Broke down and ordered a F6

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StepheKoontz

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I've been shooting for a long time, switched to fully digital and then came back to film for personal stuff. I have a bunch of fun vintage gear in my collection from the 1950's and enjoy using stuff like my Nikon rangefinder gear etc. Love shooting with my Leica M2 as well as an OM-2n.

Recently I bought a F5 for cheap to try using my collection of modern glass I use with my D4. I have some really nice modern f1.4G primes, as well as good zooms with VR and wanted to try using them on film. I have been impressed with the F5, and have found being able to free myself from worrying about exposure, and even focusing, is a liberating shooting experience. I went out this past weekend with my F5 and a 85mm f1.4D and was blown away with the results. There are a few things about the F5 that still feel distracting in use, mainly the poor implementation of displaying the focus point in use, so I pulled the trigger on a "EX" rated F6 from KEH. The idea of a smaller format version of what the F5 can do, with some other improvements, makes me feel this could be something that fits what I want from a user film camera, something that takes care of the things I don't need to be dealing with and can focus on capturing images. I can see using this with a 24-120VR being able to cover almost anything, plus opens up using cool glass like my 58mm f1.4G, 105mm F2 DC etc. Being able to use iTTL flash is also very appealing as I've learned how great/easy that can be to using a flash.

I know this in some ways feels contrary to the whole analog experience of shooting film with a Rolleiflex or even my M2, but I also feel like this could open up the part of shooting that I enjoy when I am shooting digital, but has the soul I get from shooting B&W film in the results.
 

Sirius Glass

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To aid your recovery you now need to buy some lenses that you never considered before such as a Fisheye or PC lens. We will help you invest in more equipment.
 

Alan9940

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I've shot my F2 and F4 for many years and have always been pleased with the results. I've looked lovingly at the F6 several times but haven't made the jump. Good luck with your new baby!
 

bags27

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Enjoy it!

Mainly MF, and for 35mm the Leica M4-P is fun to use, but the creature comforts of the F6 are soooo tempting. And I have some nice old Nikon glass.

Wouldn't it be fun to go birding with a film camera again?
 
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RalphLambrecht

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I've been shooting for a long time, switched to fully digital and then came back to film for personal stuff. I have a bunch of fun vintage gear in my collection from the 1950's and enjoy using stuff like my Nikon rangefinder gear etc. Love shooting with my Leica M2 as well as an OM-2n.

Recently I bought a F5 for cheap to try using my collection of modern glass I use with my D4. I have some really nice modern f1.4G primes, as well as good zooms with VR and wanted to try using them on film. I have been impressed with the F5, and have found being able to free myself from worrying about exposure, and even focusing, is a liberating shooting experience. I went out this past weekend with my F5 and a 85mm f1.4D and was blown away with the results. There are a few things about the F5 that still feel distracting in use, mainly the poor implementation of displaying the focus point in use, so I pulled the trigger on a "EX" rated F6 from KEH. The idea of a smaller format version of what the F5 can do, with some other improvements, makes me feel this could be something that fits what I want from a user film camera, something that takes care of the things I don't need to be dealing with and can focus on capturing images. I can see using this with a 24-120VR being able to cover almost anything, plus opens up using cool glass like my 58mm f1.4G, 105mm F2 DC etc. Being able to use iTTL flash is also very appealing as I've learned how great/easy that can be to using a flash.

I know this in some ways feels contrary to the whole analog experience of shooting film with a Rolleiflex or even my M2, but I also feel like this could open up the part of shooting that I enjoy when I am shooting digital, but has the soul I get from shooting B&W film in the results.

I wish you lots of fun!
 

mshchem

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Nice. I'm sure you won't regret it. I have Nikon DSLR equipment and a couple of nice F5 bodies. F6 autofocus should really help.
 

gone

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I have been impressed with the F5, and have found being able to free myself from worrying about exposure, and even focusing, is a liberating shooting experience.

Same here. It's why I've always preferred an AE camera to a fully manual one. They're quicker to use, and I lose less pics. The concentration is only on what's in the viewfinder.
 

