F6

[k.hendrik]

Today a new (>34700)F6 arrived at my doorstep. Got myself a deal with "N" to try it for a week; not satisfied for any reason ? send it back & I got my money back. Do have a AF Nikkor 80-200 2.8D/MF 85-1.4/MF Nikkor 50-1.8/MF Planar 50-1.4. Some suggestions for a wide angle AF or MF and/or test shoots?
In 2006 got a D200 and this fricking F6 feels/handles so familiar!
BTW; in 1980 bought a FM and still use it so I'm curious what camera I choose in 2050

 

[benjiboy]

I think the F 6 will be Nikon's last pro film camera, I can't see them ever producing an F 7.

 

[perkeleellinen]

I wonder what an F7 would be like.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Try a Nikkor 24MM f2.8 manual focus.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Not nearly enough film usage now to warrant the R&D, design work, etc. for an F7...but -- pretty intriguing question!

Given most pros use digital now, wouldn't the ideal new film camera just be a solidly built manual body? Not much more you can do than the metering, build quality, etc. of an F6 or F100...or the MP.

 

[chip j]

I need a well-built n2000 w/F6 metering wide-open w/manual lenses.

 

[M Carter]

The 28mm 2.8 AIS (not the AI) isn't super-wide, but it's a legendary hunk of glass.

 

[film_man]

For a wide angle I'd highly recommend the 17-35/2.8 AFS. That is a spectacular lens.

 

[macfred]

… Some suggestions for a wide angle AF or MF and/or test shoots?

The 28mm 2.8 AIS (not the AI) isn't super-wide, but it's a legendary hunk of glass.

+1 !

Try a Nikkor 24MM f2.8 manual focus.

The 24mm f2.8 AI-S and (a little wider) the 20mm f/4 AI were almost always in Galen Rowell's camera bag.
I really like the 24mm f/2.8 on my FM.
I bought a Voigtländer Color Scopar 20mm f/3.5 for Nikon a few years ago - I wasn't satisfied, so I am still lusting for the 20mm f/4 AI.

 

[Michael Raso]

Rick Paul gives an overview of the Nikon F6 - http://youtu.be/4y1Q3ucFa78

 

[k.hendrik]

send it back.........
and I'm not sure I did the right thing; I'm not the 35 man I use to be. Maybe RZ67/sl66se spoil you in a way? but will miss that lovely F6brick.....

 

[pentaxuser]

Just out of curiosity on my part but what in a period of a week was wrong with the F6 that made you send it back?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[k.hendrik]

Just out of curiosity on my part but what in a period of a week was wrong with the F6 that made you send it back?

Thanks

pentaxuser

difficult to explain in English; i'm comparing with RZ & Sl66se. Different/slower way of looking/composing in the viewer, i'm not making a lot of photo's in a row of 36 anymore. I think 12 or 10 are more then enough for me. I like my big negsize. and that nagging Q. what can I buy for 1700 euro's in MF ?! maybe a downpayment for a YELLOW blad? or T/S adapter RZ67 or....
But I never held a finer camera in my hands ergonomic wise; it fitted like a glove & so well balanced even with my heavy VR 70-200. and I love the story of two Japanese gentleman doing nothing else than making 40 or so F6 in a month/year?
It wasn't easy to send her back but i'm not made of money!

greetings

 

[pentaxuser]

k.hendrik. Thanks for the reply

pentaxuser

 

[mweintraub]

I've been drooling for an F6 for a while. With the prices going, I started looking more seriously. About a month ago I was on a mission to find an inexpensive F6 to upgrade from a F5 and F80s (and maybe selling the digital). I started looking and still drooling... but then I realized that I'm not a huge fan of 35mm. I have good glass and good bodies that I don't already shot. "Would that change with an F6?" I asked myself. Hm. I remembered that I don't oogle over 35mm shots that I couldn't replicate... but did drool over Pentax 6x7 shots. After some looking, I was able to get a body and two lenses for half of the F6. I'm happy about this purchase. I know what k.hendrik means.

 

[mweintraub]

HA. I was looking for another thread, but found this one again. I guess it's time to update my post.

A friend and I had a table at a camera show selling our gear and the table next to us had a mint (older) F6. I instantly drooled over it because I've never seen on in person. He wanted $700. WTH! I was on a mission to sell everything I brought, but instead $0 was made that day. For 2-3 weeks, I sold stuff like mad and finally got enough cash for the F6. I finally met up with him and it was mine. This thing was mint. He's a collector that sometimes shoots. This body very much looked like it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Enjoy!!

 

[MartinCrabtree]

So will you be keeping it?

 

[mweintraub]

So will you be keeping it?

Oh yes. This is my last AF 35mm body, and probably my last manual 35mm body purchase. I've got my kit set.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

An interview about the philosophy and design of the F6:

http://www.nikonf6.net/resources/the-value-of-unique-pictures/

 

[blockend]

The F6 is a camera for completists. It represents 2004 technology. Who'd want a 2004 digital camera in 2015? To me the F6 is a 2004 digital camera with a film back.

If Nikon were serious about film photography, they'd introduce an F6s based on current technology and have an on-going policy of firmware updates for AF, metering, etc, that offered the camera continued innovation. £1800 is far too much money for a 12 year old camera. Professional SLR film cameras always represented the future when they were introduced, the cutting edge of technology for the next 5 to 10 years. The F6 lacks that confidence in the face of an emergent medium, IMO.

 

[cuthbert]

Meet the newest and greatest in the Nikon line, the F7N.

That's a nice camera, but I prefer the Nikon F7NA:

They made it also compatible with some Soviet lenses!

More seriously, Nikon already made a digital camera that looked suspiciously alike a FM, so I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar...for the F6 to be honest I don't like it at all all, I consider the Eos 1V a more interesting camera and I'm still sorry that they discontinued the FM3a.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The F6 is a camera for completists. It represents 2004 technology. Who'd want a 2004 digital camera in 2015? To me the F6 is a 2004 digital camera with a film back.

If Nikon were serious about film photography, they'd introduce an F6s based on current technology and have an on-going policy of firmware updates for AF, metering, etc, that offered the camera continued innovation. £1800 is far too much money for a 12 year old camera. Professional SLR film cameras always represented the future when they were introduced, the cutting edge of technology for the next 5 to 10 years. The F6 lacks that confidence in the face of an emergent medium, IMO.

Nikon does not need to do that. The F-6 is advanced enough and besides there is still the F-100.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The F6 is a camera for completists. It represents 2004 technology. Who'd want a 2004 digital camera in 2015? To me the F6 is a 2004 digital camera with a film back.

Yes, that's what it feels like.

The F5 and F6 were Nikon's first steps in abandoning dedicated control knobs and switches, instead choosing to use generic selector dials to control functions shown in a display.

That doesn't appeal to me (although I like my D700), so I consider the F4 and FM3a to be the last great film Nikons.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Stop that.