Chuck Albertson
Well-known
What Gary said (post #9). I found a mint user for about $1000, and am really pleased with it. Be sure you get one that includes the manual---it was the first camera I ever used with menus, etc., and I had to read the manual just to figure out how to set it up for manual exposure. The bythom link that Harry Lime posted will lead you to about the only 3rd-party reference there is, and it's an ebook.
If you just want basic AF and AE, you can pick up a used F4 for a song. They're both built like tanks (so is the F5, which also weighs as much as a tank).
If you just want basic AF and AE, you can pick up a used F4 for a song. They're both built like tanks (so is the F5, which also weighs as much as a tank).
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Keith, as others have indicated, I would only go for an F6 if I have proven beyond any shadows of the doubt, that F100 can't do the job you're talking about.
I had one (F100), and suffice to say that I sold it to fund a project, otherwise I'd still have and use it.
Unless we're talking about GAS
I had one (F100), and suffice to say that I sold it to fund a project, otherwise I'd still have and use it.
Unless we're talking about GAS
giellaleafapmu
Well-known
Just out of curiosity...ahum....did you consider using a...mmmmh...a digital camera?
I love film but when the words "animals", "sport" and even more important "assignment" come out, then they are the thing I think of...
GLF
I love film but when the words "animals", "sport" and even more important "assignment" come out, then they are the thing I think of...
GLF
Fraser
Well-known
I have owned f5, f100, f90 and f4 sold them all and kept my three f4s never really got on with the f5 and the f100 kept going back to my f4s. The reason I like the f4 is the layout of the controls one of the few autofocus cameras you don't need a manual to use! If you main aim is fast autofocus get a Canon, I do like the older Nikon autofocus lenses though.
gb hill
Veteran
No I won't bite your head off ... but the point I was trying to make is that when you're attempting to get a shot of someone's kid running towards you at full tilt and you're shooting at f2.8 a rangefinder is not the tool for the job. It's got zilch to do with my abilities with a manual camera ... rangefinder or SLR!
You may be lucky and succeed if you're quick and have twenty year old eyes (which I don't) but with a decent auto focus SLR you'll get it every time. I don't miss my D70s (much
My eyes were a crap shoot at 20
I haven't never liked the whole era of the big lumpy AF everything cameras. I know they have there place, like on the 50 yard line.But I can settle with manual slr with an autowinder & a fast film. Sure, I agree you will have a few frames that will be throw a ways, but you will get some keepers. I think my main problem is justifying the cost of the F6 vs the cost of using the other. No justification what so ever. JMO.
Fraser
Well-known
Nikon F6
Nikon F6
The two types of photography I need autofocus are-
1. At work (I'm full time Press photographer).
2. Photographing my daughter (3 1/2 year old toddler).
I have thought about an f6 in the past since at the time I had all the other fs but could'nt justify it since film photography is just a hobby.
Nikon F6
The two types of photography I need autofocus are-
1. At work (I'm full time Press photographer).
2. Photographing my daughter (3 1/2 year old toddler).
I have thought about an f6 in the past since at the time I had all the other fs but could'nt justify it since film photography is just a hobby.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
I played with an F4, Fraser... and couldn't really dig it. The control layout is too weird for me. My friend, who owns it, finds it incredibly practical. I don't.
Reason: I "grew" into Nikon AF cameras with the N80 (a mini F100, which, in turn, has an improved version of the F5 controls). To me, the F100 was very intuitive, as opposed to the F5, which was a bit confusing. In short, your enjoyment and use of the controls of these cameras varies according to the camera you have used earlier. To me, the Nikon D-series bodies are pretty easy to figure out: they're based on the F100 or the N80. The N90? I'll take a pass...
Keep up the good work!
Reason: I "grew" into Nikon AF cameras with the N80 (a mini F100, which, in turn, has an improved version of the F5 controls). To me, the F100 was very intuitive, as opposed to the F5, which was a bit confusing. In short, your enjoyment and use of the controls of these cameras varies according to the camera you have used earlier. To me, the Nikon D-series bodies are pretty easy to figure out: they're based on the F100 or the N80. The N90?
