Nikon F6 ... time to move?

[Mat01]

Keith, Nikon F6 is arguably the best 35mm SLR body (personally, I would say the best). But, frankly I didn’t see performance difference between Nikon F6 & F100. Nowadays is difficult to be a Pro avoiding the digital modality. Sentimentalism may call for film; pragmatism would probably suggest the current digital. Nobody can tell you what to do. M

 

[nobbylon]

In film era, F5 was used by pros, night and day and generaly suffered intensive usage.
At the begining of digital time, many F6 have been bought by amateur and receveid more cool treatment.

There's plenty of F5's that have done nothing and never been in the hands of the destroyer's.
The F5 was the last of the true pro film Nikon's. Designed and engineered for heavy use. To my mind the F6 was a showcase by Nikon, a last example of everything they had learned over the years and never intended to be used by pro's as they'd all bar a few gone digital long ago.
Yes it's a nice camera but over the F5 I can only see the ability of Matrix metering with all lenses. 3-4x the cost of an F5 if you don't use the old AI lenses is a big premium to pay and I really believe prices will drop on them anyway. The a/f on F5's is superb and easily a match for my D700. There have been plenty of examples of after market and cheap Nikon lenses being trashed by the torque on the F5's focus motors.
It's simple really, if you want an F6 get an F6 and be done with it. It's like m6 owners like myself harping on about how an MP does no more and costs 3x as much but in the end I still bought another😀

 

[nobbylon]

As an after thought the F5 was actually more expensive than the F6 when they were sold side by side until the F5 was discontinued. I recall the last ones I saw for sale at @2400 uk pounds and considering you can pick up near mint ones for 300 quid I'd say they are a bargain.

 

[David_Manning]

Keith,

The sale of my F6 is the only camera sale I've regretted in my life. I don't even regret selling my M6, which I replaced with an X100 (heresy, I know...but they're tools for the most part).

Believe it or not, I sold the F6 for my M6. I miss that F6 every day, even though I shoot film increasingly rarely these days. The ergonomics were perfect for me...it was a joy to hold. It was so solid...like a little brick of magnesium. It was FAST when required, quiet when it needed to be (as quiet in the silent mode as the M6 shutter), and was extremely weather sealed.

Boy, I miss that thing. Of course, I'd still be cursing the whole film-scanner ordeal.

 

[dave lackey]

There's plenty of F5's that have done nothing and never been in the hands of the destroyer's.
The F5 was the last of the true pro film Nikon's. Designed and engineered for heavy use. To my mind the F6 was a showcase by Nikon, a last example of everything they had learned over the years and never intended to be used by pro's as they'd all bar a few gone digital long ago.
Yes it's a nice camera but over the F5 I can only see the ability of Matrix metering with all lenses. 3-4x the cost of an F5 if you don't use the old AI lenses is a big premium to pay and I really believe prices will drop on them anyway. The a/f on F5's is superb and easily a match for my D700. There have been plenty of examples of after market and cheap Nikon lenses being trashed by the torque on the F5's focus motors.
It's simple really, if you want an F6 get an F6 and be done with it. It's like m6 owners like myself harping on about how an MP does no more and costs 3x as much but in the end I still bought another😀

Yep, the F5 was nice. But I don't miss mine nearly as much as I am missing the F6 experience and I can pick up a NIB F5 tomorrow from a friend. IMO, the F6 would be a perfect match for the D700.🙂 Or just by itself... but I am "skint".😛

 

[nobbylon]

What is it about the F5 that the F6 does better? Is it a tactile thing or does it do something so much nicer? I can't see it so can someone explain and not just the ai matrix metering. Is it just a perceived improvement due to it being the last F camera and that there isn't many around therefore creating desirability?

 

[huntjump]

Keith, I feel your dilemma and it sounds like you have been thinking about it a long time. That being said, you have been thinking about it a long time and still cant really affirmatively say, yes i need the F6. You probably want the F6.

Both are honorable reasons to lust for that camera, but the question really comes down to is whether you can afford it. If you need it, then the decision is easier. It sounds more like you really want it, then just check with your budget.

Personally, since I also own a D700, I'd probably throw a F100 in the mix, see how i Like it and then decide if I need the F6. Alternatively, i'd try and find someone locally who would let me try it out before purchasing. Lastly, if you have the time, you could ALWAYS resell it for the price you paid if you get a good deal (ie: 89,000 yen etc..)

You have a lot of equipment, just meditate deep on why you want to spend $1200+ on the F6 with everything you have. Every body you add just neglects another . Is that fair Keith to all your other cameras? 🙂

 

[dave lackey]

What is it about the F5 that the F6 does better? Is it a tactile thing or does it do something so much nicer? I can't see it so can someone explain and not just the ai matrix metering. Is it just a perceived improvement due to it being the last F camera and that there isn't many around therefore creating desirability?

