I bought a new F6

S

SaveKodak

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Ok, well I found an "open box" F6, and the shop cut me a deal, so I paid roughly what the grey market ones go for. But still, it was on roll 0. And now it has a 3 year warranty with Nikon!

My impressions? Well it's exceeding my expectations. Personally I thought the old D2H AF system would show it's rear in ways my D750s AF doesn't. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it is. I also though the AF spread would be constricting, considering it was designed for crop. Not so, the spread is great! The rule of 3rds points are pretty much right where I want them. That old 5 point system in my F100 feels antiquated. It's faster than the F100 for sure. Faster than the F5? Idk, I don't have one on hand. Personally I think the F5 is a non starter due to it's size. I'll take the better accuracy and point spread over raw speed anyways.

Am I wrong that the screen shows nearly F2 depth of field? I'd swear that it does. It's a fabulous finder. I installed a DK-17M and I can still see out to the edges. I have 4 rolls to pick up tonight (Provia, Velvia, and 400H), and if the focus system is as good as I think, I'll probably go back to the standard finder for the slightly better eye relief.

We have all these absurdly sharp lenses now. I'm using the Sigma 24/1.4, 35/1.4, and Nikon 58mm 1.4G. These three lenses are my basic wedding kit. I can't wait to see chromes from these lenses, particularly the 58mm. AND, given the data imprint system, if the 58mm is giving me trouble at 1.4 focus-wise, I'll know from the frame instead of trying to remember.

I also put the metering system through it's paces. I was up in MA last weekend and boy did we have some snow. On Saturday we went out snowshoeing, and I brought the F6, 58 and 24mm lenses. I did some auto bracketing (auto bracketing is WONDERFUL for chromes, after coming from an M4 here) so I'll be able to see the cameras pick, and then hopefully a salvageable exposure on either end if it got it wrong.

My goal is to integrate the F6 into more of my wedding work. 645 has really been the staple film wedding format for the last few years, and for pretty good reasons. But with 220 gone, Contax 645 prices through the roof, it's a harder sell for me. I always prefered 6x6 and 6x7 for MF medium format anyways. I personally think the Nikkor 58/1.4G is a good stand in for the Contax 80/2. Both were made to prioritize wide open rendering and 3D subjects (i.e. real people). If I can get 36 exposures, fast loading, AF that works, and decent detail from Portra films in 35mm I think it will be a great replacement for 220. Just have to test-test-test.

The F6 is amazing! Do Nikon a favor and get one.
 
Congrats! I too have the DK 17 finder but found the manual focus is so accurate it does not need it. I'll stick with the 17 for a bit longer for when I use my 105 1.8 AIS.
I set the AE lock button so that it holds exposure until I push it again to unlock. The default setting is it resets after one exposure. My only disappointment with it is the 3d colour matrix metering behaves just like an avg pattern. The blurb originally stated it would base exposure on what is in focus (if you have an applicable chipped lens). It does not, and is thrown off by backlighting. But it has center weight (where you can adjust the size) and spot so all is cool.
This camera is so much better built than my D750. A fantastic machine.
 
Someday I'll buy an electro body just for 58/1.4.

I'm judging only by flickr samples here, but this is like the only lens that stands out. And I don't think just because it's not "2017-internet-sharp" ;)
 
brbo said:
Someday I'll buy an electro body just for 58/1.4.

I'm judging only by flickr samples here, but this is like the only lens that stands out. And I don't think just because it's not "2017-internet-sharp" ;)
Click to expand...

Haha yeah. At 1.4 I can still count eye-lashes, and as you stop down it becomes absolutely tack sharp. It renders so beautifully, people just don't understand that. It's a gift to the wedding and portrait world IMO.
 
SaveKodak said:
Ok, well I found an "open box" F6, and the shop cut me a deal, so I paid roughly what the grey market ones go for. But still, it was on roll 0. And now it has a 3 year warranty with Nikon!

My impressions? Well it's exceeding my expectations. Personally I thought the old D2H AF system would show it's rear in ways my D750s AF doesn't. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it is. I also though the AF spread would be constricting, considering it was designed for crop. Not so, the spread is great! The rule of 3rds points are pretty much right where I want them. That old 5 point system in my F100 feels antiquated. It's faster than the F100 for sure. Faster than the F5? Idk, I don't have one on hand. Personally I think the F5 is a non starter due to it's size. I'll take the better accuracy and point spread over raw speed anyways.

Am I wrong that the screen shows nearly F2 depth of field? I'd swear that it does. It's a fabulous finder. I installed a DK-17M and I can still see out to the edges. I have 4 rolls to pick up tonight (Provia, Velvia, and 400H), and if the focus system is as good as I think, I'll probably go back to the standard finder for the slightly better eye relief.

