Thinking about a used Nikon F5 or F6

[Graham_Martin]

The F5 may have a somewhat better exposure meter, but I didn't find it good enough to give up the F100.

 

[Chan Tran]

I regularly use the F100 but I've been thinking of picking up a F5 one day. I've never liked F100's matrix metering. I think it underexposes b&w film in some high contrast situations and I don't trust it any longer. Maybe F5's matrix would work better, who knows.

I like the F5 a lot but not the matrix meter. I found that it underexposes color negative film (and I would guess the same for B&W) when in high contrast situation. But to its credit, would give good exposure for slides in the same situation. In flat lighting it's ok. So using a fixed exposure compensation would not fix it. So I quit using the matrix meter also.

 

[F/1.4]

I shoot with a couple F100's along side my Contax 645 during weddings, I've always have tremendous luck and praise for the metering in the F100. If its backlit, than duh, you spot meter. But otherwise, just shoot at half-box speed and it nails it.

I don't like the F5. At all. It is too big (for 35mm IMO), too heavy, and you can't friggin see what AF point your using.

 

[PhotoJim]

I use my F5 a lot, and my F100 hardly at all - I feel bad about it, actually, but the F5 is such a great camera, it is my go-to film body. An F5 and an F100 make a terrific pair though.

I'd love to own an F6, but at current prices it's hard to justify. The F5 is 95% of the camera, and has features the F6 doesn't have like interchangeable viewfinders.

 

[Russ - SVP]

I use my F5 a lot, and my F100 hardly at all - I feel bad about it, actually, but the F5 is such a great camera, it is my go-to film body. An F5 and an F100 make a terrific pair though.

I'd love to own an F6, but at current prices it's hard to justify. The F5 is 95% of the camera, and has features the F6 doesn't have like interchangeable viewfinders.

The F-100 is much more compact. Has the much better "red" focusing points in the viewfinder (very important when shooting in dim light). Slap the MB-15 accessory grip on the F-100, and you have a better rig than than the F-5.

 

[HBOC]

I had a Canon 1Ds and sold it to go back to film - as I really hadn't ever shot with film and wanted to fine tune my skills . I picked up an F100 that was in brand new condition for $150 with an SB-28 flash. Same day, I also won an auction on eBay on an F5 that looked almost brand new (supposedly fewer than 5 rolls of film have gone through it) for $250 shipped. Got lucky on that one.

Anyways, I sold the F100 because the lack of mirror lock-up is pretty important for me. May not be that big a deal for others. Also, since shooting with a 1 series for several years, the "weight" grew on me. I found the F100 too light. The build quality on both are astounding. My F5 has been in steady rain already and is what I expected it to be - bullet proof I wouldn't get an F6 unless I was rich. I would much rather have a D3

 

[psychfunk]

I've had an F5 and an F100 with its grip. The F5 was great, but too darn heavy to carry round all day, whereas the grip comes off the F100 when they extra power isn't necessary.
I'd recommend the F100 (even without the grip) purely because it's easier to see the viewfinder AF points.

I don't see much point in the F6 although it is beautiful).

For AF work I have an F80 which is equally as satisfying as long as you don't hit it with bricks.
Regards,
Jake.

 

[airgunr]

I've got both the F5 & F6. F6 is a more advanced as it will give you access to the CLS lighting advancements that the F5 does not. That is the biggest thing for me. That being said, both are excellent cameras and very capable and durable.

The F6 is smaller unless you add the battery pack and then its basically the same size as the F5. I forgot the name or number but they make a device that you can plug into either camera and download the shooting data to a card.

 

[SafetyBob]

OK, let's just say I have an F5 on the way to the house in as good of condition as one could expect given it's been in the box and in a closet for a number of years. I don't have the serial number yet.....but.....if it works and works good, any reason to send it to Nikon for a once over? Should I dare ask how much a CLA on an F5 would run by the "factory"? From what I am led to believe, everything operates and works perfectly.

Crossing my fingers I came up with a good one.......I really lucked out on my F4 from KEH....it looked used but not abused by any stretch of the imagination.

Bob E.

 

[psychfunk]

any reason to send it to Nikon for a once over?

Bob, it's a pro Nikon, if it looks and feels okay, it's probably okay.
Test the meter and shutter speeds, and if they seem wrong get them checked out by a reputable local for cost & convenience.

