Nikon F4 opinions?

bdial · May 17, 2009

but I gotta say I just prefer the advantages of 35mm

Aside from the ability to shoot Kodachrome, I really can't imagine what those "advantages" would be.
A 35mm SLR would be the very last style camera I'd consider spending more than a 100 $'s on. Especially a camera as big and heavy as an F series Nikon, as nice as they are.
Since going back to MF, my F3 which I purchased new, has seen very little use, even though I have a nice suite of Nikkor lenses to go along with it. The MF negs are so nice, and the character of the optics are so much better, that I hardly ever choose the 35 over my other choices.

That said, it's not the camera, or lenses, or film format that are going to make you a great photographer, or even a moderately good one. If you can't make great pictures with an N50 and a 50mm series E lens, you won't be able to take better pictures with an F6 and a dozen lenses.

It's easy to think the camera is the secret, and using the same stuff top pros use will somehow rub off on you. I had my first Nikon in High School, before I owned a car. When I finally got the car, if the camera was in it, it's value tripled.

You have already determined that the F5 doesn't suit you, it's not very likely that an F4 will suit you better. Think about what the best tool might be to extend your vision.

Just be careful with it when you go out in the rain.

Markok765 · May 17, 2009

bdial said:
Aside from the ability to shoot Kodachrome, I really can't imagine what those "advantages" would be.
A 35mm SLR would be the very last style camera I'd consider spending more than a 100 $'s on. Especially a camera as big and heavy as an F series Nikon, as nice as they are.
Since going back to MF, my F3 which I purchased new, has seen very little use, even though I have a nice suite of Nikkor lenses to go along with it. The MF negs are so nice, and the character of the optics are so much better, that I hardly ever choose the 35 over my other choices.

That said, it's not the camera, or lenses, or film format that are going to make you a great photographer, or even a moderately good one. If you can't make great pictures with an N50 and a 50mm series E lens, you won't be able to take better pictures with an F6.

Having fast AF, a flash linked to the camera, and plus I already have Nikkor lenses.

PhotoJim · May 17, 2009

35mm has a lot of advantages over medium format. Motor drives, for one.

When I take photos of my niece and nephew (5 and 3 respectively) I use 35mm the vast majority of the time. They move fast and AF and motor drives help. (I do use an F3HP with them sometimes, for fun, though.)

brian steinberger · May 17, 2009

I would strongly recommend the F100. Great camera, and a lot lighter than the F4 and F5 bricks. I own an F4 and it's great, but it's super heavy and antiquated in many ways, especially the AF. If you're going to be shooting in strange weather conditions again, and need the extra weather protection, then I would get another F5. I think the F5 and F4 are similar in weight and weigh too much for the small negative they produce. I would look into the F100, great camera for the price.

Paul VanAudenhove · May 17, 2009

Markok765 said:
I would go with the F3, but my flash is made for AF Nikon cameras. I'm thinking I'll buy a Leica III and a N90s.

You would probably be better off just getting the N90s - it was the pro camera between the F4 and F5. Rather than buy another system, I would spend the money on more glass for what you have, or on film.

BTW, if you get caught in the rain again - or expect to, take a plastic bag with you and a few rubber bands. Slip the camera in the bag, poke a hole for the lens and use a rubber band to keep the bag in place. It's exactly the same idea as making a raincoat out of a garbage bag.

Markok765 · May 17, 2009

The N90s is very nice. I bought one for my friend. Under $100 and pretty much all I need really.

I'm doing the plastic bag thing next time, no need to risk another camera.

gr82bart · May 17, 2009

Markok765 said:
My choices are another BGN F5 at $300 or a EX F4s at $350.
What do you think?

F4 hands down. Buy it. Love it. Use it. Don't worry too much about the fast AF thing. To most people it's not noticeable.

Regards, Art.

stealthman_1 · May 17, 2009

F4 IMHO. But not the F4s unless you really need that big camera look...and if that's the case, I'd be back at an F5.
What I hate about the F4...its slick body. In humid or wet conditions it's a pain, but there are very cheap sticky rubber things that you can buy.
What I love about the F4...One single solitary AF point. That's it, put it on the spot or go home, no fidgeting to get the right one to light, etc.
Benefits of the F4 over the F100 and N90s....focus screens and weather sealing. I have my F4 set up as an optimal manual focus rig, with AF capability.

nyoung · May 17, 2009

Paul Goutiere said:
I want to shoot slides and I'm wondering if the shutter on the f4 may be a bit more accurate when compared to the F3 shutter.

If they are both working properly, you'll never see a difference.

whlogan · May 17, 2009

A lfie long Canon shooter, I just tried a Nikon F4s with the 24-120 AF lens. I don't know why Nikon made any other bodies after the F4s. It has everything one would ever want and an EX from KEH is a pittance. Be sure it has an MB-21 battery pack. Some fool instructions tell you to put 4 AA's in the camera handle and you may try, but it will never work. try 3. At least it didn't on mine. But it is one sweet camera. Do it!
Logan

JimCee · May 17, 2009

In it's day the Nikon N90s/F90x had many professional users who preferred it over the F4. I remember, amongst others, that John Shaw and Galen Rowell were quite frequent N90s users. I bought my N90s in 1995 to give me an autofocus camera to complement my F3HP. At the time I was contemplating the Nikon F4, however the salesman from whom I purchased the camera convinced me that the N90s was a better camera (even though he could have more money off the sale if I'd purchased the F4).

