Nikon F7

[The Dark]

Since Olympus recently unveiled the OM-D, I would love to see a Nikon FM4D 🙂

 

[ruby.monkey]

Nope. Those days are over, no more professional film cameras. Sorry!

I thought those days ended with the death of the F5.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I thought those days ended with the death of the F5.

No, there is an F6, which has more advanced metering and autofocus than the F5, and is smaller and lighter. Nice camera, and they're still making it in small quantities.

 

[ruby.monkey]

I know; I thought the F5 was the last F aimed at pro photographers, with the F6 destined for those with the desire for the latest-and-greatest and the wallet to match.

I certainly wouldn't be upset by being proven wrong, though.

 

[Archlich]

The FM3a was aimed at "photo students". A short-lived move.

Yes it's been 8 years, but no more F. Just like the way they made the SP2005, you can expect a special F5/F6 50 years into the future...

 

[zuiko85]

Regarding the SP 2005 replica, I can't see how, except for the advertizing value, Nikon could ever have made a nickel on that camera. But, if they were to decide to make another special edition I would hope it would be an original F with the plain prism (please Nikon, don't bother with the meter prism) along with all it's quirks, removable back etc.

 

[HHPhoto]

According to this article, Sendai Nikon is producing 50 F6s per month.

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/what-goes-on-inside-nikons-sendai-factory-62213402.htm

Thanks for the link!

With these numbers in mind it is obvious that we will not see a F7.
But as an extremely satiesfied F6 user I have to say:
Why an F7?
There is nothing which can be improved on the F6. It is the perfect 35mm SLR!
With siginificantly improvements compared to the F5, by the way.
It's a dream camera, I love it. I bought my one new, with MB-40 vertical grip and MV-1 data reader.
I've been the demand which has kept the F6 production running 😉.
Now it is your turn, go for a new F6, you will not regret it :angel:.

If enough other photographers behave like me in the future, the F6 production will be continued.
That is the best what can be done.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Phil_F_NM]

That would be a tremendous waste of cash on both the company's and the customer's side. Why would anyone in their right mind want to use an expensive module when it's so much easier to just use two separate bodies.

Because the F5 itself is a better platform to build upon.

The Leica R8/R9 with DMR is one of the finest camera systems available. The DMR sells for top dollar these days because it gives flexibility that no other manufacturer ever has (to that degree.)

The F5 is still probably the finest truly professional system SLR ever. It's more durable than anything built since, has more capability than any other 35mm system SLR with similar specs.

All the digital bodies are built roughly upon the same design as the F100, N80 or N65. The F100 was a nice camera but it was not ever intended as a full time pro system body. Looking at the pro stable of digital bodies that Nikon offers today, we've lost a good deal of customization that the F5 was the last to offer.

Sure, it would detract from new D3s, D4 and D800 sales but to the SHOOTER, to be able to retrofit an F5 with a digital module would be amazing. Nikon has not built such a system since. Even the pro level digital cameras aren't the F5 caliber. Different and great but not up to the flexibility and capability of the F5.

Phil Forrest