More Nikon N75s...

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

For the last ten years my favorite camera is the Nikon N75. Can't have too many of them. I like the black ones but they are harder to find. I just got another black N75 and it came with the battery pack.
Little known is that the battery pack also fits the N55 too. This functionality is not in the manual.

Sure I have a F100 and F6 too but these cameras are tiny by comparison. This makes them easier to carry around.

In terms of functionality, I don't recall if there are any functions that I actually use on the F6 that are not included in the N75.

The N55 does lack the ability to AF with that 28/1.8 G lens and does not have TTL flash with the SB-28 speedlight, but otherwise has excellent metering and AF.

I'm actually growing to like the all silver appearance of the N55. I should probably get a few more of those while they are still $25. In fact I was looking for a nice $25 N55 when I came across the black N75 with battery pack.

gone · Aug 7, 2021

Does the n75 have a brighter viewfinder than the n70? I have the n70, and love it for the reasons you stated. Small, light, and cheap as chips (paid $4 for my mine, plus shipping). Other than the dimmer viewfinder, my n70 can do just about everything my pro-like n8008s can do. Metering w/ 3rd party lenses is something I need for my Leicaflex lens, not sure if the n75 can do that.

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

I have multiple copies of the 28-80 'kit' lens, so I put one on both N75 and F6 to compare. The F6 image is certainly larger, and maybe a little brighter but not by much.
At one time I wanted to try to use my Rollie QBM mount Zeiss lenses on the Nikons, but realized that Nikon has come a long way since the 1980s and wound up getting Nikkors for all my Nikons. For example the Nikkor 28/1.8 is actually better than my coveted Zeiss Distagon 28/2. And that 28-80 'kit' lens is really amazing I use it on my F6 all the time.

Nicholas Lindan · Aug 7, 2021

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm & https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/n75.htm

The only weak spot I know of is the knurl on the left mode control cracks. Seems to be endemic.

Besk · Aug 7, 2021

I have three N75's myself. And one battery pack. Great little cameras.

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

Here is some promotional material showing F75 and U2 in black, but as you see in my pictures above, the black ones also were labeled "N75" Of course not that it makes any difference in function, but when searching for these cameras on the internet, you can get more results if you also look for F75 and U2.

awty · Aug 7, 2021

Didnt know there was a battery pack for the 55, that would be handy the regular batteries cost more than the camera.
They have great meters.
Is that a TEAC amplifier?

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

Nicholas Lindan said:
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm & https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/n75.htm

The only weak spot I know of is the knurl on the left mode control cracks. Seems to be endemic.

Yes, this new one I got actually has a chunk of plastic missing from the knob. Does not interfere with function. Maybe some day a box of the knobs will show up on ebay. I believe the knob is held on with a screw from below, like the N55 in this picture indicating the electrical contacts are still protected under the camera's plastic top cover even if the knob is damaged.

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

awty said:
Didnt know there was a battery pack for the 55, that would be handy the regular batteries cost more than the camera.
They have great meters.
Is that a TEAC amplifier?

I like vintage audio too. AudioKarma site is like the audio equivalent of this site. That is a Pioneer SA-6700 integrated amp. Just like film cameras, these silver-face audio components were being given away 25 years ago. Now they are fetching high prices.
That SA-6700 was 'middle of the line' with fake wood end pieces. But I also have a like-new 'top of the line' Pioneer SX-828, both were given to me many years ago. That SX-828 was my darkroom amplifier for many years, then I saw what they were fetching on ebay and moved it into my office

awty · Aug 7, 2021

ic-racer said:
I like vintage audio too. AudioKarma site is like the audio equivalent of this site. That is a Pioneer SA-6700 integrated amp. Just like film cameras, these silver-face audio components were being given away 25 years ago. Now they are fetching high prices.

OK it looks similar to the TEAC BX series, guess they were all pretty similar. I used to frequent AK and other sites, not so much now, run out of room for hifi stuff. Must say my SS amplifiers from the seventies are all still going strong, cant say the same about later products.

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

OK, I did not know of that BX series, looks real nice. I had a Tascam 4 track for many years collecting dust and recently sold it on ebay. Wow, those 4-tracks are really desirable these days, my BIN $500 only lasted a day.

Down Under · Aug 7, 2021

This may be a tad off-topic- my apologies in advance if you agree (ha!) - but the Nikon F65/N65 is just as good. I first bought into the 65s in 2005-6 when Nikon discontinued them in Australia and sold off its stock at discount prices. I got one for A$225 for my partner, who used it for a while but then lost interest in film. A few years later another F65 came my way via an Ebay sale (for A$45). Over the year I also bought two battery packs for A$30 and $25. So my two kits are complete.

The F55/65/70/75 range are truly amazing cameras. I enjoy the ergonomics and the power packs add just enough bulk and weight to make the cameras eminently more handleable (is this a real word?), they take all my Nikon D lenses, and the convenience of being able to use regular supermarket batteries far outweighs the need to visit my camera retailer for new (expensive) batteries. The viewfinders give me an easy view of my images and the camera makes very little noise when used. Couldn't be better.

The only potential weakness I've found in these cameras is the 'back door' which seems flimsy. So I take are when opening and closing the camera for film loading. So far so good. I also didn't care for the standard 28-80s as I found the images were too soft. Otherwise, the 65s suit me fine. I use them a lot and so far, no problems.

