Nikon F3 Series 35mm Film SLR Cameras, Classic Collectibles

Nikon F3 came with many more functions, surpassing the F2 series. It was designed with a higher-precision exposure control, and the TTL metering through viewfinder was replaced by the TTL through-body metering.

The reflex mirror was a newly developed "pinhole mirror" which contained about 50,000 pinholes (20 um x 30 um (micrometer) elliptical non-deposit section) on the mirror surface to form the translucent central part.

Nikon abandoned the earlier mechanically-operated shutter of the F2 for a modern, electronically-controlled, horizontally-traveled metal curtain design. The new shutter proved to be equally reliable and less maintenance-intensive overall, though the decision to retain the horizontal-travel design significantly limited its top flash sync speed (1/80 sec.) compared to later Nikons, some of which used the Copal shutter. In contrast to the manually-operated F2, the F3's electronic shutter required battery power to operate, although the camera included a small backup mechanical release lever that tripped the shutter at 1/60 sec.

The use of TTL through-body metering system, including with using the dedicated Speedlight SB-12, enables the F3 to be used with up to 4 types of viewfinders (5 types when the High-Eyepoint finder DE-3 was included) and up to 20 types of focusing screens without the need for exposure compensation even after changing viewfinders or focusing screens.

Type Electronically controlled 35 mm single-reflex lens focal-plane shutter camera
Exposure control A (aperture-priority automatic) and Manual
Focusing screen Split micro design (K type), interchangeable with B / E types
Metering system TTL center-weighted full-aperture metering,
Metering range EV1 to 18 with ASA/ISO 100 film
Film speed setting ASA/ISO 12 to 4,000
Exposure compensation range +2 to -2EV
Exposure lock (AE lock) Available with self-timer lever
Shutter Automatic: 8 to 1/1,000 sec. (step-less), Manual: B and M90 (1/90 sec.), 8 to 1/1,000 sec. (16 steps), For B and M90, mechanical shutter speed selection
Flash sync X setting only, built-in ready-light for use with the optional Speedlight unit synchronized at 1/125 sec. or less
Dimensions & Weight (Approx.) 142x89.5x57.5 mm; 590 g (body alone)

Initially, the F3 model with the DE-2 eye-level finder was introduced, soon followed by the popular F3HP, or High Point camera, with the DE-3 High Eyepoint prism/finder. The major advantage of this finder was that the entire viewfinder image could be seen from a distance of 2.5cm from the viewfinder. This made the F3 more usable by those who wear glasses when shooting, or were forced to shoot in high glare situations while wearing sunglasses. The only down-side to this was a smaller image through the viewfinder compared to the standard prism. With the exception of the "P" spec camera - all viewfinders are completely interchangeable. The F3 and F3HP unfortunately retained the somewhat awkward flash mount on the rewind dial, which (with flash mounted) obstructed that area of the camera.

A luxurious titanium version of the F3HP was also offered, initially in "Champagne" coloring, and later in Black. The "Champagne" offering was introduced in 1982 and discontinued around 1985, making it the rarer (and costlier used) of the two Titanium models.

The F3H, a high speed camera, was introduced for action and sports photography. It featured a fixed pellicule semi-transparent mirror, allowing the camera and MD-4H motor drive to achieve up to 13 frames per second. Production was short, official reports from Nikon claiming only around 100 such cameras made, while F3 collectors claim that number could be as high as 500.

Next to be introduced was the F3P. Built primarily for use by photojournalists, the F3P included additional weathersealing, O-ring gaskets, the MF-6 Auto Film-Stop Back, Type-B Matte focusing screen, a modified Titanium DE-5 pentaprism with ISO-type accessory shoe and no eyepiece blind, rubber-covered waterproof shutter release with a modified lockout, a round frame counter window with white numerals, and an extended shutter speed operating knob for easier operation in cold or wet environments. The F3P lacked a film door release lock, self-timer and multiple-exposure lever. A variant of the F3P called the F3 Limited was also sold in Japan.

Finally there was the rarely seen F3AF, an experimental hybrid model which included an autofocus (AF) pentaprism finder capable of autofocusing with two special AF Nikkor lenses -- the first of their kind, which included focus motors in the lens bodies. Bulky, clumsy, and slow to focus, like most early autofocus SLRs, the F3AF did not sell well.