I have the F6. IMO the menu design is awful.
From my experience with the F6 and other cameras for years I have to completely disagree.
Because
- for normal standard operation you don't need the menu
- the menu is very clear and self explaining, much better than the F5 and lots of other cameras
- the menu is mainly for the custum functions: so you once set the functions the way you need / like and - finished. Just use the camera the way you like, you don't need to go to the menu again.
Handling is nice but it should take AA or AAA batteries standard, w/o having to buy the big MB-40 battery pack addition.
No modern camera offers that, because it is technically impossible: If you would do that, the camera will get almost the same dimensions as with a battery grip. Therefore it makes no sense.
I prefer using the F6 with the MB-40 vertical grip / battery pack (using that with AA eeneloop rechargeable cells):
Perfect handling and ergonomics. And perfect power supply.
I much prefer the handling and design of my FE2 (and hence the FM3A) as I do not have to crack open the owner's manual to remember what it does after not using it for 6 months.
The F6 is easy to operate. When you have to look at the manual again after only a 6 month break (by the way: Why not using the F6 for six months?) then the problem is simply on your side (brain capacity, forgetfulness?), and definitely not on the camera side.
The AF does seem to be really good, but I rarely use that, preferring to use Zeiss glass on it.
I am also using Zeiss ZF lenses on my F6: With the AF indicator, because it is very precise (much more precise than the split-image indicator in my older Nikons).
I guess it gets this award because it is still in production.
No one would give an award only because a product is still in production.
No, the people here have really realised what a ground-breaking construction the F6 is.
Personally I would give it to the Leica MP if one was picking a production film camera, or the Nikon FM3A. Because the hybrid shutter design in that is really tremendous. No batteries, no problem.
A Leica MP or FM3A without battery is a camera without light meter. Really no fun to shoot with that......
The "battery topic" in film cameras is absolutely overrated:
In about 40 years of photography I had only once (!) a battery problem with a film camera. Guess what? It was in a Nikon FM.
I've never had battery problems in the F-301, F90X, F100, F5 and F6.
Never.
p.s. the upsides of the F6 - build quality is absolutely the best. And the dampened shutter/mirror assembly really kills vibrations so you can shoot it handheld at lower speeds than most other SLRs.
That is absolutely right.
