Talk me out of an F4

fabulousrice · Feb 19, 2021

I've never cared for Nikon cameras personally - they've always been associated with the gear / Leica fetishists in my past experiences and using the gear doesn't always make logical sense to my mind in terms of how they are designed/labeled/etc.

But if you've got an array of lenses that go with it, and are used to Nikon stuff, go for it! You might get a used one for cheaper than a snotty camera store.

ts1000 · Feb 19, 2021

@Horatio , another point against an F4 (or F5 or F6) -- is that they are way to complex to be serviced by an amateur individual.
F4 has about 1700 parts, and the complexity of this thing is staggering.

Horatio · Feb 19, 2021

ts1000 said:
@Horatio , another point against an F4 (or F5 or F6) -- is that they are way to complex to be serviced by an amateur individual.
F4 has about 1700 parts, and the complexity of this thing is staggering.

I’m not one of those amateurs. However, I think that’s a valid consideration for any camera with advanced electronics. It’s the main reason I own fully mechanical cameras.

Huss · Feb 20, 2021

ts1000 said:
@Horatio , another point against an F4 (or F5 or F6) -- is that they are way to complex to be serviced by an amateur individual.
F4 has about 1700 parts, and the complexity of this thing is staggering.

And yet they are more reliable than my Zenit. Which maybe has three parts.

Every electronic AF SLR camera is staggeringly complex. If your purchase decision is based upon your skills at being able to service it yourself, well that's on you.

Don_ih · Feb 20, 2021

The Kodak Pony had a red dot....

ChristopherCoy · Feb 20, 2021

Horatio said:
I’m not one of those amateurs. However, I think that’s a valid consideration for any camera with advanced electronics. It’s the main reason I own fully mechanical cameras.

Having recently had to search out the last remaining repair man in the Houston metromess to repair a quite simple, but all electronically driven 645E, I'm seriously considering moving to fully mechanical cameras with duplicates as backups in the next year or two.
Seriously, this old guy hobbled out of a dark room in the office, had wire frame glasses, weighed about 95lbs with shoes on, crouched over the desk to look at my camera, and one of his hearing aids fell out and onto the floor and he didn't even notice. Although harsh, it's clear he wont be around too much longer. Although he knew it was fully electronic and thought he could fix it, he was the ONLY person who agreed to take it on. One place I walked into shut me down and turned me away before they even knew what the problem was (see my customer service thread in the lounge area.) Two other places I called required me mailing the camera to them, and were willing to "look" at it, but were very adamant that nothing could be fixed because parts aren't available. And this is only a 17 year old camera.

Pieter12 · Feb 20, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Having recently had to search out the last remaining repair man in the Houston metromess to repair a quite simple, but all electronically driven 645E, I'm seriously considering moving to fully mechanical cameras with duplicates as backups in the next year or two.
Seriously, this old guy hobbled out of a dark room in the office, had wire frame glasses, weighed about 95lbs with shoes on, crouched over the desk to look at my camera, and one of his hearing aids fell out and onto the floor and he didn't even notice. Although harsh, it's clear he wont be around too much longer. Although he knew it was fully electronic and thought he could fix it, he was the ONLY person who agreed to take it on. One place I walked into shut me down and turned me away before they even knew what the problem was (see my customer service thread in the lounge area.) Two other places I called required me mailing the camera to them, and were willing to "look" at it, but were very adamant that nothing could be fixed because parts aren't available. And this is only a 17 year old camera.

Did you try contacting these folks? https://www.procamera.us/repair

ChristopherCoy · Feb 20, 2021

Pieter12 said:
Did you try contacting these folks? https://www.procamera.us/repair

Never heard of them.

If this guy locally can't fix it, I'll contact them. It was supposed to be ready one way or the other yesterday, but with the recent weather shutdowns it's been delayed.

Horatio · Feb 20, 2021

So, for those of you who have owned an F4, if one finds a 33-year-old copy with pristine LCDs, what is the likelihood of them going bad? I read somewhere that Nikon advised the LCDs would require replacement at some point for regular service.

Craig · Feb 21, 2021

I have two F4's. One is from 1988 when they first came out, and the second is from 1990. The older has slight LCD bleed, and the second is perfect. The LCD's that bled are in the prism, so it could be changed and the problem would go away.,

Horatio · Feb 21, 2021

Craig said:
I have two F4's. One is from 1988 when they first came out, and the second is from 1990. The older has slight LCD bleed, and the second is perfect. The LCD's that bled are in the prism, so it could be changed and the problem would go away.,

Craig, what is the serial number of your '90 model?

Craig · Feb 21, 2021

2429295. I'm thinking it's a 90 anyway, I might be wrong.

Horatio · Feb 22, 2021

Craig said:
2429295. I'm thinking it's a 90 anyway, I might be wrong.

Thanks. It’s my understanding that Nikon has not published much about the F4 serial numbers. Mine is 2429875. Ours could be from the same production batch.

Huss · Feb 22, 2021

What causes LCD bleed? Why do some cameras have it, others not, of the same age/model/brand?

Horatio · Feb 22, 2021

Huss said:
What causes LCD bleed? Why do some cameras have it, others not, of the same age/model/brand?

That is a very good question! Rough handling? Slamming the viewfinder into place? Poor production/QC?

Horatio · Feb 22, 2021

Check out this video (NSFW):

fabulousrice · Feb 22, 2021

Huss said:
What causes LCD bleed? Why do some cameras have it, others not, of the same age/model/brand?

I've read that LCD screens are built in a temperature-controlled environment and that exposing them to some temperatures can damage them. The screen on my Ga645zi died during the winter in France so I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason...

Horatio · Feb 22, 2021

This is what happens when you're a black sheep:

Works fine when the batteries thaw out! He didn't mention whether the LCD was affected. That would be more more interesting, I think.

Pieter12 · Feb 22, 2021

Horatio said:
Check out this video (NSFW):

Too bad he used the wrong sound for the camera...the F4 makes the classic snap/whine motor advance sound.

xtolsniffer · Feb 22, 2021

My F4 has a serial number of 2212824 and I've had it for about 10 years or more. It recently reveloped a slight bleed on the film counter lcd. Its always been stored well and used gently.

tomkatf · Feb 22, 2021

Big , heavy, wonderful camera. Used two heavily when I was a university photographer. For around 8yrs, when we converted to... you know what...
Never a problem, real workhorses in the Clydesdale vein...

Arthurwg · Feb 22, 2021

Suggest an F6. with a motor drive if you need it. Best 35mm SLR ever. But I will say that my F100 bought new and used lots still works perfectly and the rear door is not broken. I saw a new one recently for under $400.00.

Pieter12 · Feb 22, 2021

If I am not wrong, all the F Nikons have had an integrated motor drive since the F4.

Huss · Feb 23, 2021

Horatio said:
This is what happens when you're a black sheep:

Works fine when the batteries thaw out! He didn't mention whether the LCD was affected. That would be more more interesting, I think.

Not sure what the point of that was. Of course batteries work poorly/don't work when they get very cold. That's why Nikon made the external battery pack DB-6 for the F4. For people who needed to use the camera in severe cold conditions.

mshchem · Feb 23, 2021

Since this thread debuted, I've bought 2 classic Nikon AF lenses and a Nikon flash. I blame it all on the OP.

I'm complete with film cameras, I try feeble forays into the electron (di#$@al) cameras. Jeesh I need practice.

My recommendation is buy nice stuff that you can afford. You don't need expensive stuff to make great pictures.

I tell my wife that I'm a curator and am preserving this stuff for future generations. I think she believes it

Talk me out of an F4

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