Tough, HP finder great for eyeglass wearers, Mirror lock, depth of field preview, good ergonomics. Easily interchangable screens.

Narrow EV, poor flash mounting, noisey mirror slap, don't care for the display of exposure -+, would rather of had a match needle.

I needed this camera! I had gotten lazy with matrix metering, auto focus, auto advance and the other features that made me into a snap shooter. Boy was it cumbersome for the first few rolls of film to get back to becoming a photographer again, along the way I took a few bad photo's. This camera forces think about what you want to accomplish in your work. I bought it initially for macro work and now find myself using it more than my other Nikons. I still prefer the more automated Nikons for action work but for longer than 1/60 exposure times having mirror lock is necessary for the sharpest pictures possible. The metering took a while also to understand since I have been so dependant on matrix metering for the past few years but I have found the accuracy to be right on. I think what I enjoy the most is the view finder. I wear glasses and I can see 100% of the finder without have to roam my face around to see everthing. Having the F3HP compliments my Nikon system and I am comfortable that this camera will be in my camera bag for a long time and I am comfortable that it will last a long time. It has some short comings but there is no "perfect" camera.

Customer Service

None needed yet other than for rebates on lenses which was expedited quite well.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM-1, OM-2, Om-2s, Nikon 6006, N90s, F100.

System versatility!
Construction
Nikkor lenses, obviously
Beautiful Finder
Light w/o drive-
Comfy w/ drive!
Elegant design, both inside/outside

Non-ISO hotshoe.

The Nikon F3 had such a long production run for very good reason. Few "Weaknesses" it has. As for the non-ISO hot shoe- this would make the finders considerably more complex, and if youv'e seen as many dented prisms on F3's as I have, a "Traditional" shoe may be deemed a weakness. More contacts would have to be in place between body/finder, and if youv'e ever seen a circuit flex inside the F3, It only makes logical sense to put the shoe over the rewind knob. As for the Display Illuminator, I haven't run into problems using it, but, if it's that dark, whatever I'm shooting is stationary and exposures bracketed. I'm sure the camera could do without it. On the Plus side, however, It's system of finders, flash, lenses, motor+access. allows adaptation for virtually any application. I honestly cannot think of a more versatile 35mm. No other Nikon, for sure (can you imagine a F4 or 5 on a microscope), and (forgive me) "imitations" such as Canon F-1n or Pentax LX just don't cut it. Someone looking for a good basic MF pro camera couldn't do much better, Especially when you compare the final retail price of the Canon F-1n, Olympus OM-3 and 4, as well as the Pentax LX, and factor that around these (IMO) lesser designs, you wonder why the Canon, Oly, and Pentax made it as long as they did. The Canon is the only one of these that construction-wise may be equal. The F3 is second to none in the construction dept. I can't vouch for the entire nikkor line but the primes(24 thru 180) I use with the F3 are stunning. I was using a Nikon FM2n for awhile and thought I would like the smaller size and simplicity of the camera vs. the F3. Well, when the F3 entered the picture(x-cuse the pun), Immediately apparent was the finder. The quality difference is like night and day. I "hunted" with the FM2, trying to achieve focus, and even without glasses, I had to shuffle my eye around to see it all. However, the F3 focuses so much faster and everything is visible. Literally everything, as it shows 100%, crucial for those Full-Frame B+W shooters like myself. Leasve the Drive at home for excursions, but for moving through film comfortably, The drive is indespensible, esp. with the mk-1 FRC., which adds an ergonomic vertical release, important for portraits. Nicads will net you 5.5 frames/sec with the mirror returning for the next. Remote applications with the mirror up are the only that will see the 6 frames/sec. Normal shooting with alkalines gives you 3.8 FPS, still not bad, but compared to current AF bodies, a little slow. I still don't consider the drive speed to be slow, and I think few applications warrant it. Some wish for a higher sync speed with the used of a vertically-travelling shutter, but the current design is so reliable compared to the shutter problems encountered with the FM-2's up until 1991, almost 10 years into it's run. Plain Unacceptable. Keep that F3 shutter just the way it is, please. I'm glad they finally worked it out in the FM2n, but the F-series is about long-term reliability. Kudos to Nikon for a near perfect camera.

Customer Service

Nikon's Torrance facility leaves a bit to be desired. Watch out for the Re-est!!! Thankfully none of my (3)bodies needed the trip to torrance.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2,FM,FM2n,FE,FE2, Canon EOS1,A2,10s,Elan,A-1,F-1, Pentax MX, SuperProgram, K1000, Olympus OM-1

Built like a tank.
Cracked wallnuts with it once!

