NIKON F3HP 35mm SLR Camera ***** SUPERB++ ***** F3

Nikon F3HP 

Introduced in 1980 the Nikon F3 was destined to replace the worlds most important 35mm SLR, the Nikon F2. Quickly establishing itself as the professionals choice the F3 remained at the top of the pack for the next 8 years until the advent of the auto-focusing F4. The F3 is coveted as the last and most advanced of the professional manual focus Nikon SLRs. This body is fitted with the highly desirable DE-3 (HP) prism that allows full field view with up to a 25mm eye relief distance.

Serial Number: 1812619 

The body cap, eye ring and PC sync cap is included

One of the most coveted of the classic, collectable SLRs, F3HP in great condition have always been hard to find, it becomes more difficult each year. This one has had very light use, is working perfectly in every regard and is in SUPERB+++ conditon.

Specifics of this camera: (scale of 1-10)

Optical --10   All glass is perfect-crystal clear. No haze, no scratches, no fungus, no marks, no spots, no dust. NO anomalies of any kind. The mirror, viewfinder and focusing screen are pristine. 

Mechanical --10   All mechanical parts work perfectly, the bayonet mount is as new, the shutter is perfect, the self-timer and mirror lockup work fine, so does the flash sync. Light seals and mirror foam are fresh. The lightmeter is right on against a Gossen Luna Pro. There are no loose or missing parts. ALL mechanical functions and controls work just as they should. 

Cosmetic --8+   NO dents, dings or scratches. Brassing is very minor, just a spot at the rear corner by the film advance lever and a little on the edge of the eyering. Any use marks are small and subtle mostly consisting of a light tripod mark on the baseplate. The satin black enamel finish is in great condition and retains its original lustre. The white lettering is bright and crisp. This is a very nice looking F3HP. 

 All in all a superb example of this 25 year old classic. They do not make them like this anymore and perhaps never again will.

Many more classic Nikon auctions> other items!

The pictures are of the actual camera you are bidding on.

CAMERA BUYERS TIP #1: Older cameras (such as this one) have many potential issues. A partial list of the most common defects would include: deteriorating light seals and/or mirror foam, internal dirt or dust on the prism or focusing screen, sluggish mirror return, inaccurate shutter speeds, dead or inaccurate light meter, shorted electronics, stripped film advance gears. The charges to fix ANY of these problems usually starts at about $75.00 and escalates upwards from there (and that is just the labor). If parts are required most often the camera cannot be repaired as parts have not been available for a decade. Its a wonderful thing that these cameras were made so well that if handled properly they will last another generation or more. It is important to you that when you buy a used camera you have an inspection period and the total right of return. If not you may get lucky and get a camera with no issues (in my experience that would be VERY lucky) more likely you will have a servicing bill that is equal to or more than the cost of the camera. 

See my complete buying guide here: http://reviews.ebay.com/Film-Camera-Buyers-Guide_W0QQugidZ10000000000732862