I'll take a pass... Keep up the good work!
iamzip
Ambitious, but rubbish
Ok, I'll probably get my head bitten off here, but if you're not wedded to nikon ( don't already have lenses or anything), how about, umm, a canon? The T90 has also been praised as one of the best 35mm slrs ever, almost certainly the best manual focus one, FD lenses are cheap and plentiful, and I got a bargain T90 from KEH for only $90 US. Just wanted to offer the op another alternative.
szekiat
Well-known
no experience with the F6, but i used to shoot the F5 before moving to a D1H and later a D1X (those were the days). The F5 is a brutal brutal camera which will rip the reduction gears of poorer built AF-D lenses to shreds due to its high torque motor. Its a beast, but weighs nothing compared to its canon equivalent 1Vhs. Also, the F5 uses AA batteries and i used to get a max of 10-15 rolls per set of 8 batteries. Compared to the F100 and F6, this is more than pathetic. I suspect most of the juice goes to the drive motor and the 3d COLOR matrix metering, a first of its kind, and i think also the last.
italy74
Well-known
Ciao Keith
I have it and I've had several other Nikon cameras, both film and digital and let me tell you that it knocks all the others off. Aside the question Film / digital, F6 is still the one with the fastest autofocus and the most reliable metering I've had til now. And, honestly (and having just purchased a D700) still the best fitting my hands til now.
Pair it with a 50 F/1.4 or a 35 F/2 depending on your shooting stile and you will have a quite compact combo to put into your shoulder pouch when you want to travel light. Again, despite the convenience of digital for paid work, if I would be asked which of the two I have to keep, just for what I like, it would be a no brain, the F6 would win hands down.
It has also that nice feature to record lots of data about your rolls and/or printing them within the frames. I use it not much by downloading data as many do, but since I stick pictures on my album and keep negatives, I can easily see the shooting data and record them on my private album once I know which picture it's the one I'm looking at. With F6 you may also leave the film leader out.
The shutter sound remembers a lash and af is silent but excellent, very classy. If the F100 might look a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, sheer power, F6 is more like an Aston Martin or Maserati, much classier.
Extra F6 I got an L-screen (with microprisms and DIAGONAL split image) just to have all what I need in case of manual focusing, as well as a DK-17M eyepiece (which magnify your vision x 1.2, especially in the middle, thus it's up to you adopting it depending if you use glasses or not) Standard viewfinder however is very large and clear
The "only" cons (!) I really find in the F6 is that it has not a built-in flash for a fill-in when required. This is why I'm looking for a nice and compact Nikon SB-22s to use now and then saving space in my bag.
Just for the files, aside the fact I could distinguish any of the camera I had by the shutter "click", this is what I could compare it with other cameras I had.
F80s - very good to start, with some nice features like grid lines on demand, data print and built-in flash. Very good especially for static subjects and general shooting. Very easy to use.
F100 - I had it just a week or two and its af (probably the inner motor that had my sample) amazed me. It looked like a dragster: maybe a bit too noisy but impressive indeed. The shutter looked like a silenced gun "thump thump thump" Definitely to choose if you need a fast af. Despite design is since 1998 it had definitely a faster af than my D200.
Cons: few "bothering" things: a strange loading / anti-opening mechanism
D70s: the only good thing I remember was the 1/500s sync flash, but then menus weren't too quick to use.
D200: very good overall, it has been my main camera for a long time, it went over the shelf just when the F6 arrived in my hands.
D700: it has been the only camera able to be intriguing to my eyes due to her obvious pro's: excellent high iso capabilities and that DX frame which looks too much like a RF viewfinder within the FX angle of view.
I have it and I've had several other Nikon cameras, both film and digital and let me tell you that it knocks all the others off. Aside the question Film / digital, F6 is still the one with the fastest autofocus and the most reliable metering I've had til now. And, honestly (and having just purchased a D700) still the best fitting my hands til now.
Pair it with a 50 F/1.4 or a 35 F/2 depending on your shooting stile and you will have a quite compact combo to put into your shoulder pouch when you want to travel light. Again, despite the convenience of digital for paid work, if I would be asked which of the two I have to keep, just for what I like, it would be a no brain, the F6 would win hands down.
It has also that nice feature to record lots of data about your rolls and/or printing them within the frames. I use it not much by downloading data as many do, but since I stick pictures on my album and keep negatives, I can easily see the shooting data and record them on my private album once I know which picture it's the one I'm looking at. With F6 you may also leave the film leader out.
The shutter sound remembers a lash and af is silent but excellent, very classy. If the F100 might look a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, sheer power, F6 is more like an Aston Martin or Maserati, much classier.
