Broke down and ordered a F6

[Huss]

My F6 was originally sold in Japan, so I'm guessing Nikon USA won’t touch it..

That's why I made sure to buy a USA F6 (gold sticker on the menu flap). Nikon not servicing cameras bought elsewhere is complete and 100% BS. What if you lived in another country and then moved to the US? etc.

 

[Huss]

Why not increase the development time?

Why not buy a film that actually is rated correctly? That is far more useful to me. I buy ISO 400 film because that is what I wanted, not ISO 200.
If I had any Foma 400 left I'd accommodate for it. But I'm buying Kentmere 400 at that price point.

 

[Arthurwg]

I really like my Leica IIIf too, and I have a few manual Nikons that also I enjoy. Then there are the cheaper Nikon AF's that I leave in each vehicle. Hard to beat having a camera with you vs. not having one.

Roger

That's like saying it's better to have a gun that you don't need than to need a gun that you don't have.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That's why I made sure to buy a USA F6 (gold sticker on the menu flap). Nikon not servicing cameras bought elsewhere is complete and 100% BS. What if you lived in another country and then moved to the US? etc.

This is a complaint that over the years I have heard about other brands. It has to do with marketing rights, marketing costs, brand names, trademarks, ... However you could probably get it fixed by KEH or Samy's Camera.

 

[Arthurwg]

F6 is probably the best and most complex P&S camera ever made. When I want more involvement I take out my Leica 111F.

 

[JerseyDoug]

This is a complaint that over the years I have heard about other brands. It has to do with marketing rights, marketing costs, brand names, trademarks, ... However you could probably get it fixed by KEH or Samy's Camera.

I remember reading something to the effect that Nikon will no longer supply repair or replacement parts to independent repair shops. And the repair issue only involves the F6 anyway. Nikon USA does not service any other film Nikons.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Since the OP will have multiple F6 cameras, the OP should send each of her other cameras to each of us, since those are obviously by the her admission sub optimal.

 

[Huss]

I remember reading something to the effect that Nikon will no longer supply repair or replacement parts to independent repair shops. And the repair issue only involves the F6 anyway. Nikon USA does not service any other film Nikons.

Yup, and for any Nikon product, not just the F6. The F6 is the only Nikon film camera that Nikon USA still services. So even if you have an FM3A bought in the USA, they will not touch it.

This is where Leica is so good - they service cameras all over the world, from any place it may have been bought from. Whether under warranty or not.

The thing that gets me about Nikon is that even if you are willing to pay their rate for the repair, they still refuse to do so.

 

[Arthurwg]

If I need to repair my F6 it will go back to Japan.

 

[Roger Cole]

Why not buy a film that actually is rated correctly? That is far more useful to me. I buy ISO 400 film because that is what I wanted, not ISO 200.
If I had any Foma 400 left I'd accommodate for it. But I'm buying Kentmere 400 at that price point.

ISO ratings are for very specific conditions and with very specific test criteria that may or may not work for a given person. I rarely shoot any film other than transparency film at "box speed." But then I'm a basic zone system guy for my 4x5 stuff too and most films, even modern ones, will test to a little slower than claimed.

There's nothing magical or even always especially "accurate" about the box speed rating. For practical photography it is, at best, a starting point.

 

[JerseyDoug]

ISO ratings are for very specific conditions and with very specific test criteria that may or may not work for a given person. I rarely shoot any film other than transparency film at "box speed." But then I'm a basic zone system guy for my 4x5 stuff too and most films, even modern ones, will test to a little slower than claimed.

There's nothing magical or even always especially "accurate" about the box speed rating. For practical photography it is, at best, a starting point.

I have always assumed that the film manufacturer would want a customer trying one of their films for the first time to get good, or at least acceptable, results and that I would not go too far wrong by following their exposure and development recommendations for the first few rolls at least.

(Stop bath, fixer and washing are another matter. My personal workflow has been successful for me for many years. If it doesn't work with a particular film that's the end of that film for me.)

Besides which, the differences in ISO being discussed are seldom more than one full stop, which is within the margin of error most metering (Zone System acolytes with proper spot meters excepted .

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

What if you lived in another country and then moved to the US? etc.

