Lens for a Nikon F3

[User_2019667]

I recently acquired a great used Nikon F3 and I am wodering what kind of

lenses I should get for it. Do I need to use manual focus or can I also use AF

lenses? I would appreciate your advise.

Thank you

John Pender

[ShunCheung]

You can use manual-focus AI or AI-S type lenses as well as AF lenses except for the recent G type that has no aperture ring. With G lenses, you have no way to control the aperture on the F3 and will be stuck at that lens' minimum aperture. Pre-AI (1977) lenses need to be modified to AI before they can be mounted onto the F3.

 

Some AF lenses might not give you a good feel for manual focusing, though.

[neil_parker]

Minor correction to shun's answer; pre-AI lenses can be mounted and used on the F3 (w/

stop-down metering) by flipping up the follower tab on the lens mount.

[ShunCheung]

Neil, you are correct. I never had an F3, but even my F4 has a follower tab that can be flipped up. The F5 doesn't come with that feature any more but it can be modified to add that feature.

[gary_watson]

I'd be tempted to stick with AI-AIS or NAI primes, the faster the better. I like the 35/2, 50/1.4, or old 85/1.8. These are very affordable now and work nicely with the F3's big bright finder. Budget for an MD-4, too.

[kevin jordan]

You can use any lens Nikon ever made for the F system. AI and AIs and AF

with the aperture rings work the best. No AI lenses will work, but you need to pull up the meter coupling lever. The newer all electronic lens (the ones without the aperture ring) can only be used at full aperture. Any old non AI lens can be converted by John White for about $35.00.

Good Shooting Kevin

[richam]

My all time F3 favorite is the micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 lens. This lens has excellent

balance with the F3 and a focusing ring that is located further forward than other lenses.

It falls nicely and naturally in the hand when you are holding the camera. I much prefer

this one to my 50mm/f1.4, which needs a thumb and single finger "pincer" grip with

extended "pinkie" to operate the focus. And the continuous macro capability down to 25

cm is a nice feature. My other two favorites are the 105mm/f2.5 (a great portrait lens),

and the 28mm/f3.5 for wide angle use. Any of these AI lenses can be found at reasonable

prices. I tried but don't like the zoom lenses, e.g. the Nikon 43-86. Not a very wide zoom

range, but moreover, just another adjustment to make before taking the photo. Enjoy

your F3, a really superb machine.

[davebecker]

John,

If you are interested, I have several Nikon ais MF lenses posted in the PN Classified section. They include: 24mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 35mm f/1.4, 25-50mm f/4, 80-200mm f/4 and 400mm f/3.5 with chip.

Enjoy using the F3.

[User_2019667]

Thanks to all who responded. This will be a great help in looking for lenses. That's what I love about this site, lots of help from people who know and are willing to share. Thanks again.

John P.

ps.Dave I will check out your lenses in the classified section.

[walterh]

Dave I hope you are not giving up on Nikon (Nice portfolio by the way). Those lenses are a nice collection - who would part from these unless to change the system.

[ben conover]

Hi John, I also have an F3 on it's way, great bargain for a great camera. I think the only thinkg it might lack is a meter like the Pentax LX, goes down to -6ev. I think the F3 is better built than the pentax though, from what I've heard. Perhaps I'll end up using it too!

 

www.naturfotograf.com for Bjorn Rorslett's compilation of best of best nikkors

 

ais 28/2.0, ais 28/2.8, ais 35/1.4, AF 85/1.4, 105/2 DC, ais 200/2.0 are among the very best.

 

Cheers.

[david_h._hartman]

John,<br>

<br>

You will probably find AIS & AI Nikkors and better Series-E

Nikon lenses the best choice. Some AF-D Nikkors are quite

comfortable on the F3 and should not be over looked. If you own

AF Nikon SLR(s) and DSLR(s) you may want to mix and match auto

and manual focus lenses. Some AF Nikkors have a very short throw

(degrees of rotation) on the focus control and are not well

suited to manual focus. These should be avoided. Note that the F3

has no means for setting the lens aperture though the body so G

type Nikkors need not apply. With the use of stop down metering

and or a hand held light meter you can use many fine pre-AI

Nikkors.<br>

<br>

Best,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[ky2]

Leave the AF, the really good ones are too expensive.

 

Here's a fantastic set to start with:

 

28/2.8 AIS

50/1.8 AIS

105/2.5 AI/AIS

 

Shop around, and get all three under $250.

[lee hamiel]

Similar to Yaron's suggestions:

 

28 f/2 - 50 f/1.8 & 105 f/2.5 + maybe a 180 f/2.8 - all either AI or AIS as you're learning the system so to speak.

 

Have fun - I have owned at least three or four F3's & they are a great film camera.