Extra F6 I got an L-screen (with microprisms and DIAGONAL split image) just to have all what I need in case of manual focusing, as well as a DK-17M eyepiece (which magnify your vision x 1.2, especially in the middle, thus it's up to you adopting it depending if you use glasses or not) Standard viewfinder however is very large and clear
The "only" cons (!) I really find in the F6 is that it has not a built-in flash for a fill-in when required. This is why I'm looking for a nice and compact Nikon SB-22s to use now and then saving space in my bag.
Just for the files, aside the fact I could distinguish any of the camera I had by the shutter "click", this is what I could compare it with other cameras I had.
F80s - very good to start, with some nice features like grid lines on demand, data print and built-in flash. Very good especially for static subjects and general shooting. Very easy to use.
F100 - I had it just a week or two and its af (probably the inner motor that had my sample) amazed me. It looked like a dragster: maybe a bit too noisy but impressive indeed. The shutter looked like a silenced gun "thump thump thump" Definitely to choose if you need a fast af. Despite design is since 1998 it had definitely a faster af than my D200.
Cons: few "bothering" things: a strange loading / anti-opening mechanism
D70s: the only good thing I remember was the 1/500s sync flash, but then menus weren't too quick to use.
D200: very good overall, it has been my main camera for a long time, it went over the shelf just when the F6 arrived in my hands.
D700: it has been the only camera able to be intriguing to my eyes due to her obvious pro's: excellent high iso capabilities and that DX frame which looks too much like a RF viewfinder within the FX angle of view.
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nobbylon
Veteran
i just bought an f100 and love it!
italy74
Well-known
Dave Wilkinson
Veteran
Dino - you should be banned for causing gas!..posting pics like that!....I shan't sleep tonight!!
Dave.
Dave.
colker
Well-known
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Dino, a good, portable and small flash (that works with TTL metering) for the F100, F5 and F6 is the SB-30.
This little marvel was discontinued in favor of the SB-400. Either can be purchased for less than USD 100. I have the SB-30 and it has a nice feature: it can be a slave for any larger flash. Not wireless, but as long as it can perceive the other flash, you have a nice additional light to fire.
Take care!
This little marvel was discontinued in favor of the SB-400. Either can be purchased for less than USD 100. I have the SB-30 and it has a nice feature: it can be a slave for any larger flash. Not wireless, but as long as it can perceive the other flash, you have a nice additional light to fire.
Take care!
Thardy
Veteran
Pfft. An N80 + 50mm f/1.8 would do what the OP wants.
colker
Well-known
we have been using all kind of nikons forever. they are all good. i actually chose a FM over F3s and F2s 9 out of 10 times when working. i don't like motor drives. i don't like heavy weight cameras.
i like TAKING PICTURES.
italy74
Well-known
Ciao Francisco
it's true but the SB-22s can be tilted upward and has also the af-assist lamp which might be useful in the dark, as I said I mostly use the F6 with a prime (even if I shot lots of slides with the 17-35 but - being full day, I never needed a flash on it)
it's true but the SB-22s can be tilted upward and has also the af-assist lamp which might be useful in the dark, as I said I mostly use the F6 with a prime (even if I shot lots of slides with the 17-35 but - being full day, I never needed a flash on it)
Thardy
Veteran
I am sure those are great cameras, but remember the OP is an elderly gent with poor eyesight, and slow focusing fingers, trying to photograph quick little dogs and children, so he is interested in an autofocus camera to increase his keeper rate.
Prosaic
Well-known
Sometimes after a weekend of trying to shoot subject material that really stretches a rangefinder's capabilities ... ie children dogs and anything else that has no respect for my beyond middle age vision capabilities ... I think about something else for these scenarios. This was actually a friend's 40th birthday party held at a croquet club ... I offered to take photographs of the days events and I found the whole rangefinder thing a little taxing to be honest which brings me to the question that heads this post ... how good is the Nikon F6?
Every now and then I stumble ocross a review or write up about the F6 claiming that it's probably the best film SLR ever made and repesents Nikon at the peak of their powers before they decided that this camera was the end of the line for film SLR development!
I would appreciate some input from those who have this camera and may use it semi professionally (or not) ... what are it's strengths and weaknesses ... what would you expect to pay for a decent used example ... would a couple of decent fast lenses, say a 35mm and a 50mm, cost an arm and a leg ... etc etc?
I've read Ken Rockwell's glowing report and he seems to thing it's God's gift to 35mm film photography ... and I know he never exaggerates!
Simply get a D700 (FX / "full frame"). Except for nostalgia, there´s no reason shooting film anymore with a SLR.
You could have covered the whole event with just a single flash chip, no development cost, no scanning and a high ISO performance impossible with film.
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