Which Nikon SLR should I get?

chuck94022 · May 19, 2012

i.candide said:
After readong all the advice above, one question comes to mind...What type of photography are you interested in that requires spot metering? It is a tall order to get an affordable manual camera that does not have either center-weighted or average metering.

i.candide
Dangerous to oneself

This question occurred to me too. I never spot meter with my 35mm cameras. I usually grab them when I want quick shots, and spot metering, for me, is usually a slower process. When I slow down for an image, the camera gets bigger (MF or LF) and the separate spot meter comes out.

With 35mm, I trust the meter/automation more. I do sanity check things, but quickly. With the F4's matrix metering, it usually does just fine all by itself. I've had very, very few bad exposures with it. I never go to spot mode.

With the FM3a, the center weighted meter is well balanced to measure the typical scene. Plus, and this is a big plus, the needle indicator is analog and constantly moves as you move the camera around the scene. Many have complained about its lack of a spot meter, but frankly I don't know how I would use it if it had it.

fotch · May 19, 2012

If I could only have one Nikon, it would be the F3. If I could have 2, I would add an F2. FWIW

PS, my choice of F3HP, F3, F2, FE, FA, FM, FG, EM, Nikkormat EL, Nikondus III

E. von Hoegh · May 19, 2012

konsomod said:
Hello,

I have been shooting film for the past year and I am thinking it might be time to upgrade my gear once again. My budget is limited, and after considering a series of brands, I have decided I'll go for a Nikon body. I thought about Contax, but I wouldn't be able to afford Zeiss lenses, so would there be any point in getting a Contax body?

So, what Nikon body would you reccomend? I have thought about the N90s, F801s. AF is not really a necessity but is always welcome. I need spot metering, and manual ISO setting.

Thanks,
- Miguel

I'd go with an F and a handheld meter. Or I'd use my OM-3.

Chan Tran · May 19, 2012

fotch said:
If I could only have one Nikon, it would be the F3. If I could have 2, I would add an F2. FWIW

PS, my choice of F3HP, F3, F2, FE, FA, FM, FG, EM, Nikkormat EL, Nikondus III

Me too but the OP wanted spotmeter, AF is nice, Under 100 Euro and so the F3 doesn't qualify. I think the N90/F90 is the good choice for price/feature that the op is looking for. But I do feel the N90 period is a period when Nikon was lost and didn't really what they should do.

Pumalite · May 19, 2012

F90X fits the bill and it's dirt cheap.

EKDobbs · May 19, 2012

The only easily found SLRs with spot that I know of are OMs. Any nikon with something close to spot metering is not going to fall under the sub-100 or "film using" range. I'd suggest a cheap nikkormat or one of the plastic zooming ones, then get a spot-lightmeter when you get the money. That way if you want to upgrade cameras you'll still have spot metering capability, regardless of choice.

Sirius Glass · May 19, 2012

The F-100 provides a wide range of options and a wide range of automation from fully manual to fully automatic. I believe that it would cost less than the heavier F4 and F5. Whether you can get one in Europe for under 100 Euros, i do not know.

Uncle Bill · May 19, 2012

Paul Goutiere said:
Nikon F3!
Or, failing that:
F2,A,AS etc
FE
FM
FM2
FM2n
FM3a
F100
F4
etc.

Agree but I would add one more to the list the N90s/F90x.

one90guy · May 19, 2012

I like the N-80 much better for controls, I have owned N-90s but decided to stick with the N-80, did add the battery pack for better feel and AA batteries. And for basic manual the FM-10, mine is 13 years old, has had lots of film ran through it. And being unpopular can be found rather cheap. All cameras mentioned here are good cameras, they all have good and bad points.

Chan Tran · May 19, 2012

EKDobbs said:
The only easily found SLRs with spot that I know of are OMs. Any nikon with something close to spot metering is not going to fall under the sub-100 or "film using" range. I'd suggest a cheap nikkormat or one of the plastic zooming ones, then get a spot-lightmeter when you get the money. That way if you want to upgrade cameras you'll still have spot metering capability, regardless of choice.

There are many Nikon with spotmeter that are available for less than $100 euro (less than $100 USD even) like the F90, F80 etc.. It's the Oly that is hard to have for less than 100 euror. May be the OM2s but both the OM-3 or OM-4 would be at least 3 times the 100.

Rol_Lei Nut · May 19, 2012

At this point I should plug the Leicaflex SL: Spot (or at least semi-spot - definitely narower than Nikon's center weighting, though not quite as narrow as a "real" handheld spot meter) metering, probably the best manual focussing there is and somewhat good lenses

In Europe, an SL body often goes for €150-199

konsomod · May 19, 2012

Thanks everyone for the replies - I'll have to think about it. But I'll probably go for an AF body, maybe the N90s.

Vanishing Point Ent. · May 19, 2012

Which Nikon SLR should I get ? It Depends AF or MF, see Below V.

tkamiya said:
How inexpensive does it have to be?

F-100 can be had for 150 to 200 dollars.

It was an excellent Modern AF camera.

The Nikon F100 camera is the best compromise between value & features,

of all Nikon cameras. See web-site listed below V.

Just check & be sure that the back door controls work. They had a recall due to

door warpage leading to control failure.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/cams.htm

For Manual Focus:

Nikon F3 w MD4 ! Even a Nikon F4 w MB 21, when focused Manually is a great camera.

Or, failing that:

F2,A,AS etc., w an MD2 / MB1

FE2, FM2-2, w an MD12.

Dead Link Removed

sandermarijn · May 20, 2012

Reading this thread one would almost be led to believe that the perfect Nikon does not exist.

Chris Nielsen · May 20, 2012

Chan Tran said:
There are many Nikon with spotmeter that are available for less than $100 euro (less than $100 USD even) like the F90, F80 etc.. It's the Oly that is hard to have for less than 100 euror. May be the OM2s but both the OM-3 or OM-4 would be at least 3 times the 100.

I picked up an OM4 from the APUG classifieds last week for USD$100

elcabezagrande · May 20, 2012

sandermarijn said:
Reading this thread one would almost be led to believe that the perfect Nikon does not exist.

Or, that every Nikon is perfect.

EKDobbs · May 20, 2012

I think the compromise would be that, throughout the nikon system, there is a perfect balance. There's a camera for every type of photography, minus the fact that it's limited to 35mm format, of course.

Which Nikon SLR should I get?

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