Nikon F4 opinions?

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MarkoKovacevic

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:( My F5 is totalled [shooting in the pouring rain=a camera that smells like burnt electronics] so I now need a new camera.
I'm not too sad about it, but rather am excited to try a new camera.

I'm considering the F4. The F5 was kind of too much camera, features that I never used, like the 8FPS film advance. I also prefer that the F4 seems quite a bit lighter than the F5, and it has the awesome manual controls VS the screens in the F5. I also don't need more than one focus point. I would miss the AF-ON button on the back, but thats it.

My choices are another BGN F5 at $300 or a EX F4s at $350.
What do you think?
 
The F4 has great traditional control dials/interface. I saw a clean F4 for sale somewhere on the net for $200.

Personally, I think that the F3 represents the pinnacle of 35mm camera design for the kind of photography that I do.
 
I've used both and don't think the F4s is lighter than the F5. The only advantage in weight comes when the MB-20 is used to convert the F4s to an F4. In light of this, I use my F4 more than the F5. As with what you said, I don't miss the multipoint focus or the other features offered in the F5. The F4 also has the old fashioned controls that I like; just like from any older Nikon. The best feature for me though is the use of manual focus lenses with Matrix Metering.
 
FrankS said:
The F4 has great traditional control dials/interface. I saw a clean F4 for sale somewhere on the net for $200.

Personally, I think that the F3 represents the pinnacle of 35mm camera design for the kind of photography that I do.
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I was considering a F3, but then I remembered, I have a SB600 which is pretty complicated to get working on it[adapter is $160 on ebay] and also the AF lenses I have would work on it, but the feeling of manual focusing with them wouldn't be right.
 
The F4s is big, heavy and old in years now. That said, if you are going to use manual lenses, it's the camera to have. When I moved to the F4s from my F3 and FM2 when the F4 was new, I hated the size and weight. After using EOS 1's, etc for years, it doesn't seem like such a lump! ;)
 
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After using the F5 for a year, I think the F4 is gonna feel light!
I'm using AF lenses, but not shooting sport or action photography. So I don't need the fastest AF.
 
what are the differences between the F4 and the F4S? i've seen the F4 only on the internet and they seem much smaller than the F4S. or am i mixing it up with some other cameras? also is the F4 a rare item? i see them only on japanese online stores, but never on north american sites? any reasons for that?

also, would it be easy to focus AI and AIS lenses on the F4/F4S? currently i use a couple of those lenses on an FM2. i was considering the F3; if only it had spot metering...
 
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For what it's worth, the size, weight and unnecessary features of the F4 were what drove me to rangefinders two decades ago.

That said, manual controls and versatility with manual and autofocus lenses is a strong plus.
 
Marko, I too, am moving to a F4s/MB21.

Moving from a F5 to a F4, there is nothing wrong. Great viewfinder, accepts manual lenses and 3 selections of different metering. If I were you I would go for a F4 as you have experienced a F5, unless you really need all it's functionality. Just do it!

Mark
UIO
(Next week my F4S will arrive!)
 
MarkoKovacevic said:
I'm thinking of just buying a BGN or EX N90s off KEH and spending the savings on a BGN Leica IIIc.
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N90s, or F100, both are real bargains, I have seen KEH buying them and they should pass along some of the pricing.

Midwest had a few, and Igor as well, from time to time, -- more of a demand thing.

Nikon Factory Repair guy replaced a switch in my N90, CLA'd and adjusted it, because it was the same labor, told me about the only repair he did on them was to swap out that $16 switch, it tells the camera when film is loaded.

I used the N90 and N90s with TTL and a Metz flash, and while testing to see what I could screw up, found just about any setting worked, the camera communicated well with the flash.

I have the F5, but remain more comfortable with the N90, F100, probably my learning curve is too flat?

Regards, John
 
My father had an F4s when I was a teenager in the 90's. I had a few opportunities to use it but mostly I used a hand-me-down Rolleiflex SLR (which was also great).

When I go see my father this summer I think I will shoot a few rolls through the F4s for old times sake. If I'm lucky he'll offer me my inheritance early :p
 
Heavy and big, but you know that. Controls feel more like a gun than a camera. Tight and well machined tolerances. When the AF locks it is very reassuring. Must have a big ol motor in there because the torque is awesome. On the downsides, I never got on w/ it's control layout. The viewfinder is huge, but you have to shift your eye from the view back down to the bottom to see the readout, and there's no thumb wheel on the back so you have to reach on top to set the shutter speeds, which means taking your eye from the viewfinder. I sold mine and bought a MUCH cheaper N8008s. Make sure to get the S, as it's the one w/ spot metering option. Much smaller and lighter and does 99 % of what the F 4 does. The thumb wheel for changing aperture or shutter speeds is great. I also had a F100 for a short while but it's mirror slap drove me nuts. The last N8008s I bought cost all of $27 at KEH. Best bargain in 35mm photography, and w/ an adapter you can use Leica R glass on it. Pretty hard to beat.

If you are using MF lenses, wouldn't the F3 be the best way to go? W/ a motor drive it's very fast to use, and w/o the drive it's relatively light and smallish.
 
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just 2 points to add, the F4 does not work very well with the newer AF-G lenses like the 70-200 and 14-24. It also does not support VR lenses.
Secondly, nikon stopped stocking parts for it many years back and will outright turn you away if u need it fixed (tried!!!). I'd look at the f100 if i were u....
 
F4's are great cameras on a tripod- but if you use exposure compensation handheld you might be disappointed. The rear dial setup of the F100, F5 & F6 for this is much better in handheld use.

I much prefer the F4 allowing you to see your settings without having to wake up the electronics- something that I was always doing with my F100- even at the longest awake setting it would often turn off before I could make the changes I was after when doing close-up work. Small annoyance, but after the 25th time in a day it adds up.

Compatibility with some of the new lenses is certainly an issue, if you have any VR or G's szekiat is right- not the same. I don't know if a G lens would work at all?

I've never held them side by side, but I'd suspect an F4s is lighter than an F3 with the big drive.
 
A used F100 would be my pref over the F4.

FWIW, The F5 should be pretty repairable. Those were meant to take a bit of a beating, and come back out the other side.
 
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