Nikon F5

[k38]

I have a feeling one of the easy picking area of collecting at the moment are auto-focus 35mm SLR cameras from the 80's to the present. Lots of nice Nikon and Canon high end cameras are going for peanuts. One of the up sides is Canon EF lenses and Nikon Auto-focus lenses work fine on the digital bodies. One has to be a bit careful with the less fancy nikon dslrs as they do not have a focus drive for the lenses without them. I have a Canon EOS 1n and I just got a Nikon F5. The F5 is a beast! about the only thing I would fault it for would be that the auto-focus points do not light up light the Canon. I usually end up using just the middle sensor anyway. I don't shoot much in the way of action so it's not that big a deal. I am a big guy and I have big hands (Morini size XL grips on my Target Pistols) so the size of the F5 is great for me. The view finder is pretty good with glasses, but not quite as good as the Canon EOS 1v which is amazing. I may break down and get contact lenses again as it would make using Leicas easier too. I have a feeling that an F4, F100,and N90s should be in the work. The other shiny black thing in my life, my cat Leica, just jumped into my lap to massage me. My very understanding wife who lets me have 50 cameras in the living room including a view camera on a tripod let me name the cats Nikon and Leica! I just hope they keep making Tri-X and D76. I need to get a scanning solution that will work for 35mm, MF and 4X5. I think the better Epson flatbed may be the best guess.

I hope all of you had a great ChrismaHanukkaKwanza.

Dwight

PS please don't get me wrong as being NikonCanonLeicaHasselblad centric but they are my favorites. I have never tried much in the Minolta, Contax-Yashica, Pentax screw mount, or other great 35mm cameras.

[Deleted]

I had an F4 I really regret selling when I was financing my D300. You you take the MD off the F$ and replace it with a smaller, lower speed battery grip (hard to find) than made it a more manageable camera. The F5 always seems a little bit big for my taste. The F4 was the last film 35 I shot a lot with. Felt like it was milled out of a steel billet.
W.

[laverdaguy]

I've found you to be correct Dwight, its a great time to be picking up these late model high end autofocus SLRs (except the F6, still silly expensive). I've the F5 and F4 and figure the EOS's to be my next target. Between the two Nikons I prefer the F5 due to its ergonomics and its much better autofocus capabilities. I also have both the N90s and 8008 each of which can be had for a song..and an out of tune song at that. Nice enough cameras but not much when compared to the mighty F5. I tend to use the N90s as a take along on my motorcycle. If the vibration kills it I really don't mind plus it focuses reasonably fast.