Buying a Nikon F3
The Nikon F3 is an iconic film SLR first manufactured in the early 1980s continuing production up until 2001, making it one of the longest production runs of any camera. It is heavy, built like a tank, and very reliable. In recent years it has become quite popular on social media amongst film photographers. I felt I should try and find out what all the fuss is about.
In 2024 I hadn’t shot any film in a while so I ended up selling my Nikon F301. I’d used this camera on and off for over ten years but I hadn’t used it for so long and was planning a big move so decided to downsize my camera collection. I sold it for a good price to a Gen Z-er getting into film and that was all good. But, in the end, I wasn’t comfortable not having a film camera to use. Film is too expensive now, and sometimes inconvenient, to use all the time but I still like using it from time to time so I decided to purchase another 35mm camera.
I thought about buying either a FM2/FE2 or F3. I’d previously owned an FE2 and liked the viewfinder & the way the light meter displayed information but the ergonomics was never really to my liking. My FE2 copy also sucked a lot of battery life (it was faulty, this is not normal) which is why I considered a fully mechanical camera like the FM2. In the end I was partially swayed by the many YouTube videos, and blog posts, praising the F3 and the desire to buy something really nice that would last for many years.
I found an F3 that had a late model serial number, probably manufactured in 1999, in near mint condition, and at a pretty good price of about $450 USD. When I received it in the post I could confirm that the Nikon F3 is indeed built like a tank as mine apparently took some mostly cosmetic damage in transit. After I received my F3 and tried to use it I noticed that the shutter speed information was not displaying in the viewfinder as the mirror that relays this information from the LCD was out of alignment. I was assured by the seller that this must have occurred in transit. Long story short, I did manage to fix this problem so no harm done in the end. I also now know how to open, clean, and realign the mirror that displays shutter speed in the Nikon F3HP viewfinder. I'll post about this repair in the future. The cosmetic damage of this hard knock was a slight dent that I didn't even notice at first inspection.
Am I happy with my new Nikon F3? Yes, I think it will be the film SLR that I will keep and use for a long time. First off, it is really heavy. Much heavier than the FE2 or F301. It’s so heavy that it is easy to keep steady when shooting at slow shutter speeds, old school ibis! That's great! Taking this camera in a backpack while hiking or traveling, not so much. I am planning a move soon and am not looking forward to carrying the F3 in my luggage and will only do so on this trip because I am moving long term. I would not routinely take this camera on a trip with me unless it is an airport arrival and straight to hotel kind of trip. On the other hand the F3 is comfortable in the hand and, due to its weight & shape, would feel good with a variety of lenses attached. It would not feel unbalanced with a larger lens or a smaller lens on it.
There are a couple of things consistently mentioned in YouTube and online reviews so I will give my thoughts on them too. The film advance lever on the Nikon F3 is as good as people say it is. It’s not something I thought would matter to me but I am used to the super smooth F3 advance lever now. I should also mention I deliberately bought the F3HP version of this camera. This viewfinder is a big part of why I paid extra for the F3 rather than buying the cheaper FM or Olympus OM1, which I also considered. I don’t wear glasses but I do use my left eye to look through the viewfinder as my right eye is not that great. On my old FE2 and other cameras the advance leaver can end up in your right eye if you’re not careful. I figured if the HP viewfinder gives people with glasses a bit of extra room then it can give me some space too.
When I first used the viewfinder I thought "what’s the big deal"? It’s a little better than other viewfinders but not that much different. However, after putting several rolls through the camera that little difference is actually quite significant. As a left eye user I can say the F3HP viewfinder is the best one I’ve used on an SLR. I can have that little bit of distance between my eye and the finder that means the film advance leaver never gets in the way. So for me it was worth the extra money to buy the F3 over the FM2/FE2/FM alternatives.
After using the camera for several Months there is only one thing that I prefer in my old FE2 & F301. The light meter displays. In both of these cameras you can see immediately how many stops over or under you are. The F3 uses a plus minus meter that tells you when you've got "correct" exposure. For creative reasons and speed I prefer the FE2 meter. If I want the picture to be dark and moody then I can just get to a stop, or two, under on the meter. On the F3 meter I tend to find correct exposure first then go up or down to get the mood & feel I want. If only someone made an F3 with that kind of light meter display in it. This is just something to think about, it’s not the biggest deal for me as if I am doing photo sessions with clients or collaborators I will almost always be using a dedicated light meter.
One thing I was concerned about on an electronic SLR was the battery life. My experience with an FE2 hadn’t been that great in this regard. My FE2 was an old, beat up, and cheap copy for sure. But it was another reason I’d considered a fully mechanical camera and a reason I bought a late serial number F3. I got my F3 in mid 2024 and put two LR44’s in it. Now, in mid 2025, with a moderate amount of use, they are still going strong. So far, so good.
The Nikon F3 lives up to the reputation its earned over the decades. Whether it fully lives up to the social media hype I can’t answer. I'll be using it for shoots in a studio or close to my home when I can justify shooting on film. I won’t take it traveling much due to the weight. I like to pack light and that means small, or lightweight, cameras are coming with me. The Nikon F3 is neither. When I don’t have to carry it in my luggage too far it will be a fantastic camera to use.
