I bought a new F6

[SaveKodak]

Does anyone know how many rolls you can get out of 1 EN-EL4a battery?

 

[HHPhoto]

Does anyone know how many rolls you can get out of 1 EN-EL4a battery?

The official Nikon data sheet says 35 - 65 36exp. rolls depending on the lenses, settings and shooting operations (VR yes/no, active time of the meter, which AF mode, how much AF operation, which shutter speed etc.).

As some others here in the thread, I am using the Panasonic Eneloops and the MB-40 vertical grip / power grip.
I am very satiesfied with both. Optimal combination for me.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

Agreed.
I've used the F90X, F100, F5 and some high-end SLRs from other companies for years.
And then I switched to the F6. I've never regretted it. Best 35mm SLR ever.
Much much improved to all former Nikons including the F100 and F5. All of the design flaws of the F5 are gone in the F6. Nikon really listened to the critic of professional photographers concerning the F5. They solved all problems excellently with the F6.

Those who criticise (or even bash) the F6 in forums have never used it. They simply don't know what they are talking about.

I recommend the F100 and F5 for poor people with a very low income and students.
For all others with a normal income I highly recommend a new F6 with MB-40 as a "once in a lifetime" camera for the coming decades.

Cheers, Jan

Just to explain my statement more precisely.
Here are some of the advantages of the F6 compared to the F100 (and partly F5):

- colour matrix metering, even with older manual Nikkors (and the current Zeiss, Voigtländer, Samyang etc. lenses)
- improved database for the metering system
- i-TTL flash system (which works excellently, especially with fill-in flash)
- much better autofocus system with perfect AF-field layout
- more precise autofocus (and manual focus with the AF indicator)
- MLU
- mirror and shutter are much better damped, the F6 can be used with longer shutter times hand held
- works very silently
- much more robust construction, made for professinal use
- much better ergonomics
- much better vertical grip with better ergonomics and functionality
- better viewfinder
- 8 fps with MB-40
- film rewind in two speeds plus complete silent film rewind with a traditional crank
- integrated data back
- perfect EXIF data storage (seeable on the rear monitor; transferrable onto a computer with either the Nikon MV-1 data-reader or the new Meta 35 data-reader)
- perfect custom function system
- very precise, self-calibrating shutter
- perfect sliding covers for the PC sync and remote control pins
- still available new with full guarantee.

That are some of the main advantages. There are lots of further improved details.

Cheers, Jan

 

[SaveKodak]

The official Nikon data sheet says 35 - 65 36exp. rolls depending on the lenses, settings and shooting operations (VR yes/no, active time of the meter, which AF mode, how much AF operation, which shutter speed etc.).

As some others here in the thread, I am using the Panasonic Eneloops and the MB-40 vertical grip / power grip.
I am very satiesfied with both. Optimal combination for me.

Cheers, Jan

That's so many rolls haha. Given that I still have a D700 as my 2nd body at weddings I'm going to take everyone's advice and pick up the grip and the BL-3 adapter. Seems like a no-brainer to go all Li-Ion instead of those pesky CR123As. Though I will certainly miss the size advantage without the grip. Bah-humbug to non-standard batteries. I still resent the PX28 that I have to use in my Pentax 6x7. 🙂

 

[HHPhoto]

Though I will certainly miss the size advantage without the grip.

In my experience there is big advantage in ergonomics with the MB-40 grip (in general, for shots both in horizontal and of course especially in vertical direction). I am always using it.
And the different power options with the MB-40 are just great.

Cheers, Jan

 

[dave lackey]

Wanted to say well put, nothing to add.
John B. Crane
Curator, the Nikon F6 Project.

Hi, John,

Glad to see you here, welcome!

I want to thank you for all your work and contributions to sharing your experiences with the Nikon F6. I thoroughly enjoy your work. Please keep it going!!😃

 

[Skiff]

Hi, John,

Glad to see you here, welcome!

I want to thank you for all your work and contributions to sharing your experiences with the Nikon F6. I thoroughly enjoy your work. Please keep it going!!😃

+1 !

One very important aspect for me why I am so satiesfied with the F6:
No GAS anymore!!
With the F6, I can do 99,99% of what I need / want.
No limitation by the camera anymore.
If there is a problem or a bottleneck, then it is maybe me and my limitations, but not the camera 😉.

That leads to a very free and relaxed feeling in photography for me.

 

[HHPhoto]

Wanted to say well put, nothing to add.
John B. Crane
Curator, the Nikon F6 Project.

Dear John,

let me say a "hello" and a very big "thank you" for your wonderful work with your "Nikon F6 Project"
http://www.nikonf6.net/

It is an excellent source of information about the F6 and photography.
Please continue your work!!
Thanks!

Cheers, Jan

 

[Huss]

And at over 10 frames per second, I start on the drivers eyes and the eyes stay in focus throughout the sequence. It is unreal.

How do you see their eyes through the face shields on their helmets?

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I am about to put my one owner F6 up for sale here, regrettably, once I get pictures done for the ad. If anyone is interested, PM me.

