X-700 Olympus Olympus OM4 Olympus OM3 Olympus OM4T Olympus OM3T Contax Kodak Fiilmprocessing darkroom black and white b&w developing film at home developing black and white filmdeveloping 35mm filmdeveloping roll film loading film developing reels loading 35mm film on reel loading 35mm film loading 35mm into development tank #blackandwhitephotography, #filmphotography, #blackandwhite, #filmprocessing, #film, #bw, #ilfordhp5, #filmisnotdead, #blackandwhitephoto, #filmcamera, #35mmfilm, #leica, #nikon, #darkroom, #darkrooms, #film, #filmcamera, , #leica, #leicasociety, #ilford, #120film, #rolleiflex #rollei, #gitzo #kodak, #kodakfilm35mm #kodaktmax400 #streetphotography,, photo, photography, picture, 135mm lens, 35mm film, black and white, rollei, ilford, portrait, #nikon, #canon, #pentax, #zeiss #distagon #18mm #zeisslens #leicaphotography #leica_world #leicaimages #leicalens, #leica_camera #leicam6 #nikonf3 #nikonfm2 #canon_official #minolta #olympus #Leicam6 #Leicam #hp5 #ilfordhp5 #slr #slrcamera #slrcanon #hasselblad #hasselblad_camera #pentax67 #pentax645 #fuji #rolleiflex #largeformat #viewcamera #ebonycamera #deardorff
I bought my F3 in 1981. As I recall, The red 60 was also used as the only manual shutter speed available if the battery died or failed. So, even in that event, one could still continue to shoot something. Also, I have the DW3 look-down viewfinder, which I found useful for some kinds of portraits and architectural photography. Nice review, and it makes me want to use mine again, though I do love my D800 digital.
You could always buy one roll of film and give it a go. Start back into film on a small way... and keep the fun factor.
I never understood all the hype about the FM3a when you can get an F3 for less.
I think it's just the flash sync but who uses flash anymore.
I can use an Sb600/800 and AE lock. Most are well preserved and I don't need batteries in manual mode. It's also compact and is the backup to my D series. An F3 is in the future. I like how they feel in the hands but don't think the FM3A isn't great. They'll both torture tested to sub freezing temps and proven bodies.
@@moustachio334 Nice, I think it is because I never use flash, I didn't understand that. I am sure it is a nice camera. I have my eyes on an FM2n that is a bit more friendly in price 🙂
@@KimHojbergJensenit also has a hidden fill flash button that's easy to reach. I do not like the internal viewfinder. It's not LED like the F3 and earlier FM's. The F3 viewfinder is almost as good a it gets.
Glad you guys are enjoying the gear and shooting film.
I like the F3, but I prefer the needle meter on the Canon New F1. I also love the Speed Finder, which gives the F1 the best SLR viewfinder ever made for glasses wearing shooters. That prism also rotates for vertical shots. Pop in the laser matte PJ or SJ screen to complete the experience😊 It also will work fully mechanical for ALL speeds 1/125 or greater. That has saved my butt twice now.
Of course the Nikon lenses have better lens build quality vs the nFD glass, but I've got an older regular FD 50mm that lives on that camera.
Now, when it comes to autofocus, the F5/F6 wins hands-down vs the EOS 1/3. That button layout on the EOS pro bodies- wow painful, lol.
Great stuff sir! Thanks!
Glad you're enjoying them. I never used the Canon F1 professionally. I did use the EOS 1 IV for a few years and really enjoyed it. I never had any of the really cool lenses though.
an awesome camera! just got mine serviced by ICT Camera Repair in California. Jim Holman is an amazing technician and his youtube videos on F3 repair are great!
Thanks for the info!
I have two of them, an F3 HP and an F3-P, as well as an FE2, FM2, 2XF4s, F100, etc etc. There is something reassuringly solid and workmanlike about them. Only exactly what you needed and not a single frivolous feature, unlike 99% of the cameras today. The MD4 motordrive is on the heavyside, but it does stablise the camera with most AIS lenses and come on 6 frames per second in 1980.
