Nikon F3 35mm Film Camera Overview / Review (Part1)

[@JinLost01]

I just love this camera. just bought mine. with the 3 primes, 28mm,50mm,135mm. I just love it.

[@B3D5X]

JinLost01 that's my same prime lens trifecta too!

[@supernova87a]

Thanks for such a detailed and nicely narrated video! This brings me back to such an appreciation for these cameras that I longed for in my university days, with such precision and fine mechanical construction. It was a marvel of engineering, and there are so many clever designs built in. Modern cameras automate so many things, you forget how many decisions and bits of knowledge you used to have to use to operate such a camera! I guess it also meant that photography was for the relatively few people who cared enough and could remember all the complicated settings that needed to be accounted for. But what amazing control if you knew how to operate it well. It's amazing that they still hold their value and are such pieces of mechanical achievement that people still want to own them even though likely not shooting film any more!

[@superrmrcool]

This is beautiful to see a video of a film camera with its original boxes and the clean film body and lens itself wow. I hope you have more videos on the way with other quality film cameras i would love to see some

[@shaunmoran6511]

Hi Tony , I’ve used Canon since the 70s but received my first Nikon today ,a supposedly unused F3HP from Japan , it certainly seems to be in great nick , but of course the manual is in Japanese which led me to look for user instructions on the net , what a excellent informative channel you have, I’ve been watching your videos all morning , don’t know if you have any videos planned for the future but the vids I’ve watched are excellent , well done .

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Thank you very much for your comments. It makes it all worthwhile!

[@filmic1]

Thanks for covering the SB-16! I just picked up a second hand F3 with this F3 dedicated flash unit.

[@Jensmalm]

Great work. This video was one of the reasons why i decided to buy my F3.

[@Johnston1298]

I picked up this camera at a garage se for 10.00 couldn't pass that deal. It came with a different filter lens, and a longer lens,another digital type camera(old style). All it needed was battery and film, I do nit think they knew what they had. I am glad you made this video. I learned so much and can't wait to start taking pictures!! Thank you

[@Samsung9alaxy]

What a great deal! Enjoy your new camera.

[@fischek]

thanks for the video and I can't believe how well preserved your Nikon F3 is - lucky you :)

[@richardsimms251]

Wonderful presentation

[@gabbigabbi7765]

Great videos and reviews and of course, amazing camera collection. I am looking to purchase the F3 or the FM3A but just can not decide.. I love the idea of having the FM3A as it was the last SLR from Nikon but also love the history of the F3.

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Thanks! They are both amazing cameras and I wouldn't do without one of them in my collection.

[@analogueypx5949]

Very sweet looking F3, and a nice detailed video! Thanks for making these!

[@Michael-qo5yr]

Very nice overview for Nikon F3.

[@chriscaarnold]

Thanks. Concise and informative. Beautiful camera!

[@allmancolin]

I love your videos, they are so useful and informative. You obviously have a lovely collection of Nikon gear in beautiful condition. £200 for your F3 ???? That is a good price - places like Grays are asking £750 for one in that condition so wow ! you did well !

[@FGKaye]

Vivitar made an F3 Flash Coupler that WAS TTL, it had the 4 pins & had 4 contacts in the Hot Shoe.

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Thanks for the info..

[@FGKaye]

CORRECTION: 3 PINS & 3 CONTACTS.

[@colynbarrett8127]

Good evening. I'm much obliged to you. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn

[@christinebilby2335]

I got an almost mint one for just under $300 Aust just like this one without box. It's so beautiful and like new I keep pinching myself that it's mine lol. Got a nice clean lens the same for $250 with box and papers Samsung9alaxy. Bug has bitten bad!!! Addicted much. I sit and turn dials with you on this clip. It's wonderful

[@Samsung9alaxy]

That's really made me smile Christine, I'm so happy for you. It truly is an amazing camera to handle. You can see why it sold for over 20 years! So what's next, a F4?

[@tmcmellon]

Great video, I just bought this flash for my F3 and I had questions.