 

[Mudman]

Electronic aperture control instead of manual. Only cameras D3 era and up can talk to the e lenses. A shame.

 

[GarageBoy]

Thanks, I've send you a pm.



The AF-D 2/105 DC is an outstanding lens. One of the best lenses Nikon has ever made.
Perfect match on both all Nikon AF cameras as on all former Nikon MF cameras.
The performance of this lens is already very good at f2, and from f2,8 to f8 it is simply perfect!
Excellent contrast, excellent resolution, no significant vignetting at f2, no distortion at all, wonderful bokeh (with and without the DC feature), very solid construction.
I can highly recommend it.

Would you choose it over the 85 1.4 AF-D?
Thinking of a tele for portaits to go with my 17-35 2.8 to cover all my needs

 

[Skiff]

Would you choose it over the 85 1.4 AF-D?
Thinking of a tele for portaits to go with my 17-35 2.8 to cover all my needs

Yes, I would choose the AF-D 2/105 DC Nikkor over the AF-D 1.4/85 Nikkor.
The reasons why I prefer the 105 DC:
1. It has better optics: The 105 has a very even performance across the whole frame. It is excellent both in the middle and also at the corners, and that already from f2.0 on.
Whereas the 1.4/85 is very good in the middle, but much weaker outside the middle. The performance is quite un-even across the frame.
And the 105 DC has no focus shift, whereas the 85 has a focus shift when stopping down.

2. I prefer the 105mm focal length for portraits, because you can also get pure headshots without any 'distortion' in the face. The proportions between the nose, eyes and ears remain intact at a subject distance of about 0.9 - 1 meter.
Whereas with 85mm focal length there is a very slight distortion at closest distance, and you can't get pure headshots at closest distance of the lens.

3. The DC function is a very nice addition. I like it for certain subjects.

 

[Photog9000]

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 used a pair of D2H bodies for a decade as a newspaper shooter and loved them! The 11-point sensor points I thought (and still do) were perfectly placed for my style of shooting. And the autofocus was just flat amazing as far as my needs. Having so many autofocus points these days makes it more difficult to change quickly like I could do on my D2H. Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[jbtran]

Yes, I would choose the AF-D 2/105 DC Nikkor over the AF-D 1.4/85 Nikkor.
The reasons why I prefer the 105 DC:
1. It has better optics: The 105 has a very even performance across the whole frame. It is excellent both in the middle and also at the corners, and that already from f2.0 on.
Whereas the 1.4/85 is very good in the middle, but much weaker outside the middle. The performance is quite un-even across the frame.
And the 105 DC has no focus shift, whereas the 85 has a focus shift when stopping down.

2. I prefer the 105mm focal length for portraits, because you can also get pure headshots without any 'distortion' in the face. The proportions between the nose, eyes and ears remain intact at a subject distance of about 0.9 - 1 meter.
Whereas with 85mm focal length there is a very slight distortion at closest distance, and you can't get pure headshots at closest distance of the lens.

3. The DC function is a very nice addition. I like it for certain subjects.

Hello Skiff,

Have you used the AF-D 2/135 DC Nikkor? If so, how does it compare to the 105mm and the 85mm above?

Thanks,
Joseph

 

[SaveKodak]

Hello Skiff,

Have you used the AF-D 2/135 DC Nikkor? If so, how does it compare to the 105mm and the 85mm above?

Thanks,
Joseph

They are almost identical in "performance". The only real difference is the extra reach if you need it. Frankly I'm surprised they made both, but if I was buying one or the other I'd have a hard time choosing.

 

[SaveKodak]

Electronic aperture control instead of manual. Only cameras D3 era and up can talk to the e lenses. A she.

A big shame, as I would love to use some of these new E lenses. Thank goodness they got the 58 out before switching over. The 28 & 105 E lenses look absolutely amazing. OTOH they are way too expensive so maybe I'm better off...

 

[Skiff]

Hello Skiff,

Have you used the AF-D 2/135 DC Nikkor? If so, how does it compare to the 105mm and the 85mm above?

Thanks,
Joseph

Hi Joseph,

yes, I have. The 105 DC is the "younger" one (introduced 1993), the 135 DC the older one (introduced 1990).
And Nikon indeed improved the younger 105 significantly compared to the older 135: The 105 has higher contrast, better sharpness and higher resolution compared to the 135.
The 135 is a very good lens, but the 105 is outstanding and one of the best lenses Nikon has ever produced.

 

[Skiff]

I used a pair of D2H bodies for a decade as a newspaper shooter and loved them! The 11-point sensor points I thought (and still do) were perfectly placed for my style of shooting. And the autofocus was just flat amazing as far as my needs. Having so many autofocus points these days makes it more difficult to change quickly like I could do on my D2H. Just my $0.02 worth.

+1.
The AF focus sensor lay-out of the F6 is perfect.
And I agree, the ridiculous high number of very tiny AF sensors in current DSLRs/DSLMs is more a marketing gimmick and something that often made it more difficult to use the AF.

 

[jbtran]

Thank you for your answers, Skiff and SaveKodak.