Official Nikon Statement: Nikon F6 is still in production!

[Skiff]

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.

From my experience it is a minor issue, because there are hundreds of Nikkors (and hundreds of third party lenses with F-mount) which can be used with the F6.
No matter what focal length you need, you will find an excellent lens fitting for the F6.

But.. the F6 does work great with Sigma Art 50 1.4 and 35 1.4 glass. So not all is lost.

And it works perfectly with all the wonderful Zeiss ZF / ZF.2 / Milvus / Otus lenses. A dream combination. The outstanding viewfinder of the F6 works extremely well with these manual focus beauties. I use my Zeiss lenses almost exclusively with the F6, and very seldom with my FM, FE-2 and FA.

 

[Laterna Magica]

Thanks for this information. Sometimes important informations about a certain product are hidden in a topic which is completely unrelated.

As the F6 is my favourite SLR, I am glad to read this news. I hope more photographers discover the unique capabilities of the F6 and buy it new so that it can be kept in production for some further years to come.

 

[Uncle Bill]

A friend of mine recently picked up a new F6 after parting with a bunch of gear, his digital body is a D850 so the F6 makes tons of sense.

 

[Skiff]

Thanks for this information.

You are welcome.

Sometimes important informations about a certain product are hidden in a topic which is completely unrelated.
As the F6 is my favourite SLR, I am glad to read this news. I hope more photographers discover the unique capabilities of the F6 and buy it new so that it can be kept in production for some further years to come.

Yes. I completely agree. The F6 is the pinnacle of 35mm SLR design. It really deserves having a very long production life.

 

[Skiff]

A friend of mine recently picked up a new F6 after parting with a bunch of gear, his digital body is a D850 so the F6 makes tons of sense.

That's interesting.
May you ask him what serial number his brand new F6 has?
You then can add it here in this thread about the F6 serial numbers:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148175

The numerous F6 fans here on rff will certainly appreciate that 🙂.

 

[kshapero]

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?

I believe the FM3a is no longer in production. Which I own one. Curious what is so great about the F6? Having never seen nor touched one.

 

[Skiff]

I believe the FM3a is no longer in production.

Correct. Production of the FM3A was discontinued in 2006.

Curious what is so great about the F6? Having never seen nor touched one.

If you use one, you will immediately see.......🙂.
Nikon had the ambition to design the best 35mm SLR ever. And they succeeded with the F6.
Nikon analysed the F5 very intensiveley. And they have asked professional photographers about what they dislike at the F5 (the F5 had some design flaws).
Nikon then improved all these aspects: The F6 has significant improvements compared to the F5 in more than 20 features. All F5 problems, minor and major ones, are completely gone in the F6 (I have both, F5 and F6, so I know for sure).
And the F6 has also some very nice additional features.

You may have a look at the detailed test reports here:
http://www.nikonf6.net/
http://filmbodies.com/cameras/camera-reviews/nikon-f6-review.html
https://www.casualphotophile.com/2016/12/12/nikon-f6-camera-review/
User reviews at B&H:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...799_F6_35mm_SLR_Autofocus.html#customerReview

 

[Keith]

The F6 has the best ergonomics of any SLR I have picked up ... it makes my D700 feel like an ugly brick. Skiff is right ... they set out to make the best film SLR ever made and aced it ... everything they learned about film SLRs since the first F went into that camera. 🙂

 

[Fraser]

The F6 has the best ergonomics of any SLR I have picked up ... it makes my D700 feel like an ugly brick. Skiff is right ... they set out to make the best film SLR ever made and aced it ... everything they learned about film SLRs since the first F went into that camera. 🙂

Almost as good as a Canon 1v🙂

 

[Keith]

Almost as good as a Canon 1v🙂

Can't argue with a Canon fan! lol 😀

 

[Filter Factor]

Indeed, the F6 is a terrific camera and I am certain mine will outlast me! In fact, my son has mine now so perhaps its time for me to get another. The F6 is a great value right now!

 

[Skiff]

And here is another report confirming the current F6 production in Nikon's Sendai factory:
https://www.dpreview.com/articles/0991985115/from-f-to-z-we-tour-nikons-sendai-factory?slide=2

Christmas is coming: Why not make a present to yourself by getting a brand new F6. The perfect film camera for the rest of your life .......🙂.
I've already made that present to myself some years ago. And I have never regretted it!

 

[Canyongazer]

And here is another report confirming the current F6 production in Nikon's Sendai factory:
https://www.dpreview.com/articles/0991985115/from-f-to-z-we-tour-nikons-sendai-factory?slide=2

a brand new F6. The perfect film camera for the rest of your life .......🙂.


Agree... and it will encourage Nikon to continue making "The Last F"

As they often say in Leica land..."if Leica fans buy only used Leicas, where shall future used Leicas come from?"