[shawn_rahman]

Yaron,

 

Great choice of lenses - who would ever need anything more? I have all three of these, but prefer the 2.0 version of the 50. I like the 1.8, but the 2.0 is a tad sharper, IMHO. And the best thing - mine was MINT and cost $40 :-)

 

John: Congrats on the F3HP; you will love it. I haven't used my AF bodies since I picked up my F3HP up a few months ago. The F3HP is just a pleasure to hold and use. Goud luck.

[Robert_Lai]

John,<p>The F3 is unique in being the only SLR that can meter properly with a shift lens. Try the 28mm f/4 PC or 28mm f/3.5 PC if you're into architecture. In the past, 35mm shift Nikkors were also made. There's also a 85mm Micro PC Nikkor with shift and tilt. All other SLRs require you to meter with the lens unshifted, then shift. The F3 will meter properly whether the lens is shifted or not.<p>Ben,<p>don't underrate the F3's low light ability. Nikon's published meter specs are notoriously conservative. The F3 has phenomenal low light ability. Check Lex's portfolio for some of the photos that he's shot in the dark. On auto, the F3 can time over an hour when exposing in the dark. It does eat up batteries while doing this however. The exposure compensation dial works too. For example, if the metered exposure is 30 minutes, +1 EV will give you a 60 minute exposure.

[bradfarlow]

"The F3 is unique in being the only SLR that can meter properly with a shift lens."

 

All cameras that can meter with Ai lens, can meter with the 28mm & 35mm Ai shift lens. You just have to meter before you do any shifting. I will agree that it is more convenient on the F3, since you can meter in the shifted position. It certainly eliminates one step. :)

[ben conover]

Robert, I think for such a long exposure it's very good.

[david_h._hartman]

<em>Leave the AF, the really good ones are too expensive.

--Yaron Kidron<br>

</em><br>

I have a strong preference for manual focus Nikkors on the F3 but

the 35~70/2.8D AF and 80~200/2.8D ED AF Nikkors are reasonably

price and perform better than similar manual focus lenses.<br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman<br>

<br>

---<br>

<br>

John,<br>

<br>

The lenses Ill recommend are the 20/2.8 AIS, 20/3.5 AIS or

AI, 24/2.8 AIS or AI, 28/2.0 AIS or AI, 28/2.8 AIS but not AI, 35/1.4

AIS, 35/2.0 AIS or AI, 50/1.8 AIS (early) or AI, 55/2.8 AIS

Micro, 85/1.4 AIS, 85/1.8 H.C AI(ed), 105/2.5 AIS or AI, 105/2.8

AIS Micro, 105/4.0 AIS or AI Micro, 135/2.8 AIS or AI and 180/2.8

ED AIS. There are more but this should get you started. ;)<br>

<br>

I generally prefer AIS Nikkors for lenses longer than 50mm as

they are generally smoother and faster to focus. The throw on the

focus ring of AI Nikkors is longer and this results in a distance

scale with more graduations and a more useful DOF scale. I

generally prefer AI Nikkors for lenses that are shorter than 50mm

as Im more likely to use the distance and DOF scales on

these. AI Nikkor lenses often sell at a lower price than the AIS

version. <br>

<br>

For zoom lenses I recommend the two above as well as the 25~50/4.0

AIS and 75~150/3.5 Series-E. <br>

<br>

For candid photos of people the 28/2.0, 50/1.8, 105/2.5 and 180/2.8

ED are my favorites. Ive never owned the 35/1.4 AIS or 28/2.8

AIS so Im going on the recommendation of better Nikkor lens

reviewers. Here is a link to the best site Ive found for

subjective Nikkor lens reviews...<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com" target="_new"><u>http://www.naturfotograf.com</u></a>

<br>

<br>

Im not associated in any way to the above but where I have

done my own testing I find a very high rate of agreement and Ive

been very pleased with lenses Ive bought based Bjorns

reviews. The 28/2.0 AIS, 55/3.5 Nikkor-P Auto (compensating

aperture), 105/4.0 AI and 400/5.6 ED AI are some examples. I

almost sold my 20/3.5 AIS Nikkor after buying a 20/2.8 AIS but

kept both after reading Bjorns reviews.<br>

<br>

When you want to travel light I find a waist pack designed to

hold three lenses allows changing lenses even when walking. The

secret is having front and rear lens caps for all lenses. You

take one lens off and store it then take the next lens out and

install it on the camera. This works for a total of three lenses.

You can change lenses with just two hands ;)<br>

<br>

Best,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[davebecker]

Walter,

No, just selling off some of my MF lenses I'm not using very much and saving for a very expensive piece of glass. I do plan to stay with Nikon. Most of my photography these days is digital and some film with a F100 and AF glass. I am keeping a couple of ais MF lenses that have had the 'chip' added such as a 50-300mm. Thanks for the nice compliment.

Best regards,

Dave