Wallendo

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Let us know how it goes when you receive it.

I have often considered upgrading my F4 to an F6. Sometimes having control over the camera is fun. Sometimes not having to worry about camera settings is fun.
 

Jim Jones

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While in Japan in the late 1950s, I bought a new Nikon F for those photos beyond the capabilities of a Leica M2. The F had several shortcomings which were gradually overcome in later models. As these improvements became available, so did my ability to make do with the old F and Nikkormat. Finally, some advantages (for me) of digital photography lead to the retirement of both the Nikon F and Leica systems after about 50 years. The modest incremental improvements in film cameras over those years were not cost effective for me. Others may very well prefer the convenience of newer equipment with slightly better features. It's such a personal preference that there is never a reason to argue about it, although civil discussion can be quite constructive.
 

pentaxuser

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

pentaxuser
 

etn

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The F6 is definitely a very competent machine. You will enjoy it for sure.
Only negative to me: its size, that's why the F3 or Leica M6 see more use. Or when I really don't mind "big and heavy", I reach for the Hasselblad.
But your post reminds me that I have a half roll sitting in mine, now it's time to finish it :smile: Thank you!
 

Nitroplait

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The F6 is the only single digit F I haven't used or even touched.

It is the pinnacle of technology in film cameras.
I hold the highest respect for Nikon that they went ahead and released it at a time where everybody knew film was a thing of the past for Nikon's primary customer base.
They could probably just have continued with F5/F100/FM3a until the "end" and no one would have blamed them for not introducing a new film flagship camera - yet they did release the F6.

I will probably never buy one as I don't think they will ever fall to a price level I would be comfortable with, but I do hope to try it out one day.

Congratulations with the purchase. I envy you!
 

Huss

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The F6 is definitely a very competent machine. You will enjoy it for sure.
Only negative to me: its size, that's why the F3 or Leica M6 see more use. Or when I really don't mind "big and heavy", I reach for the Hasselblad.
But your post reminds me that I have a half roll sitting in mine, now it's time to finish it :smile: Thank you!

It is kinda big, but really not that big. It seems to be about the same size as an F100 or F80, just much heavier/denser because it is built to an ultimate standard.
What I really like about it is that you can keep it relatively compact by not using the optional battery pack.

It's much smaller than an F3 with motordrive!
 

benjiboy

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I wish you well to use your new F 6, I'm sure it's a fine camera ( I know Nikon don't make crap), but I'm afraid it's too hi-tech for me to get my head round at my age.
 

Huss

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I wish you well to use your new F 6, I'm sure it's a fine camera ( I know Nikon don't make crap), but I'm afraid it's too hi-tech for me to get my head round at my age.

Just drop in a roll of film and it auto loads like a P&S. Leave it set to P and use an AF lens and it is just like using a P&S.
 

benjiboy

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Just drop in a roll of film and it auto loads like a P&S. Leave it set to P and use an AF lens and it is just like using a P&S.

It's a hell of a lot of money for a P& S.
 

etn

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It's much smaller than an F3 with motordrive!
True. But, being a slow shooter, I don't mind winding the F3 (or any camera, for that matter)
Besides, in this age of automation, I take pleasure in mundane manual tasks such as winding film, grinding coffee, putting an LP on the turntable instead of listening to Spotify, writing with a fountain pen instead of dictating to Siri, etc. Maybe I'm just old fashioned 😝
 
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StepheKoontz

StepheKoontz

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I shot 3 rolls of film through this camera since I got it and am just blown away. I still have dozens of great vintage mechanical cameras, like my M2 etc. that are fun to shoot with in their own right, but this is the first film camera that really just gets out of my way, and I feel like it will 100% bring home the shot. Plus it always felt like a waste to not be putting to use some of the amazing f1.4G glass I own, especially the 58mm f1.4G, which is such a special lens. I like it enough where I'm going to send this one to Nikon for a full CLA, and likely will look for a second one as well. It's that good.
 
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