Which Nikon do you prefer?

Bromo33333 · Sep 30, 2006

Claire Senft said:
I have sitting on my closet shelf the following:
Ok then, I enjoy using 35mm. I REALLY ENJOY USING 35MM!!

Now should you rat me out and I find out about it your credibility with me will receive negative enhancement.

I won't tell a soul.

I like 35mm too.

gr82bart · Sep 30, 2006

I have a few F4's and have been shooting the street since university with it. It was my first 'pro' camera and I've taken them with me to over 30 countries, so my bias is for an F4, providing you can find a decent used one. Otherwise, I'd get the F6. Unfortunately, I haven't used any of my F4's recently since I got my Hassey (and my D2X). But that's just me.

Regards, Art.

Richard Kelham · Oct 1, 2006

I would add my tuppence worth to those posters urging you to get a rangefinder or at least an older manual Nikon (FE2 would seem a good choice for street photography, especially when fitted with a fast 28mm or 35mm lens) in preference to a whirring, clanking monster of an autofocus camera. Unless you enjoy getting beaten up of course....

Richard

j-fr · Oct 1, 2006

Karl K said:
I want to buy an autofocus Nikon body. I'm thinking of either the F100, F5, or F6. Obviously, the prices vary wildly. Can anybody justify the extra cost of the F6 over the F5? For that matter, can anybody justify the extra cost of the F5 over the F100?

There is one very good reason to buy the F5 or F6 and not the F100. The top models give you 100 % viewfinder accuracy. With a F100, FM2, FE2 - you name them - you only have 96 %. And belive me: those 4 % really matters.

My personal all time favorite Nikon is the F3. A true classic. But of course: no auto focus. So my next Nikon will probably be the F5.

j-fr

www.j-fr.dk

fotch · Oct 1, 2006

F3's my favorite. When shooting 35mm SLR, almost always grab one of my F3s.

Next for being more compact, FE. I also like the Nikormat EL (my first Nikon), and the F2. The FA is to complex for me. FG not made to hold up.. Have had FM, like the FE except manual, nice machine.

Claire Senft · Oct 1, 2006

J-fr-Are you sure the F6 gives a 100% view?

roteague · Oct 1, 2006

Claire Senft said:
J-fr-Are you sure the F6 gives a 100% view?

Yes, the F6 does as well. I haven't seen one yet, but I have the spec sheet - drooling....

Eric Rose · Oct 1, 2006

ok I'm an old fart. I love my Nikormat FTN and my old F2. Both very mechanical and a joy to use. I also have 3 N90S's. Nice you use, but don't have the same old world craftmanship feel as the nail drivers.

Pavel+ · Oct 6, 2006

I think the best all around performing 35 is the F6. It's performance will impose the least limitations on any kind of shooting choices you may make in the future. range finders are ok (I don't care for them personally) if you stick to the old idea of street shooting. I hate being constrained by no longer lenses - yes that is a valid street shooting style and it happens to suit better in todays paranoid climate where it is even less conspicuous than RF.

But the drawback of the F6 is the high price. I would go for a pair of F100's. For the most part they are as capable as the F5 and the batteries are great in that they are regular AA's. The viewfinder is fantastic and you have access to all the fantastic nikon lenses new and old. There are great bargains to be had with used nikon lenses at good prices in every local photo shop. For the price of one leica lens you can get a whole outfit.
You then have choices unparalleled. Fast auto-focus. Great manual focus. Very inexpensive f 2.8 lenses or modestly priced very fast glass, Wide angle up to ridiculous coverage and a viewfinder to use with them too or a 300mm if it suits your fancy that day. Hard to beat the cost and versatility on a good used F100 system.
That is what I'd go for - oh wait, that IS what I DID go for - when faced with the same choice.

paullgj · Oct 9, 2006

Which Nikon do I prefer?

I have an F100 which is a great camera, but, for some reason, when I go into the field, it's usually the FE2 and/or FM3a that go with me. Back to the F100, it is perfect - I'd chose it over the F6 based on lighter weight alone. Guess I'm too old and stubborn to learn automation - I also drive a stick-shift pickup that I had to do an internet search for three months to find.

michaelosullivan · Oct 16, 2006

The Nikon F6 by a landslide...It can even meter with older lenses, is the quietest slr around and rather than being orphaned by Nikon I have heard romours that they may introduce a digital back for it ala Leica R9.

Michael.

Black Dog · Oct 16, 2006

John Blakemore once said that it had all been downhill since the Nikkormat (ROFL)-personally I'd be quite happy with one of these, an FM2 or an FM3A.

Richard Kelham · Oct 16, 2006

michaelosullivan said:
The Nikon F6 by a landslide...rather than being orphaned by Nikon I have heard romours that they may introduce a digital back for it ala Leica R9.

Why? Seems an expensive way to get a D2X.

Richard

Paul Howell · Oct 16, 2006

Richard Kelham said:
Why? Seems an expensive way to get a D2X.

With a F6 and digital back you dont need to buy a new body for an upgrade. I have not used a D2X so I dont know how a D2X compairs with a F6 for F5 in terms of being weather tight, or its ISO range. There may be times when I would a really rugged camera for travel with the ability shoot TMax pushed to 64000.

keithwms · Oct 16, 2006

Oh lord, all of the Fs are nice. Pick a fave is like picking your favourite child. Apart from the standard F series cameras, I think the fm3a is maybe the nicest camera still in production (well actually it is just out of production now but it was discontinued very recently). It is very solid and has some niceties for those of us who don't like auto everything.

