Official Nikon Statement: Nikon F6 is still in production!

[zuiko85]

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.



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.

You are right of course, the price amortized over even a 10 year period is not excessive. That said this senior citizen will be content with a Olympus OM-4Ti found at a second hand store for $35 because it was 'jammed'. Fresh batteries put that right and from owning OM-1 bodies since the 70's and having already purchased the all Zuiko's I want, it is a no brainer to stay with Olympus. My personal circumstances only. If younger and starting out now Nikon's massive sales over the last 70 years puts a huge amount of still good used Nikkor glass within economic reach to attach to a new F6 body.

 

[dave lackey]

At my age, experiencing the best of the best, be it Leica, Nikon, or Rolleiflex is a priority. As Jimi Hendrix said: "Will I be here tomorrow? Well, I just can't say... but I will live today."

 

[Huss]

I like to use the Sigma Art lenses on my F6:

 

[frank-grumman]

35 more exposures and I'll post up results from my first roll with my Zeiss Milvus 85/1.4 and F6. 🙂 🙂

 

[giganova]

Why spend $2k on an F6 when you can get a mint F3 for $200?

 

[Skiff]

Why spend $2k on an F6 when you can get a mint F3 for $200?

Why buy a very old car with high mileage and lots of previous owners who have tortured it if you can have a brand new car with no mileage and no previous owners at all?
Especially if you want to use that car for lots of miles done by yourself.
And why buy an only good car when you can have the perfect car 🙂.

Honestly: I have used the F3, F4, F5 and F6. The F6 is the best of all. It is a league of its own.

 

[Skiff]

At my age, experiencing the best of the best, be it Leica, Nikon, or Rolleiflex is a priority. As Jimi Hendrix said: "Will I be here tomorrow? Well, I just can't say... but I will live today."

+1.
Carpe diem. And the F6 (and the Leicas and Rolleiflexs 🙂) are an excellent way to do that.

 

[Skiff]

I like to use the Sigma Art lenses on my F6:

Which ones are you using, the 1.4/35 and 1.4/50?
How are your experiences with them?

 

[Skiff]

35 more exposures and I'll post up results from my first roll with my Zeiss Milvus 85/1.4 and F6. 🙂 🙂

Do that! We are looking forward to it 🙂.

 

[dave lackey]

Why spend $2k on an F6 when you can get a mint F3 for $200?

Had all the rest of the Nikons, since the 1960s... The F6 is light years better in so many ways.

Personally, I never got along with my F3/T HP, preferring the compact bodies and F/F2/F5 over the F3 system by far. The F6 is certainly able to do anything very well... except shoot digital images, of course.🙂

$2000?

You can buy one for a third of that cost on the used market. I did and it was the best $600 I ever spent on a camera!🙂

 

[dave lackey]

Nikon F6.

As an recovering Leica addict, I really don't see how the price of a new F6 can be considered a "Leica price". Granted $2000+ is a lot of money, but it will only buy you half or a third of any number of new Leica cameras. And then, there is the cost of new Leica lenses. Far more expensive.

That is why I have never bought a new Leica. I have been very satisfied buying used, out of financial necessity, and the new Nikon digital offerings to this day are out of my range as well. So, yes, I have not been "supporting" new sales at either Leica or Nikon, but the pre-owned cameras have been fantastic!

That said, I would buy two new F6 bodies if I could afford it. In an instant! Why? Because there will never be, in my opinion, an opportunity to experience the pinnacle of Nikon film cameras otherwise.😀

 

[ChipMcD]

+1.
Carpe diem. And the F6 (and the Leicas and Rolleiflexs 🙂) are an excellent way to do that.

The way I see it, I could have a boat or sport's car hobby that would be way more expensive and that produces nothing. With my nice cameras, particularly the analog type, I have the tactile satisfaction of owning beautifully engineered and manufactured manual technology and a slightly better chance than a roomful of chimps has of producing good work.

 

[ChipMcD]

Ignore; this was duplicate edit of the post above that I somehow managed to insert.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

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.

I can't tell if you're saying that I was wise or that I wasn't, as Hogarth is just the name I use online, isn't my real name. MIXED SIGNALS HUSS!

 

[HHPhoto]

+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

This new review on youtube you have mentioned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-z3ELw9dSc
is indeed very good.
By far (so far) the best youtube review of the F6. He has done a very good job and is going into detail.

There is also a Nikon F6 user group on Facebook with lots of good information.

Cheers, Jan