Talk me out of an F4

[ChristopherCoy]

• Like see the depth of field through a stopped down lens
• See the effect of the polarizing filter
• Take light readings through the lens
• Not have parallax problems
• Power rewind

but... but... it has a red dot.

 

[Huss]

If the F4 is your favorite, there's no sense in having an F6. I mean, who needs all those extra bells and whistles right? I'll be happy to take it off your hands. Let me know if you need my mailing address.

I only keep that lump around for my Sigma Art lenses.

 

[Sirius Glass]

but... but... it has a red dot.

For a whole lot less money I can drip red paint on it.

 

[Huss]

• Like see the depth of field through a stopped down lens
• See the effect of the polarizing filter
• Take light readings through the lens
• Not have parallax problems
• Power rewind

Squinting works for the first four items on your list.
And the power is in my hand, as the Flying Spaghetti Monster intended.

 

[Pieter12]

but... but... it has a red dot.

Only red dot on my Leica (and the logo on the front is taped over in black, too).

 

[Chan Tran]

Then to save weight buy the F100 instead.

But I like heavy camera.

 

[images39]

I second the F100 recommendation. Superb, and available silly cheap, considering what you get. The F5 has an impressive winder, but if you don't need 5 fps or whatever, why would you want a camera that big? As Mike Johnston once said, "If I'm going to have a camera that big, I want a bigger negative." Well stated!

Dale

 

[Don_ih]

• Like see the depth of field through a stopped down lens
• See the effect of the polarizing filter
• Take light readings through the lens
• Not have parallax problems
• Power rewind

No - like, take a photo.

And you can do all that stuff you listed with a Minolta XG1, which you can get, with a great lens, for about $20 any day of the week.

 

[perkeleellinen]

I considered buying an F4 last spring for a project that needed a fast motor drive. Cameras like the F100 and F90X weren't fast enough.

The F3 only hits the maximum with a special battery pack so that left the F4 and F5 - they're about the same size and weight when the drive is on the F4. I much prefer dials over buttons so the F4 really appealed but I couldn't find one at a UK dealer that didn't have the LCD problem. I looked for about a month and didn't find a nice one so got the F5 instead. Perhaps demand for nice F4s is increasing and there's limited supply of ones without LCD issues or maybe I need to be more patient, but I wanted to shoot over the summer I couldn't wait too long.

 

[Huss]

No - like, take a photo.

And you can do all that stuff you listed with a Minolta XG1, which you can get, with a great lens, for about $20 any day of the week.

Yes but does that $20 XG1 come with a broken film back like an F100?

 

[Huss]

Only red dot on my Leica (and the logo on the front is taped over in black, too).
View attachment 266741

That button is very big and very red. Much bigger and redder than the Leica logo. I would have thought if you were trying to avoid attention you'd get a black one. Or a Nikon F100.

There is something funny about adding a big red dot to the Leica M5, as that does not have any red dots on it as is.

 

[choiliefan]

Yes but does that $20 XG1 come with a broken film back like an F100?

No, but it probably has a bad capacitor somewhere inside it.

 

[vickersdc]

but... but... it has a red dot.

Only the newer one has a red dot, neither of my screw-mounts do.

 

[Huss]

I like my cameras to be discrete so I can sneak up to people and take pics of the backs of their heads while they are at Starbucks.
















Of course my M7 has a black dot and no humungous look at me I'm a Leica red shutter button

;p

 

[Pieter12]

That button is very big and very red. Much bigger and redder than the Leica logo. I would have thought if you were trying to avoid attention you'd get a black one. Or a Nikon F100.

There is something funny about adding a big red dot to the Leica M5, as that does not have any red dots on it as is.

And it's covered by my big fat finger most of the time. I just don't want it to scream Leica.

 

[Huss]

And it's covered by my big fat finger most of the time. I just don't want it to scream Leica.

So why not a black dot?

When you pull out a camera as massive and imposing as an M5, you need all the reduced inconspicuosity help you can get.