That's a great kit. Such nice equipment to shoot with.
Another great video. Thanks Rob- I always look forward to your videos! I would love to see a video on how to properly hold both the slr and rangefinder cameras. I've been an amateur photographer for a long time, but never knew why pros tend to hold the camera in a certain way.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.
This was a very informative video, thank you so much for it. I watched it with great pleasure. I still continue to shoot black and white with my old Nikon FA and MD15 Motor Drive.
I just came across your channel and immediately became a subscriber.
Glad you're enjoying the camera and the videos.
My go to 35mm film camera for all my photo assignments wherever I am in the world.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Another enjoyable video. Thank you
Thanks, glad you found it interesting.
Thank you for this video. I don’t shoot film anymore but I’d really like to get some variant of the F3.
It's a great camera!!!
I have the F2, F3, F5 all in near mint condition and even had the F4 but sold it. I like the F5 for auto focus, but the issue with the F3, you get aperture priority, can read out in LCD and the shutters are electronic and accurate with a better shutter system than the previous models (better ball bearing set-up). Mechanical cameras can have inconsistencies in upper shutter speeds, which could throw off the exposure. I concur the F3 is the best of the manual focus cameras.
Totally agree
The Pentax k1000 holds a special place with me, but i sure do love my nikon F5.
I made the most money of my career with the F5. I liked everything about it. Later I bought the F6, also nice but pro film shooting was already over by then as we switched to digital.
I have the waist level finder, and I find it useful for composing long exposures or IR photography.
Yes, that's a good idea.
How about the FM3a?
It's a great camera. It would be my second choice and would be a wonderful backup camera if you already have a F3. The FM3a is great, just came out too late as people were already moving to AF and digital.
I think the high eye point DE3 viewfinder is the nicest ever to look through.
Yes for sure.
Thank you for the in depth Information. I‘m just getting started with analog photography and looking for my first camera. I had the Canon F1 in mind but i want the most versatile lens options and since Nikon kept the mount for so long i guess it would be smart to go for the f3?
Really appreciate sharing your thoughts since you have the years under the belt
Either the Canon or the Nikon. Lots of lenses for either mount.
@@stillshootinginblackandwhite thank you
!!
I noticed you skipped the F4 and suggested the F5 or F6. I have a few af lenses I use with my D7000. I also have quite a few manual focus lenses i use with the D7000 and my Nikon FE. I thought it would be fun to get one of the af film cameras that I could never afford before. Is the F4 an option, or should I look for an F5 or F6? I have seen some F4s for 200 or so. The 5 and 6 are more spendy. Are they worth it? Thanks for all the info im getting from your videos.
I shot with an F4 for a couple years, then switched to the F5 when they came out. The F5 was way more camera. No issues against the F4, but they're getting older now. Make sure you get one that takes AA batteries as the Nikon battery recharge might be hard to find.
I think if I'm going manual, I'd prefer to go all the way and get a Nikon F or F2. For auto, I'm looking at getting a Minolta Maxxum 7 or 9.
Great options. I think the F3 has a better focus screen then the other two nikons.
Great run through of the Nikon F3 range Rob.
I have the Nikon F3 HP and it’s now my 35mm goto camera.
It can do anything.
Built like a tank and a great system.
Yes it takes batteries but they are such a basic battery to buy. You do have the back up shutter level but these days it’s so easy to buy a couple of batteries in the local shop and just carry them in your pocket.
Especially if you out in the desert or jungle and distant miles from the supermarket.
Mind you I am sure even stuck out in the wilderness I could order them online and some young chap in his scooter will deliver them (and a pizza) in minutes !
Three lenses 28mm and 50mm and 105mm cover everything I need.
You are so right. Depth of field button is just plain useless.
Glad you found it interesting!!
