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Post by kiev4a on Dec 21, 2005 13:32:18 GMT -5
I have some AF Nikkors that will work in manual mode on my treasured F3 HP. But recently I have been eyeing F4s on Ebay because they also can handle ai AND non ai lenses. Once in a while I would throw in a bid about $150 below the going price, just for the heck of it. Guess what. This morning I woke up, checked the auctions and discovered everyone else had forgot to bid on an F4 and I had won it. Really looking forward to wringing it out. No looking forward to explaining what happened to a spouse who already believes I have waay too many cameras (Actually, she has been pretty good about it).
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Post by Randy on Dec 21, 2005 23:41:32 GMT -5
Sometimes it's a shock when that happens Wayne. I've had it happen a few times, but what gets me is when I figure nobody wants one and then there is a sudden bidding war.
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Post by sinedyar on Jan 10, 2006 13:05:09 GMT -5
Wayne:
The F4 is a great camera, whether used as an F4 or F4s or F4E.
Great versitility since it can use manual or AF lenses. As has been said, it was built for the future and can handle most of Nikons lenses and other accessories.
Denis
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Post by kamera on Jan 10, 2006 14:05:29 GMT -5
Wayne,
I also have an F4s which I bought used about 4 years ago for around $450. I like it a lot...infact, it is always a decision to use it or the F3HP. It is hefty, comfortable in the hands, and of great quality. At the time I bought it, a number of people pooh- poohed that I would choose it over the new F5, disregarding the price differential. "Slow AF, can't program like the F5...just a lot of negative feedback.
Slow AF...no problem when I mostly take scenics rather than action shots. All these adjustable custom features just add to the complication of the technology for most of my purposes.
You WILL enjoy it, I know!!!
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by kiev4a on Jan 13, 2006 0:02:47 GMT -5
I'm happy to report I have run a couple of test rolls through the F4s and absolutely love it. It's in beautiful shape and made near the end of the production run (1995, I think). I have acquired an SB-25 flash to take advantage of the TTL flash and am looking for the MB-20 grip that cuts the size and weight considerably. The F4 is quieter than the F100 I once had and it just feels---well---right in my hands. Given the new this week that Nikon is discontinuing all film cameras except the F6 and the FM10 (made by Cosina) I'm glad I moved when I did.
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Post by sinedyar on Jan 13, 2006 7:08:31 GMT -5
Wayne:
Glad to hear you are enjoying it. I sometimes use the smaller battery pack also, but I also like the size and weight of the full F4s.
Ir's funny that here at the end of the film age we're excited about our top-of-the-line Nikon film cameras. :-) I'm really doing so with both my F4s and F5.
Just hope film and processing stays around, and cheaply enough, for the remainder of my life. :-)
Denis
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Post by kiev4a on Jan 13, 2006 21:42:49 GMT -5
There was a guy spouting off on the RF forum discussion the changes at Nikon. He predicted color film will be gone in two years. I would have liked to have responded with a simple "B--- S---!" but I severed my affialiation with that group a while back. There are too many of us folks from around the Baby Boom generation who will continue to shoot film for the companies to totally ignore that market--not to mention the point and shoot crowd and the throw away camera folks. Film choice will definately be more limited before long and I suspect some of the 1-hour photo places will shut off their Fuji processors. But at age 60 I am comfortable I'll be able to shoot film as long as I have the inclination (or ability). Remember when everyone was saying computers would soon create the "paperless office"? Hah!
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Post by sinedyar on Jan 13, 2006 22:24:23 GMT -5
Wayne:
Yes, I suspect film will be around for awhile. However, as you say, in less variety, and probably at greater expense, and with processing labs harder to find and also being more expensive.
Denis
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Post by herron on Jan 14, 2006 0:41:34 GMT -5
Wayne and Denis: I suspect you're both right. Film will be around for awhile yet. But the digital market already has their throw away cameras, and I suspect they will only get cheaper - with more megapixels - as time goes on. Film choice will be drastically limited, but available, for those "crafty" folks, like us...and the local pharmacy and Meijer stores will ONLY make prints from digital (if they still make prints at all -- have you seen the digital picture frames?), and won't even handle sending, ugh, film, out!  The folks who do handle film will be outrageously priced, just like those few labs who today handle some of the more esoteric old film sizes, and film photography will still be taught...but only as history. (sigh)  And the paperless office is just waiting for us old fogies to get out of the way. The young turks in my office are all into Blackberries and laptops, phones that look like hearing aids, electronic faxes and i-Pods...and think I'm a little quaint because I find it easier to print out hard copies of memos on paper to read them!  |
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Post by sinedyar on Jan 14, 2006 9:55:13 GMT -5
Herron:
Yes, I'm afraid you're correct. I'm teaching my five-year-old grandson in film, but already he likes digital and I'll eventually have to get into that with him. But while I can, I'll teach him the basics with film, which I believe will make him a better digital photographer when the time comes.
Denis
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Post by herron on Jan 14, 2006 15:40:30 GMT -5
Denis: My son (as I've mentioned a few times ) decided to become a professional photographer, and I made sure I cautioned him to learn his craft with film, because the things he learned would make all of his photography better. I'm also glad he went to a specialized college that also taught him things about design and composition...some of the things so obviously missing in a great many photo portfolios today. In some ways, I think he had another advantage, because it was his second degree (he already had one in psychology), which has helped him - whether he realizes it yet, or not - in his day-to-day dealings with people!  He has switched entirely to digital now, because his clients demand it. But he has kept his Sinar 4x5 and a couple of 35mm film cameras (a Nikon and a Mamiya NC) to play with. |
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Post by kiev4a on Jan 16, 2006 11:40:14 GMT -5
Yes!! Picked up the MB-20 battery grip for the F4 that makes it a smaller and lighter unit. The MB-20 is getting pricey cuz the stores have run out of stock. Was $49.95 anf B&H but they are out. Paid almost twice that for mine. Can't even look at on on Ebay now for less than about $70--supply and demand.
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Post by sinedyar on Jan 16, 2006 12:59:58 GMT -5
I was still lucky when I got mine. They were still in supply at B&H. Should have bought more to sell at inflated prices. :-) But mostly I keep mine as an F4s, and seldom use the smaller battery pack.
Denis
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Post by kiev4a on Jan 23, 2006 13:49:38 GMT -5
Received my MB-20 grip for the F4 today reducing it's size considerably. Doesn't supply as much power for as long as the MB-21 but seems more practical for casual shooting or vacations. I consider it a good investment--even at the price. Funny, the F4 prices are declining while the price of the grip has doubled. An excellent example of "supply and demand."
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