The best AF film SLRs

[Keith]

The F6 used has become a little more acceptable price wise over the last year or so IMO. When I first had an urge to own one they were damned expensive and while they're still not exactly a bargain you get a lot of camera for the money.

The F5 has always been a bargain and I can't help but wonder if the F6 will ever fall to those sorts of prices.

 

[mob81]

I now use a Maxxum 9.
It's a good camera... *very* good.

I use the same camera plus maxxum 7...both are exceptionally great (plus you can save up for zeiss AF lenses 🙂 )

 

[David Hughes]

The best thing about most of these SLRs is they are relatively cheap enough (compared to the Leica world) to try something new!

I'll second that, I've have lenses for 49p and an OM body (what use is it without a lenses? they said) for £2...

Regards, David

PS But Leica R's seem to be dropping in price although the lenses are stable to going up slightly.

 

[wakarimasen]

I need to shop where you are going David

 

[Skiff]

Skiff, you reflect in your post my sentiments completely. I'm kicking myself in the arse right now for having dumped $2800 on a 5DIII when I could've gotten some doggone good Nikon lenses to use with my F6. Talk about dumb :bang: I haven't used the 5dIII since I've begun using the F6 and having a developing outfit in Philly that does a helluva good job.

Frank, you are welcome.
I am so happy that I left the digital ratrace of "upgrading" (which has been burning lots of money, but the technical progress was so small that it was not worth it).
I am so glad that I've bought the F6 with MB-40 and MV-1 data reader..

 

[Skiff]

The F5. Feels more robust than the F6. Balances better with the Nikon zooms. Focus's faster with AF/d lenses. Meter is as good as you'll ever need. AA battery instead of unobtaniums for the F6.

As someone who has used both the F5 and F6, I have to disagree.
The F6 is even a bit more solid built than the F5. The AF of the F6 is a bit faster, but more important, it is more precise.
And the distribution of the AF fields is much better, as well as the AF fields light in red on the F6.
And I am also using AA cells (Eneloops, which are excellent) in the F6 with MB-40.

Way over priced when compired to the F5. 4x the price. When they hit £250 I'll get one for use with a 35 and 50.

In 2004, when the F6 has been introduced, the F5 was still sold new. At that time the F6 was cheaper new than the F5 new. And the F6 even has the build in data back.
And the F6 has lots of other advantages compared to the F5. The F6 is a significantly improved F5.
Therefore you get more value with the F6 (and besides it also have a very stable price on the used market).

 

[Fraser]

My favourite is still the F4 without the grip autofocus is not great but faster than manual focus and they are so cheap. But it is nice to have a couple of Eos 1vs that have the same control layout as my work cameras.

 

[nobbylon]

As someone who has used both the F5 and F6, I have to disagree.
The F6 is even a bit more solid built than the F5. The AF of the F6 is a bit faster, but more important, it is more precise.
And the distribution of the AF fields is much better, as well as the AF fields light in red on the F6.
And I am also using AA cells (Eneloops, which are excellent) in the F6 with MB-40.



In 2004, when the F6 has been introduced, the F5 was still sold new. At that time the F6 was cheaper new than the F5 new. And the F6 even has the build in data back.
And the F6 has lots of other advantages compared to the F5. The F6 is a significantly improved F5.
Therefore you get more value with the F6 (and besides it also have a very stable price on the used market).

Let's agree to disagree shall we. As I said, I have an F5 and compaired it directly to an F6 I was using. The F5 was built for pro use, the F6 was built for enthusiastic amateur use as nearly all the F5 people had gone digital by then. I've no doubt it's a robust camera however it has not had the use and proven track record of heavy use that the F5 has so any ideas of the F6's robustness can only ever be speculation when compaired with the F5. The a/f of the F6 on paper may be improved but with afs lens's I couldn't detect any improvement. With afd's the f5 is king.
Many complain of the size of an F5 and then add a battery pack to their F6 (which they champion as an improvement on the size of the F5) making it even bigger than an F5!
I'll agree that I liked the illuminated focus point but to say it is significantly improved sounds like a sales pitch to me. As regards value for money, it just isn't 4x the camera at 4x the price and over the last year prices have dropped on F6's.
I think it's a great camera however in use I prefer the F5,
regards john

 

[Keith]

The F5 is a broadsword while the F6 is a sabre. 🙂

 

[Addy101]

So, it seems, only Canon has a clear best camera: the EOS 1v (unless you think Eye Focus is essential).
With Nikon you can choose between the F5 and F6 and the difference is small.
With Minolta, some prefer the mechanical perfection of the Dynax 9, while others prefer the electronic options of the Dynax 7.

