NIKON F5 and F100

[nobbylon]

I just got my first rolls back from the newly aquired F5 and F100 and have to say it's a joy when every single shot is in focus! I'm not saying they are all great pics but at least focus and exposure is spot on.
The best way I can describe the F5 is a rubber covered metal block!
It dwarfs the F100 which is no small camera itself. 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.

 

[dave lackey]

Yeah, I miss my F5.

But you have the perfect combo with the large and small versions! Way to go!

 

[shadowfox]

That first picture, is very interesting.
The muted colors and the focus at the edge of the depth-of-field yields a cool-looking effect.

 

[filmfan]

I have the F5 and although I don't enjoy using it, it does give me very enjoyable results. Plus, I never have to worry about it.

 

[kshapero]

Using what MF lenses?

 

[Phantomas]

Personally I'm hunting for F6. Would love to shoot some B&W film with ultra-modern G lenses. Unfortunatelly the prices of F6 are sky high, second-hand and new. On the other hand Canon's 1V can be had dirt cheap in mint condition.

 

[nikon_sam]

I have the F5 too and when using manual lenses I'll resort to looking at the Green indicator light in the viewfinder for focus especially in low light conditions...
Mine came with the standard "B" screen but I changed it to the "E" Grid screen...
In looking for another screen I've found that the "J" screen has a 5mm microprism spot without the rangefinder split...for the price I figure it was worth a try...
These days I'm finding that the microprism screens are easier for me to use...

 

[yossarian123]

Personally I'm hunting for F6. Would love to shoot some B&W film with ultra-modern G lenses. Unfortunatelly the prices of F6 are sky high, second-hand and new. On the other hand Canon's 1V can be had dirt cheap in mint condition.

The F5 & F100 both fully support G lenses. I also get limited support for G lenses with my F4. Or do you just have raging F6 lust?

I used to have both, but I recently sold my F100 (in part to finance an M3). I found that I greatly preferred the F5, probably because of the amazing build quality and improved meter. The 1005 segment matrix meter is just uncanny.

 

[FrankS]

I have a similar pair, but a generation earlier: the F4 and F801s.

 

[Phantomas]

Or do you just have raging F6 lust?

That
Mostly to avoid built-in grip of F5. I must admit, I haven't done a proper research on these two models and the differences though.

 

[nobbylon]

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.

 

[nobbylon]

Using what MF lenses?

My manual lens list for my Nikon's both film and digital is,

28 2.8 AIS Nikkor
35 f2 Summicron-R
50 f2 H Nikkor
50 f2 Summicron-R
90 2.8 Elmarit-R
105 2.5 AI Nikkor

For A/F I only have 3 now

50 1.4 D Nikon
24-70 2.8 Nikon
70-210 Nikon

The 24-70 and the 50 1.4 get the most use now as they are always with me.
regards J

 

[nobbylon]

That first picture, is very interesting.
The muted colors and the focus at the edge of the depth-of-field yields a cool-looking effect.

Thanks, I liked it for those reasons too. I'm goint to get a print done of it for my wall. regards j

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Nikon just had their mojo down with AF since the F4. I have the F4 and the F5. For completely non-rational reasons, I prefer the F4 -- I just like the way it feels in the hand. Also, I have had it since 1991, so I have had a lot of time to get used to it. In terms of what it does, the F5 beats the F4 on the numbers, but they are both great machines.

Ben

 

[filmfan]

Thanks, I liked it for those reasons too. I'm goint to get a print done of it for my wall. regards j

Looks like the Summicron-R 50mm took that. No?

 

[nobbylon]

Ben,
it's odd but I felt that the F4 although comfortable, was just too big. Odd because I think the F5 is bigger and heavier. It just doesn't feel it.
I sold my F4 though because it felt slow on A/F and it didn't really mix with my d700.

 

[nobbylon]

Looks like the Summicron-R 50mm took that. No?

It was taken with my 24-70 2.8 Nikon. I haven't used the R's on the F5 and F100 yet.

 

[filmfan]

It was taken with my 24-70 2.8 Nikon. I haven't used the R's on the F5 and F100 yet.

Nice work. I was going with the " I'm going to use them both over the next few months with some Leica R lenses I have." part...

 

[nobbylon]

Nice work. I was going with the " I'm going to use them both over the next few months with some Leica R lenses I have." part...

One of the reasons I like the 24-70 is that it does look very similar to Leica lenses when used at 2.8 and f4.
Thanks for the comments. j

 

[yossarian123]

Ben,
it's odd but I felt that the F4 although comfortable, was just too big. Odd because I think the F5 is bigger and heavier. It just doesn't feel it.
I sold my F4 though because it felt slow on A/F and it didn't really mix with my d700.

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.