Nikon F6

[dtcls100]

But have you considered the F100? It's fairly similar to the F5 but smaller and lighter without the bottom grip. It's like 90% of the F6 at 20% of the price. Definitely worth considering if you are investing a lot of money in a 15+ year old electronic camera.

Owning the F6 and having used the F100, the F100 is definitely not 90% of the F6, no matter how many times this is repeated. The F100 has a cheap plastic back latch that will eventually get brittle and snap over time regardless of how gently treated, rendering the camera useless except for other parts (just check the eBay listings for F100 cameras with broken back latches to confirm this!). For this reason alone, one should not buy an old F100. The F100 also has a primitive AF and AE system in comparison to the F6 and lacks the advanced flash capabilities of the F6, including being fully compatible with the latest Nikon flashes. The F100 also is fairly loud in operation, while the F6 is probably the quietest SLR out there. The F100 viewfinder is a far cry from the F6's top notch viewfinder. There is also a big difference with ergonomics and the F100 is notorious for developing sticky rubber, while the F6's rubberized cover never gets sticky. It's like a rusty Ford being compared to a Ferrari!

 

[Ste_S]

If I had an F5 I'm not sure I would get an F6 (which I own) unless you feel the need to scratch that itch. The F6 does fit superbly in the hand, so if you find it more comfortable to use than the F5, then that would be a big plus.
I have looked at a few F5s and they all (3 of them) had electrical issues. I'm not sure if it was just mine I looked at (which is why they were being unloaded) or prevalent to that model when they age.

I have owned an F100 in the past and find the F6 superior in many ways, including being much more comfortable to hold. The F100's grip is just a big bulky thing while the F6 feels perfectly formed. Also the F100 is notorious for breaking its film back latches (which is why I sold mine off while it was still good) and Nikon unbelievably made them out of plastic. Even the EM's are made out of metal.

Yeah the F6 is great - Nikon USA still services them. I know this because my AF failed.... But I actually like my F4 more! It just clicks with me.

Same for me. F4 does everything I need whilst still having a trad control layout. Shot part of a wedding on a F4 last year with a SB-800 flash and was great.

 

[Photog9000]

I've borrowed one a few times, and found it to be a really wonderful camera. Perhaps the "best" large, full-featured 35mm SLR, subjectively. But have you considered the F100? It's fairly similar to the F5 but smaller and lighter without the bottom grip. It's like 90% of the F6 at 20% of the price. Definitely worth considering if you are investing a lot of money in a 15+ year old electronic camera.

I used a pair of F100 bodies for newspaper work before going digital. I had tried an F4s which I found to be a better paperweight than a camera. Added the MB-15 battery packs to both for the additional shutter button and motor drive capability. From what I remember of my research, the F100 also used the same autofocus system that the F5 had.

 

[David_Manning]

The F6 is a beauty of a camera. I loved just HOLDING mine when I had one. Everything about it oozed perfection.

BUT...unless it’s just a scratch that needs to be itched (nothing wrong with that...I get them too), my logical self says...B&W film has such great latitude, you won’t really need the upgraded exposure metering. The matrix meter in the F6 was designed to perfectly expose chrome film. I think digital sensors have done an exceptional job with color.

So, a mint F100 is a great choice, unless you just want an F6...and that is ok, it’s a great camera!

I have to say...I think the digital F6 is probably the new Nikon D780. It even looks good, too.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Huss]

.. The matrix meter in the F6 was designed to perfectly expose chrome film. ..

This is true. It always veers to underexposure so not to blow highlights with chrome film.
I find the matrix metering in the F4 and F100 to be more accurate with C41 film. When I use my F6 I always dial in +1/3 to +1/2 if shooting C41.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Heads up to all you Nikon F6 owners. If your camera is a later production, there has been a recall of certain serial numbers. See this post from Nikon Rumors.

https://nikonrumors.com/2020/07/15/partial-nikon-f6-recall-issued-in-japan.aspx

Best,
-Tim

 

[Huss]

0035842, 0035862, 0035867, 0035868, 0035869, 0035870, 0035871, 0035872, 0035873, 0035909, 0035910, 0035911, 0035912, 0035913, 0035914, 0035915, 0035916, 0035917, 0035918, 0035919, 0035920, 0035921, 0035922, 0035923, 0035924, 0035925, 0035926, 0035927, 0035928, 0035929, 0035930, 0035932, 0035934, 0035941, 0035942, 0035943, 0035944, 0035945, 0035946, 0035947, 0035948, 0035949, 0035950, 0035951, 0035952, 0035953, 0035954, 0035955, 0035956, 0035957, 0035958, 0035959, 0035968, 0035969, 0035970, 0035971, 0035972, 0035973, 0035974, 0035975, 0035976, 0035977, 0035978, 0035979, 0035980, 0035981, 0035983, 0035984, 0035985, 0035986, 0035987, 0035989, 0035990, 0035991, 0035992, 0036010, 0036011, 0036012, 0036013, 0036014, 0036015, 0036016, 0036017, 0036018, 0036019, 0036020, 0036021, 0036022, 0036023, 0036024, 0036025, 0036026, 0036027, 0036028, 0036029, 0036030, 0036031, 0036032, 0036033, 0036034, 0036035, 0036036, 0036037, 0036038, 0036039, 0036041, 0036042, 0036043, 0036045, 0036046, 0036047, 0036048, 0036049, 0036050, 0036051, 0036052, 0036053, 0036056, 0036057, 0036058, 0036062, 0036112, 0036114, 0036116, 0036130, 0036133, 0036134, 0036135, 0036136, 0036137, 0036138, 0036139, 0036140, 0036141, 0036142, 0036147, 0036149, 0036153, 0036154, 0036155, 0036156, 0036157, 0036158, 0036159, 0036160, 0036161, 0036162, 0036165, 0036177, 0036188, 0036189, 0036191

 

[Filter Factor]

Hey Robert. I've not seen any evidence of an increase in demand.

We know sales have increased because production numbers have increased markedly. Several of us like-minded F6 shooters collect serial numbers from other Nikon users, and when we gather at each Photokina we share lists. Production has increased in each of the previous eight years as demand has grown.


Cheers, Robert