Matrix Metering - Nikon F4 vs N90S/F90X
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No. The F90x/F90 (and its US cousins) have matrix metering with more segments, and it tends to be more accurate.
That having been said, I find the F4's matrix metering to be pretty darn good. And experience will tell you the situations where it is most easily fooled, so you will know to bracket. (Very strongly backlit scenes with smaller subjects will fool it, and it took until very recent matrix metering iterations for scenes full of snow to not require additional compensation.)
That having been said, I find the F4's matrix metering to be pretty darn good. And experience will tell you the situations where it is most easily fooled, so you will know to bracket. (Very strongly backlit scenes with smaller subjects will fool it, and it took until very recent matrix metering iterations for scenes full of snow to not require additional compensation.)
The Nikon F100 is very good and allows choices of focusing methods and locations.
Alas, the back can be very delicate. I hadn't used my F100 for three or four years and I've found that, since, my back clasps have failed, just from the passage of time. I am having trouble finding anyone who can repair it.
Thanks, but I want something to work woth all my manual lenses, and have a manual rewind option.
The F4 (No battery pack version) is by far and away my favourite 35mm AF camera. I have sourced a good one which has had very little use. More or less matrix metering segments are of no consequence to me, it is simply by far and away the best - even compared to my F6. They are the next thing to bomb proof.
Not to state the obvious if nobody has mentioned this point: only the F4 Matrix meters with Manual Focus lenses. N90s is a capable camera but all manual lenses revert to Center Weighted Metering if set to Matrix. This *will* affect flash photography in particular; my studio partner used a combination of F3/N90s with some AF lens and some MF lenses for weddings and the flash exposures were inconsistent and we figured it out. Switched her to all F4's and matching TTL flash and the negs were super consistent no matter which lens. An unsung strong point of the F4 is the Matrix Metering and flash.
I treat all my photographic equipment as though I cannot afford to repair it, even though I can.
The F100 can hand manual lenses too.
It doesn't mount non-AI lenses unless you convert them; and it doesn't do matrix metering with them, as mentioned. And it doesn't have manual rewind. And it doesn't allow for a normal cable release. Or waist-level finders.
There are a few things I prefer on the F4. I have an N90S, and the F100 is not enough different from my N90S for me to pay the price (although it is better at some things, and it is a very fine camera).
Me too. My back worked perfectly all through the camera's life. But the plastic can get brittle through just the passage of time, apparently. The clasps broke when I opened the back, something that shouldn't cause damage.
Be super, super careful with yours. And get a spare back. Unless somebody modified yours with metal latches, something I wish I knew could have been done back in the day.
It is always important to protect ones back by a have good lumbar support.
The F6 does matrix meter with manual lenses. You need to enter the lens data into the camera. The new matrix meter algorithm requires that the camera knows the maximum aperture of the lens and the F100/F5 doen't have that information. The F4 didn't care because it's matrix algorithm is much simpler.
Yes of course the F6 can Matrix meter I was stating between the two OP choices of F4 and N90s.
The F4's Matrix metering requires the addition of the AI post to mechanically indicate the maximum aperture of the lens mounted; in my opinion Nikon could have added in this feature to the F5 at least but it was obvious that Nikon preferred to push customers to AF/CPU equipped lenses.
The AI post can be added to Ai'd lenses but its tedious; I modded a couple of Nikkor 35mm f/ 1.4 N for use with flash this way.
The F4's Matrix metering requires the addition of the AI post to mechanically indicate the maximum aperture of the lens mounted; in my opinion Nikon could have added in this feature to the F5 at least but it was obvious that Nikon preferred to push customers to AF/CPU equipped lenses.
The AI post can be added to Ai'd lenses but its tedious; I modded a couple of Nikkor 35mm f/ 1.4 N for use with flash this way.
As usual, a completely irrelevant response.
I will consider the source. I was answering a specific question. Try and keep up please.
FWIW, somewhere (probably the manual) I read that the F5 could be optionally equipped with the folding tab index follower used on the older pro bodies to allow mounting of non AI lenses. Obviously not a service Nikon would do anymore. I asked a repair shop about it last year, and they didn't know about the option, nor how to obtain the parts.
I'm happy with only using AI-lenses on my F5 and F100, and mostly auto-focus ones at that. My main reason for using either one is to take advantage of AF, I can use the MF lenses on cameras that operationally simpler to use.
Mileage varies of course.
I'm happy with only using AI-lenses on my F5 and F100, and mostly auto-focus ones at that. My main reason for using either one is to take advantage of AF, I can use the MF lenses on cameras that operationally simpler to use.
Mileage varies of course.
I’ve read this service was once offered by Nikon. I actually consider the F4 to be a manual focus camera for my purposes. I like the classic interface on a more modern professional body. The F5 and F100 are outstanding cameras. I could be tempted with an F5, but I prefer my F90x to the F100.
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