Regards,
Jake

 

[SafetyBob]

Jake, you were spot on. Played with the new to me F5 tonight. This camera was a pro's and he obviously took very, very good care of it. Hardly a scratch on it. I mean it, it took me really good light to see some of the rub marks......I couldn't be more pleased. Test roll of Porta 160 in it for testing.

Bob E.

 

[henbo]

The F6 is smaller unless you add the battery pack and then its basically the same size as the F5. I forgot the name or number but they make a device that you can plug into either camera and download the shooting data to a card.

The device you are referring to is the Nikon MV-1 Data reader, which can download shooting data from both the F100, F5 & F6. I have one and is very happy about it. I use it together with both my F100 and my F6. Much more convenient than making comments in note books which never really worked for me. The MV-1 is unfortunately quite expensive.

I do prefer the matrix metering in the F6 over my other cameras with matrix metering (FA, F100 and D3). And the handling of the F6 is very close to the handling of the D3 especially with the battery pack (MB-40) mounted. When using the MB-40 with a EN-EL4 battery it seems the power will last forever.

Wkr, Henning

 

[cluttered]

The device you are referring to is the Nikon MV-1 Data reader, which can download shooting data from both the F100, F5 & F6. I have one and is very happy about it. I use it together with both my F100 and my F6. Much more convenient than making comments in note books which never really worked for me. The MV-1 is unfortunately quite expensive.

Agreed, the MV-1 is very handy. I used to use a MV-1 with my F6 and also with a F100, until the MV-1 decided to completely stop working

 

[Chan Tran]

Agreed, the MV-1 is very handy. I used to use a MV-1 with my F6 and also with a F100, until the MV-1 decided to completely stop working

I use Nikon Photo Secretary for F5. It can extract shooting data too but I use it mainly for setting custom settings.

 

[Vanishing Point Ent.]

Is there any reason you are NOT considering an F100 ?

Thinking about a used Nikon F5 or F6


OK… so at the risk of offending some forum members…
Be forewarned…
I will be using what some may consider a “foul” word.
No… it’s not that four letter word,
it’s actually 7 letters long… begins with a D and end with an L.

I am considering getting either a used F5 or used F6.

Body condition, shutter curtain,shutter speed sound, mirror and mirror foam is pretty
obvious to assess as to whether or not its been used but not abused. What does
concern me is that since the F5~F6 is less “mechanical” and more of an “electronic”
camera is there a way to assess that (i.e. “are the electronics n good working order
or are they prone to imminent failure”).

Of even more importance is “shutter count”.

I know that Nikon claims the shutter is tested to 150,000+ clicks, …BUT…
Is there a way to actually assess the actual shutter count? I know that with
a Digital camera (by the way, that was the “foul word” ),
one can read the Exif data to get a shutter count….

Any way of doing that on a F5~F6, getting the shutter count.

Thanks in advance

Not to be a TROLL, but is there any reason you are NOT considering an F100 ?

I really want to know !
I shoot Canon's, BUT some of my best friends used to shoot F100's.

The F100 is actually newer than the F5 & thus does do a little that the F5 doesn't
& the F100 sometimes won't AF Older Non-Nikon AF lenses.

If you are contemplating using G-Mount lenses , I would think that the F6 would
be the choice. The F100 may work too, but I don't think the F5 will.

Finally the F100 weighs less than either the F5, or the F6.

So, again I'm just really curious as to why this body has been rejected out of hand.

 

[SafetyBob]

The F5 actually does the G lenses. Did most of my test roll with a G lens. I think you hit the main points correctly......unless you want to play with older lens and/or you want the pro build, the F100 is a wonderful camera only out done by the F6 which is still much more expensive than most of us want to spend.

After playing with the F5, I must say I am extremely satisified with my purchase. This was the perfect upgrade to my F4S.

Perhaps another reason some folks prefer the F5 is that it is a good transition between the all knob operated F4 and the completely menu driven F6 and I believe that the F100 is heavily menu driven too.

The other thing that has kept me from the F100 is/was all the plastic stuff that broke or had to be sent in to get fixed. I believe on the early ones, there was a big problem with the plastic film rewind fork. I just didn't want to deal with that or it potential.

Bob E.

 

[vpwphoto]

I thought about an f6 but I felt the 1000 dollars I would save to be better spent on glass

Nik

^^^ I think it's only a $300 difference now.

I snagged an F6 at a great take it or leave it price last month.
It's a very nice camera, I thought the F100 was fine (and it is). But I really like the F6 the apparent size of the viewfinder is so big.
It's not much quieter though.