 

[HHPhoto]

And here is another report confirming the current F6 production in Nikon's Sendai factory:
https://www.dpreview.com/articles/0991985115/from-f-to-z-we-tour-nikons-sendai-factory?slide=2

a brand new F6. The perfect film camera for the rest of your life .......🙂.


Agree... and it will encourage Nikon to continue making "The Last F"

As they often say in Leica land..."if Leica fans buy only used Leicas, where shall future used Leicas come from?"

+1.
Exactly.
I've bought my F6 and MB-40 also brand new. One of my best photo purchases ever!
And my F6 will never go to the used market, because I will use it until my end 🙂.

Cheers, Jan

P.S.: F6 is really a wonderful christmas present for oneself. I gave mine to me at Christmas :angel:, too.

 

[TomK]

I bought my F6 brand new 5 months ago, and was planning on keeping it forever. It's a fantastic camera, perfectly built. As long as 35mm is around, I was planning to use it.

I say was planning, because it was stolen this week, along with all of my film gear. As soon as Nikon makes another batch, I'm giving them another $2500. It's a good enough camera to pay Leica money for.

 

[colker]

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.

And film Leica prices keep going up. Maybe the F6 is a good investment for every one of us.There is nothing like shooting portraits w/ a 180mm ed 2.8 nikon and any of the nikon Fs.

As much as rangefinders are good w/ wide lenses when it comes to long teles, you want the precision viewfinder of slr.

 

[Skiff]

And film Leica prices keep going up. Maybe the F6 is a good investment for every one of us.There is nothing like shooting portraits w/ a 180mm ed 2.8 nikon and any of the nikon Fs.

As much as rangefinders are good w/ wide lenses when it comes to long teles, you want the precision viewfinder of slr.

+1.
As for portraits: Yes, the Nikkor 2.8/180 ED is very good. The current AF-D 2.8/180 ED is even a bit better.
And then there is the unique AF-D 2/105 DC. Outstanding lens! One of the best Nikkors Nikon has ever made. I love mine.

And with the outstanding Zeiss Milvus and Otus lenses there are lots of further perfect tools for the F6, as manual focussing works excellent with it.
E.g. for portrait photographers the 2.0/135 APO-Sonnar and the 1.4/85 Planar (the new design in the Milvus line) are a league of its own. Highly recommended.

For those who are interested in buying a new F6 these tests / reviews / sources are very helpful:
1.
http://filmbodies.com/cameras/camera-reviews/nikon-f6-review.html
2.
http://www.nikonf6.net/
3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-z3ELw9dSc

 

[zuiko85]

Looked in on this thread, although I'm not a Nikon user. What I find interesting is that 'The last man standing.' as it were, are old line camera makers, appropriate I think that Nikon and Leica would continue, in a small way, to keep 35mm alive. And, one each, a SLR and RF.
For casual or hobby users like myself, I'm not the likely purchaser of such equipment. But for someone whose photography pays the bills or someone who has lots of disposable income, I can see the appeal of a brand new camera.
Strangely, while I'm not a potential customer, I find the continued production of these two film cameras comforting.

 

[Skiff]

Looked in on this thread, although I'm not a Nikon user. What I find interesting is that 'The last man standing.' as it were, are old line camera makers, appropriate I think that Nikon and Leica would continue, in a small way, to keep 35mm alive. And, one each, a SLR and RF.

It are two RFs to be precise: Because Leica is producing two film M models, the MP and the M-A.
At our rff member meeting at Photokina we visited Leica, too. And Leica told us that the demand for both their film M models is increasing. And that they will definitely continue to produce them.

For casual or hobby users like myself, I'm not the likely purchaser of such equipment. But for someone whose photography pays the bills or someone who has lots of disposable income, I can see the appeal of a brand new camera.
Strangely, while I'm not a potential customer, I find the continued production of these two film cameras comforting.

Buying an F6 or Leica MP / M-A new is not expensive: Because you get an excellent camera which can be used for 35, 40 or even more years. Calculate the amount of money that is per year and you immediately see that it is so tiny that it is negligible.
Much much much cheaper than the 'digital upgrading ratrace' the digital industry is trying to force us / is forcing us into.
The price-performance ratio of a new F6 (or film Leica) is excellent. Real long term value.
That is one of the reasons why I have bought my F6 brand new. My best camera purchase decision ever.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

+1.

And then there is the unique AF-D 2/105 DC. Outstanding lens! One of the best Nikkors Nikon has ever made. I love mine.

I've recently bought the 105 DC and it's stunning.

I've come to the conclusion that a new F6 pretty much guarantees me a camera that will most likely see me through. When I've done some rationalisation it may well be my next move.