The F3HP is a top professional choice. Durable die-cast, aluminum alloy construction, standard high-eyepoint viewfinder, highly Center-Weighted meteri
The F3HP is a top professional choice. Durable die-cast, aluminum alloy construction, standard high-eyepoint viewfinder, highly Center-Weighted metering, a range of professional features and Nikon system interchangeability make this camera the right solution for demanding environments - and photographers.
To experience the manual focus film journey, you must try this beauty. I must warn
you the fun is not complete until you mount it on the MD4 motor drive and pretend
you are shooting a fashon show: kerr-wiz-clunk, kerr-wiz-clunk, kerr-wiz-clunk.
You can take almost as many photos-per-minute with the F3 as with your wizz-
bang DSLR. If I didn't need to stop for reloading, I could burn $100.00 worth of
film in a very short time.4)
Strengths:
1) Aperature priority automatic exposure.
2) The brightest viewfind I have ever encountered.
3) Attach the motor drive and you're in for a real treat.
4) Easy to interchange screens.
5) A zillion lenses availble for it.
Weaknesses:
Just two:
1) The stupid little screen light button.
2) It needs to be fed film.
Bought this camera after reading the reviews and boy am i impressed! After being used to the modern plastic-fantastic cameras, this is a refreshing experience! I know it's been said so many times but this is a tank of a camera and my first choice when i'm going out to take pictures. Absolute quality!
Strengths:
Build quality, massive selection of lenses to choose from.
Recently, a couple of times I had some minor problems with my F3. Was able to fix them on my own and me and the F3 are back on the photo road, so to speak. When you hold this camera in your hands, you just know you have a quality instrument. Kinda like the F and the F2. I've owned both. Sold my F2 (wished I wouldn't have done that). The F3's semi-automation and the ability to do it manually also is a good combo. Hated to hear Nikon discontinued it. What were they thinking? All of us non-AF people know that everything will come full circle again and we'll be back to where we started. Heck, three piece suits are back!!
Strengths:
Everything!
Weaknesses:
The flash set up. But I don't shoot flash so it doesn't bother me.
This camera is HEAVY. Considering I've used the FE2 for many years, this camera is a step above. The weight seems to dampen the moves/shakes when handheld. Nice, bright, 100% view; ultrasmooth film advance lever. I use this camera for portraits and people shots more than for fine art, especially with the MD-4.
Strengths:
Viewfinder. Ruggedness. Hefty weight. Uses all Nikon lenses (except G and IX).
Weaknesses:
Hefty weight--really makes you feel it during long hikes, especially with MD-4. Weird flash coupling--incompatible with my existing flash.
Well, what can be said that has not already been said here. I have made a few mistakes in my life, getting rid of my Nikon F3HP when I got out of school was one of them. I have used several different cameras since then, but was never as happy shooting than I was with my F3. I have since gotten rid of all the junk, I have found two mint condition F3HP's, one that was still new in the box and several lenses and I am back to loving photography once again. I have turned some beautiful images with my Nikon F3. The best thing about this camera is it makes you think, it makes you take the pictures, not the camera, it makes you the photographer. It does have its weaknesses, as we all probably know, but nothing is perfect. My advise, buy one if you can, they are still available today on the used market, mint they are still a little pricy, but well worth it.
One last thing, find yourself a MD-4 motor drive and just leave it on. The F3 Balances very well with the MD-4 attached.
Strengths:
Built to last
Wide assortment of lenses and accesories
80/20 metering is awesome
Weaknesses:
Flash sync
Viewfinder illumination difficult to use. Other than that...well...you already know how I feel
Similar Products Used:
Nikon 6006...Junk
Minolta Maxuum 7....junk
Nikon FG...great litle camera...but not very strong
All of these are gone now...and I sure don't miss them like I did my F3!
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