Between makes, I think it is impossible to decide which is best. Never using any of the Nikons, to me, the best one is the Dynax 9!

 

[Skiff]

Let's agree to disagree shall we. As I said, I have an F5 and compaired it directly to an F6 I was using.

There is the difference: I have them both, both using for years. You have used the F6 only for a short time compared to the F5 use.
It is always the same: Those who are bashing the F6 have
- either used it only a short time
- or have never used it at all.

The F5 was built for pro use, the F6 was built for enthusiastic amateur use as nearly all the F5 people had gone digital by then.

That is internet nonsense. The F6 was designed for professional use. Some of their essential parts have been developed together with the Nikon D2X (or would you also say that the D2X is an amateur camera?).
When the F6 was introduced in 2004 the first who have bought it have been some thousand professional photographers worldwide, especially nature, portrait and wedding photographers.
Got this information from several big camera shops. And it is still used by thousands of professional photographers today (I am one, too, and I know many colleagues who are also using one).

I've no doubt it's a robust camera however it has not had the use and proven track record of heavy use that the F5 has so any ideas of the F6's robustness can only ever be speculation when compaired with the F5.

The F6 is now nine years old, and no problems and malfunctions have been occured so far. But after the same time span we've seen some problems with the F5, e.g. the loosing rubber grip.
Nikon had very intensively looked at the problems of the F5, and improved these points on the F6.

The a/f of the F6 on paper may be improved but with afs lens's I couldn't detect any improvement. With afd's the f5 is king.

I have to disagree on my tests and daily experience. F6 is a bit faster, and significantly more precise. The AF field distribution is a big improvement.

Many complain of the size of an F5 and then add a battery pack to their F6 (which they champion as an improvement on the size of the F5) making it even bigger than an F5!

That is not the point. With the F6 I have the option to choose whether I want to have a light option, or using the vertical grip.
I don't have the option with the F5.
And the ergonomics of the F6 with MB-40 is improved compared to the F5. The much better ergonomics of the F6 is an important factor.

 

[nobbylon]

I'm very happy you enjoy the F6 Skiff.

 

[p.giannakis]

I haven#t used the Dynax 9 but I love the 9xi. It is one of my two main workhorses....

 

[GarageBoy]

I'd love to jump on an F6, tis a shame the Nikon 50s aren't anything special, for the lack of a better phrase...maybe if I save up and get a 58 1.4 afs

 

[barnwulf]

I had two F100 bodies and loved both of them. Not too big or too heavy. Never had a F6.

- jim

 

[chrism]

I've owned six AF SLRs - two of them are F6s!

The others are Pentax SF1, SF10, PZ-1 and MZ-S. Of those the SF1 does all I want of it. There are also the two Pentax 654n bodies that really live up to the OP's clanking and whirring monsters.

C.

 

[Photog9000]

When I made the switch from Olympus to Nikon for autofocus, I first tried an F4 which turned out to be a big disappointment. Then I read that the F100 used the same autofocus module as the F5. Dumped the F4, bought two F100 bodies with MB-15 drives which I used for newspaper work for a couple of years before going digital. Great little camera the F100!!

 

[splitimageview]

Contax N1. Bigger than I'd like, but the 50/1.4 Planar and the 100/2.8 Sonnar make it an easy choice...

 

[Aristophanes]

I have an ultra-compact Pentax *ist. It's amazingly light and has a terrific meter and all the features I really need for an AF SLR.

 

[jamin-b]

Having really enjoyed my Nikon N90 that I picked up for $20, but wanting a light travel kit for I just purchased an N75 + AF zoom 28-80mm. Same flawless metering but more limited in lens selection since it can only use AF lenses. But a great versatile travel kit that weighs about as much as a quality point and shoot and is quite compact and compatible with my Nikon Df... And if dies or gets ruined or stolen I don't have much invested...

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