I had a look at the other 'baby Nikons' in the series but found the 55s and 60s were too Dinky Toyish for my liking. The 70s and 75s rarely turn up on Ebay and when they do prices in Australia are (surprise!) too high for my budget. So I make two with my pair of 65s and I will use them until they move on to the big camera store in the heavens or I get too old to want to play with cameras.

Audio-wise I went with Kenwood decades ago when they first came out with their upmarket lines, which cost me a small mint but I had the credit then. Spent a few thousand and have never had the need or urge to change. Repairs still available and parts don't cost a kidney, so all is good and the sound is beautiful even after many years of steady playing vinyl, CDs an FM radio. I also have a small inexpensive (bought used) TDK unit in the darkroom to play FM jazz and classical when I play with films and paper. Good gear lasts.

ic-racer · Aug 7, 2021

Not off topic at all. Thanks for the info on the N65. I had to look it up in the chart to see where it fit. Looks like a great alternative to the 75 as those are going up in price.

N80 is another that I should probably try to pick up while they are under $100. Since I started using N75 in 2013 , the prices on all these AF Nikons have gone up and will probably continue to rise in the future.

Huss · Aug 7, 2021

The Nikon N75 is perhaps the best camera ever made. I just happen to be selling mine with the kit 28-80 lens.

(FYI anytime I am selling something, I'll say it is the best thing ever made..)

awty · Aug 8, 2021

ic-racer said:
OK, I did not know of that BX series, looks real nice. I had a Tascam 4 track for many years collecting dust and recently sold it on ebay. Wow, those 4-tracks are really desirable these days, my BIN $500 only lasted a day.

Reel to reel's are great, I have an old TEAC 4 track 7" and a Otari 2/ 4 track that takes the 10.5" reels. Unfortunately a lot of old tapes are bad, but Ive managed to get a few good ones.

Sirius Glass · Aug 9, 2021

My N75 has cracked this piece

Which fell off and so I bought a N80 as a backup. The N75 is used for color negative film and the F100 is used for black & white film because I like to have some of the additional features for adjusting the exposure [Zone System, depth of field, ... ]

Pitotshock · Aug 9, 2021

Damn you all, now I want a F80! I was perfectly happy not having one until I read this thread.

M-88 · Aug 9, 2021

Umm... Can somrbody enlighten me as to why might I want this, if I already own N80?.. Also, does N75 have as soft and quiet shutter mechanism as N80?

NB23 · Aug 9, 2021

N65 misses the AE/L button, a feature no serious photographer can live without.
That button is the difference N75 vs N65.

Huss · Aug 10, 2021

M-88 said:
Umm... Can somrbody enlighten me as to why might I want this, if I already own N80?.. Also, does N75 have as soft and quiet shutter mechanism as N80?

N80 is much more dampened.

The N75 is much smaller and lighter than the N80, so if you just want less weight/size to carry around (hiking, biking etc) it is great for that.

M-88 · Aug 10, 2021

Huss said:
N80 is much more dampened.

The N75 is much smaller and lighter than the N80, so if you just want less weight/size to carry around (hiking, biking etc) it is great for that.

Err... I think I'll pass N75 because soft mirror damp is the only thing that got me hooked to N80. And I use it with battery grip (cause CR123 are a pain), so size isn't an issue.

Huss · Aug 10, 2021

M-88 said:
Err... I think I'll pass N75 because soft mirror damp is the only thing that got me hooked to N80. And I use it with battery grip (cause CR123 are a pain), so size isn't an issue.

The N/F80 is very underrated. Super metering too.

ic-racer · Aug 10, 2021

M-88 said:
Umm... Can somrbody enlighten me as to why might I want this, if I already own N80?.. Also, does N75 have as soft and quiet shutter mechanism as N80?

N/F80 is more like the F100. More metal and heavier than the N75. N75 is more plastic, smaller, lighter, cheaper. Not a replacement for N/F80. The only reason I don't have N/F80 is I have F100 already.
A few years ago you could have some spare N75 for about $25. But this new black one I got with the battery pack was $100. So prices are going up.

dmtnkl · Aug 11, 2021

momus said:
Does the n75 have a brighter viewfinder than the n70?

The n70's viewfinder has a pentaprism, whereas the n75 a pentamirror. The viewfinder in the n70 is noticeably bigger and brighter.

To my surprise, while the focusing screen on the n70 is optimized for brightness, it still manages to remain quite good for manual focusing. It is not perfect as you will notice some moire when trying to focus on very fine detail, but at least out of focus highlights have a rounder and more diffuse look compared to most of the other autofocus nikon cameras (where they acquire a somewhat multicolored polygonal shape due to the etching patterns used to make the screens brighter).

The n75 and n80 have numerous improvements over the n70. Better matrix metering, support for VR lenses, aperture conrtrol for G lenses... and the list goes on and on. However, i think the mirror/shutter action on the n70 feels much more robust, and the grip is really comfortable.

Down Under · Aug 12, 2021

Huss said:
The Nikon N75 is perhaps the best camera ever made. I just happen to be selling mine with the kit 28-80 lens. (FYI anytime I am selling something, I'll say it is the best thing ever made..)

Hello to you, Ken Rockwell disguised!! Your pseudo-cover is now blown...

In this case, I agree with you with a (small) disclaimer - N75 is second best after the N65.

More Nikon N75s...

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