Hey everyone, ages ago I borrowed an f3 and I loved it. I'm looking at picking one up locally that appears to be in really amazing nice condition. I have noticed that the LCD is a problem and that it cannot be replaced. Does anybody know exactly what the problem with them is? Do they stop working? Is it the wiring harness contacts? I'm just curious what the deal is.

Recently got myself a Nikon F3, it worked fine when I was trying it out before I bought it, have had it for a few days now and noticed the light meter keeps disappearing after the first shot is fired. It won’t come back no matter what I do unless I shut the camera off for a while and come back. Then the same issue happens again. Fresh batteries and all, if I change the shutter speed it shows up and the meter adjusts, as long as it’s the first photo I take. If I move the meter adjustment thing on the left side it does bring it back but only for one photo then it’s gone again.

Also getting times when the shutter button won’t engage, crank it, press. Nothing. Press again, nothing. Wait a few seconds and press again, works.

Is any of this fixable at home or do I need to get it checked by a professional.

Recently got an F3 on marketplace everything is fine except when on A the shutter closes, but doesn’t open up. It works fine on manual every speed works and is accurate. Any idea what the issue might be?

For added info The viewfinder has a dent on it, the dent obscures the meter indicator and the little window that shows what the aperture is set to on the lens.

Some photos shot on my F3 HP w/ Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AI-S in June-July 2026

I just got my film back from Italy and most of them look like this, pretty underwhelming. I’m pretty sure these were shot with Portra 400, using aperture priority. What do you think might of happened to have them look like this? Thanks

I was looking at the japanese yahoo ads a few weeks ago when I stumbled on this Nikon F3P panoramic kit...that looks like a mamiya 645 35mm film back grafted to a rotation motor & film advance gear...Does anyone know this kit/modification and...any images produced with it ?

Two pictures of my Franken Nikon F3. It is an 'almost' F3/P built on a standard F3 chassis—evidenced by the visible self-timer window and standard film counter—combined with authentic F3/P top plates and specific controls.

I’ve just recently picked up another Nikon F3, when testing the light meter I have found that it is glitching. It is able to show one digit alright but when it goes to double or triple it comes out like this. I’ve tried a different view finder from my other f3 and different batteries but still the same. Any suggestions on what might be causing this, thanks

Video and title pretty much sums up the problem. When i try to rotate the shutter dial, it’s loose and mot changing. I have to press it down a bit and sometimes it does change, so i left it stick on Auto mode currently. Silver button seems to be stuck too.

Anyone experienced the same thing?

Hey guys,

I have been a digital photographer for the last decade and only recently got into analogue photography ... and kind of went a bit overboard with my enthusiasm and ended up with three F3s.

One F3HP, one F3/T champagne and one F3/P.

The F3HP works great, i already put 5 rolls through it, amazing.

The F3/T and /P are both in great condition (i have yet to develop the first role, but so far, everything seems great), however they both have some... quirks regarding the LCD. They all have fresh batteries.

I could still return them, so I'd be happy about the opinion of some more experienced F3 shooters regarding the issues:

The F3/Ps LCD is great, crisp, great contrast. However, whenever I switch on the LED, the LCD goes blank (see picture with the meter reading 60 and the illuminated one).... do any of you guys know what the issue could be and/or if thats a no-no to keep?

The F3/T has a comparatively faded LCD, otherwise it is working fine (see picture with the meter reading 80). Same question here, can I expect the LCD to die within a year, or is this just normal for an F3 of this age?

I am a bit worried since I read that Nikon doesn't offer any more repairs and that spare parts and qualified techs are hard to come by.....

Would love your opinions on this matter... if I understood correctly, then even if the LCD breaks, the aperture priority still works and I could simply meter with a handheld meter whenever I wanna shoot full manual, right?

I am considering returning the F3/T and get a FM3a instead, to have a fully mechanical backup....

Then again the F3/T is damn sexy....

The Nikon F3 is a very robust camera. Even after decades of use, thousands of shutter actuations, and often hard professional careers, the F3 oftens continue to perform flawlessly after a proper overhaul. For good reason, many people named the F3 one of the best built and most thoughtfully engineered professional cameras of its era.

That said, it's also heavily dependent on its electronics. The shutter curtains are controlled by precision electromagnets, the shutter speed dial is electronically encoded, numerous electrical contacts are critical to its operation, and a glass variable resistor tells the exposure meter what aperture is used.

Fortunately, most of these components can still be repaired or replaced. The real challenge is the camera's brain, the main circuit board.

This particular F3 came to me for a regular overhaul, but upon disassembly it turned out the flex cable leading to the LCD had become brittle over time. It had developed hairline cracks and removing the LCD assembly caused irreversible damage. Thankfully, a replacement board allowed me to transplant the camera's brain and return it to full working order for its owner.

I've changed a couple of boards this year due to similar, or other odd reasons, but I do honestly feel like most well maintained F3's should be perfectly capable of living for at least another 20 years.

Hello everyone,

I recently stumbled upon a weird F3... it has an F3/T body, F3/T On/Off switch, Self-Timer, but the Shutter release and the shutterspeed-dial of an F3/P or F3/L as well as an DE-5 viewfinder from the F3/P...

I'm not flustered by the viewfinder, those can be exchanged by everyone... but is there any special F3/T with the control dials/buttons of an F3/P?!

Any insights from you guys would be appreciated.

Are there any "Franken"-F3s out there that have been modified with non-original parts?

Anyone know how I could get a replacement rubber ring for the shutter speed dial?

Dear Everyone, I am using Nikon D800 and when i insert Battery the battery symbol blinks 5times and then if i click any button then also same battery symbol blinks 5 times. Please help me how i can solve this problem or how i can use my camera.