I'm wondering if the nikon f3 hp,with nikker micro 55m 1:2.8 lens, nikon speedlight sb16, is a good camera to learn photography with. I have an opertunity to buy a used one. The camera looks good. Please advise me about how much it is worth in canadian dollars?

-- rory panton (bpanton@sd69.bc.ca), October 02, 1998

Answers

Rory, I'm a happy F3 user and I do think that it's a good camera to learn with. The flash system is a little archaic by todays standards and the 1/80 sec synch speed can be a bit of a problem. But it's a very reliable camera with all the features you could need.

I don't know much about the Canadian used photo market, but... assuming that $1.00US is worth $1.50CAN I'd guess that anyhere from $750-$1000CAN would be reasonable. Less is the camera appears abused, and more if it looks like it's never been used. If your buy from an individual and not a dealer and take at least 20-30% off the price.

BTW, an excellent source for f3 info is at: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3/f3.htm . Also, feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. --Jeff

-- Geoffrey S. Kane (grendel@pgh.nauticom.net), October 04, 1998.

Rory, I also have a Nikon F3HP and very happy with it. It has a very solid reputation as an almost indestructible camera, and many people swear it
fs the best Manual Focus body Nikon has ever produced. However, be warned. There are some places that Nikon could have done better. The slow flash synchronized speed, as Geoffrey pointed out, is one of them. Also, TTL flash operation is only possible with SB- 16A and smaller SB-17A; the funny shape hot shoe prevent the use of standard ISO shoe without an adapter. Thus, no TTL is possible with other flash unit produced by Nikon.

In addition to that, the TTL flash operation sucks. A cheap Olympus Stylus, that my girlfriend owns, takes better picture in fill-flash mode than my F3. I was very disappointed to find that out, but that
fs the fact. I feel that F3 tends to overexpose the subject with the flash, especially in low light condition, I get a nearly washed out subject
fs face and very dark background. In these conditions, I should probably be using the manual mode in stead of TTL, but I
fm too lazy to think about it; I
fd rather take my F90x and SB-28 set at slow-synchronized mode in those situations.

Aside from these limitations, Nikon F3 is a truly pro-grade reliable camera. I can
ft say enough good things about it, but I can say it
fs pleasure to use one. I just don
ft use a flash with it lately.

By the way, if you want to learn more of the photography through your camera, you should use manual exposure mode: not the auto setting. The exposure meter on F3 is accurate enough to give you full control over the picture you are taking. Happy shootings ;-) !!

-- H. Shigematsu (pooh02@earthlink.net), October 09, 1998.