NIKON F5 and F100

[barnwulf]

Wonderful, I am glad you are enjoying these cameras. I had a couple of F100 bodies and loved them. Wonderful cameras. I thought the F5 was a little too big and didn't need it for what I was doing. Jim

 

[jvan01]

I picked up an F100 in minty shape with box for $100 a few weeks ago. The autofocus on it is great, and it takes very sharp photos with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 mounted on it most of the time.

 

[dave lackey]

Never was able to actually purchase the F100 when I had my F5. But using the F5 with the 28-105 AF zoom and Velvia was amazing! I was recently reminded of that combination when using that lens and film on my minty N4004s at the beach on Mother's Day...stunning!

The F5 (and the F100) is a wonderful experience, highly recommended!🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I got my F100 first, and then the F5. With time, I replaced their original screens with E-types and now both have G-lenses on all the time (F100 and the AF-S 24-85 f3.5-4.5; F5 with the AF-S 24-120 f3.5-5.6). Granted, the F5 is HEAVY, but it feels thoroughly reliable and good.

I could part with my F80, but it's not going to be easy to do anything about these two bodies. Both have come through for me at all times.

Congratulations on your purchase! 🙂

 

[nobbylon]

Are you talking F4 or F4s? I was recently able to score an MB-20 grip, converting from an F4s to F4 absolutely transformed the camera for me. The weight/size difference was night and day.

AF doesn't break any speed records, but I tend to use mine as a platform for MF lenses anyways.

Yes I had the F4s. It was in lovely condition and luckily I bought my F5 for the same price that I sold the F4s.

 

[Hatch]

Yep love the F5.

Strangely though the AF seems a lot smoother and faster than my D2x.

But I usually use the F5 so I sold the D2x after getting the NEX.

 

[leica M2 fan]

I'm going to use them both over the next few months with some Leica R lenses I have.
Manual focus with the F5 is so easy using the focus indicator at top right of finder. Just turn until it goes green. I've added a DK17m eyepiece magnifier and the viewfinder is even better now than standard.
If anyone else is struggling with focus I can recommend both of these for those of us wanting to shoot some film.

Nobbylon- I'm interested in getting a couple Leica manual focus lenses for my F100, what adapter do you recommend? And which lenses, early or later ones.

 

[nobbylon]

I'm using these

http://www.leitax.com/leica-lens-for-nikon-cameras.html

they are great quality and easy to fit.

I can only tell you what i've used so far and say that I have been very happy with the results with my D700.
Of course the results with film are identical whether you use the R glass on Nikon or Leica cameras.
35 Summicron 1978 pull out hood version
50 Summicron 1996 pull out hood version
90 Elmarit 1983 pull out hood version

I also had a 35 Elmarit E55 late version which was fantastic but sold as I have the Summicron. It was a bit sharper but ultimately I preffered the 'cron.
Good luck and get them soon as prices for R glass have gone bananas too!
regards j

 

[nikon_sam]

Most of the normal screens for the F4 & F5's don't have a split or microprism assuming the user will mostly use AF lenses (or has young eyes)...
I have the "E" screens in both and a "K" screen in another F4...the "K" screen does have the split & microprism...
I find the split (or rangefinder) screen harder and slower to use...the "J" screen just has the microprism and I'm hoping it's a big enough area to make focusing easier...
I don't have the new screen yet as I just bought it off ebay a few days ago...$9.99 with free shipping...it was priced right...and brand new...

 

[Nikonsnapper]

I have an F5 and havn't used it at all since I got the M7. I must say that I didn't know about the manual focus indicator you mentioned. I must run a film through it very soon.

 

[nikon_sam]

Looking at the Katzeye site it appears that they don't support film cameras only digital ones...

 

[nikon_sam]

I have an F5 and havn't used it at all since I got the M7. I must say that I didn't know about the manual focus indicator you mentioned. I must run a film through it very soon.

