Skiff
Well-known
Positive news for film photographers, especially Nikon users.
There is an official statement that the Nikon F6 is in current production as it has been all the years in Nikon's Sendai factory. That is the factory in which all professional Nikon cameras are made.
The statement is included in an interview during a visit of the Sendai factory visiting the current Nikon Z7 production:
"Q: Is this the only assembly line? We notice a lot of brass debris, are they going to be recycled?
A: (long pause) What you saw today is the Z7 assembly line. Currently, the Nikon D5 and Df are on pause. We have another line for the film camera F6. A cleanroom is also in this shop. However, we didn’t visit the lens molding shop. By the way, metal debris from cutting will be processed by a specific recycling company.
There is an official statement that the Nikon F6 is in current production as it has been all the years in Nikon's Sendai factory. That is the factory in which all professional Nikon cameras are made.
The statement is included in an interview during a visit of the Sendai factory visiting the current Nikon Z7 production:
"Q: Is this the only assembly line? We notice a lot of brass debris, are they going to be recycled?
A: (long pause) What you saw today is the Z7 assembly line. Currently, the Nikon D5 and Df are on pause. We have another line for the film camera F6. A cleanroom is also in this shop. However, we didn’t visit the lens molding shop. By the way, metal debris from cutting will be processed by a specific recycling company.
brbo
Well-known
Skiff
Well-known
Sorry, but that is completely wrong.
If you've read the article, you would have seen that Nikon has a capacity problem:
The demand for their cameras (especially the D850 and the Z7) is much higher than their current max. production capacity. That is the reason why D5 and Df production are currently on pause.
In such a situation it would be absolut economic nonsense to have a production line for the F6, but not using it!
In such a situation you have two reasonable economic choices:
1. Close the F6 line completely and transfer it to D850 or Z7 production.
2. Use the line as intended and produce the F6. And that is what they are doing.
As the Nikon staff have explained, the D5 and Df are currently on pause. They don't said that about the F6.
ptpdprinter
Veteran
I suspect the F6 line is a small one, and not readily adaptable to the Z series, hence it is not shut down. Whether they run it daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. is unknown. The F6 is currently available from B&H for $2449.
Fraser
Well-known
If they are still in production where are they selling ? is it a special order item direct from Nikon ?
Also I don't understand why anyone would buy a new one, if its anything like Canon with the 1v new price was around £2000 secondhand price was as cheap as £250.
Also I don't understand why anyone would buy a new one, if its anything like Canon with the 1v new price was around £2000 secondhand price was as cheap as £250.
css9450
Veteran
How many F6s do you think they sell in a year? Its been mentioned in many F6 threads here they they most likely tool up the line periodically and build a batch large enough to last awhile, perhaps a couple years or more.
Judging by the serial numbers in this thread, Nikon is still making about 40-50 F6s per month.
Skiff
Well-known
The Sendai factory is a very flexible factory. It is also able to do very small volume production. This factory is generally designed to change from product to product in a very short time frame with their digital cameras.
There have been several reports in the past from visitors of this factory. All of them have said the same: The Nikon F6 has its own, small, separated production line. And there is a permanent, daily production.
Skiff
Well-known
You can order it at the more dedicated / bigger shops and online retailers.
I've bought mine new. Best decision ever. It is worth every cent. You get a "once in a lifetime" camera which will work for the next 35-40 years or even more if you take a bit care of it. For such a lifespan it is an incredibly cheap camera with an outstanding price-performance ratio.
And you can't get a used one for 250 bucks!
Used prices (at least here in my area) are in the 750 - 1300 bucks range depending on the condition.
And used prices have also gone up in the last 12 months. I would not be surprised if this trend will continue with the increasing interest in film.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
While I agree that the demand for the D850 completely outstrips supply, that camera is not made in the Sendai factory, so it has no bearing on Z7, Df, D5 and F6 production.
Nikon clearly makes their lower quantity, higher end, products at the Sendai factory. From my experience with my own Nikon equipment, I will no longer buy a Nikon camera body that is not made in Sendai.
Glad they're still making the F6. Already have one, so don't need another, but it's nice to see someone besides Leica still making a high quality film camera.
Best,
-Tim
Faintandfuzzy
Well-known
You are correct...Nikon maintains production lines for cameras no longer being made. 🙄
creenus
Established
Glad they're still making the F6.
I went the Nikon DSLR route for their series of f1.8 lenses: I have a 20mm, 50mm and 85mm, all f1.8 and sharp. At some I can pick up a used F6 and use these lenses.
I went the Nikon DSLR route for their series of f1.8 lenses: I have a 20mm, 50mm and 85mm, all f1.8 and sharp. At some I can pick up a used F6 and use these lenses.
nukecoke
⚛Yashica
A worker from Scandinavian Photo told me the same thing in 2017, but they did not sell the camera in one of their shops that I visited, since basically nobody buy it.
Huss
Veteran
F7 - go back to the dials like the F4, improved AF and metering from the D850, dump the menus.
Takkun
Ian M.
Great to hear. I received mine as a gift about a decade ago, and while I've gotten rid of most of my SLR gear, this is one I just could never part with. Really was the be-all-end-all of film cameras for them, and I haven't used a DSLR that has come close.
Of course, I use it so infrequently I have to relearn all the controls every time...
I like Huss' suggestion too, though. If the Df is as successful as it seems, I don't see why they couldn't do something similar. Chrome body, CLS flash, multi-point AF, keep the data logging but add a SD card for it.
On that note, is the FM3a still around?
Of course, I use it so infrequently I have to relearn all the controls every time...
I like Huss' suggestion too, though. If the Df is as successful as it seems, I don't see why they couldn't do something similar. Chrome body, CLS flash, multi-point AF, keep the data logging but add a SD card for it.
On that note, is the FM3a still around?
css9450
Veteran
For that kind of price I just might have to get one for myself.
Hogarth Ferguson
Well-known
plus, compatibility with new lenses, like the new sigma ones and nikon with magnetic aperture or whatever
Huss
Veteran
You are as wise as you are a Hogarth.
Yeah, it kinda sux having a production camera not being able to use the latest glass.
But.. the F6 does work great with Sigma Art 50 1.4 and 35 1.4 glass. So not all is lost.
Skiff
Well-known
Oh no, please not!!!
The layout with the several double secure / locking knobs of the F4 is just an ergonomic knightmare! One of the reasons I much prefer using my F6 to my F4 (and F5).
In general: The classic dial layout works for a feature-poor camera like a FM / FM2, FE / FE-2, F3 etc.
It does not work at all for a feature-rich camera like a F6 or EOS 1V.
From an ergonomic point of view the F6 is the best SLR ever made (even better than the current DSLRs, because the buttons are better placed as there is no huge LCD on the back which makes an optimal position of some buttons impossible).
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