I got my Dad’s Nikon F3 - Can it Live up to the Hype? / First Impressions

In this video, I’m finally shooting my first roll through the Nikon F3 — a camera I got two weeks ago from mIn this video, I’m finally shooting my first roll through the Nikon F3 — a camera I got two weeks ago from my dad, and one of the most legendary 35mm SLRs ever made.

But is the F3 really that special… or is it a little overhyped?

Join me as I share the story behind this camera, load it up for the very first time, and take it out into the world to see what it’s actually like to shoot with it. From the viewfinder experience to the shutter feel and overall usability, this is my honest first-impressions review of the Nikon F3 in 2025.

If you own an F3 (or are thinking about buying one), I hope this video helps you understand why this camera means so much to so many photographers — and why it now means a lot to me too.

Enjoy the journey! 📷❤️


If you would like to see more of my personal work, feel free to check out my website (any of the images can be sold as prints).

https://www.valentinahles.com

Here is a link to my Instagram account:

  / valentins_visuals  

Chapters:

0:00 - 1:37 Introduction
1:38 - 2:32 How I got this camera
2:33 - 3:33 Lenses & Structure of the Video
3:34 - 5:30 Arriving on Location & First Shots
5:31 - 6:43 Quick Rundown of the Specs
6:44 - 7:40 Shooting
7:41 - 11:07 Positive Aspects of the F3
11:08 - 12:10 Shooting
12:11 - 15:05 Negative Aspects of the F3
15:06 - 16:38 Finishing the Roll
16:39 - 18:06 Final Thoughts on the Images & Camera
18:07 - 19:11 Outro


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