We have all these absurdly sharp lenses now. I'm using the Sigma 24/1.4, 35/1.4, and Nikon 58mm 1.4G. These three lenses are my basic wedding kit. I can't wait to see chromes from these lenses, particularly the 58mm. AND, given the data imprint system, if the 58mm is giving me trouble at 1.4 focus-wise, I'll know from the frame instead of trying to remember.

I also put the metering system through it's paces. I was up in MA last weekend and boy did we have some snow. On Saturday we went out snowshoeing, and I brought the F6, 58 and 24mm lenses. I did some auto bracketing (auto bracketing is WONDERFUL for chromes, after coming from an M4 here) so I'll be able to see the cameras pick, and then hopefully a salvageable exposure on either end if it got it wrong.

My goal is to integrate the F6 into more of my wedding work. 645 has really been the staple film wedding format for the last few years, and for pretty good reasons. But with 220 gone, Contax 645 prices through the roof, it's a harder sell for me. I always prefered 6x6 and 6x7 for MF medium format anyways. I personally think the Nikkor 58/1.4G is a good stand in for the Contax 80/2. Both were made to prioritize wide open rendering and 3D subjects (i.e. real people). If I can get 36 exposures, fast loading, AF that works, and decent detail from Portra films in 35mm I think it will be a great replacement for 220. Just have to test-test-test.

The F6 is amazing! Do Nikon a favor and get one.
Click to expand...

Well, what can I add except to say my F6 is the best Film SLR ever! Just shot a roll of XX for the fun of it and loaded it with color film. Our Spring is early with colors everywhere.

Enjoy your F6 half as much as I do mine and life will be good!:)
 
It is wonderful that Nikon is still selling the F6 new.
I hope you enjoy the heck out of it.

I still have mine, although I haven't used it in forever. It's kind of on the shelf next to my 1961 Nikon F plain prism ... "the first and the last: the best of Nikon" ... I'm just not shooting much film anymore, other than Polaroid SX-70 typ instant film; all my film cameras sit and sit.

I must get to some 6x6 soon, and some more 35mm after that.
 
Thanks for the nice (and interesting) post, SaveKodak.

I went into some very slight credit card debt to buy an F6 (with battery grip) a few years back, and I will never, ever, have any regrets.

Those who really want one should go get one before they are discontinued. The F6 has been out for a number of years, and it is "likely" that Nikon will have some sort of cutoff in mind for its production.

I'd love to know what Nikon's sales figures are of these; has it been somewhat of a limited market? It was. of course, developed specifically for the high-end consumer.

It is currently the best and the last of the high-end 35mm film cameras.
 
They do sell new. I find with almost anything there are buyers out there, and then there are buyers with more money than sense. :) I was happy to buy new as I still got a discount for it being OB, and for the fact that I plan to use it on the job.
 
A while back I walked into a camera shop and had a fondle of the F6. I was (and still am) an F100 user. Always thought "I'll never lust after an F6 because the F100 is so good and so much cheaper..."

Anyway, I made the mistake of looking through the F6 finder. Damn it... it was so incredibly good. I've lusted after one ever since! Never felt that 'wonder' in any other SLR finder. One day :)
 
I have the F5 and at this time believe it's the last Nikon film camera I'll be buying...I don't mind the weight, I love the viewfinder, AF is fast and it meters B&W the way I like it...
Enjoy your F6...I hear its a blast...
 
SaveKodak said:
I assume it's default mode is to only be engaged as long as it's held down?
Click to expand...

It's been a while since I had it on the default setting, I think it holds it and turns off after one exposure. But that would be easy for you to check, you wouldn't even need to take a shot, just see if it stays on.

Back to the VF, it is the best out of any SLR that I have used. Makes it so easy to focus manual lenses, even though it is an AF camera.
 
SaveKodak said:
I assume it's default mode is to only be engaged as long as it's held down?
Click to expand...

It's been a while since I had it on the default setting, I think it holds it and turns off after one exposure. But that would be easy for you to check, you wouldn't even need to take a shot, just see if it stays on.

Back to the VF, it is the best out of any SLR that I have used. Makes it so easy to focus manual lenses, even though it is an AF camera.
 
And the film advance is completely silent. No whirring...not even the Hexar AF level of noise.

Had film cameras made it into the second decade of this century, they'd all come with winder motors like the F6's...sadly though we have the reality as is.
 
The F5 used to be my favourite Nikon until I was lucky enough to get a new F6. Less aggressive AF. Lighter, quieter and a viewfinder that is simply the best for either auto or manual focus. The biggest failing of the F5 is the NON lighting af points. In this respect the F100 is superior to the F5.
The F6 is superior to them all and the only people who say otherwise are those that haven't had the opportunity to use one.
 
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