Yes the F3 is fantastic, easy to use, great to look through, fully featured and tough. I have a hard time choosing between it and the F2, which I also own. Im a sucker for all that mechanical whirring when the shutter fires and its the camera of my youth!
I can see that. I never used the F2 professionally. Back then I was shooting with the FM and FE. The pro models were out of my price range for a lot of years.
Thanks for reminding me of all that. Your style is amiable and obviously you’re knowledgeable, adding more personal stories is welcome.
((( I also look forward to your review of that lump of rubber, the F-4, which I dropped down a flight of stone steps in a Jpnese temple without damage. It made me blasé about Nikon bodies up to Z-mount.)))
Glad you're enjoying them.
Interesting that you do not use the depth-of-field button. I never had/have an F3 yet.
But multiple FE2 and F4. There and even with today's D800/810 or with my Bronica GS-1 or Fuji GX680 I use that feature all the time. Indeed this was and is a killer feature for me when missing for any SLR / DSLR since ever. Even on large format I do same with closing the aperture .. Sure with e.g. f45 and beyond, depending on light situation, there is not much to be seen left on ground glass.
I do not use the depth-of-field button for exact depth of field check, there I use the lens indicators for the aperture (when available - a big plus for the old Nikkor, etc. manual lenses).
But I use depth-of-field button for
a) preview how the back-foreground renders when shutting down.
b) get a black and white preview of the picture especially by using color filters (typ. orange & yellow or light red in analog).
Stopping the lever (partial) down the picture becomes much clearer for the contrasts and brightness levels for me.
In digital, I do not use color filters, but stopping down helps also a bit.
c) when viewing towards bright light - but stay still cautious for the eyes.
c) is a rare thing but a) and b) I do all the time
in sum I would guess, I press more often the depth-of-field button than the shutter release button.
My usage and view
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BTW: On the F4 I changed from the standard focusing screen (being the first - as an AF Nikon without such) to the standard K Type screen with split image and micro prism. And I miss the lack of such option so much on the DSLRs
Those are good points. Thanks for sharing.
F3 - superlative camera - no frills or furbelows, just wonderful mechanics.
Yes, that's for sure. They offer a great user experience!!
Indeed ! I wouldn't be without mine.
Such a great unit.
Precisely !
!
A camera with just 2 or 3 features cant be on of the greatest, it´s just a well constructed camera wit a LOT of marketing.........
You might be right but the user experience is outstanding.
I stull have a bunch of F3 bodies including the Autofocus F3AF one and my favourite F3P - and best part is the F3 has the most toys.. 🦘
That's a great assortment of kit. I've only seen the F3AF a couple times.
It’s a great camera.
I think the mechanical vs electronic argument these days is more relevant to aging electronics and their potential to fail. Once failed they can’t be fixed easily if at all.
Mechanical cameras are more repairable in the sense of mechanical parts can be replaced or rebuilt!
Yes you might be right, but I can enjoy the F3 till it dies and then get an FM3 when that happens.
This is a quality camera, very similar to the Canon F1 New that was out at the same time and which I bought in 1983. The only negative part of both camera’s is the slow flash synch speed, which meant that with studio photography, ambient or pilot light would bleed in with low apertures. For studio photography (or flash photography in general), the FE2 was better with 250 synch speed (and TTL), even though it is a flimsier camera. In reality we all used a Hasselblad in the studio, but some fashion photographers used 35mm
Those are great points.
All through the 1980s I wanted an F3 but could never afford it so I had a Minolta X370. Then when digital came about I went that way. Well about 4 years ago A distant family member saw my work and showed up one day and had an F3 they gave me, all the years later, I was thrilled to get one finally
Hey that's great. Such a nice camera. They were sure expensive back in the day.
Great video. You made me get an F3T a couple of months ago. Love it! thanks for the input
I'm glad that worked out!!!
The Nikon F3. Forever gorgeous
They sure are nice.
