My like new Nikon F4

John Bragg

John Bragg

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Nikon F4 by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

So two days ago I took delivery of a very eagerly anticipated parcel from Japan. It contained a late production Nikon F4 body serial No 26******. I have wanted one ever since I saw a report of an embedded PJ losing one off the back of a tank in Desert Storm and picking it up with only minor scratches and functionally undamaged. One roll of HP5+ later and I am impressed. I will post some pics when I scan the film. I see the F4 as the last Nikon F pro camera that one can operate without a manual that makes War and Peace look like a brief resume. Knobs, dials and not a load of complication from various menus and sub menus. I think we are going to get along very nicely !
 
I like the F4 a lot, too. My father bought one for me, brand new, in 1994. That's the year I graduated from high school; the camera was for me to take to art school. Loved the traditional controls, and I still hate the modern computerized controls that I'm forced to use on digital cameras. I sold my old F4 years ago, and regretted it. I bought another earlier this year. Haven't used it much, though. I'm having trouble finding good lenses for it.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
I like the F4 a lot, too. My father bought one for me, brand new, in 1994. That's the year I graduated from high school; the camera was for me to take to art school. Loved the traditional controls, and I still hate the modern computerized controls that I'm forced to use on digital cameras. I sold my old F4 years ago, and regretted it. I bought another earlier this year. Haven't used it much, though. I'm having trouble finding good lenses for it.
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Thanks for the reply Chris. I already had an F5 and I love it too. However curiosity got the better of me and this has been my Unicorn camera for a very long time. Re lenses, what are you looking for ? I am using a 50mm f1.8 af v2 that came with my F90x and a 35-70 f2.8 Af D. I really want a 35mm prime and I already have a 28mm f2.8 Ais that is a stellar performer. I also have an 85mm f1.8 Af D and I really like that for portraits.
 
John Bragg said:
Thanks for the reply Chris. I already had an F5 and I love it too. However curiosity got the better of me and this has been my Unicorn camera for a very long time. Re lenses, what are you looking for ? I am using a 50mm f1.8 af v2 that came with my F90x and a 35-70 f2.8 Af D. I really want a 35mm prime and I already have a 28mm f2.8 Ais that is a stellar performer. I also have an 85mm f1.8 Af D and I really like that for portraits.
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I never liked the AF on the F4 so I decided to buy AiS lenses for it. I have bought and returned 24 lenses because they either had worn sloppy focusing mechanisms and wobbly lens barrels or they were optically decentered. I have two good lenses for it, a 50mm f1.4 and an 85mm f2. I've run out of patience; I'm thinking of just selling the damn thing and walking away. I wanted a 24mm 28mm and 35mm lens.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
I never liked the AF on the F4 so I decided to buy AiS lenses for it. I have bought and returned 24 lenses because they either had worn sloppy focusing mechanisms and wobbly lens barrels or they were optically decentered. I have two good lenses for it, a 50mm f1.4 and an 85mm f2. I've run out of patience; I'm thinking of just selling the damn thing and walking away. I wanted a 24mm 28mm and 35mm lens.
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It is hard to get decent kit without resorting to importing from Japan. I am lucky to have a good 50mm f1.4 and a 28mm f2.8. I am also not above using Tamron Adaptall lenses on my mf Nikons. The lenses are in plentious supply, but Nikon mounts are expensive and hard to get in UK.
 
Looks terrific, it's true about the AF lenses the plastic thing is a turn-off, I got a 28mm f2.8 AIS for my FM-2n and I forgot
how great they were built to bad they didn't do like Fuji did make most of there lenses out of metal.
 
I also like my F4 but i am not using it as much as i should

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Last summer i decided it was time to take it out and shout so more with it. I actually trust the light meter more that it's younger siblings (F5) with b&W film. The F4 tends towards a slight overexposure which i like with B&W fim. Here are some samples from the recent films i shot.

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p.giannakis said:
I also like my F4 but i am not using it as much as i should

Last summer i decided it was time to take it out and shout so more with it. I actually trust the light meter more that it's younger siblings (F5) with b&W film. The F4 tends towards a slight overexposure which i like with B&W fim. Here are some samples from the recent films i shot.
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Lovely photos Pan. I like them all, especially the portrait and the Wedding with the random woman taking her selfie. I also have a Nikon F90x and that deserves more use. It also has a great mete
 
p.giannakis said:
I also like my F4 but i am not using it as much as i should


Last summer i decided it was time to take it out and shout so more with it. I actually trust the light meter more that it's younger siblings (F5) with b&W film. The F4 tends towards a slight overexposure which i like with B&W fim. Here are some samples from the recent films i shot.
Click to expand...

These are lovely photographs. What film and developer did you use on the last photo?
 
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