[@colynbarrett8127]

Good evening. You say..That the frame counter needs to be at 1 for the readout for Shutter speed and aperture readout to be seen in The Viewfinder? I would have thought that, once the camera Frame Counter has passed the number 1 Booth shutter speed and aperture readout would be visible in the Viewfinder? R.S.V.P. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn

[@Samsung9alaxy]

The LCD only shows the shutter speed. Aperture is shown through a window reflecting the light off the lens aperture ring. The correct shutter speed for the exposure is shown from frame 1 onwards.

[@QuesoSlushy]

Great review. What an elegant piece of equipment! I'll be purchasing one soon.

[@mauriceapollo8688]

you all prolly dont give a shit but does someone know a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow lost the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me

[@aaronvalentino2629]

@Maurice Apollo instablaster ;)

[@mauriceapollo8688]

@Aaron Valentino i really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm in the hacking process atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@mauriceapollo8688]

@Aaron Valentino It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much you really help me out !

[@aaronvalentino2629]

@Maurice Apollo you are welcome :D

[@kmreddy-du2lb]

Great Review. My Nikon f3 reads two stops over as compared with the external light metre.I don't know how to fix it . Do u think all the Nikon f3 is like that? Any suggestions would be very helpful.

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Most F3's have quite accurate meters. Remember it reads a large portion of the light in the central area of the viewfinder, whereas a external meter usually measures the whole scene!

[@kmreddy-du2lb]

@@Samsung9alaxy I have compared this Nikon F3 with my Pentax k1000 earlier & also With external light metre.

[@ElReySupr3me]

I own a nikon f3, but I still find myself watching videos about it 🤣

[@colynbarrett8127]

Good evening. Do you have to have A Roll of Film in The Camera for the Correct plus and minus readout to actually work. Showing the correct correlation of Apature and Shutter combination? Would appreciate Your advice. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn. R.S.V.P

[@Samsung9alaxy]

The frame counter needs to be at position 1 before the LCD shows the correct shutter speed. This restriction was removed for the F3P.

[@colynbarrett8127]

Good evening. Many thanks for your Kind message. Very helpful information. Great Camera as are all your videos. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn.

[@milandragojlovich5500]

Great job explaining; thanks

[@AzizAlghamdi]

very very helpful, thank you for your kindness.

[@malvinacarabas5768]

Outstanding video. Thank you .

[@phuphotography749]

can someone help me? I'm new to film and the f3 but i managed to insert a film roll, the left side turns and i got it to 1 on the shutter count but since i pushed the left circle down, it does not rotate when i wind the lever anymore, am i still able to take shots or am i doing it wrong? sorry I'm still very new to film.

[@Samsung9alaxy]

The rewind lever on the left should turn every time you wind on the film. If it doesn't, the film isn't being taken up on the spool correctly and you won't be able to capture any images! Rewind the crank half a turn, then open the back and reload the film.

[@phuphotography749]

+Samsung9alaxy thank u very much for the quick reply and help. Much appreciated

[@MrDecember162008]

I have the same flash, I use a Nikon EM 35mm

[@geradebowden1463]

I enjoy all your camera videos, are you a collector only ,or do you actively use them too?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

gerade bowden I am a collector and user! Most of my photography is with the Df and a Sony RX100 compact, but I try to use the film cameras on a rota having recently had 5 rolls developed!

[@geradebowden1463]

Glad to hear that, would be too bad if they just sat on a shelf looking pretty.

[@kevykev555]

where can we see your photos taken with the F3? =)

[@Samsung9alaxy]

sensitivethug2001 I post some occasionally on the F3 Users Facebook Group, but otherwise I keep them private.

[@OmarMashedy]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@72Disco1998]

Great video

[@WarrenRoddy]

Why did Nikon ship the 50mm f1.4ais, which began in the summer of '81, with the prong(rabbit ears) when the Nikon F3 began production in 1980? They provide no function with an F3, correct?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Warren Roddy Correct! But Nikon were clever enough to include backward compatability with their F & F2 cameras (with suitable finder); hence, more sales!

[@momentarylapses5784]

Hey man where did you get such a fresh edition of this camera? Anywhere I should look to get a clean one too?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

It was off EBay!

