a truth
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
the camera does not matter
Oh, hi!
yeah, last night I bought a camera.
and my yodobashi points halved the price for a brand new lens.
this month is about cheap eatin’
Excellent choice sir, excellent choice.
Comment by mhegge — 4/23/2005 @ 5:41 pm
yes. I wanted something that had Auto Exposure and was rugged as hell, and the F3 gots that. I like my M6 and all but there are times I want to shoot with an SLR. The lens is incredible too.. I have been using a Tokina 28mm 2.8 on my Nikon F2 for a while- for twenty dollars it was worth it- but man, from the moment I put the nikon lens on my F3 I knew I did good.
Manual Focus Nikon bodies have come down in price in Japan- If you ever had a need for a second body, I’d suggest an F2, F3, or an FM2 or FE2…
Comment by john — 4/23/2005 @ 10:46 pm
I’ve been craving an F3 HP for a while now, especially when I happen to be shooting when I wear my glasses.
Was wondering if I should take a cruise around the used shops today for one in fact.
That lens will be my next! Excellent choice.
Comment by Jim — 4/24/2005 @ 10:12 am
I bought mine at Map Camera in Shinjuku. It did not have the motor drive, but was in great condition for being only 63,000 yen. Three years ago I bought an F3P (Press) in rougher condition for 7man yen. A Normal F3HP in good condition will go for about 5man+, brassed ones in the 3.5 to 4 man yen range. For manual lenses I would suggest a Nikon F4, I used to have one, and it is a tank, just like everyone says. Current Nikon F4 prices are amazingly low- I think this is because of all the F5s on the market now, seeing as how all the pros are switching to DSLRs.
Check out Map Camera first– they have a great selection and the nicest staff of any camera store I have been to in Tokyo. The F3P I bought had a special back door on it, which is set up for the motor drive (It has a tab that reaches down to connect with the motor, but without a motor, it cannot sit flat on a table)— The guy who helped me saw that I did not want it in that set up so he went and found a spare normal F3 back door and gave it to me.
Comment by john — 4/24/2005 @ 10:30 am
Maybe one of these days I’ll upgrade to a higher end Nikon, like an F2 or an F3; that is, something worthy my Nikkor-H 28mm.
Comment by mark — 4/25/2005 @ 4:24 pm
Actually Mark, I don’t think it is really possible to upgrade from an FM3a… Buying another camera would merely compliment it, rather than replace it I think. The FM3a is probably the best new SLR on the market now- and to my disgust a camera shop guy in Shinjuku was trying to sell FM-10s to two girls who said they were going to be photo students. I kept wanting to budge in and suggest getting any one of the FEs, FMs or F3s on the shelf to their left than the plastic gold colored turds that he was pushing on them.
Comment by john — 4/25/2005 @ 6:56 pm
John, I currently have an FG so just about any other Nikon (except the EM) would be an upgade. Still, the FG is a small, light camera, and it hasn’t failed me in over 10 years of use. But seeing as how the one outstanding Nikon lens* I have is not AI, a F2 would be just about right.
* non-AI 28mm f/3.5 Nikkor-H Auto; debuted in 1959, so even a Nikon F wouldn’t be out of line for this lens.
Comment by mark — 4/26/2005 @ 10:15 am
Whoops! I thought you were another Mark for some reason..
By the way, I’m glad you signed up on the Japanphoto yahoo group.
Since you have an FA you ought to check out this.
Comment by john — 4/26/2005 @ 12:02 pm
I’ll have to start using a different moniker* for commenting on your website. Thanks for the link; good read.
*or would that be a monikkor?
Comment by mark.a — 4/26/2005 @ 10:53 pm
I’ve had an F3HP since high school. It’s been all over the world with me. Still takes incredible photos with available light. Never had it cleaned or serviced, although it certainly deserves to be.
I will say, however, that for flash photography, it’s better to use something else…
Comment by gen — 4/28/2005 @ 4:26 pm
“I kept wanting to budge in and suggest getting any one of the FEs, FMs or F3s on the shelf to their left than the plastic gold colored turds that he was pushing on them.”
While I agree in principle, Nikon doesn’t service FMs or FEs anymore, so that’s one good reason not to buy one used.
Comment by gen — 4/28/2005 @ 4:28 pm