I like the f100, f5 and my fav, the f6. All 3 have accurate matrix metering and auto focus for run and gun. I'm selling the f5 because I don't like the placement of the focus confirmation in the upper R of the viewfinder that makes it hard to find and easy to lose while focusing but for auto focus that doesn't matter. Focus confirmation on the f6 is near the bottom center and is huge. Makes using manual focus lenses a breeze. It also can be set to leave the leader out on rewind so not only is it available to start the roll on a development tank reel before going into the changing bag, I can stop mid roll, note the last frame, rewind, mark it with last frame/iso and change to a different film stock then later re load that roll losing one frame. If they are anywhere near as well built/long lasting as my 2008 d700 or 2006 d200 both work fine they will all probably out live me. For me the F6 is the perfect 35 mm film camera. Like the RB67, it's FUN to use. With a fine grained film and topaz gigapixel, I can easily make 16" prints with it. After that, I go to 645 or 67.
That sounds like some fun kit to be using.
Great video - very good mix of technical, historical and personal insights. Just bought a FM2n but already looking for the next victim. F3 is in my top 3 (Canon F1n / Olympus OM 2). Started on a F301 around 1990.
You talk about changing rolls midfilm - can you please make a quick tutorial for that? I always heard friends talk about it in the 90s but I never had the balls to try it myself.
All the best from Cologne, Germany
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Takes me back to my magazine days. And I could "borrow" it to shoot a weekend wedding! Great summary on a great camera.
Glad you found it interesting.
I sent my F3/T off to Jim Holman for a CLA a few weeks ago. I hope to have it back soon. It's an amazing camera, and the black finish on the F3/T is unlike anything else. I pair mine with a 35mm 1.4 AI-S.
That's a nice combo. I have the same lens.
Please let us know how the CLA turns out. I was thinking about sending Jim a Rollei 35 and FM2N for a CLA.
!!
@@nwmi23 I got my camera back about a month ago. My F3 came back smoother than ever. He did an excellent job.
Thanks for the update.
:-)
Hope you enjoyed it.
Lovely shots Sir! I managed to get two good F3's and over 20 F lenses. I got all the four version of the viewfinders except the Press version. I heard there is also a periscope type one which was made for the army and sells for over 1000$ and i dont have that. Ill make a video quickly showing the same. But Lovely Video !
Glad you found it interesting.
Awesome video with a lot of background information, thanks a lot.
My dad gave me his F3 some years ago, but it had a defect and the local Nikon Service Point just had closed. Recently I bough a mint F3 HP with three Nikkor lenses for less than 350 Euros - I still cannot believe it.
That's a great deal, enjoy using it.
It is not because of the dependency to a battery an electronic camera is not the best the reason it is that if the electronic brakes the camera is dead because the electronics is not serviceable due to lack of spare parts.
They seem to be holding up ok. There's no parts for any of these old cameras anyway. Use it till it dies I say.
I used to take that approach, parts are limited on almost all old cameras, even the mechanical cameras, most parts are sourced from donor cameras and the only thing that they can do on most cameras is clean, lubricate and adjust anyways. Get a good one and use it, it will last a long time and if it don’t, just get another one.
Honestly I dont buy this. If a mechanical part breaks you need to be really lucky to find an replacement of that exact dimension or own an machining shop.
However if electronics fail its seldom the few custom ICs , but more often a leaked capacitor, resistor or any other readily available part. The worst that can happen are broken traces an even those can be repaired with a bit of patience and finesse.
It will take a long time to wear these cameras out.
@@Yuru_Baku absolutely, I used to think that purely mechanical is better, the only camera’s that are mechanical and more likely repairable with new old stock parts is a Leica M body, but there is a reason, they cost a fortune, so depleting parts is slower. I concur, the electronics can be fixed if one can have patience and desolder in new caps and resistors etc. I think the F3 is the best of the mechanical cameras. Mine is minty from 1985 and keeps running and running. Most of us will honestly never run enough film through them to wear them out like they did back in the day.