 

[Pieter12]

Why should I need to be inconspicuous? I have never had a problem being conspicuous when shooting in the street. I even wear a Panama hat most of the time. People are so self-absorbed, in their own world, they really don't notice much. If I am in an area where I would be concerned about someone stealing the camera, it stays in the bag. If a thief was out looking to score a Leica, most would not recognize it as one, being an unpopular, black-sheep model. It is not as massive and imposing as, say, a medium-format SLR or a modern Nikon pro SLR, not much bigger than a Fuji X-Pro. And I like the pop of color it gives to an all-black camera, rather than something shiny. I can easily spot it in the camera bag if it happens to come off. And that red dot, when someone is facing the camera, is just a few mm thick.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Why should I need to be inconspicuous? I have never had a problem being conspicuous when shooting in the street. I even wear a Panama hat most of the time. People are so self-absorbed, in their own world, they really don't notice much. If I am in an area where I would be concerned about someone stealing the camera, it stays in the bag. If a thief was out looking to score a Leica, most would not recognize it as one, being an unpopular, black-sheep model. It is not as massive and imposing as, say, a medium-format SLR or a modern Nikon pro SLR, not much bigger than a Fuji X-Pro. And I like the pop of color it gives to an all-black camera, rather than something shiny. I can easily spot it in the camera bag if it happens to come off. And that red dot, when someone is facing the camera, is just a few mm thick.

You are correct. Most people are oblivious to things around them.

 

[narsuitus]

Are we trying to talk the original poster out of buying a Nikon F4 by talking about Leica red dots?

 

[Pieter12]

At this point, both and neither.

 

[Horatio]

Are we trying to talk the original poster out of buying a Nikon F4 by talking about Leica red dots?

Acquisition plans are on hold as I'm still pondering merits of the advanced F-body incarnations, but it won't be drawn out as prices are rising. It will either be an F3 or F4, or maybe both! The F5 is too big and the F6 too costly.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Acquisition plans are on hold as I'm still pondering merits of the advanced F-body incarnations, but it won't be drawn out as prices are rising. It will either be an F3 or F4, or maybe both! The F5 is too big and the F6 too costly.

Thanks for all the input.

The F100 came out after the F4 and is more advanced. I treat all cameras with care, but some complain about the rear door. The F100 prices are low enough to buy two F100s so you have a back up and still pay less than an F4 or F5.

 

[Huss]

Why should I need to be inconspicuous? I have never had a problem being conspicuous when shooting in the street. I even wear a Panama hat most of the time. People are so self-absorbed, in their own world, they really don't notice much. If I am in an area where I would be concerned about someone stealing the camera, it stays in the bag. If a thief was out looking to score a Leica, most would not recognize it as one, being an unpopular, black-sheep model. It is not as massive and imposing as, say, a medium-format SLR or a modern Nikon pro SLR, not much bigger than a Fuji X-Pro. And I like the pop of color it gives to an all-black camera, rather than something shiny. I can easily spot it in the camera bag if it happens to come off. And that red dot, when someone is facing the camera, is just a few mm thick.

Wait, so why did you tape over the Leica logo on the front of the kamera?

To the OP, the F3, F4, F5, F6 and F100 all have a garish red stripe on the front of the camera. I find it quite attractive..

The one you should get is the perfect condition F3P with MD4 motordrive. But only because I am selling mine and it is expensive. For a Japanese camera but of course peanuts in the Leica world.

 

[Pieter12]

Wait, so why did you tape over the Leica logo on the front of the kamera?

To the OP, the F3, F4, F5, F6 and F100 all have a garish red stripe on the front of the camera. I find it quite attractive..

The one you should get is the perfect condition F3P with MD4 motordrive. But only because I am selling mine and it is expensive. For a Japanese camera but of course peanuts in the Leica world.

Because even with the red shutter soft button, it is not usually noticed as a Leica. I shoot with the Leica because it is a robust, relatively reliable and repairable 35mm rangefinder camera that can take a number of high-quality lenses.

 

[Huss]

Because even with the red shutter soft button, it is not usually noticed as a Leica. I shoot with the Leica because it is a robust, relatively reliable and repairable 35mm rangefinder camera that can take a number of high-quality lenses.

Even Leica fans don't notice the M5 as a Leica, so I don't think you have anything to worry about.