The Nikon F3 was Nikon’s third professional single-lens reflex camera body, introduced in 1980; it had manual and semi-automatic exposure control whereby the camera would select the correct shutter speed (aperture priority automation). The Nikon F3 series cameras had the most model variations of any Nikon F camera. It was also the first of numerous Nikon F-series cameras to be styled by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, and to include the now infamous “Red Stripe” on the handgrip.

Initially, the F3 was introduced with the DE-2 eye-level finder but was soon followed by the popular F3HP, or High Point camera, with the DE-3 High Eyepoint prism/finder. The major advantage of this finder was that the entire viewfinder image could be seen from a distance of 2.5 cm from the viewfinder. This made the F3 more usable by those who wore glasses when shooting. The only down-side to this was a smaller image through the viewfinder compared to the standard prism. With the exception of the “P” spec camera, all viewfinders are completely interchangeable. The F3 and F3HP unfortunately retained the somewhat awkward flash mount on the rewind dial.

A significantly more durable, robust titanium version of the F3HP was also offered, called the “F3/T”, initially in a more natural titanium finish or ‘champagne’ coloring, and later in a less conspicuous black. It weighs 20 grams less than the comparable F3. The champagne offering was introduced in 1982 and was quickly discontinued around 1985, making it the rarer (and costlier on the used market) of the two titanium models.

F3H, a high speed camera, was introduced for action and sports photography. It featured a fixed pellicle semi-transparent mirror, allowing the camera and MD-4H motor drive to achieve up to 13 frames per second. Production was short, official reports from Nikon claiming only around 100 such cameras made, while F3 collectors claim that number could be as high as 500.

Next to be introduced was the F3P. Built primarily for use by photojournalists (“P”ress), the F3P included additional weathersealing, O-ring gaskets, the MF-6 Auto Film-Stop Back, Type-B Matte focusing screen, a modified Titanium DE-5 pentaprism with ISO-type accessory shoe and no eyepiece blind, rubber-covered waterproof shutter release with a modified lockout, a round frame counter window with white numerals, and an extended shutter speed operating knob for easier operation in cold or wet environments. The F3P lacked a film door release lock, self-timer and multiple-exposure lever. A variant of the F3P called the ‘F3 Limited’ was also sold just in Japan, starting in 1993. The Limited has a fixed B screen, and eliminated several less used features of the regular F3, configured similarly to the F3P.

Finally there was the rarely seen ‘F3AF’, a model which included an autofocus pentaprism finder, the DX-1, capable of autofocusing with two special AF Nikkor lenses; the AF-80mm f/2.8 Nikkor and the AF-200mm f/3.5 Nikkor.

Nikon was too slow in introducing their various AF Nikkor lenses and the TC-16A served as an interim measure to bridge the vacuum and enable certain Nikon AF cameras to use the enormous range of Manual Focus Nikkor lenses for autofocus applications.

The Nikon F3 was the last in the Nikon series of manual-focus, professional level 35mm SLR cameras. Its production cycle is generally accepted to be from 1980 to 2000, close to a record for a high-volume professional camera. The F3 was also the last F-Series camera to be offered without an integrated motor drive, making the camera smaller overall than its successors in the F- series. The lasting appeal of the F3 remains the same as it was at its inception – a precision tool for those who prefer a less complex, extremely well-made camera for continual use in extreme environments.

The optional motor drive for the F3, known as the MD-4 contained either 8 AA batteries or a special NiCd battery pack that would be recharged. Its performance surpassed that of past Nikon models, with a capability of 4 frames per second with uninterrupted reflex viewing, or 6 frame/s with the reflex mirror locked up. The integral seamless design of the MD-4 motor drive made it an extremely popular option for many F3 users.