The "Green" light in the upper right hand of the viewfinder will light up when whatever you're focusing on is in focus whether using AF or manual...
The green light is situated between two red arrows indicating which direction you're out of focus...
The F4 & F5 both have this feature and will work with or without film loaded...

 

[nobbylon]

The arrows work in reverse when using Leica R lenses.
With Nikkors you turn the focus ring in the direction of the arrows.
With Leica R you turn the focus ring opposite to the arrows.
In use this becomes second nature and i've not had a problem when using R on the D700.
The nice thing with the F5 is the different colours, Red arrows and Green circle and they are bigger than any of the other Nikons I've used.

 

[dave lackey]

I'm using these

http://www.leitax.com/leica-lens-for-nikon-cameras.html

they are great quality and easy to fit.

I can only tell you what i've used so far and say that I have been very happy with the results with my D700.
Of course the results with film are identical whether you use the R glass on Nikon or Leica cameras.
35 Summicron 1978 pull out hood version
50 Summicron 1996 pull out hood version
90 Elmarit 1983 pull out hood version

I also had a 35 Elmarit E55 late version which was fantastic but sold as I have the Summicron. It was a bit sharper but ultimately I preffered the 'cron.
Good luck and get them soon as prices for R glass have gone bananas too!
regards j

Don't you just love those R lenses?😀

 

[nobbylon]

Don't you just love those R lenses?😀

Heaven in photogear would be all those I have but with autofocus and used with my Nikon bodies.

 

[grainhound]

Nikon Sam, I think you'll enjoy using the J screen. Mine hasn't come out of my F5 since I got it, probably from the same supplier. I was surprised to find I prefer the microprism to the split, except possibly for wide angle lenses. Wide angle lens difficulties (not so bad, really), and the fact that only the centre focusing spot works with it in AF are the only disadvantages I can see. I don't do action stuff that requires focus tracking anyway, and I have only two AF lenses, so I don't bother to change back to the standard screen for AF.

 

[L. M. Tu]

Nikon Sam said "the "J" screen just has the microprism and I'm hoping it's a big enough area to make focusing easier..."

Sam, can you get an F screen for the F5? It's like a J screen, except the microprism area in the center is much larger, 12mm vs. 3mm in diameter. I don't even know if an F screen was made available for the F5; however, it was an option for all previous F-model bodies.

 

[nikon_sam]

Nikon Sam said "the "J" screen just has the microprism and I'm hoping it's a big enough area to make focusing easier..."

Sam, can you get an F screen for the F5? It's like a J screen, except the microprism area in the center is much larger, 12mm vs. 3mm in diameter. I don't even know if an F screen was made available for the F5; however, it was an option for all previous F-model bodies.

There is no "F" screen for the F5...the closest to it would be a "G" screen but they say you lose the ability to use your Depth of Field preview...
The "G" screen has a 12mm microprism spot...
I have a "K" screen in one F4 and it has a small microprism ring around the rangefinder split and that helps, so I'm thinking that a whole 5mm spot will work better...
I just miss not having anything to help focusing on the F5's "E" screen...:bang:

 

[sanmich]

Hi Zurab, prices seem to be around 800-900 pounds for the F6 however it doesn't have the nifty green and red rangefinder focus aid that the f4 and f5 have so for me it's a non starter. Plus you can get 4 F5's for an F6!
The F100's are so cheap it's ridiculous. Plenty around for €120-150.

Want cheap?

I got my N90x for 35$ from KEH a year or so ago.
I'm sure the F100 is a better camera, but I couldn't pass on this one...

 

[nobbylon]

The F90x was also a camera I really liked. I sold mine when I bought a D70 when they came out. It's only failing today is that it doesn't fit in with using multiple bodies. ie D3, D700, F5, F100 which all share the same basic control and menu layout. I like being able to just pick up any of them and not have to wonder what button does what. A lot of words are written about how complicated these Slr's are but once they are set up, they are the easiest thing to shoot with.