Nikon F6?

faberryman · Dec 1, 2017

Do you really want auto focus? If not, then I would look at the FM3a.

cooltouch · Dec 1, 2017

faberryman said:
Do you really want auto focus? If not, then I would look at the FM3a.

What a great little camera. But then I could by an F6, or an F5 and at least one nice lens, for what clean used FM3a's are selling for.

Craig · Dec 1, 2017

faberryman said:
Do you really want auto focus? If not, then I would look at the FM3a.

I'd go for a F4. Best manual focus camera ever made

Craig · Dec 1, 2017

cooltouch said:
So, I'm curious -- those of you who own F6s -- does the sounds the camera makes really set it apart from other Nikons? .

I just tried the F4 and F6 side by side. In the F4, I can hear each discrete element - shutter, mirror and film advance, when in single shot mode. There is also a sound that the best way I can describe it sounds like a stretched spring being plucked. The F6 in contrast is a single sound - the mirror mainly. The film advance sound is gone. I'd describe the sounds as crisper, more precise. Shorter duration too.

Chan Tran · Dec 1, 2017

Craig said:
I'd go for a F4. Best manual focus camera ever made

I heard that a lot! In other word it's a lousy auto focus camera. However, I don't think it's that bad in term of AF. When I don't use AF I go for the F3. The F4 isn't for me.

Billy Axeman · Dec 1, 2017

cooltouch said:
I'm reading through the interview with Tomohisa Ikeno right now. I am particularly struck by this comment of his:

"Please try to listen carefully to the operating sounds of F6. They are subtle, so you have to concentrate, but the sounds you hear are different from the sounds of other cameras."

I am impressed by the degree that the Nikon designers went to to make the F6 sound as "good" as it does. So, I'm curious -- those of you who own F6s -- does the sounds the camera makes really set it apart from other Nikons? ......

I was very surprised to hear the shutter sound for the first time because it seems there is no film transport (and because I was accustomed to the F-801s, which is very loud). If I remember well the motor is brushless so there is no whine. I guess the mechanical sounds are also muffled by the metal body.
The strange thing is that the whole sequence is quite short (Craig, post #56) so film transport must be very fast in spite of not hearing it.

The best way to describe it is that the film transport noise is completely merged with the noise from the mirror and shutter.

Edit - Last sentence added.

Craig · Dec 1, 2017

Chan Tran said:
I heard that a lot! In other word it's a lousy auto focus camera. However, I don't think it's that bad in term of AF. When I don't use AF I go for the F3. The F4 isn't for me.

No, it isn't that bad. For it's time, it was outstanding compared to things like the Canon T80. It does have trouble with low contrast situations, like any other single sensor camera; and if you have primarily horizontal lines in the subject. I found myself turning the camera slightly to give it something to focus on. Once it locks on thought, the focus is fast and precise.

And, yes, I know the F4 came out 2 years after the T80.

Theo Sulphate · Dec 1, 2017

Billy Axeman said:
This interview with Tomohisa Ikeno?
The Value of Unique Pictures
http://www.nikonf6.net/resources/the-value-of-unique-pictures/

That is it! Thank you.

As for the F4, I use my F4s's with AF lenses only - the AF speed is good enough for cityscapes and landscapes.

However, I also have a 60/2.8 G ED AF-S Micro-Nikkor and it focuses so fast that at first I didn't think it was focusing - I was expecting to hear the AF motor and see the shift in focus. Instead, focus seemed to snap into place almost the instant I placed my finger on the release. Someone stated this lens focuses faster on the F4 than later cameras. I wonder if that's true of other AF-S lenses. Of course, this being a G lens, I have to use either shutter priority or program modes.

Sirius Glass · Dec 1, 2017

Some lenses focus faster than others One of the advantages of AF is that statistically the AF focus in more accurate that the human eye over a large number of photographs. Still one must be careful if there are objects closer than the subject or shooting through windows. Know your camera and check the manual for the situations that will focus on the wrong object.

Huss · Dec 2, 2017

I have the F6, and while I like it, I don't get people's admiration of the matrix metering. Nikon's office title is 3D Color Matrix and how they claim it works is with the correct chipped lenses, it bases exposure on what is in focus.
Except this can be shown to be false just by focusing on a back lit subject that is close or mid distance from the camera. So the back lit back ground is way out of focus. The camera will underexpose. You don't even have to take a pic to see this, just flip through the metering modes while focused on the same subject and look at the meter reading in the VF.
I just treat the matrix pattern as an avg metered pattern, then things are ok. I use the center weighted (which is very cool as you can change the size of the weighting) with AE lock much more, as well as the spot meter. I have also adjusted the settings so the AE lock hold the exposure until I push it again to unlock, or turn off the camera. The default setting releases AE lock after one exposure, like the F100.
Interestingly enough, because I use the center weighted mode the most, my exposure accuracy is the same whether I use the F6, my F3 or F2AS.

p.s. even though not a film camera, the matrix metering in my D750 works much much better. The progression of time/tech.