A) It is the F6, no other camera can be the F6, the last and best film Nikon.

B) The size and features.

C) Refer to A above.

I am sure that the body is a perfect match for the D700. The F5 was a huge brick along the same lines as the D2 and D3 bodies but much heavier.

Back to square one. It is the pinnacle of film cameras for Nikon while the F5 was without a doubt the toughest, at least IMO. But way too big and heavy.

Whether someone agrees or not isn't the point. Sometimes you just have to try something while you can or the opportunity will be missed forever. Life is too short to settle on something else especially when an F6 can be bought and used for free (after selling for what one paid for it). What's not to like about it?:angel:

 

[dave lackey]

Keith, I feel your dilemma and it sounds like you have been thinking about it a long time. That being said, you have been thinking about it a long time and still cant really affirmatively say, yes i need the F6. You probably want the F6.

Both are honorable reasons to lust for that camera, but the question really comes down to is whether you can afford it. If you need it, then the decision is easier. It sounds more like you really want it, then just check with your budget.

Personally, since I also own a D700, I'd probably throw a F100 in the mix, see how i Like it and then decide if I need the F6. Alternatively, i'd try and find someone locally who would let me try it out before purchasing. Lastly, if you have the time, you could ALWAYS resell it for the price you paid if you get a good deal (ie: 89,000 yen etc..)

You have a lot of equipment, just meditate deep on why you want to spend $1200+ on the F6 with everything you have. Every body you add just neglects another . Is that fair Keith to all your other cameras? 🙂

LOL......🙂

 

[grainhound]

I got an F5 because of the price; once I saw the sticker on the average F6 I stopped looking at those. There's m mount stuff I'd buy with that differential.

This thread has made me wonder what specifically is better about the F6 over the F5. I found answers in Thom Hogan's review of the F6, which is not restricted to the F6; he compares it to the F5. If you're at all wondering which of the two to buy, you'd do well to read his review:

http://bythom.com/F6.htm

 

[wakarimasen]

Ok guys - time to stop now. I have an FE and an FM and just bought an F3. I have already started to consider an F4s and don't need any further temptation.

Keith: good luck in your decision!

Best regards,
RoyM

 

[kdemas]

Some F6 advantages over the F5, for those who have been asking:

- iTTL Compatibility
- Commander mode with flash
- Silent drive mode
- Equal auto focus speed with better tracking ability and less wear on lens (torque)
- Meter (no small thing)
- Potential for more compact and lighter body (not using battery pack)
- Ergonomics a bit better to my feel.
- It's Super Cool looking ;-)

Now if interchangeable finders are your thing than an F5 certainly has an advantage.

Both are great cameras. I love my F6, don't use it enough but enjoy it none the less.

 

[anthony_semone]

I'll just leave this here...

oh my, what a beautiful system!! May have to sell my D700 for an F6 and use my F5 as a backup 🙂

 

[Ade-oh]

You might be able to spot real differences between the results from the F5, the F100 and the F6 (and probably every other functional Nikon AF film SLR since about 1990) if you use them in 'P' mode against static targets under matching lighting conditions... but I suspect you won't.

 

[Shac]

F6

F6

Keith - I off you the same advice I received when debating abut a Nikon F vs another brand many many years ago - "Buy what you really want or you will likely be never satisfied". I never regretted following this - Go for the F6!

 

[Paulbe]

Keith--bottom line, net to the buyer, nut cuttin', no more excuses, etc etc...--you want an F6?
Get an F6..why are you even asking?? 🙂 🙂
GAS ALWAYS wins--especially if you can afford it...
And besides--- alllllll the pros and cons--it IS a really nice camera...
Go for it, Dude!!
Paul

 

[FrankS]

Just promise to still be nice to the OM4 that's on it's way to you!

 

[Keith]

Keith,

I may be wrong, but this post sounds like "rallying for support" to satisfy GAS.
If you really need a film body to share the lenses, a $200 F100 would do just fine. An F6 will put a much larger dent in your wallet while the end result would be just the same, exposed rolls of film.

But I understand the power of GAS, just don't confuse it with your real need, is all I'm saying 🙂

I though that was the way we always went about it around here?

I didn't want to break any rules and just buy the thing without discussing it with my mates! 😀

 

[FrankS]

Vicarious GAS.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Haha

I do think it's absurd to expect to shoot film with all that iTTL Commander Mode Nikon Creative Flash BS... it may well work fine but without digital to test, there is no way in Hades that I'd trust it light a shoot without Polaroids or digitals to proof....