nikon f3 HP : date of birth?
ni...@my-dejanews.com
I would like to know the age of my used F3HP. How do I do it? Would its
production number tell us about its age? The number is 16xxx94.
Thanks.
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Agostino Maiello
>Hi,
>I would like to know the age of my used F3HP. How do I do it? Would its
>production number tell us about its age? The number is 16xxx94.
The F3 was released in 1980. Don't know more, sorry...
Alexandra Mackenzie
The 16xxxx models were 2-5 years into the production run. Earliest
serial #s I have seen are 13xxxx. BTW, I had a 16xxxx F-3 and Nikon
repaired it (many times) and on the last repair they gave me a new right
back plate with a new serial #!! so now I have a 19xxxx f3. Hmmt!
Alexandra Mackenzie
Alexandra Mackenzie
My old F-3 is super strong and reliable, I had it in twice (in 8 years)
for routine cleaning and one time for flash sync and one more time on
warranty on that repair. BTW I was at least the 3rd owner, possibly the
4th owner and it was my primary camera for 5 years at a newspaper,
150-200 feet of Tmax 400 a month with a motor, so overall it has been a
sturdy camera. Still have it, although I no longer motor it. If I use
motor I use my F-3P, it is faster than any other F-3 motor. Hmmt!
gofigure. Aloha
ni...@my-dejanews.com
Alexandra Mackenzie <lex...@lava.net> wrote:
> Agostino Maiello wrote:
> >
> > On Tue, 01 Dec 1998 23:34:00 GMT, ni...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> >
> > >Hi,
> > >I would like to know the age of my used F3HP. How do I do it? Would its
> > >production number tell us about its age? The number is 16xxx94.
> >
> > The F3 was released in 1980. Don't know more, sorry...
>
> serial #s I have seen are 13xxxx. BTW,
2-5 years into the production run? Since the F3HP was released in 1982 and
2-5 years of production run would mean 1984-1987.So my F3HP is actually 14-11
years old right? But it still looks quite new..Hmm..Was US$690(body only) a
good bargain?
>I had a 16xxxx F-3 and Nikon
> repaired it (many times) and on the last repair they gave me a new right
> back plate with a new serial #!! so now I have a 19xxxx f3. Hmmt!
Many times? I thought the F3 was suppose to be a very reliable camera. I
wonder what was the problem( so I could look out for in the
future.....)Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my post and thanks for
replying. Happy shooting with F3!! Yeah!
Starman937
Lowest # i've seen was 121xxx in 1980 and bought in japan. I had a 187xxx
purschased in late '84 so I guess about '83 0n yours.
EDGY01
Ibought my F3 new on 24 May 82 with serial number 1425XXX. (withhout HP
finder)
ni...@my-dejanews.com
Thanks for all the data points. Now I have an idea about the age of my used
Nikon. 15 years is a long time.I wonder how many rolls of film has gone
through it. I read some where in this discussion group that Nikon cameras
(including F series) are designed for 50000 pictures before service. May I
know how to check the shutter/curtains for service? Is there any indications
to look for? Hmmm....check the picture produced?..compare with another
camera?..I wonder how.
Tony and Arlene Sanchez
Hi:
I had my F3HP for 14 years (1982-1996) and I had only about 40 rolls
through it! That's about 1400 shots. The F3's shutter should be able
to take about 150,000 shots - according to something I had read.
- Tony
Neuman-Ruether
>In article <19981205052118...@ng98.aol.com>,
> starm...@aol.com (Starman937) wrote:
>> Call nikon if you give them the ser# they can give you the appoximate date.
>> Lowest # i've seen was 121xxx in 1980 and bought in japan. I had a 187xxx
>> purschased in late '84 so I guess about '83 0n yours.
>Thanks for all the data points. Now I have an idea about the age of my used
>Nikon. 15 years is a long time.I wonder how many rolls of film has gone
>through it. I read some where in this discussion group that Nikon cameras
>(including F series) are designed for 50000 pictures before service. May I
>know how to check the shutter/curtains for service? Is there any indications
>to look for? Hmmm....check the picture produced?..compare with another
>camera?..I wonder how.
If F3 yours works well, don't worry about it...! ;-)
If you're into worrying, check three things:
- exposure evenness at 1/2000th speed (with lens stopped
down at least three stops, and with an even-toned
subject shot twice, with the camera in opposite
orientations) - uneven left-to-right exposure (same
orientation for both exposures) indicates need to have
shutter curtains retimed - but this does not indicate
amount of usage
- exposure evenness (lack of shutter cut-off of the image)
of a flash exposure at 1/80th (related to above...)
- evident wear on pressure plate and where the cartridge
strikes painted surfaces - invisible wear probably
indicates less than 50 rolls used; VERY slight
parallel-lining on pressure plate when viewed with
light reflected from it probably indicates less than
100-150 rolls of film used; heavy wear on the pressure
plate (blacking thin) and paint worn off in cartridge
chamber may make one question buying the camera, but if
it is cheap, functions well, and the advance mechanism
feels OK, it will probably still give good service...
All the Nikon F-series pro-grade bodies are designed to LAST,
and they just become good "users" when they get old, ugly,
and/or well-used...;-) (There are a LOT of the original
Nikon F bodies still in use, and they can date back to
the late 1950's...)
David Ruether
rue...@fcinet.com
rp...@cornell.edu
http://www.fcinet.com/ruether
ni...@my-dejanews.com
rue...@fcinet.com wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for the valuable tips. But I don't understand the first method.
What does it mean by "camera in opposite orientations" ? Photograph a subject
from Left to right and vice versa? And what is the best even tone subject?
People ? Grey card? I am sorry for asking so many questions. I am just a
struggling amateur. By the way, I will try the third method. By looking at the
film cartridge chamber and pressure plate. Hmm..why didn't I think of this
earlier.And perhaps to study the habit of the previous user by looking at the
lens mount(wheter he/she changed lenses a lot)Sounds promising! Thanks a lot!!
Happy shooting guys...oppss..wait for me.:-)
Neuman-Ruether
[....]
>Thanks for the valuable tips. But I don't understand the first method.
>What does it mean by "camera in opposite orientations" ? Photograph a subject
>from Left to right and vice versa?
Or with the camera held vertically, first one way, then the other...
Most objects are not evemnly illuminated even if they are themselves
even in tone, so it is easy to be fooled.
>And what is the best even tone subject?
>People ? Grey card? I am sorry for asking so many questions. I am just a
>struggling amateur.
Open sky is good... (and it is bright enough to shoot 3 stops+ down
at 1/2000th with the right film [some under exposure is OK]).
>By the way, I will try the third method. By looking at the
>film cartridge chamber and pressure plate. Hmm..why didn't I think of this
>earlier.And perhaps to study the habit of the previous user by looking at the
>lens mount(wheter he/she changed lenses a lot)Sounds promising! Thanks a lot!!
>Happy shooting guys...oppss..wait for me.:-)
If the pressure plate is original, it tells a lot
about the amount of use...;-) It is a $5 part to replace, though,
so I check the cartridge area too. BTW, heavy use will often
produce paint wear areas along the flat area between the
bright machined film-guide rails. But even with obvious heavy
use, an F3 can still be a good buy...