Ok, well I found an "open box" F6, and the shop cut me a deal, so I paid roughly what the grey market ones go for. But still, it was on roll 0. And now it has a 3 year warranty with Nikon!
My impressions? Well it's exceeding my expectations. Personally I thought the old D2H AF system would show it's rear in ways my D750s AF doesn't. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it is. I also though the AF spread would be constricting, considering it was designed for crop. Not so, the spread is great! The rule of 3rds points are pretty much right where I want them. That old 5 point system in my F100 feels antiquated. It's faster than the F100 for sure. Faster than the F5? Idk, I don't have one on hand. Personally I think the F5 is a non starter due to it's size. I'll take the better accuracy and point spread over raw speed anyways.
Am I wrong that the screen shows nearly F2 depth of field? I'd swear that it does. It's a fabulous finder. I installed a DK-17M and I can still see out to the edges. I have 4 rolls to pick up tonight (Provia, Velvia, and 400H), and if the focus system is as good as I think, I'll probably go back to the standard finder for the slightly better eye relief.
We have all these absurdly sharp lenses now. I'm using the Sigma 24/1.4, 35/1.4, and Nikon 58mm 1.4G. These three lenses are my basic wedding kit. I can't wait to see chromes from these lenses, particularly the 58mm. AND, given the data imprint system, if the 58mm is giving me trouble at 1.4 focus-wise, I'll know from the frame instead of trying to remember.
I also put the metering system through it's paces. I was up in MA last weekend and boy did we have some snow. On Saturday we went out snowshoeing, and I brought the F6, 58 and 24mm lenses. I did some auto bracketing (auto bracketing is WONDERFUL for chromes, after coming from an M4 here) so I'll be able to see the cameras pick, and then hopefully a salvageable exposure on either end if it got it wrong.
My goal is to integrate the F6 into more of my wedding work. 645 has really been the staple film wedding format for the last few years, and for pretty good reasons. But with 220 gone, Contax 645 prices through the roof, it's a harder sell for me. I always prefered 6x6 and 6x7 for MF medium format anyways. I personally think the Nikkor 58/1.4G is a good stand in for the Contax 80/2. Both were made to prioritize wide open rendering and 3D subjects (i.e. real people). If I can get 36 exposures, fast loading, AF that works, and decent detail from Portra films in 35mm I think it will be a great replacement for 220. Just have to test-test-test.
The F6 is amazing! Do Nikon a favor and get one.
My impressions? Well it's exceeding my expectations. Personally I thought the old D2H AF system would show it's rear in ways my D750s AF doesn't. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it is. I also though the AF spread would be constricting, considering it was designed for crop. Not so, the spread is great! The rule of 3rds points are pretty much right where I want them. That old 5 point system in my F100 feels antiquated. It's faster than the F100 for sure. Faster than the F5? Idk, I don't have one on hand. Personally I think the F5 is a non starter due to it's size. I'll take the better accuracy and point spread over raw speed anyways.
Am I wrong that the screen shows nearly F2 depth of field? I'd swear that it does. It's a fabulous finder. I installed a DK-17M and I can still see out to the edges. I have 4 rolls to pick up tonight (Provia, Velvia, and 400H), and if the focus system is as good as I think, I'll probably go back to the standard finder for the slightly better eye relief.
We have all these absurdly sharp lenses now. I'm using the Sigma 24/1.4, 35/1.4, and Nikon 58mm 1.4G. These three lenses are my basic wedding kit. I can't wait to see chromes from these lenses, particularly the 58mm. AND, given the data imprint system, if the 58mm is giving me trouble at 1.4 focus-wise, I'll know from the frame instead of trying to remember.
I also put the metering system through it's paces. I was up in MA last weekend and boy did we have some snow. On Saturday we went out snowshoeing, and I brought the F6, 58 and 24mm lenses. I did some auto bracketing (auto bracketing is WONDERFUL for chromes, after coming from an M4 here) so I'll be able to see the cameras pick, and then hopefully a salvageable exposure on either end if it got it wrong.
My goal is to integrate the F6 into more of my wedding work. 645 has really been the staple film wedding format for the last few years, and for pretty good reasons. But with 220 gone, Contax 645 prices through the roof, it's a harder sell for me. I always prefered 6x6 and 6x7 for MF medium format anyways. I personally think the Nikkor 58/1.4G is a good stand in for the Contax 80/2. Both were made to prioritize wide open rendering and 3D subjects (i.e. real people). If I can get 36 exposures, fast loading, AF that works, and decent detail from Portra films in 35mm I think it will be a great replacement for 220. Just have to test-test-test.
The F6 is amazing! Do Nikon a favor and get one.