Nikon F4 or F6

[Henning Serger]

Unmentioned with menus comes the dependence on batteries which starts the discussion of battery problems on cold weather.

That discussion leaves me very cold...........
Simple reason: The F6 works perfectly at cold temperatures. I have used it at -10°C for hours. I was frozen and defunct after that, but the F6 was absolutely fine. I used it with the MB-40 vertical grip and rechargeable Eneloop AA cells.
Another advantage of the F6 at frozen temperatures are the very nice cover and knob materials which allow you using it without gloves, if you want. I would never do that with my FM or FE2 at such low temperature, the pure metal is just horrible to touch!
And if you want to use gloves, handling and operating the F6 works very well, too (and better compared to its forerunners). The dials and knobs are big enough, and there is enough space between them.
Using at extremely low temperatures and with gloves was also one of the design targets of the F6 engineers.

The battery in my Nikon FM (for the light meter) failed at -10°C to -15°C on a travel in Siberia. It failed suddenly without a warning. That is also an important advantage of the modern film cameras, as their battery indicator warns you in time / at the right time when the battery power starts to get lower. So that you have enough time and flexibility to change to fresh batteries.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Sirius Glass]

That discussion leaves me very cold...........
Simple reason: The F6 works perfectly at cold temperatures. I have used it at -10°C for hours. I was frozen and defunct after that, but the F6 was absolutely fine. I used it with the MB-40 vertical grip and rechargeable Eneloop AA cells.
Another advantage of the F6 at frozen temperatures are the very nice cover and knob materials which allow you using it without gloves, if you want. I would never do that with my FM or FE2 at such low temperature, the pure metal is just horrible to touch!
And if you want to use gloves, handling and operating the F6 works very well, too (and better compared to its forerunners). The dials and knobs are big enough, and there is enough space between them.
Using at extremely low temperatures and with gloves was also one of the design targets of the F6 engineers.

The battery in my Nikon FM (for the light meter) failed at -10°C to -15°C on a travel in Siberia. It failed suddenly without a warning. That is also an important advantage of the modern film cameras, as their battery indicator warns you in time / at the right time when the battery power starts to get lower. So that you have enough time and flexibility to change to fresh batteries.

Best regards,
Henning

There are all types of batteries for cameras, some go to sleep in the cold and others stay active. Know the batteries in your cameras and handle them accordingly.

 

[Craig]

I've used my F4 in cold weather and it was fine. Of course, being Canadian, -10°C doesn't seem particularly cold, since we have just had several weeks between -40°C and -30°C.

Batteries do fail in the cold in all applications, cars included, but anyone who is used to winter knows this. For cameras, it's easy, just take the batteries out of the camera and put them in inside your coat to warm up and they come back to life. That is easier with the MB40 pack of the F6, unless you have an F4 ( not an F4s or F4e) where it is a single detachable battery pack.

 

[Moose22]

I've used my F4 in cold weather and it was fine. Of course, being Canadian, -10°C doesn't seem particularly cold, since we have just had several weeks between -40°C and -30°C.
.

Heh -- that's in C. Talk to me when it's -40 F !

 

[Sirius Glass]

Heh -- that's in C. Talk to me when it's -40 F !

How about -40 degrees C? Would that be different for you?

 

[gone]

Of course you know all the AF Nikons are 100% dependent on batteries. Menus or no menus.

Yes, and that's the good news to me. All of my Nikons have exposed perfectly, from the Nikkormats, the EL's, the N6006. N8008s, etc. Great meters and shutters.

 

[Huss]

Nikon F4, Nikon 28-105D, Arista 100, Cinestill DF96 Monobath

 

[dmtnkl]

The elephant in the room is the propensity for the F3's, F4's & F5's LCD's to bleed. Why has no one addressed that? It's a show stopper.

Marc

For those interested, there are a few top lcd spares for the F4 right now on the big auction site (item 125105128363).

 

[Huss]

For those interested, there are a few top lcd spares for the F4 right now on the big auction site (item 125105128363).

And they are used with no ability to test them...

 

[dmtnkl]

I am afraid that there are no other options at the moment, unless someone is prepared to get the parts from a donor body which will probably cost much more.

 

[NB23]

Heh -- that's in C. Talk to me when it's -40 F !

-40F is equal to -40c

 

[Huss]

I am afraid that there are no other options at the moment, unless someone is prepared to get the parts from a donor body which will probably cost much more.

I don't see how buying what is most probably a broken part is an option. Think about it, all you know is it is a part. And the only time you know if it works is once your camera is taken apart and this thing is put in. Which will be a significant cost unless you do it yourself. A simple question to ask is why is this being sold as a spare part?

Much better to pick up another F4 body that you can see if it works.

 

[Huss]

-40F is equal to -40c

Badge of honor in Minneapolis when I was there and it hit -40...

 

[Moose22]

Badge of honor in Minneapolis when I was there and it hit -40...

Don't lick the badge, though. At that point even a tin star would be almost as bad as a flagpole.

 

[Sirius Glass]

-40F is equal to -40c

Go outside and pee to see if the urine makes a cracking sound when it freezes as stated in Jack London's "To build a fire". Or does it have to be colder. Please report back with the results.

 

[Craig]

And they are used with no ability to test them...

An LCD that has bled is easy to spot, the ebay one is still good. Perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather repair something than throw it away and get another. Besides, there are no guarantees that buying another used F4 is going to be any better than this part.

 

[Huss]

An LCD that has bled is easy to spot, the ebay one is still good. Perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather repair something than throw it away and get another. Besides, there are no guarantees that buying another used F4 is going to be any better than this part.

I agree with that attitude.

I think that if it was defective, you'd see the bleed even if it was off.

 

[pkr1979]

Got an F4 and very happy with it - AF fast enough for me

 

[Sirius Glass]

Got an F4 and very happy with it - AF fast enough for me

Enjoy!