ebino
Well-known
The most evil of all cameras, the film SLRs with auto focus, not only they look downright mean, but they function with growling, whizzing and all sorts of sounds.
My favorite and the one which I owned was a brand new Nikon F100 that I got for a bargain. This camera just looked like a high quality picture making machine, from the fantastic viewfinder to the almost perfect grip, it was a pleasure to work with. But the best part was the actual picture taking. From the moment you loaded the film, which it did with absolute authority as you closed the back. The sound of the shutter, the film moving forward and of course the sound of the AF as it violently brought the lens to focus, all in all it was pure unapologetic photography with an awesome machine in hand.
Rain or snow nothing to worry about for the perfect sealing, crazy lighting situation not a problem for the metering and even in dim lighting the AF was almost instant. You could set the ISO and never worry about exposure while your development was spot on, since the camera meter was so reliable.
Anyway, I did sell the F100, but I don't regret selling it because it would have got very little use with me. And if I wanted another one i could easily find one at the right price. But anyway, I just thought I share some thoughts about these ancient beasts that now seem to be forgotten. So, tell us which one was/is (if there was one) your favorite AF film SLR.
My favorite and the one which I owned was a brand new Nikon F100 that I got for a bargain. This camera just looked like a high quality picture making machine, from the fantastic viewfinder to the almost perfect grip, it was a pleasure to work with. But the best part was the actual picture taking. From the moment you loaded the film, which it did with absolute authority as you closed the back. The sound of the shutter, the film moving forward and of course the sound of the AF as it violently brought the lens to focus, all in all it was pure unapologetic photography with an awesome machine in hand.
Rain or snow nothing to worry about for the perfect sealing, crazy lighting situation not a problem for the metering and even in dim lighting the AF was almost instant. You could set the ISO and never worry about exposure while your development was spot on, since the camera meter was so reliable.
Anyway, I did sell the F100, but I don't regret selling it because it would have got very little use with me. And if I wanted another one i could easily find one at the right price. But anyway, I just thought I share some thoughts about these ancient beasts that now seem to be forgotten. So, tell us which one was/is (if there was one) your favorite AF film SLR.
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Pickett Wilson
Veteran
Another vote for the F100. Love it! But you also have to include the Nikon F4s, probably the greatest of them all, with knobs for the primary controls.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
I came to this thread to suggest the above mentioned Nikon F100.
That was totally unnecessary, three out of three now!
That was totally unnecessary, three out of three now!
petronius
Veteran
Nikon F-801s!
MT4
Member
Nikon F6 !!!
Andy Kibber
Well-known
Another vote for the Nikon F100 for all the reasons mentioned by ebino.
kmallick
Well-known
Pentax MZ-S
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
And the best part is that barely used F100's have become silly cheap.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
For a while, I would have given the title to the Nikon F5, but the controls are so well "protected" (who knows from what) that it's a pain to push the buttons and turn the command wheels at the same time. With the F100, it's all a breeze. Want to add a stop to the exposure? Want to underexpose a bit? Just turn the subcommand wheel! Want to add power and cold tolerance? Add the battery pack! Want the same AF as the F5? It's right there!
Yep, features and everything make the F100 the best past Nikon film SLR.
Yep, features and everything make the F100 the best past Nikon film SLR.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
by far the minolta dynax7, i'd say
caila77
Well-known
Nikon F5
Nikon F3
Nikon F100
for me.........
Nikon F3
Nikon F100
for me.........
robert blu
quiet photographer
I love my F-100 !
rob
rob
N.delaRua
Well-known
All of the Nikon F's all incredible F4, F5, F6, F100. I own an F100, and its bullet proof. I've taken it around world and completely mistreated it. Works like a champ.
I've brought it in dust filled caves with no light and it flash meter perfectly. When I travel for work, I take two cameras. The F100 for caves/jungle work and the M6 for taking pictures of villagers as an attempt to be less intimidating even though I am a 6'2' white guy with boots on.
Literally, the F100 is idiot proof. The meter is not infallible, but its pretty close. The most important part is that you can get one for DIRT cheap. Like $150!!! That is insane for the tech in that camera. You get spot, center, and matrix metering. Fast flash sync, slow, rear, and red eye reduction. Continuous AF, Single AF and 5 points to choose from. DX coding. Program (with Vari Program at the turn of a wheel), Aperture Preferred, Shutter, Preferred, and Manual. Up to 5 FPS. Exposure Bracketing. A shutter that is accurate to a 1/3 of a stop and meters down to 30 seconds. I mean the list just goes on and on....
The most important thing to me though is the incredibly simple layout of the controls, and that the camera is built like a TANK. Its a big camera, but the tech stays out of your way.
Just my 2 cents for a camera that has never failed me.
I've brought it in dust filled caves with no light and it flash meter perfectly. When I travel for work, I take two cameras. The F100 for caves/jungle work and the M6 for taking pictures of villagers as an attempt to be less intimidating even though I am a 6'2' white guy with boots on.
Literally, the F100 is idiot proof. The meter is not infallible, but its pretty close. The most important part is that you can get one for DIRT cheap. Like $150!!! That is insane for the tech in that camera. You get spot, center, and matrix metering. Fast flash sync, slow, rear, and red eye reduction. Continuous AF, Single AF and 5 points to choose from. DX coding. Program (with Vari Program at the turn of a wheel), Aperture Preferred, Shutter, Preferred, and Manual. Up to 5 FPS. Exposure Bracketing. A shutter that is accurate to a 1/3 of a stop and meters down to 30 seconds. I mean the list just goes on and on....
The most important thing to me though is the incredibly simple layout of the controls, and that the camera is built like a TANK. Its a big camera, but the tech stays out of your way.
Just my 2 cents for a camera that has never failed me.
JohnL
Very confused
The only AF film SLR I ever had was a Canon EOS 3, and I still have it, although I don;t use it much now. Can't sell it for enough to make it worth not having it. It's an excellent camera though.
bensyverson
Well-known
Canon Rebel Ti... Cheap, smaller and lighter than any digital Rebel, and fully featured!
Mablo
Well-known
+1 for Nikon F100. I've been really happy with it.
Kim Coxon
Moderator
Another vote for the MZ-S from me. I just wish I could get a second body. I only see them occasionally and then normally at silly prices.
Kim
Kim
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Of course, asking some of us about the best AF SLR is like asking about the best skin disease, or the best McDonalds.
But how many of us have actually tried very many AF SLRs? Both, let us say, Canon and Nikon? Because the truth is that actually, most of the half decent ones are pretty good, if you like that sort of thing. I had a Pentax that I tried to mistreat -- including soaking it in salt-water spray on the sea-front in a winter storm -- and it just went on working.
Cheers,
R.
But how many of us have actually tried very many AF SLRs? Both, let us say, Canon and Nikon? Because the truth is that actually, most of the half decent ones are pretty good, if you like that sort of thing. I had a Pentax that I tried to mistreat -- including soaking it in salt-water spray on the sea-front in a winter storm -- and it just went on working.
Cheers,
R.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
The Nikon F5 (with the F4 a close second)...if and I mean if I were to buy another film SLR it would be a second F5...
The feel, the sounds, the controls...the look...how it works with the speedlights...
I haven't used a lot of other AF SLR's so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask...
The feel, the sounds, the controls...the look...how it works with the speedlights...
I haven't used a lot of other AF SLR's so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask...
migtex
Don't eXchange Freedom!
F4
Nothing beats the Brick!
Trust me, I got all of them! (mostly... ;-)
Nothing beats the Brick!
Trust me, I got all of them! (mostly... ;-)