I picked up a Nikon F3 after owning the Leica M6 as I’d watched way too many YouTube videos about this being a really great film camera. There’s hundreds or even thousands of Nikon F3’s out there so they’re not hard to find, you can pick them up on eBay for as low as HKD$500 (body only). For a good one, like new, you’ll have to fork out a bit more, around HKD$4000-$5000 for body and 50mm lens. I got the Nikon F3 HP version. HP stands for High Point, basically that means the view finder is better to look through for people who have glasses. I got it from Japan Camera Hunter because I basically just wanted to try him out and give him some business but you can get them anywhere and there’s hundreds in Hong Kong at pretty much any film camera shop.
Yes, the Nikon F3 is a beautiful thing, Giorgetto Giugiaro – (Wiki Link) who designed it is a famous car designer and has designed cars for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Lexus, Maserati, Porsche and loads of others. I’ve only taken this on two trips with me, one to Brisbane and the other to Rusutsu (Japan) in the snow. Both of these holidays I had an awesome time with both the camera and the actual holiday and I shot about 30 rolls of film. I’ve rarely taken it out other than that, other than a few day trips in Hong Kong.
The problem with the Nikon F3 is the size. It’s a huge, heavy beast, it’s built like one too, if I ever got challenged to a camera fight, they’d be no better weapon of choice than a Nikon F3. You could do some serious damage with this thing. If you come from the worlds of DSLR’s it’s probably not a big deal and you won’t find the size or weight an issue, but if you’re used to Mirrorless or anything smaller, than the Nikon F3 is going to seem rather big and clunky.
The shutter noise is thunderous compared to a Leica and this is not at all a stealth camera. I wish I could use it more but when you have a Leica MP it’s pretty hard to reach for anything else. Perhaps when I get sick of the Leica MP, I might use it more.
I’ve got a 50mm on it, which is perhaps another reason I rarely use it. 50mm manual focus lenses are not at all difficult to use, except when your subject is a 4 year old who runs around like his pants are on fire. Zone focusing is more difficult, but the ease with which you can shoot kids on a 35mm or wider lens, makes it difficult to use anything else. If you don’t have kids, or rather don’t shoot kids most of the time, the 50mm is fine. Perhaps I’ll get a cheap 35mm for the Nikon F3 and see if I like it any better.
Overall, for the amount of times I use it, I should probably sell the Nikon F3, but it looks so..regal sitting in my camera dehumidifying cabinet that I just can’t get myself to get rid of it. For what I could get for it, it’s also not really worth it. The photos I got with it from the two holidays were, now that I come to think of it, some of my favourites, but again, it’s just such a heavy bastard that it’s not that enjoyable having it around your neck for the whole day, which is generally what happens on holidays.
If you’re thinking about getting yourself a Nikon F3, go for it, it’s cheap, takes awesome photos and if you liked Chips, Knight Rider, The Thunderbirds, 99 LuftBalloons, Footloose or anything similar, you’re going to love this camera because it’ll make you feel like you’re back in the 80’s.
See more film cameras here.