Since then, I've been quite satisfied with the N90s. I miss:

1. Mirror lock-up (although this hasn't really been very noticeable in low exposures)
2. Easily accessible bracketing capability (only available with the accessory MF-26 Multi-Control Back, and then not convenient)

I'd recommend the purchase of a camera with the accessory MB-10 Multi-Power/Vertical Grip. Then N90s "loves" the SB-26 flash unit, by the way (which is also a very nice slave flash unit).

photogolf · May 18, 2009

I have both, with the newer elctro stuff, the F5 is a smart route...But the F4 is so sexy and works well using man and auto lens. Now I am confused.

Okay - another F5.

nicefor88 · May 19, 2009

I used the F4 for many years, then passed to the F5. In terms of weight, the F5 was a bit lighter that the F4 with MB-21 actually. I think because of the lighter materials they used in the newer model..although the F5 is so bulky!!

The F100 is a good suggestion, but I think the F4 is more robust (the F line, you know).

Personnally, I use two F3s now, they are lighter and I don't need a motor drive any longer. I like the F3 for its many qualities but also it was the top camera when I was in my 20s but couldn't afford. Now I can!

Brad Maestas · Jun 23, 2009

The F4 was my first nice camera. I found a used one (F4s) in mint condition at the now-defunct IPAS (Independent Photo Arts Supply) in Kansas City, Missouri. I later added the MB-23 grip to make it an F4e. Sure, it was a bit bulky but I was too in love to notice. I never upgraded to an F5 but have used one extensively and I still prefer the F4. It's not only that I grew up with one but that its slightly lower-fi features yet more robust construction that harkens back to an era that once was.

In any case, my F4 (and lenses, flash) were stolen around 2001 and I ended up replacing it with a Contax RTS III. I wanted to get back to manual focusing anyways and I was really curious about the Zeiss glass so it worked out perfectly. The feel in the hand is quite similar to the F4 although the ergonomics in the right-hand grip are slightly different. The motors are similar though the Contax is more refined, seemingly-more tight and tuned-up but at a higher pitch.

I certainly miss my F4 and I suppose somewhere down the line I may pick up another one but for now I'm happy with what I have. I think there have been a lot of good suggestions so far. You will ultimately have to weigh your own needs and desires with what is available to you.

alan doyle · Jun 23, 2009

i swap between an f4s and an f6,a stunning combo.
the f6 though is just utter perfection small and compact it is the greatest slr i have ever had.
if you go for anything less than the f4,f5, or f6 in nikon you are trading down.

dougjgreen · Jun 23, 2009

The N90s is a fantastic camera that can now be bought for ridiculous prices (I paid under $40 for one on the 'bay a couple of months ago - including shipping).

The F100 is better, but not worth 4 times the price.

PhotoJim · Jun 23, 2009

dougjgreen said:
The F100 is better, but not worth 4 times the price.

It's easily worth $120 more to me.

As much as like the F90x/N90s, the autofocus is not even close to what the F100 can do, and I like the F100's user interface a little better too.

Bang for buck? F90x wins. But if a person can afford a couple of hundred bucks for a good camera, it's hard to go wrong with an F100.

bill spears · Jun 23, 2009

I'm quite shocked at how cheap some F5's are going for lately online, at least here in the UK. I listed a really nice boxed one the other day for £220 start and didn't get any bids at all. Some are going at around £180 !! The prices have definately dropped in the last 3-4 months.

Not the kind of camera I generally would use but it's certainly a pretty awesome piece of kit and seems silly to let it go for this kind of money

Brad Maestas · Jun 23, 2009

The F4 was my first nice camera. I found a used one (F4s) in mint condition at the now-defunct IPAS (Independent Photo Arts Supply) in Kansas City, Missouri. I later added the MB-23 grip to make it an F4e. Sure, it was a bit bulky but I was too in love to notice. I never upgraded to an F5 but have used one extensively and I still prefer the F4. It's not only that I grew up with one but that its slightly lower-fi features yet more robust construction that harkens back to an era that once was.

In any case, my F4 (and lenses, flash) were stolen around 2001 and I ended up replacing it with a Contax RTS III. I wanted to get back to manual focusing anyways and I was really curious about the Zeiss glass so it worked out perfectly. The feel in the hand is quite similar to the F4 although the ergonomics in the right-hand grip are slightly different. The motors are similar though the Contax is more refined, seemingly-more tight and tuned-up but at a higher pitch.

I certainly miss my F4 and I suppose somewhere down the line I may pick up another one but for now I'm happy with what I have. I think there have been a lot of good suggestions so far. You will ultimately have to weigh your own needs and desires with what is available to you.

GJA · Jun 23, 2009

I love my F4 and its ability to be converted with a vertical grip, small and big in one package. But, if you have an SB600 you might look at the MIR charts to see what features will work with what cameras.

Markok765 · Jun 24, 2009

Guess I won't need a F4 after all! (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

pjimas · Jun 24, 2009

look at the N90s for sale posted a few days ago.

alan doyle · Jun 24, 2009

i have been testing some weird thin old ex military films..in contax n1, nikon f6 and f4 having a few transport issues.
so today pulled out a camera i have not used for 2 years Nikon F2 Photomic S a manual masterpiece the film transport and exposures were perfect,it shows how going back to basics can sometimes get you better results than using state of the art gear.

Pumal · Jun 25, 2009

I have Nikon F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F100, and F6; besides FE, FM, FE2, FM2, FA, etc. I still like my F4 better.

Brad Maestas · Jun 30, 2009

Marko, glad to hear of the F5's (near total) recovery.

Nikon F4 opinions?

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