Born2Late · Dec 2, 2017

Born2Late said:
I have a fair collection of classic 35mm cameras; something in the range of 35 with better than half being SLR's. Most shoot quite well, but some have meters that are a bit non linear due to aging CdS; and good luck finding replacements.

I am toying with the idea of purchasing a new Nikon F6 camera for us in critical applications. I already have lots of compatible lenses. I was wondering if any members have experience with the F6 that they would like to share.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for the input. I made my decision and ordered a new F6 this morning. I think it will make a nice companion to my D800.

Sirius Glass · Dec 2, 2017

Congratulations on your decision. After you buy the F6 and desired lenses, you can meet the GAS pressure by buying one of every Nikon camera ever made.

Billy Axeman · Dec 2, 2017

Congratulations! I'm sure your other camera's will be jealous so don't forget to take them out at times.

Theo Sulphate · Dec 2, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Congratulations on your decision. After you buy the F6 and desired lenses, you can meet the GAS pressure by buying one of every Nikon camera ever made.

...and that includes the 8mm ciné cameras.

Somewhere, someone does have a copy of every Nikon made.

LarsAC · Dec 3, 2017

Congratulations, you won't regret. The F6 is really a masterpiece.

Lars

BMbikerider · Dec 3, 2017

Welcome to the club! The F6 is a solidly built, no nonsense, but sophisticated film camera. A magnificent bit of the designers skill and interpretation. Add to that, the superb manufacturing of what was required to give the best results every time.

What I think is unique about the F6 was the small LCD panel on the back that after the correct buttons were pressed gave you the number of cassettes of film that had passed through since it was new. Not a direct aid to taking better photographs but a good guide to the use the camera has undergone through its life and an idea when it may be beneficial to go through a service check.

A cracking bit of kit and you will delight in using it.

etn · Dec 3, 2017

Huss said:
I have the F6, and while I like it, I don't get people's admiration of the matrix metering.

I think, either one knows how to meter and will be able to do it regardless of the kind of meter used (matrix, center etc), or one does not know how to meter and no amount of fancy 3D matrix whatchamacallit will ever help.
Modern matrix metering might speed up the metering process, though.

UK Roger · Dec 3, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
...and that includes the 8mm ciné cameras.

Somewhere, someone does have a copy of every Nikon made.

Wasn't that, at one time, L. Ron Hubbard (as in Scientology)?

blockend · Dec 3, 2017

etn said:
I think, either one knows how to meter and will be able to do it regardless of the kind of meter used (matrix, center etc), or one does not know how to meter and no amount of fancy 3D matrix whatchamacallit will ever help.
Modern matrix metering might speed up the metering process, though.

Agreed. I generally use full manual metering even on digital cameras, because the smartest systems do not know how I want an image to look. For instance in high contrast lighting I generally like crushed blacks with no shadow detail. Or I go for a high key look in mist and fog. This can be achieved by overriding an automated mode, but it's usually quicker to expose for the look you require.

cooltouch · Dec 3, 2017

I added the N80 to my collection for a few reasons, one of which was because it represents the pinnacle of Nikon's capabilities as pertains to consumer grade film cameras. Even though made mostly from plastic it is still a very nice camera to play with. For a similar reason I can see myself purchasing an F6 at some point -- because it represents the pinnacle of Nikon's technical abilities as pertains to pro-level SLRs. And of course, one of these days I'll have to add an FM3a because it is the best manual focus prosumer camera that Nikon has ever made. Although I think the FE2 gives it a good run for the money.

Sirius Glass · Dec 3, 2017

Born2Late said:
Thanks to everyone for the input. I made my decision and ordered a new F6 this morning. I think it will make a nice companion to my D800.

Sirius Glass said:
Congratulations on your decision. After you buy the F6 and desired lenses, you can meet the GAS pressure by buying one of every Nikon camera ever made.

Billy Axeman said:
Congratulations! I'm sure your other camera's will be jealous so don't forget to take them out at times.

LarsAC said:
Congratulations, you won't regret. The F6 is really a masterpiece.

Lars

And now everyone can pile on telling the OP what a terrible decision he made. After all this is the internet!

etn · Dec 3, 2017

blockend said:
Agreed. I generally use full manual metering even on digital cameras, because the smartest systems do not know how I want an image to look. For instance in high contrast lighting I generally like crushed blacks with no shadow detail. Or I go for a high key look in mist and fog. This can be achieved by overriding an automated mode, but it's usually quicker to expose for the look you require.

So true. In other words, do not let the metering system do the thinking for you
I am also convinced that an incident meter is a great tool to have, even with an F6 or a modern DSLR!

MartinCrabtree · Dec 3, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
And now everyone can pile on telling the OP what a terrible decision he made. After all this is the internet!

Ah ya shoulda bought an F5 and spent the rest on film.

Enjoy the new camera.

rrusso · Dec 3, 2017

MartinCrabtree said:
Ah ya shoulda bought an F5 and spent the rest on film.

No. It should've been an F100.

Wait, dials suck, knobs are the way to go....should've been an F4.

Sirius Glass · Dec 3, 2017

No you were right the first time ======> F100

Nikon F6?

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