I had an F5 but felt it was overkill when I lost interest in sports. So then I downsized to an F100 and that I like very much, though the construct is miles away from an F5 or F6. Soembody said that the F100 is meant to be a backup and that is true, but bear in mind that photographers like Galen Rowell relied heavily on it. With a vertical grip it is quite sweet and not so heavy. I don't miss MLU on it, I find it to be quite well damped. The cheapo winding fork is said to be the major issue with it, but I haven't had any problems.

If money were no object and I were still using a lot of 35mm film I guess I'd go for an F6, but since money is an object, I am happy with the F100 and I spent my spare change on lenses.

Here is a recent shot off my F100, taken with a 180/2.8 on reala, as I recall.

albanv123 · Dec 2, 2006

I had an F100 and it was fantastic but a bit overkill for me. I only used 10% of its available functions. I am now shooting with something completely different, a Nikon 35ti. Small and handy, always with you and takes pictures of slr quality. How mad can one get ?

mw_uio · Dec 2, 2006

I have only one - F3HP! Why it has everything I need, especially the 100% view finder, self timer, Aperture Priority! In October I even purchased a new bottom plate direct from Nikon Canada. For Street, it rules. I got this camera in mint condition on ebay 2 years ago. I read the entire MIR site and that did it too me. I had to get one. If you think of it...which Nikon has seen more combat in the far corners of the world - yeah the F3HP!

FrankB · Dec 2, 2006

I have an F80. I've yet to find it wanting.

I've looked at the pro bodies, but they don't seem to offer anything that I really need, and the disadvantages (no screw-thread cable-release socket (usually), no on-demand gridlines, no built-in flash, additional weight, additional cost) make it an unappealing prospect for me.

If I were buying another Nikon, I'd get another F80. Now that production has ceased and prices are low, I may pick one up as a spare.

Black Dog · Dec 2, 2006

If you went to Don McCullin's retrospective at the Barcican a few years ago, then you might remember seeing his Nikon F which stopped a bullet in 'Nam-by 'eck they knew how to build things in them days.

Drew B. · Dec 2, 2006

Karl K said:
I like the silent modes on the better Nikons

"better Nikon???" Do you actually think there is a better Nikon than the F3? It is certainly not silent! Maybe the statement should be "I like the nikons that are more silent"

Karl K · Dec 3, 2006

Well, I sprung for the F100

Thanks to all of you for your experienced and illuminating replies to my original thread. In the end, the F5 offered no real advantage to me other than its build quality; the F6 is 'way too much money; the F3 and all other F manual focusing Nikon cameras are too slow. I really need fast and accurate autofocus because I'm shooting mostly wide-open. I just bought a used F100 from eBay (with the right to return it for a refund) and I couldn't be more pleased. The seller, a professional portrait photographer, said this was his backup body and it had seen less than 100 rolls go through it. He switched to digital for his portraits, so he threw in 46 rolls of various 35mm Pro films. I tested the F100 with my 20mm f/2.8AF-D Nikkor wide open at night on the streets in NYC with HP5+ in D-76 and the results are quite satisfactory. The focusing speed is almost instantaneous and the exposures are excellent, even under tough street lighting. I set the camera on aperture priority and shot wide open, not paying any attention to the shutter speed. My guess is that most of the shots were between 1/8 and 1/60. The shutter release is very smooth and the noise level isn't too bad, but it is a bit louder than my N80. I also brought along the N80 with MB16 grip fitted with my 20mm/3.5 AI Nikkor, loaded with Provia 100F, but the light levels were too low to shoot. Now I have both bodies in which I use nothing but AA batteries, and even a built-in pea-shooting flash for emergencies on the N80. That's why I'm keeping both bodies. I also have original F's and F2's in the Nikon stable, but they don't get used very often, except for copy work, when 100%viewing accuracy is required and the removeable prisms come in handy.

Oh, I almost forgot...I also still have my Bessa L with the 15mm Heliar for shooting from the hip. Please excuse me for now, I still have 45 rolls of film left to shoot.

salamandrine · Dec 10, 2006

I have an Fm2n and a FE2

FM2 is the apple of my eyes. I am so much inlove with this camera.
The problem will be when i get a F3HP, which a very evil person told me i will get for my birthday IN 3 MONTHS!

and then i will have the dilema: which one to grab?

life is unfair!

Daniel_OB · Dec 12, 2006

My favorite is Nikon F6, even I never used any auto..., but rather as F2. And I got my F6.

Some says two F100 is better than one F6 (price sake). I think if one collect for two F100 it is better to get one F6. It is not just machine that cost money.

"I have heard romours that they may introduce a digital back for it ala Leica R9"

F6 is with permanently fix door. You cannot take it off the body. Anyway who will make a sh** for such beautiful camera, probably and the "best" SLR ever made. And more soon and phone camera will get around 6 MP (or more), so. I just do not see any use of dig. back, except if you wish to take 4000... "pictures" on the way home (and in that case camcoder is better choice). It works with all nikkors, it is much stronger that any Nikon (no removable top, whole top as one die cast part with steel plate below hand grip rubber,...). Simple, that body, seems, will never twist. And yes it is around 100% finder. Add some Zeiss lens if you like, over AF1.4/85 Nikkor, ...?
www.Leica-R.com

bruce terry · Dec 12, 2006

Had a black F2T with the manual prism and it always felt as compact and swift as a Leica RF if I prefocused and forgot a big fat reflex lens was on the front. Dragged that jewel everywhere for years and years until the frame registery started getting out of whack. Shoulda got it fixed but I traded it while transitioning into LF. Now, eight years later, I'd like to have it back~

Tom Hoskinson · Dec 12, 2006

The Nikon SP is my favorite Nikon.

http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonsp.htm

Which Nikon do you prefer?

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