If you provide a proof-of-purchase, they will service a product bought in foreign country; I asked about this. In addition to the F6, they also still service the FM-10

 

[Roger Cole]

I have always assumed that the film manufacturer would want a customer trying one of their films for the first time to get good, or at least acceptable, results and that I would not go too far wrong by following their exposure and development recommendations for the first few rolls at least.

(Stop bath, fixer and washing are another matter. My personal workflow has been successful for me for many years. If it doesn't work with a particular film that's the end of that film for me.)

Besides which, the differences in ISO being discussed are seldom more than one full stop, which is within the margin of error most metering (Zone System acolytes with proper spot meters excepted .

ISO is a carefully defined measurement that replaced the old ASA. It isn't just what the manufacturer thinks will produce the best results.

 

[BMbikerider]

I used to own a F6 but was never very happy with the batteries. They seemed to be a bit hit or miss how long they lasted and they were a good make too. The crunch came when I saw that the price of the F6 were fetching now - around £1400for a mint/boxed example which mine was, I sold it privately for exactly that and made a very nice profit of close on £800. I bought it originally 4 years previously, also privately for £600.

I replaced it with a Bronica SQA and a couple of lenses.

I also have a F80 and a F100 with an alternate battery chamber which both take the CR123 batteries and oddly enough the life of these in those cameras is far longer than the F6!

If I could be bothered with the extra weight I would go for an F4 rather than a F5 I just don't need that battery pack.

The more expensive version of the 24/120VR lens is a brilliant optic and that is what I mainly use together with a 20/35 and a 70/300 which I find very underrated, but the 24/120 is a stunner.

 

[Frank53]

In my experience the batteries go a long way. The only thing is they can suddenly, without any warning stop working. So it’s wise, as with any other battery dependent camera, to carry a spare set.

 

[JerseyDoug]

ISO is a carefully defined measurement that replaced the old ASA. It isn't just what the manufacturer thinks will produce the best results.

Carefully defined for what developer? The curves published by the manufacturers show significant differences for different film/developer combinations, including at the toe of the curve where the ASA/ISO values were/are determined. Quoting a film's ISO without reference to a particular developer and process is not very useful.

 

[ic-racer]

ISO is a carefully defined measurement that replaced the old ASA. It isn't just what the manufacturer thinks will produce the best results.

Actually ISO allows the manufacturer to specifiy the conditions that will produce the best results.

ISO speeds provided by film manufacturers generally apply to films when they are processed in accordance iwth their recommendations to produce the photographic characteristics specified for the process. -- ISO 5.4.2 Processing Specifications

 

[Wallendo]

I wish I had never visited this thread. I am now searching eNay looking for an F6.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I wish I had never visited this thread. I am now searching eNay looking for an F6.

"To resist the Force of GAS, impossible is! Yield one must!" Yoda Star Wars LXIV

 

[Roger Cole]

Actually ISO allows the manufacturer to specifiy the conditions that will produce the best results.

Well if it does, they aren't always the same as YOUR best results.

I've yet to find a black and white film that I didn't prefer to shoot at least slightly slower than box speed (leaving aside special developers like, say, Diafine which I used to love with old Tri-X. Modern Tri-X is not the same.) It's not my meters, or me, though it may be partly the way I prefer to meter and largely the way I prefer to print, because my E6 exposures are spot on.

 

[Roger Cole]

Carefully defined for what developer? The curves published by the manufacturers show significant differences for different film/developer combinations, including at the toe of the curve where the ASA/ISO values were/are determined. Quoting a film's ISO without reference to a particular developer and process is not very useful.

I think you made part of my point for me.

Manufacturer's recommendations are, at best, starting points.

 

[Roger Thoms]

What I’m really hoping that the F6 will take my photography to the next level.

Roger

 

[MattKing]

Does anyone else read this thread title and think that it is going to lead to a Country and Western song?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Does anyone else read this thread title and think that it is going to lead to a Country and Western song?

It will be neither type of music, Country or Western, will go anywhere since that song came out "Will you still love me when my body turns to fat?"

 

[albada]

This is one of those thread titles that still makes sense in a different order. Mine would read "Ordered a F6 and now broke"

That would be another Country and Western song.