Talk me out of an F4

[Sirius Glass]

I received the Tamrac bag today. It's about the size of a microwave (small microwave ) I need something that I can use for traveling by auto. This will be perfect. It's way crazy big for me to use on a day out.

I have several of the Tamrac Day Packs. They load from the top so nothing falls out when opened on the ground.

 

[CMoore]

I bought an F4, skipped the F5 and then got an F6. The big advantage of both the F4 and F6 to me is the matrix metering with basically any Nikkor lens. The F5 doesn't offer that.

It does not offer what....... Matrix Meter or MM with any Nikon lens.?

 

[mshchem]

I have several of the Tamrac Day Packs. They load from the top so nothing falls out when opened on the ground.

I have at least 3 times the bags I need. I have a couple good buddies, trying to be Pro during the Covid, both are great at the craft. I think I have a couple bags they can use. I have a nice pack. I bought a new fat tire electric bike, racks front and rear

 

[Craig]

It does not offer what....... Matrix Meter or MM with any Nikon lens.?

Matrix with almost any Nikon lens.

 

[Danner]

The F4 is heavy. The F4 was the best manual focus Nikon body. If you get a K-screen and manual focus the beast, it's nice. For primarily AF, get the F100, F5 or F6, all are much better at AF.

 

[Chan Tran]

The F4 is heavy. The F4 was the best manual focus Nikon body. If you get a K-screen and manual focus the beast, it's nice. For primarily AF, get the F100, F5 or F6, all are much better at AF.

Oh yeah an autofocus camera is the best manual focus camera. I heard that to many times.

 

[Horatio]

It arrived today. Looks and feels like a camera. This will take some practice.

LCDs are perfect.

 

[Huss]

The F4 is heavy. The F4 was the best manual focus Nikon body. If you get a K-screen and manual focus the beast, it's nice. For primarily AF, get the F100, F5 or F6, all are much better at AF.

I had the F100 (sold it before the back door broke) and still have the F6.
The F4 focuses just as well as the F6 for portraiture/landscape/street photography. I see zero difference.
Perhaps for fast moving objects/sports there is a difference, and perhaps also with the lenses used.
But in my use the F4 nails focus every time, same as my F6, using a 24 2.8D, 35 f2 D, 50 1.4D, 85 1.8G, 28-105 D, 24-120 G.

 

[warden]

It arrived today. Looks and feels like a camera. This will take some practice.
View attachment 267889
LCDs are perfect.

What?!? After reading your first post I spent the past two weeks composing a message to talk you out of this camera! Revision after revision, for nothing. Fine. Enjoy your camera.

 

[Horatio]

What?!? After reading your first post I spent the past two weeks composing a message to talk you out of this camera! Revision after revision, for nothing. Fine. Enjoy your camera.

I thought everyone here was an enabler!

 

[Craig]

That's a good looking example of an F4. I hope you enjoy using it.

 

[Horatio]

That's a good looking example of an F4. I hope you enjoy using it.

Thanks. It looks mint to me. Time for a test drive.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

The manual says the F4 can tear through a roll of 36 exposures in 9 seconds... how quickly can you tie your shoes?

 

[Sirius Glass]

It arrived today. Looks and feels like a camera. This will take some practice.
View attachment 267889
LCDs are perfect.

Now it the time to start buy lenses. Get to work.

 

[Horatio]

Now it the time to start buy lenses. Get to work.

I'm doing my research ATM. I'll probably start with a 28-105 AF-D zoom. Any other recommendations?

 

[Chan Tran]

I thought everyone here was an enabler!

I said so! I knew I can't talk you out of the F4.

 

[CMoore]

It arrived today. Looks and feels like a camera. This will take some practice.
View attachment 267889
LCDs are perfect.

That seems to be (one of) the main concerns with the F4.
I hope yours stays good for years to come.
I always hear what a great Manual Focus camera it is..... "The best Nikon ever made"..... but i have never heard why, exactly.

Hopefully your experience with AF is superb.!

 

[Horatio]

That seems to be (one of) the main concerns with the F4.
I hope yours stays good for years to come.
I always hear what a great Manual Focus camera it is..... "The best Nikon ever made"..... but i have never heard why, exactly.

Hopefully your experience with AF is superb.!

I'm sure that's because it will meter with MF lenses and has an electronic RF built into the viewfinder. But, I could be wrong! I have read its weather-proofing is excellent.

 

[Huss]

I'm doing my research ATM. I'll probably start with a 28-105 AF-D zoom. Any other recommendations?

50 1.4D

 

[CMoore]

I'm sure that's because it will meter with MF lenses and has an electronic RF built into the viewfinder. But, I could be wrong! I have read its weather-proofing is excellent.

That is interesting.....especially for 35mm SLR, but any camera i suppose.
They are So Often used outside, but they do not seem to be intended for anything but fair-weather.
I am not saying "water-proof", but as you say, at least with more thought toward "Weather Proof".
Look at the procedures that some recommend just to move a lens from one temperature swing to another.
I am not a Camera/Lens designer, so i do not know how Practical/Economical it would have been to make circa 1970-1980 35mm SLR and their associated lens more weather-proof than they were.

 

[choiliefan]

85 1.8D

 

[Greg Kriss]

Skip the F4 and go straight to the F5

Agree 100%. Every now and then I put the batteries back into my F5 and go out and shoot a few rolls of 35mm B&W film. Of all the F series, the F5 was always my favorite. Recently acquired a mint condition Leitz Focomat V 35 enlarger specifically for making Lith prints from those 35mm negatives.

 

[MattKing]

I'm doing my research ATM.

ATM's are how we refer to bank cash machines up here.
Coincidence?

 

[Sirius Glass]

I'm doing my research ATM. I'll probably start with a 28-105 AF-D zoom. Any other recommendations?

f/2.8 20mm - 35mm AF D
f/2.8 28mm - 200mm AF D

 

[Craig]

I'll probably start with a 28-105 AF-D zoom. Any other recommendations?

All depends on what sort of photography you want to do. Most of the first generation AF lenses are cheap now, and usually great condition out of Japan. I noticed a 35-70 F2.8 on ebay recently and was surprised at how cheap they are now compared to when they were new. The 80-200 F2.8 is another example. Slow AF, but great optics.