Cuz my wife let me!

[spacer]

I was giving some advice to a fellow customer, at a large used bookstore (2nd & Charles), about a camera he'd been eyeballing, when I saw something else... I quickly smiled and handed the guy over to the clerk who'd just arrived to look at a Nikon under the glass. I've been mostly a Canon shooter since the '90s, but don't have a real sense of brand loyalty. It's just what I'm used to.
But... this was an apparently unused F5 for just over three bills, so I snatched it up.


I took her home, checked her out inside/out... every bit as clean. No apparent wear on the hotshoe or grip material. Woot!
This can go either of two ways: If someone has a nice EOS 1v they're willing to swap, I'd gladly do so... or I'll just find a decent walking-around lens for the Nikon and use it for a while. Always good to be familiar with different systems, even if you already have a primary one.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Keep it and get a lens from KEH or B&H.

Jeff

 

[spacer]

That's probably what'll happen. This is one big, beefy beast. But then.... I am a big beefy beast myself. So I think we'll get along just fine.

 

[trythis]

I would sell that and get a medium format rig after shooting a couple rolls first.

 

[Les Sarile]

It is likely similar in size and weight to a 1V with the motor drive installed?

 

[spacer]

I think they're comparable. Between 'em, I'd probably rather have the 1v as most of my glass is Canon anyway, but this is a weighty, well built beast.
...and I couldn't pass up the deal.

 

[bdial]

It is a slippery slope you are on
I have a few of those can't pass it up deals.
Have fun with it!

 

[snapguy]

Dark, deep

If you were in -- say -- darkest, deepest New Jersey and you ran across a dinosaur, would you not take it home as a pet? Those things are scarce and consider what you buddies would think.

 

[Ap507b]

Have a look at the Nikkor 28-105 AFD as a walk around lens. I use one most with my F5 & have been very happy with it. 50mm F1.8 AFD is another one to think about.

 

[spacer]

That's funny. I'd kinda assumed I'd grab a 50/1.8, and was just doing a google search on the 28-105.

 

[gone]

Another vote for the 28 105 lens. Very sharp, and a handy focal range. A wee bit slow, and there's some barrel distortion at 28mm, but you can buy them quite cheaply these days. If you just need one walk around lens for grab and go shots, this should be near the top of the list.

My wife is always telling me "Why shouldn't you get what you want"? Man, those are dangerous words to a photographer! These days, I go w/ getting what I need, as an old sage once suggested.

Or, for something cheap, there's always this, and you get a free camera thrown in. Sorta.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281433534104?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

 

[spacer]

Yeah, cheap is good... but quality cheap

Not looking to change systems, so just want an all-purpose lens that works well and doesn't cost too much.
One thing that caught me by surprise was the fast-firing mode. WHOOOOOOOO! That'd blast through a roll of film in no time.

 

[Ap507b]

7.2 fps on alkalines & 8 fps on the NiCad IIRC.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

7.2 fps on alkalines & 8 fps on the NiCad IIRC.

That is fast!

Jeff

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I've used the CH mode one time on my F5 just to see how fast it is. Dayum!!!! You cannot let go of the shutter fast enough. By the time I realized and let go it ran through 6 frames. Here's 5 of 'em.

 

[spacer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwv82GIrHOg

"video" taken with an F5.

 

[aRolleiBrujo]

The Nikkor 85mm 1.4 AIS is a very nice lens ; )

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwv82GIrHOg

"video" taken with an F5.

Wow! Didn't even see a long roll film back when it went to that mirror shot.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I'm guessing every scene break was for a fresh roll.

 

[Fixcinater]

I don't see how that was 300 rolls of film, unless they binned a bunch of scenes.

Sweet commercial, and much better image quality than this thing:

 

[zeta3]

At 25fps for video playback, a roll of film lasts 1.5s and for the 30s video, assuming they cut the first few frames on each roll at the start for continuity, 300 is about right. Maybe they could have saved 20 rolls though

 

[spacer]

Well, with a little more looking around, my "deal" wasn't what I'd call killer. Pretty much what they're selling for on the Bay, except that I got to handle it before putting the green on the counter.
That's ok, though. A good camera is a good camera, and within its own context (film photography) it's still a killer deal. If they made this thing new... what would it cost? Over three grand? More?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

take it back!getting it for that price smaystill be considered theft.I recommend a 50mmf/1.8 or 2 for it's an old cheapAIS lens of ecellent performance .all the best

 

[spacer]

Ordering the 28-105 this week. Maybe it'll be here in time for our trip to NM.

 

[John Bragg]

Enjoy the F5. I had the good fortune to get one for cheap last year and it is most definitely not for sale. I am gradually building a set of lenses for it. Get the 50mm f1.8 AFD, you will not regret it. One of the sharpest lenses and fast enough for most things.