thinking about going SLR

Warren T. said:
This statement puzzles me. Can you explain what you mean?

MLU is great for critical work on a tripod, but for street shooting? 😕

--Warren
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You're right -- MLU is certainly not for street shooting. I meant for tripod shooting (or any instance when you have the extra time to compose). I hate seeing things going in and out of focus when I'm trying to take a picture. Guess it's just a pet peeve of mine!
 
If you plan to use AF lenses, use an AF camera; if you plan to use AI/AIS lenses, get a manual focus camera.

An N90 is good if you use AF lenses, although you no not get 100% functionality with G lenses. An F100 is probably a better choice, although as you stated, will cost more.

I myself no longer own any AF film SLR's, but have owned quite a few in the past. When I shoot film SLR's these days, I use an FM3A and FM2N, and only with AI/AIS lenses.
 
Pickett Wilson said:
But the N80 won't meter with manual lenses, will it?
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That is correct, with the exception of the 45mm f/2.8 and the various TS lenses.

All this talk is making me want to slap the 50mm f/1.8 on my N80 and go shooting with this lightweight wonder. It's a little over a pound, fully loaded.
 
I've just rounded up my little Nikon kit, after using F80 and F100 and through research of the Nikon lineup I decided on N8008s (f801s outside US), which is absurdly cheap now (and can be found in perfect condition, like mine 🙂 ...I've got it for 20 pounds plus shiping), with Series E pancake 50mm/1.8 and a cheap wide Vivitar 24mm/2.8, since I'm not so keen on using AF.
N8008s has a spot meter and supposedly faster AF (not that it maters at all to me) than N8008 and it's the smallest Nikon with that kind of luscious high eyepoint complete solid glass prism.

Few words on F80 vs F100. F80 is just as camera as is F100 with a difference in prism and no metering with older lenses (this two things where decisive for me). But F100 is really great rock solid camera with perfect ergonomics, just a tad to big. 🙂

You can see mine kit in this thread!
 
nikola said:
I've just rounded up my little Nikon kit, after using F80 and F100 and through research of the Nikon lineup I decided on N8008s (f801s outside US), which is absurdly cheap now (and can be found in perfect condition, like mine 🙂 ...I've got it for 20 pounds plus shiping), with Series E pancake 50mm/1.8 and a cheap wide Vivitar 24mm/2.8, since I'm not so keen on using AF.
N8008s has a spot meter and supposedly faster AF (not that it maters at all to me) than N8008 and it's the smallest Nikon with that kind of luscious high eyepoint complete solid glass prism.

Few words on F80 vs F100. F80 is just as camera as is F100 with a difference in prism and no metering with older lenses (this two things where decisive for me). But F100 is really great rock solid camera with perfect ergonomics, just a tad to big. 🙂

You can see mine kit in this thread!
Click to expand...

Nikola do you know which page I can see that on?
 
bhop73 said:
N80 and F100 are about the same size. The N80 might be "slightly" smaller, but you probably won't really notice the difference in use.

I have an F100 myself and it's easily the best film camera i've used. The AF is fast and accurate. (my d200 is slow in comparison) The viewfinder is big and bright. Metering is always spot on. I love it. I paid $200 for it last year, in mint condition and it was worth every penny.
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Agree about autofocus. In 2007 I was surprised to see a 9 yrs old film camera driving lenses way faster than a more recent D200 (I have it since 2006): I've never seen my 50 F/1.4 so fast (it almost "screamed" how powerful was the focusing torque applied to it, but I don't know if it was the sample I had or a more general thing). I can't talk about viewfinder (had it too few and the greater difference with the F80 was the fact there were the focusing sensors less visible there); the only thing I never liked about it was its strange way to load film rolls and the two-touch opening method, a bit clumsy. These are easier both on F80 and F6 of course.
You might not use the grid lines, but think really if a built-in flash could be an option.
 
My how things change! Fifty responsses to this thread, and not a single one suggesting that a rangefinder is the only camera to use for street. What's happening here? 🙂
 
pesphoto said:
Nikola do you know which page I can see that on?
Click to expand...

It should open page 64... but here is the picture.

nikon.jpg


I hang it on a loop with a O ring, cause both lenses are really small, especially series e 50, and everything is light enough.
 
Thanks! I think I have a series E 50mm around somewhere. I just put in an offer on an 50mm AF lens on ebay as well. Kinda lowballed it but we'll see.
 
I have a Nikon f801s that I still call into service. Its actually quite small by the standards of say a D200 with battery grip but is robust and well designed. It also is very cheap while being a very competent camera which will take (and meter with centre weighted average metering) most Nikkor lenses as long as they have been converted to AI standard. I have thought of getting a D90x but most have not held up so well at least cosmetically as whatever plastic was used on the outer body tends to deteriorate. But I believe they are reliable if you can get a clean one.

Older Nikons still, like the Nikkormats are also high quality options that weigh a ton comapratively (always gives a nice quality feel) and yet very inexpensive.

If you are willing to consider beyond Nikon (and go older which is fun and even cheaper) I also own some Pentaxes - both Spotmatics and pre Spotmatics like the S1a. I think the latter "feels" like a Leica 111 series camera but of course with a pentaprism added - it is of similar size and form factor and in use, having no meter it feels like a Leica in that way too. So that is an attraction. And of course the Pentax lenses were renowned in their day for high quality - which is still true.
 
Last edited:
I have a suggestion that no one's mentioned: The Nikon N2020.

It was Nikon's first successful AF SLR (the F3AF flopped) and it
was designed to use both AF and MF lenses. When MF lenses
are used there is an electronic rangefinder system that indicates
correct focus or direction of needed adjustment with a series of
LEDs. It also has "conventional" controls (shutter speed dial on
top, etc.) something not often seen on AF SLRs.

Its AF system is not as fast as later models but I find it plenty
fast for my purposes and fine for street use. It has motorized
film advance and several auto modes, TTL flash automation, plus
manual exposure. It accepts several focusing screens (I
prefer the Type E grid screen) and has a rugged body that runs
on AAA or AA batteries depending on the holder in use.

It can use AI, AI'd, AIS, E or AF lenses.

For what it's worth (or not), the N2020 is also the only camera
besides the F3AF that can auto-focus the lenses made for the
F3AF.
 
ChrisN said:
My how things change! Fifty responsses to this thread, and not a single one suggesting that a rangefinder is the only camera to use for street. What's happening here? 🙂
Click to expand...


I personally think an SLR is a far more versatile device for taking photographs than a rangefinder and I can't really be convinced otherwise. I can lock onto a subject and focus manually accurately and more consistently with an SLR nearly every time. It doesn't make my rangefinders any less important for what I value them for though! 🙂
 
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