Stinkin' LCD readout, who's idea was it?

Bought mine back in 1982, back then it was a lot of money but worth every penny.
Still served me well 'till to this date. I will shoot a lot of films with my other Nikon cameras and will be satisfied with the results. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty serious projects and creativity are involved, I always rely on my trusty F3HP. It never failed me. My customers are always happy with the results. One perfect Nikkor lense that goes well with F3HP is the 105 f2.5 AIS. This lense is a legend. Tack sharp on all aperatures. F3HP a camera for all season. Thanks Nikon.

Customer Service

None needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F5, F4, F2AS, FE2, N90, Canon A1, AE1

Simple to use, but also very flexible. Doesn't have a lot of features/modes to keep track of. Promotes the use of instincts rather than computer programs to produce good photos. Absolutely reliable.

No

My father purchased this camera in 1984 and I inherited it in 1991. It has more miles on it than a 1969 Mercedes and more clicks than a teenager's remote. I don't have any award winners, but it certainly takes pro quality photos with a bit of effort.

Customer Service

Never had the need.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax ME Super, also a good camera.

I use this camera everyday. It is rugged and never has let me down. I have only had to replace the MD4 drive unit. The rangefinder is not only bright but extremely functional and has a wide range of focussing screens available. It is small in size and has all the controls needed for professional use. It is a classic and I hope mine never dies.

The only problem I have had with this camera was with its MD4 drive unit. This was with its battery cartridge that used re-chargeble batteries. I swapped it out for the one that uses AA batteries and have never had a problem.

In the future I will buy a digital camera, but I'll bet I want to be buried with my Nikon F3.

Customer Service

Excelent, total workhorse in all conditions.

Similar Products Used:

I have used newer products, but find them combersome and not as well made, due to their more electrical rather than mech

The F3 is a true workhorse with a sturdy chassis, bright viewfinder, functional controls and a no frills feeling that makes it a great camera. It has all that is needed and nothing more. It is excellent for rough conditions and it only failed me once in ten years, due to extreme cold. Once it was warmed up it worked flawlessly again.

No, apart from a minor problem (see above).

Reliable workhorse. No frills, high quality workmanship.

Customer Service

Have'nt had a chance to try it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N90, Hasselblad

Solid, reliable, no-frills, very ergonomic (without the MD4) good meter, great viewfinder lots and lots of used lenses out there.

None

Excellent professional quality 35mm SLR. I much prefer it to any of the AF cameras out there, whether by Nikon or anyone else. It's the SLR world's answer to the Leica M6 :-) It feels good in the hand, the finder is one of the very best, and it's simple to operate. What more could I ask for? Well, maybe a standard flash shoe...

Customer Service

None required

Similar Products Used:

Nikkormat FTn, Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic, Pentax MX

very dependable camera, takes all kinds of abuse, and I haven't had any breakdowns yet...

no

Highly recommened this camera. To me there is no better camera, with the choices that this body can give to ANY photographer, no matter what level he/she is at.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

I have also used Cannon A-1, AE-1, and Nikon FE, and FM

I LIKE THE F3-HP BECAUSE IT IS WELL BUILT. I HAVE USED NIKON SINCE 1976. MY FIRST WAS A NIKORMAT EL. I STILL USE THIS CAMERA ALSO. THE F3, IF GIVEN REASONABLE CARE WILL LAST MANY YEARS.

NONE

THIS IS A TRUE CLASSIC. IT IS WELL BUILT WORKHORSE INSTRUMENT. I WILL USE THE F3-HP EVERY TIME I USE 35MM. GREAT PRODUCT!!!!

Customer Service

NEVER CALLED

Similar Products Used:

PENTAX, ROLLEI

Solid construction. Just looking at the edge of the rear door.. it stays flushed w/ the metal base. All else are well built. Solid feel. Well fit within my palm.

Shutter release mechanism. After halfway pushing down for metering, it didn't spring back up as it supposes to do. When shooting @ bulb, the shutter stayed opened after releasing finger. Expensive repair. This problem was caused by a faulty retention device.

I happened to experience the shutter release problem. Talked to friends & others @ photo stores, none has this problem. Put this exception aside, I still like my F3HP. My objective evaluation says that this camera is durable, solidly built & reliable when using it in adverse weather. What I don't like is the combination of the F3HP & MD4. They weight hefty. Plus a telephoto, a tripod is a must-have.

Customer Service

That's the only problem that needed repair.

Similar Products Used:

F4, N90s, N70, FM2N, F2AS, FG.