Nikon F3 HP
The Nikon F3 HP is a professional 35mm SLR introduced in the early 1980s as the high-eyepoint variant of the F3, featuring the DE-3 prism with extended eye relief for easier viewing with glasses. It was Nikon's flagship mechanical-era professional body, positioned above the FM/FE amateur line and used widely by press and studio photographers through the 1980s and 1990s.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for Nikon F3 HP bodies have typically fallen between £160 and £630, with a median around £320 based on the last two years of saleroom results. Clean, cosmetically strong examples with working meters and unscratched prisms sit at the upper end, while bodies with cosmetic wear or uncertain electronics trade toward the lower end of the range.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
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| Jul 2025 | £230 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 121) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera, serial no 1458037, shutter working, meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G-VG, tiny ding to L/H |
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| May 2025 | £475 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 30) Title: A Nikon F3 High-Eyepoint 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1908906, body VG-E, meter responds to light, shutter working, with cap, paperwork and maker's packaging. |
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| Apr 2025 | £475 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 161) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
1983-, black, serial no. 1510597, with Nikon Ais Nikkor f/1.4 50mm lens, black, serial no. 5381771, body, VG-E, shutter working, lens, VG-E, some |
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| Jan 2025 | £214 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 109) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera Serial No: 1542707 Body: G/VG Shutter: working Lens: Nikon 135mm f/2.8 Series E Optics: G - light internal dust |
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| Nov 2024 | £625 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 157) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
1984, black, serial no. 1668510, with Nikon Ais Nikkor f/1.4 50mm lens, black, serial no. 5230854, body, VG-E, shutter working, lens, VG, some |
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| Oct 2024 | £600 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 167) Title: A Nikon F3 HP Limited SLR Camera Body
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP Limited SLR Camera Body, black, serial no L 9513292, in excellent unused condition, untested, with body cap, base plate cover, boxed |
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| Apr 2024 | £160 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 159) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera Body
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera Body, serial number, 1789012, shutter working, meter/finder responsive, self timer working, camera responsive in auto, body |
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| Apr 2024 | £250 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 162) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera, serial no 1482915, shutter working, meter responsive, camera responsive in auto setting, self timer working, body G, with |
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| Feb 2024 | £500 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 58) Title: A Black Nikon F3 HP 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
1980-2001, serial no.1862121, with a Nikkor f/2 28mm AI lens, serial no.545964, shutter working when batteries inserted, body G, lens G, also a |
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| Apr 2023 | £360 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 214) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera, serial no 1610356, shutter working, HP finder working, self-timer working, body G-VG, with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 A-IS lens, |
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| Apr 2023 | £300 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 215) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera, serial no 1991795, shutter working, HP finder working, self-timer working, body G-VG, with Zoom Nikkor 37-70mm f/3.3-4.5 AI- |
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| Mar 2023 | £162 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 77) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR 35mm Camera Body
Description:
black, serial no. 1478966, body, VG, shutter not tested |
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| Oct 2022 | £250 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 165) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 1558945, with Nikon Zoom-Nikkor f/3.3-4.5 35-70mm lens, black, serial no. 2269608, shutter working on mechanical speed, otherwise |
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| Jan 2021 | £248 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 220) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 1712282, with Nikon Series E f/1.8 50mm lens, serial no. 3046907 body, G, small dents to mirror housing, shutter not tested but (Qty: 1) |
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| Apr 2019 | £348 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 295) Title: A Nikon F3 HP SLR Body
Description:
1983-, black, serial no. 1908906, body, VG-E, shutter not tested, with paperwork, in maker's box |
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| May 2013 | EUR 32,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_14894) Title: Nikon F3 HP 'NASA' Set
Description:
very rare original NASA camera with many special features, produced for Space shuttle Challenger and Columbia missions, the camera has special motor drive with connection to the intervalometer, counter to 72 frames, typical NASA inventory numbers and stickers, battery pack 'S/N 1022', flat 'finder' engraved with NASA numbers 'P/N SED33101585-008 S/N 1013' (camera was on STS-28, Space Shuttle Columbia Mission on August 8th 1989) and on STS-50 (Space Shuttle Columbia Mission on June 25th 1992), with the very first and very rare black anodised Nikkor-S Auto 1.2/55mm no.800001 with NASA numbers 'P/N SEB33100009-301 S/N 1001' with matching rear and front cap, rear cap marked inside 'P/N SED33101579-003 S/N 1001' (in total only 18 of these lenses were produced for the NASA), Nikon Intervalometer MT-2 with NASA numbers 'P/N SED33102500-302 S/N 5001' with matching cable, NASA inventory stickers and flight records (used on STS 46, Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission on July 31st, 1992), STS-56 (Space Shuttle Discovery Mission on April 8th, 1993), STS-51 (Space Shuttle Discovery Mission on September 12th, 1993), STS-73 (Space Shuttle Columbia Mission on October 20th, 1995) and on STS-76 (Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission on March 22nd 1996), HP finder with NASA numbers 'P/N SED 33101585-007 S/N 1028', data back with NASA numbers 'P/N SED33101588-302 S/N 1013' with inventory stickers, cable release with inventory sticker NASA numbers 'P/N SED3102473-301 S/N 5001' and flight records (flew on STS 46 Space Shuttle Atlantis Mission on July 31st,1992), STS-56 (Space Shuttle Discovery Mission on April 8th,1993), STS-51 (Space Shuttle Discovery Mission on September 12th,1993), STS-73 (Space Shuttle Columbia Mission on October 20th,1995), STS-72 (Space Shuttle Endeavour Mission on January 11th,1996), STS-83 (Space Shuttle Columbia Mission on April 4th,1997) and STS-89 (Space Shuttle Endeavour Mission on January 23rd,1998) Estimate: EUR 20,000 - EUR 25,000 |
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| Dec 2010 | EUR 40,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 18 (Lot AI_18_11891) Title: Nikon F3 HP NASA Set
Description:
very rare original NASA camera with many special features, produced for Space shuttle Challenger and Columbia missions, the camera has special motor drive, counter to 72 frames, NASA inventory numbers and stickers, battery pack S/N 1038, data back SED33101588-303 S/N 1015, sports finder engraved with NASA numbers P/N SED33101574-301 S/N 1003, hand-engraved no.201713, HP finder with NASA numbers P/N SED 33101585-007 S/N 1040, cable release with inventory sticker, with very rare black anodised Nikkor-S Auto 1.2/55mm no.800009 with NASA numbers P/N SEB33100009-301 S/N 1009 with matching cap (in total only 18 of these lenses were produced for NASA) Estimate: EUR 7,000 - EUR 8,000 |
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| May 2010 | EUR 2,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 17 (Lot AI_17_11440) Title: Nikon F3 HP 'U.S.NAVY'
Description:
very rare body in good working condition, 'U.S. NAVY' engraved on rear of top plate Estimate: EUR 2,500 - EUR 3,000 |
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| Jun 2007 | £180 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Leica, Nikon, 35mm & Other Photographic Equipment (Lot 29) Title: Nikon F3HP no. 1811511
Description:
Nikon F3HP no. 1811511 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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