[@Shad0wmoses]

Being able to access to focus screen seems really easy on this camera. Is this a common thing for that time?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

The F3 was Nikon's flagship professional camera. Because of its varied users it allowed quick changing of the focusing screen to suit different applications. None of the compact range had this facility.

[@zarrow50]

+Samsung9alaxy You could also change the viewfinder as well

[@jeremiasdrumond7457]

Actually the lever on the front manually fires the shutter at a speed of 1/80 sec.

[@angelisone]

Well done on the review.

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Thanks!

[@angelisone]

+Samsung9alaxy Today you have many doing reviews on new cameras that they really don't know about them. Real photographers don't need to change or upgrade camera body every 2 to 4 years. They home in their skills with what they have. Again, many reviews are just struggling that can't get good jobs because beginners & post-beginners are doing them almost for nothing. If you give this camera or a Hasselblad to today shooters, they will be lost.

[@bingo19871]

Thanks very nice 👍

[@eladbari]

How do you meter with a Non-Ai lens on this camera? I tried mounting a Non-Ai lens on my Nikon FE (which has a similar retractable pin on the mount) and while using Aperture Priority mode- the shutter speed doesnt adjust itself as i change aperture. So, do you Have to shoot fully manual when using Non-Ai lenses, then?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

To meter using non-AI lenses on Nikon cameras with a retractable pin, you have to hold in the depth of field button whilst doing the metering and until you take the shot. The disadvantage of this is that the viewfinder display will be dark when using small aperture settings.

[@eladbari]

@@Samsung9alaxy Wow! Seriously? This is the 'official' Nikon directions of how to use Non Ai lenses on those bodies? I'll tell you why I'm surprised. Since I remember I saw in one of the youtube videos here [maybe even yours?] that you should be careful not to snap an image while you hold that "DOF button' as it may damage the camera. Something could get stuck. I'm not even sure what. I just strongly remember that tip. What do you think?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

I don't know of any problem resulting from using this method. I have posted the question on the F3 Facebook Group. I'll get back to you with the results!

[@eladbari]

@@Samsung9alaxy Sounds great! I'm sure you're right. Just that by chance I've bumped into that contradicting claim, so thank you for that double check :]

[@Samsung9alaxy]

@@eladbari Nobody on the F3 Facebook Group know of any problems using that method. In fact it is detailed in the official Nikon F3 manual!

[@nathannicolle8461]

great video! where could I get a hold of one is mint condition with the original box and everything?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Ebay is a good source!

[@zarrow50]

+Samsung9alaxy Grays of Westminster, London

[@zarrow50]

+Nathan Nicolle Greys of Westminister

[@sonomama82]

OK so you just answered my question about mounting my old lens but I was wondering does that mean that you can't use the aperture priority mode with an older lens?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

To meter correctly in aperture priority mode with a pre-AI lens, you have to hold in the depth of field preview button all the time. This might not be preferable as the viewfinder display will be darker at minimum apertures.

[@sonomama82]

Samsung9alaxy thanks for the reply. Looks like I am ditching my old 1.4 for a 1.8. it may be a little smaller but it will be way easier to use.

[@lauranitz8805]

Gostaria de saber onde encontro essa câmera para comprar! Ficaria imensamente grata! :)

[@sonomama82]

I have a nikkor-s auto 1.4 50mm but the aperture ring won't move when I mount it on the F3. The aperture ring does move when I mount it onto other cameras. I have no idea what is going on.

[@zarrow50]

How many mega pixels is it?

[@catey62]

+Clive Ellis Being a film camera it doesnt have any megapixels at all...it just takes pictures on a roll of 35mm wide film...hope that helps.

[@metingokbulut837]

Bendeki NİKON 1971808 NE ANLAMA GELIYOR

[@jesamani75]

It is beautiful my god.

[@alibaba1870]

Hi Thank yo for the review, I was wondering if I could us F3hp finder on my F3 model?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

Yes!

[@GUDIEL19]

...price?

[@Samsung9alaxy]

This F3 cost me about £200, but it's in mint condition with original box, manual and packaging.

[@justnoted2995]

Lots of fiddling.. and of course, all the bells and whistles lol