benmacphoto
Well-known
The shop I work at certainly has a an increase in film sales, we sell more every year than the previous.
However, no one is buying new film cameras.
Used film cameras sell daily.
But no one is buying a new F6, 1V, MP or MA.
agentlossing
Well-known
The F6 is a pro camera, and most of the increasing film demand is probably coming from either non-pros, or at least hybrid photographers who aren't looking for a big SLR.
astrobuoy
Established
I've come close to buying a used F6 in the past, but each time bumped up against the reality that the F100 does 8/10ths the same thing for 1/10th the cost, and in a smaller, lighter body. I mostly use manual lenses so don't care about more AF zones or AF speed, and I've cpu chipped the older lenses myself so I get matrix metering and focus confirmation on the F100. The only thing that appeals to me is the between-frame printing of exposure information and EXIF data that the F6 gives you, since I'm terrible at photo memo'ing my shots. But that alone doesn't seem worth the cost or weight. I'd love to hear if anyone has any strong arguments in favor of the F6 over the F100 though!
All the same, the end of the F6 strikes me as a bit of a loss, but maybe it's more symbolic than anything...
All the same, the end of the F6 strikes me as a bit of a loss, but maybe it's more symbolic than anything...
Archlich
Well-known
Well look at how even price of Bronicas (especially the SQ series and the panorama backs) have been going up. People can dig cameras big and small - as long as they're available used and thus, cheap.
The F6 isn't cheap. Nor to mention a brand new one.
f.hayek
Well-known
frank-grumman
Well-known
IIRC spent $750 for mine. Just offered $950 net. Out of my cold, dead hands 
Sierra Club
Established
Over here in Potatoland the price of new F6 is about 10$ less than D850.
It's really hard to justify purchase of F6 when F3s / FM2s can still be bought in mint condition for 1/10 the price. Granted, it's more a collectible than a user camera at this point and goes in value because of scarsity. It's still a magnificent feat of engineering though, don't get me wrong - I'd love to have one.
Curious thing is, however - in 10 to 15 years from now, when miniaturization and manufacturing methods are sufficiently advanced to cheaply produce digital film for old analog cameras - which of the film bodies will go up in price, F6 or F3?
My bet is on F2 / FM2 / F3 etc. Not because they are automated to a degree that puts them closer to D series rather than the original F, but precisely because they are not. If that makes any sense at all.
Sad news anyway.
It's really hard to justify purchase of F6 when F3s / FM2s can still be bought in mint condition for 1/10 the price. Granted, it's more a collectible than a user camera at this point and goes in value because of scarsity. It's still a magnificent feat of engineering though, don't get me wrong - I'd love to have one.
Curious thing is, however - in 10 to 15 years from now, when miniaturization and manufacturing methods are sufficiently advanced to cheaply produce digital film for old analog cameras - which of the film bodies will go up in price, F6 or F3?
My bet is on F2 / FM2 / F3 etc. Not because they are automated to a degree that puts them closer to D series rather than the original F, but precisely because they are not. If that makes any sense at all.
Sad news anyway.
Dogman
Veteran
And the price of used cameras, both film and digital, seems to be going up as the supply goes down. I check some of the big sites frequently since I've become a collector of older Nikon digitals--it was accidental, I just like the way the 10/12mp files look. Everyone's prices are rising and there's fewer cameras available these days.
Where are the usual film zealots to tell us the "real" story? Perhaps they are just clearing the way for the F7?
with Nikon in trouble,
maybe Leica will buy Nikon and make a fortune with
gold Hermes F6s or Lennie Kravitz black paint pre brassed F6s!
css9450
Veteran
Disappointed_Horse
Well-known
I'm sure the F6 is a fantastic camera but to me it just seems too close to using a DSLR (and a 15 year old DSLR at that). While I much prefer shooting film in my manual focus Nikon and Pentax SLRs, I would buy a D780 or a D850 over a new F6 (or, much more likely, just use the D40 and D7000 that I already have).
Timmyjoe
Veteran
If you love to shoot B&W film, which I do, the F6 is pretty amazing. It's the metering, the way it reads the light in the scene, they must have done some pretty amazing things with the light meter algorithms because I've owned and used all the Nikon F pro bodies (F, F2, F3HP, F4s, F5) and none of them give me the exposures the F6 does, regardless of the shooting situation. Looking at it from a practical standpoint, it makes no sense, but a pro advertising photographer that I know says he has the same experience with his F6. It just nails exposure with B&W film.
It's certainly not the camera for every kind of shooting, but for what it does, it does it really well.
My 2¢ worth.
Best,
-Tim
It's certainly not the camera for every kind of shooting, but for what it does, it does it really well.
My 2¢ worth.
Best,
-Tim
Mackinaw
Think Different
No doubt Nikon's financials are not in a good place. A podcast i listened to said they've drastically cut R&D. Meanwhile, both Sony and Canon are pouring it on.
Jim B.
Archlich
Well-known
Weirdly I don't find the F6 to be digital or outdated at all, although its D2H era features are certainly dated in the digital world. Could be that you automatically compare it to its film peers - among which it still reigns.
It's a damn nice camera that's built a touch more solid than similar sans-battery-grip digital bodies like the D700 and D800. It's a flagship model after all and the only one of its kind.
Indeed it's a camera of sentimental value. It's the last. Which means it'll never get outdated.
It's a damn nice camera that's built a touch more solid than similar sans-battery-grip digital bodies like the D700 and D800. It's a flagship model after all and the only one of its kind.
Indeed it's a camera of sentimental value. It's the last. Which means it'll never get outdated.
View Range
Well-known
The autofocus system in the F6 is way outdated. There is no reason the autofocus system from the D6 could not have been installed. My desperate hope is that the F6 was discontinued because an F7 is about to be released.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
The F6 was never intended to be the main camera used by pros - it was not intended to replace the F5. This was stated by Tomohisa Ikeno, who said the driving force for the F6 was for those who "value unique pictures" (that is, an immutable image on film).
https://f6project.com/inspiration/the-value-of-unique-pictures/
I suspect that the romantics at Nikon (and I'm a romantic also) have had a tough battle with the bean counters in justifying keeping the F6 line's continued operation. Well, at least Nikon does revere their own past, as indicated by the SP/S3 reissue as well as the Df.
But I highly doubt that in this cut-throat photography market that there's any possibility of resources and capital which would go to an F7. Not going to happen.
https://f6project.com/inspiration/the-value-of-unique-pictures/
I suspect that the romantics at Nikon (and I'm a romantic also) have had a tough battle with the bean counters in justifying keeping the F6 line's continued operation. Well, at least Nikon does revere their own past, as indicated by the SP/S3 reissue as well as the Df.
But I highly doubt that in this cut-throat photography market that there's any possibility of resources and capital which would go to an F7. Not going to happen.
Sierra Club
Established
That's a very interesting site. I really like the 1001 Nights articles on the Nikon page and this piece on F6 reminded me of those. Thanks for sharing.
Uncle Bill
Well-known
The F6 has been discontinued in Canada for a few years now. Sadly due to country agreements I can't buy one new from the US, not that it matters as it shows backordred at BH Photo. It would be really cool to own one as it was the leap forward from the F5 but in an F100 sized body.
jchfriis
Established
I must say that I lament the demise of the FM3A much more than the F6. I think that if the FM3A was available today it would sell a lot more than the F6.