Liking my new F4s with manual AIS lenses

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Jan 14, 2008

I used to carry around an F3 as my workhorse camera with its MD-3. It felt "like a camera should" (you could pound nails with it).

I just came into position of a brand new (never used) F4s and I have to tell you it feels so much better in my hands than either the F3 or F5.

For the type of portraits I do, I don't need auto focus and I think the old AIS lenses seemed more sturdy due to the metal construction.

As I get more use out of it I will post some more thoughts but I thought this was an interesting observation.

copake_ham · Jan 14, 2008

Jeffrey A. Steinberg said:
I used to carry around an F3 as my workhorse camera with its MD-3. It felt "like a camera should" (you could pound nails with it).

I just came into position of a brand new (never used) F4s and I have to tell you it feels so much better in my hands than either the F3 or F5.

For the type of portraits I do, I don't need auto focus and I think the old AIS lenses seemed more sturdy due to the metal construction.

As I get more use out of it I will post some more thoughts but I thought this was an interesting observation.

You should try a F100. Built in motor drive but no bigger than a F3 w/o the MD-3. It can be sped up with an add-on battery pack - but is plenty fast without it.

The F6 also uses this configuration/option.

23mjm · Jan 14, 2008

You know "they" say the F4 is the best manual focus camera ever made!!!

35mm that is.

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Jan 14, 2008

There is something about having a manual rewind knob (missing on the F100, not sure on the F6) that makes me prefer the 4Fs thus far.

23mjm · Jan 14, 2008

Jeffrey--I don't know how much this matters but in 2 years of using a F5 I used the rewind crank exactly zero times!

copake_ham · Jan 14, 2008

23mjm said:
Jeffrey--I don't know how much this matters but in 2 years of using a F5 I used the rewind crank exactly zero times!

Yes, in fact, until Jeffrey mentioned it, only now did I realize that my F5 actually has a manual rewind while the F100 does not.

I guess when the day comes that the auto-rewind doesn't work - I'll toss the camera.

And now I know why I've kept my reliable old Nikkormat FT-2!

goros · Jan 15, 2008

Hi Jeffrey,

I more or less followed the same path. For two or three years I used a F3 and then switched to a F4s (to two, actually) to be used with manual focus AIS lenses. It really is a beast, the lightmeter is accurate, the spotmeter very convenient (it was the one I used). But, after several years, I decided to "downgrade" and reverted to the basics: a F2+DE-1 (the plain unmetered finder) and a reliable Sekonik L-398-A. No batteries at all, no more features than aperture ring, speed dial and a very fast anc precise manual focusing with the R type screen. I really enjoy that rig. Now I'm having the F3 HP with an E type screen as second body for colour slides, but using only the hand lightmeter.

Cheers

PhotoJim · Jan 15, 2008

23mjm said:
Jeffrey--I don't know how much this matters but in 2 years of using a F5 I used the rewind crank exactly zero times!

I'm the opposite. Unless I'm in a panic to rewind film, which is very rare, I tend to rewind manually. It's quieter than power rewinding, and saves battery power.

Craig · Jan 15, 2008

PhotoJim said:
I'm the opposite. Unless I'm in a panic to rewind film, which is very rare, I tend to rewind manually. It's quieter than power rewinding, and saves battery power.

I do the same, on both the F4 and F6.

Christiaan Phleger · Jan 15, 2008

I really appreciate the fact that the Matrix meter works with the Ai and Ais lenses, even with flash.

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Jan 15, 2008

About the rewind issues--just call me paranoid. There is something very satisfying hearing the final bit of film "thump" into the case and then the winding is easier.

Which camera unwound the film first and then loaded it into the case after it was shot? I can't remember. That always seemed like a better idea but I am not an engineer.

copake_ham · Jan 15, 2008

Jeffrey A. Steinberg said:
About the rewind issues--just call me paranoid. There is something very satisfying hearing the final bit of film "thump" into the case and then the winding is easier.

Which camera unwound the film first and then loaded it into the case after it was shot? I can't remember. That always seemed like a better idea but I am not an engineer.

I have a Nikon N-75 that does that - it also then counts down the frames from 36 or 24 down to 0 on the LCD screen.

I think it uses some cross-over electronics from their digitals.

Alden · Jan 15, 2008

I'm all F2, FE, and FT2. Me like.

narsuitus · Jan 17, 2008

Congratulations on your F4.

Where in the world did you find a brand new (never used) F4?

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Jan 18, 2008

someone advertised it on this site!

timeslicer · Mar 14, 2008

Nikon F4 and manual focus primes......simply outstanding, photograpic nirvana!

pentaxuser · Mar 15, 2008

copake_ham said:
Yes, in fact, until Jeffrey mentioned it, only now did I realize that my F5 actually has a manual rewind while the F100 does not.

I guess when the day comes that the auto-rewind doesn't work - I'll toss the camera.

And now I know why I've kept my reliable old Nikkormat FT-2!

Another advantage is that a manual rewind doesn't pull the leader into the cassette. This can be a real pain when you change films part way through and then have to retrieve the leader before loading the part used film back into the camera. I have an auto rewind Pentax with no option for manual rewind and failure to carry a film retriever is a disaster.

I can never figure out if the F5 can be set in the custom menu to only rewind with the leader out or whether this is send back to Nikon item if you want the leader left out. As the F5 can be manually rewound I would have thought that a leader out auto rewind option wasn't possible. Why would you bother if manual rewind was the alternative?

Does the F6 have this option? There seems to be some difference of opinion on this

pentaxuser

PhotoJim · Mar 15, 2008

With good 35mm SLRs available for forty bucks, I don't know why anybody bothers mid-roll rewinding anymore (unless it's to be done the roll early and take it to the lab).

If the film you're shooting isn't optimal, grab another body and load it with the right film.

Ian Tindale · Mar 16, 2008

I enjoy using my F4 with a Kiron 30-80mm varifocal, manual focus. I also use my knob - it saves batteries and gives me a leader to pull out, later.

lns · Mar 16, 2008

pentaxuser said:
...

I can never figure out if the F5 can be set in the custom menu to only rewind with the leader out or whether this is send back to Nikon item if you want the leader left out. As the F5 can be manually rewound I would have thought that a leader out auto rewind option wasn't possible. Why would you bother if manual rewind was the alternative?

Does the F6 have this option? There seems to be some difference of opinion on this

pentaxuser

Yes, the F6 has a custom setting to automatically rewind the film but leave the leader out.

-Laura

PhotoJim · Mar 16, 2008

Ian Tindale said:
I enjoy using my F4 with a Kiron 30-80mm varifocal, manual focus. I also use my knob - it saves batteries and gives me a leader to pull out, later.

I don't care about keeping the leader out, but I agree with you. Unless I'm shooting something where time is an issue, I rewind manually too.

Snapshot · Mar 16, 2008

I believe another benefit of manual rewind is that in cold climates, slowly rewinding the film prevents a static charge from building. A static electrical discharge could fog the film.

Liking my new F4s with manual AIS lenses

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